Thor returned to the now empty room and spied his Brother alone staring out the window. He sensed something was amiss and was weighing heavily in Loki's heart.

"What ails your mind Brother?" Thor approached Loki who had his back to the room, his eyes gazing through the window onto the nightfallen city. "Speak the truth, if you trust me then tell me of your concern."

Loki retracted is hand from his face. "I fear the rumors of The Chronicler's resurgence have proven true. Darkness is coming and a threat of unspoken evil looms on the horizon." He looked at his Brother's reflection on the window. "Ragnarok, looms nigh."

Thor tried to understand Loki's state of mind. "At this moment I do not agree with the ominous implications synonymous with The Chronicler's appearance." Thor put his hand on Loki's shoulder. "Life my Brother, new life has entered our family. This is a glorious time of celebration and love."

Loki turned to face Thor, the bruises on his face had nearly faded entirely. "The Chronicler has the gift of foresight, why was no warning delivered upon us before confronting Thanos? Your death was surely foreseen and thus, preventable."

"What are you implying Loki?" Thor retracted his grip slowly.

"My descent into Hel was unnecessary until this time. Why was my journey delayed for so long? What did The Chronicler foresee?"

"Loki?" Thor's voice dropped with a sense of dread. "What has you worried?"

"I believe your resurrection was required, not by The Chronicler, Asgard or even Father. I believe you were revived to resume your role as an Avenger. Something wicked looms over Midgard and it seems the team will not be strong enough to survive without you."

Thor rubbed at his chin in an obviously upset manner. "Why do you do this to me Brother? Why are you trying to harm my joy with your personal-"

"Please, listen to me..."

"No! You listen!" Thor immediately lowered his tone as to not rouse the sleeping inhabitants of the Tower. "My daughter, your niece, has been born and a light has shined forth from darkness for the first time since Mother's death." He laughed nervously. "Why would you want to extinguish that light?"

"It is not my wish to see darkness destroy light, Brother, I know I cannot convince you of this as my past misdeeds have yet to be redeemed, but I promise you on the love for Elysia that I speak to you only of the truth." Loki suddenly flinched at the pain in his ribs as the emotional strain began affecting him. "If the light fades then I could lose you again, or Jane or Elysia. I will not allow this to happen, not for as long as I still breathe."

"What is it you propose?"

"Your necessity for the team to succeed in battle requires you to have a clear mind, no distractions."

Thor felt on edge. "Loki, what are you trying to ask of me?"

"I ask that you cast aside your memories of Elysia-"

"Are you MAD?!" Thor grabbed Loki's shoulders and shook him a few times. "How could you ask that I forget my own daughter, your niece for life's sake?"

"She is also the granddaughter to our Mother." Loki reminded Thor of Frigga knowing that it would calm him. "Elysia needs to be protected. She needs to be hidden."

"I am to abandon my child to satisfy your paranoid delusions?"

"No. I ask that you find sanctuary for Elysia and allow me to alter your memories of the past eight months to ensure her anonymity until it is safe."

Thor was on the verge of tears. "You truly believe you can take away the memories of my only child?"

"No. I will not eliminate your memories. Memories of love cannot be erased, only forgotten. I can use my magic to plant a fictitious past on all of those who dwell in the Tower."

"You speak of insanity my Brother. I do not understand how you could come to such a horrendous conclusion."

"Thor, I speak to you only of the truth. During my time seemingly condemned in the Tower the impending birth of Elysia was the only shining light that guided me through my darkest hours. From her our family will continue on as one, keeping your life apart of my own through her bloodline. She alone unites Asgard and Midgard with her very being. I will not stand idle while her life is threatened. I know you feel the same and would lay down your own life to protect her."

Despite Loki's past that has seemingly been scarred with lies, Thor knew his Brother was speaking with honesty from his heart. "Where... Where will Elysia be taken?"

"I cannot tell you. If you recall the location your memories will return and Elysia will be in danger."

Thor began pacing anxiously as he began contemplating the potential sacrifice he would be making based solely on Loki's word. "If you alter our memories of the past eight months, would you remember her?"

"Yes. But as a result of the memories being altered the memory of your rescuing me will be altered as well. You will not remember that I had been a part of your life. You will remember only my death on Svartalfheim."

"You will look after her?"

"I will watch over her from a safe distance, if you wish."

"Brother?"

"I could also place her in a state of sleep to keep her as she is now, until you can be reunited."

"No! No..." Thor wrung his hands nervously. "She... She deserves to live a life of her own. She does not deserve..."

Loki nodded approvingly. "I understand."

"I wish to see her, one last time."

"Of course." Loki wasn't going to argue with Thor's request.

Together the two men, Brothers, returned to Thor's private quarters where Jane was sleeping. Inside the room on the far wall was the crib with the tiny infant sleeping peacefully. Thor gently lifted Elysia out of the crib and held her in his arms. His strong arms only made the fragile infant look that much more innocent.

"I did not even know what it meant to love until I saw her for the first time, Loki." Thor did his best to speak quietly as not to disturb Jane's rest. "I do not want to lose this feeling."

"And you will not. The memories will remain in tact, but forgotten."

"She truly is beautiful, is she not?"

Loki couldn't agree more. Her blonde hair and brown eyes gave an aura of warmth and love. "Yes, Thor. She is truly remarkable."

"I do not want to forget her beauty."

