She sat there stunned by what he had just said, how he had opened up to her. This growing relationship between them baffled her completely. she had no idea what the hell was going on between them now. She couldn't sleep, who could with all of this information running through her mind. Leah hated feeling this way, hated that he had gotten to her. Deciding that going for a walk or run would possibly help clear her mind, she pulled on more suitable clothing before leaving her room.

She walked around the gardens trying to walk her mind into some type of peace. She finally sat down in the gardens and looked out across the blue clear water and the lower city. Leah heard a cough and looked up to see the Queen standing there, Leah looked up at her completely stunned.

"Don't get up child, may I join you?" She said

Leah just nodded, the queen pulled up her bronze outfit before sitting down beside Leah. Leah just looked from the queen to the view, not really sure what to say now.

"Something seems to be bothering you." The queen began sounding very calm and kind. "Call it a mothers intuition."

"I wouldn't know what that is." Leah smiled looking up to the sky. "I have never had a mother."

"You're an Orphan?" The queen frowned looking a little worried and concerned for her.

"No, well yes, but I, I have a brother Clint, he is older than me, quiet a bit actually, he tried to be there for me, he looked after me and was well. He is everything to me." Leah tried to explain with difficulty not really 100% how too. "Loki turned my brother against me, I only thought then I was alone."

"It is good that you have some one like your brother in your life." The queen smiled

"He wasn't always there, actually recently he has never been there when I really needed him." Leah shrugged turning to look at the Queen whose attention was completely upon her, "I got use to that, I built mechanisms that when I was too caught up or something was playing on my mind they would just go but now." Leah ran her hand over the grass frowning as she thought. "Now I can't stop them."

"Would you like to talk about it?" The Queen continued. "What ever it is that's bothering you"

"I don't know." Leah finally looked at the queen, she could feel herself fall apart. Leah didn't know what to do, part of her wanted to talk while the other thought this was Loki's mother and Loki was really the issue. "I don't know what to think at the moment. Its not as black and white as use to think it was. Everything seemed to be turning a messy grey."

"So you don't know what to do or believe any more?" The queen frowned turning her head questionably at her.

"I guess." Leah sighed trying to understand it better herself. "Its more I don't know what to think any more." Leah tried to explain better. "Things have been said and done which I didn't expect to happen and its changed my opinion."

"Between you and my son?" The queen muttered making Leah stare at her for a minute in silence the Queen just smiled at Leah before continuing "He is changing around you, I can see how relaxed and calm he is becoming and he is not as broken as he once was."

"Why me though?" Leah sighed hoping the Queen may have some answers for her.

"Only the two of you really know the answer to that." The queen touched Leah's chin making Leah look at her before running her thumb over Leah's cheek.

"I don't understand though?" Leah stared at the queen

"You will in time." The queen beamed at her before getting up and leaving Leah alone. Leah just sat there even more confused than before.

Leah spent most of the day in the garden, she had taken her jacket off using it as a pillow as she laid on the soft ground. The warmth hit her skin, she had her eyes closed, just enjoying the peace and quiet for the day. She finally got her mind to slow down after what the Queen had said.

Perhaps she was right, maybe her opinion was right to change, Loki was had changed, he was talking to her and all of it seemed true. Maybe she shouldn't question why but just let it happen and let him keep talking. The queen was right, Loki was broken, it was the best way of describing him really. She remembered there first meeting and how full of anger and rage he was back then compared to now.

x-x-x-x-x

She looked overt the balcony seeing the crowd of people and an orchestra playing beautiful classical music. She could see the face she had studied earlier still imprinted in her mind, she still couldn't place 100% where she had seen that man before. She continued to scan the room not seeing her target anywhere amongst the crowd.

"Leah where the hell are you." She heard Nat say in her ear piece making her jump slightly. She just re-positioned her communicator in her ear before bothering to answer.

"Putting my training to work, I've infiltrated the party" Leah walked down a corridor after looking down at the people from the balcony. "There is no sign of this Loki or Clint."

"Your brother hasn't come up on the recognition system yet, don't worry about Clint though, he can look after himself." Nat tried to reassure her, though Leah knew the exact trouble her brother was in. "Just keep focused and a cool head, I have just dropped the captain off and I am heading my way back around. Don't do anything stupid now Leah."

"Would I." She smirked before she heard foot steps making her ignore Nat's reply. She continued walking a slow pace keeping an eye on the party from up high. Her brother had taught her how to observe from a height, even making a nest if needed where you could stay for days. So she preferred now to watch from a distance.

