Disclaimer: I own neither Marvel in all it's glory, or Norse mythology. Sorry to disappoint.

Decisions

"He's in Midgard!" Sigyn exclaimed excitedly.

"Yes. But aren't you the least surprised that he is alive?" Thor asked puzzled. "I for one am shocked. I was sure he was dead. I watched him fall myself."

"You have always underestimated your brother. Hela told me that Loki wasn't in Niflheim."

"And you did not tell me?" Thor demanded.

"I only found out tonight. What is he doing down there?"

"Mischief and harm, apparently he has stolen the tesseract, says Heimdall. Nothing good. I fear he will go after Jane."

"The mortal? That's not his style. Sif isn't too happy about Jane, do you realize that?" Sigyn was too happy to hold back her bubbling words.

Thor gave Sigyn a dark look. "Do you know what he is planning?"

"No. He didn't say anything about falling off the bifrost to me. Why would he tell me about a plan being enacted a year later?" Sigyn responded testily.

"I need to speak with my Father." Thor pushed past Sigyn and headed toward the throne room.

Sigyn followed quickly behind him, raising her skirts as she ran to keep up with his quick pace.

"Father!" Thor's voice echoed through the throne room.

Odin looked up from the throne. "Thor, Sigyn. I see Heimdall has told you already."

"I wish to go to Midgard." Thor said bluntly without preamble.

"The bifrost is broken Thor."

"Loki is out there, causing trouble with the tesseract. He is our problem, and our family. Let me go and bring him home."

"There is no way." Odin stated stubbornly.

"All Father, there is always dark magic." Sigyn pointed out softly. It was ironic that she mentioned it after the interrogation Hela gave her.

"Not something I like to tolerate within the palace or the realm." Odin gave Sigyn a dirty look.

"But you can do that, right Father?" Thor glanced between Sigyn and Odin.

"Yes, with the help of Frigga it can be done."

"Then it must be done." Thor stated simply.

Odin studied his son for a moment, deliberating his choice. "I agree. Midgard is under our protection and the addition of the tesseract would be beneficial edge to the realm."

"Good. Let's get Mother." Thor started towards the doors. Sigyn was shocked that Odin had agreed to the proposition, at the same time she was appalled that the fact that his son was alive wasn't enough for him.

"Thor, it will take some time."

"Then let's hurry." The All Father got up from the golden throne, and strode towards his impatient son.

"All Father, may I make a request" Sigyn spoke up quickly.

"What my dear?"

"Let me go as well. I have a feeling that I can persuade Loki to come home better than Thor."

"No." Odin started to walk away. Thor shrugged his shoulders before following.

"I have a valid reason!" Sigyn shouted at their backs.

"Sigyn, you're a liability and unfit for this recovery mission." Odin shouted back, without even a glance towards her.

"Damn you!" Sigyn whispered. She had been on plenty of missions. She would just to have to find a different way.

Sigyn burst into their rooms. "Frigga just told me about Odin." She paused, Loki sat rock still on his chair, his face in his hands.

"What else did she say?" He asked intently, raising his head to glare at Sigyn.

"Nothing much." Confusion slipped into Sigyn's tone.

"Did you know?" Loki asked quietly, slowly standing up.

"I don't understand"

"Did you know?!" Loki shouted grabbing Sigyn by her hair, and pushed her against the wall roughly.

Sigyn broke out of his grip, and slapped him. "Did I know what!? Calm down Loki!" Sigyn demanded fiercely.

"Do you know what I am?" Loki asked, much quieter.

"You are a prince of Asgard and you are my husband" Sigyn said slowly, trying to grasp what Loki was talking about.

"I'm a monster." Loki turned his back to her.

"Some would argue that, yes." Sigyn wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging his back. "I would disagree with them. As should you."

"Laufeyson" Loki muttered.

"Hmm?"

"I am Laufeyson. I am a Jotun." Loki said louder.

"Oh" Sigyn sighed in realization. She held him tighter. He twisted around, facing her.

"Do you understand now? I am a monster, some relic Odin decided to keep after the war. My whole life a lie, unwittingly a pawn in some twisted game of his. Everything makes sense now. I finally have clarity."

"Clarity?"

"The reason why I have been treated inferiorly my entire life is because I am descended from an inferior race.

"You're not inferior." Sigyn uttered softly.

"Just leave Sigyn." Loki broke away, turning away from her.

