Thor had brought Astrid on a hunt since Egil requested they spend time together. He also wanted to help feed Astrid's family since he saw them as an extension of his in some ways. They came across a very big stag and Thor was about to use either his ax or bow, but Astrid stopped him. She got her bow ready and focused on the deer. Despite her discomfort and not wanting to hurt anyone, she released the bow and hit the broadside of the deer. Thor seemed confused until he saw the stag fall on the impact and remained lifeless on the forest floor. He truly was astounded with how accurate Astrid's shots have gotten as her arrow killed a stag on impact. He could see Astrid's somewhat pained expression when she saw the deer go down.

"Astrid, some animals were put on this realm so we can feed. You should not feel pain because of this." Thor expressed calmly.

" Easy for you to say. I know we need to eat and I know I sometimes have to hunt for it, does not mean I need to enjoy it." Astrid explained with a sigh.

Thor nodded as he went to retrieve the deer Astrid killed. He grinned as he lifted the deer on his shoulder effortlessly.

"This stag will make a fine meal for your family. Here I thought I would have to help you hunt and get a score for you, but here you are to show me up."

Thor was very smitten with Astrid and it was hard for him not to fall for her. She wasn't as harsh or rough as Sif but she still had talents that he loved. Astrid giggled softly since Thor was always the sweet one and she liked it when she was able to impress him.

" I am very capable of hunting Thor, we just have different reasons for doing it. Animals are not always aggressive, sometimes it's our fault if they are. They do provide us with resources I know but I don't see them as trophies, but integral parts of our living." Astrid explained softly.

Thor smiled softly as he helped Astrid to get the deer back home to her parents house. He could tell Astrid was happier and so had his brother Loki. When Thor was around Astrid, his whole world changed. He truly felt he and her had this connection and that she was going to be happy with him.

"How I missed your smile Astrid, it's like the sun is smiling when you're with me. A part of me worried you might have never returned to me."

Astrid cracked a light smile and found his words to be genuine if not exaggerated.

" You exaggerate Thor, of course I would come back to Asgard. It is my home just like Vanaheim" Astrid said softly

"Yeah I know….it's just I know we are becoming a bit like different people and Vanaheim is full of people like you. I know you don't like to fight like a warrior like Sif but I still love your company. The happiest times were when you, Loki, and I would play together as children. Soon I would need you both when we need to fight someday and it would strengthen our bonds even more."

Astrid smiled since she did remember those times as well when things have been very simple and no pressure.

" Things were a lot of fun when we were children" Astrid said as she gazed of as if in a dream or memory

"Yes and even though we will have long lives, things are already changing. I mean can you believe Loki is off dating someone? He won't tell anyone who this woman is, but he's in love I'm sure of it. Does it bother you that he has someone?" Thor asked.

He did know Astrid did have a connection to Loki and he didn't want Astrid upset. Astrid smiled softly and nodded.

" Well I think it is amazing that Loki has someone he loves who loves him back. He deserves that Thor." Astrid replied

Astrid of course loved Loki and she was happy to hear that she was making him happy. Their love affair was a joyful one but one they of course needed to hide. With the way Thor acts and how he might inform Egil, Astrid and Loki couldn't be public in their love. Thor cracked a light smile and nodded.

"He should have that. He's different but he is my brother; his happiness matters to me like your happiness does and mine. To think maybe someday in the far future, we will all have our children come together and play games like we once did."

"Perhaps that would be sweet with all of us with the one person that makes us happy."

Thor smiled lightly.

"Well you make me happy and that person might just be you Astrid."

Astrid groaned since of course Thor would go back to that topic. She knew she was the woman that Loki was dating but she couldn't tell Thor that, even if she wanted his advances to end. Nonetheless she was not entertaining the idea of him and her marrying.

" Life is unpredictable Thor, don't go making plans that far in the future yet. A family is a dream, a wonderful dream to look forward to but who we end up with we can't say so don't plan on it if it's not meant to be." Astrid stated a bit dismissively.

