When Loki woke on Grace's last full day in Asgard, it took him a moment to realise that he was not in his own bed, but in the recovery ward of the healing wing. His fingers traced the long line of stitches down his cheeks and he prodded the bandages covering his eyes. He heard something move nearby and froze.

"Hello?"

"It's just me, Grace. I got here before Thor- Odin called for him and he's been gone all morning. You slept late- it's almost time for lunch."

"Is it nearly time to remove my bandages?"

"I think so. I was kind of hoping Thor would be back, but he said to go ahead without him if he wasn't, so I guess that's what we'll do." The lead healer came over and began to talk Loki through the steps she was going to use to remove the bandages and inspect his eyes. The balm placed under his eyelids would have to be irrigated away while the paste on the outside could simply be wiped clean. Before starting, she asked if Loki was ready. He said he was, but his hands gripped the edge of the sheet as she reached for his bandages. Grace touched his shoulder, the cold of his skin so much sharper than she had ever experienced it and she quickly jerked back her hand. The lead healer paused and handed her a gel glove. It fit like a second skin and allowed Grace to take his hand.

When the bulk of the bandages fell away and the tape holding his eyelids closed was removed, Grace could see his eyelids had returned to a more normal size, the swelling significantly reduced. The lead healer wiped his eyelids and then adjusted the bed and tipped his head to one side, placing a specially curved bowl under his cheek before gently opening his eye and flushing it with water. The balm slid down his face in globs, falling into the bowl with a plop. She repeated the process on the other side and then sat the bed up after daubing Loki's cheeks with a towel.

He opened both his eyes and blinked repeatedly, "Everything is hazy, but I can see..."

The lead healer continued her examination, shining a light near his eyes, looking into them with specialised scanners, "The closer things are to you, the more likely they are to be clearer. You will hopefully regain your distance vision in a little while, probably by the end of the day." She finished and put away her scanners, "Everything looks fine. You may leave here whenever you are ready."

He looked at his hands, "May I go back to looking Aesir?"

"You will have to ask the All-Father that question." She left and Grace leaned in closer, "Miss Grace. I am so happy to see you." He laughed a little at his own joke and reached for her. She caught his hand in her gloved one, "Ah...yes. The curse of this body."

"Eh, I'd consider it a minor inconvenience. That body sustained massive injuries over a decade of torment and still survived, I figure it's at least doing you some good. How do your eyes feel?"

"From one prison to another, but at least my eyes no longer burn...has Odin made his decision yet?"

"Not that I know of. Thor hasn't been by yet this morning, either. One probably has to do with the other."

"Oh. And it is nearly mid-day?"

"Yeah. I'm kind of getting nervous. He's got to have made up his mind."

"He has," Thor said from behind Loki's bed, "and he is on his way to tell us. Can you see, brother?"

"Yes. Everything is still quite blurred, but I have been assured that my eyes appear to be normal and I will regain my sight, possibly even by the end of the day."

Their conversation was interrupted as a garrison of soldiers entered the ward followed by Odin. Grace bowed and Loki blinked to try to gain a little more clarity of sight, but it did not work.

Odin tried to dismiss the guards, clearly irritated by their presence, before he addressed Loki, "I have considered your proposal. For one week each year you will be allowed your guest so long as her presence benefits you."

"Thank you, All-Father."

"You ought to thank Thor- he spent quite some time arguing in your favour- otherwise your request would likely not have been granted."

"I will, in my own time and way."

"Do you wish to return to your Aesir form?"

"Yes, I do."

"So be it. Aesir in appearance you shall be." Loki's skin faded from blue to his normal pale hue, his eyes no longer red. He reached out and touched Grace's hand and was relieved when nothing happened. She bent in and hugged him. A smile flickered acros Odin's face just before he left, the guards and Thor following close behind.

Grace moved his chair close to the bed and eased him up; he paused before sitting down, standing as straight as he could, his hands resting on her bare arms, his face close to hers, "And now you are clear in my vision, so much better than merely seeing you in my mind's eye. I have missed seeing your face, Miss Grace."

"I'm glad they could fix your eyes. Windows to the soul, as they say."

"Were they even in my born form?"

"They're still eyes. And still yours. And we're getting sappy and cute." He chuckled and she helped him into his chair, wheeling him from the ward, "Come on- let's go find some lunch. We've got to get you healthy again and that's not going to happen without plenty of good eats to fuel your healing."

They spent the rest of the day wandering the palace and grounds, Loki finally able to show Grace many of the things he thought she would find wondrous about it. The library that had so captivated him as a child and that still left him feeling small and in awe of all there was to know in the nine realms and beyond thrilled her in much the same way. When they entered the room, she stopped and stared at the massive collection of volumes and the towering arches that ended in murals of the epic stories they contained. Loki told her to push him to a small table and asked her to simply explore. She stepped away from him and turned full circle, her eyes on the ceiling. When the books finally drew her attention, she was overwhelmed and had no idea what to look at first, so she wandered aimlessly, her fingers drawn to the leather-bound spines as she marvelled at the fine foreign script that held the titles of the volumes. When she finally found herself back to where she had left Loki, she was still stunned by the grace of the room and the beauty of the ancient books.