"Leave? I don't understand."

"I release you from your duty as my wife. You don't belong with a monster." Loki tried very hard to keep his voice level, but he didn't succeed.

"You're right. I don't." Sigyn said softly. Loki turned around, unable to hide the hurt etched on his face. "I am not with a monster now. I never have been." Sigyn cradled his cheek.

"This changes things. Didn't you listen? I released you from your duty to support me. Please stop it." Loki fretted darkly.

"I support you because I want to, not because it a wife's duty." Sigyn snapped.

"Shut up! Stop lying Sigyn to me. I am a frost giant!"

"I am not lying. I wouldn't put up with you if that was the case. I am here for a very simple reason." Sigyn walked up to Loki and put her arms around his neck. She stared into his eyes fiercely, bringing her face close enough for their noses to brush.

Loki stood frozen, staring hard at her. His brain working fast to comprehend her actions.

"All this doesn't change a single thing. Fortunately for you, I have fallen irrevocably in love with you. I am never going to leave you, even if you want me to." Sigyn's lips brushed against Loki's as she spoke.

"Trust me." Sigyn glanced down, before looking up pleadingly. He softened under her grip.

"I trust you." He whispered. Her lips met his as he spoke. It was a quiet, and tender kiss. It was one shared between two old lovers who knew they had the time to take it slow, and revel in the moment. Loki took a deep breath, leaning his forehead on Sigyn's.

"I'm glad we settled that, you had me worried there for a second." Sigyn said honestly.

Loki let out a shaky laugh, amazed that Sigyn could make a joke out the whole situation.

Sigyn took a step back, sobering up. "What are you going to do now?"

"I'm not sure yet. I am so angry. I can feel my rage boiling under my skin." Loki muttered. "I can't place it anywhere, not with Odin asleep."

"Are you sure you're angry with him?" Sigyn asked softly.

"What do you mean? He has lied to me all my life. I think that justifies a good deal of anger."

"But he didn't throw you out in the cold. Granted he hasn't been the kindest or caring, but he's been there, somewhat, for you for centuries."

"What are you suggesting?"

"I am suggesting that you place your anger away from your family."

"They aren't my family."

"Don't delude yourself Loki. You choose your own family. I've chosen you and your children as my family. Do you choose the frost giants?"

"No. I want nothing to do with them."

"Well then, there's your answer." Sigyn pressed her face into the crook of his neck.

Loki sighed. He slowly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, breathing in her scent.

"I am still angry at Father." Loki mumbled against Sigyn's hair.

"I know, that's expected. I am too."

AAAAA

Sigyn woke up in a cold sweat, "Oh Loki, I had the most horrendous dream." Sigyn sighed while rolling over around to see, to her astonishment, that bed was empty. Sigyn shot out of bed, where had he gone?, she thought as she hastily pulled on a robe.

Sigyn paused at the door as she deliberated whom she should go to. She shouldn't worry Frigga at this hour, and even if Sif were here instead of earth she wouldn't appreciate the visit. Sigyn would have to find him herself, Sigyn opened the door and walked into the dim light of the corridor.

"Where are you going, my love?" A soft voice asked from within the room.

Sigyn whirled around to see Loki leaning on the dark doorway.

"To find you. Where did you go?" Sigyn crossed her arms against her chest tightly.

"No need for alarm, I just paid someone a visit." Loki held his hand out, which Sigyn took as Loki led her back into the bedroom.

"Who did you visit?" Sigyn asked as Loki removed her robe slowly.

"My biological father" Loki said with his back to her, as he hung her robe.

"Did you kill him?" Sigyn asked hesitantly.

Loki chuckled darkly, "No, not yet. I went there to make a deal."

"Of what sort?"

"I asked him to kill Odin."

Sigyn threw up her arms, "Are you insane?!"

"No. Listen." Loki grabbed Sigyn's hands and brought them together. "I will help Laufey into Odin's chambers, and once he is there I will kill him. Everyone will think I am the hero who saved the King's life. Once Father wakes he cannot be anything but proud of me. He will owe his life to me."

"If anyone finds out they would charge you with treason to the King."

"No one will find it out. I wasn't named God of Mischief for nothing."

"But what if they do." Sigyn fretted turning her back to Loki. "Can you reverse what you've done?"

"No, nor do I have any desire to."

