A/N: As a thank you for you guys being so understanding and nice about the comments thing I decided to post this chapter earlier than planned. So, again thank you guys so much! Enjoy.

"And they have these brutal tournaments where men and women will fight these creatures called bilgesnipes. A lot of people die but those who live are considered Asgard's finest warriors."

I leaned in close with his brittle hand against my heart. It felt so small in my loose grasp. I licked my lips and forced a smile, "The bilgesnipe are these enormous lizard-like beasts with antlers that they use as weapons. They're unlike anything on Earth." I paused. "Well, I guess all the creatures on Asgard are unlike anything here. But they have some normal ones, just bigger than what we have." I thought of the boar and shuddered. "They even go hunting.

"You would love hunting with them. I even went if you can believe that," I chortled recalling the fear that pumped through me as I was kicked off the back of the horse, and the sweat on my palms when Sif took the blade from my hand in disappointment.

I moved on to telling him about the Warriors Three and Lady Sif. "She is gorgeous, really and so brave. I don't think anything could ever frighten her. Then there is Fandral who is such a lady's man. They call him Fandral the Dashing, or so he claims. And then there is Volstaag who can eat more than Sully and Hogun whose actually very quiet.

"He's always been rather nice though and I feel like Thor told him to kind of keep an eye on me. He's always just sort of there. Like after Loki played this trick on me in the library." I quickly delved into the story of how Loki had tossed library books at me and in a huff finished with, "Hogun helped me understand that Loki is just a child with powers of a God."

I sighed and looked at my father's face. He remained completely still. Trying to stay positive I continued talking-if not for his sake then definitely for my own, "You would like him. Loki, that is. He is an ass and stubborn and selfish and he thinks he rightfully deserves to rule a world sitting on a golden throne," I exhaled slowly and brought my face back to my father's hand.

There was a wet spot on his knuckle. My hand trembled upward to the unwounded side of my face and felt the dampness before my fingers touched the skin. I pulled my hand away. When had I been crying?

I cleared my throat and feigned cheerfulness. I wouldn't let him hear me be sad. I couldn't. "But, when he is isn't being ridiculously childish he's...thoughtful...in his own way. He had a gown commissioned for me that made me feel like a princess."

The machine beeped and my eyes fluttered upward. I stilled, watching the heart monitor ride and fall in slow beats, the same as before. When nothing happened I allowed myself to exhale.

"Um, anyways," it was getting hard to focus, "he is losing his powers though. After the stint he pulled in New York and before Odin's death he took Loki's powers away. He would keep saying that the magic he was left with was nothing but parlor tricks and I never understood why because his magic is amazing. But now he can't even heal himself and it strains him to teleport."

I swallowed hard, the bruises throbbing as a reminder. He had left me there on the floor-naked and alone-confused as to what happened. I was left feeling ashamed, like I should have said something sooner or done something...something. I was in defeat. And everything-inside and out-was on fire.

The pain twisted and burned, blackening all that it touched. It scorched and left everything in it's path to crumble into ashes. As I stared at the reflection of a stranger in the mirror I knew I was lost. And the only person who could pull me from that darkness was lying on a hospital bed, unconscious.

My father always knew what to say to bring me up. He always knew how to make me smile. Or, how to stop the tears. He was the kind of dad that instead of taking me out for ice cream when I had my heartbroken for the first time he took me to the library to show me books about strong women-his personal favorite being the Greek Goddess, Artemis-that didn't put up with men and "their bullshit," as he so colorfully put it.

I swallowed hard, pushing past the dry lump that had formed in my throat. "I think he's scared," I continued pushing my eyebrows together so that I felt them almost touch at the middle, "and I think it angers him that he's scared. He's afraid to lose control, especially because he's lost so much already. Angry because..."

I looked back up to my father's gaunt face, the tears were falling freely. "He doesn't understand why something he has had his entire life suddenly won't be there one morning. That he'll wake up and it'll just be gone-"

"Are you sure it is me that you are talking about?" Quickly I wiped away my tears with my free hand and looked over my shoulder to see Loki lounging like a cat in an overplushed chair. His long legs were tossed over the arm and his body sank deep into its cushions. His nose was no longer bleeding. "What do you know of loss?" he accused.

