Loki stared pensively at his lady as she brushed out her fire-hued hair. He'd been thinking about Stark's suggestion every waking minute since the man had caught him alone late the previous night. "Kara," he began, then waited until she'd placed the brush back in her bag of toiletry items. "Tony offered to provide a trip for us when we return, and to clear it with Fury. Where would you like to go?"

"A honeymoon?" she asked, her face brightening. He nodded. "Hmm. Either Paris or Hawaii. No, this time of year, definitely Hawaii. Paris would be too cold. Maybe one of the really exclusive resorts on one of the outer islands?"

"I'll ask him to look into it." He smiled as she hugged him enthusiastically.

"That would be wonderful. Even if we missed out on everything else, it'll be great to have a honeymoon."

"I hate that you haven't had the joy of having all of the pomp and circumstance surrounding a wedding," Loki told her, still not sure if Stark's idea for them to have a wedding on Midgard would be something she'd want.

"I'm not really thrilled about missing out on that part of it, but it's okay, at least we're married." Loki noted the wistful tone in her voice. "Maybe someday, on our anniversary, we can have a vow renewal ceremony. That would be nice."

"Anything you wish, my love." Yes, he'd definitely give Stark the go-ahead on this; it was an excellent idea. It almost made him regret the prank that the man would trigger later this morning. Almost.

… …

Tony walked away from Loki with a distinct feeling of unease. Something was up. He'd called him Bambi, Rudolph, Babe (for Paul Bunyan's ox), and several ice-related nicknames in the past few days and the god hadn't so much as blinked. He'd just got done calling him the old classic, Reindeer Games, and Loki had done nothing more than smile. He was up to something, Tony would bet every last share of Stark Industries he owned on it. "Hey, Pepper. I just got the go-ahead for Plan B from Loki. I'll call Tiffany's to make an appointment for when they're due back. You can start feeling out Nassar and Haakun on the flight to New York."

"Plan B? Why are you calling it Plan B?"

He gave an exaggerated sigh. "B for Bridal?"

"Oh, of course. Well, good job, you didn't even procrastinate. I'm impressed." Her eyes were sparkling; she really was pleased with him. As well she should be. This was totally something he was doing for someone else's happiness. Just because he was a philanthropist didn't mean he was often personally altruistic.

"Yes, well, that's me, Mr. Impressive." Tony grinned as she pretended to choke. "Aw, come on, Pep. I did good."

"You did. Aren't you flying with us?"

"No, I'm going to fly home on my own. Now that Jarvis has access to his full processing capabilities we're working on analyzing the power the Asgardians used to charge up the suit while I was there. I'm thinking it will give me a way to improve the efficiency of the Arc Reactor technology. The best way to analyze it is while it's in use, so that means flying back."

"Okay. I'll probably have an easier time working with Dr. Nassar and Councilor Haakun without your snarky asides anyway."

It was true; particularly since he was still pissed about Nassar not only being on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Council of Regents, but being its goddamned Chairman. Kara had let it go a lot easier than the rest of them combined. "I can't argue that. So, I'll see you in New York, gorgeous." He caught her in a hard embrace and a thorough kiss; then headed outside to suit up. "Jarvis, get the Mark IX ready, we're heading home."

"Yes sir," the AI responded.

Tony stepped out into the glaring sunshine and held out his arms. A moment later the shell of the Mark IX folded itself around him and the servos locked it in place. Why the hell did his nose itch? Or for that matter, his back and…other parts. Looking down he saw bits of…straw? How the fuck did straw get into his goddamn suit? "J, what happened to my suit?" he asked mildly.

"Home, home on the range, where the deer and the antelope play. Where seldom is heard, a discouraging word…" the AI warbled.

"LO-KI!"

… …

Kara frowned as Tony's amplified and aggrieved voice carried through the building to the dining hall. She turned to glare at Loki in time to see him doubling over in laughter. "What did you do?" she asked as sternly as she could manage. Her lips were twitching just from watching her husband's amusement. The feeling she was getting from him when she cautiously lowered her shields was good natured fun, not maliciousness, so she wasn't too worried about Tony; but boy was she curious.

"He's been calling me various deer and cattle related names, Kara, I thought if he wished to play with animals, he should be penned in like one with some nice comfortable straw for fodder."

"Huh?"

He gave her a patient look. "I stuffed his suit with straw and programmed Jarvis to sing some appropriate old ballad once Tony said the word 'home'," he explained.

