New chapter is up! Thank you for all the reviews! I love to know what you think! So please post up some more! I'll try to have chapter 36 up tomorrow!

Disclaimer: I do not own Thor, The Avengers, Thor 2 or anything associated with any of the movies or comics or anything. I borrowed part of the dialog from Thor 2 but only for the purpose of continuing the story to stay within the time line all these events happened and such.

The sunlight hit Steve Rogers like a ray descending from the heavens. His beautiful hair glowed like freshly spun gold with his sapphire-like eyes, sparkling in the warm light. By Odin's beard he was …. Perfection … he could have been mistaken for a god in Asgard…

"I'd really like that Steve…" She gave him a warm, inviting smile. His eyes lit up and he beamed with happiness. Loki felt his breath catch in his throat. He narrowed his eyes at the captain... he lost his chance to rule Asgard… to rule Midgard… and now he lost her… "However… I'm afraid I cannot…" Rienne dropped her gaze to the floor. "I would really like to… and perhaps another time when I visit, you could take me… but I'm afraid I must go… if not, the All-Father might take my head." She gave a nervous laugh. "Besides… I promised I would return with Thor once his business here was done."

Steve had a slight look of sadness on his handsome features. A look that, Loki absolutely loved. "Next time you visit promise to spend time with me?" He walked up to Rienne and took her right hand in his. Placing a gentle kiss upon her soft flesh, she felt the blood rush to her face. "You are a truly beautiful woman Rienne… I would love to have your company once more." Rienne took her hand back and gently nodded. Loki was feeling rage built up inside him. If somehow he were to get out of this alive… he would make sure the Captain would suffer greatly.

Taking her position next to Thor, Rienne placed her hand on the golden god. Thor twisted the Tesseract and there was a brilliant light that enveloped him, Rienne and Loki. A few seconds later they were gone. Steve let out a soft sight but gave a warm smile. "…'till next time…"

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Back in Asgard everything was seemingly normal. The weather was sunny as always and the palace guards stood ever vigilantly at the main door. Rienne quietly stood at Thor's side unable to utter a single word. What could she possibly say anyway? That she wants to give her life for Loki? Of course she would but Odin would never accept a replacement. Not after all he has done… there was no saving him this time and she knew it…

They stood before the palace guards at the door. Loki narrowing his eyes at them and Thor never let go of Loki. "Thor! You have brought that traitors snake back from Midgard! The All-Father will be relieved." One of the guards shoved Loki to show his distaste of him.

"Watch your tongue. I will not have you speak ill of my brother, regardless of what you THINK you know of him. And next time you touch him, I will personally rip your arm off. Now open the doors and let us through." Thor seemed very agitated to what just happened much to Rienne's surprise. Even Loki raised a brow at that.

All three of them walked in absolute silence. Loki of course couldn't say anything even if he wanted to, since he still had that blasted face plate on. After a few minutes of walking the lonely hallways of the palace, Rienne abruptly stopped. Thor took a few steps ahead of her before realizing she wasn't at his side.

"Rienne?" He turned around to face her. She didn't meet his gaze but she solemnly answered him.

"I… don't think the All-Father would want me there when giving Loki's sentence…"

"Breathe easy Rai… I will not tell my father you remembered Loki all this time. However, that secret stays strictly between us."

"T-thanks…" Surprised again by Thor she sheepishly blushed.

"Well come along then." Thor continued walking down the hallway pulling Loki with him.

"W-wait! Thor!" Rienne quickened her pace to catch up to the golden god. He stopped and turned to her. "I still don't think I should go… I will undoubtedly try to bargain with Odin for Loki and I'm afraid I'll anger him… I know he won't listen to me and I… cannot bear to see Loki…. executed…" Thor placed a free hand on her shoulder.

"I understand. Perhaps… you would like to say something to him before I present him to father?" She shook her head. After the way Loki had treated and spoken to her back on Midgard, Rienne didn't feel like being scolded or shouted at again. She felt… betrayed almost, by Loki. After everything they went through and he spoke to her that way?... She felt like she was nothing to him… perhaps he was playing with her all this time… "Then perhaps he would like to say something to you?" Thor gave Loki a stern stare. A stare that held a bit of pain and sadness for a lost brother. Loki let out a small grunt and closed his eyes. "I'll take that as a yes." Thor promptly started to remove the plate that prevented his brother from speaking.

Smirking, Loki gazed up at his brother. "There are quite a few things I'd like to say actually…" Rienne couldn't remember the last time she had heard his voice. Every time he spoke, his voice sounded like velvet or the finest of silk. His way of speaking was always so smooth and calm.

"Watch yourself brother. I placed the plate on you to not be swayed by your poisoned lies once again." Thor held onto Loki's chains firmly.

"I've already explained to you… I am NOT your brother, so refrain from calling me so!" This time… his voice was angry and laced with hatred. Something Rienne rarely saw. The normally calm and collected Loki seemed to lose any and all patience at this point. "Really Thor… does your stupidity know no end?"

"Careful Loki…" Thor glared down at the raven-haired god. Loki only scoffed.

"Or what? You'll kill me?" Loki chuckled a bit. "I believe Odin has already decided that."

"Don't say that…" Riennes voice was hardly above a whisper. Both men turned to her.

