When Laney got back onto the ground floor of the palace she eagerly searched for Frigga. She had searched everywhere she could think of before she decided to try outside in the flower gardens. Once outside she let herself relax as she continued to look.

Meanwhile, Frigga rounded a corner along the garden path, carrying a small bunch of fragrant yellow flowers, nearly bumping into Laney. "Oh! Hello dear... how did your visit go?" She asked curiously. Giving a quick look over Laney's face and expression, she could tell it had been better than the first visit.

"More relaxed," she replied. "Although I do fear what they usually feed him is barely edible. I shared my food with him and made sure to leave some behind."

Frigga gave a little nod, then led them over to an aged wooden bench to sit on. It was the perfect day to be outdoors. "I have tried to convince Odin to allow decent food, but he is terrified Loki will use his magic. The mush they serve has hardly any nutritional value, and keeps his magic very weak." She explained, having no fear of Loki's magic, as it was her magic as well.

"That's so cruel! He acted as if he was starving," Laney said angrily. "If Odin ever gives me counsel he will not like what I will say."

Frigga gave Laney a slight grin, she had always loved how protective Laney was of Loki. "He can go quite a while with no food. It is the way his metabolism works, but it quickly affects his magical energy. He can eat like a bottomless pit because he uses his magic so heavily." She explained, not to justify the horrible food, but to ease Laney's mind that the food was not putting him in any actual danger of true starvation.

"Magical energy or not, it's not suitable to live on. Do you think they'll let me go back this evening?" She asked.

"I agree with you, and just wanted you to know he is safe." Frigga assured Laney. "Yes, you can go visit during any meal time. So long as he remains calm at all times, you can go into the cell." She promised, very relieved to feel real hope again for her son.

Laney smiled smugly. "The guards were worried they could not protect me if they waited outside of the wall. I showed them that I very well can take care of myself."

"Be careful with your magic," Frigga scolded, "If they think you intend to help Loki, neither of us will be able to see him again." she added sadly, wishing she could visit in person as Laney did.

"I understand. I only did it to prove a point. I even got to see Loki smirk, still mischievous as always," She stood and began to walk through the garden, causing Frigga to follow, as she clasped her hands at her back. "Have you ever thought about seeing if Odin would allow you to see him as I do? I think it might help Loki in some way. He may feel as if you do not trust him because you only project yourself to him."

Frigga sadly shook her head. "Odin wanted Loki executed. Part of the terms of his imprisonment is that I am forbidden to see him. Just projecting myself puts us both at risk." She admitted, and busied herself with fussing over a rose.

Laney sighed and let her hands drop to hang at her sides. "No mother should be kept from their son," she murmured, "Maybe we could make it a goal to look forward to?" she thought aloud.

Frigga stayed quiet for a moment, just taking in the soft, velvety feel of the rose petals against her fingertips. "I understand his anger with me, I did lie to him. He has always been my son though, that was never a lie. The fact that I did not birth him will never change that." She said softly, then quickly brushed a tear from her cheek before looking up at Laney again.

"Hopefully I will be able to get him to see that sooner or later," she replied softly. "Knowing everything is a bit of a shock, I will admit. It's hard to picture him blue like a Jotun is known for being. Do you think he is part Æsir since he can change back and forth?"

"No, he is not Æsir, but he is a shifter. He can take any form he chooses. As an infant, he took the Æsir form, so we let him believe he was Æsir." She explained, realizing more and more how much of a mistake it was. "I never cared for the Jotun appearance much, but he makes it look beautiful." She added, shamelessly biased when it came to her children.

Laney couldn't help but smile. "You know I am biased when it comes to Loki, but I hope that one day he will trust me enough to let me see it."

Frigga gave a little shrug. "I don't know if he will. To him, that form is what destroyed his life. Just be very careful if you bring it up." She warned, more concerned about Loki's fate should he upset or become angry with Laney in the cell.

"I will tread with caution. I will not mention it until I feel the time is right, unless he speaks of it first," she assured. They continued to walk throughout the gardens until the chime of the noon bell sounded from somewhere in the distance. "Noon already," she commented.

Frigga looked in the direction of the bells. "If you wish to return to him, you can. I may not be able to have better food served to him, but I will make sure there is plenty of food for you to share." It's the least I can do for him, She thought to herself.

Laney nodded. "I will go now. I do not think that he will be expecting to see me again today."