"Oh, Loki. That's…which song?"

"I believe the one Jarvis selected is called 'Home on the Range'."

She covered her face with her palms. "Oh dear god. 'Where the deer and the antelope play'. Okay, that is very funny."

"And, as promised, does no lasting harm."

"There is that. Did you use magic to do it?"

"Mmm, not really." She frowned at his hedging answer. "Perhaps a smidge just for the trigger portion of it while I had it back for combat practice."

Sighing, Kara shook her head. "What am I going to do with you?" He opened his mouth to answer and she held up a hand to stop him. "That was a rhetorical question. Look, you can prank people with harmless or more or less harmless stuff. But no more doing or triggering it with magic or you'll get us both in trouble. I'll pretend I knew you'd used it for this and it was practice, but never again until Odin decides to relent on the magic binding."

Loki sighed deeply and gave her a long-suffering look. "Kara, I'm not a…"

"You really don't want me to respond to that, so don't finish saying it," she advised.

"What the actual fuck, Loki!" Tony griped as he stomped into the dining hall. The suit's visor was up and pieces of straw were sticking up around Tony's neck. "You could at least let Jarvis unlock the damn suit so I can get this shit out of here."

Loki's mouth was twitching. "It will unlock once you reach New York," he told the beleaguered genius. "Consider it your penance for all of the deer related snark."

"Goddamn it. I do not want to fly all the way home itch…"

"Home, home on the range, where the deer and the antelope…" Jarvis sang again as more straw poked out of the visor opening. Kara's backside hit the ground as she literally fell off of her seat laughing.

… …

Natasha watched as Sif, Nyvorlas and Haakun hesitantly boarded the S.H.I.E.L.D. Quinjet, already asking Steve and the civilians questions about everything they saw. "I hope they've got a patient pilot," she murmured to Clint.

"I'd almost rather ride with Thor. It would be easier to watch him glower at the tech like it's some kind of enemy."

She concurred. "Do we need to get the arctic gear on before we leave?" she asked.

"You do not." They turned as Loki and Kara came up behind them. "We'll be going to Asgard first and staying the night, at least. You'll have a chance to see the Valhöll and a bit of the city before we leave for Jötunheim, Natasha." He tilted his head with a contemplating look. "Whether we spend more than one night there depends on the All-Father. If he is well-rested, it will be just the one night. Otherwise, it might behoove us to wait until he is well rested. I would not want to run into problems when he is unable to step in."

"Are you anticipating problems?"

Loki's smile was predatory. "I always anticipate problems; it's why I still live. That said, we have been guaranteed safe passage; but while I would like to be able to trust my half-brothers, I do not."

"We'll have what they want most," Kara agreed. "That is a hell of a lot of temptation. I think I'd trust Helblindi, if it was just him, but I didn't get the impression that he has full control yet."

"Nor did I; else he would not have been so insistent that I publicly renounce my claim on their throne."

"Your claim?" Natasha asked. "You have a claim on the Jötunn throne?"

"I am the eldest child of the late Jötnar king, Laufey. And as is apparently traditional there, I killed him in single combat. By all rights, the throne of Jötunheim is mine."

"So why aren't you claiming it and becoming a king? Isn't that what you wanted?"

"While the cold doesn't bother me so much as it does a full-blood Æsir, it's certainly not my favorite climate. And I appreciate elegance; there is nothing elegant about Jötunheim. I do not agree with your Milton's character of Satan. I would far rather serve as Thor's advisor in Asgard than reign in Jötunheim."

Natasha frowned. "If that's even an option at this point."

"It is. Once I have served my sentence here, or perhaps even while I am serving it, Odin intends me to train as such. He has agreed that he will not step down until I am ready to stand as one of Thor's advisors, likely in concert with Haakun at first, then later as his first advisor as Haakun now serves Odin."

Definitely not what she was expecting, even after Clint had privately briefed her on what he had learned in Asgard. But then, Clint wasn't good at seeing the emotional sides of decisions. Apparently Odin loved both sons; the blood son and the adopted one. That could only benefit Earth. "I see. If that's what you wanted, congratulations."

Loki nodded. "Thank you."

… …

Kara watched Hogun and Bruce come out of the portable building, each carrying a pack. "Our ride hasn't arrived yet," she told them. It was too bad they couldn't have kept the tesseract there. But with Odin's gate being right there, it would have been a temptation and opportunity their enemy could not have ignored.

