He was frozen to the chair. There were voices around him, though he couldn't decipher what they were saying, whom they belonged to…she loved him. Him, not Thor…she was in love with him…His heart pounded in his chest.

Thor.

Loki stood.

"Oh, Loki…what have you done?" his mother was beside herself.

"Where's he going?" Odin was pissed off.

"Thor," Loki replied.

"Thor?"

"Yes…he…I need to see him," Loki buttoned up his long black coat.

"Loki! Jane is in love with you? What is going on?" Frigga was visibly quite upset. "And she was never engaged to Thor! I just can't…"

"Good riddance," Odin began. "The last thing this family needs is a liar and a cheat."

"Fuck you, father," Loki said, glaring at him.

"Loki!"

"What?" his gaze snapped to his mother. "I'm not saying she was right! But, think about it. It makes sense. She wasn't Thor's type, not even remotely. And she was always nervous…" he swallowed, and pressed his fingertips to his temples, then they fell. "And she," he looked at Odin. "…she was the best thing that has happened to this family in ages."

"Not since I entered it," Heimdall observed.

"What are you doing here, man? Don't you work?" Loki flipped his collar up. "I'm going to MGH. I need to speak with Thor."

"…But…maybe I should come, too," and Frigga put her coat on, along with everyone else.

The foursome shared a taxi.

"Poor Jane. I feel just awful," Frigga was saying. "Poor thing. And tomorrow is New Year's Eve! Maybe we should see her…"

"I doubt that she wants to see us, mother."

"I think that she'd be thrilled to," said Heimdall.

"She isn't welcome," said Odin.

Loki rolled his eyes but continued to look out the window as they drove.

"Odin, do see sense," Heimdall continued. "Jane is a good girl…"

"Woman," Loki softly corrected.

And though Heimdall nodded, he did nothing more to acknowledge Loki's utterance.

"As I was saying, she is a good woman. She meant no harm. She was lonely…deeply so. She injured no one during these past few weeks…"

"Save my heart," Loki muttered once more.

"…and you see! She has won over Loki! Loki, whom no one present can safely claim would ever find love."

"Wonderful. No one believed anyone would ever love me," and Loki sat back, his hand on his forehead.

"Oh, calm yourself Loki. No one believed that you would ever love anyone," Heimdall responded with heat.

"I haven't said that I loved her."

"Not to anyone but me."

"Is it true, Loki?" breathed Frigga.

He glanced at her, but made no response.

They arrived…"I'd like a moment with my brother. Can you all go to the canteen and come up in a bit?"

Though both Frigga and Odin began to protest, Heimdall interjected, "Of course. Come, Odin. We can discuss these matters further."

Loki smiled at them all and took the elevator to 307. He was ill once more. He was torn…torn between desperately wanting to go to Jane, both to confess to her and to scold her for lying to him (and taking her in his arms, kissing her deeply…feeling her embrace…his hands would run over her breasts lightly…and he felt his arousal stir…not long now, he promised himself…and his grin was wide and satisfied), and then his familial duty. They had suffered a blow, and Loki knew that he needed to be with them.

He had rekindled his adoration for his family…even Odin, slightly.

He had changed. Softened.

And Jane was in love with him.

He suddenly felt quite light…all these days, spent in wicked contemplation…and she was in love with him. Unbearably blithe, he walked to Thor's room.

And there he was, packing his things.

"I thought it was tomorrow," Loki said, entering.

"Brother! No…they are sick of me," he smiled brightly.

"And were you simply going to slip out without a word to anyone?" he stood opposite Thor.

"I just texted Heimdall. He's always around. He knows…well. Everything," Thor laughed.

"Indeed he does. I suppose my question is…how much do you know?"

Thor considered him a moment. "Ah," he said.

"Ah? That's it? 'Ah' hardly covers anything, I think…"

"So. Did she come clean, then?"

Loki folded his arms in front of him. "She did."

"Poor thing. I feel awful. And I was honestly starting to like her."

"Were you going to go through with it?" Loki asked, horrified.

"No. No…I was going to set it to right, if she didn't beat me to it," he closed his bag. "But she did, and I am glad for it."

