Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel, Loki, or the Avengers.

A/N: This flashback is a continuation of the flashback from chapter three. Sorry for all the time jumping in those.

Aftermath

Sigyn woke with a mere pounding of the head. She glanced up expecting to see the obnoxious buildings the humans loved to build stretching into the sky. All she could see was dark mist. She heard a sigh.

"Who's there?" She asked softly.

"That's the question you choose? Not where am I or what happened?" The dry voice parted the mists slightly, allowing Sigyn to see a teenaged girl lounging on a rock.

"Hela" Sigyn breathed in recognition. "Am I dead?"

"You should be. Fell from space, probably hit a building on the way down. You honestly should be splat on the pavement."

"But I'm not."

"No, you're not."

"And the man I tried to save?"

"Tony left a few moments ago. I believe he is with his friends now."

"Good."

"Why risk so much for a mere mortal?" Hela stood up slowly, her eyes never leaving Sigyn's form.

"For Loki."

"You would do anything for my father." Hela stated, but it sounded like a question.

"That's not true."

"In time, it may be. I see darkness in your future Sigyn. You will do things you cannot even fathom ."

Sigyn rolled her eyes. "I am sure we all will. I never fathomed I'd marry a prince."

"Mockery will not help you." Hela cocked her head harshly to the side.

"I don't mock." Sigyn sighed. "How do I return to my realm?"

"I know not how. Time will tell." Hela turned her back towards her father's wife.

"Why did you come?"

"I do not get to see my father's family very often." Hela whispered.

Sigyn walked up to Hela, but didn't touch her, afraid that she would recoil at the attempt at comfort.

"He loves you. Even if he doesn't always show it."

"I only remind him of bad times."

"That's not-"

"It is. But yes, Father loves me. I know that."

"Good." Sigyn paused. "Then there was no other reason?"

"No." Hela turned, her eye pleading, "Do not go after Thanos. Stay away, if you do not death will follow."

"But what of Loki's mind control?"

"There are other ways."

"Tell me! What do you know?"

"I must go." And Hela was gone with the mist. Sigyn yelled to the sky, before she crumbled to the ground. Suddenly she felt the weight of the world upon her shoulders, and all she could was cry.

AAAAA

Loki couldn't speak. Loki could feel his magics humming under the tips of his fingers trapped within this body of his.

The god of lies was silenced. The irony wasn't lost on him. Of course his father had made a muzzle to trap his magic. That was just his style.

He couldn't even plea his case. Not that Thor would even listen, he had slapped the muzzle on the minute Loki was led into custody. No matter the fact that he surrendered willingly.

If Loki could sigh he would.

He was in a different containment center. It was somewhere in this city, down in the basement of some sky rise. He was all alone, again.

Sigyn stirred softly against Loki. He pressed her closer to him, breathing her scent. She had been asleep for hours. He hadn't slept a wink, and rightly so. Her reveal of her engagement to that prick, Theoric, had shook him. He knew where her loyalties lay, he got a full demonstration after the banquet, but he also knew Sigyn. She was dutiful, and loved her family.

"Mmmm what time is it?" Sigyn whispered as she stretched. Loki closed his eyes as she ran her fingers softly through his hair.

"Around 7."

Sigyn froze against him. "Damn. We overslept. How did that happen?!" Sigyn jumped out of the bed, gathering her scattered clothing from the floor.

"It must have slipped my mind. Apologies my darling." Loki sat up against the headboard, and watched Sigyn slip hurriedly into her clothes.

"Mother expected me for an early breakfast. We were to go horseback riding this morning."

"When do you leave for home?"

"Tonight." Sigyn answered briskly, as she fixed her hair into something other than bedhead.

"Ah." He had not realized she was gone so soon. "Should I stumble accidentally upon your horseback party?"

"No. Please don't."

"Why not?"

Sigyn gave Loki a face, while looking for her shoes.

"Why not?" Loki repeated.

She sighed. "Because Theoric is supposed to join us."

Loki growled in frustration. "I never liked him, but now I am sure that I hate him."

"We talked about this last night. I thought you were okay with this."

"Okay?" Loki chuckled darkly. "A world of no!" He stood up, the sheets slipping to the ground. "It kills me that he gets to court you in public. That he gets to show affection without everyone questioning it."

"Loki" Sigyn whispered, raising her eyes to the ceiling.

"He touches you, in any way you don't want, there are going to be consequences."

"Theoric wouldn't."

"He may, he believes that you are his." Loki's jaw clenched.

"Loki. What can I do about that? Nothing."

