So here is the new chapter. And well I am kind of sorry. It's a lame chapter, with a few nice parts (that's at least how it felt when I wrote it). I tried to make things move along, and get everything started, but I didn't want to jump there, right away. So that's why you have to go through the parts with Christmas and New Year's eve. But hopefully you will survive those parts. I had some part's I like. Like the gifts they give each other, and Tony and Loki's talk. Besides that, it isn't as good.
I am also sorry that I don't describe Cara's and Loki's feelings after everything that much. I was about to do, but I felt like it wasn't to relevant for this chapter. I mean Loki is angry at Odin, and has his mind set. Cara well she cops with everything. And she hides it behinds a door, trying not to make it affect her. And she manages pretty well. So it isn't to much about it.
I am also sorry if Cara and Loki act's so lame. Try to make them a cute couple, not sure if I manages. I try to not make everything horrible, and I am sorry if Loki feels lame. I try to show his cute side, a side he has towards Cara. So hope you survives.
And well things are finally starting to happen. We are heading towards the end. Not sure how many more chapters we have, but I will warn you more when we only have like 2 left or so. But I am thinking of writing a sequel, I need to think about it.
And also as always, thank you for reading and reviewing, love you :)
Enjoy the chapter, or at least try :)
When Cara opened her eyes, she saw that snow was falling down. She smiled, she had always preferred the cold, over the heat, and every time it was snowing she become like a child, she felt like play in the snow, like she had done with Severus. But not at that moment, right now she preferred to stay in bed, next to Loki, in his safe arms.
It had almost been a month since they become free, and the others thought it barely, if even, affected her, but she knew better. She hid it behind a wall, pretended like it hadn't happened. It was true that she wasn't as affected as someone may think, but it wasn't her first time, and even if it was sad to admit, she had been better on handling it. And it was different this time, she had known what she was getting herself into. And it wasn't someone that she had trusted. That helped her handling her feelings.
But saying that she wasn't affected, that was a lie, she was. She had nightmares, not of Abjorn, but about the situation and others raping her, and when she woke up she was scared. And she had moments it affected her, something that reminded her of this situation, or older ones. But if Cara was honest, she was more scared that she would lose Loki, then being back there.
But when she woke up, Loki had been sleeping next to her, and she had been able to go back to sleep. But the others didn't see that. Instead they had been very careful around her, looking after her all the time. It even went to the length that Loki told them to stop.
"Are you sure that you are alright?" Steve asked, looking at Cara when she placed the food on the table. It had only been a few days, but she acted like herself, like nothing had happened. That worried him, and not just him. The others were worried too. They didn't want Cara to push herself, they wanted her to take care of herself. They all remembered how Loki had been when he got there, so scared and so hurt. But with Cara it was like nothing had happened.
"I am sure Steve. Thank you for asking, but don't worry," she answered as she returned to the kitchen to get the last of the food.
"Are you really sure? You don't have to pretend to be strong in front of us," Tony shouted.
"I am not," Cara answered as she sat down. "I know that you are all worried. But I have been through this before, and I know how to deal with it."
The others didn't say anything they just watched her, waiting for her to break down. Steve could tell that Cara got irritated by them, all of them could. But they didn't stop, because they were worried about her. Tony almost got angry at her, for not letting them care about her.
"Can we do anything for you Cara?" Tony asked as she started to clean the table and Cara sighed.
"You can stop treating me like a doll. I will not break; I am perfectly fine. I am not in pain anymore. The men that did this is dead, so I don't need to worry about them. And I don't wish to talk about it," she said as she left the room.
"Is she alright father?" Váli asked and Loki smiled towards him.
"She is just a bit irritated with the others. But she is fine," Loki said and the twins smiled before they started helping Cara clean the table.
Steve watched the twins as the was running between the dining room and the kitchen, smiling and laughing. They had soon returned to their happy smiling kids they used to be. They didn't know what had happened to their parents, but they were just happy that Loki and Cara was back. And Steve was happy for their sake, knowing how worried the kids had been.
