LunashiranaRavyn: I do apologize, but I swear I always have my reasons for doing what I do... including this chapter. :) I don't mean to play with your emotions as much, but it is necessary... I apologize once more.
VanillaSnowdrops: Ah, yes, action is my nemesis, but it seems it worked out well so I'm happy. :) Haha, I know. I just *had* to put that in there because of that precise thing. I want them to get along, as I think they'd be good friends if there wasn't the whole... mind doohicky thing. I LOVE BADASS PEPPER 8D She is so awesome. Anyway, yes it is Veronica as in Lizzie's mom. :) Didn't expect that, did ya?
Katherine Winchester: Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am so happy that you liked it. :D
Spottedivy: What can I say? Loki's a dense guy. Ooh... I think I just *might* have Darcy hit him over the head in the next chapter. Well, Alex is needed in the future. Besides, Loki needs his full fledged powers first, and he's not the only person who wants revenge on Shaw... But I swear to you that he *will* kill Alex. But many things must happen first. We'll have to see whether Saoirse is alive or not, as telling you now will kill the suspense. *cue Sherlock music* I'm glad you liked it, by the way, and thank you. I hope you aren't disappointed with this one, as it's probably not what most are expecting. I swear to you, though, I have my reasons.
heroherondaletotherescue: I'm glad you liked it so much :D It made me very happy to see that. Well no one is giving up Lizzie... but I'm not speaking for *her* actions.
Kitty: Haha, you made me smile so much with your review. :D see? I'm smiling. Ah, yes, it is Veronica... and hopefully no one will find it too weird. I know, protective males are the most adorable things on the planet... as well as the most dangerous things on the planet next to pissed off mothers. You're so right, they are definitely almost at the breaking point. Only one more thing and it will simply break the floodgates of emotion, and I swear it will be soon. Just not yet. One more thing... only one. That is all I will say. :) I hope it wasn't too painful for you.
booklover: Hiya :D I'm glad you liked the twist, I certainly like to put those suckers in. I hope you enjoy this one as much. :)
Bleachlover: Well here it is *taa-daa* I hope you like it. :)
AnonymouslyJoker: YAAHOOOOOO :D You have made me sooo happy. I work hard to make my characters realistic, and keep the canon in character. Haha, I'm glad you like my sense of humor. Thank you so much for this review. :D I hope you continue to like it.
ObsidianOwl: Thank you for your review, you have made me very happy :D It's always good to hear that my characters are likable, and yet not irritating. Yes, there is more to her past than I let on, and certainly more to her future. I have spend more words than I know in bouncing ideas off my beta to work on her backstory, making it as good as possible, and boy has it evolved. Thank you once again, I loved reading your review. :D
Guest: Haha, well I hope you aren't waiting too long. :)
Alright all, here's the next one. Now it's probably not what you were expecting of this chapter, but I swear to you I have my reasons. So just... bear with me, and everything will iron itself out to be great, I promise. In the meantime, enjoy. :)
After nearly falling in the hallway, Loki forced Lizzie to use him for support, at the very least. Although she didn't want to to be seen as a damsel in distress, Lizzie allowed him to assist her, acknowledging her weakness. Eventually, she collapsed on her bed, her head feeling as though it would explode if she stayed awake a moment longer. However, there was something that needed to be taken care of, and it wouldn't do any good to put it off.
Loki put her legs on the bed, careful not to jostle her too much, still concerned over her sudden weakness. He knew she wasn't a woman who couldn't handle herself, but he wished she would let go of her pride and allow him to do more – after all, she had just been unconscious a few minutes ago.
"Loki..." she muttered as he pulled her blanket over her. "We need to talk-"
"Shh...later." Loki replied, placing his hand on her pale cheek. "Right now you need to sleep, and I'm sure your grandmother is worried." As am I. He almost continued, noticing how her face was paler than his hand. It bothered him.
"No." Lizzie shook her head, her eyes opening with a determination. "We are going to talk now."
"Elizabeth, I-"
"Shut up, and listen to me." she interrupted.
"Do not tell me what to do." He hissed, pulling away as she rolled her eyes, trying to raise herself to a sitting position. "What are you doing?" Lizzie didn't answer him, pulling her pillow behind her back so she would be comfortable before she looked back up at him.
