Howard had agreed to take Sigyn on the expedition with him, but on one condition: They were going to have fondue together. "We're just going to eat cheese and bread," he had elaborated when he had seen the look on her face. "As friends."

"I still don't like this," she complained to Ana as she helped Sigyn choose a dress for the occasion. "People are going to think I'm one of those women."

"Who cares? Mr. Stark respects you. A lot. Believe me, that's no easy feat." She showed her a deep blue dress. "How about this? It's going to bring out the color of your eyes."

"It looks great, thanks." The truth was, Sigyn didn't care how she looked tonight. All she wanted was to convince Howard to save her from the weakness running through her veins.

Ana also gave her a matching purse and a pair of shoes, and once she was ready, Mr. Jarvis drove her and Howard to a restaurant that was more than an hour away from his residence in Manhattan. The waiters at the restaurant had obviously been expecting them, and their table was ready.

Once they were seated, Sigyn said, "I'm disappointed in you, Howard."

"Why?"

"I thought we were starting to understand one another. And yet you still enjoy humiliating me."

Howard must have sensed her desperation somehow and was now using it against her. And although she was desperate, she wasn't going to beg him on her knees to fix her either. She still had some dignity left, thank the Norns.

"Humiliating you?"

"Isn't that why you've brought me here? You know I'll never be one of your conquests, but you still found a way to make me look like I am."

He rolled his eyes. "Get over yourself."

"Says the man who makes everything about himself…"

He smirked. "You have no idea where we are, do you?"

"We're in a restaurant."

"In Brooklyn."

"Is that supposed to mean something?"

"This was Steve's neighborhood. You keep calling him a great warrior, but he always saw himself as just a kid from Brooklyn. Nothing more. I come here every time before going on an expedition. It inspires me, I guess."

"Oh." To be honest, she was now feeling a bit embarrassed. She had made such a fool of herself. "I'm sorry, I didn't know…"

A waiter had returned with their plates, and a bottle of wine. Sigyn shook her head when he attempted to fill her cup, so he only filled Howard's instead. Howard waited until they were alone once again.

"It's called wine," he then said.

"I know what it is. I… don't drink."

"Why not?"

She decided this was a good opportunity to speak the truth. "They wouldn't let me. Asgardian drinks are too strong, and I am… Well, I wasn't entirely honest with you, Howard. My father is an Asgardian, true. I was born and raised in Asgard, but my mother was a mortal."

Upon hearing this, he didn't seem angry, or betrayed. More like intrigued. "So, Asgardian drinks are too strong for you… Would they kill you?"

"I don't know. Probably. You must understand, Howard. I'm the only half-mortal, half-Asgardian in the universe."

"What about your sister?"

"Sif is my half-sister. See? Nothing is certain when it comes to me."

"Nonsense," he said, taking out a pen and a small notebook. "Everything can be calculated, therefore predicted. Even your nature… How old are you? Can you give me an exact number?"

"Of course. 980."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm quite familiar with Midgardian calendars. I was born in the year 970 A.D. Now we're in 1950, right?"

"Alright," he said, and wrote it down. "Damn. You're a thousand years old, and you've never got drunk once. No wonder you ran away…"

"I didn't run away. I volunteered."

"Whatever you say, pal." He took the wine bottle, read its label, and took some more notes. Then he opened the bottle and filled her glass.

"Howard, I told you I don't—"

"This won't kill you. I promise."

"Do I have to?"

"If you want to know more about yourself, yes. Getting you drunk is an excellent way to see how fast your metabolism burns."

She raised her glass. "To Captain Rogers."

"To Captain Rogers."

She took her first sip, and it tasted good. Howard grinned. "See? Contrary to popular belief, science is fun. Let me know if you start feeling dizziness, headache, blurry sight, or any other symptoms."

He dipped a piece of bread into the melted cheese, and took a bite. Then he kept scribbling. He occasionally looked at his watch as well.

Sigyn was still clear-headed by the time she drained her first glass. Then she remembered that there was something she had always wished she could do. Other Asgardians did it all the time.

"ANOTHER!"

When she smashed the glass, every gaze in the restaurant turned to her. Even Howard had jumped in his seat.

"Are you drunk already?"

"No, I feel fine."

"Then why did you do it?"

"It tasted good. I asked for another."

"That's not how we ask for a refill here."