But he still wasn't sure that Cara and Loki was alright. Loki seemed to be doing better than he had when they got back, less angry, but still wanting revenge. And he was always watching Cara, Steve saw that Loki was worried too, but he didn't say anything. Steve didn't know why, if he was worried he should tell her. But instead Loki just smiled towards her and almost acted like nothing happened.
"She isn't fine! You aren't fine after something like that," Clint said and Steve looked over to the man.
"I am sure that she doesn't want to worry us," Thor said. "She is a brave woman, not wanting to cause her friends pain."
"She is stupid if she thinks that. She can talk to us!" Tony said and looked over to the kitchen, almost waiting for Cara to get back and talk to them.
"Maybe she doesn't want to talk to you all," Pepper said and they looked at her. "You are all men, you know that, don't you?"
None of the males had thought of that. Maybe that's why she didn't talked to them.
"Then you talk to her!" Tony said to Pepper and Natasha.
"If she want to talk to me, she knows where to find me," Natasha answered, but Tony shook his head.
"No, you talk to her!" Tony said, almost commanding her, which made Natasha give him a cold look.
"You have to respect that she doesn't want to talk to you about this," Loki cut them off and they all looked at him.
"Why? You are worried too!" Clint told him, which resulted in, a cold look from Loki.
"I am worried too. But you can't force her to talk. If she doesn't wish to talk to you, you can't do anything about it," Loki said and stood up.
"Yes we can!" Tony said and Loki looked at him.
"Try to force her, and I will end you Anthony!" Loki said in a very cold voice, a voice that actually made Tony swallow nervously. "So all of you just stop. It's all up to her!"
"Thank you Loki," Cara said as she walked out from the kitchen and up to him. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and then smiled. "But please don't kill Tony, he is just acting like himself, how stupid it may be."
"Hey!" Tony said and Cara just raised an eyebrow, not answering him.
"As you wish," Loki answered, but Steve could tell that he would break that promise if someone did something to Cara.
"Thank you," Cara answered before she smiled towards the others, and then walked away with Loki and the twins.
As the days went on, they still didn't know how to handle Cara. Handling an angry Loki that wanted revenge was actually easier. Because when he acted like that, he was closer to the Loki they met the first time, just angrier. They tried to figure out a plan where they could bring down Odin, giving Loki revenge, and not getting him captured or killed. And even if they ran into some smaller problems, they managed to get around them.
But with Cara they got nowhere. Tony just got angrier at her, him and Clint. Not thinking it's healthy to pretend that nothing happened, not even Loki had pretended that nothing had happened when he arrived in the tower. And the two men tried to get her talk whenever they could. And Steve could tell that she tried to be patient, but she struggled, so he noticed that she tried to avoid them, which made them even more angry.
Natasha, Pepper and Bruce had started to act like normal around her. Understanding that was what she wanted. Thor was just grateful all the time. Always smiling and thanking her, which Cara mostly laughed about, but told him that it was nothing. Himself, well Steve wasn't sure. He kept an eye on her, asking Loki how she was doing, but he had taken a step back, doing rather nothing. So when he saw her in the kitchen he wasn't sure how to act.
Steve walked into the kitchen, fetching a glass, when almost ran into Cara. She was standing, staring at something he couldn't see. But he understood that she hadn't heard him, something he found strange.
"Cara?" Steve asked, wondering if she was doing some kind of magic. But she still didn't answer him, and Steve took a step closer, seeing if he got a reaction, but he got nothing.
"Cara?" he asked again, actually getting a bit worried, which was silly, he knew. There was no reason to get worried just because she didn't answer. But as he got closer he placed a hand on her shoulder.
