Author's Note!: I am just loving the reviews and views this story is getting! Keep them coming! Let's strive for 85 reviews this time!
I keep giving y'all crazy long chapters. This one's also pretty long and takes place around Thor 2 times. It'll give us closure as well as more frustration on our two love birds. Sorry... I have to. It makes a good story! Don't hate me!
Anyway... you know the drill..
Read, Review, and above all... Enjoy!
Upon their arrival they were immediately greeted by a dozen palace guards; placing more chains around Loki to restrain him. Kaleria could only watch silently as they walked away with Loki, he didn't look back at her once as they left. Thor placed a gentle hand on Kaleria's back, smiling. "Welcome home."
Kaleria feigned a smile as she took in her surroundings. The Tesseract had taken them to an outer field near the palace. She remembered the Bifrost had been destroyed; it made sense to not be there.
Kaleria followed Thor into the palace, taking in the old familiar sights as she went. She was home and yet, she didn't feel at home. As they continued walking, she spotted a familiar face in the distance, her eyes welling with tears as she ran forward. "Kali!" Sif shouted running and closing the gap between them to embrace her sister tightly. "You're home!" She cried. Kaleria felt her own tears falling as Sif pulled away. "I was so worried for you, we did not know when you'd come home to us!" She then looked down. "And you're… with child?"
"Long story short, I was pregnant when I was stuck on Midgard." Kaleria sighed, wiping away tears.
"I will let you two catch up." Thor said with a smile as he left the girls alone.
"Come, you must tell me everything." Sif said with a smile as the two walked to the gardens.
Kaleria loved the gardens once, they were peaceful and bright. Yet, she felt differently towards them as she sat next to her sister. "What was it like staying on Midgard, were they nice to you?"
Kaleria nodded. "My stay was pleasant." She took Coulson's bade out of her pocket and handed it to Sif. "This man in particular was good to me. He kept me safe and sane."
"He's a good man." Sif replied, looking at the badge before handing it back to Kaleria.
Kaleria sighed. "He unfortunately did not make it."
"I am sorry." Sif said, forcing a smile. "But you are home now, reunited with your family."
"Part of my family is currently being tried for waging war against Midgard." Kaleria groaned.
"You must not think like that." Sif said, trying to comfort her sister. "Where do you and Loki stand now? Have you seen him?"
Kaleria sighed, avoiding her sister's gaze. "I don't know. I saw him on Midgard for a short while." She groaned. "Can we talk about something else?"
"Yes, of course." Sif smiled. "We need to fit you into more appropriate clothes; there is a banquet tonight for the return of Thor and for your return as well."
"I hate banquets."
"I know but, it's in your honor." Kaleria grimaced at the thought of attending a banquet on her first day back. She wanted to adjust quietly and without much nonsense, a banquet was the exact opposite. "I cannot believe you a pregnant, dear sister." Sif smiled. "Some good has come from all the bad."
Kaleria didn't have the heart to tell her she was wrong.
Kaleria pulled at her dress, she forgot what it was like wearing Asgardian clothing and was even more uncomfortable now that she had a giant belly to cover. "Stop fidgeting." Sif grinned at her sister as they entered the banquet hall together. "Try to relax."
"It's hard to relax when your belly is an eyesore." She growled causing a few giggles from Sif.
"Pregnancy is a beautiful thing."
"Then you try it." Sif just rolled her eyes playfully as the two made their way to a familiar set of friends.
"Lady Kaleria!" Fandral was the first to greet her with a charming grin, then staring down at her stomach. "You truly are off the market now."
"I was prior to this as well." Kaleria replied with a smile.
"Well, we're glad to see you're all right." Hogun said.
"I'd say join us for a drink but…" Volstagg said.
"Please, don't hold back on my account." She said. "I'll drink vicariously through you."
The group cheered as they began to celebrate with food and drinks.
Kaleria had excused herself from the group and headed out to the balcony. The sun was setting now leaving a pink tint to the sky as she looked out. She began to reminisce in simpler times on this balcony such as Loki convincing her to pull a prank on the banquet hall my diminishing all the lights; and when he first tried to kiss her. Her heart sank at the thought of Loki attempting to kiss her that night. Against her better judgment, she missed him terribly. "It's good to see you home safe." Kaleria turned to see Frigga smiling warmly. "We were all worried for you."