"When did you figure it out?"

"My experiment…I had my doubts straight away," Thor put his jacket on. "But then…then I remembered her. She was this woman I'd see…nearly every day. Lovely, but awkward…"

Loki swallowed.

"…and it was with that memory that I began to suspect. So I thought…what better way to know for certain than to kiss her? I never forget an embrace."

"No," he choked.

"So I did. And then I didn't. And I saw it in her eyes."

Loki scowled, but a small smile crept along his countenance. "You besmirched her honor, you rogue."

"Now Loki…don't get all medieval on me," he held up his hands.

"I should tear you in two," he approached him.

"Hang on. Do you have feelings for Jane?"

"If you value you life, scoundrel, you will apologize to Jane Foster for taking her unawares and kissing her shamelessly," he was in front of him now.

"You do," Thor breathed. "Loki…do you love her?"

This stopped him, and his head fell.

"There you are!"

The brothers looked at the doorway, where an irate Sif stood.

"Sif!" Thor yelled.

"Don't you 'Sif' me, you asshole," she walked in, and Loki looked at Thor, smiling.

"Ah, the sound of true love," Loki observed. "Such terms of endearments the two of you share," he stepped aside.

"Shut up Loki, you giant weirdo," but Sif's gaze was fixed on Thor. "You're engaged?!"

"Uh-oh…" and Loki made to leave, but Thor took his sleeve.

"Don't abandon me, brother. She bites," he whispered.

"As long as she bites you."

"And I thought that those nurses were surely wrong just now…until they gave me a full and accurate depiction of…what was her name…?"

"Jane Foster," Thor supplied.

"Careful, brother…if Sif harms her…"

"What a stupid name," returned the scorned woman. "And we are engaged, if you recall, Thor."

"Is that so?" Loki smiled. "Well, allow me to offer my congratulations, and I'll leave the lovebirds alone…"

But just then Odin, Frigga, and Heimdall returned. "Sif!" said Frigga. "Oh dear. This is a conundrum."

"Sif, it is good to see you," began Odin.

"Shut up, you cyclopean freak!" she shrieked and turned to Heimdall, pointing at him. "And don't you say a word."

"Sif, please…you ran from me," Thor began.

"Because you cheated on me! You lied!"

"…oh Thor…" whined Frigga.

"I love you, Sif…I'm so sorry that I was such a…a…."

"Dick? Asshole? Fuck head?" Loki supplied.

"Thank you, brother. You always have the best terminology on the tip of your tongue."

"My pleasure," he nodded.

"At any rate, I am sorry, Sif. Please forgive me," Thor went to her, Sif's eyes streaming.

"Are you engaged to this Jane Foster?"

"Of course not. Loki is in love with her," he kissed his fiancee softly.

"Loki! Is it true?" asked Frigga.

"It is, yes," replied Heimdall.

"Heimdall, truly. Is there nothing more in your life you need to see to besides this family?"

"Nothing so entertaining, no, Loki."

"Mother, do try to be more dull going forward, or we will never get rid of this man."

Frigga was dumbfounded. "But why would we want to get rid of him?"

Loki laughed, then glared at Heimdall. "Because he is meddlesome and creepy. And he pulls more strings than he lets on…"

"I haven't the faintest idea what you are on about, Loki."

"Don't you?" Loki whispered. "You knew how I felt for Jane, and I'd venture to say you knew how she felt about me. And I'd also guess that you were the one to put this entire rouse in her head to begin with."

Heimdall smiled crookedly, but said nothing.

"You see! You were the one behind all of this!"

"Loki…I merely saw what you were too blind to notice. I saw it a mile away…weeks ago. Jane would never marry Thor…but she was exactly the type of person who would suit you."

"No one likes a matchmaker, Heimdall," Loki swallowed.

"Is it true, son?" Odin asked.

Loki looked at his father with sad eyes. "It is."

And his mother ran to him and held him close. "Oh, Loki! oh my dear, dear boy. I couldn't be happier!"

But Loki was looking at Odin, and the patriarch smiled and nodded. "Will you go to her now?"

