Sigyn is planning something but like Jebediah Stane, she is now going to be MIA until a later date. For now, we'll just get a glimpse into Ariana's way of thinking.

Differences mentioned in this chapter:

Ariana was quiet on the way to the tower. She moved to a seat about halfway there and the brothers switched spots so that so that Loki could comfort her. While she felt she had done the right thing, was letting Sigyn/Erika go okay? Would it be another Jebediah situation? He still stalked her? Would Sigyn do the same to Loki?

Loki took her hand as they started flying over New York and said, "You chose to allow her a chance, love. Not everyone would let their kidnapper and torturer go."

"And if she comes after us again, it's my fault, Lo," she bit back. "It's just like Jebediah. A danger threatening us from a distance."

"One of the things we all love about you is how you are willing to get everyone, no matter what they have done, a chance for a better life."

Ariana looked down. "I didn't want to let her go, I didn't have the strength to do anything to her. The things she said…" She clenched her fists. "I didn't let her go to be nice or for her to contemplate changing her mind. She's crazy, Lo. Willing to kill a child over a vision. I had no choice but to let her go because I knew it was either to show her my Asgardian armor or collapse in a soaking wet heap next to you. I used the last of my temporary Goddess powers making a show of strength rather than let her think she got to me."

"I understand."

"No, Lo, you don't. I don't go for vengeance or revenge, but she may be the first, and I'm afraid I'll like it and… and…"

He pulled her into his arms. "Everyone wants to protect the ones they love. She was saying things that clearly upset me, and that angered you. It's okay to want to protect me just as I protect you."

"I wanted to kill her, Loki." The admission came out in a rush of guilt. "I wanted to make her hurt worse than she ever hurt anyone. Me, you, everyone. I wanted her to hurt so much that she felt it even in hell." She looked at Loki with fire and anger painting her eyes. "It's like this anger has been building for so long, and now, it's targeting her and I don't want to stop it."

"How long?"

"What?"

"How long has it been building?"

"Since the Aether, why?"

He grabbed her arm and dragged her off the jet when Thor landed. Jane was starting to wake up, but they were careful. While the team went to help Thor with his woman, Loki had Ariana go with him to the lab. When she realized where he was taking her, she tried to fight back, but there seemed to be no effort involved. Loki knew what was happening then.

Bruce and Tony turned to them as they entered and Loki all but threw her onto the examination table. Bruce looked confused, Ariana pissed, Loki worried, and Tony shocked. Bucky followed them and Ariana's shouts.

"She has a dangerous, ancient artifact running in her veins," Loki said, keeping her held down. "It needs to come out. It is altering her emotions and mindset. It has been in her too long."

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Tony asked, racing around. "What happened?"

Loki explained about the Aether and the Dark Elves, at least what he could tell them without breaking any Asgardian laws and was strictly necessary. Bruce, though still unsure what was happening, helped to draw out the Aether with Tony while Bucky and Loki held Ariana as still as they could. There seemed to be little time and they could feel explosive energy building in the room as some of the more sensitive equipment started erupting in showers of sparks. The whole time, Ariana kept yelling at them to stop, that she wanted to keep it. Loki knew that while it was a near-perfect syncing between Ariana and the Aether, the fact that it was more powerful and ancient than she was tipped all favor to the dangerous substance.

When it was over, Ariana lay on the table, weak and breathing heavily. A red haze lifted from her mind. She looked around, her gaze landing on Loki last. She wanted to look away, the guilt of her darker feelings coming out filling her, but she kept her eyes locked, refusing to feel shame when he was right, wanting to protect those she loved was not wrong.

Slowly, warily, she was let loose and she sat up, her pace matching their stance. She rubbed where they had held her. She smiled, a single tear betraying the emotions she was hiding. Loki went to her then, despite the others cautioning him.

"After the fight with Malekith," she said to everyone, "I had originally planned on getting the Aether out and letting Odin decide what to do with it. However, I felt stronger after that battle and changed my mind, though the Aether had a hand in that. Everyone was so focused on other things, it was largely forgotten until now." She laid her head on Loki's shoulder. "There was enough of me left to tell Loki what was going on inside."

