That day, deep in your eyes, I saw the loneliness
Are the two of us really alike?
If I'd realized it, you were always by my side
-Myself by Changing My Life

Frigga's face contorted in confusion. She cast a quick glance over her shoulder before looking back at Odin. "He is only lost because you have made him so. But tell me, for what reason have you changed your mind?" Her body stayed tense. She knew that she ought not to test Odin especially since he seemed to have finally agreed that Loki was not a threat. It was strange to her though. Odin was as stubborn as a mule, but he had changed his mind? She was suspicious, and rightfully so.

Odin looked at his wife before letting out a sigh. "There was a reason why I handed off the mantle of Asgard to Thor in recent years. My memory must be deteriorating far faster than I expected if I cannot recall simple memories." Odin looked up into the cloudy sky woefully. When was the last time he had stopped from his duties to spend time with those close to him? He had chased Thor away from his side as more humans were born into the world. He didn't have the time that he had centuries ago when the population was a less than a seventh of what it was now. Had he chased Loki away before even then?

He wracked his mind as he tried to remember the last time he was alone with Loki. The last moment he remembered was centuries and centuries past. It was so far back that he couldn't even give it a date. Loki, Odin had neglected him. Odin closed his eye as he thought. What right did he have to expect Loki to stay exactly the same as he had been while Odin continued to ignore him? A parent's influence was supposed to shape and mold the hearts of their child. What an ill influence he had given Loki. "Husband?"

Odin opened his eye to look over to Frigga with a melancholy look. "I was the one who said that Loki had chosen this path on his own, was I not?" Odin gave a sad chuckle and shook his head. "Loki did not choose this of his own volition. I drove him to it." Frigga opened her mouth to protest, but Odin raised his hand. "I did. Loki would never have done this if I had not ignored him so. There is no such thing as being born absolutely evil."

"What kind of a father, an example, am I if I was so blinded? I reprimanded Thor for making an enemy of the Jotun, but I cannot even control myself. I have done Loki a great wrong. I have made him out to be something he is not, and I have made him to be something he never wanted to be. I must repair what I have done," Odin said to Frigga.

Frigga stared back at him and asked, "Are you doing this to make yourself feel good about helping him or is it because you want to help him in earnest?" Her arms lowered slightly, and she took a step backwards. People funneled around the two, running over to help at the building. Odin looked at them as they passed.

"It is for him that I do this. No small works such as these would even begin to repair the damage that I have done." Frigga dropped her arms back to her side and gave a relieved smile to her husband. The sheeted armor stripped away, revealing her glowing white gown. As the soft material settled onto the ground, Frigga took a deep breath before walking up to her husband. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

"I am glad that you are back," she whispered into his ear. Odin smiled softly and stroked the back of her hair.

"I am glad to be back. Now let us hurry. Our son needs us." Frigga pulled away and nodded. She swept off towards the debris with Odin hot on her heels.

Author's Note: I wanted to use this chapter to explain how Odin's mind changed. I know for some of you it might have come off as a little bit quick, so I wanted to explain it further. ^^ Thank you all so much for your support during this story! It really excites me when I see how much you guys enjoy it. I hope you'll continue to enjoy the story to the very end!

Next chapter: Loki awakens to see Odin. What will Loki now that Odin has repented?