Kara fidgeted as they waited in Odin and Frigga's 'small' audience chamber for Lady Eir. As with everything in Asgard, size was relative. The King and Queen of all Asgard seemed relaxed, on the surface, but she could feel that they were both every bit as anxious as she and Loki were. This was a good thing. It meant Odin didn't really like what he was forced to do…so she'd let him live. This time. A tiny grin lifted the corners of her mouth as she imagined the response saying that aloud would receive. Yep, discretion was definitely the better part of valor in this case. "What are you up to, love?" her husband asked.

She sighed. "Just thinking inappropriate thoughts, and no, I'm not going to elaborate." His eyebrows lifted and a fleeting smirk graced his lips before he sobered. "Yes, I'm fine," she told him before he opened his mouth to ask.

"Are you now a mind reader, Kara? Or can you feel so clearly now it is much the same?"

"The latter and I'm still having no success in shielding. This is going to get old really fast." She looked over to Frigga. "My lady, do you have anyone that can help me redevelop shielding for my empathic senses? I'm not going to be able to go anywhere near the masses of people on Midgard if I don't get a handle on it before we go back to the heavily populated areas there."

"We'll ask Eir to find a volunteer to help you. She knows more about our healers with empathic abilities than do I, they tend to live solitary lives," Loki's mother responded with a gentle smile. Kara figured that being married to Odin, the goddess had to have a spine of steel…if not titanium, but she never failed to sound kind and gentle.

"Making promises for me again, my queen?" Eir teased as she finally arrived with two healers in tow. One of them was Bothildr, the healer that had been sitting with Kara when she awoke from what she now knew was the cure for her nervous system deterioration. The male healer was unfamiliar, but both were carrying golden circles of metal with odd looking stones set in them. "Hrútr," Eir told him. "Place the binding collar around Prince Loki's neck; Bothildr shall place the receiving collar on Princess Kara." As the two did as the goddess bid, Eir smiled. "The collars aid in the binding of the magic and creation of the key within you, Kara," she explained.

"In me? The key isn't a physical thing?"

"Yes, in so much as you are physical and your body and mind will be the key." Eir's smile faded slightly. "We have not explained this well, have we?" Kara glowered at her and Eir sighed. "Once the initial binding of the power is complete, the release and rebinding of it shall be subject to your will, nothing more. You will need no physical item as a focus for the process. Unlike most born mortal, your mind is advanced enough for the task all on its own."

"Please tell me these collars aren't going to be a permanent accessory."

Eir laughed softly. "They are not. They serve only to focus the magic during the initial binding to ensure that the power is bound from and to the appropriate individuals. Once the binding is done, the power will know where to go. Now, Hrútr will monitor Prince Loki's health, Bothidr will monitor yours and I will monitor the All-Father." She turned to Frigga as the queen's eyebrow rose. "And you, my lady, will oversee all of us to ensure nothing is missed."

Odin stood. "Take your seats as we discussed," he told the two of them as he nodded to Haakun who was standing by an anteroom door. The man stepped outside and returned with the representatives of the other realms, including the Avengers. They all took seats in what was set up as a kind of viewing gallery. Kara and Loki took the chairs that had been previously set a specific distance apart and settled themselves comfortably. Odin stood between them, one hand outstretched over each of their heads. The healers moved into position behind them and Frigga took a seat in front of them.

Haakun spoke up. "We're all here, my liege."

"Then let us begin," Odin said. Kara glanced over at Loki and saw Odin's outstretched hand begin to glow with a golden light. The light moved down and covered her husband who stiffened with a slightly pained expression. The murky jewel in the collar began to glow a brilliant green as Loki gritted his teeth. "Son, try to relax, it will make it easier," Odin told him.

"I am trying. Have you ever had this done to you?" he asked irritably. Odin shook his head in the negative. "Thought not. It's more painful than you'd think…though I endured worse to save Thor." Loki was panting now and a fine sheen of perspiration covered his skin.

The green glow was almost blinding when Odin nodded, seemingly satisfied and then looked in her direction. "Kara, you will feel a distinct heaviness. Try to be open and relaxed. If it hurts at all, it should be only a minor discomfort."

"You'd best not cause her the pain I am in, old man," Loki snarled.

Odin sighed, otherwise ignoring the outburst. "If it does become painful, tell me immediately as that would indicate a problem."

