A/N: Haven't done this in a while so friendly reminder/disclaimer that I do not own any of the characters/settings save for my own original characters which I'm assuming would be fairly easy to know which is which. Thank you.

Chapter Fifteen

Loki—or Lars, the pseudonym he had chosen for himself to use around Hayden's family—lounged on the sofa watching the Midgardian children play with one another with unenthusiastic interest. He clenched his teeth tightly together wondering how he had even let Hayden convince him in staying while she and the rest of her family left to visit her father leaving him with the younglings and their mothers.

Hayden had suggested that it would be best that he does not wander off into Midgard alone in fear of someone recognizing him. He hated to admit to himself but the Midgardian woman was right. He had returned to an Earth for a sole purpose. Having S.H.I.E.L.D or any of the Avenger's aware of his presence was far from appealing to him at the moment. Without his full power he would be at their mercy; an idea that did not strike his fancy.

Loki continued to watch the small children as they giggled and poked and prodded while their mothers chatted about trivial topics. He detested them all with their self-centered conversations and medial attention spans. The entire lot of them should be bowing before him, quivering in fear at the wrath that he could bring at any single—

"So, Lars how did you and Hayden meet?" asked the larger of the two women.

He had forgotten her name—more so he had not bothered to learn it—but he had come upon the conclusion that she was his least favorite. Her blonde mop of ragged hair and uneven teeth were something left to be desired but it was her shrill voice that gritted at him. At least in Asgard even the homely of Goddesses were enviable.

Putting on his best face, he forced a charming smile and leaned forward in his seat putting both feet onto the ground. "I am certain that she had already regaled the tale."

Both women looked at one another, until the slender brunette raised both her brows and laughed. "Hayden doesn't tell us anything. Honestly I'm surprised she even has a boyfriend. That girl spends so much of her time cooped up with her books." She reached down and muttered to one of the children to quiet their play, and sat back up with a small smile on her plain, pointed face. "I thought she'd have made up one of those Gods she read about being her boyfriend before getting a real one."

The blonde let out a shriek that Loki could only assume was laughter. He smiled at the irony of the woman's jesting comment. "I assure you that I am real, god or not." He winked and both women chuckled amongst one another. Oh, how simple Midgardian women were. Flash them a smile, wink their way and they would melt in the palm of his hands.

"So, don't skirt around the question. Spill it, how did you and Hay Hay meet?" asked the blonde.

Loki thought about an answer for a moment, trying to decide what would be the most realistic of meetings. Hayden was quiet and shy and she did not put herself out for others to notice. If it was not for her coming to Asgard he would have passed her by, never noticing her at all. She was forgettable and plain. Nothing that would have caught his eye were he actually looking for a female to court.

Leaning back into the sofa, Loki spread out his arms and rested it along the back. He flashed a rather charming smile and shrugged. "I mistook her for..." he paused and titled his head, "how do you word it here...a female sex-slave."

Both women gaped, their eyes wide and mouths dropping to the floor. Loki smugly smiled as he watched them both scramble to find their words. The children looked up from him and their mother with curious expressions. Perhaps this was not going to be such a boring afternoon after all.

I sat in the hospital waiting room, my foot jiggling up and down as we waited for one of the nurses to let us in to visit with my father. It felt as though hours had passed by but every time I looked at my phone it was only minutes. Exhaling slowly, I leaned my head back against the wall and closed my eyes trying not to let my anxiety of hospitals get to me.

They always smelled so stale. For a place where thousands of people came in and came out for weeks on end it never smelled anything less than bleach and the lingering scent of death down the hall. Someone was always dying in a hospital. Whether they were in the room next to you or five floors underneath. It was never something I was comfortable with, the idea that all around me was something bigger than what I could possibly understand.

If Loki were here he'd tell me to get over it. Of course he'd put it eloquently but the meaning would all be the same. He'd then proceed to tell me that death happens and it is inevitable and that to be afraid of it is just a waste of energy. Easy for a man whose been alive for several centuries to say.

"Dude, Hayden that is really annoying." I opened my eyes and looked up to see Thomas staring at me with raised brows and a dumbfounded expression on his face. His gaze dragged to my foot and I followed it realizing that my heel had been hitting against the leg of the chair. I stopped. "Thank you."

I bit my bottom lip thinking of a sarcastic remark but shortly after decided against it. It wasn't his fault that he was so easily irritated. We all were tired of waiting and anxious to see my father. After all, I wasn't the only one with a nervous tick.

Mom had been twisting at the end of her top the entire time. It was so wrinkled that every so often she'd look down on it and mutter that she'd never be able to iron them out. Uncle Lewis would suck on the inside of his cheek, chew on it for a couple seconds, exhale and then suck on it once more. And, Uncle Oscar would run his fingers through his balding hair, tap on his bald spot and consistently frown every time his finger rubbed on the skin. Thomas looked cool and collected but he was on his phone the entire time. At first I thought he was texting his girlfriend or on the internet but every so often I'd look to my side and see that he was only staring at a blank screen, fidgeting with his keypad.