Frigga pulled away, tears in her eyes.

And with that, a smirk curled his lips. "I think…tomorrow."

"Loki, don't be cruel."

"I'm not, mother. But I need to know exactly what I am going to say to Jane, and how I will say it."

Thor laughed, his arm still wrapped around Sif. "Loki needs to watch some silly romantic comedies for inspiration…" he paused, winking…"…and perhaps a few other choice films."

"Excellent idea, Thor. I'll be by later to collect your pornography. And since your acumen is so pronounced," he cleared his throat. "In the bedroom…I shall be there within…what…ten minutes of you and Sif arriving?"

But Thor laughed only after Frigga gasped.

Loki buttoned up his coat. "Good afternoon."

"Loki?" his mother stopped him. "Will you…will you be by tomorrow…for New Year's?"

And in his mother's gaze, he detected all of her hopes and dreams of them finally being a family once more. Loki went to her, and kissed her forehead. "I cannot promise tomorrow, mother. But I assure you, I will see you on New Year's Day. Alright?"

She nodded.

And he left.

She couldn't remember how she got home, when she got home…she just did, and went to her bedroom.

Jane was exhausted. Following weeks and weeks of lying to these people, people whom she loved so much, it really wore on her. She felt ill, she felt cold…she felt alone.

And not alone in an everyday, oh I'm kinda lonesome way. Alone to the core…alone in the sense that no one would ever notice her again…as though she was becoming invisible.

And grey…cold, steely grey was upon her as she closed her eyes.

So cold…nothing could warm her…Jane sobbed, wanting desperately just to sleep…she wanted it to all go away. She got up, turned her phone off, put on sweatpants, and pulled on some wool socks. Jane rubbed her face. She should read or something.

But she couldn't be bothered with it, and went to sleep instead.

Jane Foster slept, and slept…she had no idea how long she slept for. When finally she woke from her deathlike sleep, for it was as heavy and as sound as death, she thought…she rose and went to the bathroom.

She almost believed that everything had been a dream…she had thought that maybe, just maybe, it was only just after Thanksgiving and she had made all of it up in her head. Her sleep had certain been heavy enough.

With that thought, she went to her bedroom and turned on her phone, disappointed in the extreme that it told her that it was December 31st.

December 31st. New Year's Eve…she had slept through the day yesterday.

She checked the time…it was two in the afternoon.

Holy shit, Jane. She had slept for nearly twenty four hours!

She sat down and stared at her phone…then noticed the texts begin to pop up:

Jane…please do let us know if you're alright. We are so worried! -Frigga

Hey Jane. Ya doin' anything tomorrow for the New Year? I mean, you aren't planning on hitting some dude over the head, dragging him back to your apartment and telling him you're engaged to him, right? Jk. Lemme know if you wanna come up to my place. I'm having a small party. -Darcy

Jane! Please please please send us a text! -Frigga

Hey Jane. Lab's gonna be closed Monday. Some sort of leak or something. So…I'm thinking Wednesday for work? Happy New Year! -Erik

She sighed and clicked her phone off. Her forehead fell to her kitchen table…and his face swam before her mind's eye.

She should be feeling better. She had told the truth.

But the loss of him (she couldn't even think his name), it was too much. And the cold seeped into her very cells, and she got up to obtain a sweater. She turned the heat up. She turned on the television. Company…that was what she desired.

She wasn't paying much attention to the lights coming from the device. She was staring at it…and her eyes began to itch from the enterprise. She curled up into a ball and pulled a soft throw around her.

And then she spied it.

The ring Loki had given her…it was sitting mockingly on her coffee table. Why had she left it there?

Jane leaned over and picked it up, playing with it a moment before slipping it on.

She thought about what it would have been like to marry him…

Make love…

To even have kissed him.

Jane had not kissed that many people, had had sex with even less. But she could have imagined all of these things fairly easily with Loki (well, a bit obvious, considering the depth of her feeling).

And once more the tears found their life…

She sobbed again, feeling wretched and silly…she looked at the time.

How was it already seven at night?

