(Author's Note: Chapter 18! I feel like we're nearing the end on this baby. Just a few more chapters and she'll be finished. With that end in mind, I would like to know how all of you want it to end. Any ideas? I love questions and suggestions! You can review or PM me if you have any of those. Thank you and enjoy!)

Chapter 18

When Loki awoke, Emmeline was up, and walking toward Frigga's washroom. He sat up and called out to her.

"What are you doing?" Emmeline turned to him.

"You're awake!" she said, walking over to him. She sat on the bed next to him and looked him over. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine darling. Hardol's Spell is greatly taxing on one's energy, but I am fine now. What about you? You were walking, so that is good."

"Oh my God it worked so well! I feel just like I did before, thank you! And I was up because even though my wounds are gone, the blood and dirt are not, so I was going to bathe."

"Without me?" Loki said, smirking at her. She giggled and raised her eyebrow.

"You wanna come?"

"Of course," Loki replied, standing up with her. He put his hands in her hair and pressed his forehead to hers. "You have no idea how worried I was for you. I've never been so afraid in my life." He pulled her against him and breathed in the scent of her. She had a flowery smell, buried underneath the blood. Loki planted kisses on her neck. Emmeline gently pulled away.

"Let's save this for when we get in the shower," she said. "I feel so dirty, it's embarrassing." Loki followed her into the washroom and she turned the water on in the shower. Loki approached her from behind and put his hands on Emmeline's waist, pushing her skirt lower and lower.

"I can do that myself," Emmeline said, a smile in her voice. Loki smiled and breathed on her neck as he caressed her curves.

"Yes, but I can do it so much better," he whispered. Emmeline turned around and put her hands on the back of his neck, pressing him against herself.

"Thank you for saving me," she said. "…Again."

"Saving you saves me," Loki replied. "Without you I have nothing to live for."

Loki dissolved his armor and tunic and followed Emmeline into the steaming shower. The water felt nice against his skin, soothing his aching bones, and it washed the blood off Emmeline, leaving a trail of red going into the drain. Loki's charcoal black hair stuck to his shoulders and Emmeline put her fingers in it.

"I want you to promise me," she said, "that you'll never cut your hair." Loki smiled at her and put his hands on her curves.

"You like it?"

"I love it."

"Well then I promise."

Loki was shocked at what Emmeline did next. She threw her arms around him and burst into tears. She cried hard, and Loki could do nothing but hold her. He didn't know what to do. He stood under the warm water with Emmeline in his arms, trying to think of something that would ease her pain.

"I'm sorry," she sobbed. Loki stroked her wet hair and spoke softly to her.

"It's alright," he said. "Shh, it's alright."

"They hurt me so much," she cried. "And I…I was so scared without you, but I was scared you would come and they would hurt you, and…" Emmeline trailed off and cried some more. Loki felt as if someone had stabbed him in the gut. Emmeline, while she was being tortured, thought of him and feared for him. He wanted to weep himself, but he needed to comfort her. He didn't know what to say.

"They just knocked all the…determination, and the…hope right out of me. And replaced it with pain…" Loki could see the torture had deeply affected her, and why shouldn't it? It was a traumatic experience; Loki knew better than anyone. He knew what it was like to be stuck in the dark for so long that you can't remember light; you can't remember happiness or the kind touch of another person. You can't remember what it was like before the pain.

"I know," he said. "I know it hurts. But you're alright now." Loki failed from keeping the tears from falling over his cheeks. Emmeline had been hurt; she had suffered, and he wasn't there. He couldn't protect her. The one thing he loved, the one thing he held dear to him, he couldn't protect. That terrified him more than anything.

"Are you crying too?" Emmeline asked when he began to tremble, trying to hide his sobs from her. She looked up at him. "Why?"

Because I wasn't there to protect you when you needed me. Because you suffered and I did nothing.

"Because you are," Loki said. "It saddens me to see you cry." Emmeline held tight to him, and they stood there under the steamy water for a long time in silence.