"Nothing," I crooked turning back to my father. The tears pricked at the corners of my eyes but I refused to let Loki see me cry again. He had already done so much. I stared at my father's closed eyes wishing so hard for him to open them that my chest felt ready to explode. "Nothing yet," I whispered rubbing my fingers against his cold, bony knuckles.

I heard Loki shuffle out of the chair. His shoes clacked against the linoleum floor. "You did look like royalty...in that dress."

I turned sharply and furrowed my brows. "Are you drunk?"

Loki tilted his head but said nothing. His green eyes flicked to my sleeping father, his eyebrows twisting at the bridge of his pointed nose. "My last words to Odin were not kind words." He moved toward me until I could feel his arm brush against mine. "Anger is a powerful magic. Much more than any rabbit pulled from a hat trick." Parlor tricks, I mused. "It consumes you, controls you..." from the corner of my eye I saw Loki's lightly scarred hands flex at his side. "It changes you until you are it's own."

"Sounds terrifying," I muttered looking away from his fist.

"There are things to be terrified of in this life that are wasted fears. You are not wrong to be frightened of this."

"I just-" my fathers grip loosened and I quickly turned my attention to him. The machines began to loudly beep and a light outside the door began to flash. "What is happening?" I cried out frantic as several nurses barged into the room and shoved me aside.

"We're loosing him," one of the nurses shouted as the doctor rushed in. he ordered another nurse to get the defibrillator ready as he manually pushed on my father' chest, timing each pump carefully.

"Dad!" I shouted trying to get around the nurses.

"Get her out of here," warned a short, stubby brunette to Loki.

He nodded and grabbed for my elbow. I moved my arm from his grasp and started to cry, "No! Daddy!? Daddy!"

Loki pursed his thin lips tightly together so that they formed a straight line and grabbed me by the waist. I struggled against him, started to claw at his arms to let me go, and pushed at his body to stop him as he carried me out of the room.

"No, Loki!" I screamed not caring who heard me call out his name. "Let me go!"

Without saying anything he set me down. My feet landing on the tile floor synced with the sudden silence around me. They say that sometimes time feels as though it has actually stopped even though everything still races around you. I swiveled around, my gaze firmly set on the light that had stopped flashing outside my father's door. Inside I could hear the machines give out one last beep before it extended into one long dial tone.

My heart dropped to the floor. It shattered before my Mother' s white heels, echoing through the silent halls. With ease I pushed through past Loki, my hand was on the handle when the door jerked open and the nurses poured from the room. I searched their faces for any glimmer of hope but all I was given were soft smiles and lingering stares. The doctor exited the room last. We exchanged a look, his face was hard and his eyes were empty. He reached out to touch my shoulder but I already knew what he was going to say.

I squeezed between the doctor and the door, running to the bedside where my father laid. I dropped to my knees, skinning the skin against the cold floor and grabbed for my father's limp hand. I started to wheeze with every inhale and my chest tightened with each release. It couldn't be true. I didn't get to...he didn't hear me say...

"Daddy, you need to wake up." I started to shake him gently by the shoulder. "Please wake up. Okay, mom isn't here yet so you have to wake up." Tears trickled down the bridge of my nose, staining the white bedsheets. "Dad, you have to get up."

"Hayden-"

"Please daddy."

"Hayden..."

I rose from my knees and spun around sharply to Loki and pointed at my father. "Bring him back," I demanded, "save him!"

Loki's eyes flashed and his mouth fell slightly. His eyebrows pointed together as he carefully stepped toward me. "Hayden, that is-

"You're a fucking god!" I screamed, stepping in to close off the space between us. "you have magic that can heal people within seconds. Save my father!" I searched his face moving my eyes rapidly back and forth. "Don't just stand there. Save him!"

Loki reached out for me and pulled me into his hold. I struggled against him, slamming my fists into his chest demanding that he let me go. He held on tighter as I cried and screamed at him for being selfish and for only using his magic for his own needs and no one else's.