"Do not lie to yourself Rienne…" Loki turned his back to her now. "We all know he will eradicate me…." There was an uncomfortable moment of silence before Loki spoke up again. "Ever since I met you… there was never an instance of betrayal…. You have been forever loyal and trustworthy… perhaps the only person who truly accepted me." This time it was Thor who felt a strong stab in his heart.

"The only one who accepted you?! Brother did I not accept you!? Did I not always take you with me whenever I went to conquer? How about when The Warriors Three and I took you to the palace bar to find you a woman? I always thought of you brother… every instance I was invited to some sort of joyous occasion, I always had you in mind… I exasperatedly tried so hard to get you to loosen up a little… to come out of that dreaded room of yours! To pry you away from those spell books and have you join in on the merriment! How can you say she was the only one who thought of you?!" Rienne knew Thor was not angry with her but rather with Loki's words. He truly did love his brother… adopted or not. Thor just had a difficult time showing it.

"Thor… your idea of 'finding me a woman' is laughable! You humiliated me that day! Every day in fact! You always boast of how you best me in everything! Fighting, women, conquests, missions, even in food and drink! You always had me dying in your shadow while you basked in the light Odin ALWAYS shone on you! You, the favorite son! You, the golden boy! When?! Tell me, when have you ever heard him say anything close to praise as he has always given you?! I always get brushed aside by you and him! I have nothing but absolute hatred for you and Odin… so do not throw me those lies of caring and love! There is no such thing!" Loki spat those words laced with pure malice at Thor. The Thunderer stayed silent but let out an exasperated sigh.

"I truly hope father finds some sort of pity for you Loki…"

"I love you Loki…" Her words sliced through the trickster's heart. He felt the blood rush to his face quickly but not in anger… he was flustered. Loki was brought back to that beautiful memory that had kept him sane…. The memory of Rienne's smile when he had proposed to her that day… how rattled she had gotten and that beautiful gleam in her eyes full of excitement and love…. And those words… those words uttered by here beautiful plump lips… 'I love you'… three simple words that always made his heart leap in excitement whenever they left that beautiful mouth of hers… to think he would never hear those words again…

"I'll never love another but you." What was this woman thinking saying that?! Did she not know what those words did to him?!... She slowly killed him with that… he could feel his eyes start to water but he would be dammed if he let Thor see him in this vulnerable state.

"Perhaps… in another life… we could be together again…" With that, Thor and Loki started walking away from her. He was walking to his grave… every step he took only brought him closer to his demise and she could feel her heart slowly shatter.

"In another life…" she whispered to herself. "I failed you… I am not worthy of you Loki…" She turned around and slowly walked away from them. She heard their footsteps for a minute or two more before they disappeared. She finally let those tears she was holding back, fall. Her miserable footsteps could be heard in light echoes throughout the lonely hallway. Not knowing exactly where to go, she walked to her room, perhaps the only place where she could truly be alone to mourn.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

The rest of the way to Odin's throne room was caked in awkward silence. Neither brother said a word. The only thing that was audible was the Thunderer's heavy footsteps followed by the clanging of chains.

Loki was filled with dread as he looked up upon Odin's face. His mother was present, looking lovely as ever, he noted. Her face was bursting with worry. "Loki." He turned to her. Her voice ever so soft and velvety.

"Hello mother… have I made you proud?" He tried to hide his sadness in sarcasm.

"Please don't make this worse…" she gave him a stern gaze.

"Define worse." He smiled at her.

"Enough! I will speak to the prisoner alone." Odin's voice demanded respect. It held power at its very core. Frigga quickly dismissed herself but not before giving her youngest son a glimpse of worry.

Loking away from his mother and up at Odin, Loki mockingly stood at Odin's feet like a good little soldier. However, unable to contain himself, her burst into a soft laughter. "I really don't get what all the fuss is about."

"Do you not truly feel the gravity of your crimes?" Odin was not swayed by Loki's uncaring disposition. "Wherever you go there is war, ruin, and death. "

"I went down to Midgard to rule the people of earth as a benevolent god. Just like you." Loki's eyes were narrowed at the All-Father now.

"We are not gods. We are born, we live, we die. Just as humans do."

"Give or take five-thousand years." Loki continued with his mocking.

"All this because Loki desires a throne." The All-Father would not be swayed by Loki's disrespect.

"It is my birth right!" For a moment, he let anger take control.

"YOUR BIRTH RIGHT… WAS TO DIE! As a child… cast out onto a frozen rock. If I had not taken you in, you would not be here now to hate me." Loki's indifference and insolence had finally pushed Odin's buttons.

"If I am for the axe then for mercy's sake just… swing it. It's not that I don't love our little talks, it's just… I don't love them." He was tired of this game… if he was going to kill him then just get it over with.

"Frigga is the only reason you are still alive and you will never see her again. You will spend the rest of your days in the dungeons." The guards started pulling Loki away with his chains. He had a look of complete disbelief. 'This cannot be happening…' he thought.

"And what of Thor?" Loki's eyes were slightly red now from holding back tears. "You will make that wit-less oaf king while I rot in chains?"

"Thor must strive to undo the damage you have done. He will bring order to the nine realms and then… yes… he will be king." Odin couldn't help but let a smirk escape his lips. Watching the pain on Loki's face made him smile. Not because his son was in such torment but because perhaps now… the severity of his actions was finally sinking in.