A/N: two updates today, fair readers! (mostly due to the fact that I'm not certain if tomorrow holds one)...I am rather enjoying this...I hope you are as well!

And Jane Foster went to her room. She was unsettled and confused. She thought about Loki and his attentions. She thought about her reactions to his attentions. She pondered all of these things in dubious pursuit.

Surely he didn't care for her beyond friendship and obligation. They didn't know one another all that well. And yet…

…and yet, there was a tug toward him that she couldn't deny; as though he understood her more than anyone she had ever met. As if she understood him, too, more than most here in the palace. Except, perhaps Frigga. His mother seemed to understand him.

Jane fell asleep in her chair by the hearth. She woke up quite cold and abruptly.

She got up, wide awake. The place was dark…pitch, and her eyes adjusted to the blind night.

Jane pulled her robe on and left her room. She thought about the first few days of her stay here and how she would engage in such midnight creeps to learn the depths of the palace. She smiled at the memory.

How much had changed in that time! She felt herself more at home here in the ancient structure than she felt on Earth, no matter where she called "home." It was always a dwelling place, a structure of habitation. Yet in this alien world, in this realm, she found people who cared for her…Frigga, and her students…Thor, surely. And Loki. Perhaps Loki above all the others.

Why Loki above Frigga? Because, her soul whispered, they were so very similar. Because, her mind bade, they shared interesting and invigorating conversation. Because, her body insisted, his gaze was vociferous, his eyes were fathomless, his arms were strong, his voice dulcet, his height intimidating, and his touch gentle but firm. She shook herself.

It was some time before she realized fully how far she had wandered.

Where was she?

She heard whispers and she stopped. A man and a woman…Loki. Loki's voice, she was sure of it.

She rounded a bend, and she saw, in the pale moonlight, Loki with Freyja. He was smiling at her, speaking in low tones…she was receptive, giggling in an annoyingly girlish manner. They were standing close, not so close to touch, but the scene suggested intimacy.

Jane stared for the briefest of seconds…and Loki spied her.

Her heart leapt to her throat as she turned away, mortified. She was panting in her horror, and she ran pell-mell down the corridor.

How ridiculous! How could she have committed such a grave error! She had only herself to blame for her indiscretion. And to think, that she, plain, and poor, and insignificant, could ever hope to win the affections of a Prince!

"Jane!" called out a voice.

Oh god. He's coming after me…she stopped, her breath heaving, tears threatening and heart pounding.

She turned and Loki was right there, quite serene, not at all distraught.

"I'm sorry…" she began. "I fell asleep, but I woke up, and was wide awake, and then I…"

"Stop," he said nonchalantly. "You needn't explain yourself," and he began walking. When Jane didn't follow, he turned. "Are you simply going to stand there?"

"I…"

"Come, Jane. You require some drink."

Jane swallowed her horror at her misstep, and followed Loki. She turned around to see if Freyja had followed them, but she saw no evidence of it.

Into a smaller room he took her, and waved his hand indicating that she should sit.

She did.

He handed her a glass.

Jane sipped it, discovered that it was only water, and downed it. "I am sorry, Loki. I had no intention of invading your privacy."

"Not at all," and he sat next to her, folding his hands, elbows leaning on his knees. "Jane…"

"Yes?"

"Freyja is very beautiful, is she not?"

She felt the question hang in the air between them. "Yes," she whispered.

"Though there is something to be said for beauty of the mind, wouldn't you agree?"

"Yes."

"Something more to be said for beauty of the soul…"

"Yes," and she set the glass down.

"Yes…and should all of these desirable attributes be grouped and discovered in one person, wouldn't you say that that person to be, in and of themselves, particularly beguiling?"

Jane swallowed. "I would, yes," she paused. "Freyja is fortunate, to have these qualities that you admire so."

He looked at her, and she returned his gaze. "Indeed?"

"Yes…she is…as I understand, quite a beauty in all of the realms…" Jane overstated her words in an attempt to understand the extent of Loki's regard.

Loki stood at this. "Freyja is, as you say, a beauty. However, I think that, should I desire to spend my time with a lady, I would enjoy the company of someone a bit more…intellectually compelling…"

"Oh."

