Days had passed, Leah had been to meetings with the Queen about the upcoming wedding ceremony, she had met with the king to get an update about Loki. It seemed the war would not be over as soon as she hoped, which meant being separated from her love even longer.

Mean while, she had been struggling with Astrid, who was having a tough time teething, she would hardly sleep through the night and would be grumpy most of the day. Leah was as patient as she could be, however she found it hard looking after her on her own. She only wished Loki was back so she could have some back up and some sleep of her own. It had been days since she had managed a few hours sleep of her own, every time though the night mares came, very vivid and real dreams which scared her senseless.

The only thing which kept her going and sane was the idea of meeting up with Steve again and the possibility that she would be able to see Clint. She however knew deep down that she was a long way off that, Clint would not be so easy to give way on his own opinion on her. She had to find a way that he would listen at least for a couple of minutes so she could prove that she was not under some spell or trick of Loki's.

Leah had spent the day with Helena and Astrid in the gardens. Astrid loved the outdoors, she considering her behaviour recently because of the teething, she had been on great form for the day. Leah loved watching her look at the flowers, taking in the new smells, feelings under her bare feet and hands. It was completely magical to see some one learning all these new things and taking in brand new experiences.

That evening the Queen offered to take Astrid for the evening, which gave Leah the opportunity that she needed. Leah changed into her jeans and an old top which she kept in her old SHIELD travel bag. Leah pulled on one of Loki's coats covering up the attire she wore before heading down to the observatory as quickly as she could.

"Lady Leah, I will presume that you're here to travel again?" Heimdall told her

"If I may?" Leah smirked at him hopefully.

"There is no reason why you cannot go." Heimdall nodded before going to his controls. "Just remember the warning I gave you last time."

Leah just nodded waiting before she was transported down on to earth. Leah stumbled a few steps but not falling which made her smile, it was an accomplishment really, she stood up looking around. She had no idea where she was, she just looked around for a moment knowing that she must be in a back alley. She really wished that Heimdall would consider placing her some where like a park again. She pulled Loki's coat hood up and wrapped the coat itself further around herself almost feeling protected by it. Like she was engulfed in Loki's arms, she closed her eyes as she could smell Loki on the coat.

She quickly headed out of the back alley which joined a main street, Leah was able to gather her surroundings. It was a little further away from Steve's but the walk would do her some good. She headed the quickest route to Steve's, she ran up the steps not being so cautious this time. She paused however outside his door to see if she could hear any voices, but it was quiet. She tapped on the door waiting for a moment, listening for movement but there was nothing. She just sighed and slide down the door deciding the only thing she could do was to wait considering she had no money or way of contacting him.

She just picked at her fingers as she waited for him to return. She leant her head back against the wall and thought about ways she could get Clint to listen to her. She knew that short of strapping him to a chair and making him listen it was not going to be easy at all. Clint was stubborn, very stubborn in fact, when he got a thought into that thick head of his that was it. The whole Nat thing was proof of that, he had been sent to kill some one only to bring them back to SHIELD to perswade them to give her a chance. He had always been that way determined and she did love him for it but it did always cause them some very feisty arguments between them.

Leah was about to give up hope on seeing Steve tonight, she wasn't really sure how long had passed since her arrival, she raised herself off the floor and stretched. She then heard heavy footsteps on her way up the staircase making her dash and hide, she just waited hidden in the shadows to see Steve return to his apartment. She let out a sigh stepping out of the shadows saying.

"Been out on a date Steve?"

"Leah." He turned staring at her his eyes wide with shock. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Visiting you again." She smiled stepping closer to him before giving him a hug. Leah felt how tense he was and how he wasn't returning her hug. Leah just pulled back and stared at him seeing that he didn't seem overwhelmed to see her.

"Nat and Clint were going to come up for night caps." Steve took her hold of her shoulders and stared at her. "Come on let's get you inside."

"You were with them, both of them?" Leah turned wanting to know more as he ushered her into the apartment. "How are they? Did they mention me at all?"

Steve just shut the door behind her, Leah just stood there waiting for answers. Leah knew what he meant, Nat and Clint couldn't be trusted at the moment. She knew what they were capable of together and she wasn't going to be able to defend herself against them. They would surely take her to SHIELD cuffed and blindfolded, never to see the light of day again. Leah could tell that Steve seemed conflicted in his emotions, she knew what ever he was going to tell her it was not going to be good. She braced herself for the worst possible news.

"You have to understand there point of view Leah." Steve began looking at her seriously. "They see you as a threat, they see you as a dangerous person who is under mind control like Clint was but worse. They also think your now emotionally unstable to be able to put yourself in that situation."

"What did you say?" Leah frowned feeling her heart drop slightly as she wrapped her arms around herself. She hoped that it was only going to get better now that was out.

"I to ask if anyone thought about you or your child." Steve answered turning away for her letting out a long sigh.

"And?" Leah continued wanting to know what was said about her, however bad it was, she needed to know what her brother thought about his own, his blood. "What was said?"

"That your child was just as much as a threat as you were if it had anything to do with Loki." Steve looked down obviously feeling sorry for her. "That she would probably be a monster demon child and that there was no hope." He slowly turned around and finally looked at her. "I am sorry Leah."

"Right." Leah stood there stunned for a moment. She never expected the hatred towards Loki be continued on to her. Not by Nat or her own brother, she wiped her face with her hand before taking a long breath in. "I have been a while I better go, I need to be back for Astrid."