"Midgard took care of me." Kaleria admitted.
"And now you are home safe." Frigga watched as Kaleria forced a smile, seeing right through her façade. "Yet you do not feel at home."
Kaleria sighed as Frigga walked closer to her. "I don't understand it. All this time I begged to go home and now that I'm here, I feel empty."
"Maybe it is not the place but the person." She said, receiving a confused look from Kaleria. "My son has done terrible things, I know this. His trial is tomorrow and I am unsure which way my husband will go. Yet you still care for Loki through all this, as do I. Maybe the reason you wanted to go home was because you wanted to be with Loki once more. Now that you're here and he is taken away from you, you feel empty?" Kaleria pursed her lips, avoiding the question and afraid to answer. Frigga just smiled knowingly. "There are only two guards outside the prison tonight, they are pretty easy to spook. It is possible for anyone to slip in."
Kaleria looked to Frigga wide eyed before smiling slightly. Frigga returned the smile as Kaleria swiftly left the banquet hall and headed for the prison cells.
She watched the guards from a distance, they stood tall and proud as they guarded the only door in to the prison. She needed to create a diversion to get the guards away from the door. She saw her opportunity with a plant at the end of the hallway, within their view. She concentrated and with a wave of her hand, she ignited the plant with a rather large flame. The guards could smell the burning and immediately panicked at the flame. They ran over to the plant to attempt to extinguish the fire.
That was her chance; Kaleria moved as quickly as her pregnant body would allow her and entered the dungeon with as little sound as possible.
Slowly she walked down the pathway, passing different cells of different convicts until she found the one she wanted. He sat on a small twin sized cot, reading a book silently. She watched him curiously before he caught on that he was not alone. "You know, you can get in a lot of trouble for sneaking in here." His voice resonated in her ears.
"I should be fine, I learned from the best after all."
He closed the book and sat up slowly, turning his body to face her as he sat on the bed. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
"I wanted to see you." She tried to remain as calm as possible, knowing Loki would run with her weakness the second he saw it.
"Lonely?" He mocked. "I'm surprised you'd come to me first, what about your sister?"
Kaleria sighed. "I'm happy to see her again. I'm happy to be home."
"But?"
Kaleria grimaced, hating to admit it. "It's not home without you."
Loki just smirked as he got off the bed and walked closer to her. "You should have chosen my side. This would not have been a problem."
Kaleria narrowed her eyes at him. "You're still out for global takeover?"
"If I am destined to rule-"
"But you're not."
He returned her glare now. "Why are you here again?"
"I wanted to see you, keep you company."
"I do not need your pity." Loki scoffed.
"No, there is no pity." Kaleria said. "Only hope."
"Hope? What exactly are you hoping for?"
"I told you. I still believe that my husband is still in there somewhere. I'm just waiting for him to come back."
Loki sighed, running his hand through his hair impatiently. "How is the baby doing?" He changed the subject.
"Honestly, this child is a pain in my ass." Kaleria groaned, receiving a chuckle from Loki. "It's definitely your child."
"Am I still not allowed to see the baby?"
Kaleria thought for a moment. "I still haven't forgiven you."
"I take that as a no."
"He was a very good friend, Loki."
"And what about the soldier?" Loki spat, glaring at Kaleria.
"What about the soldier?" She returned the tone.
"You two seemed awfully close when we left."
"He is a friend." Kaleria defended herself and Steve. "An honest man and a hero-"
"Everything I am not."
"No, but you're my husband whom I love dearly."
"Then why is there such hostility towards me, my love?"
"I just don't like you right now."
Loki chuckled. "Oh how I've missed your fire." Kaleria looked at her husband with anger, fear, love, and confusion. It was so overwhelming that tears she wasn't even aware of began to fall down her cheeks. Loki's face softened. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Kaleria growled, wiping the tears away. "I'm just pregnant and emotional."
"Something is clearly wrong." Loki tried not to laugh.
She barely whispered. "I'm scared."
"Why are you scared?" He became serious once more.
"Your trial is tomorrow." She began to cry a little harder now. "And I don't know what that means for you, I'm scared for you."