"This is just...spectacular. I don't really have the right words, Loki. We have so few ancient books back on Earth- the libraries that have them keep them in glass cases or special rooms where they can make sure nothing can hurt them. Not like this..."

"How does one read them, then, if they are so carefully sequestered away?"

"They don't get read. I mean, researchers will come in and look at them once in awhile, but everyone's too afraid to touch them- you have to wear special gloves and pray you don't sneeze on them or something. Some of the oldest manuscripts and books, the ones that are the most important, are on the internet now, but there's so much that just never gets seen."

"It seems rather foolish to preserve something if no one is ever going to be able to learn the wisdom of it."

"Maybe. But some of it is important in only really specific ways. Like grocery lists from centuries ago- they don't tell us anything important right away, but for people trying to figure out what foods were available where, or how diseases changed people's habits...sometimes those little bits of scrap are really useful."

"The shortness of Midgardian lives and the length of time you see as ancient still surprises me."

"Well when you only get 100 years, a couple times that seems pretty old. For anything made of something as fragile as paper to last even a lifetime seems pretty remarkable."

"I wish you were as long-lived as I am."

Grace pulled a chair up beside him, "I know...but it's going to be hard enough to watch Tony die and I know that's going to happen. I think it would be harder if he knew he would look in the mirror each morning and see himself getting older without me aging too. Part of the way we short-lived critters deal is knowing that we're not alone, all our friends are doing the same thing."

"I know it is selfish of me, Miss Grace, but I do not want to watch you die, either. Perhaps some day you would consider allowing me to see if there is a way?"

"If it would mean that I'd just end up an old woman here instead of an old woman back home...I don't know. You'd still watch me die, just over a lot longer time. If I am only going to live to be a century at most and you swoop me up at 75 and convert me over to having lived three-quarters of an Asgard life instead of three-quarters of my own lifespan, is it really that different? It's just stretching out the same thing- I'm still going to end up dead long before you."

"In some way, I understand. But in my heart 25 years and 1,250 is a very large difference indeed. What if I were to find a way to give you more time?"

"I don't know. I guess it would depend on how old I was, how my body felt, and if I really wanted to keep on living at that point. You'll have to ask me when I'm older."

"May I ask you in a few decades?"

"Yes. You can ask."

Loki sighed and Grace hugged him tightly, "Thank you, my dear Miss Grace. I do not like to think about these things, but the past few years have given me quite a few opportunities to consider death and all its facets."

"It's OK. I wouldn't be thinking about it if it wasn't for what's happening with Tony. I'm going to miss him so much."

"I will do everything I can to be there when you need me. Heimdall does look out for you and as Mr Stark's condition worsens, I will know. If you call for him to bring me a message, he will hear."

She leaned her head on his shoulder, "OK." She cuddled against him and then waited a moment before taking the conversation in a different direction, "So how do you go from crazy throne-taking guy to such a sweetheart by the time I meet you? Or are you just that different when you're on a power trip?"

"Let us just say I have a talent for mischief and it occasionally leads me to places I am not prepared to go. It all began when I interrupted Thor's coronation. I thought him ill-prepared to take the throne of Asgard and let in a few Jotunr to cause chaos in the vault. They were quickly dispatched, but Thor's retaliation brought me to Jotunheim and to the discovery of what I am. I handled it poorly, to say the least. I concocted a scheme to try to prove myself just as ruthless handling the frost giants as Odin and it would have worked, save for my brother working out my plan and putting a stop to it. I would have destroyed Jotunheim entirely had it not been for him. I took Odin's rejection of my attempt as one more rejection of me and I fell from the Bifrost, hoping to die- at least the land of the dead would accept me. Instead I met The Other, Thanos, the Chitauri. I was a new creature to experiment on and one who had access to Midgard. This brought me to make the bargains I did for my own survival and to New York. My decisions made, I was brought home for imprisonment and punishment. I faced death avenging that of my mother and discovered myself alive against all hope, an opportunity to take Odin's place, to be what he had been and what Thor had refused to be...and then that failed as well thanks to my own indiscretion. My mischief has never led me this far astray."

"Thor said he knew there was something left of you when he brought you before Odin because you still managed to be a bitter cuss."

"My relationship with Odin has not been pleasant for some time. He lied to me for so many years."

"From what you've said it sounds like he omitted more than lied."

"It hurt no less to find out what I was."

"Maybe not, but why did he do it? Did he do it to hurt you or to keep you from being the weird kid?"

"He claims it was done for my benefit."

"And why don't you believe him?"

"He told me that he had hoped I could be used to unite Asgard and Jotunheim and end centuries of tension."

"A lot of parents have unreasonable expectations for their kids- that doesn't mean they don't still love them. I know, I'm probably getting on your nerves, but just because he had high hopes doesn't mean he didn't still think of you as his son. And parents fuck up...a lot. But they do what they think is best most of the time, whether they made you or chose you. Things may be shit now, but have you ever tried talking to him? Telling him how much it hurt? Maybe saying you're sorry for how out of hand everything ended up?"

