It had been nearly a week since the incident between Thor, Loki, and Taylor, and the mortal had barely been seen at all. Occasionally she would be seen wandering around in Frigga's garden or stealing food from the kitchen, but aside from that she had been quite elusive. Loki had attempted to speak with her several times, but nothing. He even waited in the garden all night after inviting her there to talk; Taylor never showed up. Loki knew she was angry with him, and he desperately wanted to fix it, but how?

"Do not worry, brother. She'll come around soon enough. They always do." Thor told Loki after seeing him be ignored by the blonde again. He had tried to speaking with her as well, but she still didn't come out of her room. She did however, stand with the door open a crack to tell him she wasn't upset with him, but that was all.

Taylor had been in room for three whole days; no food, and some water. She had lost her appetite, but her drawing was keeping her occupied enough. She had used up the sketch pad she had brought, so Frigga had one brought to her. The blonde was grateful but still stayed cooped up inside. In her mind she kept playing back the day Loki had found her in the library and how angry he had been. She remembered how she'd felt like the prey, but she also remembered how comforting it was when he held her in his arms after the demon attack. He hadn't hesitated to come to her rescue that day. Just the thought of the incident made her sick, and still she continued to draw; it was her way of venting.

On the fourth day of her solitude, there was small knock on the door. Assuming it to be Loki again, she stayed in her bed and continued to draw. The knocking continued for a few more minutes before Sif poked her head inside the room.

"May I come in?" she asked quietly, forcing a small smile.

Taylor looked up and nodded, setting the pad beside her as Sif entered the room and walked over to sit on the foot of the bed. She had her armor on, but the girl paid it no mind, as her own thoughts were a million miles away.

"What are you drawing?"

"A tree…" she scooted the sketch pad to Sif. The warrior leaned over slightly to look at the pad. On it was a tree with bare branches. The tree stood alone in the middle of a large field, its bark scarred from the many storms it must've endured out there all alone. No birds were perched in the tree, which Sif found a bit odd, and it looked like the tree had been abandoned for many years. The drawing was heartbreaking and it made it clear that Taylor was slipping into what was known as depression. The goddess straightened back up, her honey eyes searching for Taylor's ocean ones.

"You can't stay locked away forever, you know."

"I know… but I just don't want to see them right now… maybe ever."

"Thor told me what happened… you should be grateful to Loki, not angry with him."

"I AM grateful, but…" she shook her head and ran her hand through her hair, "never mind."

Sif frowned and fidgeted a bit before speaking, "come with me. I'll not let them see you, just come with me. Please?" She hated that word; please. It sounded more like begging than begging actually did. But desperate time call for desperate measures, she told herself as she stood from the bed.

Taylor shook her head and looked away. She didn't want to get up, and she sure as heck wasn't going to risk running into Loki.

"You're going even if I have to throw you over my shoulders and carry you out, Lady Stark." Sif crossed her arms.

"…Fine," the mortal sighed and crawled out of bed, straightening the wrinkles in her t-shirt.

Sif smiled and led her out of the bedroom, down the hall, and outside into a large, empty yard. Taylor gave her a confused look, and Sif handed her a sword.

"I'm going to teach you some self-defense," she said, "if that's all right with you, or course. That way if you're attacked again you can at least have a fighting chance."

The blonde blinked in amazement, staring at the sword in her hands. The metal of the blade was so shiny it could have doubled as a mirror. And it was heavy; very heavy.

"You… why are you doing this?" she turned her gaze to the warrior's.

"Hold it like you mean to slay something, not like you're afraid of it."

Taylor opened her mouth to protest, but sighed. She turned the weapon over in her hands a few times to get a better feel of it, then did her best to imitate the position Sif was showing her.

"Like this?"

"Yes, exactly like that." The goddess nodded and slowly swung her own sword at Taylor's.

Taylor jumped back and shook her head, "don't hurt me!"

"Lady Stark, you must trust me or this will never work. Try to block the attack, not run from it. Running is for cowards."

Taylor took a deep breath, then reassumed her previous stance. Sif again sung her blade at the mortal and, to her surprise, Taylor met the attack. There was a loud clang as the metal collided, and the blonde winced. She hated the sound metal made when it collided. It was almost as bad as nails being scraped across a chalkboard; almost.

"Good. Now do it again." Sif moved a bit quicker this time, and again Taylor was able to black the attack. "You're a fast learner," she said while spinning to gain a better advantage for her next attack.

"My mother used to tell me," she blocked another attack from Sif's sword, "the same," and another," thing!"

Taylor and Sif continued their training for the next week, and on the Midgardian day Friday, the mortal was trained enough to best the warrior goddess in a minor bout. Of course Sif had let her win, but still it was a hard thing to do.

As Taylor leaned against a bench to catch her breath, Sif handed her a small, blue shield and her own battle armor. The blonde stared at the gifts in awe for long while before looking up the goddess for some sort of explanation.

"Gifts from the Queen and myself as rewards for doing so well this past week."

"I… I don't know what to say… Thank you." She smiled as she ran her fingers over the metal of her shield in her lap.

