"So," the older woman said.

Frigga cocked her head to the side, and Darcy felt very small and insignificant next to her regal bearing and sureness. This was a woman who definitely had her life together.

"Soooo," Darcy repeated nervously, looking around and purposefully not staring rudely at the pale scars that swept over the woman's face. How had she gotten them? They spider-webbed in such a strange, almost symmetrical way...

Nobody was paying much attention to them, but she felt very out of place. Her clothes for one thing... Everyone else looked like they'd stepped out of a period drama, and there she was, aggressively modern. "You guys don't really do casual Friday here I guess," she said, eying Frigga's black confection of a dress. It was exquisite.

And made Darcy feel exquisitely ordinary in comparison. Like a peasant. Which she kind of was? Right? Because Frigga was...the queen?

"Casual Friday," Frigga repeated, a slight frown creasing her fine brow.

"Casual Friday," Darcy repeated stupidly. "But that wouldn't make sense here," she went on already cringing as the words came out of her mouth but unable to stop them. "Because you're doing the whole hospital thing. And casual hospitals aren't very good hospita- well, I mean, of course there are casualties in a hospital, but..."

A young woman approached Frigga, apologetically but firmly requesting a moment as soon as her highness was free.

"I'm so sorry," Frigga apologized. "But Sigyn is in charge of a special case, and I really ought to hear this."

"Oh," Darcy said, pleased but awkward at Frigga's civility. "No of course. By all means. I'l just be...here..."

Frigga and the other woman smiled at her, and Darcy wondered if Sigyn was Frigga's daughter. They both had similar wheat colored hair and, well, for lack of a better word, noble features. And the air of command...

Darcy looked around as they left, moving to a patient on the other side of the room.

"In the way?" Darcy mumbled to herself as a man wheeled a cart down the aisle. Someone laughed briefly, and then stifled it, and Darcy wondered what the joke was. It's nice that they can laugh here though, she thought, feeling very much not like laughing.

She moved restlessly from foot to foot for a few minutes, trying not to be too weird about how she was clearly staring at everything. She'd never really traveled anywhere before- not beyond New Mexico or Boston, and Virginia. She'd never even left the States before, and now she was in...

Well.

The architecture was reminiscent of what she'd imagine medieval castles to be like, except...more. It was hard to define. The very stones and pillars that the room was made out of echoed power and magnificence and the vastness of the hall, the severity of the columns, the height of the ceiling- all of it combined to make one feel very small. Very small indeed.

"I do apologize for that," Frigga said, suddenly by Darcy's side. Her intricate bun was sagging just slightly, and Darcy tried not to stare at it; at this small, comforting bit of imperfection. "It's part of the job, I'm afraid."

Darcy blinked, tearing her eyes away from the woman's hair, about to reassure her that of course she understood, but Frigga had moved on. "I have many questions for you," she was saying. "Here, follow me- it's about time for lunch in any case. Are you hungry?"

"I could eat." Darcy was pleased with her nonchalance when in fact nothing had ever sounded so wonderful in her life. She was starving.

Frigga nodded, and she was leading the way out of the room and into a wide terrace-like hall that must have been built around a garden. Flower beds and bushes cut into fantastical creatures lined each side.

"He told me once that he was married," she continued briskly, and Darcy had the feeling that she did everything briskly. "I'm assuming you're the wife he was so eager to get back to."

"Umm," Darcy tried to answer, but her mind had gone blank. She felt a little faint. Was the room spinning? It felt like the room was spinning a bit. Well, alright, they weren't in a room per se- but the terrace was certainly...spinny... "Say that again?" she choked out.

"His wife," Frigga repeated slowly, looking at her oddly.

"Oh. Yup. Yeah, that's what I thought you said. Good to have- um. Clarification is- I'm just gonna sit down, yeah? Just for a minute. I feel a little..."

She stumbled back one of the pillars lining the walkway and sank down against it, trying to calm her breaths.

She laughed somewhat hysterically. "Well. This is a bit of an over-reaction, isn't it?" She said inanely. "I mean, you live with someone for a few weeks and you think, 'well, maybe if they're married they'll give you a heads up before you...' But then, this is Loki. Like, the king of mysteriousness, so naturally he wouldn't say anything. Although- I was dead, you know?" She looked up at Frigga in confusion. "Why would he do that?" She asked softly. "Bring me back, I mean. If he has a wife...how is that gonna play out? 'Honey, you're back! And oh look, I've brought home a pet!' Like...what? I don't- what was he thinking?" She moaned, closing her eyes. If she couldn't see it, maybe it would all go away...? "What is happening."