Sigyn turned around, and tried to read Loki's face in the dark. She couldn't. "Are you sure this is the best course of action?"

"It is the one I wish to take. I hope that all this new knowledge about my past will not prevent you from supporting me as you have previously done."

What Loki was doing was cruel. Sigyn knew that Loki was fully capable and could even excel in cruelty at times. This was one of the few times that she felt his cruelty directly and she didn't like it one bit. He was testing her strength and love, and she hated to be tested in such a degrading fashion. But she couldn't do a thing about it.

"Have no fear, my love, I will support you to my dying breath."

They gathered in the throne room. Only a few guards lined the walls. Sigyn stood quietly, watching two conversations with bemusement. Odin was bickering with a lendmann, while Thor was in an argument with Sif.

"I should come with you!" Sif argued.

"Father can only send one." Thor was wrong, but he didn't know that, Sigyn thought dryly.

"Loki is dangerous. I am not sure you would be able-"

"Unable to do what?" Thor asked angrily.

Sif glanced at Sigyn, who politely looked the other way. "To kill him if the occasion calls for it."

"He is my brother, no matter what he says. It won't come to that." Thor said firmly.

"You don't know that."

"This conversation is over." Thor turned away.

"Are you going to see her?" Sif asked tensely.

"I plan to get Loki and come home." Thor evaded the question.

"Are you going to look for her?"

Thor blew out of his cheeks. "No."

Sigyn watched with astonishment as Sif uncharastically bounced up and down before kissing Thor quickly and lightly on his lips. Thor looked surprised, but he didn't push her away.

"Be safe my husband" Sif whispered.

"I will." Thor said gruffly.

"The decision is final. I am King and you are not!" Odin barked, bringing everyone's attention to him. "Loki and the Tesseract are our responsibility and I trust Thor in this regard."

"You have nothing to fear. I will find Loki." Thor's voice boomed across the hall as he approached the lendmann.

"I don't doubt your capabilities Thor. I don't believe this is the safest method. Thor is the only heir now, we should approach this with caution." The lendmann said bravely.

"I did offer my services" Sigyn pipped up. Nobody looked her way.

"It's ready. If we are going to do this." Frigga said calmly. She stood over a cauldron, black smoke seeping over the edges.

"I am ready Mother." Thor stepped up, Mjolnir gripped in his hand.

"Remember to come home, you must use the Tesseract. We will try to find an alternative path here, but you cannot depend on us." Frigga fretted.

"I will remember Mother" Thor smiled as he knelt. Odin slowly poured the contents of the cauldron over Thor, as Frigga began to chant.

Sigyn watched in frustration as Thor vanished in the black smoke.

"You've made a mistake." Sigyn said loud enough for Odin to hear.

"Shh Sigyn." Sif whispered. "Don't be a fool."

Odin turned his head. "You dare defy me? Do you wish for punishment?"

"No. I just believe I would have been a better choice. I am his wife after all."

"Of course dear. We all want Loki back." Frigga said smoothly, trying to decrease the tension that was building. The next part of the plan would have to be delicately done or else Sigyn could be facing more than she could handle.

"I just don't understand why the King is being blinded in his anger." Sigyn put on a false face of innocence.

The lendmann blanched in horror, as Sif covered her mouth in shock. Frigga held back a smile.

"You are testing my patience." Odin said dangerously.

"I am not going to stop. I need to see him!" Sigyn shouted.

"Guards lock her in her rooms. She is not permitted to leave until Loki is in Asgard."

"What?! No!" Sigyn shouted as the guards drug her out of the throne room. She gave the appropriate amount of resistance that they would expect, before willingly following them to her rooms.

"Sorry M'lady. Kings orders until Loki returns." One guard said, with a grim smile, before he locked her doors.

Sigyn let out a breath of air, and smiled. Now no one would notice her absence. She grabbed the sheet of parchment she had found earlier and her prepacked bag. It was part of Loki's notes on portal jumping. Her clever boy had been slipping from Heimdall's gaze to other realms for centuries.

This wouldn't place her right where Loki was, as Frigga's magic would, but Loki wouldn't be hard to be find. From what Heimdall had said, he wasn't exactly hiding.

As she whispered the enchantment, green smoke came off the parchment surrounding her, Sigyn couldn't help but smile.

Next Chapter: A brotherly reunion is in store.

How did you like the flashback? That was hard to get just right. Let me know what you thought.