No one talked save for small conversations and someone asking for the time. Whenever a nurse walked by my mother would start to rise and everyone would still. They'd continue on with their rounds, not even paying us any heed and everyone else would return to their nervous ticks without even realizing that they were doing it.

"Mrs. Waltham?" My mother looked up as an elderly, spry doctor stood in front of her. He held a clipboard at his side and extended his free hand for her to take. They shook, my mother's fingers trembling as they wrapped around his. "He's heavily sedated, but he is awake. We advise only letting one of you in at a time."

My mother nodded and turned to me, grabbing onto my shoulder. She smiled sadly and hugged me tightly. "You go first darling."

"Mom," I choked pushing her away slowly. "I'm fine. You can go first."

Her eyes hardened slightly and her mouth thinned. "Hayden, don't be afraid."

"I'm—I'm not afraid. I just want—"

She shook her head. "You are afraid."

I didn't want to cry. It was the last thing I wanted to do, especially in front of everyone. But, the tears fell anyways, sliding down my cheeks and trailing along my jaw line. I wiped at my chin and sniffed, staring at the wet streak on top of my hand.

"It'll be alright Hayden," my mother whispered squeezing me tightly on the knee.

Licking my lips I nodded and looked to the doctor who stared at me with a forced smile and sympathetic eyes. He gestured toward the long hallway and I stood up weakly allowing him to lead me to my father's room. In giant, gold lettering Room 143 was plated onto the metal door, the blinds pulled shut so that no one could see inside. The doctor nodded and opened the door for me, giving me a small shove inside after I stared inside as though afraid I was about to enter another dimension.

I jumped as the door slammed shut behind me, unevenly inhaling as I looked around. The room was dark save the light that poured from the slits in the blinds. Large machines with numbers that I didn't understand fluctuated up and down making beeping and pumping sounds in the otherwise quiet room. I remained still, with my back against the door, swallowing hard as I stared at my father's bed only able to see his feet covered by the plain, white blanket.

I wasn't ready to see him, not like this. He was always so strong and full of life. He lived in other worlds—not literally, of course—and wanted to expand his mind at every chance he had. This was a man who taught me to seek more truth than what was offered, to see things that I would never search for on my own.

Slowly, I exhaled watching the heart monitor pick up and slow down. Every so often it would skip a beat, my own heart would then follow suite. This wasn't right. He wasn't supposed to be in here. He wasn't supposed to be lying on that bed with tubes and machines and wires hooked up to him just to help him fucking breathe!

My heart started to pinch and my lungs felt as though they were going to collapse. I inhaled deeply grasping for air and clutching onto nothing instead. My chest heaved, trying to catch my breath. It felt as though sandpaper was being shoved down my throat and someone else was trying to pull it free.

I can't do this.

I spun around and clutched onto the door handle and exited the room. My mother stood up as I bolted out, her face wrinkled with concern as she stepped forward and pulled me into her grasp. I twisted myself out of her arms and shook my head, walking away.

The ride home was quiet. I pretended that the visit had drained me of all energy and was asleep while Uncle Lewis drove and Uncle Oscar sat in the passenger seat. Mom sat in the middle between Thomas and I and every so often she'd ask Thomas a question that he either grunted at or completely ignored.

From what I gathered it wasn't a good visit for anyone. My father was unresponsive and hadn't even known anyone was there. According to my mother he was getting worse. At least he wasn't able to tell anyone that I hadn't visited with him, and the shame of that would remain only to myself.

We pulled into the driveway and everyone let themselves out. The walk to the house was somber but it quickly dissipated upon entering. Sully was on the couch barking wildly as the children—Annie, Addie and Michael—laughed at the top of their lungs. Both of my aunts were clapping and pointing in the far off corner of the living room.

I closed my eyes. Please don't be Loki doing something stupid. Please don't be Loki doing something stupid.

It was—of course—Loki doing something stupid.

"Oh, Carol. Boys!" Greeted my Aunt Kathryn as she leapt off the couch and grabbed Thomas by the hand to drag him into the living room. "You guys have got to see what Lars can do!"

Groaning, I followed behind my mother to see Loki standing on the other couch juggling three of the kitchen chairs. My Uncle's and Thomas joined in on the excitement, their mouths and eyes wide open as they clapped in approval. Loki winked at me, waving his hand and setting the chairs down into the middle of the floor so that they were neatly stacked atop one another.

Again, I groaned as the entire family burst into applause and cheers. Thomas ran up to Loki, eagerly asking him how he did that. My face was on fire as I sheepishly turned to see my mother glaring at me. I shrugged in apology but she shook her head and pointed at the kitchen.