That night, hours after the sun had set in the Asgardian sky, Loki lied awake in his mother's bed. Emmeline had fallen asleep a while ago, but sleep would not find Loki. He sat up, glancing down at Emmeline as she slept. She looked so peaceful. She deserved such peace after what she'd been through.

Loki looked through the window at the stars. There were few this night, and none shown out above any of the others. They were all spread out; tiny gleams of light in a large dark sky. Such was Loki's heart. But the tiny gleams of light were ones Emmeline had put there.

As Loki sat, looking at the stars, he heard a small noise come from his door. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, in fear of the Chitauri entering, but that fear went away as Loki saw his brother come through the door.

"Oh," whispered Thor. "I'm sorry brother, I thought you would be asleep at this hour. I only came to watch over the two of you. Father wanted Emmeline properly guarded."

He didn't think I could do it myself? Loki thought. But he said nothing of that sort. He didn't know if he thought it anymore.

"You look distressed, brother," said Thor. "What troubles you?" Loki's first thought was to ignore his brother's question, but for some reason he felt compelled to tell him, as if he needed someone to tell.

"Have you ever felt completely helpless Thor? Like nothing you do, even though you try your hardest, can ever keep anything precious to you? Like it is all just going to leave someday and there is nothing you can do?" There was fear and sadness in Loki's voice.

"Why do you say these things, Loki?" asked Thor. "Do you feel guilty for what happened to Emmeline?"

"She suffered, Thor. She suffered at the hands of those vile creatures, and I wasn't there. I wasn't there to help her; to deliver her from their cruel torture. She sat there and cried in pain while they broke her. And I was not at her side! I couldn't protect her from that; like I couldn't protect her from the Chitauri's sword in Midgard."

"It wasn't your fault Loki; you had no idea she had been captured. And when you did, you wasted no time going after her. You tried."

"I tried but I failed. I failed her. When she needed me most, I…" Loki trailed off as the fear seeped deeper and deeper into his veins. He was poisoned with it.

"And—and here Odin sends you, because he knows you can protect her when I can't!" Loki cried, tears sparking in his eyes, threatening to spill over his cheeks. "What am I to do if something worse happens to her?! What then, Thor?!" Thor walked over to his little brother and put his hand on Loki's shoulder.

"Loki, you are not to blame for Emmeline's torture. It is not your fault that you couldn't be there. Everyone falls short sometimes. You can't be perfect Loki, nobody can be. Terrible things happen and we can't always prevent them." Loki chuckled sadly.

"I am far from perfect brother," he said. "I am just…simply afraid that I won't be able to save her if something terrible should happen to her further. Eventually something will kill her, and I will kill myself for not being there."

"Don't say that," Thor said harshly. "You're being foolish."

"But what about Frigga, Thor?! I couldn't save her either! I was locked in my cell from my own stupidity, and if I had only known the Chitauri wouldn't keep their word to me, none of this would have happened! Frigga wouldn't be dead, Emmeline wouldn't be tortured beyond comprehension, and you and Odin wouldn't hate me! I should have known," he said. "I should have known."

"I don't hate you brother, I have told you that. And neither does Father. When we were children I looked up to you." Loki was taken aback. Thor looked up to him? Thor was the one with all the skill in battle, the brawny one that his parents, his friends, and all the maidens of Asgard favored. Loki was the one that always tried to match his worth to Thor's.

"Why would you look up to me?" asked Loki. "You were everything everybody wanted. You were skilled on the battlefield, strong and honorable, like a prince should be. I was small; I wanted to be a sorcerer rather than a warrior and that is hardly matched to your battle talents in Asgard."

"You were always so clever, and Mother took pride in your wit. I always wished I could be as smart and cunning as you could. You could talk us out of trouble with your silver tongue and you always knew what to do in emergency. I used to envy your gentleness and your mind, always focused." Loki stared at his brother in disbelief for a brief moment, and then looked down.

"None of that is of any value in Asgard."