"Oh." Once again, she felt ashamed. "Forgive me if I embarrassed you."

One of the waiters gave him a wary, questioning look. Howard just nodded, and he started sweeping up the broken glass pieces on the floor. Another waiter brought her a new glass. She had thought Howard would be embarrassed, but he was now actually biting his lips in order to not laugh.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked, pouring herself more wine.

"Doing what?"

"Helping me. I haven't even asked you yet."

"What exactly were you going to ask me?"

Sigyn could sense that he already knew the answer to that question. Nevertheless, she said, "Would the super soldier serum work on me?"

"It's hard to say."

"Look, you don't have to do this—"

"Of course I don't."

"But if you do, I'll be forever in your debt."

"It's going to cost you."

"What do you want in exchange?"

"I'm not sure yet. Let's just enjoy our dinner first, shall we?"

…

After five more cups of wine, Sigyn had started feeling dizzy, and Howard had said that was enough. When she stood on her feet, the dizziness became worse. She had to let Howard take her arm and led her back to the car. Mr. Jarvis opened the door for them with a questioning look on his face. Howard told him about their "experiment" briefly. Then they all sit in a companionable silence at first, until Howard broke it.

"Why do you want the serum?"

Mr. Jarvis made no comment, but shot a curious glance through the mirror. She decided to be honest. "I'm tired of being weak, Howard. Tired of depending others for protection, of not being able to protect the ones I love, of trying to prove my worth constantly and failing."

Mr. Jarvis cleared his throat. "If I'm not mistaken, you once said your magic made you Queen Frigga's prodigy…"

"Yes," she laughed bitterly. The wine had made her more talkative. "Magic. No one respects magic in Asgard. Tricks, they call it. Queen Frigga might be the only one who believes there's no dishonor in it."

"Why do they think it's dishonorable?" Howard asked.

"Magic is a coward's weapon. A true warrior doesn't hide in the shadows, or deceive the enemy with illusions."

Neither of the men in the car said anything, so Sigyn closed her eyes. What was Howard going to want from her? If only he didn't torment her like this and told her what he wanted in exchange. She had already been cursed with too much uncertainity. She didn't need the antics of an arrogant mortal as well.

When they returned home, Howard took her to the library, saying there was something he wanted to show her. He picked one of the books from the shelf, and showed it to her.

"The Art of War," Sigyn read the title. "By Sun Tzu… Who is Sun Tzu?"

"Some ancient general… Like your father, right? Only, this fellow was Chinese. Anyway, this is one of the books I read before founding Stark Industries. It helped me a lot."

"I don't understand. This seems like a book on warfare."

"Trust me, business and warfare are not very different from each other." He opened the book and skimmed through the pages. "Here… One of my favorite quotes."

She took the book from him. Howard had underlined a sentence on this page. "All warfare is based on deception," she read the underlined sentence out loud.

"If your people think your 'tricks' are too good for them, they're a bunch of stinking idiots. You can't win any wars without tricks. I'd rather win dishonorably and stop the bad guys than die honorably and let them win. It's called being practical."

"Would Captain Rogers not disagree?"

"Steve was… well, Steve. The rest of us aren't him."

"My husband would like you."

"Perhaps you should introduce us sometime. Speaking of, can you bring another, full-blood Asgardian here?"

"For what?"

"For comparative data analysis. You're my new experiment, remember?"

"I can ask Loki… or my sister." She didn't think the former would agree. It had been more than three months, and she still hadn't heard from him. Loki could be quite stubborn sometimes. "But you still haven't told me what kind of favor you want in return."

"Oh, I have something in mind. Did you know Ana was shot two years ago?"

"I do."

"Did you know she couldn't have children because of that injury?"

"I had no idea." There was a sudden, uneasy jolt in her stomach, and perhaps for the first time, she realized how much she had grown to care about these people. Even Howard wasn't so bad.

"I've consulted with the best gynecologists and surgeons all around the world since then. They all say her case is hopeless. I thought maybe you, with your magic, or Asgardian technology, whatever…"

Sigyn looked at him, with a mixture of relief, compassion and respect. "Of all things you could've asked from me, do you want me to heal your butler's wife?"

"Yes," he said, with no hint of hesitation or regret.

"Why?"

"Because I blame myself for what happened. Whitney Frost shot Ana to stop Peggy from pursuing her. I was the one who had introduced Jarvis to Peggy. I'm the reason they were involved in that mess in the first place."

