I tried to flesh this one out a little more. Honestly, I did, but it refused to comply. I suppose this could be classified as rated M *eyes T rating* but it honestly doesn't have anything explicit. Send me a PM or a review if you think I need to change the rating. I hope you enjoy this installment.

"The truth is that everyone's going to hurt you. You just have to find the ones worth suffering for."

-Bob Marley

If Sigyn was a nuisance in Freyja's life, Kenna was a disaster. The Jotun had been allowed to stay in the palace, much to everyone's chagrin, but it was the respectful thing to do so no one said otherwise. However, Kenna was constantly attempting to speak to Freyja, who had done everything in her power to avoid her sister. Things became messy when Kenna attempted to persuade the healers to bar Freyja from the Infirmary. She decided to do the same, which worked out much better as she had more authority within Asgard, but led to a nasty confrontation in which Thor and Loki had to drag Freyja away to keep her from snapping.

Freyr, however, wanted nothing more than for the two to reconcile, which was about as likely as Odin giving Loki a hug. So the two remained as civilized as possible while in his presence, which ended up boiling down to not visiting him at the same time. So the sisters had devised a method of visiting every other day to keep from running into the other.

And so Freyja found herself in the Infirmary one morning five days after their arrival. He had reverted to his Asgardian form sometime during her absence, but it didn't bother her. They spoke of everything that had occurred during their separation, leaving out only the details that neither wanted to speak aloud.

"I'm glad you found allies in Midgard," he said after she had finished with repeating her most recent endeavor. "Captain Rogers certainly sounds as if he may belong in Asgard. Poor man, waking up to find the world has changed."

"You can empathize," she sighed. "I should have searched for you long before now."

"You believed me dead, you had proof to support such a claim. I don't blame you for not thinking otherwise. Now enough of that, you're causing me to feel guilty. Tell me more on the Man of Iron."

"Ah, Tony Stark," she said with a smile. "What more is there to say? He brings every aspect of himself to the surface. Though he may be far too prying for his own good, he is a good man and an invaluable friend."

"And, simply between you and I, what is your opinion on Thor's Jane?"

"I believe she is good for Thor. She is a kind woman and a remarkable scientist among her people but I fear Asgard will not accept her so easily. In this world of warriors, only the strong can survive."

"When will he bring her here?"

"Tony is hosting a Midgardian version of our Winter Solstice feast, except they call it a Christmas party. When Thor and I return from the celebration, Jane will come with us."

He nodded and she continued, "Have the healers noted any sign of progress?"

"Very little. Thanos used many toxins while I was within his grasp. They slow the process, but the healers believe I will eventually be well once more. However, I will not be able to accompany you. Why do you not ask Loki?"

She smiled at his ability to guess her thoughts, "After what Loki has done to Midgard, even though he was under Thanos's influence, he will not be welcome there."

"They welcome you, do they not?"

"Yes, but I did not attempt to conquer their world," she pointed out.

He laughed, but fell into a fit of coughing a few seconds later. As she made to help him, he waved off her attempts. She watched as his coughing subsided and he sunk back against the slightly inclined bed.

"That could prove potentially problematic," he said finally, grinning.

"Deathly ill and all you can do is tell jokes on Loki's relationship with Midgard?"

He raised an eyebrow, "With Midgard? I though he was courting you."

She cast him a withering glance and he sighed.

"I lay day and night in this ridiculously comfortable bed with people waiting on me hand and foot but unable to stand or entertain myself in any way. Forgive me my boredom."

She pulled the euros-saltator out of the coin pouch at her belt and handed it to him.

"Where did you get this?" he asked, examining it in surprise.

"I bought it off a merchant in the Guilds Market. Perhaps you may find some consolation in it."

"Do you recall when you would have nightmares in Vanaheim and ask me to play for you?"

"I do."

"Which was your favorite?"

She paused, thinking through all that he had played for her, "The Ballad of the Wartime Lovers, I believe."

"That is an oddly somber choice."

"I always enjoyed the story behind it," she said with a shrug.

"It is said that the lovers of the story were based on Odin and Frigga themselves."

"I wouldn't know. I've never thought to ask."

He brought the instrument to his lips, closing his eyes as he begun the song that told of the two lovers separated by war. It started out with a tune that sounded as if someone was running. Closing her own eyes, she allowed her mind to wander. Her imagination filled in the images that the music caused. She saw mountains and snow-covered plains, two figures running through a storm in the distance.

The tempo picked up steadily, Freyr's fingers flying deftly over the keyholes as they had for years. She remembered when he had taught her how to play. Though she was skilled at playing, she would never match his skill. He had been composing his own works much longer than she had begun rehearsing songs already written.

He suddenly stopped, causing her to snap to alert.

"Don't stop," she said. "Do continue."

"What is wrong between you and Loki?"

"What?" she asked, shocked at the question.

"The two of you have been inseparable since I first came to Asgard. Now, you spend very little time together. Did something occur that I do not know about?"

"No."

"Then why does Kenna tell me Loki disappears for hours on end without you?"