Kara looked up and saw the hand her father-in-law held over her was now glowing with the same green intensity of the gem on Loki's collar, but that green glow was surrounded by a golden nimbus. She felt the promised weight cover her like a heavy blanket and then seemingly sink into her skin. The gem on her collar, when she looked down at it, was beginning to glow green with that same nimbus of gold. She shifted in her seat as a new sensation arose. "It's itching," she told the All-Father. "Seriously; like I need to scratch all over kind of itching."

He nodded. "That's the power moving through you. Once it settles the itching should stop. I wasn't expecting you to be quite sensitive enough to feel that."

"She is an empath and healer, my king," Eir said dryly.

The corner of Odin's mouth curved up. "So she is, and a powerful one, I should have expected it. My apologies, daughter."

"No problem," Kara responded, wondering if Thor calling Loki 'brother' before they reconciled had made Loki as uncomfortable as Odin calling her 'daughter' did. Probably more so; she'd have to remember to apologize for chastising him about it. She hissed as the weight of the power suddenly increased and a spasm of pain ran through her and then dissipated almost immediately as the gem gave a blinding flash and then settled into a steady gold rimmed green and the gem in Loki's collar faded to its original murky color. "Now that hurt, but just for a second."

She glanced back in time to see Odin staggering back. He was supported by the three healers and helped to his throne. "It is finished," he informed them once he was settled. "Don't fuss, my lady," he said to Frigga as she ran over. "I shall recover in a moment. Loki's magic is powerful, and it took a great deal of energy to bind it safely." He looked over at Loki. "Son, how are you feeling?"

Just as Kara noticed that the gems in both collars had now returned to their original state; the two assistant healers returned to them and removed the collars from their necks. "What?" Loki said. "I…" he trailed off looking puzzled and then peered around the room. "Something is wrong," he said, raising his voice a bit. "I-everything looks fuzzy, I could barely hear you, and I feel…I feel as though I'm wrapped in a cocoon of wool."

"What?" Kara stood up and went to him. "Eir, what's going on?" she asked as the goddess of Healing came over to examine Loki.

"I don't feel anything wrong with him," she said, sounding flustered. "All of his senses read normally, I don't understand this at all."

Odin frowned thoughtfully. "Loki," he began, speaking at a volume she normally associated with Thor. "Did you perhaps develop the habit of using your magic to sharpen your senses?"

Loki frowned back at him. "I suppose I might have."

"That would explain it, then. You are no longer used to seeing and hearing at normal levels of clarity. You will get used to it after a while. You may need to adjust back to the enhanced senses when your magic is released to protect Midgard."

"Um, excuse me." They all turned to the witnesses as Tony Stark stood up. "Does no one else see a problem with this? If Loki has to readjust every time his magic is bound or unbound he's going to be awfully vulnerable. I mean, seriously. Our reaction time has to be in seconds or milliseconds. He's not going to have the leisure of adjusting each time; that could get him killed."

"Then he will need to avoid using his magic to enhance his senses when it is loosed so that he will not need to readjust," Odin responded. "There is naught we can do about it." He looked between the two of them. "You two will need to practice the unbinding and binding until Loki has fully adjusted and he can handle the change without this issue arising. Now," Odin continued, looking at the witnesses. "Prince Nyvorlas," he said, addressing the Ljósálfar Queen's representative and younger son. "Would you test the binding for us all?"

Nyvorlas stood and bowed briefly, then walked over to Loki. He held his hands out and a silvery-blue glow emerged. Moving closer cautiously, he laid those hands on Loki's shoulders. Nothing happened and the Ljósálfar smiled. "His magic is unavailable to him, All-Father," he assured Odin.

Odin nodded. "Thank you. Councilor Eltargrim," he continued, addressing the elderly Dökkálfar. "Will you confirm Prince Nyvorlas' finding?"

"I will come to you, Councilor," Loki said hastily as he stood and crossed the room watching his step carefully, probably still having trouble adjusting his eyesight. He dropped down to one knee before the old dwarf and waited.

Eltargrim nodded. "You always were the courteous one," he said in a raspy voice as he held out his hands. No glow emerged. Loki had explained to her that while the Dökkálfar had no magic of their own, they could create magic bearing weapons and could easily sense and read another's magic. The ancient one frowned thoughtfully. "I find no magic in him at this time," he finally concluded. Kara frowned when Eltargrim looked sharply at her. "You, young princess," he said. "Come here if you would humor an elder."

Kara looked to Odin for permission and then crossed the room at her father-in-law's nod. Settling down beside Loki, she asked, "Is this good, Councilor?"