"I know you want me to sleep, Loki, it has been one hell of a day and nothing would please me more than to close my eyes and just forget all about it." she started, closing her bloodshot eyes for a moment before she looked back up at him. "But I need some answers, and I allowed myself to sleep earlier before I got them."
Loki stiffened, he knew where she was going and wasn't sure he wanted to go there as well. "I already answered that particular-"
"No, you didn't." she cut him off. "Because that question which you are referring to is not what I'm going to ask you about. Now please..." She trailed off, motioning for him sit down.
"Your grandmother is in my room." he said. "I told her I'd come back for her when it was all over."
Lizzie sighed, nodding. "Will you come back then?" she asked him, looking up with hope in her eyes. After a moment of silence, his mind whirling on why he was allowing this mere mortal to have her way, he conceded promising he would return in a few minutes. "Alright, then we can talk." she said.
When Loki opened his door, Kathleen immediately rushed up to him. "Where is Lizzie? Is everyone alright?"
"Yes, we're all... in one piece, in the words of Stark." Loki answered. "Elizabeth is in her room, she suffered a bit more from the attack than the rest of us, and is going to rest in a moment. Shaw targeted her."
Kathleen nodded, her eyes catching the tick in Loki's jaw and the fury in his eyes. "Thank God." Loki held back the retort which popped up in his mind, sure that Kathleen wouldn't approve very much of it... something along the lines of 'You're welcome.' – "You care about her, don't you?"
What was it with everyone asking him about whether or not he cared for Elizabeth? "She is my responsibility-"
"I mean more than just a responsibility, and you know it, laddie." Kathleen interrupted, giving him a pointed look. What was it with everyone cutting him off as well? "You may be denying it to yourself, but it's clear to everyone around you."
"I don't know what you're talking about. Elizabeth and I are... friends at best. We have come to a kind of understanding, that is all." Loki replied.
"Friends?" Kathleen repeated with a chuckle. "She cares about you too, you know. I don't think I've ever seen her so caring about anyone else... she hangs on your every word, even though she doesn't realize it. She seeks out your company, and she told you her past."
"That doesn't mean she... loves... me." Loki choked.
Kathleen gave him a motherly smile, reminding him of Frigga as she placed a hand on his cheek. "You don't understand a woman's heart, laddie. It's already done, she loves you now – why do you think she allowed you to kiss her?"
Loki's brows furrowed in confusion. "How do you know about that?" he demanded.
"She didn't disable the cameras this time. Jarvis sent me the video, I watched it while I was waiting for you to come back." Kathleen answered. "I knew you were close, and when Lizzie went missing I didn't know the depths of your own feelings, although I knew hers. But I was wrong to what extent you cared for her, believing you to be rather indifferent... until I saw that video, and once I did, everything fell into place and I knew she'd come back safe."
"Whatever made you think that?" Loki hissed. "We almost didn't find her, and had it not been for my own mother sending me something which she wasn't supposed to we never would have!"
"But you did, didn't you?" Kathleen repeated, a smile on her face.
"Yes, but you couldn't know that." Loki replied, straightening up. "And you didn't know that when we found her she wasn't going to be dead." He swallowed, the image of Lizzie's dead body coming into his mind unbidden – he banished it, trying to return his mind to a very alive Elizabeth.
"Loki, I know you've been burned in the past, although Lizzie won't tell me why, by whom, or what circumstances – but don't let that destroy what future you have. Fate brought the pair of you together, if you're not careful Fate will take her back out of your life." He had no response, and only stood there while Kathleen walked past him and into Elizabeth's room. First Frigga and now her. Was something going on that he didn't know about? Sure, he'd been contemplating his... opinions of Elizabeth, but he had not contemplated any supposed feelings that he had for her.
Following Kathleen, he stood at the door of the room watching as the older woman fussed over the tired Elizabeth, whose eyes continued to close and then snap open. His mind went back to when she was missing, to his staunch determination to find her, and kill the person who had her. He had failed in the second, much to his chagrin, but the first had driven him until he succeeded. He looked down at his ring, knowing that the situation would have been much worse had he not been allowed use of his powers. Is that what Frigga had forseen?