Loki spent the rest of the morning reading through the books Laney had left him. He couldn't focus as his thoughts kept drifting back to her and how gently she had touched him. When a guard walked up to open the cell, Loki sat up, eager to see if it would be Laney again.

The guard entered the cell with a single tray in hand, then stepped aside to reveal Laney. She'd taken the time to braid the sides of her hair and pull it away from her face, as well as freshen herself up from her long walk through the gardens. "You have two hours," the guard stated as he sat the tray on a small table, then turned and left the cell for it to seal back in place.

"Afternoon," she said softly as she retook her previous spot in the armchair across from his bed.

Wearing a soft smile, Loki set his book aside again and dropped his legs over the side of the bed to sit facing Laney. "I wasn't sure you would actually come back." He admitted.

"I was told I can visit at every meal if I wish to, so I thought I would surprise you," she answered with a soft smile of her own. "The food is more of a meat and cheese assortment this time around," she added, "Plus I requested a bottle of mead."

"If your plan is to get me drunk enough to spill my secrets, I must warn you I hold my drink considerably better now." Loki smirked, knowing she would see he was jesting. He picked up a small piece of cheese to take a nibble from.

Laney narrowed her eyes at him. "You and I both know that the only one that goes overboard on mead is Thor." She leaned forward to grab her own piece of cheese and popped it into her mouth.

Loki gave a little chuckle. "As true as that is, we both also know that you have a way of bending me to your will." He teasingly accused, briefly flashing his well known mischievous grin. Picking up a small cut of meat, he stacked it with the cheese and ate them.

She raised an eyebrow at him. Someone's being flirty, she thought.

"I do?" she asked.

"You always have, especially since you pretty much see right through me when I try to lie." He said simply, then abandoned the tray of food. "You can have the rest."

Laney looked down at the barely touched food as she grabbed a couple more pieces of cheese. "You've barely ate. Are you still full from breakfast?" she asked.

"No, but I prefer more vegetables than meat." He took the cups and poured them both a half cup of mead. "Cheers to having you back in the palace." He raised his cup in a toast.

She took the cup he offered, then tapped it against his. "I wish it was in better circumstances," she replied honestly. "You really ought to thank your... Frigga for me being here. Because of her I've been able to be in this room with you without standing in the hall."

Loki opened his mouth to correct her, but held his tongue. The way she didn't refer to Frigga as his mother hurt him, but he knew that was entirely his fault. "I... I will remember to thank her." He said quietly.

Laney nodded as she took a sip of her drink. "She told me before I came down that she would try to visit you later this evening, but I do not know exactly when. It puts her at risk to do so, you know."

"That's the main reason I reject her visits, but she can never know that." He said urgently, hoping Laney would not break that confidence. "Odin fears she will get through to me if she is allowed to visit." He explained.

"Get through to you? Loki would that really be so bad?" She sat her cup down on the table and tucked her legs underneath her.

Loki shifted in his seat, nervous about how the conversation was going. "For me, it would be. She would make Odin release me and I'm worried that could put her in danger. He isn't stable anymore..." He folded his hands on his lap and picked at the skin around his thumbnail.

Laney stood and took the few steps it took to get to his bed before she sat beside him, making sure to leave a little space. "Loki," she said quietly, "What danger? What do you mean?"

Loki glanced over at Laney and took a deep breath to gather his thoughts. "Odin warned me, just before my trial, that I can only keep her safe from his wrath if I accepted the sentence and never told her the truth about... anything to do with the events on Midgard." He kept his eyes on the floor of his cell, wishing they could just go back to the lighthearted conversations they had at the beginning of the visit.

"Why would Odin do such a thing?" she thought aloud. "That doesn't seem like the man I know... at least I hope not." Laney sighed and leaned back on the bed, propped up on her elbows. "I do not think he would ever hurt her Loki."

Loki glanced over his shoulder at Laney again, but refused to make eye contact for too long. "Why... that, I'm not comfortable answering. As for hurting her... would you risk the safety of your own mother? Maybe he will, maybe he won't, but I can't take that risk." He hoped she would understand and not press the matter. He also hoped it would get back to Frigga that he did still considered her his mother.

Laney watched him as he spoke. She could see the tension rolling off of him in waves. "My mother passed three years ago due to illness," she admitted, "But I understand your reasoning."

I wish I could tell you that I know of your heritage, but I know better than to say it so soon, she thought as she furrowed her brow. Things are never easy.