Inhaling deeply I rolled my eyes and walked in front of her, feeling her eyes try to burn a hole in the back of my head. "I thought you said he was powerless," she harped, flinging her hand in the direction of the living room. "That was not powerless, Hayden."

"He calls them parlor tricks mom. Something that a magician like that guy on TV you like so much can do."

"There's a difference between illusion and magic, Hayden. That was magic of a God."

"Mom, he doesn't have enough power to take over a city or a world or kill anyone—"

"He's dangerous and needs to go," she said folding her arms across her chest.

I scoffed, unsure of why I even cared. I didn't really want Loki there. But, he wasn't really harming anyone. Besides, maybe spending time around Midgardians would prove to be good for him. After all, Thor learned a lot from it.

"Hayden Jessica, I swear on my grandaddy's grave if that man even so much as tricked you into whatever it is that you have going on with him I will—"

"Mom!" I nearly shouted holding up my hands to silence her. "Loki—I mean, Lars—isn't tricking me into anything and there's nothing for him to trick me into. I told you, he's here on a probation. Nothing else, nothing more. And he won't harm anyone."

She stared at me for a moment. "Fine but no more magic. I don't care if everyone thinks they're just tricks." I nodded. "I do wish you would tell me what was really going on Hayden."

"Hayden?" I turned around to see both of my Aunts standing in the kitchen doorway with giant smiles on their faces. I inhaled sharply and forced a smile on my own face as well. "So, Lars told us how you two met," giggled Aunt Kathryn.

I rolled my eyes. This had to have been good. "Oh, really? And, what did he say?"

"I do not understand how I have done anything to upset you," said Loki as I dipped my feet in the pool.

"Can you move? You're blocking my sun."

He remained still allowing his tall, gangly shadow to drown over me. "You and I did not discuss prior arrangements on how we had met. I found a fitting story that they believed. You should be grateful that I endured the headache and spared you one as well."

I pulled down my sunglasses and snapped my head up at him. "Grateful? Loki you told my family that you thought I was a prostitute."

"Oh, is that what they are called here?"

I ignored him. "Whatever. To save this little misunderstanding in the future just say that we met at a bookstore and you asked me for an opinion on a book and decided to ask me out for coffee and things grew from there."

He crinkled his nose. "That all sounds rather dull."

"It's not dull," I said in defense. "It's romantic and actually believable."

"One cannot argue that it would not be hard for others to believe. After all, your life up until our meeting seemed to be rather dull indeed."

Again, I ignored him. "Why don't you go watch TV or something?"

"I do not care for the Midgardian entertainment of what you call TV. It perplexes me how something such as dick jokes and talking animals can be of amusement to your people."

"Yeah, well you're not the only one perplexed by that," I muttered lifting my feet out of the water and splashing them back in.

The sun was setting over the back yard giving off a yellow hue around the trees. It reflected off of the pool's surface, shattering underneath so that it looked as though crystals glittered at the bottom. I considered going for a swim but decided against it and thought dipping my feet would be better. The moment I stepped outside, Loki was there beside me with his questions of why I had been ignoring him and why I was so angry.

"Why did you really come Loki?"

"I believe we already discussed this upon the acquiescence that I stay with your family while you went to visit your father." I grunted and slipped my sunglasses back on. "I take it that the visit went well."

I chewed on the inside of my cheek knowing very well that he knew it wasn't a good visit. Everyone was upset, my mother had set herself to baking more pies that we didn't need and my uncles were drinking beer and watching football recaps of game they watched only hours ago.

"It would not kill you to actually speak of your feelings every so often Hayden."

"What are you talking about?"

"This constant need you have to be good, to be friendly is sickening. You want others to like you, to love you and so rather than stand up for yourself even when you know someone is wrong you allow them to walk over you." Loki laughed. "I have seen many Midgardian's do foolish things, but this is by far the most foolish of all."

"I do speak my mind. I've told you off a couple of times."

"Yes," he mused. "But, you haven't really told me off."

"I slapped Fandral."

"As I have said before Fandral has had many of slappings in his time. And, he often deserves it. No," he cooed bending down so that his lips touched the bottom of my ear, "you have never really let go. Never let that anger take over you. The pain is locked away here," he whispered bringing his hand to my chest and pointing at my heart, "and you let it fester and ooze refusing to let yourself escape."

"You don't know what you're talking about," I said stiffly smacking his hand away. "Just because I don't let my anger get the best of me doesn't make me a foolish person."