He held me like that for a while, letting me slam my fists against him, letting my tears ruin his shirt themselves my words to cut at him. After some time passed I was no longer sweating or hitting or even crying. I was just standing there with my face against Loki's chest and my arms dangled at my side, staring at my father from underneath Loki's hold. My body was rigid and I felt that if he let me go I would shatter like China thrown against a wall.

"There us only so much that I can, Hayden," Loki finally whispered, his words faint and almost unheard. I sniffed against his shirt. "Even a god cannot bring back the dead. Not the way that they were." I swallowed hard, my throat burned as the saliva rushed down it. "I may play the selfish prince at times and it is a role I play well but if I could, I would-"

"Don't," I managed to croak. "D-don't say it."

He nodded, unwrapping his arms from around me. I did not shatter. But I did fall, sliding my knees against the cold, linoleum floor. I could feel the skin rip this time but I did not move to tend to my wounds. Instead I helplessly stared at nothing at all and let the blood trickle down my leg. I relished the pain. It didn't hurt as much as everything else did.

"Death is not always the end," he said, his feet moving away from my view, sounding toward the door.

I closed my eyes, ignoring the stinging in my knees and the tears that splashed my skirt. Loki's words continued to ring inside my head. Words that my father loved to say.

He stayed away from her then deciding it was best she spend the time to grieve with her loved ones. Loki never knew how to offer his sympathies without unintentionally offending someone and in that moment of being covered in Hayden's tears he knew it was for the best if he just left. He couldn't bare to cause her any more pain than what she already felt. Not after seeing the way her tiny face pulled together and the tears flowed freely.

Loki racked his hands through his hair as he walked through the vacant hospital parking lot. It was time he headed back to Asgard, he had extended his welcome on Midgard for far too long especially when all he seemed to do was cause more trouble than he intended. Really, there was never any reason for him to leave Asgard in the first place.

He tried to reason with himself that he left because Heimdall and Thor had practically told him not to go. Who were they to tell him what he could and could not do? But, even that excuse fell way as the days on Midgard started to pass and he began to contemplate ways on how to convince Hayden to help him get the stone for Karnilla like he had planned to long ago.

The stone was always there, in the back of his mind. Karnilla made it sound like it was his only chance of getting his magic returned without having to redeem himself the way Thor did on Midgard. He had no love for them and never would.

Midgardians were simple-minded and weak, often selfish and easy-to-please. They craved guidance and leadership, they were so easy to mold. They were rats beneath his feet, easy to step on.

But, Hayden...she was no rat. He looked up at the clouded sky. The street lamps blocking out the stars above. Loki frowned and continued walking through the empty parking lot. Thunder rolled overhead and he wanly smiled at the rumbling sound.

He remembered the day the All-Father passed clearly. The skies were dark and thunder rolled across the horizon. Everyone in Asgard wept that day. Only one person he knew of did not shed a tear for Odin's passing.

Loki did not attend the funeral, he felt his presence was hardly missed. Oh, they asked where he was. His brothers, Thor and Baulder, and their mother, Frigga feigned concern but no one really cared. They were of nothing if not relieved that he did not show up to ruin the day.

So, he took off to the woods to be alone in his thoughts, bitter about a lot of things. It was then that Karnilla appeared to him, a vision of beauty draped in black. Her veil covered just above her eyes and her red hair fell behind her back in small curls. She wore a plain gown that accentuated her curves but swallowed her feet.

"You did not care to say Goodby to your father?" she asked, plucking a small red flower from a tree. Her long, thin fingers brushed the petals as she spoke. "Your mother worries for you."

"A charade," he shrugged, "it is of nothing more."

Karnilla opened her palm wider. The flower in her hand began to shift and move about, sprouting wing and taking the shape of a small, fat crimson bird. She smiled as it fluffed its feathers and chirped. Karnilla widened her grin as her fingers softly brushed against the top of its head.

"They play their parts well," she noted.

"Indeed they do," he agreed. "And to what do I owe this displeasure?"

