Part three:

Time passed extremely slowly for Loki, Sigyn was always by his side, but for the raven haired immortal his progress back to health was annoyingly gradual. However eventually the god of mischief was able to walk around by himself, and it was at this point in his recovery that Tony opened up the swimming pool to the dark haired god, who began to take regular swims to help build up his strength again. Loki's magical abilities were also returning to him, each day he was becoming able to do more and more with his powers. To say his slow recovery annoyed Loki was an understatement, this however did not mean that he did not understand why it should be the case.

At the end of three months Thor returned from Asgard as its newly crowned king and the three immortals returned to their home. On their return form Midgard the change in Loki was quickly noticed by the other residents of Asgard, this change caused them to worry about the trickster far more than they were willing to admit.

Five years passed, Loki remained the same, mostly emotionless, no pranks were pulled, no lies were spoken; he seemed more dead than alive at times. The rare times that the once lively god of Asgard showed emotion was met with joy by the residents of Asgard but these moments were few and far between. This did not mean however that his silver tongue was gone, Loki would often dispatch it in Thor's cause, soothing kings, and diplomats alike, negotiating treaties and playing the game of politics with a skill which caused many to respect and fear him in an equal measure.

Loki was never to be found far from Thor during any time court was in session, the thunder god had come to rely on the advice of the other immortal but at the same time he missed the joy, the light and laughter that use to be part of Loki, this quiet and nearly always serious person he had become worried Thor greatly.

It was Sigyn who decided enough was enough; the goddess went to Midgard and brought Jane back to Asgard, telling the mortal woman that she and Thor really needed to have a long talk because the pair of them where aggravating her greatly by constantly dancing round each other. It was not long after her arrival on Asgard that Jane noticed Loki and the changes in him, she was quick to ascertain from the other gods and goddesses that the dark haired immortal had been like this ever since he had come back from the brink of death.

The more the mortal woman watched the pale god the more she noticed it, Loki was protective of Thor, it wasn't in his words, but rather his actions. Loki was never far from the king of Asgard, ready to help him, ready to defend him from physical attack if the sword he now always carried around the other immortal was any indication. There was also the distinct lack of tricks, mischief and lies, this left her wondering who was caring for the things he usually took care of. "So if he is like this now then who's doing his old job?" Jane asked the other immortals confused.

It was Sigyn who answered her question. "Loki is far more than you realise mortal, he was not just the things you were aware of, he was joy, light and laughter too, those things are gone from him though and without them he is not as he was. Loki is different, therefore he has taken up an altered post, however that said to some extent he is still doing his duty by being the excellent silver tongued diplomat he is as well as being a wise and reliable counsellor and protector to Thor. That is not to say we would not wish him to balance both rolls, after all the old Loki is just as sorely missed by us all as the new Loki is loved."

It was one afternoon a few days after this conversation with the goddess of faithfulness that Jane approached Loki when he was alone in one of the corridors of the palace. "Loki?"

The slender god turned to face her he bowed politely and then looked at her with those flat emotionless blue eyes and spoke in his usual monotone voice. "Lady Jane, how can I be of assistance to you today?"

"I want to talk to you about Thor."

"Oh?"

"I've been watching you with him; you take good care of your king. You are always nearby in case he needs you in any way, and sometimes when this emotionless state slips from you I can see quiet clearly that you love him very deeply."

This statement was met by a long silence, during which Loki turned away from her to stare out of the nearest window and Jane could tell that after her words he was struggling slightly to keep his emotionless state in place. "You are mistaken to say that I love him in a romantic way, I merely watch over him as well as he did for me as a child and I love him as though he were my brother even though this is not truly the case."

"No, Loki it's more than that, you watch over him and you protect him so diligently because you love him."

"Since you are so insistent you are correct I feel I must ask as to what makes you think that is the case?" He asked her in a way which reminded Jane much more of the old Loki than the new.

The mortal woman slowly smiled at the god of mischief and then spoke to him. "It's there in a million small things. The way you watch him is not brotherly you hide it well but I've seen the occasional flash of desire in you. The way you help him and defend him, you'd be willing to die rather than see him hurt and that is the strongest form of love."

"And if I do love Thor what would you have me do about it, as you reminded me when I woke he has you and my love would not be necessary for him."