"Leah." Steve began trying to stop her from leaving. "Leah wait."

"No." Leah shook her head "I have risked enough."

She left his apartment and Steve standing where he was, she felt the wet tears run down her face as she hurried her way back to the park she was originally dropped off. She stopped for a moment sitting down on a park bench to gather her thoughts. She could feel herself shake as the emotions boiled over, she didn't know what to do, she knew all her hopes and good dreams where shattered now. She felt some one place an arm around her making her jump as she looked up to see a slightly flustered Steve.

"I am sorry Leah." He pulled her against him. "I don't know what you could do to change their opinions."

"I never thought that I would lose them like this." She sobbed, Steve just held her against him. She managed to calm herself slightly before looking up at the night sky. "I better get going."

"Will you come back now?" Steve frowned

"Try stopping me." Leah smiled at him "I don't know when though."

Steve just nodded, Leah stood up backing away from him. She called up to Heimdall to get her, the blinding white light came pulling her back to Asgard, she paused for a moment inside the observatory. Heimdall watching her for a moment as she thought about what had happened, she just ran her hand through her hair and let out a pained sigh.

"I am sorry Lady Leah." He finally muttered.

"They are fools." Leah shook her head smiling trying to shake off the hurt inside her. "Goodnight Heimdall."

Leah went straight back to her chambers quickly not wanting to see any one, shutting the door to her room she pressed her forehead against the cold metal door. She felt herself begin to sob, she never thought that Nat or Clint would ever think of her like this. Let alone punish her own daughter, Clint's niece for who her father was. She started to cry not really knowing what else to do to let the emotions out. She heard some foot steps making her turn as she saw the Queen standing there.

"Astrid was tired." She began to explain staring at her. "I thought she would sleep better in her cot."

Leah just wiped the tears away from her cheeks, she didn't know what to say or explain why she was crying like she was. She was pretty sure the Queen would not approve of what she had done at all. Leah just stood there fighting to hold the tears back but she was unable to do so for long. The Queen just wrapped her arms around her hold Leah to her as she started to cry again.

"Shhh Child." The Queen said in a soothing voice. "What has caused such tears to fall?"

"My brother hates me." Leah sobbed placing her hands over to face to hide her tears.

"Heimdall mentioned you had visited Earth." The Queen told her raising a questioning eyebrow. "I am sure your brother is just confused by your choice at the moment. Siblings rarely hate each other, look at Thor and Loki and all that they have been through together. They are now stronger together than ever."

"I never thought." Leah pulled back wiping her face. "I never thought that Clint would threaten to kill me if he ever saw me again. That is how much he hates me now."

"Only words." The Queen shook her head brushing Leah's hair off her face. "Men are full of them."

"Your not angry that I went to Earth?" Leah stared at the Queen suddenly realising that the Queen was being very nice about the situations really.

"Only disappointed that you didn't feel you could discuss it with me." The Queen let go of Leah and sat back down on a free arm chair. "No one but Heimdall knew where you had gone. He however reported it immediately but it would have been better to come from you. Why couldn't you tell us child that you wished to see your friends and family? We would have understood and tried to help you."

Leah just stood there a little shocked, she never expected to actually feel worse to be a disappointment rather than a runaway getting a scolding. Leah was stunned that she was not being told that she could not go back again. She fiddled with her fingers trying to find a response but was unable to do so for a couple of minutes till she finally said.

"I am sorry."

"Do not apologise." The Queen shook her head. "You have a desire to see your family."

"Yes." Leah nodded knowing that only the truth would help now. "I spoke to a close friend of mine, he was the one who helped me escape from the people who held me against my will. I just thought that if he was to speak on my behalf perhaps that he would get my brother to listen to me."

"Perhaps." The Queen nodded "But you were risking a lot? Your safety is important because of your duties as a mother. I do not mean to lecture you child but you need to put your responsibilities as a mother first now."

Leah knew what the Queen said rang true to her. She felt tears roll down her cheek again, she just nodded wrapping her arms around herself. Leah just stood there not saying anything, the Queen just stood up placing a hand on Leah's shoulder before leaving her alone. Leah's lower lip trembled as she began to cry again.

Morning had come around quickly and without any sleep for Leah, her mind was too caught up in what had been said the night before. She fed Astrid the fruit and bread that had been prepared for breakfast. Leah just thought more about wha the Queen had said. Once Astrid had finished eating her food and had started to play with it more Leah bathed her and changed her into a green dress before Leah changed into a navy dress.

Leah picked Astrid up and carried her to the Queen chambers before knocking, she heard the Queen call her in. Leah slowly entered and looked at the Queen before placing Astrid down who just crawled immediately up to her grandmother.

"Morning." The Queen smiled at her.

"I wanted to come by to apologise." Leah looked down at the floor. "I thought about what you said, your right, this is more about me than it is Astrid. She should be my priority in life." Leah paused letting out a sigh, knowing that this was what she wanted to hear but also Leah meant it. She knew that Astrid should come first now, nothing else should really matter. "Its just I always dreamt about having a family around me and that included my brother. I promise you thought that I will not visit Earth, not at least till Loki is back."

"I do understand." The Queen said looking at Leah with sympathy. "In time I am sure that will happen. Now how about we continue the your marriage arrangements." Leah just nodded smiling back at the Queen.