1 Month Earlier

Thor walks swiftly down the stairs and to the dungeons. It's a long way down, with lots of twisting and complicated stair cases. The dungeons were the lowest level of Asgard, besides the weapons vault. It had been a long time since he had been down these steps. The last time he came was to deliver his brother, and now he was coming down to retrieve him. It had been thirty-five Asgardian years since he had last seen his brother. He knew that his welcome would not be friendly.

He pushes open the two heavy doors with both hands, his red cape flapping wildly behind him. He was king now, now that his father was too old and sickly. After Loki was thrown into the dungeons for good, Odin seemed to wither away so fast it was like he hadn't aged until this very point, and then it all collapsed. Thor was named King soon after and his father retired to his room, where the servants could care to him until he died.

The creatures in the dungeons hollered and mocked the King has he strode confidently by, but he paid them no attention. He was too focused, and too nervous.

The very last cell at the end of the dungeons was isolated by itself, and bigger than the rest. While the other cells were fully lighted and empty, this one was dark and had several pieces of furniture strewn about the floor. Some furniture sat perfectly on four legs, and others lay upside down or sideways. This was Loki's cell.

Thor steps right up to the glass, his hands gripping the handle of his hammer tightly.

"Loki, I have come to speak with you," he declares in a booming voice.

There's a long period of silence and then a low, sickly laugh emerges from the darkness.

"Loki, shed some light so I may see your face."

A groan in the darkness and then slowly, a small flicker at a time, the lights turn on. The cell is a mess, but he finds Loki quickly. He sits in the corner, a pile of books surrounding him, and a tipped over chair that he rests his head against. But it's not this that shocks Thor. It's his appearance. What once was his brother could not be seen in this man. His skin was so pale it was almost translucent, and his face had thinned so much that he could see every angle and bone in his cheeks. He had also grown out his facial hair, and it covered his face and chin, much like Thor's. His hair was very long, unkempt, and greasy, and his eyes were so sunken in his face that they looked like black pits instead of eyes.

"Oh brother, or should I say, 'My King'," he mocks in a hoarse voice, "what graces me with your presence?"

Thor can't respond at first. His voice catches in his throat.

"Don't tell me you came all the way down here and lost your nerve to speak with me," Loki sneers, moving his head down while his eyes lock with Thor's.

Thor clears his throat. "As King, I have decided that your prison sentence has been fulfilled, and I have come to release you."

With that, Loki throws back his head and laughs. He laughs so hard his body, scrawny and bony, shakes brokenly.

"Oh, oh no, this is good. This is very good," he snorts between laughs.

"This is a serious matter, Loki. I am not playing."

He stops suddenly, sitting up, his green eyes black with fury. "How long have you been king? How long have you been king, Thor? And now you decide to let me out?"

Thor clenches his jaw and shifts his weight.

Loki stands, but he has trouble so he has to use the furniture around him to help. His body shakes with anger.

"No, no, I understand, you couldn't undo the order the former king put forth, but not even a visit? Not one damned visit?!" he yells, the tears forming under his eyes.

And then it's as if his sudden anger was too much, and he falls weakly to the ground, clutching a nearby chair. He gasps quietly, closing his eyes against the light. Thor turns off the shield surrounding the cell and walks inside, crouching next to his brother.

"I don't need your help," Loki spits as Thor lends a hand.

Thor sighs. "You need to come with me. We make for Alfheim as soon as you are ready."

Loki looks up at him in confusion. "Alfheim?"

Thor holds out handcuffs and Loki places his wrists inside with a roll of his eyes.

"Queen Freya wishes to speak with you," Thor answers, securing the restraints.

"Why?"

Thor glares at him, helping him stand. "She didn't specify."

They ride to Alfheim soon after, and are welcomed with bows and uneasy glances. Loki used to be fascinated with this realm. It's beauty was astounding. Their villages were built in a valley between two mountains and it's stone pathways and buildings lined the hills. It's peace and quietness used to always settle him, but now it only made him sick. The whole valley seemed to glow with the light from the elves. They were so pure, and fair, and holy, it seemed like his presence dimmed the light.

They arrive at the entrance of the castle, an open structure with a tall tower in the center. Queen Freya was expecting him at the top of the tower. He peered up and swallowed thickly.

"This way," a light elf gestured, his white robes falling gently over his shoulders and down to his toes.

Thor doesn't follow them as they make their way up into the tower. Loki looks back, but Thor is being led away by another elf.

The stairs spiral up, and are long. His weak body is struggling to continue up the steps and he notices the elf leading him slow down. He holds a lantern in front of him and there are no heavy breathes emerging from his mouth. Light elves had no flaws.