Karnilla ignored his jab, as she had learned to do decades ago and sat atop a large gray boulder. She spread out the bottom of her dress with her free hand and ran her fingers along the silky material to smooth out any wrinkles before speaking. "It is a shame the All-Father passed before being able to see his son redeemed."

"Thor has become everything he could hope for," he said, a little too bitterly.

She continued to gently pet the little bird in the palm of her hand, ruffling its crimson feathers. "I was not speaking of Thor."

"I refuse to live amongst the Midgardians and learn of their ways the way that Thor did. I am a prince. I am a king meant to rule."

"And yet it is Thor who sits on the throne and not you." Loki felt his hands ball into a fist. His nails dug into the tender flesh. The small cuts healed before the blood began to rise. "I did not come here to make light of your misfortune."

"Then why did you come?" grated Loki, his jaw clenched tightly together.

Karnilla smiled and set the bird on her slender shoulder. She held out her hands and cupped them together. A dark red stone that oozed a black substance promptly appeared in her grasp. She twisted it back and forth between her hold, the sticky residue left black marks on her palms. "I can give you what Thanos could not. I can give you magic that you couldn't even dream of without losing yourself to it's power."

He had been given the chitauri as an army, meant to take over Midgard and control it as was his birthright. The tesseract had power that was far more than he could have ever known. It had a mind of its own, sinking its claws into him.

Oh, he knew what he was doing. He wanted it, he enjoyed it. But, the power consumed him in the end. It was too much for him to fully control and the Avengers had bested him. Thor had taken him back to Asgard-against the wishes of those on Midgard-where he was put on trail and punished.

Unlike Thor his magic wasn't completely taken. No. Day by day be gradually grew weaker. Karnilla knew it. She often liked to point it out when she would visit Asgard. Not once did she mention this ability in getting him what he deserved. Why now?

"The All-Father is gone and can no longer interfere" she simply replied. "I require this stone for a spell that will give us both what we want."

Loki crossed his arms and leaned against a tree. His green robes bellowed out beneath him. He had refused to wear black like everyone else. "And what is it that you want? To rule as Queen on Asgard?"

Karnilla laughed and the little bird on her shoulder jumped in surprise. "I do not need or care for Asgard. I have my own throne to sit upon in Nornheim. All I wish is to have the power to help your brother realize that he does indeed love me."

"Thor does not-"

Karnilla waved him off. "Not that oaf. Baulder. We are destined to be together, he and I."

"Tell me more about this stone," he demanded no longer in the mood to hear about her disastrous plans of romance and love. He stepped forward to take the oozing rock out of her hand when it disappeared. "Wha-"

"I don't actually have the stone. If I did I wouldn't be needing your help," she drawled reaching for the bird on her shoulder and put it in the palm of her now clean hands. "It is guarded by the Midgardian knights that call themselves S.H.I.E.L.D." She arched a prominently-shaped brow, "I am aware that you know of them."

"You are beginning to bore me," he feigned a yawn.

Karnilla pursed her lips and began to run her delicate finger along the spine of the bird. It closed its beady black eyes in pleasure. "I would teleport myself but since your stint in one of their cities they've seemed to up their security."

"Ah, yes. They can now detect when magic is present and a threat."

She nodded. "So I cannot waltz in there without being caught."

"You do know that I can no longer disguise myself into anything other than animals. Even the face of a wolf is draining-"

"They can sense disguises as well," she interrupted. "No, you see, Asgard is about to have a new visitor. My..." she paused from stroking the bird and looked up at Loki with a knowing smile, "servants have been to Midgard and planted thoughts into Fury's mind and to have his weasel, Coulson find the perfect candidate." She resumed petting the bird. "She is weak and very naive. Easy to control and won't put up a fight."

"What is it that you need me for, Karnilla?" he snapped tired of her games.

Karnilla smiled wide enough that Loki could see her teeth. She brought her veiled gaze to the bird in her hand. It began to wildly chirp in her calm before it suddenly ignited into flames. Her green eyes watched with delight as a lone charred feather fluttered to the forest floor.

"Tell me Loki, do you know the true power of the spring?"

