Thor arrived back at Tony's with Fenrir on his back and Hel safely tucked under his arm. They were bombarded with hugs and kisses from everyone, everyone that is but Loki.

"Where is Loki?" Thor asked after he had scanned the room.

"He went for a walk to clear his mind." Tony answered ruffling Fenrir's hair. Thor felt like something was wrong and flew off.

"I must go look for him!" He yelled back towards them.

Loki stood very still hoping that the pain would be over quickly. Sif owed him that much didn't she? His eyes were glued shut, he stayed that way just thinking of the twins and Thor. Then, he remembered what had happened all those years ago in that lonely iron box.

He stared at the door thinking about many things and wondering how long the Allfather would keep him locked away in here. It had only been a few months since Thor had brought him back to Asgard after his humiliating defeat by the Avengers.

"May I see him? It's urgent." He heard Sif speaking from the other side of the closed door. What could she possibly want? Maybe she was here to release him. Yeah, as if that could possibly happen. They door opened slowly. "Loki? Are you alright? Are the gaurds treating you well?" She asked him he just looked at her. How was he supposed to respond with this thing over his mouth? "Oh I forgot you cannot speak." She stepped closer to him and he just sat there waiting for the good news. She stared at her nails for a long time before back handing him. He had forgotten how good of a hitter she was. "That's for what you did to Midgard." He stared up at her didn't she know that he was regretting what he did and that he only did it to get Thor's attention? "I shall return later to make you pay for everything else." She said as she left the room and slammed the door behind her.

"GET OFF OF ME!" He heard Sif scream and slowly opened his eyes to see if Thor had saved him. It wasn't.

"Why are you doing this?" The strange, barely dressed woman asked calmly. She held Sif down without any trouble.

"HE TOOK HIM AWAY FROM ME!" Sif was still screaming and was trying her hardest to push the woman off.

"What is killing him going to do besides hurt the one you love?" She still kept her voice calm. Sif was finally quiet and stared at her for a long time.

Thor found Loki staring at two women fighting a few minutes later.

"Loki! What are you doing out here?" Thor touched his shoulder and Loki jumped before turning toward him. His eyes lit up instantly seeing his love before him.

"Thor? When did you get back? Have you found out where the twins are yet?" He wrapped his arms around Thor's waist and stared into his eyes.

"I already got them. They are safe at Stark's when I got back I had a strange feeling and I needed to find you… Who are they?" Thor asked looking past Loki at the two quarreling women. "Sif? What are you doing here?" He finally realized who the one woman who was being held down was.

"I would suggest you take Loki and leave. Sif tried to kill him a moment ago, if I hadn't seen her eavesdropping on you and the Allfather I would not have followed her here." The pale woman looked at them, she had strikingly blue eyes and short black hair.

"Who are you?" They asked together staring at her for a long time.

"That's unimportant at this time. Just go before I lose my grip on her!" They took her word and Thor held Loki close as they flew back to Stark tower. Fenrir and Hel were giggling at Banner's story about fighting the chitauri when they stepped inside.

"Is she feeling any better?" Loki asked touching Tony's shoulder carefully.

"Yeah. She's in the bedroom now she wanted to be alone for a while." He said looking over toward the closed door across the room. Loki saw the worried expression on Tony's face and looked toward the door also while he sat next to him.

"You should go and talk to her." Loki nudged his side lightly. "Tell her what is weighing on your heart. It will make you both feel better, trust me." Tony turned toward him and he smiled a sincere smile.

"I suppose you're right." Tony returned the smile and slowly stood everyone in the room followed him with his eyes. He sighed before he knocked on the door and waited for an answer.

"Come in." Pepper called from the other side and he opened the door and stepped inside. Everyone let out the breath they were all holding at the same time when the door closed behind Tony.

"I hope they are able to make up." Hel was the first to break the silence, everyone burst into laughter.

"They will, I've seen it." Fenrir smiled at her and she nodded.

"Speaking of seeing things," Loki stood and walked over and kneeled in front of them. "Since when have you two been able to see the future and why have you not told us?"

"Future?" Thor stood by Loki looking at them seriously. "What do you mean future?"

"These two are able to see the future and they never told us about it." Loki turned and looked up at him.

"Since when?" Thor asked them they stared up at him.

"Since we can remember, father." They said in unison trying to hide the fear in their voices.

"What?" Loki stared at them for a long time.

"Well at least we know now." Thor lifted them into his arms and kissed them both.

"When did you become a father?" Loki asked sarcastically, Thor burst into laughter.

Tony stared at Pepper for a long time. The bruises that covered her face were darker now but she had bathed so there was no longer dried blood caked over the bruises. Her left was purple and swollen shut still.

"Tony." She patted the spot next to her on the bed urging him to sit next to her. He slowly made his way across the room.

"I'm sorry. If I would have been here, none of this would have happened!" Tony said grabbing her hand and kissing it.

"Tony, if you would have been here then we both would have been taken." She touched his head with her other hand.

"It would have been better than you being alone." He lifted his head and stared at her for a long time.

"I wasn't alone I was thinking about you the whole time. I knew you would come for me. I knew you wouldn't rest until I was safe and that's what kept me going." She gave him a small smile. There was a strange prickling sensation in his eyes.

"But I didn't Pepper. I tried but they tricked me and the twins were taken because of my stupidity!" Tears were falling freely now.

"I know they told me but you tried everything and I don't blame you." She touched his cheek.

"Pepper, what's the point of being a superhero when you can't even protect the thing that's most precious to you?" He asked staring into her eyes. She finally got what he was saying and leaned closer toward him.

"I love you, Tony." She whispered and closed her eyes.

"I love you, Pepper." He whispered back and closed the distance between them. He forgot how Pepper felt on his lips, how perfect they were for each other, and how he missed this. They stayed that way for a long time just kissing each other and holding hands. They didn't know how long the kiss lasted and frankly they didn't care, it was perfect the way it was.

"Is it weird that I missed that?" Pepper asked blushing when they finally broke the kiss off.

"No, I missed it too." Tony leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "Why did something like this have to happen in order for me to see that you are my world?" He asked no one in particular.

"I don't know, but it is the same for me too. I thought that I was better off without you. Then, you ended up being the only thing on my mind the entire time." They stared at each other for a long time, holding hands, and whispering 'I love you' back and forth.

Thor and Loki stared at the twins who were listening to Fury telling a story about something that happened a few years before they were born. He made huge hand gestures and they all laughed at how ridiculous he looked.

"Thor?" Loki leaned over and whispered in his ear.

"Hmm?" He smiled at the twins before turning toward him.

"Can we go and talk?"

"Of course." They both stood and walked out into another room as the twins were pretending to be monsters attacking Fury. "What is it?"

"Who was that woman that saved me? I've never seen her before." Loki asked staring at him.

"I don't know but I get the feeling that we will be seeing her again." Thor stared off into the distance as he pulled Loki into a hug. Who was that woman?