Loki feels as if he is about to collapse when they arrive at the top of the tower. It's small, and round, looking out over the valley. Queen Freya stands on the opposite side, her back facing them. Her long blonde hair flows gently behind her. A bowl with water in it sits in the middle.

"My Queen," the elf says, bows, and then leaves back down the steps, leaving Loki and the Queen alone.

"I see your days in the dungeons haven't treated you kindly," she comments softly, not turning around.

He leans against the wall, struggling to catch his breath.

"And you seem to have not aged a day," he retorts breathlessly.

She turns around at this comment, her glowing face filling with a beautiful smile.

"You flatter me. I have been waiting for you."

She notices his handcuffs and with a wave of her hand they fall to the ground. He rubs his sore wrists.

"Loki, you are a very powerful, very strong man, who is destined for greatness," she starts, her hands clasped in front of her.

"What is it that you desire from me?" he asks in an almost irritated tone.

Her smile slowly fades. "Darkness grows in the West. An alliance is being formed, one that could potentially destroy these nine realms for good."

"What sort of alliance?"

"Two of them you have dealt with. Both broken and seeking refuge. The Chitauri and the Dark Elves found safety with the fire demons. More have been gathering over time. Creatures believed to only exist in ancient times are reappearing. The beginning of the end is close at hand."

"So why do you call upon me?"

"Because I believe this is all going to revolve around one very unfortunate person."

Loki waits for her to finish.

"Do you remember the legend of the Titan's stone?"

"As in the story we were told as children?"

She nods. "It is not story. It is history. The stone was created by the titan king himself, and when his jealous brother couldn't have it, he killed the king and a great war broke out, brothers against brothers. At the end, the titan race was destroyed and the stone was split into two pieces and cast out into the universe. The first piece was found by Makelith himself, but after the great war with King Borr, it was taken from him and hid in the deepest layers of Asgard. The other half has been hidden for millions of year, but recently has been discovered."

Loki watches her for a moment. "You?"

She shakes her head. "No, and I'm glad it was not. That kind of power would be too tempting, even for me. I can not go anywhere near it."

"So then who?"

"It was found on Earth, by a young mortal boy who gave it to his sister as a gift, unaware of it's power."

His heart drops to his stomach. He feels sick, and he thinks he might hurl. This was all too much for him.

"Melanie, no," he mutters, bending over.

"It was shocking to me. You would think that sort of power would destroy her, but it didn't. It adapted to her, and it became apart of her. She has no idea what sort of power she possess."

He grips the ledge behind him to steady himself. At one time he would have cared about showing his feelings to others, but Freya already knew everything about him, and he was too weak to try and be clever.

"She is in grave danger, Loki. There are many creatures looking for that stone, luckily only you, Thor, and I know her identity, but as soon as her power is used again, they will be attracted to it, and they will find her."

"And what makes you think I can do anything for her? How can you trust that I won't just take the power for myself?"

"Well," she starts, her eyes sharp, "you have a decision to make then, don't you? Trust is not an issue for me. I know how each path you take will turn out. Everything is up to you now, I'm only here for extra guidance."

He stares at her for a long time. People used to fear her as some great White Witch of Alfheim that manipulated their fates. Loki was one of the only few that actually got to meet her. She had helped him understand visions he had had when he was younger, and now she was here, warning him of his eminent future.

He straightens. "What must I do?"

Freya smiles and spreads open her palms toward the bowl of water. "Listen to everything I have to say."

The black SUVS pull up to the house wildly, sliding to halt in several directions. Several SHEILD agents jump out with guns and begin swarming the area. Melanie holds Jame and his small backpack in her arms, watching their lights scatter about. Two dufflebags full of clothes and other things lay by her feet. They had to leave their home now. She had to leave her job, her sense of peace, everything. They were no longer safe in their small country home, and Jame was no longer safe with his mother.

Fury walks briskly up the steps, Steve following closely behind him.

"I'll get the bags," Steve says, bending over and collecting them with ease.

Fury stands one step below Melanie, but their eyes are level. He doesn't say anything at first, but he doesn't have to. She knows he's sorry they have to do this, but they have no choice.

After the perimeter is secured, Melanie and her son climb into an SUV and say goodbye to their small farmhouse forever. She doesn't know if they will destroy it. Maybe they will, or maybe it will just be left there to rot.

Jame stays securely wrapped in her arms and very quickly falls asleep, his head resting on her shoulder. Fury rides in the passenger sit in front of her, and Steve sits next to her, his hand locked around hers.

"I'm afraid we're going to have to separate you and your son until this all calms down. We do this only for your protection," Fury says as they fly down the lonely roads.

It's so dark outside, the headlights barely light the way in front of them. Melanie looks out the window, trying to hide the tears that form in her eyes.

"I'm very appreciative," she manages to mumble out, though she hardly seems grateful.