"I heard your mother reprimanding you earlier. You think you're brave for standing up to her in allowing me to stay? That wasn't bravery, Hayden. You didn't even fight. If she were to press even a little bit harder you'd have caved in and let her have her way. After all, poor Hayden could never upset anyone—"

"What are you doing?" I nearly cried out pulling me feet from the water and standing up. "Look, I know you're heartless and bored and you like to tear other people apart but leave me alone. I don't need you here Loki to break me when I'm already broken as it is! Can't you see that?"

He stared at me, his green eyes sparkling in the sunlight. I inhaled deeply as a small smile started to slip on his face. All he wanted to do was provoke me, to spark some anger. I hated myself for letting him get to me, for letting him prove that he was right.

"Good," he murmured letting his sly smile spread like a joker's grin. "Perhaps you should cool off, Hayden?"

"What—?"

SPLASH!

I struggled to swim to the surface of the pool, the water logging me down in my jean shorts and cotton tank. I gasped for air the moment I reached the top, brushing back my wet hair off of my face. Wildly, I looked around for Loki not seeing him anywhere.

What a jerk!

"I think I prefer this look on you."

I spun around in the water, my top twisting and floating around me. Loki sat on top of the waters surface just so that his trousers weren't touching. I glared and splashed him, the water landing on the opposite of the pool. Manically, Loki laughed from behind me and I spun around to see him standing, his bare feet covered up to his ankles.

"For being such an old man you're awfully childish," I commented as I started to swim toward the ladder. Loki appeared in front of me, sitting cross legged, and smiling even wider. I reached out and grabbed him by his waist, pulling him into the pool up to his shoulders.

His eyes expanded as the water seeped into his clothing. I laughed and swam backwards, splashing him in the face.

"You think it funny?"

I nodded and held up my hand. "Truce?" He started to nod only to appear behind me and hold onto my waist, dunking me under the water. I pulled myself up and jumped at him. "I said truce!"

"Now we can settle this truce," he replied holding me by my shoulders as I tried to dunk him in return.

"Oh, now you want a truce? That's not how it works?" I said struggling against his hold.

He pinned my arms down to my side with one hand, and pressed his other onto my back to pull me into him. Our wet chests bumped against another and I suddenly became aware of my shirt practically sticking halfway up my back, nearing my bra line. His hand touched the naked skin of my back just above my jeans, his nose so close that I could feel the water dripping off of his eyelashes and onto my face.

"Hayden." I looked up at the sound of my name, the sun blocking my view of the silhouette of my mother standing above us with both hands firmly on her hips. "Come inside and help me with the rest of the dishes?" I swallowed and turned back to Loki who stared at me with raised brows and pursed lips. I started to hesitate when my mother's voice grew more firm, "now."

"Oh—okay," I whispered untangling myself from Loki's grasp and swimming toward the ladder. She walked ahead of me as I started to twist the remaining water from tank top and my hair feeling Loki's gaze on me the entire time. I looked down at him as he stood in the water watching with an almost disappointed gleam in his green eyes.

"I wish to offer you my condolences," he said.

"For what?"

"The death of your will to stand up for yourself."

A/N: Thank you for your support guys! And, as always the reviews/comments/favorites and follows.

alleycat2834: Even amidst the sad there's always a smile. (: Family is good (or should be) at doing that to people.

ninjaloki: It took me forever to find a name that seemed something Loki would pick without realizing how tacky it was. Haha I'm glad people are receptive to it.

Ellize Avalon: I plan on having a couple of chapters dedicated to being in Midgard/Earth before heading back to Asgard. Despite it being sad due to Hayden's father's impending death I do plan on making her enjoy herself while being there as well. (:

Guest (1): Oh yes, writing in characters who do not understand the world as it is today is always fun to dabble with. I'm looking forward to it. :D

Guest (2): Loki is quite the trickster but I figured having Hayden's mom (since she teaches Mythology for a living) would be able to recognize him. And, thank you so much!

Apples10: I plan on finishing this to the end! :D

Poodle warriors: I originally planned on having Loki fooling everyone but I thought a little harder on it and Hayden's parents teach Mythology and practically raised Hayden in a world of myths so I thought if anyone would recognize him, it'd be her parents-her mom for the most part-to know who he really was. And yes, his intentions of showing up weren't exactly for noble causes haha

Hayden: Thanks and yeah that's what I was thinking as I started writing this chapter out though it wasn't planned that way at first. Haha and grammy has her head on straight, that's for sure haha

Guest (3): thank you so much! And yes, Sully and Fandral are fun characters to write. Actually, Sully is based off of my best friend's dog. His name is Dakota and he's the biggest dummy ever, but so cute. So, when I write Sully I just think of Dakota haha and no worries I'm sure even though it's not mentioned in the story that Fandral is getting some. He's quite the charmer with the ladies, I don't think he'll have much trouble.

iLoveLemonade: Oh, he's definitely got a few tricks up his sleeve. Of course. :D Thank you! I'll do my best.