"Aye, child." He held out his hands for a few long moments and then nodded. "I feel the magic here, but it is well bound," he finally said. "All is how King Odin has guaranteed."

Loki stood and held a hand to assist her to her feet as Odin nodded. "Thank you, Councilor. Do any dispute Prince Nyvorlas or Councilor Eltargrim's findings in this matter?" No one spoke up. "Then we are through here. My son and his wife will return to Midgard until she has recovered from her ordeal enough to accompany him to Jötunheim. At that time they will journey to Prince Helblindi's realm so that Loki may serve that part of his sentence. Upon completion, they will return to Midgard so that he may begin serving his sentence there."

… …

"Is your vision clearing up any?" Kara asked him as they neared their chambers. Though her arm was tucked into his, she was doing the navigating.

"It's not a matter of it clearing up, I simply must get used to it not being so sharp as it was," he explained. "The same with my hearing," he added before she could ask. Loki could barely hear her soft sigh. "It will take some time, love. Try not to worry."

"Somebody has to worry. What is it with you people? No one seems to think things out before they bull ahead and do them."

"I think things out, probably in far too much detail. But yes, that is a failing that many of the Æsir share."

"It annoys the spit out of me. And…hello. Who are you?" Kara interrupted herself to say. Loki peered at the figure that had turned the corner directly into their path.

"Malekith. What are you still doing here?" he asked the Svartálfar's de-facto ruler.

The half-breed light and dark Álfar might be sneering at them, but Loki couldn't really tell. "The same as all the others, Loki; I am ensuring that your powers have been bound according to your sentence. Since your so-called father refused me admittance to the event, I'll just test it myself, shall I?"

While he couldn't reach his own power, Loki could still feel that of others and Malekith's was rising quickly. "Run, Kara," he hissed urgently before his air was cut off and he could say no more. He staggered back against the wall as Kara pulled away and was sliding down it, still unable to breathe as she spun to face the enemy. Damn the woman, did she never listen?

Kara stood silently for a moment and then groaned in frustration. "He's blocking me somehow," she said. As Loki watched, horrified, she screamed at the top of her lungs and threw herself at Malekith. Her surprising attack distracted the Álfar sorcerer for a moment, long enough for Loki to get a much needed breath of air. Then the relentless magical choking resumed and the bastard threw Kara hard into the wall beside him while he was forced to watch impotently. As his vision began to dim he could hear running feet pounding down the halls. Kara's outraged scream had been heard.

… …

Thor rounded the corner to a horrifying sight. Loki was slumped against the wall, his face tinged with blue…from oxygen deprivation, not a change to his Jötunn form. Kara was sprawled facedown at his brother's side, clearly unconscious. Malekith stood several strides away, grinning maliciously. Without taking time to analyze, he hefted Mjölnir and prepared to swing. The Svartálfar's face turned ashen and he dropped to his knees, raising his hands in surrender. Thor could hear Loki take a gasping breath. "What have you done, Malekith?" Thor demanded, still holding Mjölnir ready.

"What is mine to do by right, Odinson," the Álfar claimed as several guards and the Avengers rounded the corner. "The All-Father refused me the right to see that the criminal's magic was bound, so I've tested it myself."

"Did you then doubt my word, Malekith?" Odin said as he arrived and stepped to Thor's side. Thor cast an anxious glance at his father. He'd been tired before and hurrying to the scene could not have done him any good, but Odin still looked robust and strong.

Malekith's expression turned crafty. "Not your word, but your ability to do the deed properly. Loki's magic is stronger than yours, or had you not noticed?"

"I had, and took the appropriate precautions. The binding was tested by Prince Nyvorlas and Councilor Eltargrim. Do you doubt their word?" Thor marveled at Odin's calm tone. This was something he'd do well to copy in such trying circumstances.

"Of course not," Malekith allowed, his voice now sullen.

"So I thought." Odin turned to the guards. "Escort Malekith to his quarters to collect his belongings and his attendants, then escort them all to the Bifröst. They will be leaving immediately."

"I have not yet seen to all my dead," the Svartálfar ruler protested.

"You have attacked my son and my new daughter in a dishonorable manner, one against which you knew they should have no defense. You have forfeited all rights to hospitality and you will be gone from the Valhöll and you will be gone from Asgard." Odin's eye narrowed and he seemed to grow in stature. "Go!" he bellowed as he slammed the base of Gungnir against the floor.

