A/N: Although I own Cat and Sam nobody but a fool claims to own Loki. The actual God, hon.

Cat felt the majestic presence behind her but didn't dare move. She'd been punishing herself for so long she'd forgotten why she'd started in the first place. But he hadn't. She closed her eyes as he approached, felt him move around her, could smell the familiar scent he always carried as if he spent a lot of his time in wild and lonely places. "Don't close your eyes, I'm not a basilisk." There was warmth in the voice she'd longed to hear for so long so she cracked her eyes open, just a little.

Loki smiled in amusement then held out his arms. "Come home. You've been missed."

Cat started to cry and shook her head. "I don't deserve to come home. And I can't."

"Stop punishing yourself, stop punishing me along with you. They lied to you, Cat. They lied to you because they feared and hated me. Me, the god who chose you. You can be with me. You were never wrong to be with me. Come home." Loki extended his arms again and Cat's resolve broke and she ran to her oldest and best friend and Loki laughed with joy as he clasped her to him, happy tears streaming down his face. "Silly girl. Thinking loving me could be wrong."

He picked her up and held her aloft as he spun around. "Me? A god who goes where he pleases? You were never wrong to answer my call. It's time your exile ends, Cat. I'm begging you. Me, a god, I'm begging you to come home." Loki set her down again gently, his eyes pleading with Cat to return. Because the truth of the matter was gods could chase humans all they wanted, but it was up to the humans to answer them.

Cat hugged him again tightly in response, burying her face in his chest, trembling like a newborn kitten. "But I let them separate us." she said as he caressed her hair soothingly.

"For a little while, my little Cat. What is a little while when we still have eternity on our side? You and me, together forever. Just say yes, just come home."

"But La Santa, Sam-"

"The more the merrier. Just don't shut me out, not anymore." Loki snapped his fingers and a golden cuff with ancient symbols appeared in the palm of his hand. "It was never stolen. I borrowed it for a little while. To have a piece of you near me in my exile. Yet," He placed the cuff on her arm tenderly, reverently, "My dearest and most deluded Cat, I've never been away from your side for an instant. If there is one thing I'm good at, it's camouflage."

Cat knew then. He'd never left and she started to cry again and Loki held her tightly as he used to. "Don't cry. It's still me. Standing right in front of you like I've always been. We've never been parted, not even for an instant. Still," And here his voice caught, "I need you to respond. Please tell me you're coming home."

"I've been punishing myself this whole time for a crime I was never guilty of." Cat responded slowly. "There was never any shame or evil in serving you. You're my god, you always have been. You're the one who chose me and I chose you. Come home? Loki, don't you realize that in my heart I never left?" Loki smiled at her through his happy tears and folded Cat back into his comforting embrace and it felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders.

She'd never committed any crime, ever. Yet she'd been punished by those around her and condemned for answering the call of one of the old gods. A god, who even though she'd sent herself away from had never left her side, even for an instant. He'd been there, clever god that he was in endless disguises.

And now they'd be together forever as it was always meant to be.

Aw!