I hope to update soon after this. I'm mulling over two ways that this could go. Please justify and help motivate my writing. I really love hearing from any readers. Please enjoy.

Loki had left Elizabeth standing in Times Square knowing that Stark would undoubtedly have a detector tuned for Loki's own magic. He was confident that someone would come and retrieve her but he stayed close by to watch. For some inexplicable reason, he did not want anything to befall the girl.

He tried to convince himself that this concern stemmed solely from his plan, but the small tendril of emotion that wrapped around his heart was becoming more difficult to ignore. He watched as the man of iron lifted her into the air and away to his tower.

Loki now focused on the task at hand. He was within the palace walls of Asgard. He cast a glamour over himself and walked swiftly to his mother's chambers. When he reached the door, he hesitated for a moment. He could feel her energy inside but he was unsure that he wanted to confront her.

He could deny all of Asgard. He could accept that he was unwanted. But he could not erase his love for his mother. When Odin had favored Thor, Frigga had taught Loki magic equal to Thor's strength.

His thoughts were interrupted by the door flying open and Frigga wrapping her arms around Loki's neck. She loosened her embrace only to usher Loki over the threshold. When the door was safely closed, Loki dropped his glamour and gently disentangled himself and his mother.

/

Frigga had felt her son's presence as he stood at her door. Unable to contain her joy, she had flung herself on the disguised Loki without warning. If any one had been watching, they would have thought it odd for the queen to act so familiar with a lowly scribe. Now that Loki stood before her in his true form, she saw his drawn features and tired eyes. "My son." She murmured, cupping his cheek in her hand.

"I am not your son." He answered sadly. Frigga felt tears prick her eyes. "You may not be birthed from my own flesh, but you are every bit my son." Loki looked strained. "My life here was a lie. Yet you are earnest in your love. I am an irredeemable monster, yet still I try to win the approval of Asgard. Even now, I work to create a world for all to live peacefully."

Frigga opened her mouth to speak but Loki stopped her. "I create the world for you now. Not for Odin or for Asgard. The world I am making will be proof that I am worthy to rule. Proof that this monster can be fair and just and good. I can create a peaceful realm for all creatures." He was grasping her hands tightly now.

Frigga saw the earnestness in Loki's eyes. His desire to prove his worth burned brightly fueled by his pain and sadness. Frigga sat down on her chaise. Loki sat with her, waiting to hear what she clearly wanted to say.

She pulled his head onto her shoulder, gently running her fingers through his raven hair. "My son, my dear heart, you do not need to prove anything. You have never been a monster, never. I care not of realms won or lost. Only that my family is safe and well." She pushed Loki away so that she could look into his eyes. "I love you, Loki. All that I desire is to have both of my sons close to me."

/

All of the Avengers were gathered around a table in Stark Tower. Fury sat at the head looking thoughtfully at Elizabeth's note. Suddenly he slammed it down onto the table. "Ladies and gentlemen, I think we have been handed a beautiful opportunity to catch our dear friend Loki. He will be making an appearance at whatever location Elizabeth happens to be at. We can make plenty of preparations in two days time." He looked at each of the Avengers in turn.

"Thor, I need you to help Stark and Banner in any manner possible. Captain, Romanov, Barton, you will be in charge of select teams of agents." Fury nodded his dismissal and watched the slow procession of people leave the room.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he took a deep breath. There was no way they could be fully prepared for what could come.

/

Elizabeth sat on the bed. She still felt tired from last night and her frustration at not being able to communicate was growing. She was hungry but she didn't dare leave the room. She knew that Jarvis was to notify everyone if she stepped outside the door. Eventually she decided to make use of the adjoined shower.

The water felt good on my tired muscles. I let my mind go blank, forgetting the tension of the present. I don't know how long I stayed under the hot water but it never ran out. When I finally let myself come back to the present, I found new undergarments, a simple black t-shirt, and jeans in place of the green dress. I relished being back in normal clothing even though the collar gave a strange contrast to the outfit. To my further pleasure, the shirt was cut for a man and hung a couple sizes too large for my frame. Finally, I was wearing something that didn't scream magic with a perfectly tailored fit. Along with the outfit was a note, If you get tired of being a shut in, you can come join me in the lounge. Coulson

Taking a few tentative steps out into the hall, I listened for any alarms going off. When I couldn't hear any, I padded along the short stretch of hall to the lounge. To my great relief, I found Coulson leaning against the stove. The smell of pancakes made my mouth water.

"So, I take it you didn't sleep very well." Coulson's voice sounded rather cheery. I took a seat at the bar behind him. He turned away from the stove and put a heaping plate of pancakes in front of me. "You look hungry." He said with a friendly smile. "I'll cook as many as you want."He handed me a fork and I dug into the hot cakes with relish. I didn't even bother to put syrup on them.

When I finally managed to eat my fill, Coulson settled me on a couch and produced two pistols. He set these on the coffee table in front of us. Settling himself on the couch next to me, he placed one of the guns in my hand.

I have never particularly liked guns of any sort but I grew up in rural Kansas, so I knew how to handle a gun and how to shoot. I had never enjoyed getting lessons on guns, they always made me nervous. I had always felt that it was too much power entrusted to my clumsy care. Now, I felt the same nervousness but it was accompanied by a feeling of uselessness against the true enemy.

I tried to give the gun back to Coulson. I tried to make him understand my fear of hurting a friend and not being any use against Loki. He refused to take it back. "You should have some form of self defense." I reluctantly gave in. He showed me how it worked, where to keep it and how to draw and arm it at the same time. When he was satisfied with my ability, we settled back down on the couch and Phil turned on a movie. I have no idea what it was because it was not long after that I fell asleep.