Description: Something unxpected happens and the two brothers are able to come to a much needed truce.

Songs: "The One That Got Away" by Katy Perry.

Footsteps touched gently on the elegant floor beneath his boots as he made his way to where one of the guards told him his mother and father were. Having finished packing what he felt he needed for his stay on Midgard, Thor found it almost comical that he was being sent to Midgard once more as a punishment fo his poor choices. The first time had led him to meeting Jane, Erik, and Darcy while this time led him to making a fool of himself over his feelings for Jane. But, as he grew closer to his father's room, he had to know where things stood; he needed to know that Jane knew of his continued love for her. For so long, he had stood on the sidelines while watching Loki hold Jane close and be the reason she smiled so happily; all the while wishing he was in Loki's place. However, they both loved each other dearly; so much that they defended each other with ease and sought out each other's company without any convincing. At one point, Thor had truly believed Loki had cast a love spell of some sort to convince Jane to deem him worthy to date and have romantic feelings for. That idea was soon chased away as he listened to Loki share his feelings for Jane two months before their wedding; the dark haired groom-to-be all smiles as he spoke of the dozens of reasons why he felt Jane was the one for him. The way Loki had acted that night with how genuine he truly seemed was more than enough of a reason to believe that the two of them had actually fallen in love with each other and were to be married.

His footsteps came to a halt as he reached the gold double doors that held to his father's chambers. Thor knew before he left that he wanted a chance to say goodbye to both his brother and Jane while also asking if he would be able to use their home in case Stark Tower was not a good fit. Hopeful that his father wouldn't force him to leave immediately after, Thor was about to knock when the doors flew open; the sight of his mother's panicked gaze greeting him.

"Thor, oh my son - it's your father. He's gone into the Odinsleep. Please, help me get him to the bed." Frigga ran back into the room; worry for her husband quickening her speed before she knelt at his side, a hand caressing his weathered face as she did her best to hold in the threat of tears. Stress was, typically, the culprit of his recent episodes; the life of a King of Asgard on of the most difficult positions the nine realms offered. Now with the most recent issue of Thor's upsetting behavior mixed with Jane being pregnant with Loki's child, Frigga felt it was understandable that her husband was in desperate need to rejuvenate. The sight of her eldest son wandering into the room to where his father rested on the floor pulled her away from her troubled thoughts as she watched him gently pick up his elderly parent before walking over to the large bed in the middle of the room. Getting up as soon as Thor deposited her husband onto the mattress, Frigga nervously began to smooth her right hand over her left; her worry for Odin making her long for the days when the two of them were still young. But, like all things in Asgard, gradual aging and change of old to new were all factors of life. The tears that had threatened to fall earlier finally won out as she sniffled; her heart aching for Odin as she moved to the bed while using her own magic to change his attire as the stiff armor had to be making her husband uncomfortable even as he slept. The sight of him in his pajamas made her smile softly as she watched the spell that was used whenever her husband went into Odinsleep drape itself over his sleeping form.

"Mother, I cannot leave Asgard now; not with Father like this." Thor murmured while moving to stand next to his mother; worry coating his voice as he looked down at his slumbering father.

"He wanted to do it to allow you a chance to form a new path, Thor. Staying here could very well be a continuation of your bad behavior." Frigga replied; her watery gaze moving up to look at her son before she continued. "But, given these new circumstances, it would only be right for you to stay as Asgard will need a new ruler and Loki has not made his decision yet. I will speak to him in a few minutes, though I don't want him doing anything just for the sake of duty. That goes for the both of you. After learning what happened with you and Lady Sif, I feel personally responsible for allowing you to think you had to find a wife before you became King. Love is supposed to be a natural thing, my son."

Listening to what his mother said while eyeing his comatose father, Thor's heart began to ache at the fact that he had attempted to marry Sif just to appease what he thought was expected of a soon-to-be King. The pain and frustration he must have caused his dear friend was unforgivable and he knew he was going to need to find some way to communicate his feelings with her so that she would understand that he had not intentionally sought out to use her. Considering how he should approach the letter, a soft kiss on his cheek drew him away from his thoughts. Looking for the source of the kiss, he found his mother eyeing him worriedly. Smiling faintly at his sweet, considerate mother, Thor spoke finally, "I have done quite a few things out of my sense of duty to the crown, but trying to marry Sif without loving her was my biggest mistake to date. It is all right, though, mother. I know you didn't deliberately mean to put me or Loki in painful positions. Speaking of which, I will go bring him here so three of us can discuss the best course of action."

