Surprise! Bet you weren't expecting another update this soon! But I love you guys and it's the season for giving gifts! So here! My gift to you: Chapter 17

I hope you enjoy it, it is rather a lot shorter than the last few. I actually deleted quite a bit from this chapter, it just wasn't working and I'm fairly happy with it now. But do let me know, you all know by now that I adore your reviews!

A few of the reviews from the last chapter led me to believe that you guys are under the impression that this story is nearly over and I just wanted to clarify that nope! Not even close. We will be progressing into the Avengers storyline from here and then beyond that for just a little bit :) I hope that's good news!

I can't promise that the next chapter will be up as quick as this one but I do solemnly swear [that I am up to no good] that it will not take me two months like it has in the past.

Alllrighty! That's it from me! Please do enjoy!

xoxo

No, Loki.

Rosa raced through the halls of the Palace as fast as her feet would carry her. She crashed into several people who were not quick enough to move aside but she only shoved them out of her way, doing all she could to avoid slowing down. Once or twice a guard yelled for her to stop but she ignored them, not even bothering to look over her shoulder to see if they had followed her.

She burst through the massive doors of the Palace's Grant Entrance, into the cool night air after what seemed like an eternity. She looked towards the end of the Bifrost to see the stunningly bright light, growing slowly larger. It was starting. She didn't have much time.

She had to reach him.

Rosa looked around wildly, she'd never make it on foot. Her face split into a smile. The fates, it seemed, were in her favour. She raced towards the guard's unattended horse – a strong stallion, saddled and waiting for her.

Loki stood within the dome of the Bifrost. It was done. Jotenheim would soon be destroyed, erased from existence. That vile pestilence of a race would be gone forever. He would be free of them. Maybe then, she need not know…

Images of her burned body flashed into his mind. He physically flinched away from the thought. He had done that. He had hurt her. Never had he felt so filthy – so monstrous – as when he'd seen those burns. He'd fix them. He'd make it alright… Just as soon as Jotenheim fell.

"I was protecting her… from a monster."

Loki snarled. That maid... Perhaps just one more death. Just Lyora. Then it would be over. He'd be able to move on.

Rosa pulled herself up effortlessly into the saddle, having grown up riding horses while was her Father still alive. She dug her heel into the stallion's side and held on as it took off. Galloping towards the Bifrost, the cool wind soothed her burns slightly but tears still stung her eyes. What if she didn't make it to him in time? If anything happened to him…

"Please… you have to go faster…" Her grip tightened on the reigns and she leaned closer to the animal. She felt something beneath her skin tingling… prickling. She had awoken the magic again. And suddenly the sound of the horse's galloping footfalls increased tenfold. She could have cried out for sheer joy. She would make it, she had to.

The world seemed a blur all around her as the powerful creature spurred on. Even atop the stallion, Rosa could feel the Rainbow Bridge shuddering beneath her. The power oozing out of the Bifrost was too much. It had to be closed.

Why was he doing this? The thought broke Rosa's heart. What had happened to make him resort to this? To such violence. She had to reach him. She had to fix this. She knew she could. He couldn't be beyond reason – beyond redemption. Not her Loki.

As she neared the end of the Bifrost, she pulled the reigns, haulting the stallion just in time to see Thor swing his hammer down upon the end of the Rainbow Bridge. He was going to destroy it. She had to get to Loki.

"Loki!" She screamed running towards him, the sound of the overpowering Bifrost was so great that she barely heard her own voice.

Loki winced. His head hurt terribly. Something warm trickled down the back of his neck – blood he suspected. His vision swam. His mind was clouded. He looked up towards the end of the Bifrost and watched as his brother brought Mjolnir down again, horror building within him. What was he doing? Rosa was still in Midgard... wasn't she? The rage built up within him. What was that imbecile doing?

Rosa would be trapped there. Forever.

"If you destroy the bridge you'll never see her again!" Loki screamed. He knew Thor had heard him but it didn't stop him. He was going to strand her in Midgard. He'd never see her again. She needed to be brought home, he'd seen her burns. The burns he'd given her. If she wasn't brought back to Asgard soon she'd die.

Rage exploded within him. Loki ingnored the pounding in his head, the blackness that inched it's way into his vision. He lifted his staff ready to strike, racing towards Thor with a feral snarl. All the resentment he'd ever felt towards his 'brother' finally overflowing. He was inches away, ready to strike when-

Rosa screamed out for Loki as she watched helplessly as the bridge finally cracked under the force of Thor's Hammer. The shockwave knocked her off her feet and she screamed out again as the two brothers fell from the end of the bridge's shattered remains.

And then suddenly, as if from nowhere – as if by some miracle, everything was going to be alright – Odin is there, holding Thor by the ankle. Rosa ran forward, and collapsed at the edge of the bridge on her hands and knees by Odin's side. The end of the bridge was destroyed, not but shards of rainbow glass remained. The golden dome had fallen, lost forever in the deep chasm bellow them. Rosa glanced quickly at the King. He stood strong and powerful, his hand wrapped securely around Thor's ankle. She stared down at Loki in horror, hanging on the end of the staff out over the edge of oblivion. Her heart pounded against her ribcage, and she reached out to him. Everything was going to be alright now, it was over. It would be alright. She just had to reach him.