Thor didn't let that bother him since he knew Astrid wanted to live a life before having a family. He found that alluring and that she truly wanted to make the Nine Realms better. She had changed a bit in her five years, but she was still the sweet woman that cared for everything. They reached her house and Thor couldn't help but notice something on Astrid's cheek.

"You got something on your cheek, looks like pollen. Let me get that off for you." Thor offered politely.

Astrid looked confused as he chuckled softly. He approached her, gently putting down her kill. He smiled softly as he gently removed the pollen off her cheek. Astrid's amber eyes were soft and so was the cheek he grazed. He felt a pull towards her and electricity he hadn't felt with another maiden. Astrid and him were a pair like his own mother and father, different but shared a tender bond. He smiled lightly and pulled Astrid close and kissed her tender lips softly. Astrid was shocked and not in a good way as she struggled to stop his kiss. He was aggressive in how he kissed and they felt wrong on hers. Thor lacked a gentleness, carefulness, and fire she felt for Loki and she just wanted Thor to stop. She pulled away when Thor was done and she was visibly annoyed and upset.

"Thor, I told you the last time I didn't like you doing this! You're going to ruin everything!" she exclaimed

Thor didn't understand as he pulled her in close and tighter. She seemed to like it and thought she was kissing back. Loki had someone else so by all accounts, she was his.

"But Astrid...you liked it and I truly like you. I'll be a better man if you'd be mine. I will swear off other women and just have you. Just be mine." Thor professed as he kissed her again, a bit deeper and ran his fingers in her hair. Astrid was angry she used her strength to knee him hard in his groin.

" I said I don't like it. Just because Loki has someone does not mean you automatically have a claim on me. We are best friends Thor and this is just so weird. I'm not yours and I didn't want this to happen. Yet you did this and now I worry about what will happen and it's all your fault!"" Astrid shouted angrily.

Thor frowned as he slowly got up.

"I love you Astrid. I was willing to take that chance because I love you. Please...just try kissing me again and you might feel the same if you just give in."

Thor leaned in to kiss her again and Astrid used her magic to push him off her with a pink energy blast. Her heart went cold and she couldn't tell if Thor truly meant it or if Egil's work had done it's damage to her best friend. It was enough to bring tears of anger in Astrid's eyes. Egil heard the commotion and saw Thor blasted back against a tree with magic. He could see Astrid's wrists swirling with pink aura and was confused.

"What happened out here?!" Egil demanded.

Astrid glared at Egil before glaring at Thor

" I don't want to see you here Thor! You gambled on our friendship and now I don't want to see you! You really hurt me and I need to see if we can even come back as friends from this!" Astrid said before storming off and tried to go into her house.

Egil wasn't having this tantrum and grabbed her daughter's wrist.

"Now you listen here. I saw what happened and you're being an ungrateful little wrench. Thor kissed you and that's what we wanted. Now go apologize to him and kiss him goodbye. So long as you are under my roof, you will do what I say and that includes having Thor be yours. You think it's your magic that is the most important, but it's Thor! Be his and you will have meaning!"

Astrid scoffed.

" Look you old arrogant fool, I'm not a child. I will not do as you say simply because I live with you. I am nobody's prize and I am not Thor's just to feed your wishes. You need to let go of your delusions and let me live how I want to live; hopefully that will include a friendship with Thor. Right now just back off and leave me be!" Astrid spat and her wrist flared up to fire making Egil let go quickly, before leaving to her room and locking doors.

Astrid felt her lips and looked in the mirror to see her cheeks were flushed. She felt sick when the kiss happened and truly felt she lost Thor. Her heart was racing and her stomach was whirling around. She felt betrayed by her best friend since that was all she wanted them to be. Did it really hurt Thor's pride that Loki had a girlfriend? Thor must have had others and a lot of women loved him, yet why must he always go after her. They were best friends, almost like family, but she truly didn't like what Thor had done. She didn't want to cry and yet she felt tears forcing themselves out. Astrid rested on her bed and just passed the next hour thinking about what was going to happen to her because of this. Could she and Thor even be friends? Would Astrid forgive him? Would Loki think she liked Thor and end things...that truly made her feel the worst of all, that Loki might not want her and feel hurt by her. Losing Loki was what Astrid feared the most.

