Chapter 2

My heart was quite possibly pounding as hard now as it was when I'd first set foot in my car with Emma. Only this time, instead of a car it was a wheelchair, and instead of the roads at night, it was the halls of a hospital. I knew the likelihood of all the nurses knowing exactly who I was, was very slim, but I was still afraid we'd be spotted and stopped before we were even out the door.

The nurse pushed my chair down the hall, after checking to make sure it was clear, Jane moving ahead of us to keep an eye out. When we reached the elevator, I was pushed inside to the back, and both Jane and the nurse stepped in front of me, standing side by side to help obstruct the view of anyone who might be waiting at the lower floors. The nurse pressed the button for the basement, inserting the override key so the elevator would go there, and all I could do was close my eyes and hope that no one would call for the elevator on our way down.

"Why the basement level?" I asked.

"We're going to have to go through the morgue. There's a door down there for the ambulances to pull up for when they need to drop off… well you know." I shuddered. "There's one that should still be parked down there. I'll load you and Emma inside, and Jane will have to drive you from there."

"What about you?" I asked her.

"I have to stay here to buy you time." I heard the elevator doors open and felt her begin to push my chair out, so I opened my eyes, watching as I was quickly wheeled through the morgue and into the back. We reached a loading bay door which was already open and sure enough, an ambulance sat there, the back doors already open. She wheeled me inside, finding a way to restrain the wheelchair, then moved to shut me inside. "Good luck," she said almost grimly, and doors closed.

For the next hour, I sat in silence, holding Emma close to me while Jane drove us away. I thought about the life I was about to leave behind. Escaping my husband had always been the goal, but I'd never planned on abandoning my entire life. Before there was still the hope of finding a way to contact my parents and stay safe, or even my old friends. But this was different. This was as far away from my old life as I could possibly get, and while I knew I was doing the right thing, it didn't make me any less afraid… or make me feel any less lonely.

I held Emma closer, kissing the top of her head. Bringing her into a home that was full of hurt and danger was something I couldn't forgive myself for. The most I could do now was bring her some place safe where she wouldn't have to listen to the sounds of her mother crying, her father yelling, or any of the evil that had taken place in our old life.

The ambulance came to a stop and the engine shut off. Jane stepped outside, telling me to wait, and I heard her speaking with someone with a deep voice, though they were standing where I couldn't see them. I began to panic. What if he wouldn't help me? What if this had all been for nothing and I had to go back to the hospital with Emma? They talked for what felt like hours before the back doors opened and both Jane and Thor looked in at me.

Thor was everything I'd heard and more. Large and muscular, long blonde hair, clad in armor that was like nothing I'd ever seen in real life. I felt even smaller just looking at him, but I knew if he was on my side my husband was screwed.

"She's hurt," he said, looking at my leg which was in a cast.

"Her husband," said Jane darkly, looking down. "She's lucky she's still alive." He nodded and looked into my eyes.

"Jane's told me what happened to you. I'm sorry." I nodded silently and he looked me over again, down to the sleeping baby in my arms. "I'll take you both with me as well, but you'll have to do exactly what I say when we cross over, do you understand?" Again I nodded, but I couldn't help but wonder… as well?

Jane stepped in, helping wheel me forward, and rather than using the ramp, Thor took hold of the entire chair and pulled me out, setting me on the ground. I couldn't help but laugh a little, the first laugh I'd had in God only knew how long. There were other people there, and as I looked around, I began to recognize a few of them. Even without their uniforms, their faces were recognizable enough, and I realized the whole of the Avengers was gathered here.

Before I could even ask why they were there, Tony Stark gestured in my direction, catching their attention if they hadn't noticed me yet. "Whoa wait a minute, what's this?" he asked. "I thought this was supposed to be a low-key thing. Why are we bringing in spectators?"

"She is no spectator," said Thor. "She is coming with me."

One I didn't recognize spoke up. "You never said anything about taking a civilian back with you. We agreed you would have the war criminal and that was all."