The guards surrounded Malekith and escorted him from the hall. Once they were out of sight, Odin slumped against Gungnir. Alarmed, Thor reached out to help. "Father, lean on me," he offered.

"I am fine, Thor. See to your brother and his wife."

Nodding, he dropped down beside Loki whose color was finally returning to normal. Loki waved him off. Kara still was not moving. "What happened to her?" he asked.

"Bastard threw…into wall," Loki muttered hoarsely. "Don't move her…heard bones snap."

"I'll find Lady Eir," Thor promised and headed down the hall at a swift trot.

... ...

Loki sat beside the bed where Kara still lay unconscious. He'd been examined and pronounced 'fine' by Eir. Kara was not so 'fine'. Thank the gods that her body had changed so dramatically in such a short time, else she would have died from the impact against the wall. As it was Eir was keeping her unconscious until her broken back healed enough for her to safely move without causing herself further injury. Thanks to the goddess's strong healing gift, that would only take a bit more than a day. "You should get some rest, my son," Frigga said as she rubbed his slumped shoulders. "I'll sit with her while you sleep."

He shook his head. "I almost lost her." She hadn't been wearing her armor; he hadn't seen the need since they weren't leaving the Valhöll. Foolish of him. "I should have had her wear her armor," he said, hating himself for the fear that crept into his voice.

"She should not have needed it. This is my fault, Loki. We should have sent an escort with you, we knew Malekith was still here. I am sorry."

Loki looked up as Odin spoke. His father looked tired. Gods forbid he would succumb to the Odinsleep so soon, there was too much unrest and Thor was still not prepared…though he was far more so than he had been before. "You need to rest, father."

"I will, my son. I wanted to apologize first and to personally assure you that Malekith and his people are gone. They are banned from Asgard and will trouble you no more here."

"We can't stay in Asgard long, I have sentences to serve." Loki stroked the delicate hand that rested in his. "She refused to leave me. Malekith had guarded against her powers with his sorcery, she discovered that and still would not flee. She tried to attack him physically, when she had no hope of success."

"She is a brave and determined woman, and she loves you well. Did you truly expect her to leave your side?"

"No," he answered his father ruefully. "But I hoped she would see the sense of going for help."

Odin laughed loudly, earning himself shushing from the healers in attendance. "Kara is also a most stubborn woman. I am surprised she did not find a way to stop him on her own."

Loki shrugged. "She did distract him long enough for me to breathe a bit. Unfortunately, I was unarmed as well as without my magic, so could not take advantage of it." Shaking his head he muttered, "Yet again, I am a failure."

He winced as Frigga smacked the back of his head. "Stop that this instant. You heard your father, this is our failure, not yours." Her arms snaked around his neck and she hugged him back against her. "You forget your successes. You saved your brother's life. No one else, you did it. If you had not broken through that barrier, if you had not been able to take up Mjölnir, he would have died."

"Kara…"

"Kara could not have helped him if she couldn't get to him, now could she?" Frigga said as she moved to his side.

"No." Irony, he thought. His one success was in saving the 'brother' he'd once tried to kill. At least now he knew why he'd failed in that. He really did love Thor, despite their dysfunctional history. "Get father to bed for rest. Thor isn't yet ready to take over."

"He's come far, Loki," Odin said. "But you are right. He is not yet ready. I will go rest so that he is not called to the task of governance again before he is truly prepared for it." Loki nodded and stood when Odin held his arms open to him. The rare hug was welcome. "Hopefully, by the time I must give him the throne, you will have satisfied your obligations and will be free to stand beside him as his advisor."

Loki felt his jaw begin to drop and resolutely clenched it. "Had you intended such before?" he asked.

Odin sighed. "Eventually, yes. But I had thought to train you while he sat the throne. I see now that I should have done the reverse. First trained you to advise so that you would be ready to support him and help him to hold the throne wisely once he took it. And that," he said heavily, "is one of my failures."

"Hmm, yes. It ranks right up there with leaving me to discover my heritage on my own."

"I'd hoped you would never need know. I know how our people fear the Jötunn, I did not want them to fear you." He grimaced. "Had Laufey been more amenable to peace, I would have taught them there was no reason to fear any Jötnar. Alas, he was not. Perhaps your half-brother will be wiser than his father."

"We'll know soon enough. Have you thought much on who will accompany us to Jötunheim?"