His mind went to seeing Elizabeth tied to the chair, standing up against the man who had tortured her for years – well, sitting down technically – facing him as if he were nothing to her. But the feeling of despair when, after hearing Alex's statement of departure, Elizabeth crumpled before his eyes completely unresponsive. That was what his mind focused on, proving to him that perhaps these old women were right, perhaps she meant more to him than he was willing to admit. But it was absurd... how could Loki, Prince of—no, he was not a prince of anything. Not anymore. Still, how could he care for a being like her? She was beneath him in every way... except for her mind, which seemed to keep up with him in every manner, meeting each thrust with a parry. An excellent swordswoman of the tongue, matching him in wit as well as cleverness.
Kathleen walked up to him, but his eyes were still focused on Elizabeth. She smiled to herself, remembering when her own husband did the same, standing in the door when she got a bad case of pneumonia. It had been before they were married, and he was denying it as much as Loki was doing now. Hence, why he just needed the little push she had given him. "You can talk to her now, if she's lucid... but I'd let her rest." she told him.
Loki scoffed. "Don't you think I tried to get her to rest? She's damned determined to have this little conversation about what happened, and refuses to sleep until she-" he was interrupted yet again by Kathleen placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I know you can work it out, in some manner. I'll see you later." Kathleen said, walking back to her own room and closing the door. "Ah, Ronald," she said to the heavens. "It's too bad you aren't here... you'd like him."
"Loki." Clint's voice muttered out of nowhere. Loki turned, seeing Clint standing behind him with a glass of water, an apple, and a bottle of pills. "Natasha said that she's probably got a headache, and sent me with these. She can't eat them on an empty stomach, hence the apple."
Loki nodded, taking the bottle, fruit, and glass. "She's right, Elizabeth said she was in pain." he said, reading the bottle. "What is this?"
"It's Tylenol with codeine, it'll put her to sleep as well." Clint replied.
"She's not likely to go to sleep, wants to talk to me about something." Loki scoffed. "How is Romanoff? The Mutant had her trapped in her mind, not many can get out of that safely."
Clint smiled. "She's got a headache of her own, but it's subsiding. I finally got her to get to sleep about... ooh..." he looked at his watched. "Two minutes ago."
Loki snickered. "You have the easy one." he said. Clint laughed.
"You have no idea." he said. "How is she?" He motioned toward the open door with Elizabeth on the other side.
Loki looked toward the door with a sigh. "I don't know yet, I haven't really talked to her about what happened. Would you like to see her?"
"No, I'll let her have her talk with you and rest as soon as possible. You should talk to her about what happened though, Natasha doesn't know what happened after she got locked up in her mind – said that everything kinda went fuzzy. It may improve, but for right now, she's still unsure what Alex said to Lizzie. She only has one word, Saoirse... but I don't know what that means." Clint said.
Loki's emerald eyes snapped up to Clint at the name. "I do." he said. "I'll see what Elizabeth says."
Clint nodded and Loki made to go into the room. "Loki..." Clint stopped him. "I want to apologize."
Loki's brows furrowed. "For what?"
"For thinking you were a bad idea for Lizzie, and thinking you would hurt her. I saw you today – how you acted – and it made me realize that I was wrong. You care about her, more than I thought you did. You were calling dibs on the guy who hurt her, the guy who has some connection with her past that only you know about. You were driven! I've seen driven people, forced with the fact that their loved ones were in dangers, but you were the most driven person I've ever seen! And it wasn't just to kill him either – you weren't there just to kill someone... I saw how you acted once you got Lizzie back and it was clear that it was all for her." Clint paused. "So, I'm sorry I was wrong."
"There is nothing to forgive, Barton." Loki said quietly. "After what I did to you I can understand why you weren't very trusting."
"Oh, don't get me wrong." Clint added. "I said I was wrong about you and Lizzie, that doesn't mean that you and I are buddies."
Loki chuckled. "I don't think you and I could ever be buddies." he replied. "But to know that you aren't going to try to keep me from Elizabeth is good enough."