A car blared its horn at Loki. He rose his arm to shield his eyes from the blinding sight. The man behind the wheel of the foul contraption poked his head out of the window and began to speed profanities. He honked his horn again.

"Are you fucking stupid?" the man screamed. "Get out of the middle of the road."

Loki stepped forward and leapt with ease onto the hood of the car. A thin, blonde woman in the passenger seat screamed and leaned back as far as she could as Loki crouched down and flashed a smile. The man started to honk his horn and wave a finger at him, threatening Loki if he didn't move.

With the wave of his hand he turned the wheel of the car into a snake that promptly fell into the lap of the man. The woman to his right screamed louder as she scrambled into the seat. Loki as the car lurched forward while the driver struggled to get away from the snake. He opened the door and toppled out, landing with a loud thud as he fell to the pavement.

Loki jumped off the car and landed beside the man on both feet. He stared down at him, still smiling and leaned down, grabbing the gray cloth of his shirt in both hands. Loki pulled him up so that his face was only mere inches away from his own and slammed him into the car.

The glass broke behind his head and he started to wheeze and gasp for air. Loki moved him away from the car, the small pieces of glass shattered into the car and around the ground where they stood. Loki was about to shove him against the car again when he heard the blonde sobbing.

He peered through the broken window, the man in his hands groaning as his eyes fluttered behind his head. The woman was pretty for a Midgardian with a made up face to hide her flaws and contacts that made her brown eyes blue. Tears streamed down her face leaving black and orange streaks. Her chest heaved up and down as her wide eyes stared at him pleadingly.

Loki exhaled and slowly opened his fists. The man in his grasp fell to the ground landing with a solid umph. Broken glass kicked under Loki's shoe as he stepped back, his gaze still on the tear-stained face of the Midgardian girl.

Hayden looked at him with those eyes. Hers were prettier, natural. Tears streaked her pale face leaving no make up trails behind, just sorrow and pain. Her small lips, not as painted and thick as the girl before him, trembled the same way.

He opened his mouth slightly, taking a few more steps back. Realization dawned on him. Hayden was right. Loki looked down at his shaking hands, the cuts still pink and white around the knuckles. He didn't need to be in his jotunr form to be a monster.

Loki closed his eyes and breathed. He felt himself flicker but remained in his exactly spot. He exhaled as evenly as possible and thought of Asgard. Nothing.

"No," he rasped. "This cannot be happening."

He stumbled back, landing against a parked car. "Heimdall!" he screamed, scrambling around the car and walking toward and empty park. The grass squished under his feet as he stared up at the starless sky. "I know you can hear me."

A sudden flash of light fell from the sky and wrapped around him. He breathed heavily, covering his eyes as he felt his navel pull forward and his insides flip. Loki landed on both feet, falling forward on the cold, golden floor just outside the biofrost. He looked up, expecting to see the freshly shines armor of Heimdall to instead stare up at a painted smile.

"Welcome home, my dark Prince," cooed Karnilla extending a manicured hand for him to take.

A week had passed since my father's death, a few days after his funeral. It was a small funeral of just family and friends. A few of my father' colleagues showed and several students-new and old-came to show their respect. I stood at my mother's side the entire time looking for signs of Loki. I felt foolish even caring but part of me had hoped he would still show.

My mother would often glance at me and I could see the lines in her face deepen. After Loki had left me once again on crying on the floor, my mother entered rushing to my father's side. Everything after that was a blur and I barely even remembered Thomas helping me off of the floor.

The service was nice, quiet just like dad would have enjoyed. He always hated loud get-togethers. He would say that they ruined your chances of really getting to know people.

After they lowered my father into the ground and the crowd began to disperse I stood by my mother's side staring down at the closed casket. She held a white handkerchief to her face, sobbing quietly as I wrapped my arms around her thinning shoulders.

My back began to prickle and I turned around to see Bryce dressed in a black suit standing near a service car. I whispered to my mom that I would be back and briskly walked to where he stood. He looked nice with his hair combed to the side and glasses smaller than the ones he wore to the bar.

"Hey," I greeted lamely.

"Hey," he replied shoving his hands into his pocket. "Sorry about your dad. I read about it in the newspaper."