Howard wasn't lying. He obviously blamed himself for what had happened. Before replying, Sigyn concealed herself from Heimdall's sight, just in case, and to her surprise, didn't feel much guilt about it. Howard was right. Fights couldn't be won without tricks. Besides, Heimdall had lied to her about many things she should have known. Her faith in Asgard had been shaken, to put it mildly. She was starting to ask herself questions she had never asked before.

"I might be able to help Ana. If I take her to the healing room—"

"Wait, is this a healing room in Asgard?"

"Yes. How else do you expect me to heal her?"

"I don't know. I thought you'd brew a fertility potion or something."

She chuckled. "That's not how it works, Howard."

"How will you take them to Asgard?"

She didn't think Heimdall would allow them to use the Bifrost. Loki's secret portals were too dangerous for mortals. There was only one other way. "The Tesseract."

"The Tesseract?"

"The cube contains the Space Stone, remember? It's meant to be used to travel through space, not just build weapons or generate energy. But I need you to build a contraption that can help me harness its power. I can show you how."

"So, you're going to… teleport them to Asgard?"

"I'll be with them, don't fret."

He thought for a moment. A deep line had appeared on his forehead. Then he said, "I'll speak with the Jarvises first."

"As you wish."

He bid her goodnight, and retreated to his bedroom.

"Have you gone mad?" a familiar voice asked once Sigyn was alone in the library. Or, at least once she thought she was alone. She turned around, only to find Loki standing behind her. He wasn't really here, though. This was just a projection.

"I missed you, too, Loki."

"Come home, then."

"I can't. I've sworn an oath."

He rolled his eyes. "Oh, come now, my love. You and I both know that the Tesseract is not why you want to stay in this wretched world."

Her smile faded. Loki was still in a foul mood. "Why are you here, Loki?"

"I fear for you, Sigyn. You care too much about these mortals. Especially that filthy pervert."

"Howard, you mean?"

"Yes."

"Is this jealousy I sense in you?"

"Can you blame me? He tried to seduce you when you first met."

"Loki, it was a misunderstanding! We're past that now. In fact, he reminds me of Fandral. You've never been jealous of Fandral, have you?"

"I know Fandral. I don't know anything about Howard Stark."

"Then come here and live with me! You can learn more about these people yourself."

"What?"

"You heard me. We can have a good life here. Together. You can be a part of this."

"I can't believe you Sigyn," he said, shaking his head angrily.

"Why? What's wrong with it?"

"What is wrong with it?" he spat. "After everything I've done to prove myself a worthy heir to the throne of Asgard, do you really expect me to cast it aside and choose a self-imposed exile, like you did?"

Sigyn looked him in the eye defiantly. Perhaps for the first time in 980 years, she knew exactly what she wanted from life, and was willing to stand her ground to defend it. "Do you really want to spend an eternity trying to show your worth to people who don't even want to see it?"

Her defiance must have startled Loki, because he quickly looked away. "And what does Midgard have to offer?"

"Friendship. Family. Love. And above all, acceptance. I know you've seen us, Loki. A genius millionaire from the lower east side of New York, a woman warrior trying to make her mark in a men's world, a butler who was dishonorably discharged from his army to save the woman he loved, a Hungarian seamstress who barely escaped genocide… And you're an Asgardian prince who had to live his entire life in his older brother's shadow. You'll fit right in."

"Is that how lowly you think of me? Of us? That we belong with a bunch of misfits?"

"You're right. We might be a bunch of misfits, but I think our lives are much more meaningful than of those who always look down on us. Because unlike them, we're trying to make a difference. For the first time in my life, I feel useful. Powerful. People look at me with respect, not with pity or disgust! And I want my beloved husband to find happiness, just like I have. Why does it bother you so much?"

"Because that happiness won't last forever. What are you going to do when they all perish one by one?"

The question made her shudder. Loki was making a good argument; she should have never grown to care about these people. But it was too late to severe that bond now.

"See? Do you remember how it felt, when you lost your mother? You will go through the same pain, over and over again. How much grief do you think you can take? Eventually, it will destroy you."

"I refuse to think about that now."

"I see," he said angrily, and in a flash of green light, disappeared.