"You shouldn't be." Loki sighed as Kaleria wiped her eyes. "Whatever happens to me now, you have one priority and that is to take care of the baby."
"Alone?" Kaleria asked, wiping away more tears. Loki felt horrible on the inside, yet outside he'd never show it. He could be sentenced to death or prison for the rest of his life; he'd be leaving Kaleria alone with their child. For the first time in a long time he truly felt guilty.
"You'll have Sif." He tried to reassure her. "The baby really only needs you." Kaleria was about to protest but Loki interrupted her. "You need to learn to exist without me."
Kaleria felt her heart sink into her stomach, her face wash over with an unusual cold feeling as she looked at Loki. "What happened to you and me, existing together?"
"That can't happen anymore." The room started to spin as Kaleria took his words to heart. She felt as though her life was shattering around her, her heart breaking into a million pieces. As angry as she was with Loki and as much as she wanted to, she couldn't stop loving him. He was her other half, he was her everything, and now to think of existing without him… she couldn't. "Promise me you'll exist without me."
"I can't do that." She cried, panic coursing through her body, as angry as she was with him, she couldn't even begin to fathom a life without him.
"You'll have no choice." Loki said, trying to remain as stern as possible even though his words were killing him inside. He was doing this for her even if she didn't see it that way.
Kaleria opened her mouth to speak, to scream, to just say anything but, nothing like that came out. Only a small squeak as her eyes went wide and hands to her stomach. She began breathing heavily as she looked down to her feet. "Oh no…" She panicked.
"What is it?" Loki asked, walking as close as he could to the edge of his cell, trying to see what had his wife in a panic.
"My water broke." With that, Kaleria felt a sharp pain through her stomach and up her side. She doubled over in pain, holding onto her stomach as the first contraction came.
"You've got to be kidding me." Loki growled, not in anger at his wife but more frustration at the situation at hand. "Guards!" He began screaming. "Guards!"
The two guards at their post outside quickly stormed in and rushed to Kaleria's aid the second they saw her. "How did she get in here?" One asked.
Kaleria groaned in pain as the other spoke. "Never mind that, we need to get her to the healer, now!"
Loki watched as his wife was escorted from the prison, his heart pounding in his chest. He would be a Father tonight and there was nothing he could do.
One Year Later…
He was a curious child, with green eyes and black hair; a laugh that melted anyone's heart, and so very loving. He was walking now, a few words here and there like 'Mama' and 'Sif' even 'Thor' was becoming a more prominent word for him. None of the words however, involved 'father', 'dad', 'dada' anything of the sort. She preferred it that way.
Kaleria watched as Thor threw the child up in the air, his giggles echoing in the halls as Thor caught him. "Henrik, you're flying!" Thor's voice boomed as the child demanded to be thrown higher. Thor obliged, laughing with the child as he threw him in the air once more before catching him and gently placing him on the ground.
Kaleria smiled slightly as Henrik walked over to her, a bright smile on his face as Thor followed him. They had grown closer in the past year, Kaleria was empty over her husband's incarceration for life and Thor was missing a certain mortal on Midgard. They both felt somewhat whole when Henrik was born. It was something they both bonded over, someone to love and protect. "And how are we today?" Thor asked her as she picked up her son, Henrik wrapping his arms around his mother's neck gently.
"Better now that this young man is hugging me." She smiled before tickling Henrik with one hand, he began to giggle loudly. "How are you, Thor?"
His smile was somewhat weak but, promising. "Good. With the Bifrost rebuilt, it's much easier to travel to the other Realms and restore order."
Kaleria nodded. "You leave for Vanaheim today, right?"
"Yes, with Sif and the Warriors." He said.
"I miss out on all the fun now." She teased, kissing Henrik on the cheek.
"Yes but, you get to go to Midgard today." Thor replied. "I am jealous."
"You know you can go to Midgard as well."
Thor sighed slightly. "Not until the Realms are safe." He was making up excuses, granted a very good excuse but, an excuse no less.
"Be safe."
Thor nodded as he ran a quick hand through Henrik's hair. "Stay out of trouble, young one."
Kaleria smiled as Thor walked away, leaving her and her son alone. "What shall we do now, my love?" Kaleria whispered to her son. "Shall we play with magic?"