Barely a second after Steve felt cold metal against his throat. As he looked down he saw the blade of a knife, Cara looked at him with a deadly cold red eyes, not seeing him. Neither of them moved, Steve because he didn't know what to do, and Cara because she didn't see him. Steve felt really nervous, he had never seen her eyes like that, and not so cold. It was like she was someone else. Not even after the incident after the wedding had made her that cold. She had been scary then, but not like this. This time Steve actually felt like she could end him without thinking about it. But just as he thought that, her eyes become blue and warm again, and she seemed to see him.
In that moment she realised what she was doing and she dropped the knife, and it landed on the floor.
"I am so sorry Steve," Cara said as she put her hands to her face, shocked over what she had done. Steve saw how she started to cry and he pulled her into his arms.
"It's alright," Steve said, trying not to sound to shaky.
"No it's not. You just scared me. I wasn't even aware of what I was doing," Cara whispered in a low voice. Steve didn't know what to answer, so he just hugged her as she cried.
He wasn't sure why she acted like she did, but he guessed it had something to do whit what had happened. At that moment Loki walked into the kitchen, looking a bit surprised at them, and Steve was worried that Loki would get the wrong idea. He almost panicked, but Loki just smiled towards him and Steve signaled for Loki to come closer. Loki walked over without making a sound and when he got closer Steve slowly made Cara move over to Loki's embrace instead.
"Thank you Steve," Loki said to him and Steve nodded as he left the kitchen.
At that moment Steve understood that Cara wasn't as unaffected as she pretended to be. But she didn't hide it for them, or for Loki, she hides it for herself. She didn't want to open that door, she wanted to pretend that nothing happened. Steve figured it out, since she was surprised by her own actions. And with that knowledge, Steve went to find the others, needing to explain this to the others.
After that they, things become better. She had avoided the others for a few days, feeling that she needed to rest. And she didn't want to accidentally hurt any of them. The Avengers had respected that, and she was pleased. She spent as much time she could with Loki and sometimes the twins when they felt like it. Cara welcomed them every time, glad to see them again. Not wanting to leave them again.
So when she started to leave her room again, the twins often dragged her around the tower wanting her to participate in stuff. And as Christmas got closer, they wanted her to teach them about Christmas on earth, how you celebrated and traditions. So Cara did, she thought them to make gingerbreads, Christmas puddings and saffron buns, and she thought them how to make Christmas decorations, and how to decorate a Christmas tree.
As she laid in bed, looking at the snow, Fai jumped onto the bed, placing himself in her arms. Cara smiled towards the cat and buried her face in his fur. At this moment she felt safe, calm and happier in a long time. She felt how Loki moved behind her as he pulled her closer to him, before he scratched Fai behind the ear.
"Morning," Loki whispered in her ear and she took his hand.
"Merry Christmas," Cara answered and Loki nodded.
"You people have strange traditions," Loki told her and at that she laughed.
"We used to sacrifice animals to you and the other gods before, was that better?" She asked and Loki thought about it.
"Well at least I was worshiped back then," he said with a laugh and Cara just rolled her eyes.
"I think your ego would get too big if we did that now," Cara informed him.
"Hey" Loki said, just like Tony normally do, something he had started doing sometimes, whiteout thinking about it.
"Merry Christmas!" The twins suddenly said as the rushed through the door, jumping into bed with them. Fai jumped out of the way before he placed himself on top of Loki's head, which made the twins laugh. Loki just pet the cat before he hugged the twins.
"Merry Christmas to you too," Cara and Loki said and the twins smiled.
"Is Santa going to get here soon?"
"No Santa doesn't come until the evening," she told them and the twins looked a bit disappointed. "But before that we will eat a lot of tasty food, and spend time with the others."
"Okay, that sounds fun too," Váli said, trying to sound as excited he had done when they asked about Santa.
"It is," Cara said and kissed their foreheads. "So let's get changed, and we can look to see if you got something in you stockings."
"Yeah," the twins said and left the room.
"Is this going to be like Halloween all over again?" Loki asked without thinking. "Sorry, I just meant, with them running all over the place?"
"Nothing to say sorry for," Cara said and kissed him, before she smiled. "Probably. Tony has hyped this as much as Halloween, if not even more."