Loki was worried since Astrid never showed up to meet him. He decided to project an illusion to her room to see if everything was alright. He saw Astrid lying in bed, but her expression was very distressing to him. She almost looked distraught and her eyes were red. Loki wondered what happened to make Astrid so upset.

"Astrid, are you alright?" Loki asked

Astrid sniffled a bit and she couldn't face him, or rather his illusion.

"Go away, I don't deserve to see you after what happened."

Something was really wrong since Astrid would never turn down to see him even in an illusion.

"What happened Astrid? I can tell you're troubled deeply." Loki expressed softly.

Astrid got up and wiped a loose tear. Loki was calm but he wouldn't be for long.

"You'll hate me if I tell you, you may perhaps feel betrayed and no longer want to see me." she said, not completely looking him in the eye.

Loki offered a small smile as a comfort. He cared for Astrid and he needed to be there for her.

" Astrid, that is silly, I could never hate you. What's this about?" Loki asked.

Astrid had explained that the hunting went well and that Thor was actually a gentleman in helping her to bring the deer home. She bit her lip and she started to feel sick.

"Thor kissed me. After all I've said, he kissed me...twice."

Loki fell silent. Thor still attempted to court Astrid and he kissed her without permission. It bothered him that despite her wishes, he broke her trust and kissed her. His brother shattered her friendship with Astrid and Loki hoped he didn't ruin it.

"I had to blast him away and shout at him since he upset me. Egil didn't help either, saying how I was ungrateful and should have taken his kiss proudly. The kiss made me sick, that's what it did. I didn't want him to do this, I really didn't."

Loki listened to Astrid. He couldn't believe Thor had the nerve to disrespect a woman like that. Well he could but this time it wasn't just any woman, it was Astrid. She was his best friend since childhood and he still disrespected her.

" I don't blame you for being angry. As much as Thor is my brother, you did the right thing by blasting him back. I am sorry Astrid. I feel ashamed for Thor doing that to you." Loki expressed

"I feel ashamed too, ashamed that you have to deal with this now. I swear, I didn't love it if he claimed I did. He held me close to him and I just...I just wanted him to not have done it. You do believe me right?"

Loki was quiet at first as he listened. The pain on Astrid's face said it all and he knew Astrid didn't want Thor, but him. She truly was worried about their relationship and Loki had some worries, but he knew Astrid loved him.

" I do believe you Astrid, I have no reason to doubt you. I'm truly appalled at my brother's actions. This will make things hard between you two… Perhaps Thor needs that to understand that not every woman will like him and if he does what he does it will have serious if not dire repercussions." Loki expressed.

Astrid said nothing but sighed. She got out a sketch she made of the three of them when they were all ten. How she wished they never grew up since this pain Astrid had was horrible.

"I want to forgive him, but not now. Not sure when but I need time. Call me a fool but his friendship still matters to me, but he will have to give me time and work on this." Astrid stated in a numb tone.

Loki hated seeing Astrid upset, but he understood. However it is unlikely Thor will do that since he may go to Astrid's everyday to apologize and attempt to bribe her, which honestly pissed Loki off more.

" Is there anything I can do for you Astrid?" Loki asked.

Astrid sighed and nodded. Her heart and mind were very hurt and confused and she needed time.

"Keep yourself and Thor away from me for a couple of days. I need to work through this pain on my own."

Loki was shocked and a bit hurt. If anything, Astrid needed him more and he shouldn't be away from her in her fragile and hurt state.

" Astrid, I am sorry you're hurting, but I don't want you to go through this on your own. I want to be there for you." Loki expressed softly.