Odin nodded. "A squadron of elite guards, along with Sif and the Warriors Three. I cannot send Thor, that would be too much of a temptation, having both my heirs in such a potentially hostile situation. I spoke with your Midgardian friends. Their world has Arctic weather gear which your Iron Man will obtain for Kara to wear under her armor and protect her from the cold. He believes it can be acquired while the two of you are testing her abilities in the desert."

"I'd planned to ask him but was distracted. Thank you." Loki frowned. "And yes, I will thank Tony as well." He had turned back to his lady when one of Odin's comments finally sank in. "What? Both of your…surely you cannot still consider me one of your heirs?"

"Your friends proved that you are half Æsir, my son. I have strong suspicions as to your mother's identity. There have never been many Æsir females capable of shape shifting who would have held such power as you have inherited, and only two of them have been unaccounted for since before your birth." Loki stared at the All-Father's somewhat smug expression. "Both of them have royal blood. Your Iron Man tells me that if we obtain certain items such as hair, blood and saliva from close family members of the missing women, they will be able to determine if you are related to them and thus confirm your mother's identity."

Loki could feel his jaw dropping in shock. He bore the blood of the royal house of Asgard. While Thor still had the most direct claim to the throne, he could be considered equally worthy despite his sire's blood. "They still would not accept me over Thor," was all he managed to say.

"No, Loki, that is true. But they could not refuse you a high and honored place in his court. Your brother will not need to force your acceptance upon them. Between your blood and your adoption, that high place is yours by right."

"And yet, should I play my cards right with Helblindi and Býleistr, I can still be the path to the lasting peace that you envisioned."

"I have not seen that as a priority since you were yet an infant. I have told you…"

"And I believe you. Yet, it is something that will benefit not only the Realm Eternal, but all of the Nine Realms. I will work for this, not for your plans, but because I want a family with my lady, and I want a safe future for that family." Loki stared Odin down until the old man nodded. "Now please, father. Go get some rest. We all still need you."

... …

Nyvorlas paused at the entrance to the private room occupied by the injured Princess Kara. Loki sat beside her, holding her limp hand and glowering at the floor. The half-breed Æsir prince's expression was pensive and his emotions hovered between distraught and hopefulness. He cleared his throat softly and waited until Loki gave him a questioning look. "Is she resting well?" he asked.

Loki shrugged. "It is hard to tell since Eir is forcing her to remain unconscious and is blocking pain from her."

He nodded. "Her mind feels quiet, I do not pick up any anxiety. It feels as though she recognizes your touch and that reassures her."

"I'd forgotten the Royal House of Ljósálfar were empaths. Thank you, knowing that is helpful."

"I've spoken to your lady mother and to Lady Eir about your wife's request. The empaths in Asgard do not, as a rule, practice shielding, that is why they remain so solitary. My people, on the other hand, must shield our minds or risk insanity. I-I would consider it an honor to help your lady with her problem."

Loki frowned…no, glared at him. "Why?"

"Loki, my siblings and I remember your visits fondly. Do not give me that look, it is true. We never much cared for Thor, he has all the grace and wit of a water buffalo and the crudity of a common soldier when it came to females. You, on the other hand were amusing, provided good conversation, and treated even our serving girls with finesse if not always respect." Nyvorlas grinned at the memory of a prank Loki had played on his mother's most recent consort. "And you made life at court interesting. I don't think any of us will ever forget Tolthe's face when you made him believe his manhood had withered."

A smirk curved Loki's lips. "I will never forget your mother's face when she believed it. Fortunately she figured out it was an illusion before she decided who was to blame, else she likely would have felt risking war with Asgard was worth taking my head for depriving her of her lover."

"Too true. Good times." Nyvorlas frowned. "We were appalled when we heard what you had done."

"Not when you heard what I was?"

He shrugged. "Jötnar are no worse than Æsir in our eyes. Both are barbarians in many ways. The Æsir have simply proved to be more powerful." Loki stared at him, waiting. "I was honestly glad to hear there were such mitigating circumstances. It was hard to believe we had not truly known the man you are."

"I tried to kill my brother who loved me, Nyvorlas. I did kill the man who sired and abandoned me. I doubt you believed I was a man who could do those things."

"The first, no. The latter, of course; I would have done the same in your place. Laufey was an obscenity, he deserved to die. You did not kill your brother, though, and I do not believe it was from lack of ability."

"Then you are a fool."

"Don't insult the man who can and is willing to help your wife safeguard her mind. With your magic intact, you could take Thor if you so desired. He lives because of your lack of conviction in the attempt. You know it, I know it, and I suspect both he and the All-Father know it as well."