"I really need to talk to him about this," Loki said as both of them left to get ready.
As the day went on the kids got more excited. They had enjoyed the puzzles they had gotten in there stocking, but now they just wanted to meet Santa. Tony had thought it was because they wanted more gift, but Cara soon told him that they didn't care about the gifts, they just wanted to meet Santa. Tony had been a bit surprised at that, but he then was happy that he paid a stranger to play Santa, not ruin the illusion for the twins.
"Is Santa coming soon?" Narfi asked, for what felt like the 10th time, in just five minutes.
"We don't know. Santa has a lot of other kids to visit first," Steve said.
"Is he visiting the other kids from the circus?" Váli asked and Cara smiled towards them, sometimes still surprised over how caring the young one was.
"That I am sure of."
"Is there anymore candy?" Narfi asked and Tony nodded.
"As much as you want!" He said and handed them the bowl.
"You will be the one that get them to bed!" Loki told Tony who smiled.
"No problem," Tony informed Loki, who gave Cara a look and both of them smiled, knowing how the twins was with a lot of energy.
Suddenly it was a knock on the balcony. The twins looked at the door and saw a man in red standing there.
"SANTA!" they shouted and Steve opened the door, and let the man in. The twins looked fascinated at him, really hopeful. Cara looked at Loki who was smiling and she took his hand.
"Happy?" She whispered and Loki looked at her, not aware that he was smiling.
"Seeing them happy makes me happy. It's worth going through this day for their sake," Loki said and Cara nodded, before she pulled Loki closer to Santa and the others.
"Have you boys been nice this year?" Santa asked and the twins looked a bit unsure at the others.
"They have been more then nice," Tony said and ruffled the twins hair.
"That pleases me to hear," Santa said as he started to look in his bag. "Then I can give this to you."
Santa handled over gifts to the twins and the others. But the twins put their gifts aside and walked over to Santa.
"Is it true that you live in the north pole?" Narfi asked.
"Do you have reindeers?" Váli asked.
"Do you live alone?"
"How do know what all the kids want?"
"What do you do the rest of the year?"
"How can you fly all over the world in one night?"
The twins just asked question after question, and the man playing Santa looked at them and smiled, wanting to answer them, but not getting a chance.
"Kids," Loki said and the twins looked at him.
"Yes father?" Narfi asked.
"If you want him to answer, maybe you should let him," Loki said with a very gentle voice and the twins blushed.
"Sorry," they said and turned towards Santa again, who started answering their question. And Cara looked towards Tony and mimed.
"Thank you," and Tony smiled in return. Cara was really happy that Tony had found someone that could play Santa really well, and make the twins believe in him.
As the kids talked to Santa, wanting to know everything, the others started to open their gifts, whit different levels of excitement. Tony who had bought more gifts for then necessary was really excited, wanting them to open his gifts first, almost jumping up and down like a kid. Clint and Natasha had gone for practical gifts; gifts they could use in the upcoming battle. Bruce went for traditional presents, like clothes, books, and other useful stuff. Steve went for cute presents, things that could make them smile in different ways, wanting to make his friends happy. And Thor went for traditional presents in Asgard, presents he needed to explain for most of them. Cara and Loki went for magical gifts, which made Tony call them show offs.
"Says the man that bought everyone gifts for years to come!" Cara said and Tony was about to answer, but he then looked at the presents in the room.
"Maybe I went a bit overboard."
"A bit?" Loki asked smirking.
"You made him admit it! Cara promise that you never leave us! You make Tony admit stuff he normally never does!" Clint said in a very happy voice, which made Tony throw a pillow at Clint before he started chasing him, making everyone laugh.
"This is for you," Loki said when he turned away from the others. Cara looked at him, almost surprised.
"Thank you," she said and looked at the green box. She placed it on the table and removed the ribbon as she opened it. Cara looked inside, before she stared at Loki.