Leaning back as well, Loki laid flat on his back next to Laney. "You're holding something back... I promise I won't get mad." He assured her sincerely. Looking over, he was even willing to make eye contact for the time being.

She took a deep breath and fiddled with his bed spread. "I don't know if I want to take the risk of making you upset with me."

Loki rolled to his side and propped himself up on his arm. "If I promise I won't get upset, will you trust me?" He asked, needing to know how much trust they still shared.

Laney grinned at him and turned to face him. At that moment she felt like she was a teenager again and they were laying on his bed in his chambers talking about both everything and nothing. She slowly covered one of his hands with hers and let her fingertips draw lines on his skin. "I don't think I could ever not trust you. For that to happen, it would take something that I cannot even fathom."

Looking down at their joined hands, he smiled softly. "Then trust me now and tell me what is on your mind." He moved his gaze back to her face, trying to read her reaction.

"Before I tell you, please do not blame your mother. She wanted me to know what I would be walking into." Laney grasped his hand in hers, then sighed. Here goes nothing. "I know about your true heritage," she whispered.

The moment the words were spoken, Loki tensed. He pulled his hand from beneath hers and stood. At first, he struggled to find words, but when he finally turned to face Laney, his expression was hard. "That is why she sent you? Just so I can know the only other person who I trusted knows I'm nothing but a monster?! She had no right to tell you!" He shouted, ignoring the tears in his eyes. How much do I have to suffer? He wondered silently. "Get out!" He demanded, and turned his back to her, shaking from the effort to control his rage.

Laney felt shattered. She didn't hide the tears as they rolled down her cheeks while she silently stood and exited the cell. The guard outside held out his hand to help her from the steps, but she shook her head and took off at a run. She didn't stop until she reached her chambers and locked herself inside.

She did not return to Loki's cell for the evening meal and refused to answer anyone that knocked on the door. "I'm sorry," she murmured out into her quiet bedroom, unable to stop the tears that continued to cascade down her cheeks while she lay curled in a ball in the middle of her bed.

Loki paced around his now trashed cell all the next morning. By time lunch was served, he had given up hope of seeing Laney again and he hated himself for it. Now that she knows, she will never love me. It was the one thought that kept racing around his mind. He leaned against the wall then slid down to sit on the floor. Closing his eyes, he thought of a happier time from their childhood. A time from before he was a monster.

Laney giggled as she chased Loki around the plains behind the palace. "Loki!" she called. "You're faster than me, how am I supposed to tag you?"

Loki laughed and stopped running. "Just do what I do. If you can't be faster, be smarter." He pointed to a spot by a rock where she could have hid and waited for him to pass by. "Wanna try again?" He asked, having fun teaching her a bit of his cunning.

"I don't know, I'm getting kinda tired," she answered as she bent down to put her hands on her knees. About that time, Thor rounded the bend with Fandral in tow behind him.

Fandral laughed. "Having fun with your little girlfriend Loki? Aren't you a bit old to be playing kid games?"

Loki stared at the ground and blushed. "She isn't my girlfriend! We're just friends! And I like the games!" He said, but in truth, he only liked the games because Laney did.

Laney narrowed her eyes. "Why don't you go run to Lady Sif Fandral? We all know it is her you fancy," she countered. "I bet if she were to ask you to play tag, you would do so."

Thor looked between them all, his mouth staying quiet for once. He'd never seen Laney look so angry before.

Loki watched Laney, shocked at how she stood up to Thor and Fandral. He knew he was smarter than his brother, but he had never been brave enough to tell any of them off like she was. "Come on, Laney, let's just go." He suggested, taking Laney's hand so they could walk together as they always did.

Laney gripped tightly to Loki's hand as she stuck out her tongue at Fandral before she let Loki lead her away, towards the gardens. "Don't let them bully you Loki. One day you'll be stronger than them and push them on their big butts."

Loki gave a little laugh, but stopped walking as they entered the garden. "Why did you stand up for me? No one has ever done that before." He said, then bent down and picked a little wild flower.

"Because you're my friend. My best friend, and friends protect each other and always help one another no matter what," she answered proudly.

Flashing a big smile, he handed the flower to Laney. "Someday, I will get strong enough and brave enough to protect you too, I swear it." He watched as Laney smiled at him as she took the flower and weaved it into her hair.