"Thor, memories, even when buried deep in our hearts have a special gift of slipping into our dreams. Dreams we may not remember or understand, yet they are dreams we still feel even as we awaken with the faintest image of the dream lingering in our minds eye."

Thor kissed his daughter's forehead. "Thank you, Brother." He handed Elysia to Loki who took her in his own arms without hesitation.

"It is truly a fascinating experience Thor." He smiled at the sleeping baby in his arms. "This 'beyla' has been amongst us for only a few hours and yet we find ourselves dreading the idea that we would continue living on without ever meeting her."

Thor laughed a little and smiled as he watched his Brother bonding with his daughter. "When... When will you alter our memories."

"Tonight. While you sleep." Loki handed Elysia back to Thor for the final time. "When you awaken tomorrow everyone in the Tower will have forgotten about me... and Elysia. She will be safe, I promise."

"What of the gifts? How does one explain away a sudden onslaught of gifts for an infant?"

"I believe that on Midgard there are several locations designed just for the storage of a person's excessive personal belongings. They will not be disposed."

"What of Father and Heimdall?" Thor was doing his best to not disturb Elysia's sleep. "They surely know of Elysia."

"My magic does not have the range nor power to alter the minds of Father or Heimdall. Only Sif. But surely noble Heimdall will keep watch of Elysia at my side and keep his silence. Father will not endanger his own Granddaughter."

"What of Jane? Surely she will feel something amiss with her physical health."

Loki just grinned. "During the eight months I was in her company I often used my magic to comfort her when she felt ill or in pain. As a result my magic will also restore any and all harm that she had endured during the delivery. She will show no sign of ever having been with child."

"Where will you go?" Thor didn't want to lose his Brother again.

"I will be safe. I am much better at blending in with a crowd than you, dear Brother." He gave Thor a taunting grin. "I will be around. Perhaps even closer than you realize."

Thor laughed again. "I would not be surprised."

Loki placed his hand on Thor's shoulder. "Brother. It is time."

Reluctantly Thor prepared to give Elysia to Loki. He kissed her forehead one more time. "Daughter of mine, I will always love you and I will find you again one day. I promise."

Loki took the small infant in his arms and closed his eyes. "Goodbye, Brother." He extended his hand.

"Goodbye." Thor accepted Loki's offer.

A faint green glow filled the Tower and Thor's hand went limp as fell to the bed into a deep slumber.

As the Tower dreamt their memories of the past eight months, the past ordeal and encounters had been altered to protect Elysia's birth and overall life. Loki proceeded to use his magic to clear the Tower of the small toys, clothes, crib and other gifts for Elysia. Bit by bit it appeared as though a child had never been inside the Tower.

The same happened to Loki's private quarters. His presence in the Tower would be forgotten. His books and other personal affects were cleared from the Tower as well.

Before leaving the Tower for the final time, with Elysia wrapped warmly in a blanket in his arms, Loki approached a display console and addressed the only witness to Elysia's birth that could not be affected by magic. "J.A.R.V.I.S."

'How may I be of service.'

"You monitor the Tower at all hours, correct?"

'Correct.'

"You know of the decision that Thor has agreed upon, correct?"

'Correct.'

"I have a single request I must ask of you. The records for the past eight months need to be altered, can you do this?"

'Yes, it can be done. However to correctly edit the records to match the past eight months will be difficult without information provided by Master Stark or the rest of the current Tower occupants.'

"I understand. Please, do not inform the others of this arrangement. All the work that has been done will be compromised and the baby will be a great risk."

'Understood. An error in the memory banks will be reported in the morning.'

"Thank you."

Loki walked to the elevator and descended to the bottom floor. As he exited the Tower with Elysia still sleeping in his arms, Loki used his magic to take on the appearance of young blonde man with brown eyes, his attire changing into a pair of jeans and a blue shirt with a black jacket.

Taking one last look at the Tower, Loki's eyes flashed to their natural green color as he smiled at the Tower whose only light emanated from the giant 'A'. A lone tear rolled down his face as he looked down at Elysia. "I promise, Brother. And I promise you, beyla, you will never be alone."

"Alfheim will be our haven, but in the end I must play my part." He hugged his niece as he began walking away from the Tower. "Forgive me."

-The End

Author's Note: I know this ending seems a little off and unnecessarily sad, but I want to keep this story in the current Marvel Universe as much as possible. In order to keep the upcoming 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' as a potential link in my storyline, I had to remove certain characters and elements until I have the inspiration to write another installment. :) I love Loki way too much to NOT keep him involved in the story!

It will be a LONG time before I write the third installment. I hope you enjoyed this story as much as enjoyed writing it.

And because I know you're curious: 'Elysia' is Norse and it means 'lightning'. 'Maria' means 'love, wished for child / rebellious & defiant'. The fact that agent Hill was involved just made the name choice that much more fitting!

As for 'beyla', it's also Norse and it means 'little bean'. How could I resist using that nickname?

'Alfheim' is home to the Light Elves.

Also, I will be adding an eventual epilogue to cover the events of this story and tie it in with the true Marvel Events in the films to come. So it'll be a while but I am bound and determined to keep this story as true to form as possible. (Thor 3, Avengers 2 and Avengers 3)

Thanks for reading and the encouragements! Thor, Jane and Elysia will not be separated forever. Loki won't keep the family apart longer than necessary. But his motives or alliances might be different in the end...