"That's not true Loki, and I'm sorry if I or anyone else ever made you feel that way. But the point is that you are not to blame for anything that has happened when you did not intend. We're brothers, Loki; Jotun or not. Neither one of us is of any more value than the other." Loki didn't say anything for a while. He looked down at Emmeline and swept his finger across her jaw line. After a long moment of silence, Loki spoke.

"Do you…ever get scared for Jane Foster?" he asked without looking at his brother.

"All the time. I go to Heimdall nightly to check on her. That's love, brother. You protect and fear for her because you love her." Loki looked at Thor with a soft expression.

"It's terrifying," he said. "How much I care for her; need her. She terrifies me." Thor laughed, and lightly shook Loki's shoulder.

"It's late brother," said Thor. "You should get some sleep. I'll watch until morning."

"If the Chitauri find us, get Emmeline out," said Loki, pulling the blanket over himself. "Don't worry about me, just get her out."

"I will," said Thor. Loki covered Emmeline with the blanket and held her next to him as he fell asleep.


Emmeline woke up screaming and sweating, with Loki holding her to his chest and Thor standing over her.

"Shh, Emmeline it's alright. Shh, please darling, you have to stop. They'll hear you," said Loki.

When Emmeline realized that it had only been a nightmare; that the Chitauri were nowhere in sight; she stopped screaming and grabbed Loki, breathing heavily.

"It was just a dream Emmeline," said Thor. Emmeline swallowed and Loki squeezed her to his chest, breathing on her neck.

"They-they were here, I…" Emmeline struggled to say.

"I'm here," said Loki. "I won't let them hurt you anymore." Emmeline whimpered into Loki's shirt and he kissed the top of her head. He held her until she calmed down and came into reality.

"I'm sorry," she said.

"Don't be," Loki replied. "It was only a dream; you're alright now. I love you."

"I just…wish it would go away. The memories…"

"I know. …I know." Loki couldn't think of anything to say. His silver tongue did not apply to Emmeline, or comfort, for that matter. He had no excuse for why he couldn't have been there for her.

"You both need something to eat," said Thor. "I will go out and see what I can find. …The Chitauri have ravaged our kitchens."

"Be careful," warned Emmeline. Thor flashed her an assuring smile and left the room.

"I'm sorry I woke you Loki. You can go back to sleep," said Emmeline.

"No, it's alright. Thor is going to bring us something to sustain us and then we will decide what to do on the grounds of battle. Emmeline, if—"

"—Oh, I forgot to tell you, Odin wants us to meet him on the bifrost in three days, but he said that to me yesterday, so I guess that means tomorrow." Loki registered that information.

"Very well. But, Emmeline if you don't feel like fighting this battle, I want to take you somewhere safe so that—"

"—Are you kidding? I am ready to kick some slimy Chitauri ass!" Loki couldn't help but laugh. "I want to make them pay. I'm becoming like you; I seek vengeance."

"Well then I will grant it to you," said Loki, smiling at her, his white teeth shining at her.

"You look really good today," said Emmeline.

"Do I?"

"Yeah, I just noticed. You look super hot. Maybe it's the lighting in here or something. I mean, you look hot every day, but for some reason today it's like, ten times more blinding. I'm so lucky; you're pretty much the sexiest man to ever walk the planet. Or nine of them." Loki smiled at her and ran his fingers through her hair.

"You are the most beautiful, most graceful creature I have ever seen," he replied. Emmeline giggled and wrapped her arms around him.

"You make me so happy Loki. I'm so glad we're getting married. Then you'll be mine forever. No one else can have you."

"I do? I make you happy?" asked Loki, as if he was surprised.

"Of course! Is that weird?"

"No, it's just…no one has ever told me that before. I don't usually bring happiness."

"Yes you do. You just give it all to me." Emmeline kissed his cheek.

When Thor came back, he brought several loaves of bread and a few fruits. He set them on Frigga's dresser. Emmeline practically exploded out of the bed.