Clint looked at the door again. "Yeah, you guys are safe from me. I'll apologize to her later. Oh, and uh, thanks for what you did for Natasha too, she seems to think highly of you because of it. She might be your buddy, she was actually the turning point for my apology."
"I'm assure you, I—"
"Save it." Clint interrupted with a chuckle, causing Loki to glare harshly. This was the third person that had interrupted him, and he was getting a little irritated. "Just take the thanks, the apology, the glass of water, the pills, and get back to Lizzie before she bites your head off for taking so long."
Loki opened his mouth, but then closed it, nodding curtly before walking back into Lizzie's room. "Barton gave me these, said that Romanoff told him to give them to you." he announced as he set the water on the table, and handed her the apple to eat.
"Good ol' Clint... " she said through a bite of apple. "How is Natasha?"
"Has a headache, and is currently doing what you refuse – resting." Loki replied with a huff, reading the instructions before taking out two pills. "He said this would help."
Lizzie took the pills from his fingers, popping them into her mouth and taking a swig of the offered water. She sighed, head falling back against the headboard, her eyes glancing over at the bottle. "Does that have codeine in it?" she asked.
Loki paused for a moment, unsure if he should tell her the truth or not. "Yes." he finally said.
"Sneaky bastard." she murmured. "You should have told me."
"Would you have taken them if I had?" he retorted.
She shook her head. "Probably not." she said. "However, codeine will take a little bit to get into my system, so we can talk until then." He nodded, taking a seat on the bed. Lizzie was quiet for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts despite her headache. "Loki... I suppose I should start this conversation with: I don't know what to think. Last week I told you my past, and we seemed to become friends... but today, you left me completely, and utterly confused."
"I thought you said this has nothing to do with the kiss." Loki countered.
"I didn't say that, I said that I wasn't going to ask why you kissed me, and that's because I know you won't give me a straight answer." she huffed. "But what I do want to know is what you expect me to think of... what happened earlier?"
"I don't understand."
"You have left me in a very difficult situation!" Lizzie exclaimed. "On the one hand, I'd like to just let it go, forget that it even happened; on the other, you have no idea what the hell you unleashed in my mind because of it – don't interrupt me, I'm not finished. Until a week ago, I figured that you were just someone that had been dropped in my life, something I couldn't control and had to simply deal with. Over the last week I've considered you as a kind of friend, someone that understood me, and that I could trust. I don't know about that anymore."
Loki stood in a fury. "Is that what you believe?!" He exclaimed, his legs dropped out from under him, and he was forced to collapse on the bed for support.
"Will you do me a favor and simply be quiet until I finish, or do I have to paralyze your voice box as well?" she asked him, earning a look of irritation, yet he stayed silent. "What I was saying was: I can't consider you a friend anymore, not because I don't trust you, not because I don't enjoy you – I do, completely and wholly, and especially after what happened with Alex. But after what happened in the gym today, I'm not sure I could leave us at 'just friends'."
"What are you saying?" Loki asked quietly.
Lizzie could feel the codeine settling in, her eyelids beginning to droop. "I'm saying that kiss meant more to me than it obviously did to you, and that I am unsure that I can ignore it at this point." she replied, her tired eyes beginning to see double. "I care about you, Loki, more than I probably should. That being said, I have no idea where we go from here. Do we end our friendship? We can't afford to get any closer, knowing who we are."
Loki didn't know how to respond, sure of just what he should say at this point. "Perhaps some would believe that it would be better for us to spend less time around each other, the awkwardness of the situation being something which may prove difficult. However I am afraid I cannot assent to that." he said, looking her in the eyes. "I do not pretend that I do not care for you – I do, more than perhaps I admit. When you went missing I know that I was willing to go to Helheim to find you, if that was where he kept you. You are the only person I can stand in this building, and probably the entirety of the Nine Realms. You have the ability to infuriate me in one moment, and soothe me in another, just to irritate me again. I will not lose your friendship, and that is final."
"That does not answer my question..." she said. "Are we staying friends?"
"I do not know if I can... love you, Elizabeth." he replied. "I can only assure you of my loyalty, and promise you that I will protect you no matter what the cost. Perhaps that is love, but I do not know."
Lizzie nodded, understanding where he was coming from. "So we shall remain friends?" she asked him, her eyes already closed as she let out a sigh.