"You can try it," Loki said, but Cara couldn't move, and Loki laughed before he pulled out the light grey winter dress.
"Is it really for me?" Cara asked as Loki laughed again.
"It is," he said and placed a kiss on her forehead. Cara nodded. She wasn't much for clothes, normally wearing what was practical, yet people often complimented her clothes, but she rarely cared about that, but even if she didn't care she could tell when something was beautiful, and this dress was.
"I will soon be back," Cara said and took the dress with her.
"Loki you have great taste," Pepper said and Loki looked at her and smiled.
"Well compared to someone else I know," Loki started and looked at Thor who just smiled. "I care about what I wear."
"Do you care about what Cara wear too?" Peggy asked, almost sounding judicial.
"Before you judge me Peggy," Loki said and gave her a scolding look, almost making Peggy look away. "I don't care about what Cara wear as long as she like it. But I wanted to give her something beautiful to wear. Something as beautiful as her."
"Aww, that is so sweet," Jane said and she thought she saw Loki blush for a second, but as soon as she thought that it was gone.
"Maybe you can teach the others about beautiful clothes," Pepper said.
"Hey!" Tony told her and was about to say something when Cara walked back into the room.
"Wow," Clint said and Cara smiled as she walked over to Loki, The long dress, in a classy elegant style, with long arms, and across the arms and at the bottom in the front, it had runes in white.
"You look just like the queen you are," Loki told her and Cara smiled as she took his hands.
"You know that I am not a queen, but thank you," Cara said and kissed him. "I really love it."
"With or without a crown you are always a queen," Loki told her and Cara just rolled her eyes, even if she blushed.
"How the hell do you say stuff like that, without making it cheesy?" Tony asked and Loki turned towards him.
"I have tongue of silver. Something you clearly don't have!" Loki said and Pepper laughed.
"You are never on my side," Tony told Pepper how just laughed more.
"This is for you," Cara said, ignoring the other two, as she handled over her gift to Loki, who took it.
"Thank you, but you didn't have too," Loki said and Cara gave him a look.
"Of course not," she teased and Loki nodded. Cara waited as he opened the ribbon and she smiled when he did.
"It's beautiful," Loki said as he took the black folding blade, with a silver handle. The blade was decorated with runes.
"It took me some times to create it," Cara said as she walked closer. "The blade has a perfect balance, so you can use it for hours without getting tired. It's made by a really strong material, so no matter how long you use it, it won't taking much damage, especially compared to your opponent's weapon. You can fold it, making it easier to travel with, and you can also throw it, not that I recommend it, but it's possible."
"It really has everything," Loki said and Cara laughed.
"Even if I prefer a bow, I have still used more than a few blades over the years, and I know what I want from it. And I do know you, and I know what you want from a sword," she told him and Loki kissed her.
"I promise to protect you with this," he said and Cara smiled.
"As long as you don't stab me with it, I am happy," she said, and for a second her eyes flashed of sorrow, remember the ones that had back stabbed her. Loki folded the blade as he took her into his arms.
"I promise," he said and kissed her forehead.
"I want a sword too," Tony said when he looked at Loki's.
"You would stab yourself!" Cara answered.
"Or someone of us. You aren't allowed to have a sword!" Pepper told Tony, who looked really disappointed.
"If I want a sword, I will get a sword!"
"Then I will take it from you," Pepper said just as the kids ran over to them.
"Wow, you look beautiful mother," Narfi said and Cara picked him up, just as Loki picked up Váli.
"Thank you," Cara answered "You had fun with Santa?"
"We did. He told us very nice stories, and answered all our questions," Váli said.
"You thanked him?" Loki asked.
"We did," Narfi told their father, just as Clint laughed and they looked at him.
"What? Loki used to be a villain, and now he asks if his children said thank you to Santa," Clint said and Natasha hit him in the head.
"Thank you Natasha," Loki said before he looked at Clint. "Just because I am not trying to take over the planet, doesn't mean I am not a villain. But even if I am, it doesn't mean my children has to be. And I prefer if they are well behaved."