Henrik nodded eagerly as the two headed for the gardens.
Kaleria was told Loki was not allowed visitors and from what Frigga had told her, he had no idea what Kaleria had given birth to. He was a father left in the dark about his own child. After Henrik's birth, Kaleria grew resentful to her husband. She felt so lost and alone and blamed Loki for everything. It was displacement of anger at best yet; she could not and would not talk about it.
Henrik loved magic, he loved watching Kaleria conjure fire and make shapes with the fire in the air. She would create butterflies and horses, boats and waves. She would create anything for Henrik to keep him smiling; to keep him happy.
Henrik had magic that was a mix of both parents. He was able to create illusions and he was able to control fire, not conjure it. His skin was a normal temperature, a mix of fire and ice according to Kaleria.
Her life had changed drastically after her son was born. The Bifrost had been repaired and all Asgardian warriors, led by Thor, were off to battle. Many enemies found this as an opportunity to rise up within different Realms and try to take over. Thor led the warriors into battle, restoring balance among the Realms. It kept him busy, of course, and it kept Sif out of Kaleria's hair as well.
She was no longer a warrior but a mother. She had to take care of her child that was her number one priority. "My, my, this child grows every day." Frigga had joined them in the gardens, a loving smile on her face as Henrik stumbled over to her, hugging her leg lovingly. "I know I say this every day but, he has your eyes."
"Thank goodness for that." She replied.
Silence passed between the both of them before Frigga spoke. "I hear you have plans to head to Midgard today?"
Kaleria nodded uncomfortably. "Paying my respects to a friend who passed; it's been a year."
"Are you bringing Henrik?"
"No." Kaleria admitted sadly, watching her son play. "My first time away from him; it'll be tough."
Frigga chuckled. "It is a tough time for any mother to leave her child, no matter how short the time. He will be safe here."
Kaleria narrowed her eyes slightly. "He does not get to see Henrik, is that clear?"
Frigga continued to smile, knowing all too well about Kaleria and her displaced anger to Loki. She had seen it from the moment Kaleria gave birth to Henrik; she was heartbroken and too stubborn to fix it. "Crystal. Now when do you leave?"
"I should be leaving now; I want to be back by tomorrow morning the latest."
"Have a safe journey." Frigga said as Kaleria walked over to Henrik, hugging him tightly in her arms before kissing his head and reluctantly leaving for the Bifrost.
Kaleria walked into the observatory, giving Heimdall a small smile as he watched her. "It's tough leaving your child behind." Heimdall's voice was soft as he watched Kaleria shift awkwardly.
Kaleria sighed. "It's not easy."
"Then why go?"
Kaleria thought for a moment before answering. "Sometimes you just need to get away. Ever feel like that, Heimdall?"
"Sometimes." He admitted. "However, do not confuse 'getting away' and 'running away'. They are two very different things."
Kaleria groaned slightly. "I'm lost, Heimdall."
Heimdall chuckled. "You'll find your path again, I have faith." He turned the key, starting up the observatory device.
"Don't leave me on Midgard this time, okay?" Kaleria joked grimly.
Heimdall chuckled once more. "I will personally come get you if there are any issues."
Kaleria smiled as she stepped through the portal to Midgard.
Heimdall had placed her in Central Park, luckily out of sight from most tourists. Not that it really mattered anyway; SHIELD would be on her in a few minutes. She began strolling through the park, taking in the sights and sounds of Central Park. She had missed Midgard and the people she had left behind a year ago. Yet, the more she walked, the less at home she felt. Nowhere truly felt like home anymore to her.
Just as she predicted, she noticed a few suspicious individuals watching her from a distance. She smiled slightly; she knew these were SHIELD agents. After a few more steps, two agents approached her, one smiling. "You're an unexpected visitor." She had recognized the agent from her early months on Midgard.
"I came for a quick visit." She admitted. "Anyone care to escort a lady to Director Fury?"
"That won't be necessary, Agent." Kaleria looked behind the agent she was speaking to; Nick Fury stood there, arms folded behind his back and a slight smirk on his face.
"Director Fury." She smiled; walking passed the agents and closer to Fury.
"What brings you back to earth, Kali?" He asked.
"What, you aren't excited to see me?" She joked.