She just stopped for a moment, took a breath in straightening her dress knowing she needed to mingle. She knew Nat was right she needed to keep calm and not worry about Clint. She was about to walk on when she felt a cold breath on her neck. She paused not moving an inch, her heart suddenly hammering away, she realized that she was not alone any more. She stayed still as she continued to feel the cool breath down her bare neck and unclothed skin. She didn't say anything or move a muscle waiting for some sign.

"So you're his sister, the one called Barton." The person spoke making her realized who it was. His voice was cold, smooth, slick as well as being full of airs and graces. She felt her heart rise in her chest and the hairs on the back of her neck rise.

"Where is he." She replied not bothering to turn around, she knew all she needed to. It was Loki, the so called god from Asgard. She didn't need to anything know else, she knew if she could at least stall him Steve or Nat would surely be here soon with back up.

"Not here, I wouldn't bring him close to you. I mean you could be the undoing of him or the end of you. He has told me all about you Leah Barton and you interest me. But I still couldn't take the risk." The voice drawled, she could feel the goose pimples rise on her skin. She turned around to face her enemy, he was a lot taller than her, lean too but she could tell he had muscles. She just stared up at him before she noticed he was dressed to blend in with the crowd here. He actually looked normal which surprised her. "My you are mesmerizing though little one, he never mentioned that. We have met before haven't we, when I visited my brother during his banishment on this world. You were only a child then but I see that you have grown into a woman now. I can see why my brother has a infatuation with the women on this planet. The things you could see if you were on the right side, the things you could learn."

"Just shut up." Leah hissed, she could feel herself get annoyed now, she wasn't some gods toy that could be used. She heard about the staff, which she saw was in his possession however not looking like it did when he changed her brother. She glanced back up staring into the mans greens eyes her silver eyes locking with them. She knew there was something familiar about him but she couldn't place it at all.

"You don't remember." Loki smirked his eyes looking at her questionably. "You were more terrified of everything then. You were so small, young and fragile then. Now you seem to have grown, developed since what they made you into in Budapest."

She had to stop herself from gasping, she just stood there her mouth open. She felt herself shake slightly as she realized how much he must know about her. Her brother must have told him all there was to know about her. She closed her eyes for a second, she felt him touch her bare arm making her snap back into reality. She opened her eyes and then said

"Now you know about me, he must have told you about how I am determined to get what I want." Leah began trying to sound more authoritative "So shut up, Come with me quietly and try anything I will make a good job trying to kill you."

"Your not in the position to give threats little one." Loki growled closing the gap between them, she could feel the warmth come from him. She didn't move though, she knew that he would see it as a sign of weakness. She however didn't like his closeness to her, she felt his hand touch her side as people passed them, making them look like a couple of lovers. She just looked up at him, watching his smug smile spread on his face. His face had seemed to have gotten a lot closer to hers, she continued to ignore how near he was to her.

Once she knew they were alone again she slowly drew her small hand pistol she had well hidden, she pointed it at his temple, she smiled trying to feel more confident than she did earlier. She could see the slight look of shock in his face, he didn't think she would do this. She just firmly held it against his temple.

"Now I don't know much about gods." She retorted prepping the pistol "But I mean if you can slay each other with swords and hammers, then I am sure a bullet to your head would cause at least a little mess."

"I do not have time for these games. Your wasting my time and I have to do this first but perhaps I will return for you" He sighed brushing a strand of hair off her face before suddenly blasting her making her fly the length of the room then skid across the floor. She just lay there for a few moments, assessing where pain was coming from. She slowly got up as she heard the screaming start.

x-x-x-x-x

Leah opened her eyes before stretching knowing she wanted answers. She hated not being able to remember what happened after Budapest, she was missing a almost a year of her life. Picking up her jacket she headed down to the dungeons. She spoke to the guard who let her into Loki's dungeon. She just saw him sitting on the floor, he looked up at her immediately.

"Where did we meet? I mean the first time." She frowned staring at him looking at him with a need of answers.

"Pardon." Loki frowned staring at her obviously not understanding her question.

"When you were in Germany, before we captured you the first time. You said to me that we met before but I can't remember it." Leah sat opposite him on the floor. "Can you tell me."