"Kenna does not know what she speaks of," Freyja said hissed, angry that the Jotun was revealing such presumptions to Freyr. "Loki has been spending time away from me, but that is his right. If he wishes to spend time alone, then I am happy to allow him such."

"That is half-truth, sister. Something about his comings and goings strikes you as odd. Do not deny it."

She sighed in resignation, "He has never lied to me before now, but I sense he is not being truthful when he tells me of his whereabouts. It worries me that he does not wish to speak truthfully."

"Have you asked him about it?"

"No," she answered.

"Then why do you not do so?"

"Do you wish to be rid of me?" she asked with a laugh.

"I am ill, but you are perfectly well. You should not be wasting your time in here."

"Time spent speaking with you is hardly time wasted.

"I will not repeat myself," he said, mocking their father's commanding tone too well. "You are to go speak with Loki. As your elder-"

"I was born a week before you," she pointed out, smiling.

"As your only brother, I demand that you work out your troubles."

She stood up, mood much lighter after his joking, "If you insist, I suppose I must obey. I will see you again soon."

As she walked towards the door, he cleared his throat a single time. Turning, she noticed that his expression had turned solemn once more.

"Freyja, you should know…Before his death, I believe Father was proud of you. Proud that you had the courage to defy everything for what you love. Though he said it was a mistake he made, doing the same, he also told me he wished I would possess such strength in the future. I think he may have known you already had your own."

She stared at him for many seconds, unsure of how to respond. Unable to think of anything to say, she allowed her eye to fall to the floor before she walked out.

Loki walked out of the steam-filled washroom into his bedchamber, using a cloth to dry as much of his hair as possible. He had a long day at the forge ahead of him, though not for the reason anyone thought. He despised having to lie to Freyja, but he couldn't afford to ruin the surprise. Especially not when he was so close to finishing.

Peripheral vision blocked by the cloth in his hand, he completely missed the thin figure reclining on her elbows on his bed. As he walked past her to his wardrobe, she chuckled lightly.

"I see you continue to prowl around your chambers without any thought of indecency after bathing," she purred, causing him to drop the cloth and spin around on the balls of his feet. "Good to know some things will never change."

Loki's eyes narrowed at Sigyn, wondering what she was thinking. Her position was leisurely, her green silk robe clinging to her skin. If he recalled correctly, he had locked the door, but she had her ways of entering unnoticed.

"Is there any particular reason you are in my private chambers, Sigyn?"

"Yes, there is," she replied.

"And?"

"And I've decided to take matters into my own hands."

"In what way?"

She sighed, "Well, I believed you to be set in stone with your decision to court Freyja, but I noticed you've recently been spending quite an amount of time away from her."

"Honestly, do have nothing better to do with your day than observe my daily routine?"

"So, I believe you are finally finding the truth of my words."

"You have had no lack of words and you'll need to be much more specific if you expect me to recall anything exact."

She stood up, remaining at the foot of the bed, "What I wish for you to recall is my saying Freyja is not as interesting as you have believed for so long. That perhaps there is much more promising entertainment than a Vanir."

Loki stifled a laugh, knowing full well that he would be hard-pressed to find better 'entertainment' than the goddess of love herself.

"And just how, pray tell, do you intend to take matters into your own hands?"

Slowly, exaggerating her movements, Sigyn untied the robe and allowed it to slip over her skin until it fell to the floor. He fought the instinct to follow its movement, knowing that she would take it as victory if he did. His attempt to summon his armor through magic failed miserably with his mind occupied with keeping his face impassive and eyes on hers.

She crawled back onto his bed, causing his job to become even more difficult. Her fingers played with the black silk as she smiled at him.

"Do you recall all of our exploits during the night?" she asked, voice soft. "Out of everywhere we went, never did you bring me here. Is this your sanctuary?"

He wasn't sure how to get rid of her this time. Both were stripped of clothing completely and nothing good would come of the youngest Asgardian prince dragging the goddess of fidelity out of his rooms in such a way. He could only imagine what Freyja would think of the situation.

"Are you going to join me, or not?"

It was then that Loki decided there is a time for the uses of a silver tongue and a time to spell it out completely to people.

"You are completely mistaken if you believe my actions mean that my interest in Freyja has decreased in any way. I have my reasons as to why I have been away, all of which are none of your business. I am shocked that you would stoop to such a level and suggest that you leave with whatever tatters of your dignity remain."

She laughed once more, "My, you've never been so blunt before. I rather enjoyed your word games."

He turned away, "Leave now."

She suddenly had her arms around him, her fingers roaming down his chest. He grabbed her wrists before her touch moved any further, dragging her up and pinning them to the wall. She simply giggled in response.

"Well, is this not a familiar moment?"

Loki very nearly recoiled in disgust at the truth in her words. He vaguely wondered just how he had gotten into this mess and how he would get out of it. Unwillingly to leave such little distance between them, he released her wrists and stalked away. Instead of leaving, as he had been hoping against all hope that she would, Sigyn simply took hold of his arm and pulled him to the bed.