"I would appreciate some warning next time, that way I'm not sending my team out here expecting something truly out of the ordinary."
"Wow Fury, you think I'm a normal occurrence."
"Well, this is the second time you've come to earth unannounced." Fury joked. "I'm finding it quite normal for you."
Kaleria smiled. "How is everyone?"
"The Avengers Initiative disbanded after you left, they're back to their normal lives, however normal you can call their lives really."
"How's Steve?"
"Why not ask him yourself?" Fury asked, raising an eyebrow. "He's been relocated to Washington D.C. I was heading down there myself until a certain portal opened in the sky revealing a goddess of fire." Kaleria giggled slightly.
"May I hitch a ride then?"
"Be my guest."
"I've never been to this headquarters." Kaleria admitted in awe, looking at the high tech lobby. "It's much bigger than the ones I've seen."
"Well this is the headquarters." Fury said. "This is where the magic happens."
"You've been holding out on me, Fury." Kaleria teased, he just raised an eyebrow in response, hiding his smirk.
"Director Fury." A female voice called from behind. The two stopped, turning to face another familiar person. She smiled brightly. "I thought we retired this Agent."
Kaleria smiled. "I'm still an honorary member, Natasha."
Natasha came closer, hugging Kaleria quickly. "It's good to see you." She looked at Kaleria once more. "How's being a mother?"
"It's wonderful. I had a boy." Kaleria smiled thinking of her son. "His name is Henrik."
"I'd ask to see pictures but I don't think that's something you guys do on Asgard."
"I wish, I'd love to have a picture of him with me." Kaleria sighed. "It's my first time without him."
"Rough." Natasha said before changing the subject, looking to Fury. "The Cap is going to freak when he sees her."
"Where is Steve?" Kaleria asked.
Natasha smirked slightly. "Out for a run, I can take you."
"That'd be great." Kaleria smiled.
"Don't get into any trouble, Kali." Fury said. "I don't have time to clean up after you."
Kaleria smiled sweetly as Natasha escorted her out of the building and to the streets of Washington.
"This place reminds me of the city." Kaleria said as the two women walked down the running path.
"It's another big city, yes." Natasha said. "Not as big as New York."
"It's also a little quieter."
"Much quieter." Natasha laughed.
"How has life been since I left?" Kaleria asked.
"Quiet." Natasha admitted. "Nothing major to report; Stark fought off a terrorist, Banner has been under the radar yet with Stark most of the time." She smiled. "They're up to something."
Kaleria shook her head. "I told him to stay out of trouble."
"It's Stark, he doesn't listen."
"How about Steve, how's he been?"
"He's adjusting, if that's what you're worried about. He's definitely adjusted better since you left, he was sad for a while, he missed you. I'm sure you missed him too." Kaleria nodded. "He's now working full time for SHIELD, on his off days he just runs or explores Washington."
"Like today?" Kaleria asked.
"Like today." Natasha stopped walking, motioning to a figure coming up around the bend. "Speak of the devil."
Kaleria's heart raced as a familiar, muscular figure came around the bend, focused on his course as he ran. The figure stopped, noticing them in the distance. Kaleria knew he recognized her, she could see the smile on his face as he ran towards them with great speed. Kaleria smiled brightly as she walked forward to meet him, running after a few steps. She practically jumped into his arms, he held her tightly, laughing in disbelief as they embraced. He could easily lift her off the ground in one single motion. "You're here!" He said with a laugh.
"I promised I'd visit."
After a few moments of hugging, Steve put down Kaleria, looking at her. "How are you, how are things, the baby?"
Kaleria laughed. "Slow down, Steve; I'll get to all that."
"How long are you here for?" He asked, hopefully.
"I'm here just for the day." She replied apologetically.
Steve nodded, his smile fading slightly. "That's fine. We can still catch up. Let's go get something to eat."
"Sounds like a plan." Kaleria smiled, looking back to Natasha. "Care to join us?"
Natasha smiled knowingly. "I have things to do, you kids have fun."
Kaleria looked back at Steve, smiling. "Alright, let's go."
