It's me again! I've been struggling with chapter six (every third chapter's going to be a flashback, I believe), So I'm posting this with the belief that I'll have everything sorted out soon! Thanks so much for the love.

Also, a few of you commented on what I used as the meaning for Loki's name. There's no official meaning, but according to Wikipedia (who's alwaysfull of B.S, but it worked for me this time) it could refer to the old Norse word luka, which means "close". So I ran with that. Because I could.

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Darcy had no idea what she was doing.

She wasn't stupid, she'd had a good idea as to what she was in for when she'd agreed to Odin's proposition. But she hadn't really thought about keeping him entertained until Jane had brought it up a few days after Odin and Thor had left.

"What are you going to do with him for a year?" Jane had asked. "There's not really room for him here, and I'm not sure having him around Erik would be the best idea at the moment. He could hardly stand Thor."

Darcy had shrugged. "I'll figure something out"

So she'd dropped her coursework, sold everything she couldn't fit in her car, and took off. With a god riding shotgun. He seemed uncaring as to where they were headed, desert looks like desert after all. But when the coloured lights started glowing on the horizon, he finally looked over at her and asked what their destination was.

"Vegas, baby," was all she'd replied. But instead of hitting the strip, or looking for a cheap hotel, she pulled her '84 Lincoln town car in front of a building that reminded Loki of the palaces he'd seen on Olympus. A young man in a black jacket took her keys and luggage, and she started walking towards the glass doors. When she realised her immortal companion wasn't following her, she turned around. "You coming?" She asked. He simply nodded and let her take the lead once again.

She led him to the front desk, where she pulled out I.D and received a small plastic card Loki could only assume was a room key. He had been on Midgard recently, and had found their lifestyle to be acceptable, if not preferable. In fact, he'd spent nearly a month wooing his way into a young British girl's bed, and stayed there for a week. But that had been a few years ago, and he had to admit, he'd never set foot in this town of garish light before.

Darcy made her way to the elevators just off the lobby, and slid her room key into the slot. Loki felt the car rise, and they were eventually let off into what he assumed was a rather sumptuous room. Darcy walked into the all-white space, and sat down on one of the couches scattered across the large area.

Loki followed suit, no need to make a scene here, although he didn't know why they were here, or even, really, where here was. He shot a look at Darcy, who seemed at ease. He didn't have to wait long before an older woman walked in and greeted her with open arms.

"Darcy, baby! You haven't come to see me in ages! Let me take a look at you!" She exclaimed, grabbing Darcy, spinning her around, and kissing both her cheeks. Darcy smiled slightly, looking less comfortable than she had previously. "Hey, Mom."

Loki blinked in surprise. This was her mother? She must look like her father, he mused, because she certainly doesn't look anything like this woman. Indeed, the older woman was her exact opposite. Tall, blonde and slim. She wore what was obviously an expensive suit, and had enough jewels hanging from her to buy a third world country. But she didn't seem unpleasant. It was obvious she cared about her daughter, if the chatter she was keeping up said anything. And the smile that graced her mouth was present in her eyes as well.

Darcy smiled at her mother. It had been a while since she'd made the trip home, and she knew that there was no way this was going to be a short visit. After all pleasantries had finally been dispensed with, Darcy's mother finally turned to Loki. "And you must be the young man Darcy was telling me about. Although," she continued, her eyes becoming shrewd. "I doubt you're as young as you look."

Darcy took a step back so she was half-way between Loki and her other. "Mom, meet Loki, god of mischief." Loki looked at her in surprise; he hadn't expected Darcy to tell anyone his true identity. "Don't worry, she's not gonna do anything. Well, except maybe grill you to death about your history."

The older woman reached out her hand, which Loki took. "Call me Maria. I'm the curator for the museum downstairs. Tell me, are you planning on staying here in Vegas long?"

Loki shifted. "I've been informed I must stay with Ms. Lewis until my time here is up." He shot Darcy a look, "so I suppose you'd have to ask her that."

Maria laughed delightedly. "Wonderful. By the way, dear, your grandfather has some land he's been looking to buy, do you think you could help him out while you're here?" Darcy nodded. "Excellent, I'm sure he'll want to join us for supper. But for now, I have to know, when was the last time you bought yourself any clothing? And for that matter," she turned to Loki. "I'm sure you'll need some things to get you through a year here. I'll get David in here to get your sizes. Just write down everything you'll need, and we'll see to it that you'll have it by tonight." Maria checked her watch. "Oh dear, I have an appointment to see about a Native American exhibit, and I'm already late." She kissed Darcy one last time and hurried out the door.

Loki looked at his companion. "And what," he asked. "Was that?"

"My mother," Darcy muttered, flopping back on the couch with a sigh. "You'll get used to her."

"Will I?"

"Probably...hopefully...She's a whirlwind, but at least she doesn't hate you." Darcy muttered the last bit, but Loki heard her anyway. He hadn't realised that Jane and Erik had wanted him gone badly enough to ostracise one of their own. His estimation of the woman his brother claimed to love took a nose dive. He may have been a loner, but for him it had been by choice. Not so, apparently, for Darcy. He didn't respond; she obviously hadn't wanted him to hear that, so he wouldn't acknowledge that he had. But it was a good piece of information to keep regardless.

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So reviews make me ambitious, and I'm no longer super ahead. So if you want the next chapter, review!