Loki laughed. "Come, Jane. How are you faring?" His tone decidedly less dark.

"Better."

"Excellent. Allow me to see you to your quarters."

Jane stood."That isn't necessary."

"No, I don't suppose that it is, but I should like to all the same."

Jane nodded and followed him to the door. He opened it for her and allowed her to pass.

He stopped for a second. "How would you like for me to transport you there?"

"Transport?"

"Yes…you are a curious sort, wouldn't you find enjoyment in discovering how I usually travel?"

"You mean…like, teleport?"

Loki looked at her curiously. "I…yes…" he shrugged. "If you prefer."

"Oh wow. Really?" she was excited.

And Loki laughed. "Here. Take my arm…you'll feel a bit dizzy…but we aren't going far, so you should be fine."

"Ok," and she did as she was told.

Loki smiled and nodded.

And the space closed in, everything went black, and she lost her breath…her head felt as though it was being squeezed to a pulp.

And then, as if she was drowning, she gasped for air.

She collapsed on the floor, trying to breathe.

"Jane!' and she heard his voice, he was murmuring something, and his fingers were on her face. "My gods, Jane, I am sorry…I didn't expect such a violent reaction…"

She shook her head. "S'okay…I…always had a bit of a weak stomach…"

He was kneeling next to her, and conjured a glass of something. "Here…drink this, and tell me how you feel."

She gulped it down and nodded. "Better," and she looked at him. HIs face was very near her own, concern etched in his features. "Thanks," and she rose from the floor of her bedroom. "Well, thanks, Loki…I'm sorry…if I ruined anything…with Freyja.""

Loki looked at her and shook his head. "Never apologize to me, Jane Foster," and he disappeared.

Frigga was sipping her drink and watching the grand star of Asgard make its way slowly up the curvature of the sky when Jane walked in the next morning.

"Morning, Frigga. Have all of the dignitaries left yet?"

"Most, Jane…a few will stay for another night," she turned toward her.

She nodded.

"And…have your family left once more, or are they here still?" She lowered her gaze.

Frigga eyed her cautiously. "Odin has left, but my sons remain here…I do not know of their plans."

"Oh," she nodded. "I see."

Jane only half listened to Frigga the remained of the meal. Her thoughts were completely preoccupied with Loki. Dammit, Jane. You have a crush.

A crush. How ridiculous! She berated herself repeatedly in her mind. She was thirty years old! She DID NOT suffer crushes…what's more, was that her personalty demanded that she didn't engage in such frivolity as a crush.

Perhaps it was a bit more, then? Could she have fallen for him? THAT was not an attractive prospect. She would never be able to compare with Freyja. She was a different…SPECIES. She wondered if sex was even possible…

Stop it, Jane. Sex?! Considering having sex with an alien god was never something she would ever have thought was within the scope of possible ruminations her life would hold.

She gulped and chided herself in her silliness.

But he was very handsome.

And smart.

And hilarious, in his own way.

And totally not interested in her because he had a goddess on his arm, and he was whispering poetic verses in her ear at suggestive times of night.

"Jane?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you alright?" the Queen looked at her.

"Yep. Yes. Yeah, I am. I'm just anxious to get on with the day," and she rose to stand. "I'll see you at dinner," and she left the Queen. And had she not been so distracted, she would've noticed that Frigga's face held more than just a hint of worry.

And Jane hardly noticed the confusion of her pupils, nor the darkness about Torben, nor the whim of her air as she moved about her day. She was fraught, to be sure, but the spark of possibility played upon her fancy, and it drove out any hesitation she might feel.

It was with a heavy heart that she learned that Freyja remained as well, but would be leaving at first light.

They all sat about the large table in the main dining hall. Jane was in the middle of the table, not really close to either Loki or Frigga, but near enough to Thor to enjoy some conversation with him.

Freyja was sitting next to Loki at the far end.

But Jane had trained her ears to hear her.

"And tell me, Prince…what do the young wards of the throne do all day?" Freyja's conversation was obviously meant to have Jane as a subject.

"They are in lessons with Lady Jane…she teaches them of Midgard," he replied, making an obvious effort not to look in Jane's direction.