Steve had suggested stopping by his apartment so he could shower quickly, his run left him sweaty. While he showered, Kaleria explored his apartment. It was a quaint apartment, filled with items from the 1940's as well as newer items. She admired his movie collection, smiling at the Wizard of Oz and Star Wars on the shelf. The door to the bathroom opened, Steve was standing in the doorway drying his hair with a towel. He was a gentleman and already dressed before leaving the bathroom. "I had to add a few movies to my collection, it was lacking."
Kaleria smiled, turning to look at Steve. "I'm glad to see Star Wars is in your collection."
Steve's smile faded slightly. "It was Coulson's copy."
Kaleria lost her smile completely. "I cannot believe it's been a year."
"Was he the first person you've lost?" Steve asked.
Kaleria shook her head. "My mother was the first."
"I'm sorry."
Kaleria quickly changed the subject. "So you mentioned food?" Steve smiled, seeing through her subject changed but easily obliged her as the two left for a nearby café.
"So how have you been this past year?" Steve asked as the two sat outside a small café overlooking the reflecting pool.
Kaleria picked at her salad slowly, not really hungry just more interesting in seeing Steve. "It's all right. I had a son, his name is Henrik." She smiled at the thought of him. "He's brilliant; such a happy child."
"That's good to hear." His smile fading as he asked a more serious question. "What about Loki?"
Kaleria sighed knowing this question would arise sometime. "He's to remain in the main prison of Asgard for the rest of his life. He will never see me or his son again."
"Is that by your choice or…?"
"Both." Kaleria replied simply, taking a small bite of her salad.
Steve nodded, seeing right through Kaleria. "Why did you come here?"
She looked at him questioningly. "What do you mean?"
"Why did you come to Midgard today?" Steve asked, somewhat defeated. "You're here but… you're not here."
"I came to see you." She replied.
"You're running from something." Steve sighed. "Or rather you're looking for comfort. You won't find it here, Kali."
Kaleria sighed. "I know."
"In another life, I could give you that comfort but, right now, I can't." Steve said.
"I'm running away, Steve." Kaleria admitted not just to Steve but herself as well. "I'm trying to run away from the past and my feelings and I can't."
"It's Loki, isn't it?"
Kaleria avoided his gaze, looking back down at her salad. "A year later and I'm still holding onto a false hope that he'll change. It doesn't matter anyway, he's locked up forever."
"It's evident in your voice; you're still in love with Loki."
Kaleria felt tears sting her eyes. "I don't think I want to be."
"If you didn't want to be you wouldn't have any trouble forgetting him."
"I'm sorry; I didn't come here to talk about Loki." Kaleria said, wiping a few escaping tears from her cheeks.
"No, you came here for comfort, from your friend. That's all I can give you, comfort from a friend's point of view." He said sadly.
She then realized how much she was hurting Steve by being on Midgard. The same longing heartbreak she was feeling, he was feeling to, and she was causing it. "I didn't mean to do this to you, Steve."
Steve smiled, reaching across the table to touch her hand gently. "When you love someone, no matter how you love someone, it's easy to hurt them, I guess." Kaleria nodded. "I saw Peg. She's suffering from dementia, or so the doctors tell me. Every visit gets harder than the last but, seeing her brings all those good feelings back. Even within the bad you just have to bring the good out of it."
"Peg also didn't murder anyone or try to take over an entire planet; twice." Kaleria said, trying to joke.
Steve chuckled slightly. "I suppose not but, the point is I love her, and you love Loki. We're trying to find comfort in each other and we're trying to replace them with each other… it's not going to work." Steve sighed. "As much as we want it to; our hearts know what our hearts want. And yours wants Loki."
Kaleria felt more tears sting her eyes as she looked at Steve. "You're my greatest friend, Steve. You always will be."
Steve smiled. "And you're mine." He chuckled then, running a hand through his hair. "Let's talk about something more uplifting, shall we?" Kaleria laughed as the two continued their date, neither one mentioning Peg or Loki for the rest of the meal.
When Kaleria left Steve to go home to Asgard, she knew there would always be a piece of her remaining on Midgard as long as Steve Rogers kept her memory alive… and he would until the day he died.
Final Thoughts: We have closure with Steve! Sorry people that were looking forward to a relationship with them. We have another relationship to fix... or destroy... who knows at this point! Thanks for reading, let's try to get to 85 reviews before the next chapter!