Due to his surprise, he lost his balance and would have fallen on top of her had he not managed to stop his fall with his palms braced against the bed. Before he could recover from his surprise, Sigyn laced her fingers into his hair and pulled him down to meet her lips. Her tongue slipped past his lips as he tried to recover her senses, confused at the sudden turn of events.

It was only when chaos struck that he decided that whatever higher being watched over them, Wise One or not, it loved to watch his misery and troubles.

"Loki, I believe we should-"

Sigyn pulled away from Loki in surprise, both turning to look as Freyja walked through the walkway and cut off as she saw them. She looked at them with blank shock as Loki stared in horror and Sigyn's initial surprise turned to smugness. Before he could even manage to patch together something to say, Freyja's face went as blank and cold as her father's had been. Even her eyes betrayed no emotion, the strange blue completely void of everything.

"Well," she began softly, voice far too controlled. "I suppose that answers the great mystery of what you have been doing recently. Please excuse my interruption. Do carry on."

She turned sharply and walked back out of the room, leaving Loki to scramble off of Sigyn as if he had been burned. Desperately pulling on a tunic and trousers while half walking, half hopping out the door, Loki attempted to follow.

"Freyja! Wait, I can explain!"

He looked around anxiously, finding no sign of where she had gone. He felt a hand on his shoulder and snapped his attention back to Sigyn, who was back in her robe.

"I think she took that rather well."

Had he been any angrier, he would have struck Sigyn. However, he was just able to reign in his fury enough to keep from pitching the back of his hand across her face.

"Look at what you have done!" he yelled. "Do you think I do not have enough trouble as it is? Out of everything I have ever done, Freyja has never wavered in her belief that redemption is still an option! Never once has she turned away from me, even when I deserved nothing more! Yet you have managed it! You have finally succeeded in your task! Are you finally content?"

Sigyn had recoiled at his rage, pale blue eyes wide in surprised fear.

"But, in the end, you have accomplished nothing for I would rather be alone for all eternity than spend a single day with you! Enjoy the product of your actions!"

And with one final venomous glare, he walked briskly down one of the corridors in hopes that he would eventually find Freyja. He knew it was hopeless, however, as she would never be found when she truly didn't want to be.

His first destination was her chambers, as she had the habit to retreat there when she was hurt. After knocking on the door several times, he decided he was not going to leave until she answered.

"Freyja, please! Allow me to explain!" he called, face leaning into the door. "It is not at all what you believe. I know not how Sigyn entered my chambers, but she was there when I returned from bathing. I was planning to go to the forges, but she caught me by surprise. She pulled me upon her but I was not intending to act upon it."

He waited for a reply, continuing when there was none.

"Would you prefer if I told you the full truth? I did not wish to tell you before I had finished, but I suppose I have little choice left. I admit that I have been lying to you, but only due to my wish for it to remain a surprise. The forges were indeed my destination, but not for the reasons I have told you. You have told me that in Vanaheim, it was custom for a man to forge his own ring if he wished to propose. It is this reason that I have been hiding the truth from you.

"You must know, Freyja, that I would never so much as think of betraying you in such a way. What form of fool would I be to throw away your affection? My only need is to have you by my side in any way you preferred. What more could I offer you than the entirety of my life?"

He slid to his knees, voice pleading.

"I have nothing of worth to offer you. My titles and wealth have become empty of late and I am little more than an outcast in all Realms. I cannot offer you nobility, nor peace, nor prosperity. All I have to give is my heart and my soul. It is not much but I willingly give them. And though I want nothing more than for you to accept my offer, I would not blame you if you refused. If you wish it, I would turn away and never speak to you again. It is your decision entirely but I beg of you, please forgive me. I would not know what to do if you do not."

Someone behind him cleared their throat, but it was not in the false way that Sigyn had done. Loki turned to see Sif standing behind him, eyebrows raised in surprise. The corners of her lips twitched as she attempted to keep from smiling.

"As touching as your little speech was, begging for forgiveness usually works much more efficiently if there is someone actually listening."

"What?"

Sif shrugged, "I saw Freyja very nearly running from the corridor to your chambers not ten minutes before. She looked as if she was determining whether to weep or return and strike someone across the face."

"Where is she?"

"I should not tell you and yet, for some reason I cannot fathom, I believe your words. She was walking towards Thor's chambers last I saw."

"Thor's chambers?" he asked, surprise clear in his voice.

"She apparently knew better than to return to her own chambers."

Before Sif could say another word, Loki was on his feet and running in the direction of Thor's chambers.

"You're welcome," she called sarcastically as he rushed off.

Ignoring the strange glances thrown his way, Loki ran up several staircases and down uncountable hallways to his not-brother's chambers. Halfway there, a rather angry voice called from a hallway he was crossing through.

"LOKI!"

He turned his head in the direction of the voice, eyes meeting the furious eyes of Thor. The elder prince had Mjolnir in hand, stalking towards his younger 'brother' in the same way that Loki recognized after fighting many battles with him. He suddenly realized that his death would come at the hands of a hammer-wielding thunder god. Cursing at his terrible luck, he decided there were worse ways to go.

But not many.