A/N: Time frame wise, this is set 8 years after Burning Curve, for reference. :)

So updates might be a little slow as I deal with some big personal stuff. If you're interested you can read about it at my Tumblr. megaranoelle . tumblr . com

I don't own The Avengers, Loki, Iron Man, or anything of the like. Just the thoughts inside my head. And taking some personal freedoms with mythology and lore.

Tony knew that Loki was going to leave right away, they had both decided that that would be the best way. Once Loki removed Adir's influence from Sander he would go and steal him back from under his nose. Eir would let the Valkyrie's know, and then all be set right, in the way that it should be. If things were going to be set right, his son would be coming back to him, not going to a land of the dead.

He had put Key down for a nap, watching as Melisande sat next to the crib on the cot Tony had set up. He let out a breath and closed his eyes. When Tony opened his eyes again he found himself back with Urd and Verdandi.

"Uh, this is unexpected, and possibly unwelcome." Tony frowned a little as he walked over to the them, crossing his arms over his chest.

"The balance is at a crucial juncture right now," Verdandi started.

"You told me that before," Tony said. "And I went back, and my son died, if you hadn't noticed. I'm doing my-"

"We can bring your son back to you." Tony stopped and looked at them. "There will be an opening, where our powers can be used to rewrite his fate."

"What's the catch?" Tony asked, eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"We can not change what Adir has done to him," Urd told him. "However he is now, is how he will be when he comes back."

"Whatever wounds he has will heal naturally," Verdandi continued.

"Alright," Tony nodded slowly. "When will we know when the opening is?"

"You'll need to see the future again, and you will need to predict the impossible." Tony shot Urd an annoyed look. "You will need to have a prophesy about Adir."

"You're kidding right?" He looked between the sisters. "I was told that was impossible. He doesn't Have a future, because he's such a dick that he eludes it all."

"With the balance in danger, there are no rules," Urd told him.

"Any tips from those more experienced? A little Master to Padawan advice would be nice right now. I apparently have to perform a miracle." Tony was snapping his fingers in nervous habit.

"You used your powers before,"Verdandi started. "Focus on that again."

"And think about Adir?"

"No!" Both sisters shouted. "Never to us on one singular person," Urd warned. "Only Skuld was able to control those energies and-"

"She waswas way better at it than me, got it." Tony took a breath. "Do I have to stay here to do this? I've got a toddler and a new born at home,..." Tony trailed off making some vague hand motions. "I'd feel more pressure if I had to stay here."

"We will know when it happens," Urd assured him. "Do not wait too long to use your powers though,-"

Tony nodded and turned around. "Got it, you've stressed the time importance. If I've got a chance at saving my son, I need to go back home where there is no, added, stress and pressure."

Sander gasped for breath as he flipped his head up, eyes opening wide, hands bracing himself on the ground. He ran one of his hands over his face and hair, expecting it to be wet. There was the soft liking of a tongue from behind him.

"That method doesn't exactly agree with everyone," Adir tsked as he walked around Sander and in front of him. "I don't think Daddy dearest took to kindly to the water either. Perhaps you two do have more in common than I thought." Sander shot a glare at Adir, slowly pushing himself up. Adir grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet, turning his arm over a little, showing black lines crawling down his arm. "Of course, the palladium didn't agree with him either."

"Let go of him." Adir smirked at the voice behind him. Sander's eyes flickered over to see who was speaking.

"Come to take your little boy back from me?" Adir dropped Sanders arm, causing him to stumble a little, and turned around to face Loki. "How long until you realized that I had him? Tell me how long until you thought about all the wonderful things that I could do to him? I really want to know, sorcerer."

"I can tell you that it did not take very long to decide to kill you." Adir snorted, a smirk still on his face, until something slammed against the back of his head, throwing him forward. The Loki in front of him shimmered away and Adir turned around to see Loki standing in front of Sander. "You made a mistake when you tried to prevent me from healing him before."

"Oh? And what would that be?" Adira raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

Loki held up his hand, a green and white glow surrounding his fingers. "You left a trace of your power where I could get to it."

"Do you think that's actually going to help you? I'm still more powerful than you." Loki just let the corner of his lip turn up. Adir tried not to frown.

Sander couldn't help but to lean on Loki's back, but it didn't distract him in the slightest. Loki rolled his fingers and hand around, crafting a spell with no words. "In Asgard, I studied magic instead of spending all my time on the training grounds. I have finely crafted the ways of magic, and even created new ways of working with the power. And, as others have found out, when I feel threatened, I'm at my most dangerous." Adir opened his mouth and took a step forward and Loki violently lashed his arm out, throwing the power in his hand at the Creator. It caught him in the chest and threw him backwards hundreds of feet.

Loki turned quickly and wrapped an arm around Sander's back, helping him back down to the ground. "He's going to be pissed." Loki snorted a little. "Even if we get out of here, there are two issues. He'll just come back to find us, and I'm still dead."

Loki pat Sander's cheek a little. "Like death has ever stopped this family. That doesn't mean I'm going to let you suffer. I can at least make sure that you end up where you belonged in the first place."

There was a slight breeze behind them and Loki turned, frowning when he saw someone else walking towards them. "We have a few ideas about where he actually belongs." Verdandi leaned down in front of them. "The balance is still undone, and we can pull a few strings. We can return him back to Midgard."

"But, you're not allowed to do that," Loki said quietly, frowning slightly. "If it were I would have asked already."

"There's a lot that's not supposed to be happening right now," Verdandi answered. "We have already spoken with Anthony about this, and he has played his part to make this possible." Sander swallowed a little as he listened. "Let me take him Loki, let me return him to you back home."

"Why are you doing this?" The Fate raised an eyebrow at his question. "You don't do things like this for us, it just doesn't happen. So, why now?"

"For once, we don't have to follow the rules," she said, smiling gently at him. "You and Anthony deserve this, and it was not his time to die." Verdandi put her hand out to Sander. "There isn't much time, this must happen before balance is restored."

Sander looked at Loki for a second before taking her hand. A loud crack of power sounded around them and Loki and Sander looked up. "He's coming back. Go, I'll take care of this." Loki stood up, power around his hands. "Go before he can stop this again. I'll not lose my son a second time." Verdandi nodded before disappearing with Sander.

Adir stepped into view, getting closer to Loki, his hands glowing white, his eyes glowing with power. "I'm going to erase you from existance," he hissed.

"I look forward to giving you the same."