Leah took Astrid back to her room as she began to wail at Loki leaving, Leah had to do her best not to sob with her. Leah tried soothing Astrid as much as possible. Till she had started to fall asleep little out of the odd sniffle, Leah managed to lay her down in her cot before taking time to sit down herself and cry. Leah just sat at the table where Loki still had open books. She could see the books opened on the nine realms, she knew that Loki would have done his studying before leaving any to go anywhere. She just smiled looking at the large number of open books. She placed her head in her hands and closed her eyes her mind and body exhausted from the night before. Slowly pushing herself up to stand she headed back into the bedroom and climbed into bed.

Leah lay on the wet dirty floor in the darkness alone, she could feel her body ache and feel completely drained. She placed a hand to her sore face seeing the crimson red colour of blood that was spread across her palm. She closed her eyes dragging herself into a corner to curl herself up. She remembered being strapped to the table as they put the large scalpel blade her to her body. Pressing it into her skin as the searing pain started. Leah just pulled her legs against her body curling herself into a tight ball as more memories came. She remembered being able to pull one of the straps off the surgical table and grabbing the sciencetist by the throat. A couple of black armed gaurds came in grabbing her and pulling her roughly from the table to the floor before the beating started. Her memory became fuzzy at this point only remembering the fists and boots coming at her and colliding against her body with force. She had already started trembling as the fear washed over her, she must have passed out not remembering being dragged back into her cell. She was so caught up in her own thoughts, she didn't even hear the firing of guns.

The metal door to her cell burst open as a torch was shone in, shining directly at her making her squint and cower down. Who ever it was came to her and grabbed her pulling her to her injured feet, she just screamed as the fear came.

Leah shot up out of bed screaming when she realised it was only a dream. She knew exactly who it was coming to the cell. It was her brother and the rescue party from SHEILD for her. She heard crying as she looked around to see Astrid sitting there staring at her wide eyes. Tears rolling down her cheeks, Leah realised how she must have scared the poor child with her dreams. She knew it was not something pleasant to witness considering what people had told her.

"Shhhh darling." Leah scooped her up and held her against her chest. "Its okay."

Astrid was trembling in Leah's arms, it was heart breaking. Leah never wanted her to witness her like this but it was near impossible to know when it was going to happen. She hadn't had a bad dream for weeks since her time back on earth, she guessed it was Loki's doing which normally protected her.

Astrid eventually fell back into a sleep resting on Leah's chest in the arm chair by the fire. Leah didn't want to risk going back to sleep and disturbing Astrid again so just sat there staring at the fire.

Morning slowly came as the light came to the window, Leah was exhausted already while Astrid was still asleep. Helena entered the room with a tray of food, Leah just looked up at her smiling but not moving.

"Is everything alright?" Helena frowned looking a little worried.

"Bad night's sleep." Leah whispered shaking her head slowly moving to sit up. "Astrid knows that he has gone." Leah added not wanting Helena to know about the dreams. Leah still found them a very touch and personal subject not really wanting to divulge much.

"It's natural, she will know your upset and will know that he is not around." Helena smiled "We can only pray they will all be back soon."

"Has your husband gone?" Leah frowned not really knowing much about Helena's other half and father of her children.

"We are not married but he has gone with them." Helena smiled.

"Your not married?" Leah was slightly shocked due to what Loki had said about marriage previously. "Sorry I just expected."

"No." Helena shook her head laying out the food. "We are not like the contemporary couples and it is slightly frowned upon. That is why I have a lot of respect for your and prince Loki's decision not to wed when you found out you were baring child."

Leah just smiled at Helena actually appreciating her words. Helena slowly took Astrid who was still sound asleep out of Leah's arms allowing Leah to sit up stiffly. Her back ached, alone with her arms and shoulders, she slowly stretched before sipping the warm tea like substance that Helena had brought.

"Do you wish me to look after the little princess for a bit, to give you some relief." Helena suggested.

"Thank you." Leah nodded

Helena smiled looking at Leah nodding. Astrid slowly woke up beginning to grumble as hunger obviously set in. Leah took Astrid back feeding her some of her breast milk before offering her some bread which she chewed on eagerly. Leah just kissed Astrid head gently smiling at her daughter, she knew that only she would keep her going. Helena pottered about as Leah changed herself and Astrid into fresh clothing. Astrid seemed a lot happier now than she had been that night. Leah sat at Loki's table while Astrid played on the floor, Leah was looking at the books in front of her. There were a lot of books on the science and magic of the body. A lot of it was words which Leah didn't understand but she knew what Loki had been doing by his scribbles. He had been looking for answers on her, Leah just smiled running her hand over his very untidy hand writing smiling. She turned to look at Astrid who was trying to pull herself up on the chair beside her.