"I think that would be the proper course of action for the time being, yes." Loki replied, taking her hand in his own.
"At least we know where we stand." she murmured.
"We do." Loki replied, determined to think the situation out further. "Now that we have come to it, I think you need your rest. We can discuss it further in the morning, if you wish."
She assented, and with a little help from him, she was soon laying down on the brink of sleep.
"Loki?" she called to him.
"Yes?" he replied, still leaning over her to help adjust the pillows.
Her eyes opened, and she brought herself up slightly. "Will you stay?"
He nodded. "Yes."
"Loki?"
"Yes?"
"May I have one last kiss?"
He could see the pleading in her gaze, and he brought his lips to her own gently, his fingertips brushing her cheek with tenderness as his lips moved against hers lightly. He pulled away reluctantly, remaining only inches away from her as fought between his desires and his mind.
"Loki?" she whispered one last time.
"Yes?" he asked, opening his eyes to look into her own.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight Elizabeth..." he whispered in return as she finally fell off the edge of night.
Loki stayed at the edge of the bed for a few minutes, watching her as she slept and wondering what it was that everyone else knew that he didn't. He wished Odin had been a better father, telling him how to know what love was. He hadn't wooed many maidens in Asgard, and every time found they only wanted Thor, but for a woman to care for him was something which he wasn't sure how to react to. On one hand, it made him happy – if he could use that word – to know that there was another being in the universe who could care about his well being. On the other hand, he knew it would not last, and that when this entire Thanos mess was over, that he would return to Asgard as a prisoner, and she would remain here... if she was still alive.
"Good evening, Prince Loki." Jarvis suddenly uttered. "Might I suggest the high-backed chair to spend your evening in? Miss Elizabeth also has a few books on her shelf which may interest you."
"Good evening, Jarvis, thank you for your suggestion." Loki said with a smile, walking over to the high-backed chair she had managed to get Tony to bring in, and pulling it over to her bedside. "But I think I'll leave off reading tonight."
"Very good sir. I hope you have a pleasant night." Jarvis replied. "And I also wish to inform you that Prince Thor will be leaving in the morning, and wishes to speak with you before he goes."
Loki nodded. "Thank you Jarvis. Goodnight."
"Goodnight sir." Jarvis replied, leaving him to watch her once more.
Now that he knew what Alex was capable of, he had no intention of leaving her alone. If there was anything he knew, he knew evil men and the way they worked and in that moment he determined that he would keep watch over her through the night.
After all, he wouldn't get any sleep anyway.
"Loki?" he turned, trying to find her in the gardens of the palace. "Loki?" she singsonged. "Over here."
"Where?" he called back, the giggling of children could be heard as he moved around the maze.
"Loki, over here!" It came from his left, and he came upon she whom he sought. "Took you long enough." she said cheerfully, her dark brown eyes shining in mirth. "Saoirse here had given up hope."
"Mommy, I said no such thing. I knew Daddy would come." the little girl called 'Saoirse' replied. Loki momentarily wondered how she was there, knowing that Elizabeth had lost her years before and in a different timeline... but he didn't ponder it long as he simply moved toward the girl, scooping her up in his arms and kissing her cheek. She giggled.
"No, you didn't have to... you were thinking it, I could tell by the look on your face." Elizabeth replied, looking back up at Loki with her hands on her hips. "What am I?Chopped liver?"
Loki laughed. "Mmmm... much better than that." he replied, kissing her as well. "But where is Erik?"
"My grandfather or your son?" Elizabeth quipped.
"My son."
"Your mother took him." she replied. "Apparently your father is still trying to feel better over what he did to you, so he wanted to spend time with him."
"Ah. I understand now." Loki replied, looking at Elizabeth.
"What?"
"Nothing..." Loki trailed off. "I'm just in awe of my wife, is that alright?"
She tilted her head, as she usually did when she was thinking of a reply. "Well I suppose so, she thinks of you quite often."
Loki smiled, placing Saoirse next to her mother who had taken to lying in the grass. He joined her, propping himself up on his elbow before he placed a hand on her stomach. He could feel the new life within her... life he had put there.
