Odin made certain that Ella remained on bed rest. He knew that she needed to have time to heal, but she didn't want time. What she wanted was to go and help her brother on Midgard. She needed to go and help him. However, Odin had told her that she was too late when he next saw her attempt to get out of bed. She had dressed in her gown; her shoulder aching slightly as she clutched a hand to her bandaged stomach.

"Ella, you need to rest," Odin urged from his daughter, making her sit back down on the edge of the bed. She did as he had urged, sitting back down as he sat down next to her, his hands on his thighs as he looked down to his lap. "I know that we have not had the best relationship recently, Ella, and I blame myself for that. I have said some things that were unpleasant and I have done things that I am not proud of."

"Did you bring him home?" Ella whispered, struggling to think of anything her father was saying. Her mind was fixed on her brother. "Did you find Loki?"

Odin took a moment to let out a breath. "I have sent a group of guards to The Dark World to bring him back. He…he will come home."

"Home," Ella choked out the word. "Loki never thought that this was his home, not after he discovered the truth."

"And for that I am sorry," Odin said. "Ella, I know that you blame me for what happened to Loki and I know that is why you are struggling with everything that has happened. I do see that. I understand it, but I did not make him do what he did, daughter. I never made him choose to take the path he walked."

"I know," Ella said in a small voice. "But you should have told him the truth to begin with."

"And I regret not doing that," Odin responded. "I do not wish to argue with you any longer, Ella. I adore you. you are my daughter. I want the best for you. I want you to be happy."

"And I am not," Ella said in a soft voice. "Father, I have not been happy on Asgard since I returned. Things are different and they have changed. I…I know that you will not approve of what I want."

"I know exactly what you want," Odin said. "You want the same thing that Thor wants, but you know it is impossible, Ella. You know that it is impossible for you to be with him. He is a mortal."

"He is a super soldier," Ella responded. "He ages differently to mortals too. He is different. Please, father, he…I think of him daily. I wonder what he is doing and how he is coping. I have not felt like this for anyone before. I just wish to explore it."

"I cannot see you hurt, Ella," Odin whispered to his daughter. "He will die before you. You know that…a mortal life is but a blink for us here on Asgard. I doubt it is much different for a super soldier."

"Then I would rather spend that time with him than wondering what could have been," Ella responded.

"You are your mother's daughter," Odin whispered, moving to take hold of her hand. "You have your own mind and thoughts. I doubt I could dissuade you from going."

"I just want you to let me go willingly," Ella whispered and Odin nodded his head.

"I do not think that a father ever lets their daughter go willingly, but they accept her decision," Odin responded. "I worry for both you and Thor. I worried for Loki, despite what you may think, Ella."

"He saved me, father," Ella whispered. "Loki sacrificed himself to help us. He…he wasn't who you thought he was or who Asgard thought he was. He wasn't evil. He had good inside of him. He loved. He had compassion. He just didn't know how to show it."

Odin said nothing in response to his daughter's comments. He remained mute. He managed a soft smile to her once she had looked to him. Truth be told, Odin didn't entirely know what he felt for Loki. He only knew that he was confused as to what he should be doing for his children. He longed for his wife. Frigga would know exactly what it was to do.

…

Thor looked on as his sister stood outside of Jane's apartment in London. He smirked as he saw her stood there; releasing Jane from his hold once he had finished kissing her. Moving out onto the balcony with Jane clutching his hand, Thor beamed widely before letting go of Jane's hand and moving to his sister, his arms wrapping around her and holding her tightly to him.

"What are you doing here?" he asked from her.

"It is a long story," Ella said with a smile on her face as she looked to her brother. "I healed…well…I am almost healed. I am sorry that I missed the final battle."

"I am not," Thor responded firmly. "Do you think that I would have let you anywhere near battle?"

"I think that you would not have had a say," Ella said, nudging him in the arm. Thor laughed heartedly at his sister, shaking his head back and forth. "But I am happy that you are safe and the Aether has gone."

"With a lot of thanks to Jane," Thor said and the two siblings turned to look to her as she tucked her hair behind her ear.

"I would imagine so. She is the brains here," Ella said and Jane nervously laughed and shrugged her shoulders.

"I guess so," she muttered and then looked to Ella seriously. "I am happy to see that you are safe though, Ella. I was worried about you."

"Thank you," Ella responded. "I am glad you are safe too. I…well…maybe we can meet again sometime, Jane."

Thor looked confused then, his brows furrowing as he wondered what his sister was saying. It took him a moment before he arched a brow and wondered what his sister was saying. Ella rolled her eyes as she noticed his confused expression, folding her arms over her chest.

"Do not tell me that you haven't thought about staying here," she said to him.

"I…I do not know what I have thought," Thor said back to her. "What has happened, Ella? What have you done? Does father even know that you are here?"

"Of course he does," Ella said. "He actually allowed me to come. I…Loki has died…mother has died…you, me and father are the only ones left and I want…well…you know that I love you. I love both of you, but I want something more, Thor. I want to know if I can feel more."

Thor seemed to understand then. Nodding his head, he placed a hand to his chin. "Steve?" he simply said his name and Ella shrugged, trying to act nonchalant.

"I just want to see," she said in a whisper.

"But you will be alone, Ella," Thor whispered. "You don't know anyone."

"I hardly know anyone on Asgard," Ella said with a shrug. "Besides, at least this way I can keep an eye on Midgard for you if you decide to return to Asgard."

Looking to Jane, Thor chewed on the inside of his cheek and shrugged his shoulders. "I do not know what I intend to do," he informed his sister. "All I know is that I need time away, just as you do."

"Then we are both in agreement," she said with a soft smile. "Perhaps we just need time to heal?"

"Perhaps that is so."

