I'm so sorry that this has taken so long. I did not intend for that to happen, but I started a new job a few weeks ago and that has been keeping my attention for a time. I hope to work on this more in the future and set up a schedule, like once a week for an update. Hopefully I will able to stick to that. I will certainly try.

And as always, thank you for reading!

Astrid opened her eyes slowly, blinking a few times at the bright lights around her, before turning her head slightly to look beside her. She saw her mother holding her hand tightly with tears in her eyes. She could tell that Frigga was trying hard to hold her fear inside.

When Frigga saw Astrid awake, she let out a loud breath, as if she was holding it for a long time and leaned forward to kiss her forehead.

"I'm so glad you're okay!" She said and kissed her hand and smiled. "I lost one child today, I didn't want to lose another."

Astrid startled at the comment. "What do you mean? Where is Thor?"

Frigga paled at the question and glanced down at their intertwined hands before answering softly, "Thor was banished."

Astrid gasped softly. She knew that they were in trouble, but she did not imagine that their father would do that to his oldest son.

"And Loki?" she asked quietly, dreading the answer that he was banished too and she was left all alone.

"Still here. Odin knew it was Thor who led you there. Only he was banished."

"But we all are guilty! We all knowingly went! How is that fair?" She asked, looking at her mother.

Frigga only shrugged. "It was your father's decision. Not mine. If it was, Thor would still be here," she finished quietly.

Astrid sat up slowly, glancing down at her side, which was covered in a bandage that had slowly started to bleed through and wincing slightly.

"The ice shard missed all vital organs. It was just pretty deep. You'll be okay." She said with a smile.

Astrid let out a soft sigh of relief. It was good to know that she would be okay. It still hurt like hell though.

The door slowly creaked open, and Loki stepped in. His expression was unreadable.

Frigga looked up and smiled, before turning to Astrid. "I will let you speak with Loki." She said before standing and placed a reassuring hand on Loki's shoulder, before she walked out the door.

Loki waited until the door was closed before going to her side and sitting down in the chair that her mother had just previously occupied.

"How are you feeling?" He asked softly.

"I'm alive, so I guess that's good." Astrid joked with a smile.

His eyes pierced through hers, clearly not amused. "That's not what I asked."

Astrid rolled her eyes, though touched at his concern, "I'm fine Loki. Really. Don't worry about me."

"It's my job to look after you!" He exclaimed, his eyes boring into hers.

"No, it's not! Astrid retorted. "I can look after myself.

"Yes, clearly you can." He gestured to her in the bed, bandaged up around her waist.

Astrid was seething. "That was not my fault! Stop treating me like a child Loki!"

"Then stop acting like one!" He turned on her, his eyes blazing.

Astrid watched him, unfazed by his outburst. She was hurt by his words, but she would never show it. She sat up higher to retort something before wincing slightly at the pain that shot through her body. Loki quickly reached out to gently push her back down into the bed. "Don't move too much. You'll hurt yourself."

Astrid reluctantly listened and settled down again in the sheets.

Loki sighed and covered his face with his hands. "I'm sorry. But you're my only sister."

Astrid laughed, the earlier tension lost. "Please not this mushy stuff again!" She punched him lightly in the arm. "I never thought I would ever hear something like that come out of your mouth, brother."

Loki looked up at her and smiled, a twinkle in his eyes. "Yeah, well it won't come out again, so remember this one time," he said as he sat back, amused.

Astrid laughed and he laughed along with her.

"So, when can I leave?" She asked hopefully.

"Soon. Probably tomorrow. The wound was not that bad." He replied, glancing at her bandage and noticed that it had started to bleed through. Loki reached over onto the table by her bed and grabbed a fresh bandage before moving to her injured side and began to change the old cloth.

Astrid shifted slightly to give him more room and allowed him to work. As he worked quietly, she murmured softly, "What happened to Thor?"

She saw Loki stiffen, his fingers pausing over her broken skin, but quickly continuing as he replied, "Odin banished him." Astrid looked at his face, noticing the quick look of sadness pass over his features before it returned to its neutral state.

"But that's not fair! It was all of our faults! Not just his!" Astrid said angrily.

"I know. But there is nothing you can do." Loki said softly as he finished bandaging her wound and sat back again.

Astrid sighed and put her head back down on the pillow. "Yeah, I know."

Loki sighed and stood up. "You should rest, little sister," He said, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly, as he looked down at her affectionately.

Astrid rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah I know…" She said, but a smile was visible on her face.

Loki chuckled softly. "I will return later to see how you are doing" He said, giving her hand a quick squeeze, before walking out the door, letting it close with a soft thud.

Astrid rolled over, wincing slightly. She looked at the table beside her and noticed for the first time, that her favorite book was sitting there.

She grabbed it and opened the cover. A note slipped out onto her lap. She picked it up and read it silently.

Thought you might get bored.

Enjoy.

-L

Astrid rolled her eyes and smiled. He must have snuck it in with him when she wasn't looking. Or used his magic.

Hopefully no one would come in for a while, as she was supposed to be resting. But Loki knew that she would not sleep, and instead brought her a book to read. He knew her so well.

Astrid picked up the book and started reading, letting the rest of the world fade away around her as she was sucked into the pages of the story.