Loki woke with a start, the feelings which he had felt in the dream still quite there. Morning, it seemed, had also come, the light shining through the window with a soft glow. The dream confused him. He had been happy... elated even – he scoffed, he hadn't felt that for years. He had obviously been restored to the family, as both the conversation and his royal armor gave tribute to that. But that was not what had him in such confusion – as he had dreamed of being restored many times before – it was that he was married to Elizabeth... he had a son with Elizabeth... and he was expecting another. The thought, even now, made him giddy with delight. But its perfection was shattered with reality.
Looking over to his left he saw Elizabeth laying on her side, still asleep. Fortunately she hadn't had any nightmares, and so he was not forced to comfort her, their strained relationship already causing a bit of awkwardness within him. Still, one thing was decided for him during his night of contemplation, and that was that he would stay detached from Elizabeth Donovan. Yes, he was drawn to her, but he could see how dangerous it was for the both of them to spend too much time in each other's company. Dreaming about a woman who he had made clear with her that they were nothing more than friends would be bad for the both of them. Though he obviously knew she cared for him, and he knew he cared for her – still, the horrible truth for him was they could never be together. He was going to be re-incarcerated at any time, and he would be damned if he gave her more sorrow than she already had.
Remembering what Jarvis had told him the night before, he stood up from his chair and left the room as quietly as possible to see Thor before he left. "Jarvis?" he called once he entered the hallway.
"Yes, Prince Loki?" the AI replied.
"Where is Thor right now?" he asked.
"Prince Thor is currently in your room sir." Jarvis answered. "As soon as you woke up, I informed him. He's waiting."
Loki nodded once. "Thank you Jarvis." he said, opening the door to his room. "Good morning, Thor."
"Good morning, brother." Thor replied, shocked that Loki would be so open with a greeting. "I am returning to Asgard today, and wanted to see you before I left."
"I know, Jarvis told me last night." Loki replied, moving to his bedside table to look for something.
"I am sorry I have not talked to you more as of late, brother." Thor apologized. "I have been busy."
"Yes, I know." Loki replied. "And I have been in the company of Elizabeth, so it all makes sense why we haven't spoken. Don't concern yourself over it."
Thor nodded, in a state of shock at his brother's seemingly polite attitude. His heart clenched, it was almost like the Loki he grew up with, the one he had lost when he became exiled."I heard what happened yesterday, I am also sorry I did not come."
"Did you come here just to apologize?" Loki asked him, a slight smirk on his face. "Because as I understood it, you went to make sure that the others were safe."
"I did... and I didn't come here just to apologize, Loki. I just wanted to say goodbye, I suppose." Thor said quietly.
"Goodbye." Loki repeated. "What a lonely word. Very well, you've said it—"
"I heard what happened yesterday, Jane told me." Thor said.
"Jane told you what?" Loki asked.
"She told me about what happened between you and Lady Elizabeth." Thor said.
Loki rolled his eyes, swearing in old Norse. "Does everyone in the bloody tower know about it?!" he exclaimed, quickly silencing himself as he knew Elizabeth was still sleeping. "We are friends, Thor, nothing more."
"But—"
"No 'buts'!" Loki interrupted. "We spoke of this last night, and we came to the decision that friends would be our best option. Now leave the subject be."
"More like you came to the decision, and she knew she could never argue against it. I know you brother, you are afraid of her." Thor said.
"Whatever gives you that idea? I spend all my time in her presence, that hardly makes me afraid—"
"You are afraid to care for her because of what happened with Father, yet you are blind! Do you not see her affection toward you?" Thor's voice began to raise. "Fandral has been going positively mad over the fact that she keeps defending you, and Sif is concerned that you may turn her against us for your own gain."
"You can assure Sif that I have no intention of harming Elizabeth, and Fandral can mind his own damn business, she is not his!" Loki snapped.
Thor took a deep breath, wondering why every conversation with his brother ended in argument. "Sif and Fandral are not the only ones who worry about your influence over Lady Elizabeth. Nor are they the only ones to worry about whether or not she is a threat herself!"
"You believe Elizabeth is a threat?" Loki replied, his eyes alight with fury. "How dare you!"