"Just don't forget."

"Forget what?"

Loki pressed his lips against her forehead. "You are mine."

Sigyn smiled softly. "Yes, and you are mine. That's what worries me." She left quickly without another word.

AAAAA

Loki wasn't one for drowning out his problems, but he was sorely tempted to reach for the bottle of wine sitting on the table. He knew if he did, he'd get more attention than he'd like, especially from his mother, who had already given him an odd glance or two.

"You're hardly eating." Frigga commented.

"I am not a child, mother."

"I didn't say you were."

Sigyn entered the hall quickly, wisps of hair flew into her flushed face. Loki sat up straighter, noting her tight leather riding pants with interest. Sigyn grabbed an apple, and met his gaze. She faltered at Loki's intensity. He could see blush mingle with her already flushed face, she looked away, anywhere but him. She settled on curtseying at Frigga, before rushing out of the breakfast hall.

Loki could feel Frigga's gaze on him as he stared at the empty door.

"Is there happening between the two of you?"

"Hmmm?"

"Loki?"

"Between Sigyn and I? We had a bit of a disagreement last night, nothing to be worried about." Lokie lied smoothly.

Lying to his mother was the hardest. She always seemed to sense when something was off. Fortunately she wasn't one to argue with him, pester on the other hand was a different story.

"Did it regard her recent engagement?"

Loki rolled his eyes at his mother. "If it did, that's none of your business."

Frigga simply raised an eyebrow. "If you wish to make a counter engagement proposal, I'm sure Frejya wouldn't be opposed to it."

Loki couldn't help it, but he burst out laughing. Frigga glanced nervously at the other breakfast stragglers in the hall, Loki could tell she was glad they were far down the table.

"I'm sure she wouldn't be opposed to it. I am a prince after all. But even if I wanted to marry Sigyn, which I haven't admitted to, I can't. Father wants me to marry a foreign princess, remember?"

His mother pursed her lips.

"He's set his eyes on that princess, Petra, the one who visited last year."

"I do recall Petra. She was a nice girl."

"She was." Loki admitted truthfully, though Sigyn hadn't liked her one bit, but that was before of their affair, in all honesty Petra probably was the catalyst for their affair.

"Loki, you know it is only your happiness that I desire. Marry someone who makes you happy."

"What if it angers Father? I cannot let my petty desires inflict harm between you two."

"They aren't petty."

"Do not speak to Frejya. Father would be too angry." Loki kissed his mother's cheek gently. "I couldn't live with myself if any harm was to come to you on my behalf."

Frigga smiled softly, and patted his hand gently before she got up and left.

He sat still mulling over his options, when the servants started to clear the places away, Loki left the room. He had decided the best course of action, and a half crazed half brilliant plan had come to mind. It was risky, but for her, it was worth it all.

"So we survived, and stopped an alien invasion. All in a days work, huh?" Clint said amiably as Natasha came out of the bathroom, fresh bandages on her wound.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I can't get wait to get back to our normal jobs."

Clint smiled, and patted his hand next to him on the cot. Natasha curled up against him.

"I meant what I said at Stark Tower."

"Ah" Clint wrapped an arm around her frame gently. "I didn't think you'd lie about something like that."

"Thanks for that vote of confidence." Natasha said dryly.

"So, what are we going to do?"

"That's all you have to say? I admitted that I love you. God, Clint."

"I thought it was obvious Nat. You are the most important person in my life."

"Do you want things to change?" Natasha looked up at Clint, who nudged his head against hers.

"Do you?"

"I don't know. Our jobs aren't the best for any type of relationship."

"We both know that. The job comes first. Do what it takes." Clint eyes slowly raised up to meet Natasha's.

"Right. Okay." Natasha looked away.

"I think we can find some middle ground. We have to live sometime."

Natasha's eyes widened, as Clint tugged her chin towards him. "Clint?" She whispered.

Clint brought his lips to hers in a sweet, chaste kiss.

If time could freeze it did.

Clint pulled slightly away, but Natasha just scooted closer. "We'll figure it out as we go."

Natasha nodded. "As we go."

AAAAA

Sigyn's eyelids fluttered open. The setting sun caught in her eyes. She struggled to sit up as her head pounded. She gave her body an once over. Her arm was twisted the wrong way, small cuts ran all along her exposed skin, and she could feel bruises forming everywhere.

She stood on shaky legs, and entered the supermarket she'd fallen in front of. She grabbed a water bottle chugging the contents down her throat.

Damn Hela and her vague comments. Damn alternate worlds and their skewed versions of time.