Wrapping her arms around her first born, Frigga's heart ached at what Odin had done to their sons with his foolish attempts at creating stability. Their sons were not like him, she always would tell him whenever he came up with a plan that didn't work even in the brainstorming process. While he and Thor shared some of the same personalty traits, Thor was far more honest and eager to understand than Odin; whereas Loki had such a thirst for knowledge that when he was growing up, Frigga feared they would run out of books for Loki to devour. "Bring Jane, too," Frigga murmured while looking up at her son. "If she winds up becoming Queen of Asgard, it would only be fair that she understands what she's getting herself into. Plus, it would be good to see her point of view on the matter. Let us meet in the throne room, actually. Now, hurry along," she said while managing a slight smile despite the insanity this day had brought.

Softly bestowing a kiss on his mother's forehead, Thor pulled away from her embrace and left the room; his footsteps making their way to Loki and Jane's chambers.

****

**

Focusing his magic on the book in front of him, Loki carefully turned the page before continuing to read. While he had needed a twenty to thirty minute nap, he had originally opted for sleeping as he wanted to make sure Jane was taking care of herself. She was the same woman who would pull all-nighters for her dozens of projects as well as the same woman who thought boxed pastries were considered substantial as a breakfast option. Smirking slightly to himself at the memory of the argument that ensued when he told her that he wanted her to eat better; that he would be happy to help make healthier meals for his then new bride when she was still a mortal. The memory played on as he recalled her yeling at him; the words 'you're not the boss of me!' filling the room as she glared up at him before he approached her calmly and did his best to explain that he was only concerned for her wellbeing. After that argument, he had continued his tradition of making her favorite omelet; the smell always managing to lure Jane out of their room as she tiptoed and wrapped her arms around him from behind while uttering how much she loved him and so on. Drawing his attention from the book he had brought from their home in Tromso, Loki smiled in adoration at his still slumbering wife whose head rested comfortably along of the crook of his neck; her lips parted slightly as she slept. Using the arm that was wrapped around her sleeping form, Loki softly brushed a lock of hair from her face before moving his arm back. This particular position was one they had adopted when she wanted to sit next to him as the two of them read or watched a movie.

Frowning slightly at the sound of approaching foosteps; the power of each step causing him to grimace as he recognized Thor's gait, Loki exhaled softly while setting the book down on the bed next to him. What did his brother want? Casting a glance at his sleeping Jane, Loki muttered a soft apology as he carefully slid from her; all the while grasping onto her gently and setting her down on the bed in the hopes that she would stay asleep. Fate was, indeed, on his side as he watched her shift a bit before reaching for the pillow he had been leaning against; the sound of his name whispered sleepily from her lips causing his heart to swell with love for the beautiful woman. Bending over, Loki kissed her cheek lightly before straightening and leaving to go address Thor in the corridor; annoyance thrumming in his veins at the thought of having to leave his wife alone. Opting for transporting himself to the source of the footsteps as he did not want to risk waking Jane from the sound of the door opening and closing, Loki's bare feet touched the floor as he found himself standing directy behind Thor.

"What is it you want, Thor?," Loki called out to the blonde; his arms folding against his chest as he eyed the back of his brother's head.

"Huh?," Thor spun around at the sound of Loki's voice; the sight of his brother behind him greeting him and causing him to chuckle faintly. "Ah, I've come to ask that you and Jane join mother and I in the throne room. Father has gone into Odinsleep and we have much to discuss."

"How like him to slip into a coma whenever things are getting rough," Loki remarked; his lips curling up in a humorless smile. "Brother, my wife is still asleep and I don't have the heart to wake her up for this. So, let me just put some shoes on and we can go meet mother."

Offering Loki a nod while smirking faintly at the sight of his brother's bare feet, he watched as the dark haired God of Mischief transported back to the bedroom. Guilt tugged at Thor as he realized he was the main cause of his father's stress and while he understood the reasoning behind it, the fact that he was unable to get his thoughts of Jane under control irked him greatly. She was married to Loki, he mused; their love something he had only read about in books or overheard from his tutors. He wasn't going to allow his misguided emotions to interfere with his brother's happiness; the sheer sight of how deliriously happy Loki continued to be warmed Thor's heart beyond measure.