"And what if I am not?"

"Then at least say you're sorry for not looking at things from his perspective. I mean, that's at least true, right?"

"In a way. On the other hand, he has never tried to look at my actions in light of what I have felt, so what obligation do I have to do the same?"

"You don't, but you might as well try. Understanding where he's coming from might at least get you on speaking terms with him and that could stop this insane bartering of everything you have left in order to gain a little happiness."

Loki smiled and kissed her cheek, "I have one week a year of happiness. I hope that will be enough to sustain me."

Grace blushed, "Flatterer." She playfully punched his good arm, "At least try, OK?"

"Only because you have asked."

"Good. Now as adorable as you are, and as ridiculously cute as I think we probably look to anyone else trying to use the library, we should probably move at some point. We're sitting all snuggly because you're blind as a goddamned bat beyond about a foot, but somebody's bound to think we're up to something."

Loki's grin was as wide as his damaged jaw would allow when he replied, "We're not?"

"Oh hush. I've got less than a day left- is there anything we should be doing?"

"Likely, but this being my favourite place in the palace, and you being my favourite person in the palace, I believe I can be content sitting simply as we are. And having someone believe I am up to something is nothing I have not experienced before- in fact, for many it will be a welcome relief to know that, for the moment, it seems I am back to normal."

"And that normal includes the fact you're a charming flirt?"

"No, actually. That would surprise others. As I mentioned in Midgard, I am not exactly what is highly desired in Aesir men. I am slender, physically weak, and my hair far too dark, skin far too fair. I am not the ruddy warrior type."

"Thor tells me that you're not weak- that you're a badass in a knife fight and you're a wicked sorcerer."

"We shall see- those may both be in the past if my body cannot recover and my manacles are not removed."

Grace sighed and took his hands, "Well we've both got a lot to face in the coming year, don't we? We'll both make it through. Even if it sucks."

"Shall we walk for a little while? Or, rather, shall you walk and push me about? There are some beautiful places in the palace to sit and watch the sun set."

"Sure. Tell me where to go and we'll go be ridiculously cute there instead. We'll have to find a chair."

"Or perhaps you could sit on my lap?"

"Flirt."

"Only for you, my dear Miss Grace, only for you."

They spent the evening on the balcony, Grace first marvelling at the sunset, then marvelling at the stars. By the time they were both ready for bed, Grace was exhausted. She invited Loki back to her room and packed her suitcase, only leaving out what she would absolutely need for the morning. Loki asked for her to wheel him back to his room, but she stopped and asked if he would stay with her.

"Miss Grace, are you sure this is wise? There are those here who will notice and make assumptions because of it."

"Well they can go suck an egg. I need my best friend and I've got so little time before I go home and have to watch my brother fade on my own. At the moment, I don't really care if your entire realm thinks I'm your slut. Wouldn't be the first time my reputation went through the wringer because of who I decided to share bed space with and, frankly, I'm only going to be here once a year. If you are OK with it, I don't give a damn."

Loki nodded and reached for her, so she helped him stand and he held her, "Miss Grace, if you need me, I am here. Let us rest." She helped him to the bed and they curled up together, Grace drifting off to sleep in his arms, Loki quickly following.

The next morning, they woke when Thor knocked on her door. He was only mildly surprised to find his brother under the covers as well, smiling as he relayed the message that Grace would be leaving after lunch. Loki stayed in bed while she went to bathe. Thor left, winking at his brother, who rolled his eyes and sighed, only smiling enough to let Thor know that he was not completely irritated. Grace stepped from the bathroom entirely naked, as Loki had done in Stark Tower.

Loki watched her, amused, "As I recall, being nude in front of friends is not entirely customary in Midgard."

"Nope. And it's sure nice to get away from that prudish bullshit, so long as you don't mind it."

"Not at all- forgive me if I stare. I only regularly saw Thor unclothed. The female form is still quite a wonder to me."

She dressed, packed the last few items in her suitcase, and slipped on her sandals, "Well wonder away, honey. You've got a year to marvel at the memory before you get to see me again. I take it you are seeing more clearly?"

"Quite- I can see across the room." She helped Loki back to his room and he readied for the day.

They ate lunch quietly and after, Thor joined them, "It is time that we depart, Grace. Loki may accompany us to Heimdall's control room."

When they reached the control room, Loki struggled from his chair and stumbled into Grace's arms, "My friend. Please be safe. And tell your brother I wish him well. And...and..."

Grace hugged him tightly, "I'll see you in a year, OK? Not a decade this time, just one year."

He kissed her goodbye, "Yes. One year."

Heimdall helped Loki back to his seat and Grace picked up her luggage and walked to Thor, "Ready?"

"Indeed. You have all your belongings?"

"Yep. Drop me off at Stark Tower- I need to check on Tony before I head back to Detroit."

Thor held onto Grace and nodded to Heimdall, "To Midgard- Stark Tower."

In a flash, the Bifrost opened for them and they were gone.