"Sorry guys, but I legitimately can't remember how many days it's been since I've eaten food," she said, sinking her teeth into an apple. To taste the sweet fruit, the juice running down her throat, was like heaven. It had been so long. She took a loaf of bread as well. "Almost-starving needs to stop happening to me."

Loki took a fruit Emmeline didn't recognize and peeled the blue covering, revealing a mushy purple inside. Loki caught Emmeline's bewildered look as he took a bite of it and paused.

"What is that?" she asked.

"A Blue Epli," replied Loki. "You don't have them in Midgard?"

"Nope," Emmeline said. "What does it taste like?"

"Here," Loki handed the fruit to Emmeline and she took a bite of it, getting the blue juice all over her face. Suddenly, a delicious burst of sweetness flooded Emmeline's mouth. The Blue Epli was textured like a watermelon, and the juice tasted like what Emmeline could only describe as strawberry Kool-Aid. She swallowed and looked at Loki.

"That's awesome!" He smiled.

"You have blue on your face," he said. "Let me help you." Loki pressed his lips to Emmeline's, and she tried not to smile as he ravaged her mouth. Thor pretended not to notice. Emmeline let out a soft moan and opened her eyes when they let go of the kiss.

"I think you got it," breathed Emmeline.

"Did I? I don't think I did," Loki said with a smile. Emmeline let him kiss her again and then put her finger in front of her mouth.

"We don't want to make Thor feel awkward," she said. Loki snorted and Thor smirked at him.

All of the sudden, Fandral swooped into the room from the queen's balcony, flying in on a hovercraft.

"Fandral!" exclaimed Thor. "My friend, I have been looking for you and the rest of the Three!"

"The Allfather rescued us, and Lady Sif as well. But I am sorry to report that I bring grave news."


"What is it?" asked Loki.

"The Chitauri have found their dead leader…and now Thanos is coming to finish the job himself," replied Fandral. Loki would have vomited had he not swallowed it back. The name Thanos sent a chill all over his body.

"Loki, are you okay? You're cold all the sudden," said Emmeline.

"I'm fine," Loki replied hastily. Thanos had ordered the Loki's torture just as the Other had ordered Emmeline's; the Other was nothing but his lieutenant. If Loki feared anyone, he feared Thanos.

And what was worse; suddenly Loki understood Thanos' entire plan.

"DAMMIT!" he exclaimed, although he hadn't realized he'd said it out loud. All eyes turned to him. He looked at them and cleared his throat.

"What?"

"Er…alright, well the Allfather sent me to tell all of you that we shall meet him on the bifrost on the morrow," said Fandral. Thor nodded and Fandral saluted him as he flew out.

"So what was that 'dammit' about?" asked Emmeline. Loki sighed.

"I know what Thanos plans to do," he said. Thor turned to him.

"Tell us, brother."

"Thanos wants Asgard because it is the leader of all the Nine realms. When he has Asgard, he will have the power to mercilessly tear the other realms apart to look for the six soul gems. …He wants the Infinity Gauntlet."

"What is that?" asked Emmeline. "The six soul gems? The Infinity thing?"

"The six soul gems are all jewels of incredible power and energy. The Tesseract is one of them, and Thanos has that already," replied Thor. "If one puts them all together, it creates the Infinity Gauntlet; all the power in the realms combined. If Thanos is able to assemble it, he will have the ability to control Power, Space, Reality, Time, Mind, and the Soul. He will be unstoppable."

"That's not good," Emmeline said.

"That isn't all," Loki said. "Thanos' master is Mistress Death. She resurrected him to bring balance in the realms of living and dead. So many will be killed if we fail to stop him." Emmeline almost refused to believe what she was hearing. Balance the number of living and dead? Half the universe would be killed. She felt an overwhelming rush of stress and fear.

"…W-What do we do?" she stammered.

"We fight," Loki replied. "We fight until the end."


Hm? Any thoughts, ideas, questions, suggestions? Review or PM, hope you liked it! I did some research on Thanos on the MCU website and then I learned of this Infinity Gauntlet thing, so if you were wondering, that's where I got my information from. :)