"So," Frigga said slowly. "You're not the wife."

Darcy did start laughing then, and it turned into crying embarrassingly fast. She sniffed and wiped her eyes with her palms. "This is so stupid," she said to herself. "I'm just- I'm being ridiculous, is what I'm being. It's not like he ever said anything," she found herself assuring Frigga. And then she had started laughing hysterically again, not managing to choke it back as soon as she'd like.

She probably would have gone on and on if not for the bizarre look on Frigga's face.

"I'm going to touch the back of your neck," she said.

"Umm. Okay?" Darcy kind of had the feeling that Frigga didn't do weird things for no reason.

The older woman's hand was warm, and dry against the back of her neck. Frigga muttered something angrily under her breath and removed her hand, giving Darcy another thorough looking over that had her reaching to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear.

"I thought so," Frigga said shortly, giving her a hand and pulling her up. "Come with me. Lunch will have to wait. Someone has a lot of explaining to do."

Frigga whisked her along and Darcy followed half-dazed. They left the terrace-like walkway and wound up at a smaller hall; clearly private quarters. It was still magnificent, but the walls were bare and closer together.

Frigga knocked on the door authoritatively, but didn't wait for a reply before sweeping in.

"Vilda," she called shortly, and a striking raven-haired beauty sauntered in from an adjoining room. She was wearing some kind of sheer, silky black negligee that popped against her porcelain skin. Darcy raised her brows, impressed. She wished she could look half as good in negligee as this woman.

"Darling," the woman purred, "I thought you said-"

"Not now Vilda," Frigga cut her off, fuming. "I have every reason to believe that this," she nodded to Darcy, "is my daughter-in-law. She shows signs of her memory being tampered with. And Vilda," her eyes went harder, glacial, and her voice lowered dangerously as she leaned down slightly to Vilda's height, "I sincerely hope that you had nothing to do with it."

Wow. It was true that Darcy didn't know much about this place, but she knew about people, and damn if the sexual tension between those two wasn't strong enough to cut right now.

They certainly made a striking pair- what with Frigga's elegant, cool blond regality and the other's darker, more sensual wildness, and- hang on. Now that she was paying closer attention to the details of her face...

"Dr. Whitman!?"

"I mean," Darcy stuttered, shocked. It had taken a while to recognize her in her different apparel, and without the tight bun and glasses Darcy was accustomed to seeing her in. "What are you doing here?"

"Vilda," Frigga scowled at the two of them. "What have you been up to?"

Vilda glanced away and then back, pointing at herself innocently. "Who, me?"

"Vilda," Frigga said again shortly.

"Oh all right," she snapped, and then shrugged. "I had some work to do on Midgard a while back. Is it really so hard to believe that the fact that I ran into my daughter-in-law while there was purely coincidental?"

Frigga just looked at her.

"Oh, fine!" She stomped her foot, utterly un-Dr. Whittman-like, who had been so contained and precise. This woman was feisty as all fuck. "So maybe the whole point I was there was so that I could put a few things into place so that my son could finally end up having the life he deserves. Well, sue me then. Everything I've done, I've done for him. You know this! We've talked about it- and you know how much I hate repeating myself."

Vilda crossed her arms angrily and huffed out a breath, stalking over to the bureau and picking up a gorgeous silver brush. She ran it through her hair, apparently done with both of them.

"Umm," Darcy started, not really sure where she was going with that. She had never felt more unnecessary and out of place than now, in the midst of what felt like a lover's quarrel.

Should she go? But where? She didn't know this place or what she was even really doing here, and she missed home like an ache.

"Vilda," Frigga said softly, going to the smaller woman and putting a hand on the arm with the brush, stilling her. She took the brush from Vilda's hands and laid it on the dresser, wrapping her arms around the little woman and leaning down to murmur something in her ear that had Vilda's tense shoulders relaxing.

Wow, Darcy thought uncomfortably, looking away. I really should not be here right now.

It was such a private moment. The love they obviously felt for each other was quite apparent, making Darcy feel an embarrassing prick of jealousy towards them. She wanted that.

"Wait," she said, frowning at a realization. "Did you both call me your daughter-in-law?" Not that she was ready to believe it or anything, but that seemed a little unlikely.

"I raised Loki," Frigga said. "I took him in when he was a babe, and I saw him grow up and I cared for him as I did for Thor. He is my son."

"But he came out of my vagina," Vilda said competitively. "So he's really my son."