"You are such a strange guy," Clint said and Loki raised an eyebrow, just like Cara use to do.
"Coming from the man that behaves like a bird, with a nest and all," Loki said.
"Burn!" Tony said, and Clint threw a pillow at Tony, before he started chasing him, soon joined by the twins.
"I enjoyed the evening, far more than I anticipated," Loki told her as the laid in bed.
"Glad to hear it," Cara said. She had enjoyed it too, a lot. And she was glad that Loki had too. She was really happy that Loki felt more relaxed, learning that life can be fun and silly. Not having to be scared, sad or lonely all the time.
"But I am happy that it's only something you do once a year," he said. "I don't think I could handle to much of it."
"Well as long as you can handle it on new year's eve," Cara said as she heard Loki sigh, already forgotten about the day, and Cara laughed.
The following week had passed quickly, and the snow had covered all of New York. And it had made the twins really excited, and they had turned to roof into a snow castle. Cara had played with them almost every day, loving the chance of playing in the snow. Loki had also joined them, and he had turned a part of the roof into a skating rink, something the twins had really enjoyed.
Cara had tried to enjoy it with them, but she was really bad at ice skating, something the twins had laughed at. But Loki had stepped onto the ice and helped her skate. Tony had laughed at her, saying she resembled Bambi on ice, and Loki gave him donkey ears, Tony had demanded to get them removed, but Loki had refused, until he learned to behave. After that the others didn't laugh at Cara. Not that she had minded, since she laughed when she managed to trip herself and Loki. But she appreciated that Loki cared that much.
"Loki remove them! I refuse to start a new year with donkey ears," Tony said as he stood next to Loki.
"No. You have yourself to blame Anthony," Loki said to the other man.
"You are mean!" Tony said, which made Loki laugh.
"I think that's my thing," he answered him as the twins come running towards them.
"Uncle Tony, still looks funny!" Narfi said and both Tony and Loki looked at each other, surprised to hear him call Tony uncle.
"You know that I am not your uncle?" Tony asked and Narfi looked at him, like Tony was an idiot, almost like Loki could look at them sometimes.
"We know. Just like Cara isn't our real mother. But we are a family now, so Cara is our mother, and you and the others become our uncles and aunts," Narfi explained and Tony laughed.
"If you say so little guy," Tony answered.
"Where is mother?" Váli asked.
"She is inside with Pepper, Jane and Peggy," Loki said and the twins nodded.
"Let's visit them," Narfi said and took Váli's hand as they ran away.
"Well how does it feel to have me as a part of your family Loki?" Tony teased and Loki raised an eyebrow.
"You can't be worse than some of the others," Loki teased back and Tony smiled.
"Well guess you are right about that. And do you know that you are raising an eyebrow this days, just like Cara does?"
"I guess I am," he only answered and Tony almost felt disappointed that Loki didn't got bothered about his teasing.
"You really care about her, don't you?" Tony asked as they turned around and looked out over the city.
"Wouldn't be marrying her otherwise."
"I am glad you are settling down Reindeer Games, and with her. She actually manage to bring out the best in you," Tony said.
"Settling down? You talk like you have known me for years Anthony, and like I have gone between different women all those years," Loki said before he admitted, "But she does bring out the best in me. Something only she can."
"Well I have known you for some time now, actually. Not years maybe, but long enough to say that I am glad that you have someone. I mean when they brought you here, none of us was happy, and none of us wanted you here. Not that you wanted to be here either. However, none of us could see why on earth she loved you, or even think that you could love her. I mean, you didn't give us the best first impression. But you proved us wrong, and I am glad to see that it actually worked out between you guys. Both of you deserve someone, and don't take it the wrong way, but especially you," Tony told him and Loki looked at him almost surprised, before he smiled.
"Thank you Tony," he said and Tony smiled too, especially when Loki removed the ears.