"No, but we thought it would be a good idea for everyone to get their things ready. We can put it all in the workshop now that Tony's cleared out," Bruce responded.

"You don't have all of your things ready. The Quinjet that picked up the others just dropped off our arctic gear. We've got to make sure it fits before we pack it."

"I'd forgotten. Not a problem, I can add mine in later."

She nodded. "Hogun, Nick had extra brought in if you'd like to try some out. They also had Fandral's size on record, so we can take a set for him, too, if you think he'd want it."

"I'll try it," he agreed.

The crate was sitting open near the building that had been designated for supplies. Kara motioned to them to follow her and then dug in to the crate, looked at the packages inside and then began handing them out. "Bruce, here's yours."

He smiled as he took the bundle and shook his head slightly. "It seems strange to have armor when I don't really need it and even stranger to expect to be able to keep it in one piece."

"Magic and science combined. Best of both worlds…literally. Well, it looks like they got the sizes and quantity right, let's go try them on to be sure."

"What about Loki?" Natasha asked.

"Did you not see the footage from S.H.I.E.L.D.?" Loki asked the assassin.

"When you changed your form? Yes. But…"

"My Jötunn half is fairly impervious to cold. I need no protection from it."

"But it's not just protection from cold; it's body armor as well."

He shrugged. "They will respect me more if I do not cover up. Also, they will wish to see my clan markings, or so my half-brother has advised me. I'll be bare from the waist up while we are there."

"Sounds a bit barbaric."

His disgusted expression said it all. "It is."

… …

The other men and Natasha were amusing themselves with target practice. They'd discussed the appropriate distance to each of their targets based on the range of each one's weapon of choice and then had begun an impromptu competition. Much to everyone's surprise but their friends from Asgard, Loki was winning. Bruce shook his head as yet another knife thudded home in exactly the called spot. Loki grinned and pushed back the long black hair that the heat had wilted into his face. "Kara, would that mousse of yours hold my hair back even in this heat?" he asked.

She frowned. "I don't know. I've never had the need to find out."

"Hmm." The god's eyebrows rose as Natasha sauntered over to him. "Yes?" he asked as she stared up with a slight smirk.

"Try this," she said and held out her hand.

Loki took something small from her, played with it briefly, and then used what turned out to be a black elastic hair tie to pull his hair into a tail. "Thank you; that should help."

"They've got a myriad of uses; I always carry a few around. You might want to consider it," Natasha told him.

"I'll take it under advisement."

Bruce had to laugh at Loki's dry response. "Sorry," he mumbled when the god turned a green-eyed glare his way. "But you really have to hear yourself to appreciate how funny that was."

"I'm certain." Loki sighed and stared off into the distance. "It's taking too long. That doesn't bode well for Odin being rested."

"What does that have to do with it," Kara asked. "Won't they use the tesseract to come get us?"

"Yes, but if Odin had to enter the Odinsleep, then Thor may not be able to leave quickly, if at all. In that case, he'd have to send Fandral or Volstagg as only they have any recent acquaintance with this part of Midgard."

"Oh." She stood. "Well, I'm not going to sit out here in the heat waiting around. We've got nice cool air going to waste inside. Nat, you want to join me in pestering Nick and Jasper?"

"You're going to give Agent Sitwell a complex," Natasha responded.

Kara shrugged. "He intentionally ordered a different chair from the one I wanted for my office three times. It may not be quick, but karma is a bitch."

"I think I'll join you," Bruce decided. "I've found I make Sitwell a bit nervous."

"Woot! Operation Karma is a go," Kara laughed.

… …

Lunch. It was an odd word, Hogun thought. Though he'd spent weeks with the Avengers, and the word was used daily, it still felt wrong. Many of the words in the different mortal languages were strange, both on the tongue and on the ear; or, in the case of visiting Æsir, in the mind. The magic Odin gifted them with to understand and be understood did not always clearly translate. The colloquialisms were the worst, of course. The words and intent were often so different as to be incomprehensible. That was why they tried to learn the local language as quickly as possible rather than depend on the magic long term. He glowered at Loki and the prince sighed. "What have I done to earn your ire now, Hogun?" he asked.

His mouth quirked. "Learned English so quickly."