Sigyn ripped some white cloth with her teeth, and formed a sling for her broken arm. Once done, Sigyn focused on her next task. She searched for Loki's magic, and aura. Her head snapped up, she could feel him. He was close.

AAAAA

Tony sat in his lab, aimlessly twirling in his wheeled chair. He stared at his phone, Pepper's contact image smiled up at him. He didn't know what to say to her.

"Hey"

Tony glanced up to see Bruce shuffle into the lab.

"S'up. Have I mentioned already, thanks, for you know, catching me."

"You have. It wasn't a problem."

"Could've been." Tony muttered.

"Are you okay? You aren't your usual egotistical self."

"I went into space Bruce, and all I could think about was her." Tony nodded to his phone. "I had left her, and she wouldn't know why."

Bruce glanced curiously at the image of the infamous Tony Stark's girlfriend. "She would have known you saved the world."

"Been there done that- or at least I've saved America."

Bruce sighed. "I'm exhausted Tony. I don't know what you want me to say."

"I don't know what to tell her."

"The truth."

"Thank you Captain Obvious."

There was a moment of silence, before Tony's phone went off. Pepper's caller ID jumped up to both men. Tony gave a look of terror.

"Answer it." Bruce said sternly.

Tony took a deep breath, and did so. Bruce could hear the tiny worried voice of Pepper Potts from the receiver.

"Shhh. Pepper. Shhh. It's me. I'm okay. It's over. I love you. I love you so much."

As Bruce left the room he could still hear Tony murmuring words of comfort and love.

AAAAA

Loki heard some commotion outside his door. He stood up and walked towards the glass pane that lined the wall. The guard was knocked out. He took a step back, and watched the door steadily. He knew not whom to expect.

The door burst opened. In a blur of motion, Loki found himself holding his wife. He closed his eyes as he burrowed his face into her hair, breathing in her scent.

"Loki" Sigyn sobbed violently into his chest. Loki rubbed her back gently, as he brought them into a sitting position. Loki noticed with distaste the disheveled look of Sigyn, particularly her arm. She looked like she'd been to hell and back.

He tilted her chin up, and brushed away her tears. He could see her eyes register his muzzle for the first time.

"What did they do to you?" She whispered aghast. Sigyn's fingers trailed delicately along his face. Her fingers ran along the muzzle. "May I take it off?"

Loki shook his head slowly.

"Will it hurt you if I try?"

Loki nodded. He had learned early on that if he tried to remove it, he'd get a nasty electric shock.

Sigyn sighed softly, and rested her head in the crook of his neck. Loki was sure her mind was racing, but all he could think about was how good it felt to have her in his arms.

Loki began to tap gently on Sigyn's neck, he may be rusty but he remembered the Asgardian version of what mortals deemed morse code. I am sorry. I am sorry. I am sorry.

"I forgive you." Sigyn whispered.

AAAAA

"He's my brother, even if he's adopted." Thor explained to Steve, "And I just wish I could understand his actions today. He doesn't usually act that way, well except for that one, scratch that two times."

"Were you ever close?"

"There were times. When we were children, he would read to me everyday."

Steve sighed. "Loki did some awful things today. I can't claim to know him, or why he did what he did."

"I wouldn't expect you to." Thor replied grimly. His family was in the process of being torn to shreds. He didn't like it one bit.

"If you want to talk to him, he's may listen right now." Steve pointed out. "I'm gonna get some coffee. You want any?"

"No thanks."

Thor watched Steve leave the lounge. The minute he had turned the corner, Thor jumped up and headed towards Loki's holding cell.

He froze when he saw the knocked out guard. As he approached the room with care, he glanced through the glass and saw Sigyn.

They were standing in the middle of the room. Sigyn was stroking Loki's hair gently. His brother's eyes were closed, but he looked peaceful. Sigyn raised her eyes to meet Thor's.

Please. She mouthed silently.

Sigyn had always brought out the good in Loki. Thor knew that Loki had done wrong today. Thor also knew that he too had tried to invade a people. His father had been cruel in his punishment. To banish his first born, to strip him of a sole part of his identity, that just wasn't right, even if Thor was able to make a life lesson out of it. Loki would probably receive worse punishment, and as Thor stared at the couple, he realized he didn't want that, no matter what Loki did today. He was family.

Thor made a split second decision, and nodded. He watched silently as they disappeared.

Thor glanced down at the guard. Better let him sleep a little longer, Thor thought. He walked back down the hallway, like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

His voice boomed as he called out to his new friends. "Who wants to get shawarma?"