"Anytime, bro," Tony said and Loki rolled his eyes.
"Don't make me throw you out of a window again," Loki teased back and Tony laughed just as some of the others walked out onto the balcony.
"Are you ready?" Clint asked, sounding really excited.
"For a new year? You do know that this isn't the first time it becomes a new year?"
"No but it's the first time with us! And here on earth, or is it?" Clint answered.
"I am already regretting, spending this time with you. Being teased by Tony, and forced to have you around," Loki said and Clint gave him a look.
"Hey!" Clint said and tried to hit Loki in the head, but the good just dodge, which made Clint hit Bruce instead.
"I appreciate if you don't hit me," Bruce said.
"It was Loki's fault!" Clint said, defending himself.
"This is only your own fault Clint. You can't blame me for avoiding the hit," Loki said.
"Yeah your fault bird boy!" Tony said and Clint gave him a cold look.
"Thanks for the support guys."
"Our pleasure," Loki said as the rest of them walked out on the balcony.
Steve was caring a tray with glasses on it, talking to Peggy and Pepper. Natasha talked to Jane and Cara was holding the twins hands as they was talking excited about something the others didn't hear.
"It's almost time," Thor said, almost jumping up and down, and when the twins started doing it, so did Thor.
"You are going to make us fall through the roof, your big oaf," Loki said and Thor stopped, as he become red.
"But I am happy."
"That we could figure," Loki said as he accepted the glass Steve gave him.
"Let him jump. If we fall down the roof, I think I can save us, at least some of us," Cara said as she walked up next to him.
"Some of us?" Tony asked.
"Yeah some of us. I am afraid a few of you will fall down so better behave, it increases your chances," she teased just as they started counting down.
"10!" The twins and Thor shouted, jumping even more.
"Look up towards the sky," Cara told Loki and he looked at her.
"Why?" Loki asked and she smiled.
"You will soon see."
"5!" they said.
"You really have strange traditions," Loki said and Cara laughed.
"We have a few more to celebrate next year," she told him as she took his hand and looked up towards the sky.
"0!" they said and as they did the sky started to fill with fireworks.
"Happy new year!" the others shouted and Cara looked at Loki.
"Happy new year," she said and kissed him.
"Happy new year," he answered and kissed her back, before he looked towards the sky again.
"It's beautiful," he said and Cara nodded.
"It really is. It's one of my favourite things," she admitted, she had loved the fireworks since she was a child. Especially then since Severus did it for her every year, and when she was really young, Loki walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
"Let's make this a good year," he told her and Cara smiled.
"Let's make this a good year," she answered, hoping that everything would go well. They would bring down Odin, Loki would get his justice and she would be able to marry him.
"LET'S PARTY!" Tony shouted as they started to walk inside.
Thor woke up, knowing that this day was different. This day would change everything, and he would do something he never thought he would do, he would fight his father. Thor thought he would be nervous, but he wasn't. He felt calm, and he felt dedicated, he did this for Loki, he did this so his brother would get his life back. Because even if Loki didn't complain about living here, with Tony and the rest of them. And even if Loki wasn't as scared as when they found him, Thor knew better.
Thor knew that Loki felt trapped here, scared of leaving the tower, especially after what happened with Abjorn. And Thor was actually happy that his brother wanted to fight now, even if it wasn't for the same reasons as the others. Thor wasn't surprised that Loki wanted to fight to protect his family, but he was surprised that he didn't care about fighting for what was done to him. So Thor felt like he needed to do that, for him.
"Be careful today," Jane said as she turned towards him, Thor was putting on his armor and he smiled towards his wife.
"I promise to be careful," he said and Jane nodded, knowing that it was all that she could ask. She couldn't affect the outcome of the battle, or even take part of it, she would be forced to wait here, until it was over.
"Take good care of the twins, and try to explain to Cara when we have left," Thor said.
"She still isn't going? Or have talked to Loki about it?" Jane asked and Thor thought about it.