Frigga tweaked Vilda's nose and smiled at her, her beautiful, scarred face soft now as it had only been in the presence of the plump, sensual woman.

"He's both of ours," Frigga said, sighing. "Though he does not realize it. Darling, get dressed, won't you?"

Vilda pouted. "I was going to," she said. "But then you showed up..."

"Lazing the day away, were you?" Frigga joked.

"Well not all of us get up at the crack of dawn like some around here that I could name," she said crabbily, sauntering into the adjoining room and closing the door with a flourish.

"If she's Loki's mother, I can see where he got his talent for drama from," Darcy noted, suppressing a smile.

"Drama!" Frigga laughed. "Yes, I suppose in his own way, he is quite dramatic. It's different though. For Vilda, it is a way of life- throwing herself into it and embracing everything it has to offer. It is natural. For Loki... My son is very stiff, and reserved. He does not outwardly show emotion gladly. It is perhaps...perhaps partly my fault..." She smoother a hand over her hair. "I have been accused of much the same thing." She glanced to the door Vilda had entered. "And it's true. I tried. I did try- but I was not the greatest role model for impressionable young boys to look up to, and the gods know Odin was not either. It is no wonder the boys turned out how they did."

But Loki, Darcy whined silently. She was ravenous to learn more about him, and how he was with other people. She'd only seen him interact with others briefly. Was he always as sternly sweet as he was with her? What had he been like as a boy?

As if Frigga could tell Darcy's thoughts were only of Loki, she continued. "Loki prides himself on his reserve. He makes a big deal out of something only when he cannot help it- when he is carried away with emotion. To him, every time he does that he is failing, because he has constructed these strict guidelines on how he will live his life and now he has gone and torn them asunder."

"The war thing," Darcy said. "I still don't really understand what that was about. He started a war? Like...single-handedly or something? That doesn't seem very...likely..."

Frigga smiled. Her light blue eyes gleaming with curiosity. "That was actually your doing, my dear."

Darcy snorted. "Right. I must have just imagined that part about being dead."

Frigga's smile faded at that. "You keep saying that. What do you mean you died?"

"Umm. I kind of...was dead. For a little bit. And then Loki came and there was this real bitch of a woman and I didn't really understand much of what was going on, and apparently I can do magic now?"

"You died?"

"...Mm. Yeah." Darcy felt a little awkward. "A little bit."

Frigga frowned.

"I'm guessing that's not standard procedure," Darcy joked.

"No. It's not. I will want to hear more about this later, but much becomes clear now." She glanced at the door. "Vilda!" She turned back to Darcy. "And you can do magic now?"

"Supposedly? It kind of just happens. Loki was going to teach me, but he's in Hel right now, so... And I'm part Frost Giant? I don't really understand it myself."

"What is it, darling?" Vilda asked, opening the door. She was dressed magnificently now in indigo blue silk, with silver bangles at her wrists and her lips a crimson red. The bold coloring was striking against her porcelain skin.

"We're supposed to be in mourning," Frigga said, eying the deep blue dress.

Vilda sniffed. "I'm not going to mourn him. You know how I feel about him. And I wish you weren't so adamant about taking black for him yourself."

Frigga rolled her eyes. "Fine. But lift your memory spell from our daughter-in-law. I have many questions for her."

"Is that all you have to say?" Vilda pouted.

"Vilda." Frigga shook her head firmly. "This is important."

"I'm important." Vilda declared. But she gestured for Darcy to come closer, so she did. "And anyways, it's not like I just built a dam in her head and the memories will come rushing back as soon as I take the block away. I had to keep re-enforcing the block over the years because this clever little thing kept nearly breaking through. Certainly didn't help that little Ellie is a Frost Giant. Take that part out of the equation and it ought to have just been smooth sailing. But no, constantly reminded that her daughter was not of her world, it just..." she sniffed. "It was not conducive to my art. Come here, Darcy. It won't take a moment."

Hesitantly Darcy came toward her. "You're gonna do something to my memories? Cuz I don't know if I-"

"I'm going to give them back. You'll be able to remember Loki soon. And how you were. Bend your neck, darling. It's all at the back of the brain."

Darcy took a few steps back. "Wait. No. No I don't want that." If she was suddenly given back her memories, wouldn't the person she was now cease to exist? Did she want that? Her heart was pounding.

Everything would change. Everything.

"It won't take a moment, just-"

"No!" Darcy snapped, backing away more, her arms crossed tightly over herself. "That's not- it's not-" she grunted in frustration. "This is me. I don't know that other Darcy. I don't know that other Loki. I want this. I want what I know."