"Thor, do not dare let him go!" She begged, her voice filled with panic and desperation.

Loki stared up at her, the sound of her voice ringing through him. She was home. She was safe… She was burned, severely. The injuries glistened horribly in the light of the setting sun. Sweat beaded on her brow, and her hands shook. She was in such pain, yet she reached out to him to save him. The man – the monster – who had caused them.

"I was protecting her, from a monster…"

Loki cast his eyes away from her, looking down to the nothingness beneath him.

"Loki!" Rosa screamed. "Loki! Look at me, please just look at me."

He met her eye, though there was such pain and reluctance. Rosa tried to smile at him, despite the tears that streamed down her cheeks. He was so close. It would all be alright, she just need him to climb back up onto the bridge.

"I love you, Loki… I love you! Please, just stop. It's over. Everything will be alright now."

Loki tore his eyes away from her, he couldn't bear her words. She probably believed them too, in that moment. She would likely wrap her arms around him, and comfort him, promising him that all would be well… she didn't know. She didn't know what he was. She'd change her mind then. She'd see him for what he was…

He'd burned her… He'd hurt her… the only person in all of existence that he'd never wish to harm. It was over. He looked to Odin.

"I could have done it, Father." She'd never heard him sound so vulnerable. The sound sent a jolt of panic through her. She hated the way he'd spoken, he'd sounded so… defeated. "For you. For all of us."

His eyes meet Rosa's, I'm sorry for what I've done to you.

"It's alright, Loki, it's alright. Just, please, take my hand."

No, Loki.

Until the day she died, Rosa would never understand why Odin had said it then. When he had been hanging over the chasm of nothingness. She knew Thor would have said anything, done anything to ensure that his brother was pulled back onto that ledge. Yet Odin chose that moment to shatter the remaining fragments of Loki's crippled heart.

"Loki please, just take my hand!" Her own voice sounded foreign to her, filled with such desperation.

"No, Loki..."

And he had let go, staring into her eyes the whole time.

"NO!" the scream had ripped forth from her throat.

Without thought, without hesitation, she threw herself off of the bridge after him. If she could reach him it would all be alright. It didn't matter where they fell, so long as she was with him. He was so broken. He needed her. She needed to be with him. She couldn't lose him, not like this-

Her drop was cut short by Thor's arm catching her around the middle, just in time.

"No! NO!" She screamed, struggling against Thor's vice like grip. "LOKI! Let me go! Let me go… let me go…"

She heard Thor screaming for his brother and she had struggled and she had screamed but she was too late.

She just watched as he fell, deeper and deeper into oblivion.

When Odin had pulled the pair back onto the bridge Rosa collapsed, shock raking through her body.

No, Loki.

He was gone…

No, Loki.

She would never see him again…

No, Loki.

He had died thinking she had loved another…

She was numb, totally numb. She was vaguely aware of Thor falling to his knees beside her, tears in his eyes, as he unclipped his cloak and draped it around her shoulders. She was vaguely aware of the tears that ran down her own face. She crumpled, falling into Thor, and together they wept. Each supporting the other's weight, each needing the other to hold them up.

It was over. He was gone. She was broken.

Odin turned wearily towards his guards upon their approach. Six mighty Asgardian warriors, plated with golden armour, holding the finest weaponry, staring helplessly at their King awaiting orders at the end of the broken Bifrost. He looked so weary – older than he had ever seemed.

"This woman is of noble birth," Odin said calmly, gesturing towards Rosa. "Any who would argue otherwise, commits treason against their King. See to it that she is delivered safely to the Healing Room."

He offered nothing else. Odin glanced in Thor's direction, ensuring that he was uninjured before turning to face the Kingdom of Asgard and trudging slowly back toward it.

Rosa sat, crumpled into herself. Struggling to breathe. She gaped wordlessly, wanting to ask for help, for an explanation. She wanted to cry and scream and call for him, but she couldn't. It was as if her body was shutting down. Tears stung her eyes and her lungs burned for oxygen that she did not seem capable of inhaling. He was gone. He had fallen. He had let go.

Pain seared up her ruined arm, seeming more intense from her exertions yet simultaneously she was completely numb to them. She felt strong hands take hold of her waist, attempting to lift her, to help her stand. She resisted as best she could, putting up a meek struggle, too weak now, to put up any real fight. She wanted to stay where she was. She wanted to stay at the edge of the bridge. What if he came back and she wasn't there?

Her eye lids suddenly became impossibly heavy, and for the second time that day, darkness engulfed her.

Rosa did not open her eyes when she woke. The thought of it made her want to cry. Though she did not recall why that was right away. Her mind was clouded. What had happened?

… A horrible, horrible dream. Her pulse started to increase and breathing became difficult.

There was pain, her face, her neck, her arm… a flash of light, fire. Screams. Fear. Loki…

The bridge…

Rosa's hands clenched into fists.