"I don't know. She hasn't taken part in any of the meetings lately, and to my knowledge she hasn't talked to Loki about it."
"Strange," Jane only said as she laid down in bed again and Thor left the room.
Thor entered the common room and saw that Natasha and Clint was there, in the company of Peter, Strange, and Steve.
"Good morning," Thor said and the others nodded towards him.
"Cara has made breakfast," Clint said and pointed towards the table and Thor nodded. For once Clint wasn't hugging all the food, no he was acting calm and collective, he was on a mission, or about to start one.
"Where are the others?" Thor asked as he took some bread.
"Tony and Bruce are getting some things down the lab. Wanda is on her way, or that's my guess. And Loki, well I guess he is saying goodbye to the twins," Steve said.
"And Cara?" Thor asked.
"I don't know. She was here when we got here, but she left. Jarvis where is Cara?" Steve asked.
"Lady Cara is in her room, Mr. Rogers," Jarvis answered.
"Isn't she going to say goodbye?" Thor asked.
"Maybe not. I mean if she still thinks Loki is going to stay, maybe she doesn't have a reason to say goodbye," Steve said.
"You really think she thinks Loki is going to stay?" Clint said.
"And not saying goodbye to the rest of us?" Tony asked as he and Bruce left the elevator.
"I don't know if she thinks Loki is going to stay," Steve said.
"And why would she want to say goodbye to you?" Wanda teased as she entered the house.
"Hey!" Tony just answered as Loki entered the room.
"Are you ready?" Thor asked and Loki only nodded. Thor could tell that his brother was nervous, really nervous, and that made Thor nervous, because he rarely was when he went into a fight, but it was even rarer for Loki to be nervous. Because when Thor rushed into battle, Loki always calculated everything knowing what he was getting himself into. And this time he really knew. Loki know what was going to happen if they got caught, he was the one that had the most to lose. Loki know what Odin was going to do to him, and what he was going to do if he caught the twins and Cara.
Thor didn't know what was going to happen to him if they lost, not to him or his friends. But he knew that it wasn't going to be as bad as it was for Loki. Thor swore not to make that happen! He didn't care what happened to himself, but he would protect Loki, knowing that his brother had been through too much already.
"This is the last chance you have to change your mind," Thor said and Loki nodded.
"Let's go," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Is everyone ready?" Steve asked, looking at them all, making sure that they all could change their mind if they wanted. "Do you have everything, are you all sure about the plan? Do you need some more time?"
"We went over the plan yesterday Cap, we will be fine," Tony said.
"And yet every time you still manage not to follow the plan," Clint said to Tony who just gave him a cold look.
"Keep focused!" Steve told them
"I am focused, its Clint who aren't focused!" Tony said. "We know what we are doing!"
"None of you know what you are doing," Cara suddenly said behind them, and they turned around to face her.
"You come to say goodbye?" Tony asked, but as she walked closer he could see how she was dressed in a black outfit, with a quiver on her hip and a bow in her hand. Cara just gave him a look before she walked up next to Loki.
"You really thought I didn't know anything? And that I would let you do this alone?" She asked him and Loki smiled towards her.
"I think I was more hoping. Wanting you to be safe," he said in a low voice and Cara placed her hand on his cheek.
"That's very sweet Loki, but I am not safer here then on the battlefield. And I appreciate that you want to protect me, but I am almost sure that I have stood on more battlefield then you have," she said and smiled towards him. "And my place is by your side."
Loki opened his mouth to say something, but Cara saw how he struggled with the words and she leaned forward to kiss him.
"You don't need to say anything," she told him and Loki nodded and Cara turned towards the others.
"Are you ready Cara?" Steve asked and she almost laughed.
"I am ready," she told him.
"You know the plan?" Steve asked and Cara nodded.
"I have some people fill me in," she said in a very cryptically voice and the others slowly nodded.
"Then, let's get started," Strange said and Cara took Loki's hand, and she soon felt the familiar feeling of being transported through different dimensions.