Loki's frown was sullen. Yes, he did know it, but would be damned before he'd admit it. Definitely the proud, stubborn prince he remembered. "I wanted to hate him. I told myself that I hated him."

"Yet you never truly did. It is much the same between me and Edansyr. I have resented him all my life, but cannot find it in me to hate him despite his apparent perfection in my mother's eyes and in the eyes of her nobles." Nyvorlas nodded as recognition dawned in Loki's expression. "Yes, in that way we are much alike. Younger brothers always experience such, whether they are of the same blood or not. It is the curse of being younger, nothing more and nothing less." He bit back a sigh as the dark prince's gaze returned to his comatose wife and a brooding mein settled over his features. "Send for me when she is well enough to discuss shielding. If I am not in my chambers, I will likely be visiting with your lady's friends from Midgard. I haven't been there since I was a boy and would learn of how it is today."

… …

Beth was startled out of her reading by a crack of thunder and flash of lightning. When she'd opened the cumbersome text book to get in some studying, there hadn't been a cloud in the sky. Had a front blown in that quickly? "Jarvis, has the weather forecast changed?" she asked the ever-present AI.

"No, Miss Anderson. There is an energy buildup on the landing pad. It appears that Prince Thor is about to arrive. I have notified Dr. Banner."

"Oh, okay. Thank you." She closed the book, leaving it on the kitchen table and headed for the observation lounge where the main doors to the landing pad were located. Pepper had invited her to move in to the tower temporarily when she'd heard that she was bunking on her workmate's couch while her apartment building was being repaired. The repairs had hit a snag as numerous code violations had been uncovered during the damage inspection. Going back to a cramped city apartment was totally going to suck after living, even for a few days, in the luxury of Avengers' Tower.

As she stepped into the glass-walled room the doors to the landing pad slid open and a tall imposing blonde dressed in some kind of dark ages type armor strode in. She looked up and up until she met the pure blue eyes in the bearded face. The man, or rather god, as this had to be Thor, gave her a puzzled frown. "I beg pardon, my lady, but who are you?" he asked politely.

"My name is Beth, I've been dating Steve Rogers," she felt compelled to explain.

"Ah, friend Steve did mention a Lady Bethany to whom I must give reassurance. I am pleased to make your acquaintance, my lady. I am Thor Odinson of Asgard." He held out a huge hand and bowed slightly.

Not sure what the protocol should be, Beth placed her hand in his and smiled. "It's nice to meet you as well. I've heard a lot about you from Pepper and Natasha." She bit back a giggle. "And even more from Jane and Darcy."

Thor's eyes lit up and he smiled broadly, revealing perfect white teeth. "You know Jane?" he asked. "This is excellent. I have missed her…and Lady Darcy as well, of course."

The giggle escaped. "Oh, right, of course." She bet he missed Darcy, and was probably glad to have as much distance between himself and the saucy brunette's taser as possible. "Well, if you're going to be here for a few hours, I'm sure you'll see them. They went therapy shopping with Nat and Pepper. I had to work this morning, or I'd have gone with them." Thor had frowned, he probably didn't understand the concept of shopping for therapy. "They're trying to deal with not knowing what's going on with Tony and Clint," she explained. "Going shopping helps to take their minds off of it, especially with Darcy along to make sarcastic comments about every potential purchase."

"Ah, I see." Thor grinned again as the elevator doors opened. "Friend Bruce, it is good to see you!" he all but bellowed. Wow. Now she knew what everybody meant when they talked about how loud the man was.

"Good to see you as well," Dr. Banner answered. "Is everyone okay?" Trust Bruce to get right to the point.

"Aye, though the good captain is still forbidden from putting too much strain on his leg, though the break is healed, it needs more rest. My new sister is with the healers, she should be brought out of the deep sleep tomorrow if her back is sufficiently healed."

"That doesn't sound too okay," Bruce chided. "What happened that Steve broke his leg and what sister are you talking about, I didn't know you had one."

The blonde god sighed. "Captain Rogers was injured in the battle to close the gate. He is all but completely recovered. As to my new sister, she is Loki's newly wedded wife. And I think I should wait until the others have returned and Fury has been summoned before I tell you the whole of it."

… …

Author's Notes: Yes, I know, this is waaaay past my expected date, but there was so much work piled up for me when I returned from my Vegas vacation that I had no time to write. Speaking of Vegas…their stage version of Rock of Ages, well, ROCKS. Thanks, everyone, for your patience. I hope this was worth the wait!