Time passed, and autumn faded into winter. The snows came and went, and spring blossomed forth. The peach trees burst into blossom the same day Sigyn's child was born. They named him Fenris, and he had his mother's fiery red hair, and his father's green eyes. Loki spent time with Sigyn, in their room, and under disguise as much as was possible, and was absolutely thrilled to be a part of his children's lives.

When Fenris was about five months old, Sigyn was playing with her children in the garden, when Loki walked up behind her with a frustrated expression on his face, and Thor trailing behind him, looking extremely ticked off.

"Melleth?" Sigyn gasped. "You'll be discovered!"

Loki jerked his head at Thor. "Does it look like I'm still a secret?"

Sigyn glanced between their faces. "No, not really."

Loki glared at his brother, who glared back at him. "I need to go get Odin. Would you like to come with us?"

Sigyn nodded. "Yeah, give me a minute to take care of the kids, then I'll be ready." She glanced at her brother in law. "Hi, Thor."

"Hello, Sigyn." Thor nodded politely as Sigyn turned, and rushed to contain her children. "Sleepy, get over here! Now!"

Sleipnir ran up, and wrapped her arms around Loki's legs. "Father! Save me!"

Loki scooped her up, holding her close to his chest as Sigyn captured Gandhi and Fen. "Give me…. Five minutes." She smiled, taking Sleepy from Loki's arms, and disappearing with the three children in a swirl of pink light. Thor and Loki glanced at each other. "Did she just… leave?" Thor asked.

Loki shrugged. "She's most likely hiring a baby-sitter. She'll be back."

"Will she?"

Loki nodded, and about three minutes later, she reappeared at Loki's side. "Sorry about that." She grinned. Loki snapped is fingers, and the three of them transported to Midgard, in the middle of a sidewalk, just in front of… the rubble of the nursing home. Sigyn face-palmed. "Oh, great…" She sighed.

"Where is he?" Thor demanded.

Loki stared at the rubble in mild surprise. "I swear I left him right here."

"Right here, on the sidewalk, or in that building that's being destroyed?" Thor rolled his eyes. "Great planning."

Loki glanced at him in irritation. "How was I supposed to know this would happen? I can't see the future, I'm not a witch."

"Oh, yeah?" Thor raised an eyebrow. "Then why do you dress like one?"

Sigyn glanced at her husband's beautiful suit. "Hey! You're one to talk, sir errant hobo! Loki looks great, don't bug him."

"Couldn't have said it better myself." Loki smirked.

"I can't believe you're alive." Thor huffed, clearly just fed up with the long list of things Loki has done wrong in the past. "I saw you die. I mourned for you; I cried for you."

Loki wasn't certain what to say to that. "I'm honored."

Two teenage girls approached the group, asking for a photo with Thor. "Start figuring out where he is." Thor commanded his brother, before posing for a photograph. Loki glanced in irritation at his wife. "As if I can just pull him out of my sleeve, or something…"

Sigyn shrugged. "Want me to start a tracking spell?"

"No, I can do it." Loki sighed.

"She didn't dump me, you know." Thor spoke up, despite the fact that Loki hadn't been listening at all. Loki could guess what he was talking about, though. "It was a mutual dumping."

Loki gently patted his brother on the shoulder. "Yes, we all know." Sigyn rolled her eyes.

"Hey, just because you two were arranged doesn't mean I'm not allowed to have pain…" Thor began, but glanced down at the sidewalk. "What are you doing?'

Loki glanced down, and, to his surprise, there was a ring of orange patterns, and Strange devices fizzing around his feet. "This isn't me." He started to back out of the circle, but it followed his feet, until, suddenly, the pavement dropped out from under him, and with a shout, he fell into an abyss.

Sigyn and Thor glanced at each other in shock. "I think that was him." Sigyn spoke up. "He wanted to get away from you. You shouldn't have been so harsh."