"How tiresome to have a tutor lurking about. I shouldn't like it at all."

"Some tutors, to be sure, lack social grace. But I have discovered, my lovely Freyja, that that sentiment does not hold true where all said instructors are concerned," and he now eyed Jane, and winked at her.

Jane looked hurriedly away.

She blushed.

She swallowed her drink and resumed her conversation with Thor.

It was then that it happened.

A servant came rushing in.

"My Queen! Come quickly! Oðinn is here!"

Frigga stood immediately, and Loki followed suit. He followed his mother out of the door in a very rushed way.

There were mutterings among the guests.

"Who is Oðinn?" Jane asked Thor.

The thunder god looked away, he was silent for a moment…"A great sorcerer, Jane. Likely the only one who could possibly best Loki, had he not been weakened as retribution in Odin's ire."

"Is that why Loki went with Frigga?"

"Yes, I imagine so," but was unconvincing. "The Queen is powerful, but Loki is a masterful sorcerer, and no one, not even Oðinn, would dare to attempt a fight alone with my brother."

Jane gulped. "Wow," was her eloquent response.

No one saw the Queen nor the Prince for the rest of the night. Thor was made to play host to the remaining guests, and Jane decided to take a walk about the garden to escape the glare of Freyja (though she was half convinced she was imagining it).

Jane sat on the grass in her plain Asgard clothing, and looked up to the sky. She thought that she should be concerned about a great sorcerer being in the castle, but she wasn't…she was never the fearful sort.

It had been a few hours…and Jane had nearly fallen asleep there…she was about to get up.

"Jane," came Loki's voice behind her.

She turned. "Hi."

"Jane," and he went to her. "Tell me…if I were friendless…if everyone in this palace were to abandon me…would you still remain by my side?"

"Am I by your side, Loki?"

He chuckled a bit. "Figuratively speaking."

"Yes…as long as it was right to do so…"

"Right…you speak of ethics? What of friendship?"

Jane stood up. "Well, I'd hardly be a good friend if I had no concern for whether my friend was behaving in an ethical way, would I?"

And Loki turned from her, looking up to the sky. "Good and bad are relative terms, my elf. We all of us are capable of heinous deeds, as well as gloriously good and profound ones."

"Yes, I suppose that is true."

He looked at her again. "And what if I were to tell you that I've committed both…one perhaps more than the other…in my many years?"

Jane returned his steady stare. "I'd believe it wholeheartedly, since you are, I imagine, quite old. Anyone would be capable of anything in many thousands of years."

"I've murdered many, Jane."

She swallowed and nodded.

"I tortured quite a few."

At this she looked away, not knowing if she cared to listen to more.

"But I have paid for my crimes…in more ways than one…and I fear…" he stepped nearer toward her. "…that I may never stop paying…"

"Odin imprisoned you…" Jane observed.

"Yes, that is true…but I suffered a more dire fate than that in Odin's choler."

"I don't understand…" Jane's countenance was strained…she wore her confusion in an obvious crooked look.

Loki went to step closer to her…"I…have met a sweet savior…a lovely one…and I wonder at her abilities to soothe my aching torment."

Jane thought he spoke of Freyja. "Well…she is lovely, to be sure," Jane smirked away her disappointment. "I'm certain there's plenty of ways for her to soothe you, as you say."

"Indeed?" he quipped playfully. "What would you recommend as a tonic?"

Jane swallowed…he was being suggestive. "I…well. Um…aren't you mischievous? Surely you could concoct something in that head of yours…"

He closed the gap between them. "I'd rather like to hear your ideas on the matter."

"Loki…"

"Yes, Jane?"

"I should go…" she was suddenly very confused. She desired solitude to work this out.

"Why?" and he placed his finger on her chin, lifting it more closely to his face.

"Because…Freyja…"

At this, he leaned down, and placed his lips to hers.

It was soft and brief, for Jane pulled away.

And Loki stared at her…and for a moment she thought that he might grab her, but instead he stepped backward…and Jane left.

Loki stood there for a moment…and that was when he heard it…laughter, and a scream…a young boy screaming…

Torben.