"Loki," Frigga stated, her voice hard as she stood at the foot of his bed. She'd watched him for a few minutes, noting that he didn't seem to be seeing anything around him. When she arrived, the first thing she did was tidy the cell and put everything back to order with her magic, but she was still miffed. "Loki," she said again.

Loki jumped, startled out of his thoughts. He quickly got to his feet but calmed somewhat when he saw Frigga. He knew she was not happy with him, but better her than a guard. "I know, I screwed up again, I don't need you to tell me." He muttered, wanting to be left alone.

"No, I will tell you," she retorted angrily. "I do not know what you have told her but she has not left her chambers since yesterday afternoon. She will not answer the door even to me, and has refused all attempts to give her a meal."

Loki sighed, feeling even worse. "I wasn't expecting her to know I'm a monster and I couldn't fully control the hurt it caused." He admitted, in part, wanting Frigga to know she had hurt him.

Frigga sighed and walked to the side of the bed, closer to him. "I am the one that told her Loki. I wanted her to know the truth of what happened that led to your fall. She has the right to know since she agreed to come here."

Loki looked over at the projection of his mother, and for once let his guard down with her, just a fraction. "You have always known how I felt about her... I know I've made mistakes, but I don't understand why you would take her from me like that." He kept his voice even, but the pain was still more than obvious.

Confusion crossed Frigga's features. "Why on earth would you say I have taken her from you?"

Loki looked away, then stood and paced the cell again. "No one loves a monster..." He spat, knowing she would get his meaning.

"Loki," Frigga sighed as she watched him. "No one things you as such. Not even Laney. When I told her, it was a bit of a shock, but she became very curious." When he didn't answer her, she moved to stand in front of him, blocking his path.

"Odin thinks the Jotar are monsters and he made sure I grew up knowing it." He stopped when she blocked his path, but looked away. "I'd like to be alone now." He said, his tone soft but firm.

"I've never thought you to be a monster Loki," she said softly. Frigga reached up and placed her hand solidly against his cheek. "I never will either, and neither shall Laney."

"You don't know that... if she saw me as I truly am..." He trailed off, disgusted by the thought, but he did not pull away from her touch.

Frigga grasped Loki's chin and made him keep his green eyes on hers. "Loki Odinson, that is your name so I will use it, the woman up in her chambers cares for you deeply. So deep that she dismissed her father's wish to ignore my letter and came here on her own. She wanted to know every bit of information I could give her about you because she was relieved to hear that you live."

Loki glared at the use of the surname, not wanting the association with Odin. "And when the shock of me being alive wears off? What about the inevitable day when I lose control and she sees that form? You can't say how she will react!" He snapped, more from frustration than anger.

The cell suddenly felt very small and he needed space. Reaching his hand up, he grabbed Frigga's wrist to move her hand off him. "How can I even try to..." He trailed off as he looked at her wrist in his hand. "No... you can't... can't be here..."

"Odin sleeps. I needed to talk to you in person. Think of my words Loki. You cut her deeply today with your words and you know it." She gently caressed the skin of his forearm, hoping to console him. "Besides... she's actually told me that she would like to see it first hand."

Loki closed his eyes as a gentle stream of tears ran down his cheeks. "No, no one will ever see me in that form. I don't want to be a monster." He whispered, then turned away. "I know I hurt her, but please believe me when I say I didn't intend to. I... I can't face her again, now that she knows." He walked back to his bed and laid down, curling up as small as possible on top of the blanket.

Frigga watched him before she decidedly sat behind him and rubbed his back, occasionally reaching up to run her hand through his hair, like she did when he was a child. "If you care for her as she does for you, then you will," she replied quietly. She quickly turned her head when she heard footsteps, then saw Thor step to the wall and nod. "I must go Loki," she whispered, then leaned down and kissed his forehead, "Think about what I've told you."

"Please make sure she returns home safely." Loki muttered quietly. He knew she was right about thinking about their conversation, but he was too upset at the moment to think with an open mind. He was counting on his mother to know that and not send Laney home right away. "She's the only true friend I ever had." He sighed, then rolled onto his stomach and buried his face into his pillow.

She ran her hand through his hair one last time before she stood. "Her home is here for as long as she wishes to stay Loki," she said with a small smile. "I shall try to see you again soon." With her last statement, she turned and quickly left the cell and hastily followed Thor back to safety, so she would not be seen.