Loki's jaw dropped. "What has that…never mind. It was not quickly, I've been studying it for years. How many times did I tell all of you that Midgard was once again becoming important to us and that we needed to be ready to deal with its inhabitants?"

"Repeatedly," Hogun admitted.

"Then you should not hold it amiss that I, at least, am prepared."

He laughed quietly, enjoying the fact that Loki felt comfortable chastising him without giving him an uneasy look. It said volumes about how much their relationship had improved. A low rumbling shook the building as he took another bite of the hearty 'stew' that had been served. He looked back at Loki who was staring toward the door with an annoyed frown. "Thor?" Hogun asked him.

"No doubt; he's not one for subtlety." Loki stood and carried his tray over to the disposal area. "Though he might actually have thought it out this time and chose to use Mjölnir to travel the hidden paths instead of using the cube and drawing the attention of the Mad Titan."

Hogun snorted as they met each other's eyes. "No," they said simultaneously.

… …

Fury frowned as a rumble of thunder shook the building. He pulled up the weather report; as he thought, no storms were predicted. Hopefully that meant Thor had arrived and would be taking his brother and sister-in-law off of their hands; at least for the time being. He was not looking forward to the fallout from Nassar's upcoming meetings to arrange Loki's permanent, so far as their lifetime was concerned, return to Earth. Not to mention Dr. Gunnarssen's change in status. "Shit," he muttered, his eye drifting closed. Not only would he have to deal with a possibly still crazy Norse god, but with a formerly mortal woman who could produce the equivalent of a pinpoint nuclear explosion, without the fallout, at will. Oh, yeah, and these two very volatile personalities were married to each other. "God damn it. I seriously need to consider retiring."

"Director, Thor has arrived," Sitwell said as he stuck his shaved head in the door.

"I think we're all aware of that, agent," he told the man dryly as he pushed his chair back and stood. "Let's just hope he hasn't brought us another intergalactic crisis."

"To be fair, sir, Loki brought the last one."

He glared at the man. "The point being, Agent Sitwell, that we do not need another one, regardless of which pain in my ass is bringing it. Am I clear?"

"CFB, sir."

"Director Fury's backside is paining him?" a deep voice asked in the corridor.

"Uh, not really, Thor. That's a figure of speech," Sitwell replied as he stepped away from the door to be replaced by the overly muscular Asgardian.

"I see. Thank you for clarifying." Thor's blonde mane had grown longer and the top of it was drawn back in a braid at the back of his head though a great deal still hung down at the sides. "It is good to see you, Nick Fury. I truly did not expect such a large complex to have been built here to assist my brother and new sister. I thank you."

Nick struggled not to sigh out loud. "Just don't make the necessity of it a habit."

The god grinned. "It should not be. Tony Stark has offered them a place in his tower…though I hear that will now be given over to the Avengers for their headquarters. He is a generous man."

"He's getting a hell of a tax break." Thor's brow wrinkled in confusion. "Never mind. Let's go find your brother."

"You seem distressed, friend Nick. Has Loki caused difficulties?" he was asked as they headed for the building's exit.

Nick thought about it. Other than the fact that he was there, Loki had been…actually helpful. Just admitting it was galling. "No. Keeping all of this off of the radar was the only difficulty." Thor's forehead wrinkled again. "We had to keep it out of the media so that we didn't have civilians running around, taking photographs and possibly getting hurt."

"Ah. Yes, I have heard of your paparazzi; annoying creatures to be sure. Thank you for protecting my family from them." Thor was silent, but only for a minute. "So Loki has not caused problems?"

"Were you expecting him to?"

"Not as such, but I feared he might have difficulty adjusting. He is used to the life of royalty. I assume he does not have such here."

Nick decided that both of the poor bastards deserved a break from his annoyance. "He did fine, Thor. He helped out with the cooling system, treated the staff politely, and only got aggravated when my people screwed up and endangered everyone."

"And he saved lives," Natasha Romanov snapped. Nick sighed aloud this time. He hadn't noticed the assassin leaning against the building in the shade just outside the exit.

"Yes," Nick agreed. "That was associated with the screw up I mentioned." Thor was grinning ear to ear, positively beaming. He almost preferred Loki's sneer. Nick almost gagged at that unwelcome realization. "He worked very well with the team to ensure everyone was safe."

"That is wonderful news indeed. Our parents shall be overjoyed to hear it."

… ...

"Loki and Hogun just headed out to the gate area looking for you," Natasha told the huge blonde. "Kara is in the lab with Dr. Banner."

