Hey Guys! Sorry that it took so long for the update. The stupid Super Bowl had work busy all week and it was hard finding time for much writing. Thankfully it's over and now my work schedule is not that hectic. Also the weather is being really stupid. How many snow blizzards can we have? I hope you enjoy this chapter. It's one of my more calmer chapters before the craziness unfolds. Thank you sooooooooo much for my reviewers! You guys are the reason that I work hard to upload as much as I can. Hope you like the calm before the storm. ;-) Enjoy.

I do not own anything except for a stupid football jersey that I got for free and a chocolate bar shaped like a Cat with a unicorn horn...I don't know why.

"Crap!" Darcy muttered as she got out a dish towel and began to wipe up the soda that she spilt on the table.

"I'm so sorry sir." She said as she picked up the fallen glass and went to go refill it. After dropping the dirty rag into the sink pile and grabbing a new glass from the counter, Darcy went back to the customer's table and gave him a new soda. "That soda is on the house. I'm terribly sorry." The customer just laughed. His short red hair falling into his face. "No worries." he said while sipping his cola. Darcy smiled and walked away. She had been checking the clock every five minutes, wishing seven o'clock would come sooner. This was her last customer before she would clock out and she felt like just picking him up by his red hair and throwing him out the door. Can you just please hurry up and eat so I can go?

When the customer rose his finger she shot to him and hastily packed up his dishes and went to go get his check. When she came back with his check, the customer had a sly smile on his face which Darcy chose to ignore.

"So, would you like to go out sometime?" the customer asked. Darcy's eyebrows rose.

"Uhhhh." she said as she turned and left without answering. What the hell? Now all of a sudden handsome strangers are suppose to come and ask me out in the Diner. Twilight Zone my ass.

After a few minutes of hiding in the back, Darcy decided that the customer would have left by now. She turned and walked back to the table, and too his displeasure the customer still sat there, waiting.

"Is there a problem sir?" she asked, eyeing the bill. I swear if this guy can't pay his bill I'll have to go get the cook and Frankie.

"No, I was still waiting for you to answer my question. Would you like to go out sometime?" Wow this guy is persistent.

Darcy blushed. "Sorry, but um I think I'm already seeing someone."

"You think?" the customer asked. Darcy blushed harder. She opened her mouth to say something before she heard a voice behind her.

"Yes. She's actually seeing me. So thank you for your offer but I'm afraid Darcy is mine for the taking." Loki said, his British accent mixed with a hint of intimidation. When did he get here? thought Darcy as she turned around to see Loki standing behind her, his eyes burning into the customer.

"Hey I didn't mean any offense" the customer said as he threw his hands up in surrender. Darcy giggled as the customer placed his money on the table and quickly walked out, glancing at Loki and Darcy before heading out the door.

"What was that?" Darcy asked as she stared up at Loki.

"What do you think?" he asked.

"Well for starters what's with the whole 'Darcy is mine for the taking' thing?"

Loki raised an eyebrow and stepped closer to Darcy. "I have decided that you are mine. Do you have a problem with being mine Ms. Lewis?"

"Well for starters I'm not 'yours' yet. We haven't even went out on a date yet so you don't have claim. But seeing that you claimed me as 'yours' that means I'll be seeing you quite often and that you are interested in starting a relationship with me. Am I correct?"

Loki chuckled and shook his head. He had finally found someone who challenged him and his claims. I have never met a woman who will actually object to being claimed by me. But then again I have never claimed a woman.

"Yes." he smirked. Darcy smiled triumphantly and walked away calling "I'll be right back" over her shoulder and left Loki to stand there alone.

What a delightful creature.

Truthfully he was worried. He thought he had overstepped his boundaries when he had told the customer that he intended Darcy as his woman. He didn't want to jump to conclusions that Darcy would actually pursue a relationship with him, but hearing the man hit on her had made him see red. He hadn't felt jealousy in a while and so he didn't know how to feel about these sudden rush of emotions that was coursing through his body. He had always been the one to be able to control himself and not allow his emotions to affect him, but somehow Darcy had this effect on him that made him incapable of controlling himself, and he only had known her for just a few days. I'm doomed.

Just as those thoughts ran through his head, Darcy had come out of the back with her jacket on. Loki offered her a smile and opened the door for her as she exited the restaurant, pointedly ignoring Allura who was standing across the way with a mixture of jealousy and anger showing on her face. At Least if Darcy asks me why I don't date much, I can use Allura's...uncomfortable affections towards me as a valuable reason.

Loki walked a little ahead of Darcy, leading her to his sleek black Jaguar parked in the shadows of the Diner.

Darcy let out a whistle as he opened the door for her to get in. "Nice ride, a little flashy, but nice nonetheless." Loki chuckled as he got in and continued to buckle up and start the car. "I thought it would be overkill, but eventually I found it to suit me perfectly." He flashed a smile at Darcy before pulling out of the parking lot and starting down the road.