The words "war criminal" got my attention.

"Director Fury," spoke up Jane, stepping forward. "It's urgent she returns with him to Asgard." Fury turned to her suspiciously.

"Why?" he asked, turning his eyes on me. Panic began to set in as I began to worry he would really stop me, and I met eyes with him.

"I'm afraid that's my own business," I answered.

"There will be no discussion on this matter," Thor cut in, placing a hand on my shoulder. His grip was strong, and it felt oddly comforting to have someone of his build speaking up for me. In that moment I didn't question the possibility that he was about to take me away fighting.

But it only begged the question why he would go out of his way for me. I glanced over at Jane and back at him. Perhaps the simple fact that she wanted him to help me was all the reason he needed.

"I do not wish to start a conflict now after everything. I will take the Midgardians with me, along with my brother, and I promise you will not hear from us again."

"You had better not promise that," Fury said, though his expression was that of relenting. "We want you to return the next time we need you." Thor smiled and Jane stepped behind me, wheeling me forward while Thor stepped away for a moment.

After Jane had me in place, I looked to see Thor returning, accompanied by another. The man was in chains with a muzzle over his mouth, his eyes downcast, and his face bearing a few scratches and bruises. Having seen the headlines and the breaking news stories like everyone else in the country, I knew immediately who he was.

Loki's eyes flickered on me for a moment, staring at me curiously, then moved off me and on to the glowing blue cube encased in glass that Fury was handing Thor. There was an almost lust in the way he stared at it. Thor took hold of one of the handles on my wheelchair, then looked to Loki. "Grab the other one," he ordered him. Loki looked at him as though there were something snide he wanted say were there not a muzzle in his mouth, but did as he was told all the same, taking hold of the chair. I couldn't help but look at him again, but when I did I felt a chill go down my spine.

His eyes were on Emma.

Thor held on to one end of the Tesseract and held out so Loki could grab on to the other end, and in a blast of light, we were gone.

The voyage was comparable to what I could only imagine it was like to be shot out of a cannon, blinding lights surrounding us, and I felt the urge to hold Emma tighter than ever, afraid I'd drop her and lose her between dimensions. Whatever pain medication I was on, it was not strong enough to stop my injuries from burning in protest, and I began to feel my head spinning, fearing I was about to faint.

All at once, it was over. We came to a sudden halt in front of a set of giant doors, but that was all I managed to see before I felt my head drop forward. "Catch her!" shouted Thor's voice, and both his and Loki's hands were on me, pulling me back into the chair while my head was swimming and my ears were ringing.

"What is the meaning of this?"

There were footsteps approaching, but I sat with my head laid back, unable to look up at them. I reminded myself that I was still holding Emma and put all my focus into staying conscious, barely hearing the conversation that took place. From what I could gather, we were being approached by guards, but the voice had been too authoritative, so I assumed the king was there as well.

"Father," said Thor, confirming my theory. "I've returned with Loki."

"Yes, I can see that," Odin answered, his voice was cross. "But what I don't understand is why you've also brought back a Midgardian woman and her squalling babe." It was then I noticed that the ringing in my ears was gradually being replaced by the high pitched screams of a baby, and looked down at Emma who was wide awake and fussing loudly. Ignoring my still dizzy state, I held her up to my shoulder and patted her back, hushing her.

I'd forgotten about my fractured ribs, and when I foolishly pressed her little body right against them, I almost blacked out from the pain, my voice coming out in an awkward combination of a gasp and a yelp as she kicked her little legs against them. I lowered her back into my lap, almost dropping her, struggling to catch my breath as tears rolled down my cheeks and I grit my teeth.

"Oh my, she's hurt!" exclaimed a female voice. "Perhaps our son can explain himself after we get her to the healers." Frigga, I thought. I was already making a mental note to thank her. There was a pause as Odin looked from me to Loki, then back at me again. "You two," he said, turning to two of the guards. "Take her to the healers at once to be cared for. As for the rest of you, I will see the prisoner in the main hall."