"No need to thank me, Lady Stark. It is my pleasure to give you these things. I've never met a mortal that I could stand until now."

"Aww.." Taylor stood up and hugged the warrior, who awakwardly patted her back.

"Uhm…"

"Oh," she let go and giggled, "I guess you're not a hugger."

Sif shook her head, though a smile remained on her face. "No, but it's quite all right." The dinner bell sounded and both women looked towards the castle. "I must go. Farewell, Lady Stark." Sif nodded once at the Midgardian and started towards the castle.

"Wait!"

The goddess paused in her steps and turned to look over her shoulder, "yes?"

"Why did you do this? You never did answer me before…"

The warrior let out a small breath and forced a smile to her lips, "Loki asked me to. He thought it might help to forgive him."

"…Loki?"

"Yes, Loki. Now if you'll please excuse me." Sif turned and trotted up the stairs before disappearing into the castle.

Taylor stared the space where Sif had disappeared into the castle long after she'd left, her mind desperately trying to process what she'd just been told. Loki had arranged her training, and for some reason the goddess had agreed. But the fact that it was Loki's idea…

"…Dang it, Loki…"

Dinner had just ended and Loki was on his way back to his room to finish his book, a smile growing on his lips with each step he took. Sif had informed him of Taylor's progress each night and tonight had been no different. She told him that she'd received gifts from the queen and this pleased him. Taylor seemed happy now, and that of course made him happy as well. But still he missed her. He'd not seen her in nearly two weeks after all. But his brother had assured him that she would come and find him when she was ready to talk, but Loki had his doubts. Why would anyone want to see him after what he'd done? Though he had done things much, much worse than this, that day in the library still bothered him.

Loki reached his room soon and slipped inside, leaning back against the door to close it. He sighed tiredly and drug his hand down his face. It was a good five minutes before he finally noticed the blonde standing in the center of room, fully decked in Asgardian attire. She wore a light purple tunic that stopped just above her knees, sandals, and her battle armor. Loki blinked a few times in shock; she was actually there, and she looked amazing. Her beautiful curls were pulled back into a ponytail again, save for a few that managed to slip out and dangle in front of her face. She was smiling, so that was good. He hoped.

"Taylor…? What are you doing here?" He started to walk over to her, but immediately froze.

With a playful grin, the perky blonde drew her sword and pointed it at him.

"Go no farther," she had to bit her lip to keep from giggling as she spoke, "or die where you stand."

He arched a brow, but decided to play along for now. Maybe he could slip in another apology.

"Oh, don't worry. I'm not going to move, M'lady," a smirk crept onto his face, "I wouldn't dream of it."

Taylor narrowed her eyes and took a step forward, pressing the tip of her sword into his neck. She had no intention to hurt him of course, but no one said she couldn't have a little fun.

"You nearly killed me."

"I know… and I'm sorry. I set up the training lessons with Sif in hopes that would forgive me. But given the current position of your weapon," his eyes darted down to the metal briefly, "that plan didn't work."

She turned her head a bit, then lowered her sword, taking a step back into the center of the room again.

"She told me… thanks."

He nodded and put his hands behind his back as he waited on her to explain the reason of her visit to his chambers.

"When I said I couldn't forgive you before… that was wrong. I shouldn't have done it…"

"You had every right to say what you did, darling. I don't blame you one bit."

"Loki… I forgive you now."

When she said those words, Loki could've have jumped for joy he was so happy! That was what he'd been praying, so to speak, to hear for nearly two weeks now, and now that she'd said it… well.

"Taylor, you have no idea how much I've longed to hear you say those words…"

Her head tilted slightly, brows furrowing in confusion.

"You have…? Why?"

"I've never met anyone like you, Taylor… you're very special to me." His eyes never left hers as he spoke.

Taylor blinked away the tears that had begun to form in her ocean orbs, tucking her loose curls behind her ear.

"You're different… and I like it. I only acted the way I did when I saw you in the library with Thor is because he ALWAYS takes what's mine… or anything that I desire to be mine…" His voice dropped to a lower tone.

"…What you desire to be yours?" She took a couple steps towards him, her arms crossed over her stomach.

"Well, yes…" Loki suddenly felt very nervous as Taylor approached. He could feel his cheeks heating up with each word that rolled from her petal soft lips, and swallowed thickly. "If you don't completely hate me that is..."

Taylor dropped her sword to the floor with a loud clang, her mouth hanging open. Did he just say what I think he said, she thought to herself.

"…I don't hate you," she stretched up on her tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to his lips, then pulled away and waited for his response.

The kiss was unexpected, but Loki welcomed it gladly. He didn't, however, like it when she pulled back.

"Good," he whispered in her ear, before softly kissing her cheek.

Butterflies were going at full speed in the mortals stomach as Loki whispered in her ear, and before he could straighten back to his full height, she grabbed a piece of his armor and pulled him close for a very heated kiss. This time she didn't pull away, but she did find time in-between kisses to whisper but one sentence: "Lock the door…"