"What are you doing little princess." Leah smiled picking her up and looking at the smiling little girl. She could see the questioning eyes. Leah just rubbed noises with Astrid making her giggle which was contagious in itself. Astrid just patted Leah on her head as Leah kissed her on her rosie cheeks. "That's my beautiful girl." Leah smiled. "Your father will be back for you soon and he loves you so much."

Leah just watched as Astrid turned to the books pulling them off the table to the floor. Leah winced knowing how precise Loki was and knowing that he would hate to see any of his books damaged. Leah then giggled looking at Astrid who looked up to her knowing what she had done was wrong. She was too much like her father in that aspect, definitely getting the genes for mischief. Leah placed Astrid down picking up the books off the floor before they got destroyed or crumpled any further.

Astrid managed to push herself onto her hands and knees before crawling over to another book picking it up. Leah knelt down on the floor smiling as she watched her daughter learning how to move. Leah smiled as Astrid waved the book around, Leah just stared at Astrid knowing how quickly the time was passing and how fast she was growing. Leah held her hand out looking at her, Astrid placed the book in Leah's hand looking at her guiltily.

"Good girl." Leah laughed "Your father would not be impressed if you broke any of these."

Astrid just smiled before crawling off, Leah let out a sigh knowing that Astrid was definitely going to keep her on her toes now. Leah spent the rest of the day playing with Astrid and watching her daughter learn, it fascinated her. Helena came back seeing Leah on the floor smiling as she brought there lunch in.

"She is feeling better then." Helena asked

"Much and look." Leah grinned as Astrid crawled her way over to Helena before sitting down, looking up at her wide eyed and smiling.

"Oh my." Helena smiled placing the tray on the table. "She is one clever girl."

"I know." Leah laughed pushing herself off the floor.

Leah took the tray off her friend before sitting down and eating as Helena played a form of peep a boo with Astrid who screamed with laughter. Leah just sat back after eating her full closing her eyes for minute listening to Astrid laugh.

"Your tired, how about I take Astrid out to the gardens for a few hours and you get some sleep."

"Would you." Leah looked at Helena appreciatively

"Of course." Helena picked up Astrid off the floor before heading out to leave. "Make sure you rest now."

Leah nodded heading straight to the bedroom and collapsing on the bed. She closed her heavy eyes as sleep took over her body.

Leah was heading to the throne room, she had seen the crowds gather as the soilders replied. No one had told her that they were returning. Leah started to run, she could feel her heart pound in the anticipation of seeing him. She had missed him so much, she could not even think what her first words would be to him, all she wanted to do was to see him she knew that much. She stopped outside the thrown room smiling before opening the door. There was a large crowd there already, she just worked her way around the room smiling at a few people nodding her head. She then saw Thor, he was covered in cuts and dirt, he looked utterly exhausted. Leah smiled as she bound over to him before wrapping her arms around him smiling.

"Where is Loki?" She asked

"Sister." He looked at her pausing, Leah had seen that look on his face before. Never had she experienced it but she had been there where they had told spouses that there husbands or wifes had been killed in action. Leahs stomach dropped as she released her hold of him. "I am sorry."

"No Thor." Leah shook her head looking at him as shock took over her body.

"He fell in battle." Thor continued

Leah just wrapped her arms around herself, her breathing and heart rate erractic. She felt like some one had knocked the breath out of her. She then saw the stretcher being carried in, Loki laying peacefully on it as four gaurds carried him into the throne room. She felt all eyes rest on her as she stared at the lifeless body infront of her, his grey skin and eyes closed. She felt herself let out a sob as the gaurds stopped infront of her, she couldn't move her body had frozen in complete shock. She felt Thor take hold of her shoulders pulling her against him but she remained where she was staring at him. Thor tried moving her away, Leah just shook out of his grip staring at him staring at him wide eyes as tears rolled down her face.

"Your promised to look after him" She hissed

"I am sorry little sister." Thor told her

"No." Leah shouted pushing him back "He only went because of you, to prove himself to you."

Thor just grabbed hold of her pulling him against her body as she fought against his arms, tears now freely falling from her cheeks as clamped her eyes shut.

Leah woke up gasping looking up to the brown eyes of Helena who looked worried. Leah just sat up, her heart racing while he skin was cold and clammy.