"I know this is hard, but you are our number one priority."

She scoffs at this but Fury doesn't seem to hear it, or he just choses to ignore it.

"In the morning you will drop your son off at Stark's place. Pepper will be tending to him for the time being."

"Tony and Pepper? You mean the most famous people in the world? In the biggest building in New York? You have got to be kidding me," she snaps.

Jame stirs and she quickly brushing his soft curls to calm him.

"Remember they aren't after your son, they're after you," Fury presses, but it's not reassuring.

"Well that's not what the psychopath at the restaurant said."

"Walker, we wouldn't be sending him somewhere where he wouldn't be safe."

"I don't know," she cuts in angrily, "I know SHEILD feelings toward Loki's son, so maybe the effort put in to keeping him safe isn't one-hundred percent."

Fury turns around. "We don't see him as Loki's son, we see him as yours, and we're going to try our damn near hardest to keep him safe, understand? As soon as you are away from your son that spotlight is going to follow you, not him. It won't matter where he is because all they want is you."

Melanie clamps her mouth shut, accepting defeat.

"Melanie, Director Fury knows what he's doing," Steve says, squeezing her hand gently.

"Yeah, sure he does," she says quietly, "and how do I know this isn't just some ploy to get me back in the field? Loki only came to my house to say hello, not to burn it down."

Fury smirks and turns back around. "If I really wanted you in the field, Walker, you'd already be there. Besides, your only use would be to lure in the enemy."

"Oh-" she starts, a new round of fury bubbling up inside her, but Steve cuts her off.

"Can we just stop arguing about this? We are all doing the best we can under the circumstances we're in. I'm sure we can all discuss this calmly in the morning."

Melanie huffs, and relaxes her tensed body. Jame snores quietly. She closes her eyes and rests her head against his. It's warm. The ride is silent.

Stark tower towers above Melanie as she stands with Jame by her side, his hand in hers. He carries a small backpack on his shoulders. The doors open and Tony meets them with a grand smile.

"How are my two favorite traitors?" he greets, ushering us into the building.

"Say hi to Uncle Tony," she says to Jame, bending down to his level. She shoots Tony a glare.

He looks up at him with uncertainty.

The elevator door opens quietly and they all step in.

"I hope this isn't too short notice," Melanie says to Tony.

"Everything with SHEILD is short notice. Don't worry, I'm used to it. Actually, Pepper was absolutely thrilled when I told her. She's always had a thing with children -don't tell her this- but I'm not really looking forward to the whole 'family' thing yet. I just don't feel qualified, you know?"

She smiles. "Well he will be good practice then. And don't worry, he's an angel. Maybe you can show him some of your stuff? He loves building things so I'm sure he'd be thrilled to look at some of your safer gadgets."

Tony laughs. "Of course, of course. He needs to know what real men do with their spare time."

The doors open and Pepper happily greets them.

"Oh Melanie!" she cries, going in for a hug. "And this must be little Jame."

She bends down.

"This is Aunt Pepper," Melanie says.

"Hi, you've gotten big since I last saw you," she coos, ruffling his hair. He frowns a little bit.

Melanie swallows, the pain of losing him suddenly hitting her. She crouches down to his level and pulls him aside.

"Jame, Mommy is going to go away for a while and you're going to stay with Aunt Pepper and Uncle Tony, ok?"

He looks at her in confusion. "Are you going away like daddy?"

She shakes her head. "No, no of course not. I would never leave you. I just have to go take care of some things so that bad people will leave. Ok? I love you very, very much, and if you get scared you can just call me, alright? Aunt Pepper has my phone number and I'm just a call away."

She kisses the top of his head and then pulls him into a hug.

"I love you mommy."

"I love you too, sweetie," she murmurs into his hair.

She holds him for a long time, never wanting to let him go. She would visit him soon, but not for a while. He was safe here. He was safe away from her.

She pulls back and swiftly wipes away a stray tear. Pepper gently holds his hand and pulls him back into the recess of the flat. Melanie and Tony get back on the elevator. Jame looks back until the doors shut and they can see each other no more.

"He'll be alright, you know. We're going to take very good care of him," Tony assures.

She straightens her jacket. "It's not his fault who is father is. I'm glad someone can see that, so I'll forever be in your debt. And it is also for that reason that I have to leave him, because until I can get rid of this power, danger is going to follow me, and there's only one person I know who might have the smallest idea of how to get rid of it."

"Fury won't support this."

"He doesn't have to. Loki will know how to get it out of me."

"And what if he takes this power? He could become very powerful."

The elevator dings and the doors open. Melanie turns to Tony and looks him square in the eye.

"If so, then we'll kill him."

She walks out and into the street, disappearing into the crowd.

Please review! I would very much appreciate feedback to make this story better!