He did care for Astrid and respected her, but part of him worried that Astrid may change her mind about both of them. Loki hoped that she would not abandon him for Thor and still love him in their time apart. Thor got everything and if Thor took Astrid away from him, Loki would be crestfallen and defeated.

"Loki, I care for you immensely, but seeing you is just going to make me hurt like seeing Thor would. My company would not be it's best and I want us to be back to where we were before Thor ruined things for all of us. Trust me, I want you here more than anyone but I really need to see why this pain is what it is once it settles. I do think it's because Thor wants more that I never want to give and our friendship might not be the same after this."

Loki sighed but he understood. He hated this and he hated that Thor was responsible for Astrid's pain and her current decision. He did respect her and he would do as she told him.

" Please take care of yourself at least. I will be there when you are ready, Astrid." Loki said before vanishing.

Thor headed back to the palace, equal parts confused, bruised, and hurt. He could not understand why Astrid would act this way. He did everything for her and was a dear friend, yet she refused him. Maybe deep down she was upset that Loki found someone else and was taking her anger out on him...Yes that must be it since they were best friends and this would have been a good thing.

Thor had barely gotten to his room when Loki stormed in angrily.

" What is wrong with you!? How could you do that to Astrid!" Loki expressed angrily.

Thor rolled his eyes.

"I didn't do anything to her brother." Loki scoffed.

" Don't you lie to me Thor. Astrid told me you kissed her and she did not want you to do that. What were you thinking… scratch what were you thinking at all!? She's told you several times not to pursue her and kiss her and here we are! Brother you sure are stupid and distrustful! Astrid didn't want you to gamble your friendship for a kiss!" Loki shouted.

"Sometimes women don't know what they want. I mean she seemed to want it before pushing me away...and before she used her magic...Her magic is so forceful isn't it? Has she blown you back with it Loki?"

" No, because I never tried to disrespect her wishes. Astrid told you before that she didn't appreciate you making moves on her, but you did not listen. Now she is extremely upset and doesn't want either of us to come near her." Loki expressed.

Thor frowned.

"Neither of us? Brother you are being overdramatic." Loki scoffed

" No, I am not being overly dramatic! She does not wish to see either of us for a few days thanks to your action." Loki glared

"Well then your girlfriend will be happy about that since you don't have to balance your time." Thor stated a bit bitterly.

Loki was pissed and he punched Thor in the jaw. He rarely would stoop to Thor's brute physical way of handling things, but Astrid mattered to him. Astrid was his girlfriend and he couldn't even say that to his brother. Loki couldn't see her since she asked him for space, all because of Thor.

" You are an idiot Thor. This is not about my girlfriend and me, this about your selfishness. Just because I have a girlfriend does not mean you have a claim on Astrid like some trophy. Astrid is not one of your feelings of passion. She is or at least was our best friend since childhood. She has a mind of her own, and to be honest it would be a miracle if she ever wants to see either of us again. Girlfriend or not Astrid is my best friend, and if we lose her because of your greed and womanizing ways… well you won't be seeing me after your coronation or at it. We might even see less of each other and just be two people who have the same parents and nothing more." Loki expressed coldly.

Thor checked his lip for blood and then slammed Loki's back against his wall forcibly by his wrists.

"Astrid is not like the others and I love her! You don't think I care about her but I do! Do you hear what other men say about her, how they only care for her body and nothing else. They know nothing of her kindness and they all 'want to break her'. Least I want her and will swear off others when we make up and perhaps develop something Loki. It's just...I don't know why she's against at least trying to see if we are good for each other." Loki said as he pushed Thor off him.

" You say you care for her, yet you treat her just like the other men. Astrid is too different, too smart, too intelligent for all of you. She knows what she wants in life. It's not to be a trophy wife. Perhaps she doesn't love you the way you claim to love her. It hurts but you don't always get everything you want Thor, you will have to learn to live that since it will happen a lot in life and not just with Astrid." Loki stated.