…

The expedition was a failure. They couldn't find any sign of Captain Rogers. But by the time they returned, the Jarvises had made up their minds. They wanted to go to Asgard. So, Sigyn showed Howard how to build a simple device that would harness the Tesseract's power and transport its users to Asgard and back.

"It's completely safe," Sigyn assured them. Both Ana and her husband seemed nervous.

Howard patted on Mr. Jarvis' back. He said he would love to come with them, but the more people Sigyn had to conceal from Heimdall, the more difficult it was to maintain the spell. "She's right, Jarvis. You'll be alright."

"Thank you, sir."

"Ready?" she asked, grabbing one end of the device. The Jarvises looked at each other and smiled before grabbing the other end.

"We're ready, Lady Sigyn."

She turned the handle, and in the blink of an eye, they were in Asgard. The Tesseract had brought them inside the healing room. They looked around, and then out the window.

Ana gasped. "Oh, Edwin! This place is so beautiful!"

Mr. Jarvis wrapped his arms around her waist, and smiled. "Indeed it is."

Sigyn gave the mortal couple a moment to take the sight in, trying not to think about how much she had missed her home. But then, she had only missed the place, not the people. Except for her family and friends. Then she sent the Tesseract to her personal pocket dimension, and cleared her throat.

"Shall we?"

"Oh, right," Ana said apologetically. "What should I do?"

"Lie on that table over there. It's a Soul Forge."

She eyed it warily."A Soul Forge… Is this going to hurt?"

"Ana, do you honestly think I'd hurt you?"

"I know you wouldn't, but…" She lied down on the table. Her husband came to hold her hand.

"Look at us," Ana whispered to him. "We're having a space adventure."

Mr. Jarvis nodded. "Miss Carter is going to be so jealous."

Sigyn was about to ignite the Soul Forge when the doors opened and Odin stormed in with at least a dozen men behind him. The worst part was, her father was among them.

"What is the meaning of this?" the Allfather roared. Ana quickly got off the Soul Forge. Mr. Jarvis pulled her into a protective hug. Sigyn put herself between her friends and the Allfather.

"Allfather, please! I was the one who brought them here. It was my idea."

"You know it is forbidden."

"I do."

"Then why did you do it?"

"Because they're my friends. I want to help them."

"Careful, Sigyn. You're losing your path. You've made a grave mistake by using the Tesseract for your selfish whims."

"We'll return to Midgard immediately once I heal her. Please, Allfather, I'm begging you, both as your subject and your daughter by law."

"No. They do not belong here any more than a goat belongs at a banquet table."

At that moment, Mr. Jarvis stepped forward and stood beside Sigyn. "Excuse me, sir, but who do you think you are?

Odin shot him an angry glare, but Mr. Jarvis stood tall and kept looking him in the eye defiantly. "I am Odin Allfather, the King of Asgard and the Protector of the Nine Realms."

"Protector of the Nine Realms… That's quite ironic, considering the fact that you did absolutely nothing while the Nazis terrorized innocent people like my wife, with your most treasured relic at their disposal. You titles mean nothing to me, sir, and I will not stand idly by while you insult my wife and my friend!"

If Sigyn didn't know Mr. Jarvis, she would regard him as a fool, like Odin apparently did now. But she knew Mr. Jarvis well enough, and she knew he was anything but a fool. He was a brave man who was willing to defy anyone for those he loved. Be it a mortal army general, or the most powerful being in the Nine Realms.

Odin turned to Sigyn. "Mortals must advance through adversary, Sigyn. I know you mean well, but you don't know them as well as you think you do."

"Forgive me, Allfather, but I don't see how their pain will help the rest of humanity advance."

"You're right. You don't. I do. That's why I am King."

"And what if I find another way to heal her one day, without help from Asgard? What are you going to do? Will you make her, too, swear an oath not to bear any children?"

Everyone in the room looked at her. The guards with appall, the Jarvises with confusion. The two mortals didn't know how Odin had humiliated her at her own wedding. Odin's face, on the other hand, was devoid of all expression.

"Do not make me rue the day I allowed your mother to come here," he said coldly. "If you do anything like this ever again, you'll spend the rest of your days in the dungeons… with Lorelei. Now, leave."

Odin knew how to make hurtful threats.

"Yes, my king," she muttered obediently, conjured the Tesseract, and held it out for her friends. She shot an apologetic glance at her father before the cube took them back to Midgard. Her only regret was to have brought shame on him.