CHAPTER 16

A week before the wedding Thor went and brought the Avengers to Asgard like he promised. Fury didn't come as he was opposed to the trip. When they arrived, Darcy, Jane and Loki were awaiting them in the Bifrost Dome with Heimdall. With Loki's help, they had procured a camera just so the girls could capture Tony's reaction when he first saw Asgard.

"Okay, I was wrong, this is so much better than Earth. Hey, Thor, do you think your dad will let me and Pepper move here? This place is Awesome!" he said as he looked around in awe. At that moment Jane snapped her picture.

"I do not think Director Fury will take kindly to you moving here Tony," Darcy said with a laugh. Then realized that the director was not with the group. "Where is he anyway?"

"He said we couldn't come and see our friends get married so we are breaking protocol to come here. We will most likely get in trouble for coming here but it is so worth it," Tony stated with a shrug. The others nodded in agreement.

"Well, he was invited too, doesn't he know that?" Jane said confused.

"We can't comprehend the Director's mind, Miss Foster," Dr. Banner said.

"Well, he needs to be here, if only for us to prove that Loki isn't a threat to Midgard anymore. I know this was his real reason for not allowing you guys to come. I don't want to see you get into trouble on our account, but maybe we could bring him here? I would go myself to retrieve him but I cannot at the moment," Darcy said with a slight blush.

"Then I will go get him, he might listen to me," Jane volunteered.

"I am afraid that that is not an option for you either Lady Jane," Loki said a mischievous look in his emerald eyes; which caused both Darcy and Jane to look at him before it dawned on both why he had just said what he did.

Jane and Darcy shared a look before Jane broke out in a huge grin and hugged her soon to be brother in law. "Thank you for telling me, Loki," she whispered low enough for only him to hear. "You are very welcome, princess," he said softly.

Thor watched the exchange between his beloved and his brother and wondered what it was she seemed so happy about to be thanking Loki for.

"I shall go and retrieve Director Fury myself then," Loki said but a look from both his brother and his mate said otherwise.

'No, you will not go alone, Loki. Fury would throw you in a cell the moment he sees you. I know for a fact he still sees you as the enemy, but if you insist on going take Thor with you please," Darcy told her mate.

Loki knew she was right and amended his statement, "Fine, Thor, I guess we had better go retrieve the director."

Thor nodded, knowing there was alot to get done still for the wedding then clapped his brother on the back and said, "We had better get going then Brother."

Darcy hugged him and told him to be careful before allowing him to go. Jane, too, hugged him and told him everything would be okay before she stepped back to allow the two brothers to step into the Bifrost.

The Avengers watched in fasination as Thor and Loki were pulled into the Bifrost. Jane and Darcy were watching their faces with amusement. They both knew that they were going to get bombarded with questions and soon.

"So who wants to meet the Allfather and Mother?" Darcy said breaking the silence that had fallen upon their small group after Loki and Thor had gone.

"Lead the way," Clint said.

They all walked back to the Golden Palace as Darcy and Jane pointed out things to the Avengers. The Avengers, well mostly Tony and Dr. Banner, asking questions about the bridge they were walking on and how the Bifrost worked. Jane tried answering them to the best of her ability though told them they could visit the Royal Library if they wanted more information on the subject. Once inside the palace, they showed them into the grand hall where Odin was awaiting them.

"Allfather, may we present the guardians' of Midgard." They began introducing each Avenger by name, "Tony Stark aka Iron Man, Steve Rogers aka Captain America, Bruce Banner aka The Hulk, Natasha Romanoff Barton aka The Black Widow and her husband Clint Barton aka Hawkeye," Darcy named off the first three and Jane finished with the last two. "Tony, Steve, Bruce, Natasha and Clint may we present to you Odin Borson, Thor and Loki's father, King of Asgard and Defender of the Nine Realms," they both said in unison.

Each Avenger bowed in respect as they had been told to do prior to coming to Asgard. Odin nodded in recognition as each was presented to him and gave a special smile to Natasha, letting her know that he was thankful for her assistance to Thor those many years ago, having been told it was her by Thor once he had returned to Asgard.

Just as they had finished the introductions, they heard the hall doors open and Darcy and Jane were the first to turn to see who had entered. Both were surprised to see Thor and Loki standing there with a furious looking Nick Fury between them.

"What is the meaning of this? How dare you ignore a direct order from your commanding Officer!" Nick was fuming as he addressed his team.

"Now Director, that is no way to start a meeting with the Allfather," Loki chided with a smirk.

'Loki! You're back! Well, that was quick," Darcy quipped as she nearly jumped into his arms.

Laughing, he caught her and it caught everyone in the room by surprise. They had never heard nor seen Loki so relaxed before. In fact, they had not thought he had it in him to be relaxed and so caring towards someone other than himself. It was this display of complete and utter devotion that caused Nick Fury to calm down. He like everyone else was surprised by the complete transformation of one they had thought to be a villian. He could see that the two beings before him truly did love each other and were completely happy in the other's company.

"So, I take it you will not be taking over the world anytime soon then?" Fury directed his question to Loki.

"As I told you on Midgard, I have no wish to take over your realm, as I am quite content with where I am right now. As you can see Darcy and Jane are perfectly safe and happy," he returned, holding Darcy closer to him.

"Fury, please do not be angry with the Avengers. We did invite all of you to my and Jane's wedding after all. You cannot expect them to miss it or the chance to see a whole new realm that you have only heard stories of, now could you? Admit it, you were just as curious about it but you were not sure it was safe because you thought Loki still a threat. I assure you director he is not a threat to anyone, if anything he has returned to the Loki I knew ten years ago, not the man you knew him as. If I could forgive him his transgressions for his actions on Midgard then so should all of you. In fact, he would never have done it had I still been here on Asgard, but then a lot of things would not have happened had I stayed, but what is done is done and it's all in the past," Darcy said gently.

Fury simply nodded and turned to the group before him, "I apologize for jumping on all of you like that. Miss Lewis is right, I did not want you to come here because I did view Loki as a threat but it was not just him I viewed as the threat but a whole alien world. She is right about one thing I was curious to see this place for myself just as all of you were and now that I am here, well….I am sorry," Fury said.

"Well, if you are ready then how about we introduce you to our father Director," Thor said leading Fury to the front of the hall where Odin had been watching the display with mild interest.

"Father, May I introduce Director Nick Fury of SHIELD. Director, my father, Odin the King of Asgard."

"My apologies your majesty, I did not mean to be so rude earlier."

"I understand about your reservations, Director Fury. But as you can see my son is no longer a threat to anyone, least of all Midgard. He does not wish to leave Asgard and since he has no wish to leave I am inclined to grant that wish. I am just glad you were able to make it to the princesses' wedding. They wanted you here and I have granted that request."

Once they Avengers were settled into their chamber's and after they had shown Dr. Banner and Tony the Royal Library, Jane and Darcy went to find the queen to continue with the wedding plans.