"No, no, no, no, I don't believe she is a threat." Thor responded. "But there are doubts about her past—"
"What about her past?" Loki inquired.
Thor sighed. "She was accused of being some kind of criminal. Someone who would hurt us if she could, and under the power of Alexander Shaw. They said she had killed people, and that she was under some kind of code which would mean that she was a 'shoot-on-sight target'." he explained.
Loki's eyes narrowed. "Who is accusing her?" he asked.
"Director Fury." Thor answered. "He had some images of her... Loki is it true?"
"What makes you think I'd tell you anything, brother?" Loki asked in turn.
"I need to know." Thor replied.
"Why?"
"I cannot protect her if I don't know what it is she is being accused of and why."
"She is not under your protection." Loki snarled. "She is under mine."
Thor shook his head, gripping Mjolnir a little tighter. "Stop being so stubborn, I only want to help."
"I think I've had enough of your help." Loki replied. "You've said your goodbyes, now I think you need to leave."
"I did not wish for it to turn into an argument." Thor replied.
"Well it seems we can do little else." Loki stated, moving to his bookshelf. "But I will give you a message for Fandral..."
"Do not concern yourself, I have already given him the warning of going near Elizabeth." Thor interrupted. "You are not the only one concerned about her."
Loki scoffed. "Why do you think he'll listen to you? And furthermore, why is Elizabeth any of your concern? Have you been assigned her protector? Go back to your Jane, I'm sure your protection will do better with her." he mocked.
"Why are you so determined to keep me out of her life?" Thor asked.
"Because you will take her away from me!" Loki shouted, finally expressing his fear.
Thor was silent, taking in his words. "Why would I take her from you?" he asked, but Loki did not reply. "I care about you, little brother. I want to see you happy, and I have seen you happier with her than with anyone else. I have tried to—"
"When we are done here, you will take me back to Asgard." Loki said quietly, his face turned toward his books. "She will remain here, and I will complete my sentence. When I am done... when I am free to go about as I wish... she will be dead."
"And so..." Thor began, finally understanding. "You have decided to distance yourself because you do not wish to break her heart before your inevitable departure, and therefore your own. You are worried about loving her too much, because if you get in too deep, you're afraid you will hurt yourself too much."
Loki finally turned, a pained look on his face. "Now you see me, brother." he said. "Finally the brawn has gotten a brain." He could hear Elizabeth stirring on the other side of the wall, and immediately concerned himself.
"Loki... I didn't know." Thor said.
"Sorry for the interruption, sir," Jarvis interrupted. "But Hogun is waiting on you."
Thor nodded, looking at Loki. "Just go, you know how Hogun gets when he actually does get irritated." Loki said, turning back toward his books.
"Do you have any message, for Father or Mother?" Thor asked.
"Tell mother I am sorry, and I hope she'll understand." Loki finally replied. "And thank her for her presents. She'll know what I'm saying."
"I shall give her your message." Thor assured him. "You are aware that I can take her with me, somewhere that she will be safe."
"Safe? Elizabeth? Where? Asgard?" Loki asked in quick succession. "There is no safety in Asgard – not anymore."
"Mother would keep her safe, as would father—"
"And why would Odin take care of a young woman who his bastard son cares for?" Loki countered. "I doubt it."
"I would keep her safe." Thor stated. "I swear to you, that I always will."
"Why in the Nine would you do that?" Loki asked incredulously, turning back toward him.
"Because you love her, and I can only hope that one day she will be my sister." Thor answered, heading for the door. "And I will always protect my family."
Loki smiled ruefully. "She will never be your sister." he said.
"I have to hope, brother. That is all Mother and I have." Thor replied, opening the door. "Goodbye, I will see you soon." With that he left Loki to his own devices.
Loki stared after him, wishing that the Norns had taken him down a different road than they had.
What he didn't know, however, was that the Norns still had quite a bit of hardship in store for him, and that the problems with Alexander Shaw had only just begun.
Okay, please, please, please don't kill me. I know most of you want them to just get together, but they need to stay apart for just a little while longer. I swear it's all planned out, and will end up very very well according to my beta. I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless, and that you all just hang in there a little longer. All that begins well, ends well. Now, in the meantime, please review?