"Oh," I whispered tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "Thank you." I looked up at him, squinting in the sun. "What are you doing here?"

"You know," he shrugged, "I just wanted to extend my condolences. I know how much you loved your dad."

"Yeah," I agreed pulling my arms up to my chest. "He was the best."

Bryce cocked a half smile and shrugged again, looking around at the stragglers that stayed behind to linger and say goodbye one last time. "So where is your fiancé at?"

I swallowed and quickly looked down at my feet. Mud had scuffed the side of the shiny black heels. "He..." I looked back to Bryce and chewed on the inside of my cheek. "He isn't really my fiancé, Bryce. I barely even know him."

"Oh," said Bryce a little too cheerful for the setting we were in. He cleared his throat. "Oh," he repeated much softer the second time. "Listen since seeing you at the bar I haven't really stopped thinking about you."

"Bryce, now really isn't the greatest time for..."

"Hey, I understand," he held up his hands and smiled, "but if you change your mind then maybe we can get a coffee together sometime."

"That's really nice of you but..." but my heart can't really take much more of a beating right now. "I leave for New York in a few days."

His face fell but he kept his smile firm. "Let me know when you're in town next."

"I will," I lied.

Bryce smiled and offered me an awkward hug. We exchanged goodbyes and I watched him leave knowing I'd never see him again. And, I was okay with that. Bryce and I had run our course.

I turned around jumping at the sight of my mom. "Who was that?" she asked slipping her arm in mine and walking toward the car.

"Just an old friend," I hastily answered. "Hold on, I forgot something." I unhooked my arm from her grasp and ran as fast as I could in heels and soft grass back to my father's grave. With blurred eyes I stared at the words, loving husband and father. "I love you, daddy. I know this isn't the end." I knelt down and whispered, "you'll watch over me right?"

I sat there for a moment, dragging my fingers along the dirt and feeling the sun grow hot against my neck. With one last goodbye I stood up and walked back to where my mom waited, chaining our arms together.

"So, what did your friend want?" my mother persisted.

I patted the top of her lacey, gloved hand. "To try and pick me up at my father's funeral." My mother widened her eyes. "He was at least nice about it."

She pursed her lips into a thin line. "What did you say?"

"That now wasn't the greatest time," I answered truthfully.

I leaned forward and opened the passenger side for her. She slid inside and I moved to shut the door. She held it open with her foot and took one last look toward where my father laid.

"Now is never the right time when you're already missing part of your heart," she said closing the door with more force than was needed. I looked down at the keys in my hand as I walked around the drivers seat and contemplated her words the entire drive home.

The house was quiet now, everyone had said their goodbyes and returned to their daily lives. Downstairs I could hear my mother doing the dishes, the rushing water covered the sound of her cries. Leaving her behind would be hard but I knew Fury expected me to return to Asgard.

Tossing a folded shirt into my suitcase I huffed realizing I was completely finished packing. I gave one quick look around my room and walked to the dresser grabbing for the photo of me and my parents on my graduation day. I unzipped one of the suitcase pockets and slipped the photo inside. Something silky brushed my fingers and I stilled. Carefully I pulled out a small blue cloth recognizing it as the gift Hogun had given me for when I felt truly lost.

A sharp pain tugged at my chest. My father died, leaving me forever and Loki abandoned me at a time that I needed comfort most. Not that he'd know how to comfort someone, I thought bitterly. Still, did I truly feel lost? I looked down at the blue cloth in my palm. More than ever did I feel lost.

Slowly I began to open it, inhaling sharply as the cloth fell open in my palm. It was empty. Frowning I reached my hand inside the pocket thinking that whatever the gift was must have fallen inside. It was empty, save the photo I had put there moment ago.

I threw the cloth on top of my folded clothes and zipped the suitcase closed. Perhaps it was just a handkerchief meant to dry my tears. After all, Asgardians liked to say pretty words that more often than not were empty.

"Hayden," called my mother from downstairs. "Can you come here?"