"What do you mean, enough of you left?" Bucky asked.

"I had anger building up since it bonded with me, but nothing like this. I could normally take my anger out on a punching bag or in training, but this was stronger. She tried drowning me before Loki showed up, then the things she said… I felt the Aether using that darker side of me, bringing it out and aiming at Sigyn, who was Erika growing up."

"Sis, this is all so…"

"Yeah. Let's go check on Jane and Thor. I should apologize to them for taking up Bruce's time. Jane was hurt and sedated because of me. She should have been seen to first."

"A dangerous object was inside of you and had been for some time," said Bruce. "I think it's safe to say that kind of takes priority."

"And if she had internal injuries?" Ariana asked in a hard tone.

"She was taken to Dr. Cho," Natasha said as she walked in. "Please tell me someone at least punched this woman for what she did to Ari and Jane."

"No," said Ariana. "Never got a chance. I was ambushed and nearly drowned." She smiled at Loki. "Then, my amazing boyfriend and his brother rescued me." She looked back at Natasha. "Jane was unconscious. I don't know what was done to her, or how badly hurt…"

"Just a sedative. Dr. Cho says a bit of food, water, and rest, and Jane will be good as new. Now, how are we going to…"

"No, Nat. I need to rest too. But I wouldn't mind a party tomorrow."

Tony smiled and said, "To celebrate a successful rescue. On it."

The party had been fun, but now the Avengers sat around and enjoyed the night together. Natasha had been trying to bug Ariana all day to make a plan to go after Sigyn, but Ariana kept finding reasons to not make one. It wasn't that she didn't want to, it was just a reminder of how close she came to a line she didn't want to cross. When Sif and the Warriors Three arrived, Ariana kept busy by telling them of battles she had participated in since they started looking for the orphanages.

Loki sat down at the bar as Natasha mixed a drink and said, "Ariana found a darker side to herself because of the Aether. She's been avoiding everyone all day."

"Not our visitors," Natasha commented dryly.

"She is ashamed that she wanted to kill Sigyn, perhaps even still wants to. As much as I want her to rely on me for everything, do you think the Captain can talk to her?"

"No need." She pointed to Steve sitting across from Ariana and the four Asgardian warriors leaving. "I made a comment and he came to the idea on his own."

Under their eye, Steve asked Ariana, "Talk to me, sweetheart."

Ariana sighed and said, "I wanted to kill her, Steve. Slowly, painfully. I wanted it to last. You know me. That's not who I am."

"When your dad found out that Bucky killed his parents, he let his anger get the better of him. In turn, I let my need to protect Bucky take over. I wanted to hurt your dad, Ari."

"But you didn't. You hurt him, but you didn't kill him."

"Exactly." He moved to sit next to her on the couch and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's not the thought that matters, it's your actions and how you deal with what comes after."

Ariana gave a soft smile. "Thank you, Steve. I'll think about what you said."

Steve smiled back. Then, he rubbed his thumb across her cheek and leaned in. Ariana moved back. She didn't say anything, but got up and walked out of the room. Steve followed her and dragged her into a side closet.

"Steve, what are you doing?" Ariana asked, outraged, but then she smelled the Asgardian ale on his breath. "How much have you had tonight?"

"You can't tell me your feelings for me just disappeared, Ari," he said, ignoring the question about drinking.

"No, but the way I look at them is different because now I know what I feel for you isn't the same as with Loki. It wasn't even close."

"Well, maybe I found out that I love you. Really love you. Why would you want to be with a man that killed eighty people in two days?"

"Because it wasn't him any more than it was Bucky that killed my father's parents or my birth parents, so back off." His grip on her arms tightened. "Ow! Steve, you're hurting me!"

Loki opened the door and Ariana all but ran to him. She rubbed her arms as Nat hugged Ariana to her.

"I'll take Ariana to her room," said Loki. "It's been… a day for everyone."

He pulled Ariana under his arm and escorted her away from an angry Steve.