Thor stared at the small slip of paper that had appeared in Loki's place, gently prodding it with his hammer-disguised-as-an-umbrella. "Loki?" He whispered, picking up the card in confusion. With the familiar rush of teleportation, Sigyn found herself standing on an entirely different street, in front of… oh, she knew this place. This was the sanctum sanctorum, the slightly-secret center of all sorcerers on Midgard. Thor knocked once, twice on the door, and was about to start knocking a third time, when a sudden woosh teleported them into the building. She glanced around in mild interest. It was clear Thor, the sweet buffoon that he was, had no clue what this place was, but she could recognize this place. She and Loki used to come here, sometimes, before he fell, and have discussions with the ancient one. It looked a little different from when she'd seen it last, but it was still familiar.

"Thor Odinson." An unfamiliar voice spoke up from the direction of the staircase. Sigyn turned to see a dark silhouette in a cloak floating up from the stairwell. "God of Thunder." Thor warily held up his hammer-disguised-as-an-umbrella, the sight of someone using an umbrella to defend themselves causing Sigyn to snicker. The man cast a glance at Sigyn, but didn't exactly pay attention to her. "You can put down the umbrella."

Thor glanced at Sigyn, but warily put the hammer-disguised-as-an-umbrella into a nearby umbrella holder. "So, earth has wizards, now?"

Sigyn and the man spoke up at the same time. "The preferred term Is 'Master of the Mystic Arts'." The man glanced at Sigyn, giving her an approving smile. "Lady Sigyn, yes?"

"Princess." She corrected gently. "But, yes."

"Alright, wizard." Thor cut in. "Who are you? And why should we care?"

"My name is Doctor Stephen Strange, and I have some questions for you. Take a seat" He explained, before teleporting them to a nice little sitting room kind of place.

"Tea?" The doctor offered.

"Yes, please." Sigyn smiled, accepting the teacup. Thor glared skeptically. "I don't drink tea." He announced.

Strange raised his eyebrows patiently. "Then what do you drink?"

"Not tea." Thor smiled, before a stein of beer appeared in his hand.

"I like you, Doctor." Sigyn snickered at Thor's befuddled expression.

Strange nodded, a small smile on his face. "So, I keep a watch list of individuals and beings from other realms that may be a threat to this world, your adopted brother, Loki, is one of those beings." He glanced at Sigyn. "I suppose he's your husband, yes?"

Sigyn nodded, and Thor offered a bright smile. "He's a worthy inclusion."

"Then why bring him here?" Strange asked.

"Doctor, I'm not sure you understand." Sigyn spoke up. "This is not the first time Loki's been to Midgard without malicious intents. In fact, he spent about two years, here, before his faked death, and he's visited many times since."

"Yes, but his magical abilities were restricted, then, weren't they?" Strange pointed out.

"Only for the first two months." Sigyn explained. "I assume you're the Ancient One's successor, as Sorcerer Supreme?"

"That's right." The doctor nodded.

Sigyn smiled politely. "Then, no offense, but Loki and I personally knew her when she held that position. I think if she didn't have a problem with his being at large, there really isn't any. I promise, he means no ill will toward your realm, and as soon as we find the Allfather, he'll leave, anyway."

"So, let me get this straight." Strange hummed. "If I were to tell you were Odin was, all parties concerned would promptly return to Asgard?"

"Promptly." Thor assured.

"Great." Strange nodded. "Then I'll help you."

Thor looked indignant. "If you knew where he was, why didn't you call me?"

"I have to tell you, he was adamant that he not be disturbed. Your father said that he had chosen to remain in exile." He paused. "And you don't have a phone."

"No, I don't have a phone." Thor admitted.

"I do." Sigyn offered. "If you have a problem, call me, and I'll notify Thor."

"Thanks, can you give me your number?" Strange nodded gratefully as Sigyn wrote out the string of numbers on a napkin.

"You could've sent me an electronic letter; it's called an email." Thor insisted.