Thor can see Loki's anger and he was concerned but also suspicious.

"Have you tried with her?"

" No I have not, even though I wanted to. I care about Astrid and I did not want to jeopardize that, so I never attempted to court her." Loki lied since he had Astrid's heart.

Thor sighed and rubbed his buttock.

"How was she when you saw her?" Thor questioned.

" Like I thought she would be after what you did. Angry, hurt, confused and hate to say this but what you did made her feel sick." Loki said rather coldly.

He didn't want to hurt Thor but he need to show him the reality that Astrid will never see him the way he saw her

Thor frowned and sighed, crossing his arms.

"I don't get it. Egil told me that I'm all she talks about at home, how she loves it when we are together, and can imagine a life with me...You don't think he's lying to me is he?" Thor questioned.

" Listen Thor I do want you happy, but you just found out for yourself what Egil has been telling you is a lie. I mean you don't have to believe me either, but trust Astrid. If she truly loved you would she have ever tried to use magic to hurt you?" Loki asked

Thor's stomach sank.

"No...she only uses combative magic that is strong if she needs to get away or fight...She wants to be away from me. By Norns what did I do?" Thor expressed.

" You listened to a man who wants to use Astrid as well as your own fantasies and delusions to upset Astrid, and possibly alienate her from us" Loki sighed, crossing his arms.

"I think Egil just wants me to be with her and I do think he meant no harm." Thor defended.

Egil didn't want to let go that Astrid might love Thor someday. Loki scoffed since Egil wanted Astrid to be with Thor for his own motives.

" Egil is living his life through Astrid. He wants her to be something and that something is your wife and queen. He doesn't find her magic good like we do. He wants her with you even though you're not the best for her or what Astrid wants. He deems you worthy but after today, you should see it's not worth it." Loki said.

"Are you saying I'm not worth her heart Loki?" Thor asked kind of hurt by his words.

Loki sighed.

" No, I am not, but I am saying Astrid's heart does not belong to you and today she's shown you how she doesn't want to change her relationship with you." Loki stated.

Thor sighed.

"You think she'll forgive me?"

" It will be a miracle if she does, she's extremely angry at you." Loki clarified.

"Then how come you can't see her? Knowing Astrid. you make her so happy and she would need that now. Why's she punishing you?"

" Because you are my brother, she needs a break from seeing both of us so she can clear her mind and decide where to go next." Loki said with a shrug.

Thor nodded and rubbed his jaw.

"Today's not my day...Astrid blasting me on my ass and you slugging me...what's next?" He tried to joke but he was still in a low mood.

" Maybe you should think of the actions that led you here in the first place."

Thor nodded and pulled his brother in for a hug.

"I'm sorry Loki, I really am. I was a jerk and I'm glad you at least have someone. Part of me just wants what our parents have."

"Well you can't force that Thor. I am sure even mother and father have their issues. We're still young so don't linger on that for now." Loki said

Thor nodded.

"Perhaps we should take this time to bond brother. Perhaps go off camping." Thor offered. Loki sighed and shook his head

" I'm going to go rest brother, you need to thoroughly think of your actions." Loki expressed before leaving.

Loki returned to his room and he used his magic to move his table and chair to the ground. He was angry and hurt that Astrid was hurting and he couldn't do anything. It was when he stared at the floor Loki noticed an odd pink piece of paper. He glanced at the handwriting and saw it was Astrid's.

Dear Loki

I am truly sorry about pushing you away. It was an awful day but you did not deserve me shutting you out. Please believe me that when my mind and heart are no longer heavy I will see you again. You mean the world to me and I love you, that will never change.

Yours forever Astrid

Loki smiled as he read the note and he knew Astrid and him would be together again. He didn't like to be apart, especially now, but he learned from Thor to listen to Astrid. He loved her and he knew their love would find their way. He will see her again and he will continue to love her.