Thor pushed me forwards, towards the guards that were to take me away, and they looked at my wheelchair awkwardly before one of them took Thor's place and wheeled me away.

As my head began to clear, I began to look down the long halls as we went. There were many large columns mostly, and I was impressed with how much sun was able to enter the palace, beautifully illuminating everything around me. Emma's cries, unfortunately, only echoed all the louder, but I didn't dare attempt to hold her up again, already in enough pain to make me hesitant to so much as move my arms let alone bear her weight against my body.

Before I knew it, we were brought into a rather small chamber where a few women were working away on various medicines and potions, seeming rather irritated to be interrupted by a screaming baby and her injured mother.

"What in the world?" one of them asked, stepping forward.

"Odin's ordered for this Midgardian woman to be cared for," one of the guards answered.

"Does he now?" she asked, placing a hand on her hip and looking down at me. "And does he not care how busy we are down here? He has to bring women from other realms to distract us further?" I cringed. Nice to meet you too… I thought.

"You'll have to take it up with him," the guard replied, and with that they both left me. The healer looked me over and sighed, defeated.

"Very well then," she grumbled. "Ladies!" The other women looked up from their work and over in my direction. "This child needs feeding. One of you, take her for a bottle. The rest of you, help me get the mother into a bed." I was still out of it, but they didn't look friendly, and something about that made me very uneasy, even if they were trusted royal healers.

When one of them moved over to snatch up Emma, my arms wrapped around her tightly and I held her to me, cringing in pain as my ribs throbbed in protest. "Don't touch my baby!" I snarled protectively. "Stay back!"

"Don't be silly, child!" the healer objected. "We're not going to harm her."

"NO!" I shouted still, pulling away as they attempted a second time to take her.

"She's delirious from her injuries. Help me restrain her." Two more stepped up, and I opened my mouth to scream when suddenly they retracted as a voice spoke up.

"That is quite enough!" I recognized Frigga's voice and felt a hint of relief. "Can't you see the poor girl is terrified? Show some compassion! She is a guest in need of aid, not a nuisance that's been simply dropped on you!" They bowed their heads in response, the healer in charge muttering an apology. Frigga stepped in front of me and looked down at Emma, who was still crying just as loud as ever, and offered a small sympathetic smile, the way most women do when they see a baby fussing. "I promise we mean you no harm, little one," she said in a higher tone, speaking to Emma."What's her name?" she asked.

"Emma," I answered, my voice sounding hoarse.

"Oh you are so unhappy, aren't you, little Emma?" Frigga asked. Emma simply wailed in response and Frigga chuckled softly.

She looked to me, smiling, and at once I felt a little more at ease, though still nervous. "I promise you can trust us here. We mean you and your child no harm."

"With all due respect, ma'am," I said, trying to muster the most polite tone I could so as not to snap at her the way I had at the healers. "I'm not comfortable with my baby being carried away by people I don't know somewhere I can't see." She nodded and, being a mother herself, I knew she understood.

"You're a good mother then," she said, then turned to the healers. "Wheel Miss… uh…"

"Anna," I said.

"Wheel Miss Anna into the kitchens to feed her baby, and then you can begin tending to them both in their own room."

"Yes, your majesty," the healers said in unison, and they did as she requested while I said a weak, "Thank you," to Frigga as we left.

The hall we took lead us close enough to the throne room that I couldn't help overhearing some of the voices that spoke inside, the first one being unmistakeably Odin's.

"All because Loki desired a throne…"

"It is my birthright!" snapped a second voice bitterly.

"Your BIRTHRIGHT… was to die as a child!" Odin barked back in response. I looked to the throne room, but could only see Loki's back and Odin glaring down at him. "Cast out onto a frozen rock," he continued. "If I had not taken you in, you would not be here now to hate me."

That was a hell of a thing to say… I couldn't help thinking, but paid no more heed to it as we entered the kitchens.