****

**

Walking over to where he had put his boots before he and Jane had taken a nap together, Loki stepped as quietly as he could manage; the soft sounds of Jane's breathing greeting his ears. While he knew it was right to decide on what to do with the current situation, a much larger part of him wanted to slip back onto the bed and pull his slumbering wife into an embrace. Exhaling softly in irritation at the irksome issue, he reached his shoes only to focus his magic on the footwear before casting a spell on them; their comfortable weight covering his feet and shins. Using a fingertip to brush away a strand of his dark locks from his face, his green eyes wandered over to Jane's form; his lips curling up in a loving smile at the sight of Jane clutching onto the pillow he had been leaning against. Once more, he was presented with the much more enjoyable option of snuggling with his wife, but he didn't want to keep his mother waiting. Making his way to the door, Loki paused as the idea of leaving Jane a note so she wouldn't worry where he was appeared in his thoughts; the idea very agreeable as he spun around to walk briskly over to a large gold accented desk situated by the bathroom. Pursing his lips thoughtfully while searching and locating a scrap of paper and pen, he bent over the desk while scribbling out a note to Jane; the note describing his location and that he hoped she rested and that he would be back as soon as he was finished with his mother and brother. Signing the letter with a flourish, he snatched it up and wandered over to the bed before choosing to leave the note on a bedside table situated next to his side of the bed. Glancing, once more, at his Jane, Loki bent over the bed and kissed her forehead before transporting himself to where he felt Thor's presence.

"Let's go, brother," Loki murmured as he appeared behind the other once more; his longing to be back in bed with Jane thrumming through his veins. So far, this particular visit to Asgard had been one he found himself wishing he could have cancelled. But, given the nature of his family where secrets and misunderstandings seemed to be their greatest attributes, the events of their visit so far could not have been predicted.

"Took you long enough," Thor replied; his lips quirking up in sarcasm as he peered over his shoulder at his dark haired sibling. Noting the lack of Jane, he frowned curiously before eyeing Loki. "Is she still asleep?"

"Indeed. I imagine her body is trying to adjust to the beginnings of pregnancy. Let's make this meeting quick. I want to be within earshot if she needs me."

"Such a dutiful husband," Thor murmured sarcastically.

".. or a man who genuinely loves his wife and doesn't want her to strain herself." He eyed Thor in irritation at his brother's foolish remark before moving to walk past him.

Watching Loki start to walk, Thor fell in line while recognizing that his comment had been insensitive. "Brother, as much trouble as I have brought to you and Jane, I truly am glad you two have each other. She's brought out the brother I remember when we were children while helping you become the man you were meant to be. Whereas with her, I know you've given her the security and stability she's needed. You two are going to make a beautiful child, brother," Thor said while reaching forward and grasping onto Loki's left shoulder before giving it a gentle squeeze.

Blinking at the gesture; one that he had experienced dozens and dozens of times from Thor for as long as he could remember, Loki paused to look at Thor who moved to stand next to him. "Do you really think that? I know you harbor feelings for Jane so you'll have to understand how surprised I am to hear you say something like that."

Sighing at his reckless behavior, Thor let go of Loki before peering down at the marble floor beneath his shoes. "Aye, brother," He began while looking at the green eyes that belonged to his brother before continuing, "while it will take time to stomach all that has happened between the two of you, I cannot overlook the obvious: you are able to give her the light I was unable to give and I can only imagine the child or children you two create will have their parents' drive for knowledge and their mother's kind heart; plus your love of mischief," his lips quirked as he laughed softly in agreement with his statement.

Unable to resist the feeling of warmth that flooded his senses in response to Thor's words, Loki's worry of having to keep an eye on Thor finally faded as he nodded; his lips curving up in a content smile. "Thank you for your words, Thor. Truly. It does me a great deal of good to know you feel that way. Now let's not keep mother waiting, hm?"

(See you all at Chapter 17! Also, I want to thank each and everyone of you for your wonderful reviews of this story so far. It makes this writer's blissfully happy. Also, thank you to all those who've followed this story. Take care!)