Thor hesitated for a moment. "I should go meet my brother," he decided and headed out into the desert.

Natasha opted to track down Clint on whatever perch he'd found. "I'll let the others know you're here." She turned to Fury and Sitwell. "Jasper, can you duck into the lab and tell the docs that Thor's here? They're probably hip-deep in data and haven't noticed."

He grinned. "Sure thing, Nat." His smile faded suddenly. "Uh, if that's okay, director?"

"Go," Fury agreed and turned on his heel to reenter the building.

Natasha smirked and went Hawk hunting. Considering how few places there were for his 'nest', it took a while. She finally discovered that he'd climbed the rolling stairs to one of the water tanks and then had leapt tank to tank until he'd reached the residential portable. He had to have seen Thor, either coming in or going back out again, yet he still sat up there, staring out into the distance. "Coming down anytime soon?" she called up to him.

Clint looked down at her and grimaced. "Knowing how well those two communicate, it could be hours yet before we're ready to go."

This was true. "Still, I could use a hand. We need to make sure we've left nothing belonging to the team behind that we don't want S.H.I.E.L.D. to have." He stared at her for a full minute and then nodded. He pulled an anchor and line from a side pocket of his quiver, attached them, and slid down the side of the building. A quick tug loosened the anchor and he retracted the line and replaced both in the quiver. The entire process took just under a minute. "Nice," she told him and he grinned at the compliment. "Let's do a building by building sweep and then the training area."

"Tandem?"

"Yes, two pair of eyes miss less."

… …

Loki stopped halfway to the area that held the permanent gate marker and stared at the tracks on the ground. "I'm not certain how we missed him, but we did." They turned and headed back to the temporary base. As they topped a rise, they could see Thor trotting out in their direction.

He grinned when he saw them. "Brother! Hogun! It is good to see you both." Loki grimaced as Thor reached them and pulled him into one of his exuberant hugs. "I spoke to Nick Fury; he had nothing but compliments concerning you."

Interesting; that must have cost the good director dearly. Loki fought the smirk and managed a humble smile, casting his eyes down modestly. "I did my best to honor the terms of my being here," he said in a soft voice. He glanced up as Hogun headed back to the complex, leaving them alone.

Thor's expression turned serious. "I had no doubt you would, my brother. Natasha Romanov tells me you have saved the lives of our friends. That also heartened me."

"Don't make more of it than it was, Thor. They were next to me when my life was in danger."

"Of course they were," the maddening oaf said with a grin.

Loki pushed past him and continued back to the structures. "They were quite fortunate that I chose to shield myself rather than simply teleport myself out from under the falling debris."

"Loki," Thor said reproachfully. He turned at the sound. His adopted brother was frowning at him. "Why is it so difficult to admit that your instincts prompted you to save our friends? Do you wish us all to think badly of you? We would hold you in the honor you clearly deserve."

He shook his head. Thor didn't understand…couldn't understand. "I am not made of the stuff of heroes, Thor. I am not you. You know what's prophesied. I am to bring about Ragnarök and I am to be the downfall of the gods. It is best none of you learn to trust me."

"My brother, Ragnarök will come will you or nil you; it will not be brought by you. And yes, if you stand against us, you will destroy us. But do you not see? That will come to pass only if you stand against us. If you stand with us, we will triumph and those you love will survive." He snorted and tried to walk away, only to have Thor block his path. "Loki, you are my brother and you hold my heart. I will never not love you and I will always give you the benefit of any doubt. If that means you will destroy all of us, then perhaps it is our time to die."

Loki furiously fought the tears that filled his eyes. "And why must that be my responsibility, brother," he hissed.

He stiffened as Thor wrapped his arms around him and held him close. "I wish I could take that burden from you, Loki. But you have always known you were meant for greatness. None born wholly to the Æsir have ever had your potential for power, you know this. Odin suspects your power will grow greater yet as the centuries pass. It is a great burden and one I do not envy you; being King of Asgard is a paltry responsibility next to this." Thor's arms tightened and the fingers of one large hand tangled in Loki's hair as he lost the battle against his tears. "Yet I vow to you, you will not face it alone. I will stand with you, our friends will stand with you and your lady will stand with you. When we stand together, nothing in the universe will defeat us."

… …

"Hogun, where are Thor and Loki?" Kara asked as the warrior approached the buildings.