Jane rose and went to the bathroom to shower. The cleanse was purposeful, but not nearly enough. She still felt tainted by her lies, at her loss, and emerging clean and refreshed was a pipe dream.

No matter, thought she…and she changed into a skirt and top. She'd go to Darcy's stupid party and get drunk. Hammered. Wasted. Whatever.

She applied some makeup, brushed her hair. There. Not too shabby.

It was then that her bell rang. She smoothed out her clothes, and honestly had no idea who would be visiting her, she went to her door and looked through the peephole.

No.

Her bell rang again, and she turned…her back against the door, her hands on her mouth.

"Open the door, Jane. I know that you're right there."

Jane swallowed. "I really don't want to talk, Loki," she managed.

"I don't care. Open this door, or I'll break it down."

"Please go away."

"That, Jane, is exceedingly unfair. You don't get to ask favors."

"Please please please please…" and she turned to look through the peephole again, touching her fingertips to the door.

He was smirking in an odd way. "I like it when you beg," he said softly.

Jane swallowed. "Fine. If I get on my knees and beg you, will you go?"

And Loki thought about her on her knees…and his heart sped…his palms began to sweat. He cleared his throat. "You'd do that?"

Jane considered a moment. "You don't really want me to, do you?"

"That depends…"

At that, she opened the door. "You really want to see me begging you?!" she demanded.

"I would love it, personally," and he slipped around her into the apartment. "But I don't think that you'd enjoy it," and he smiled at her. "Come now, Jane. Smile. And see…? I've made it inside," he paused. "So to speak."

Jane felt herself trembling. "What do you want?"

"Sorry dear. But you don't get to be angry. Not after what you've done."

She couldn't feel her legs. "I said that I was sorry. And I am. I have never been sorrier in my life. I never meant…I mean, I was selfish. I know that. And I am ashamed. So so ashamed. It wasn't like me…to lie like that."

"No…" Loki said as she closed her door. "Was all of it a lie?"

"No! No…just the most important part."

"Which was….?"

She eyed him crookedly. "Um…the bit about my engagement."

"That hurts, Jane. You are something."

"What?" she was confused.

"Well…firstly, you said that the most important part was your lie about your engagement to my brother. Secondly, you said that you were ashamed."

"I don't…"

"Are you saying that you are ashamed that you love me? That that fact is ancillary to your lie concerning Thor?" he stepped toward her. "Were you lying when you said that you love me?"

"No," she breathed….he was close.

"No," he was looking at her purposefully. His hands cupped her face, his thumbs brushed her cheekbones.

"Loki?"

"Yes?" his gaze dropped to her mouth.

"What's happening?"

He smiled. His hands went to her shoulders. "Well, I've been thinking…" and then he turned away from her. "About quite a lot, actually…and what I've discovered is that you've ruined me, Jane Foster…you with your elfish stature, your sepia eyes, long lashes and such. I've been thinking that I had turned myself off from the world, and was blissfully miserable in my station…" his fingertips brushed the top of her sofa. "And now," he turned. "Now…you have bewitched me utterly," he looked at her, and the effects of his words on her person. He was pleased. "I attempted to ignore it…but my very body wouldn't allow it…I could scarcely tell my lungs not to breathe than tell my heart not to love you…"

…and Jane started, and her eyes welled.

"…you bled your being into my soul…into my skin…we are kin, you and I…" he approached her once more. "…and love is hardly an ample word to describe my feeling. This is where English fails…where language stops dead. The thought of you marrying Thor these past few weeks have been a torture unimaginable to me. I'd rather be chained to a wall with a giant serpent hanging above me dripping its venom into my cells…" he paused.

Jane looked at him crookedly.

"Sorry. No idea where that image came from…but you get the idea."

Jane laughed and nodded.

His hand touched her chin, raising her face to his more closely. "…the thought of you being his wife drove me to near madness. To contemplate you being with anyone who isn't me, Jane…I love you…but so much more…I adore you…worship you…need you…I need you…"

…Loki lowered his face to hers…Jane swallowed…and then, after weeks of agonizing want, their lips touched.