Vilda scowled at her. "That's not what you're supposed to do."

Darcy laughed. "How do you know what I'm supposed to do? It's not up to you. This is my choice."

"No- you're supposed to remember," Vilda insisted. She stomped her foot imperiously and Darcy lifted a brow. "That's how this is supposed to end. I give you both your memories back. You remember how much you love each other. My son gets to be happy. I've seen it."

"Well what the fuck! Excuse me for not wanting my brain tampered with," she huffed, glaring at the woman. "And especially not by someone who lied to me and my daughter for months. Why did you do that, anyways?"

"Because I had to," she snapped, and her hair seemed to puff up, like a cat when ruffled; a sudden heavy tension hanging in the air.

Magic, Darcy recognized, her palms itching suddenly.

"Dear, calm yourself," Frigga interrupted smoothly. "This must be very confusing for Darcy. Perhaps it should wait a bit."

"No," Vilda said. "No. It shouldn't wait a bit, Freya. This is important. My son-"

"Our son," Frigga corrected gently. "And Darcy has had to deal with many changes recently, Vilda. If she doesn't want to remember today, then she doesn't have to. Let her acclimate. Let her see her children. I'm sure it's been-"

Darcy's heart stopped. "My children? What do you mean? Are they okay? They must be with Jane. They are, aren't they? Can you bring me to them? I haven't-" She stopped, tears choking her. "I just want-" She cleared her throat.

"They're here," Vilda said stiffly, the tension draining from the air. "Jane and Thor brought them a few weeks ago, just after you came."

Frigga nodded. "They've been staying here. I can tell you it was nerve-wracking having them here what with all the fighting going on."

"All the...fighting," Dacy repeated, terror and guilt suddenly suffusing her. Her babies had been in danger while she'd been...where? In Hel.

And Loki was the one who had put them in danger...

Magic crackled in her hands, suddenly furious. Her palm itched to slap Loki's smirking little face. He'd put her babies in danger?

"Well that's interesting," Vilda remarked, staring with fascination at Darcy's hands. "I didn't see that part."

"Perhaps it's good that the two of you have some space from each other for a little while," Frigga remarked dryly. "Come, the kids are probably in the courtyard. They've been playing there most every day."

Darcy followed her quickly, heart hammering in her ears, a longing so strong she was nearly undone by it.

"Where is my son anyways?"

"Our son."

Vilda huffed. "Our son then. Where is he?"

"I thought you knew all," Frigga teased.

Vilda scowled at her. "You know that's not true. I only know the facts, not details. And only when it comes to my son's future- our son's future. I didn't look at anyone else's." She shivered. "Those Norn bitches are out of their minds. That's what you get for omniscience. No thanks..."

"You can see the future?" Darcy asked.

"No. But I'm the Goddess of Secrets. If I want to know something, I find it. When it comes to the future I just have to pay the Norns a visit. They know everything, poor bastards." She chuckled. "Fates, but they hate me. Stuck up little bitches..."

Darcy frowned. "Then how do you not know where Loki is? Can't you just...find it, or whatever?"

Vilda sighed and rolled her eyes. "Yes. I could. But do sorcerer's use magic all the time? No. Because it's fucking draining. It's not something I do constantly- it's just an ability I have, and if I want to make use of it I can."

"Huh." Darcy mulled that over. "Interesting."

Vilda preened. "Thank you." She patted her hair.

Darcy shared a smile with Frigga.

"I saw that," Vilda said. "But it was about me, so I don't care."

"Darling you could give Narcissus a run for his money," Frigga said wryly and Vilda chuckled.

"Yes, I rather think you're right."

They continued to banter, but Darcy stopped paying attention to them because the courtyard was in sight now, and there were three children jumping around with toy swords and finally, finally she was going to see her kids, and she was so happy and relieved that she thought she might burst.

"No, Liam!" Ellie was saying. "You're supposed to be dead now."

"Am not," Liam was saying.

"You cheater! You so are! Nate, make him say it."

Nate was looking up from a book he was reading off to the side, "I wasn't really paying attention but if Ellie says- mom?"

Suddenly everyone's attention was on Darcy, and she couldn't stop staring at her kids. She tried to say their names but her throat was too tight to speak, so she just opened her arms.

"Mom!" Ellie was shrieking, and then they were both running to her, and then her arms were around them and she was holding them tightly, so tightly, and she didn't think she would ever be able to let them go.