He gestured toward the area that held the carving made several millennia ago by Odin. "Talking," was all he said.

"Oh, thanks. I'll just go and…" she trailed off as he held out a hand to bar her passage.

"Do not."

His cryptic comments could annoy the shit out of her if she let them. She took a deep breath. "Why not?"

"This is something you cannot help with," he said, surprising her with the sheer number of words that came out of his mouth at one time. She opened her mouth to retort and was surprised into closing it again when he continued. "Please…your highness."

Kara sighed. "It's really important, I take it." He nodded. She frowned and stared out over the rocky terrain and began to reach out with her expanded empathic senses.

"Don't," Hogun said. "Leave them be."

More than a dozen words from him in one conversation. It must be God-awful important. "Okay, Hogun. I'll trust your judgment." He bowed slightly and headed into the building. She sighed again and followed him in and found a place to sit where she could watch for their return.

It took over an hour but Loki and Thor finally trudged through the rocks. Thor had his arm slung over Loki's shoulder. Loki's arms were crossed over his chest, but he was listening to Thor with a thoughtful expression and was not making any attempt to draw away from his elder brother. That had to have been one hell of a talk. Thor finished whatever he was saying and clapped Loki's shoulder, gently, for him, then looked up. "Sister!" he bellowed, evidently spotting her through the glass.

She smiled and headed outside to greet him. "It's good to see you, Thor," she said, squeaking as he swept her off of her feet for a somewhat too exuberant hug.

"Easy, brother. She is not yet fully Æsir, her body is not yet strong enough for your embraces," Loki warned him.

"Ah, of course. I forget myself." Thor grinned and looked back at Loki. "As always, yes, I know." He turned back to her and frowned. "And you, my sister. Will you not honor me with the title of brother?"

"Uh, that's not really traditional here, but if it will make you happy, brother," she emphasized. "Then of course I will."

His grin was absolutely contagious. "Indeed it will. I fear we have dawdled long, but we had much to discuss. Shall we take a meal before we leave for Asgard? They will have a meal awaiting our arrival there, regardless of the hour."

She thought about the state of her stomach after her last trip. "Um, let's wait until we get there. I really don't want to be leaving a mess on the Bifröst." Shaking her head at his confusion she told him: "The last trip made me very nauseous."

"Ah, it does indeed affect many that way. Very well. Let us gather everyone and make our way home. Loki tells me that Hawkeye will return with us and that Natasha and Dr. Banner will come as well. I look forward to showing them our home." He frowned. "Why do you flinch when I say the word home?"

Kara totally lost it. She cracked up and was barely able to explain Loki's prank on Tony between fits of laughter. Finally, she finished the story and looked up to see Thor giving Loki an odd look. "But Tony totally deserved it, Thor."

Thor grinned. "I am certain, my sister. Loki, I'm glad to see you are in such fine form. I truly have missed your mischief."

"As I have missed doing it," Loki returned with a small smile of his own.

… …

"Is everyone ready?" Thor asked as he looked around. As before, Loki held one end of the device while he held the other. Loki had one arm wrapped firmly around Kara while she held on to Natasha Romanov. Thor had tucked Mjölnir in his belt and his free arm held both Banner and Barton. The two men looked vaguely embarrassed to be crushed together, but had understood when he'd explained that Kara now weighed more than either of them and adding Banner on to her weight would make the burden Loki carried far heavier than Thor's if he carried Barton and Natasha. Hogun stood behind them, hands firmly grasping his and Loki's innermost wrists. Hearing everyone confirm their readiness Thor looked over to where Nick Fury and Agent Sitwell stood watching. "If all goes well, they should return in two weeks or near enough. If it goes poorly, word will be sent so that none worry overmuch."

"You do that," Fury said. "I don't need Stark and Dr. Foster on my ass if you're overdue."

Thor grinned as he heard his sister laugh. "I think you need to worry more about Darcy," she called out.

"Darcy?" Thor asked. He remembered the girl, how could he forget the small female who had used a device that stunned him so thoroughly.

"Darcy," Banner confirmed. "I'll explain later."

"Very well." He looked to Loki who nodded, then turned the handle to activate the cube.

… …

Author's Notes: Plan B is underway! I know that will make many of you happy. Thanks again for all of the love…and we're off to Asgard! Hope you enjoyed Thor and Loki's heart to heart, I thought it was long overdue.