Darcy looked over at Loki and admired the sight. He sat there, long and fluid as he drove. His long pale fingers wrapped loosely around the steering wheel while his face illuminated under the passing street light. My god he's handsome. Darcy thought as she struggled to keep her breathing under control. His green eyes continuously changed from light to dark as the lights flashed as they passed. Then edges of his lips curled up into a smirk.

"Staring Ms. Lewis?" He asked, glancing at her. She blushed and turned back to look out her window, attempting to hide the embarrassment.

"So. What's your favorite color?" She asked, trying to change the subject.

"Green. But sometimes gold if it's paired right. You?" he asked.

"Hmmm...I don't think I have a favorite color. Sometimes I think it's purple, sometimes I think it's blue. Depends on the moment."

Loki chuckled as he drove. "What's so funny?" Darcy asked.

"You are such a strange yet complicated person."

Darcy frowned. What made me that strange? Loki glanced over and saw the frown. He straightened up a little and smiled towards her. Stop being so uptight. You're upsetting her. He chastised himself.

"Okay next question, How old are you?"

"I'm 26. And you?"

"Isn't it rude to ask a lady her age?" Darcy asked, quirking up an eyebrow, a smirk on her lips.

"Well it only made sense if I reflected the question back to you." I hate small talk.

Darcy huffed. "I'm 23. What do you do for a living?" Loki sat there and thought for a moment.

I shouldn't tell her so soon. What would she think of me? Would she act differently around me? No. This is too soon for anything. Keep it simple. Brief. "I am a businessman. I work with a company for negotiations." That wasn't a total lie. Loki thought as he drove. He just left out the part of what business and with whom.

"What business?" Darcy asked. Damn it!

"Uhhh, a busy one?" Loki said as he pulled into a small lot. It was a parking lot to a Chinese place he had tripped across a few days ago. He got out swiftly and opened the door for Darcy to get out.

What manners. Darcy thought as she walked into the restaurant, making sure to swish her hips a bit. Can never be too sure. Loki had to struggle not to notice.

For the rest of the night they talked. Sometimes Darcy would slightly lean over the table at a witty remark Loki would make. Sometimes Loki would skillfully re-divert a question back to Darcy. The only thing that bothered him the whole night was that Darcy's questions were challenging and sometimes if she was determined, she would pry the answers out of him with a fight. It has been only an hour and she already got his favorite movie, food, and hobbies out of him. Even though he successfully got her off the subject of his work, he knew that she would return to that topic because of how determined her attitude was. To Loki she was brilliant. She was good at debating and arguing, even made some sarcastic remarks that sent him chuckling in his chair. But unlike most woman he had dated in the past, she wasn't afraid of sharing her opinion. She didn't care what others thought because she had her own mind. Loki found that she challenged his beliefs and the way that he thought, and this truly sparked both his interest in the woman and his growing affections towards her. Not to mention that his eyes would follow her every movement. He noticed how her dark hair looked black under the moonlight. How her wild tangles and waves slightly curled at the ends. How her blue eyes seemed endless when she was truly lost in a train of thought. The way she bit her lip when she was nervous nearly made his head spin and forced him to stare pointedly at her eyes to prevent himself from gaping at her lips or accidentally travel further down to her gifted curves which she flaunted proudly.

Darcy noticed the small changes in Loki over the course of their dinner. The way he looked at her when she would ramble about one of her opinions or when she would fidget in her seat. She openly stared into his deep green eyes that sometimes looked as though they glowed bright and artificial. She loved the ways his sharp cheekbones would slightly go up when he laughed, or the way his lips would curl into a smirk when he found something she said was amusing. She also found it interesting how she would have to skillfully ask her questions in order for him to answer. He seemed like a man of secrets to her. Whenever she asked a deep question he would take his time answering as though he had to plan the exact words he was going to say. Finding out that his favorite food was Italian or his favorite hobbies are reading and travel was a struggle and it took her a while to squeeze the information out of him. Darcy usually blurted what she wanted to say without thinking about it. Yes it had hurt some people in the past but that's what she was. She was straight forward because she liked when people was straight with her. Loki to her was a challenge. Not only did his body send shivers down her spine when he accidentally brushed against her under the table, but his witty remarks and sarcastic answers would send a thrill into her mind. Not only was this man handsome and mysterious, but he was also brilliant. Everything about him screamed higher intelligence and yet it didn't seem snotty or over the top. It fit him perfectly.

Yeah, most guys did try to show off their brains when it came to girls but Loki didn't attempt to show off. It naturally radiated off of him. In every move and word, you could tell that it was thought through and not spur of the moment. Darcy really wished Loki would loosen up a bit, but she understood that this was only the first date and it took time for people to be open so soon. She didn't want to rush him so soon because she really wanted to get to know him at his own pace. She didn't want to scare him away. Loki was becoming addicting, and yet she just met him. It seemed unreal. HE seemed unreal.

