A/N: Back to the plot! Woo, here we go. More chapters should be coming as I begin to procrastinate my class work. Hope you all enjoy and please review. Big thanks to Forbidden Moons - this chapter is for you :)

Curled up on a sofa back downstairs, I nursed a coffee, warily watching Loki pace around the small living room. He was yet to tell me of his new plan, and I was getting impatient with the god.

"What's gotten you so worked up?" I snapped, twisting my cup. My chest was aching from this mornings' – exercises – and it was having a negative impact on my mood.

"There are still a few flaws in my plan." He admitted, looking down his pale nose at me perching on the sofa. "I would much rather have it all planned out before implementing it, for obvious reasons, darling."

I clenched my teeth at the endearment, silently reminding myself that this man was giving me the world – literally – and I should be polite to him, despite an aching gunshot wound. "Well," I began, forcing a smile to my face. "As long as we destroy S.H.I.E.L.D. any plan you have pleases me. My ambition was to escape, not conquer the world."

Loki smirked at me. "Well, you are easy to please." He teased. I felt my cheeks heat, and stared determinedly down into my coffee, avoiding the gods heated gaze. "I know not of your Midgardian ways, Felicity, and require your assistance in the endeavours to come. Are you still loyal to me, Agent Crowe?" he asked seriously.

I lifted my hazel eyes to meet emerald once again, and returned his trademark smirk. "Perhaps we shouldn't allow any room for failure in this new plan, if you're questioning such obvious things." I replied. "I swore loyalty to you, Loki, perhaps under a most pleasant form of duress," I cocked an eyebrow as he had the decency to look slightly abashed. "But I will hold to my word. The reward seems entirely worth it, and the perks are quite nice." I stuck my tongue out at the god of mischief, glad to have my feet back under me in our tenuous relationship. "However, if you do intend to keep a little Midgardian such as myself, I would suggest we go shopping. Us non-magical folk have some needs."

Several hours later I was laying back on the couch in our cottage dressed in fresh clothing and waiting for some painkillers to kick in. Healing as nicely as it was my wound still ached – especially after several hours of trying on clothes to replenish my wardrobe. Loki was perched in a chair across the room; hands clasped and deep in thought, also dressed in Midgardian garb, now shortened hair making him look more human. Other than his divine cheekbones and perfect body and being the embodiment of every woman's dream…

Green eyes met mine, and I flushed a shade to match my now red hair having being caught staring. We'd both gotten our hair shortened, and mine dyed a deep auburn, as well as acquiring clothes and food while we risked the quaint English town.

"So what's the grand plan?" I asked coolly, ignoring my burning face and his amused smirk.

"As you may know this is not the first time myself or my brethren have come to Midgard." Loki began.

"Thor landing in New Mexico was first, wasn't it? About two years ago?"

Loki grimaced at his brothers' name. "No, that was not the first occasion, though it was the first of late." He paused for breath, mulling over his next words. "Several hundreds of years ago, we visited this world many times. The Midgardians of the time were primitive and worshipped us – rightly – as gods."

"Oh… so a long time back then." All of a sudden the weight of his years crashed around my ears. I felt particularly small in front of him then.

"Yes." He began to pace the room. "Unconcerned with the Midgardian power and intelligence we visited often and encouraged their belief in our superiority. Artefacts from Asgard helped with these, and were often brought here as many battles were fought on Midgardian soil." A pained expression crossed his face. "It is my hope that some such artefacts remain hidden upon Midgard. Travelling north, and some forays into the eastern mainland, from here might reveal more answers. Perhaps using one of these objects I could gain greater power, from which we can take Midgard for our own."

Silence fell for a brief moment while I digested his words.

"There were an awfully high number of hopes and perhapses in that last part."

His eyes clouded and I realised with rising worry that Loki – the god I had followed so blindly half way across the world – was worried. He didn't know for sure what he was doing. No one had guaranteed his success in this endeavour. Taking a deep breath I looked up at his tall frame. "The only way we're going to find out is by starting to move." I forced cheerfulness into my voice.

His doubtful expression vanished, replaced by a scowl. I didn't feel the scowl was directed at me, despite his following words. Rather, I felt his anger was directed inwards. A matching frown rose to my face at that unexpected revelation

"We cannot yet start, as you are not fully healed. In this state you would only slow me down, darling. Once we begin we cannot be slowed by anything." He said, before returning to his armchair, and resuming his previous thoughtful pose.

"Can't you, like, magic me better?" I asked with no large amount of tact.

This time the frown was directed at me. I glowered right back at the cocky individual I shared my life with.

"I have already tried." He explained slowly, as if to an imbecile. "Without my powers, you would have died. Agent Romanov does not falter in her aim, even for an old comrade." He hesitated before continuing.

"Even with my best efforts, your body was resistant to healing. It was resilient to my powers. Short of devoting all my magic now to healing you, I doubt I could have much effect. Using all my powers now would not be wise, despite our enforced inaction."

"Why didn't it work?"

"If I knew the cause of your imperviousness, I would have removed it while you were unconscious, my dear."

"Oh, gee thanks." I retorted, sinking back into the cushions. "How long until we get to start then?"

"In four days time. I will use my powers to move us to a country you Midgardians call Norway, east of here. Many Asgardian's have visited a small town there, in which I hope to find indications on where to begin my searches."

"Norway? Really?"

"Yes, darling. We go to Tønsberg."