As Estrid approached the ship, she fought back the tears. She must be calm. If people can't see what you're feeling, they'll be caught off guard every time you make a move. She took a deep breath. She drew closer, then paused in front of it. A door opened in the side, and she stepped in. She saw Thor sitting in the cabin. He glanced up as she came aboard, and nodded to a seat across from him.

"Sit down." She remained standing where she was.

"Are you going to fly?"

"No, Rocket is." Estrid raised an eyebrow. "He's a friend of mine. From work." He grimaced. Estrid rolled her eyes and sat down.

"Can we go now?" a voice called from the entry to the cockpit. Estrid glanced towards the voice. She didn't see anything. She glanced downward.

"A racoon?" she said, partly disgusted, partly amused.

"Got a problem with that, sweetheart?"

"Not with racoons in general, just the ones that address royal Asgardiens as 'sweetheart'."

"Royal? Ha, you've been the heir to the throne for what, ten minutes?"

"Long enough to deserve the respect of rodents."

"Why you-"

"Rocket, enough!" Thor bellowed.

"She called me a rodent!"

"She just lost her father!" Silence.

"Are you done talking about me like I'm not here?" Estrid said.

"Sorry, your highness." Rocket said sarcastically. He walked back into the cockpit. Thor glanced at Estrid.

"Sorry."

"For what? The racoon's existence or your incapability to resolve things smoothly? I don't need your help."

"I know you don't," he said quietly. "I can see you are fully capable of handling yourself. I just-well, your father's death still hurts, and I feel it is my responsibility to look after his child. Sorry-his daughter."

"Your responsibility? Why on Asgard would you think that?"

"Well, you're my niece."

"You've known me for an hour."

"But that doesn't change the fact that you're my only living family."

"That's awfully depressing given my father was adopted."

"I still loved him!" After an awkward pause, Estrid changed the subject.

"When do we leave?"

"As soon as that tree gets his rear in here to help me take off!" Rocket hollered out the door, seemingly to someone else.

"I am Groot!" came the pouty reply. Estrid looked as Groot crossed the room to get to the cockpit.

"Oh lovely. I'm flying to Asgard with a racoon, a tree, and Uncle Thunderbolt," Estrid grimaced. "How far is it?"

"Not very."

"Good." She stood up.

"Ah, I wouldn't do that if I was you."

"Why not?" Estrid was suddenly jerked back into her seat as a loud roar filled her ears.

"That reason," Thor laughed as they lifted off. Estrid replied with a withering scowl.

As they cleared the trees and the G-force wasn't as strong, Estrid caught a glimpse out the pilot window. She stood up slowly and walked to the entryway, placing her hand on the frame. She stared out at the trees, slowly fading as they got higher and higher. Thor came up behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"I'd forgotten. You've never been flying before, have you? Isn't it beautiful?" He glanced down at her face, and saw her eyes shine, and a faint smile on her face. She was enchanted. But then she turned and met his eyes, and snapped out of her reverie. She glared at him and shrugged off his hand, then walked back to the seats and sat down.

"I guess it's alright," she said indifferently.