I pulled my hair into a quick bun as I descended the stairs two steps at a time. "What is it Mo-"

My words cut off as I saw Agent Coulson and two other agents I did not recognize standing at the front door. I quickly pulled my tank top down and rushed the remaining steps.

"These men are here to see you. They say they you know them," she inquired, raising her thinning brow.

"Oh yes, they're colleagues of mine," I said almost instantly.

Coulson nodded, smiling kindly. "Yes, Principal Fury requests that you speak to him immediately."

My mother ignored Coulson's reply and turned back to me. "They came all this way to tell you to make a phone call?"

"No, Ma'am," answered Coulson with his hands promptly folded behind his back. "We are here to collect Miss Waltham and take her back to New York."

"My flight doesn't leave until tomorrow..."

"It's urgent," he supplied turning to my mother, "may we come in?" She slowly opened the door allowing Coulson and the other two agents to step inside the living room. "Thank you. I am parched. I don't mean to be a bother but could I have something to drink?"

"I can brew some coffee, or tea, if you'd like," she carefully replied after eyeing Coulson up and down.

"Coffee would be fantastic." He waited for my mother to leave the room before the smile vanished. "Loki has been spotted in this area."

"L-Loki?" I feigned having any idea he was in California. Well, for all I knew he was back on Jotuenheim so it wasn't a complete lie.

"I hate pulling you away from your last few hours to grieve with your mother but Director Fury insists that we speak with you now."

"But-" I faltered and turned my gaze toward the archway that led toward the kitchen. "This really can't wait a day?" I asked facing Coulson with crinkled brows.

He frowned. "Loki is never up to any good. We can't slack off when he's around. We have to take every preliminary caution there is."

I nodded and folded my hands in front of stomach. "I guess...I guess I'll go get my things."

"Don't worry," he said bobbing his head upstairs to the other agents. They left to gather my things without speaking or even removing their sunglasses. "I presume you've already packed?"

"Yes."

"Very good." His eyes lit up as the sound of my mother's bare feet padded against the living room floor. Sully's claws clattering after her followed. "Ah Mrs. Waltham, thank you," he said with a familiar smile as he took the cup of coffee from her hands. He gingerly sipped from the sides and smacked his lips when finished.

"So, why do you have to leave right now?" she asked grimly.

"The substitute for Hayden's class is sick and we have no one to fill in for her tomorrow," supplemented Coulson, taking another sip of coffee. "We can't have a class without a teacher."

"No," she replied slowly, "you can't. But, in all of New York you couldn't find one substitute?"

"You would not believe how many people in New York do not have a doctorate in Norse Mythology," smiled Coulson.

"Mom?" I asked and she turned her sharp gaze from Coulson to me. "Do you think you can take care of Sully for me for a while?" I had to change the subject. The suspicion of Coulson's presence was scrawled all over her face. "I just don't have the time for him. You know, to take him on walks and as you can tell he's getting kind of chunky." Sully looked up at me and huffed. "Plus, he hasn't really left your side and-"

"Hayden..."

"It's fine if not. I just thought that with...you know...and-" I started to choke on my words.

"Hayden," my mother cut me off with a tight hug. I exhaled slowly, wrapping my arms around her back and inhaled the familiar smell of flour and old books. "Of course I'll take care of Sully." She twisted her head and leaned into my ear. "Please tell me that this has nothing to do with Loki."

And that was why I never would sneak out of the house growing up. "Don't worry so much mom," I smiled and pulled away to look at her. She had a little more color in her face but her eyes were swollen red and her cheeks were more bony than I remembered. I leaned forward and placed a kiss on one of them. They were cold against my lips. "I'll call you when I land. I love you."

She smiled. The first genuine smile since my father passed away. "I love you."

Telling myself not to cry I bent down and ruffled Sully by the ears and kissed the top of his fat head. His thick tongue lopped lazily against my chin. "Be good chunky," I cooed wiping his saliva off of my face. "Don't let her spoil you too much."

Coulson waited for me to stand. Tugging at the end of my skirt I rose just in time for the other two agents to return with my luggage. He offered my mother a faint smile before turning to me, the smile no longer reaching his eyes. "Are you ready to go?"

No. "Yes. Let's go."