…

Ella knew that Steve had moved on from New York and was now in Washington. She had seen that much from when she had asked Heimdall to check in on him. She knew his routine and that he often went for a run in the morning to clear his head. Ella had somehow managed to find herself Midgardian clothes she didn't hate in an attempt to fit in. Thor had also had Jane find her an apartment. Apparently money didn't matter as Odin kept Midgardian treasure locked in his vault. He had given it to his daughter to help her get by.

She had looked around the sparse room of the apartment, wondering how they decorated on Midgard. She didn't dwell on those thoughts. Instead she went out to explore the city. Wandering through Washington D.C. she looked around, feeling slightly lost as she examined buildings and monuments during her walk towards the Lincoln Memorial.

She perched on a bench by the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, pulling at the dress she wore and wondering why it was so short as she tugged it down her legs. She saw people running already, wondering what was so fascinating about running. She said nothing, however, choosing to keep her gaze looking in the distance. She almost felt her stomach churn as soon as she saw his familiar figure.

He wore a tight fitting grey running top and leggings, his hair neatly coiffed and not a bead of sweat dripped from him. She wondered if he would even recognise her as he ran past and she took a deep breath as he came closer to her. Biting down on her lip, she saw him look around as his arms swung by his side. She remained seated as his eyes finally settled on her. She said nothing as he drew nearer and she saw a look of confusion cross his features. She laughed softly at the sight before he slowed his pace and stood still, hands on his hips as he looked to her.

"Ella," he spoke her name and she smiled.

"Steve," she responded in a small voice.

"What…what are you doing here?"

"Well, you said you would be around if I ever needed a tour guide," she shrugged, trying to act nonchalant.

"In New York," he responded. "I'm still getting to grips with D.C."

"Well in that case I can always go back to Asgard?" she said and Steve shook his head and sat down next to her, scratching the back of his neck as he tried to decide what to say.

"I didn't mean…not that…I mean I would happily show you around," he decided to say and Ella smiled at hearing him.

"Well that's good then because I have no intention of going anywhere anytime soon," she responded to him. "I have an apartment rented here and everything."

"Why?" Steve asked from her. "I saw what happened in London with your brother. I wanted to help, but the battle was over before I knew it had begun. He was alright though, wasn't he?"

"He was fine," Ella promised him. "I…a lot has happened since New York."

"I gathered," Steve said to her. "Is that why you are here?"

"I just wanted to leave Asgard for a while," she said to him, choosing not to reveal her feelings at that moment in time, uncertain of what he would say to her. Did he even feel anything for her or was she being ridiculous? She had known him for such a short time that it was impossible to tell. Perhaps she was being foolish and brash. Perhaps this would never work. But she needed to find out herself.

"You know," Steve said, sensing that something was on her mind, "I thought about you a lot when you went."

"You did?" she asked and Steve nodded.

"Yeah," he confessed to her. "Just…I…I don't know. I just wondered how you were."

"Likewise," she admitted to him. "I mean, I thought about you too and how you were settling in this new world."

Steve chuckled. "I don't know," he admitted to her. "It's been a few months and I still don't know how I am adapting. But I don't care about me. I want to know about you. What's happened?"

"Asgard was attacked," Ella began. "Jane Foster…Thor's…well…he is courting her and she is very lovely, but that's not the point. She was infected with something called the Aether. It is a dangerous weapon that Malekith wished to possess to cause havoc on the Nine Realms. Malekith was a Dark Elf. My ancestors defeated him once before."

Steve nodded. "You know, that would all have sounded ridiculous to me at one point before, but it sounds pretty normal now."

Ella nodded. "Agreed," she said. "Anyway, Malekith came and he tried to take the Aether from Jane. My mother protected her and…she…he…Malekith killed her for standing in his way. I could have done more to save her and I know that. I blame myself for what happened to her."

"Ella, I am certain none of it was your fault."

Ella shook her head. "I wouldn't be too certain, Steve," she whispered. "Mother died and…father would not listen to Thor. He wanted Malekith to return to Asgard so that he could have his revenge. All that would have achieved was Malekith laying waste to Asgard and so we went to him. We went to find him and Loki…he helped us…but he…he died."

Steve said nothing as he saw her sniff loudly and look away, clearly trying to hide her tears. He continued to watch her before looing away for a moment. He hated to admit that the death of Loki did nothing to bother him. Loki had destroyed New York. He had seen to it that hundreds of people died. He was not a good person, yet Ella had always defended him, despite that. He had always had her on his side and Steve couldn't help but think that he didn't deserve her.

"He died trying to avenge mother and protecting me," Ella responded to Steve and he nodded his head. "One of the Dark Elves attacked me and he defended me. Thor saved me, but we couldn't save Loki."

"Ella, I'm so sorry," he whispered and she managed a smile on her face as she looked to him.

"I am coping," she said to him. "But once you lose half your family you think of other things."

"What like?"

"Like what you want in your life because it can be snatched away from you in seconds," Ella responded. "And I wasn't happy on Asgard. I…I know that I might not be happy here, but it is different. I need something different in my life right now and…well…you are here too which is a bonus."

Steve's lips seemed to quirk upwards as he looked down to the floor, a hand moving to scratch the back of his neck. He turned his head to the side after a moment to see her looking down too.

"Well, if you fancy coming for a walk then I can show you around. S.H.I.E.L.D. don't need me until this afternoon?" Steve asked from her and she looked to him, her tears drying on her cheeks as she nodded her head.

"I would like that," she nodded and Steve moved to his feet, holding his arm out for her. She took hold of it, wrapping her arm through his and moving to her feet. The two of them sauntered along the pathway, Steve telling her about D.C. as they went and Ella wondered if she should feel guilty for feeling happy at that moment in time considering everything that had just happened.

…

A/N: Do let me know what you think!