"I could do better." He leaned forward crouching before her, he slowly raised his hand going touch her forehead but pausing before he did. "If you don't mind." Leah slowly nodded feeling apprehension flood her mind, she felt his cool hands touch her forehead, she felt a sudden feeling making her gasp. He moved his hand back staring at her a worried look in his eye. "Do you want me to continue." He frowned, once again all she could manage to do was nod.

x-x-x-x-x

The alarms had sounded causing her brother to pick up his bow and arrow before he took off. She stood hesitantly at first, not really sure what to do. Her heart was hammering and she could feel herself trembling. Slowly she took herself outside, feeling the rain fall against her pale skin. She didn't move blocking out the sound, she never felt the cold even though she was drenched now.

She stood there for a moment before deciding that she wanted a look at what was actually going on. Sneaking around the guards she got within the facility, finding a dark corner to slide herself into. She stood there as she saw a giant of a man come into the blocked off area. She could feel her breath stop half way, she just stood there watching the man grab hold of the thing which had fallen out of the sky apparently. He seemed to be drawn to this thing in the ground, it was almost like it was actually his and it was part of him. However he had the same result as the rest of them, it didn't budge. He let out a roar of grief, which caused her to gasp and sink down hugging her legs to her body. She felt her fear wash over her as she began to tremble, she just stayed where she was frozen. She watched as the giant was taken away by the guards, she didn't move though, she knew that she had gone into shut down. It happened often, her eyes were glued to the object stuck in the ground.

A man then appeared who she did not recognize from around the base, he walked around the object staring at it like he knew what it was too. His hand wrapping around the end of it before pulling on it but it didn't move at all. His head then turned to face her. She withdrew further as his eyes seemed to meet hers. He was tall, dressed in a suit with a long jacket and scarf. His dark black hair combed back and his face expressionless. He slowly came towards her, she just shook, her eyes wide. Slowly he knelt down before her and said.

"You can see me." All Leah could manage to do was nod, the man held his hand out towards her, she just stared at it for a few minutes. "Are you that scared of me." The man finally smiled, it was a beautiful smile, she just nodded again. A minute passed before Leah slowly and shakily took the mans hand who helped her to her feet. He just stared at her for a moment before bringing his her hand to his lips and kissing it. A small gasp passed from her lips which made his smile further. "You have nothing to be afraid of today." He let her hand go before walking away.

x-x-x-x-x

Loki withdrew his hand from her, he looked exhausted as he collapsed down opposite her. She sat there staring at him, she remembered everything now. Even bits before and after that event more clearly.

"You were kind to me?" She stated though it was more of a question to him.

"You were only a child, I meant you no harm." Loki sighed his eyes closed he looked paler now than he did earlier. "I could sense your fear and at the time I had no intentions towards Mirgard."

"But why did you come back to Mirgard?" Leah frowned trying to make sense of his actions. "After you saw what we had started to do."

"You had the tesseract, I needed it, you were planning to use it and you did but only to aid me." Loki replied in a matter of fact tone. "You created your own fate."

"Oh." Leah gasped looking down it made perfect sense now. They remained silent for a good few minutes, before Leah got up and went to leave before turning back to Loki. "Thank you."

He didn't say anything as she left. She headed back to her room and lay on her bed trying to place all the new memories and feelings she had flooding her mind. She had new memories popping up in her mind around the events of Thor's banishment.

x-x-x-x-x

"Phil's nice." Leah muttered while playing with the food on her plate.

"He is a good man." Clint mumbled his feet up on the table reading some reports as the rain hammered down in there bunk. "He said you followed him today?"

"I just wanted a look at whatever it is we are guarding here." She shrugged still moving the rice around her plate yet to actually take a bite.

"He also happened to mention you talked to him?" Clint continued.

"I may have." Leah looked up at her brother who was now staring at her, with his usual reserved expression on his face.

"Its good." Clint finally smiled at her looking a little pleased now. "It shows you're getting better. The Docs said it would take time but your progress is really good Leah."

"You make me sound like a nut case." Leah hissed putting her plate down. "Only Natasha seems to treat me normal. While you make me follow you about."

"I thought it would make you happier." Clint sighed putting his work down and leaning forward closer to her. "I just want to make you safe, keep you close while you recover."

"What if I don't though, what if what they did to me is permanent." She cried getting frustrated.

"Then we will deal with it." Clint tried to smile weakly but it was a complete failure. He slowly got up and wrapped his arms around her. "I will be here for you always Leah, its my job as big brother to look after you. Whatever happens that won't change."

The alarms suddenly sounded, making Leah jump and looked at Clint with fear in her eyes. He just kissed the top of her hear reassuringly as she could hear phil over the radio say.

"Barton we need you up high with a gun."

Clint picked up his bow and arrow before looking at Leah as he left her alone in the bunker.

x-x-x-x-x