Strange shared a long-suffering look with Sigyn. "Yeah, do you have a computer?"

Thor frowned in confusion. "No, what for?"

Sigyn snickered, and Thor shot her a glare before continuing. "Anyway, my father is no longer in exile. So, if you could tell me where he is, I can take him home."

"Gladly." Strange stood up, and the three of them were suddenly standing next to a bookshelf. "He's in Norway." The doctor pulled out a book, flipping through it. "I'm just seeing whether this incantation has any Asgardian modifications." He glanced at Sigyn, who waited patiently for him to finish. "Highness, you're Asgardian, too right?"

"Actually, I'm elvish." Sigyn pulled her hair off her ears, revealing the pointed tops.

Strange closed the book with a snap. "Nope. Alright." Suddenly, they were both across the room at Strange's workstation, but Strange had also accidently brought the bookshelf with them, as well. "Oh, we don't need that." Strange noticed his error, and sent it back across the room. Thor was still touching it, so he went with it, and accidentally knocked a few books off, and spilled his beer. "Will you stop doing that?" The Thunderer demanded, impatiently.

"I'll need one strand of each of your hair." Strange announced. Sigyn willingly plucked a hair from her head, familiar with the spell he was working, but Thor was obviously not pleased.

"Let me explain something, my hair is not to be meddled with – ow!" Strange had suddenly appeared behind him and taken the necessary hair.

Strange worked the incantation, and then teleported them to the bottom of the steps. Thor had lost his footing, and tumbled down the staircase, but Sigyn was used to teleportation, and quickly trotted down the stairs to find the portal open, and waiting for them, a salty breeze blowing in from the opening. "He's waiting for you."

"Alright." Thor growled, scrambling to his feet.

"Don't forget your umbrella." Strange reminded politely.

"Yes." Thor extended his hand, calling Mjolnir-disguised-as-an-umbrella to his hand, regardless of anything in the way. Sigyn winced as many crashing noises were heard from the direction the hammer flew from. Strange glanced between them in irritation. "Sssssssorry…" Thor glanced away embarrassedly as the umbrella finally flew into his awaiting palm.

"If it's not too much trouble, could we have my husband back?" Sigyn wondered. "That was you, right?"

"Yeah, right." Strange rolled his eyes. "Him."

"Indeed." Sigyn smirked as a portal opened in the ceiling, and Loki fell into a heap on the floor.

"I have been falling…" He seethed. "For thirty minutes."

"Sorry…" Sigyn smirked, helping him up. "You okay?"

Strange snorted in annoyance. "You two can handle him from here."

"Yeah, of course." Thor smiled, shaking hands with the doctor. "Thank you very much for your help."

"Handle me?" Loki barked, turning in the direction of the voice. "Who are you?"

"Loki, don't be an idiot…" Sigyn whispered.

Loki paid her no heed, summoning two daggers into his hands. "You think you're some sort of sorcerer? Don't think for one minute, you second-rate…"

"Bye-bye!" Strange announced, flinging the portal at them. Loki charged, and landed face-first in the grass on the cliffs of Norway.

"Oh, boy…" Sigyn sighed. Loki spat out a bit of grass, and jumped to his feet, still seething. "I can't believe this, Sigyn. He just… as if I was some sort of…"

"Hush." Sigyn brushed the dust off his suit, and tilted her head towards a lone figure, standing at the edge of the cliff. Hesitantly, the three of them walked over to Odin.

"Father?" Thor ventured.

"My sons." Odin acknowledged, staring out towards the sea. Loki stiffened beside Sigyn, and he glanced at Odin in confusion. "I've been waiting for you."

"I know." Thor continued. "We've come to take you home."

"Home, yes." Odin sighed, still not looking at either of them. "Your mother, she calls me. Do you hear it?" Thor glanced sharply at Loki.

"Loki, lift your magic." Loki shook his head. There was no magic left to lift. Odin turned to look at the Trickster, a soft smile on his face.