The drive back was very calm and cheery. Loki would make a smart comment about something Darcy would say and then she would laugh and counter it. When she told him her address so he could drop her off, he made a comment about how he knew where she lived and how she couldn't run from him now. It would have creep her out, but the way he said it made it okay. He was joking and she knew it.

"I wouldn't run." Darcy whispered as Loki pulled up in front of her building. Loki glanced at her. Loki's eyebrows rose as he turned to look at her.

"Did you say something?" He asked. Darcy laughed and began to open the car door. "No!"

Don't ruin it now! Stay chill as a cucumber.

Loki got out as well and smiled at her when she came around to his side.

"Thanks for taking me out and driving me home. It was really fun." Darcy said as she smiled. Loki smiled and leaned against the car.

"It was my pleasure Ms. Lewis." His green eyes sparkled as he watched her intently.

"When am I gonna see you again?" She asked.

Loki frowned. "I have an engagement I must attend to Tuesday. Something for work. But after Tuesday I'll be free."

"You know you never told me where you work at." Darcy said as she quirked an eyebrow. Loki swallowed. "It's just a business. Nothing fancy."

Darcy stepped up towards Loki and placed a hand on her arm.

"Then why won't you tell me then?" Please don't be one of those crazy lawyer types.

Loki thought very quickly. He didn't want to ruin this night. He didn't want Darcy to know who he worked with and what he did. It was best if he got to know her first, to make sure she wasn't going to be with him for money. Even though he has spent all night with Darcy and had grown feelings for her, he didn't want to risk his growing romance with her just yet. He couldn't have a woman use him twice. Sigyn was enough for him and refused to trust a woman so quickly again. So in that moment he chose to lie. I'll tell her the truth when I know that we are real. When we have a relationship where we know where we stand.

"I work with managing chain stores in SoHo" he lied quickly. Darcy quirked up an eyebrow. "Really?" she asked. "I don't think that's much to hide."

Loki smiled and stood up. "I just didn't want to bother you with the whole messy idea. Tuesday I'm just gonna go to New Jersey to check up on things." Darcy squeezed his arm and laughed. "Well have fun with that Mr. Businessman."

Then she leaned into him, and tip toed till she reached up to his face. Sadly she was still too short to fully reach his lips, she had to grip the sides of his neck to pull him down. It took a second for Loki to figure out what she was trying to do. But after he figured it out he leaned down and pressed his lips up against hers, wrapping his arms around her waist.

Darcy felt small tingles course through her body as she felt his soft lips against hers. They were cool yet pleasant against the tenderness of her lips. She was too tempted to go further. To deepen the kiss, thinking about how his body would feel under her hands or pressed tighter to her without anything stopping them.

Darcy pulled back, knowing that if she didn't get away soon she would make a mistake and go too far. Loki was hesitant to let her go, but nonetheless he loosened his grip on her waist and opened his eyes.

"Goodnight Loki" she whispered against his lips as she pulled away and headed for her door. She could feel his gaze on her back which send goosebumps along her neck and arms.

"Goodnight Darcy" she heard him as she unlocked her front door. Just before closing it behind her she looked back and saw Loki smile as he closed his car door and began to drive away.

Oh that man. She then went up to her apartment and got ready for bed, the butterflies in her stomach going on in full blast.

Darcy went to bed that night, thinking about the tall British man she couldn't shake from her head, the cool lips against hers. And also how she regretted her shift on Tuesday night at the Diner. If only she knew that Tuesday would be the turning point of her life.

The air was damp and thick as Allura walked down the alleyway with her hands stuffed in her pockets.

"Were you followed?" she asked as a man stepped out of the shadows.

"No" he said with a grin. His brown eyes burning with intensity as watched her.

"Her name is Darcy Lewis, she works at my Diner. She has long dark hair, blue eyes, and wears a black military jacket. Tuesday night we are hosting something and she doesn't get off her shift till after the party, around 11pm. She likes to walk to the subway a few blocks away heading north. Do you think you can handle her?" Allura whispered, looking up and down the street for eavesdroppers.

"Don't worry." he said. "I'm good at what I do."

"You better be" she hissed as she handed him the money.

"Don't get caught. And be quick with this. I want her to be handled. Do I make myself clear?" The man smiled his toothy grin. "Crystal clear."

"Good." And with that Allura turned around and briskly left. Her golden hair swaying in the breeze.

Lets see how high and mighty Darcy Lewis is now. Loki is mine.

So how did you like the chapter? Please review! I love your input. Have anyone else find the quietness before the storm a little nerve racking? Well I hope you guys don't kill me when I upload the next chapter... I also feel bad for Loki. I understand how he must feel. Some people take advantage of others when they find out how wealthy they are. You can't be too careful with people these days. But do you think it was right for him to lie before they even got into a good relationship? And who's Sigyn to Loki? Also how do you think Tuesday night will go? Allura is freaking crazy. Spoilers! HAhahaha! Also more characters will make a show in the next chapter. Get ready for a bumpy ride. Till next time.

-Midnight