He fell… no…

A tear slipped down Rosa's cheek and she opened her eyes to find her vision slightly blurred. She turned her head, wincing slightly from the pressure it caused upon her bandaged burns. Thor moved towards her instantly. He'd been by her side all night, he'd been waiting for her to wake, knowing how heartbroken she would be. And… in truth, he hadn't wanted to be alone. He had wanted someone who would mourned his brother with just as much sorrow as he did. He hadn't wanted this. He hadn't wanted to lose him.

"Try not to move." He murmured to her gently.

"Thor," she whispered, distressed. "Where is he?"

Thor stared at her, his brow furrowed. Rosa saw the dark rings under his bloodshot eyes. Red and sore… he'd been crying. He opened his mouth, attempting to form words but they failed him.

"Where is he?" she asked again, more forcefully this time. "Where is Loki?"

"Rosa-"

"Who went after him?" she tried to sit up and pain seared over the skin of her arm and neck. Thor's hand came to her uninjured shoulder, attempting to lay her back down. "Where is he?!"

"Rosa… I am sorry…"

Rosa shook her head. "No." she whimpered, tears welling. "No, please don't say that. Just tell me where he is. Please, Thor."

"He is lost, Rosa… he's gone."

Rosa was kept in the Healing Room for six nights before she was permitted to leave. The Asgardians who tended to her knew how to cast simple acts of magic to encourage her burns to heal faster. Her skin soon coiled it's way back together, leaving a map of ugly twisted scars that ran from the base of her right wrist, all the way up her arm and neck, ending where they just kissed against her jaw.

Sif visited her several times whilst she was being tended to. The Healers confessed to her their great concern that the woman refused to eat or drink. She hardly spoke. All she would do was sit and stare at nothing in particular, all day and much of the night. Tears no longer fell. She just stared.

Eventually the Healers deemed her wounds healthy enough to permit her to leave, despite the fact she still had not eaten, they had done all that they could for her. Thor came for her that day, he told her that her chambers in the Palace had been made ready. She was still to spend most of her time resting, but they had prepared a room with a balcony and a glorious view in a hope that fresh air might help to wake her from her shocked state.

Rosa thanked the women who had tended to her softly and followed Thor as he led her into the Palace. Eyes were on her as she past commoner and Nobleman alike. Word had undoubtedly spread of her tale – the woman who had fallen to Midgard with the Mighty Prince Thor, the woman who had loved the evil Loki, who had tried to destroy half the galaxy. Eyes lingered on her burns.

All let her pass without a word until Rosa heard a familiar voice call her name and hurried footsteps approaching her from behind. She slowed to a stop and turned to face Lyora.

"Rosa!" She called breathlessly. "Rosa, are you alright? I tried to come to you in the Healing Room but they would not permit me to see you."

She gasped at the state of Rosa gnarled skin, her hand shot to cover her mouth in shock.

"Oh Rosa, I'm so sorry that this happened to you. That he would-"

The rage boiled over and Rosa slapped her. Hard. The sound rang out around them in otherwise perfect silence. Lyora covered her stinging cheek and horrified eyes met Rosa cold gaze. They stared wordlessly at one another, and Lyora saw the hurt and betrayal, the anger and utter heartbreak. Rosa had never looked at her like that before and she understood why. She would never find mercy in those eyes ever again. She need not hope for forgiveness. She would not find it. Lyora stared until she could no longer bare it. Tears welled at last and cast her eyes downward. Rosa watched Lyora's cowering form for only a few moments more before she turned away and walked calmly towards Thor who had moved on ahead only slightly, watching the events unfold.

Darcy pulled her knees up to her chest, cuddling deeper into her lumpy couch, holding her tea up to her chest. On her left sat Travis, his shoulder just touching hers. He didn't make any jokes about their proximity, he didn't try to feel her up. He just stared, silently, at his feet. On the other couch sat Matt. Equally silent. Darcy had placed a cup of coffee down in front of him but she knew he wouldn't touch it. He'd barely spoken since they'd left, since the warriors had carried Rosa's unconscious body away. The only person who had taken it harder than he had as Jane.

She stood there by Darcy's window, staring up into the heavens. Darcy knew she couldn't see anything, but she also knew she was looking. Looking for a sign from him. She was only there really, because she didn't want to be alone.

"Do you think they're ok?" Matt asked finally. He didn't look up, he didn't want to meet anyone's eyes.

"They've got to be." Travis answered quietly.

"Come on you guys, they're Gods." Darcy said, doing her best to sound blasé about the question. "I'm sure they're fine."

"D-did you see her burns?" Matt murmured. "She was really hurt…"

"She's fine Matt." Travis said firmly, staring at his friend. "They got her back in time. She's fine."

No one else spoke. After all, what more could anyone else say? Darcy sighed deeply, letting her head fall onto Travis' shoulder.

Jane turned away from them, staring out at the stars.

Hmmm, yeah. So that happened. I hope you enjoyed it! Well, you know, in a sad way. Were you shocked at how quickly I updated? Merry Christmas!

I'd love to know what you think, love it? Hate it? Suggestions? Frustrated at the fact I just separated them AGAIN! (even I'm a little annoyed that they're split up) I swear it won't be for too much longer! The anticipation is killing me too!