"It took me quite a while to break from your spell." He nodded. "Frigga would have been proud."

Loki's eyebrows raised, and he glanced down at Sigyn. Thor was getting angrier and angrier, but Odin put a hand on his shoulder, a silent urge to calm himself. "Come, sit with me. I don't have much time."

There was a bench nearby, and Odin weakly lowered himself onto it, his sons sitting on either side of him. Sigyn backed away to give them some privacy. She watched as they had a moment of conversation, before Odin's form dissipated into stardust, and floated out over the water like stars. Loki and Thor both rose as the fractals of light shimmered and faded away.

Sigyn stepped forward again, and noticed Thor's face. He was not pleased.

"Brother…" Loki backed away nervously.

"This was your doing." Thor growled, electricity crackling at his fingertips.

"Hey, guys…" Sigyn spoke up, pulling on Loki's elbow.

"If you hadn't sent him to Midgard, he'd still be alive, right now." Thor fumed, stepping closer to the dark-haired man.

"What was I supposed to do?" Loki squeaked nervously. "Rot on Midgard all my days, forgotten by everyone but my wife? Is that truly what you wanted?"

"Boys!" Sigyn insisted, pulling Loki away from his brother.

"What is it, Sig?" Loki finally turned to her, and looked in the direction she was pointing. A dark, ominous, foreboding portal had opened up, and a tall, dark woman stepped out. "Do you know who that is?" Sigyn asked politely.

Loki bit his lip in sudden realization, swiftly using his magic to change into his battle armor, as Thor changed alongside him. "That's Hela. My sister. I'll explain later, we need to deal with her, now."

"So, he's gone, then?" Hela spoke up. "Pity. I would've liked to have seen that."

"You must be Hela." Thor rumbled, stepping closer. "I'm Thor, son of Odin."

"Really?" Hela snorted. "I thought you'd look more like him."

"Perhaps we can come to an agreement?" Loki suggested smoothly.

Hela raised an eyebrow. "You sound like him." She shrugged lightly, taking a step forward. "Kneel."

Loki scoffed. "I beg your pardon?"

Sigyn edged backward as Hela came even closer, summoning a pitch-black sword in a strangely familiar motion. "Kneel…" She repeated. "Before your Queen."

"I don't think so." Thor hurled his hammer at his… sister, apparently, but she caught it in mid-air. Thor tried to summon it back to his hand, but Hela held it firm. "Not possible…" The Thunderer breathed.

"Oh, darling…" Hela sighed, and why in the Nine was she so familiar? "You have no idea what's possible." With that, Mjolnir exploded in a brilliant flash of light, sending shards of metal all over the grass. Thor was frozen in shock, as Hela ran her hands through her hair, summoning an elaborate war helmet, delicate, yet terrifying. Loki wrapped an arm around Sigyn, pulling her backwards. "Bring us back!" he hollered at the sky, and, with a woosh, they were flying up through the Bifrost.

The only problem was… Hela was in the Bifrost, too.

Loki turned, and threw two daggers at his sister, but they barely even stunned her. She plowed up through Loki, who still had an arm around Sigyn, and knocked the two of them from the Bifrost's beam. Loki curled protectively around his wife, and they landed together on an enormous heap of junk.

Sigyn sat up immediately, but Loki seemed a little dazed, and lay, panting on the heap of trash. "What is this place?" She wondered, glancing around at the large amount of garbage. Loki shook his head, clearing it. "No idea."

Sigyn helped him to his feet, and together, they stared across the landscape, arm in arm. There were hills of trash for miles, and it seemed things were moving around in some parts. Ships of every size hummed over the mountains, and far in the distance… there was a city.

Because the last chapter was so short... two chappies today.

I wanna dedicate this chappie to my lovely editor and best friendo, Polar. She rocks, don't try to deny it.

I kinda wonder how you'll react, knowing the background of Hela's banishment, now...

TheOnlyHuman.