"Loki...This is hard for me to say but...I should not have said that to you...It was very wrong of me and I apologise for my words. You see I didn't want to lose him, but now I realize I never really had his heart in the first place."

"And you are telling me I do?"

Quickly Jane came towards the taller man she grabbed his hand, before determinedly starting to pull him along. Loki knew he could resist her if he wanted to, however right at that particular moment he found he did not want to, the dark haired god found instead that he wished to see what Jane was up to. The midgarian woman hauled Loki into the throne room, as they entered every one turned to look at them and then made a clear way to the throne in which Thor had only just settled himself for the days' court. Jane pulled the unresisting Loki across the throne room and the last of the distance to the steps before the throne. As the blue eyes of the two gods met the dark haired immortal shrugged to let Thor know he had no idea what the mortal lady was about to do.

"Thor King of Asgard and lord of storms I have something I would say to you." Jane said to him very formally staring straight at the blonde king.

Realising from her words that whatever Jane was about to say was going to be important Thor moved further forward in the throne and gave his complete attention to the mortal woman. "You may speak Lady Jane."

"I have come to you today to say this; I relinquish my claim on you and your heart, I have come to believe that I never really held it in the first place." Gently Jane tugged forward Loki. "I wish to hand my place by your side to Loki." There was a gasp of surprise from all those present but Jane ignoring the shock of those around her continued to speak. "Loki loves you and you love him and as we three know Loki would not be here if you did not, it was after all your love which bribed Hel to release him from her grip. Come Thor take the hand of the one who is your true love and show him what is in your heart."

"Is this truly what you wish of me?" Thor asked her with concern in his voice.

These words from the other immortal set Loki to tugging determinedly on Jane's hand, the mortal woman however refused to release the grip she had on his hand. "Stop it Thor, you are hurting him and what I want is no longer of importance. I love you enough to give you up to Loki who I truly believe loves you more than I do and can be with you always unlike myself."

"Jane...I am sorry that we could not be together in the way you wished. It was wrong of me to try and love you when I have only ever loved Loki." Thor said gently in beguine apology to the lady, then he turned his gaze away from the lady and to Loki, sure enough as soon as his eyes settled on the other god they filled with love.

As the black haired god noticed the way the king of Asgard was looking at him he froze in place, Thor let a small smile curve his lips up it felt good to him to have Loki wrong footed for once. Slowly the blonde immortal stood, he walked down from the throne the thunder god came to stand before Loki and Jane. "Lady please will you give me Loki's hand?"

With a single nod the mortal woman placed the hand she had been holding into the much larger hand of Thor. Gently the blonde immortal closer his hand round that of Loki and using the hold he now had on the pale god he drew the Loki forward towards him. This action caused their eyes to meet once again, Thor took a deep breath and then spoke to the one he had saved. "I love you, with all of my heart you are my true love Loki."

"Thor..." The dark haired immortal said softly, Thor watched with the smile on his face growing as the flat eyes began to come to life. Then Loki suddenly let out a heartfelt laugh and the thunder god was convinced that half the other immortals of Asgard almost combusted with surprise on the spot at this long missed sound coming from Loki. As for himself Thor just smiled even more widely at Loki, delighted to hear him laugh and to see the life and light return to his blue eyes once more.

"You are my true love too Thor." The pale god told him eventually in a voice which was full of happiness.

"Good I'm glad to hear it." Quickly Thor leant in capturing Loki's mouth in a searing kiss, the blue eyes of the trickster widened slightly with surprise, before he threw himself fully into the kiss returning it with just as much force and passion as Thor was giving it.

With a groan of long thwarted desire the king of Asgard pulled back from the kiss, as he did so the blonde immortal hastily swept Loki up into his arms, the other god didn't protest he merely smiled brightly at Thor, who turned to the other immortals and declared forcefully. "We will be wed. I look to you Sif and Freya to organise this event for us." No one raise any objections to this announcement not even Loki, who instead let out a small huff of laughter, before leaning his head against Thor's shoulder and allowing the other immortal to carry him away from the throne room. Although it was noted by the other gods and goddesses of Asgard that the royal couple were not seen from that day to the day of their wedding and for some time after their union, no one was foolish enough to make any kind of comment about this fact to the pair themselves.