The Queen always kept a close eye on her children…but mostly Loki. Thor had the full of his father's attention. She would watch him, and almost always knew when something was amiss.

He appeared to be distracted recently, and she knew of Odin's plans for the stable man's daughter.

She was less than thrilled at this.

However, the more she thought about it, the more she began to believe that this may be Loki's chance at happiness. Frigga knew him to be sullen and sarcastic, but this…this chance to befriend, and maybe even a bit more, someone outside of the family, may just help him to see his worth.

It was a long shot, for she understood his temperament, and the idea that he'd allow himself to become vulnerable was pretty slight.

…but not if he wasn't entirely aware of his vulnerability.

She would watch a bit more, and then perhaps intervene.

Jane woke Saturday just as confused as she had been the evening previous, albeit more rested.

She had thoughts of leaving Asgard altogether…going back to Alfheim and finding a new life was sounding so very attractive.

The idea of leaving her father was not exactly an appealing one, and not something she believed she could actually do.

Jane sighed and got up. The floor was cold, and she thought that she should get the kettle on straight away.

She made her way downstairs and filled the kettle. Jane looked out of the window, half expecting to see Loki there.

He wasn't.

She shook her head and went back to work.

Jane busied herself that day with her father, work about the house, and every ten minutes or so checking to see if Loki was walking toward her.

He never did.

Part of Jane was relieved. Part was annoyed. And she couldn't decide which, until she finally did see him…

He was walking along the path of the garden above her own home and the palace proper.

In that instant, she felt a thrill in her heart, and she thought that he might be coming to see her. This gave her a moment's pause…though it was difficult to say why, exactly.

She was about to call out to him, when she saw that he was with someone.

A lady.

And anger boiled. And jealousy brimmed.

And Jane Foster knew then that she was in terrible danger of making the same error she had made with Thor.

Her world stopped for a moment…she swallowed, and ran into the house.

She was shaking slightly as she poured herself some water.

She had done it again! Undone by yet another Prince. Jane rubbed her face and sighed. How had this happened, in such a small amount of time!

And she needed to go to the dinner tomorrow…how embarrassing.

Perhaps she might make some excuse…

Loki was barely listening to the maid walking next to him. She was prattling on about how thrilled she was that he asked her to take a turn about the garden to discuss the menu for the following night.

He had no interest in any menu. He never bothered with such trifles.

But he had been hoping that Jane would see them, and perhaps that would plant a seed.

It might backfire on him, of course. She might become very cross and not want to speak to him when he called that evening.

But, he'd take that chance. He rather thought that a touch of jealousy might just do the trick.

That was when he saw the back of Jane Foster scurrying into her house.

"Your Majesty?"

He turned to her, stopping in the lane. "Yes? Yes…" he collected himself. "That all sounds wonderful. Now, if you'll excuse me…"

"Diana," she replied with a thin mouth.

"Diana. Thank you. I must be returning," and without another glance, turned and went back to the palace.

And poor Diana was left on the lane, feeling rather taken in.

His strides were long and purposeful as he walked toward the King's map room. He had a smile on his face..he was fairly confident.

Loki walked in without knocking to find Odin writing at his desk. "Is it done?" he asked without looking up.

"I have reason to believe that I will have secured her affection this evening."

"You don't plan on compromising her virtue, do you Loki?" at this, his eye found his son, and a stern look bedecked his face.

A soft feeling of resentment welled at the suggestion. "I am no monster," he replied curtly.

"No," and Odin stood. "I hope that you respect her and the fact that you will be breaking her heart yet again."

Loki's gaze dropped. "Now you think of her heart, Odin?" he looked at him. "Now she is a concern beyond an impediment to your galactic rule? How very typical," and he walked around the desk toward his father. "Once the damage is done, you feel remorse, but you never have any foresight. Not a terribly desirable trait for a King."

"You wish to discuss my merits as your King?"

"No. I wish to discuss your merits as a father, for no parent who respected their own station would toy with another father's daughter the way you have with Foster's."

Odin raised his chin. "I am doing this for the good of…"

"Asgard," Loki supplied. "I know it. But what of her subjects? Jane is under your rule, yet you care little for her."

"There is a greater good at play."

"Always. Yet you claim to care so much for your people, as long as they do exactly what you want them to," he sneered. "Much like your children."

Odin began to object, but Loki intervened.

"I wish to leave on Monday."

"Monday? But that is but…"

"Yes. I know when Monday is. I have no desire to continue here. I will be leaving, so you must send word that I am traveling, and not to be stopped."

"What of your mother?" he had not expected Loki to be so eager to leave.

"I'll write to her," and he turned and began to leave the room.

"Do you loathe me, my son?"

And Loki looked at him, and saw that it was a genuine question, and that there was some hurt in his face. "No, father. No more than Jane Foster will once she learns the truth," and he left.

He loved his daughter, that much was obvious.

He loved her so much that he was about to tell her to move back to Alfheim.

"Jane…have you got a minute?"

She looked up from the book she was reading. "I was about to start…"

"Not about dinner, child," and he sat next to her.

"All right?" she looked at him quizzically.

"I've been thinking. You were happy in Alfheim, weren't you?"

She swallowed. "I was."

"Maybe," he folded and unfolded his hands. "Perhaps you might be happy there now. Things are so convoluted now, here in Asgard. It might do you well to settle there for a while, and I can follow in a few months."

"You wish to move to Alfheim?"

He smiled at her. "I want you to be happy. If that means that I need to move to Alfheim, then I'll do it."

Jane smiled, and then thought about what he was saying. Her gaze fell. "You are trying to protect me. You think that I can't handle myself here and the Princes."

"Well, yes. That is part of it, yes."

Jane stood and sighed. "I know that what you are doing is out of love, father. But I need to understand what is happening to me before I go anywhere. I'm very confused…"

"Are you in love with Prince Loki, child?"

Jane could feel the tears stinging the backs of her eyes. "I don't know," she whispered, not looking at him.

"You do," he responded, standing up. "You know, Jane. You are a brilliant young woman."

She looked at him with tears in her eyes. How could she lie to him? She could lie to herself, she could lie to Thor, maybe even Loki… But her father…"I do. I am in love with him," she cried.

He smiled and went to her and hugged her close. "Oh, my child…if only he deserved you!"

"But I keep making the same mistake! He's a Prince, and I am nothing. Unworthy…"

Foster pulled away from her and cupped her face. "Don't ever say that, Jane. You are more than worthy. He would be lucky to…"

But she shook her head and backed away. "He does not want me, father. Nor should he. And I should not want him…my love needs to be buried and grown for someone else," she paused. "Perhaps you are right. We should leave and live on Alfheim," Jane went to the window and looked out into the garden. It dipped a bit, sitting high upon a precipice as it was, it afforded a grand view of the village below, and the sea beyond. "It would be better for everyone."

Loki was readying himself for a visit to Jane Foster. He had thought over what he would say to her, perhaps being hurt that she was jealous (if she had, in fact, seen him - which he was fairly certain she had). Perhaps he would be angry, thus proclaiming himself after shock that she could be jealous when there was only her.

Or if she hadn't seen him, he could mention that he had been attempting to forget about her by spending time with another maid, to no avail.

So many possibilities!

He smirked to himself…looked in the glass, and thought that yes. He was presentable. He would never be Thor, but he was no monstrous thing.

Off he went, with the assurance that she would be his by night's end.

"Loki," came a voice.

He turned to find his mother approaching. He inwardly sighed. "Mother," he nodded.

"Where are you off to, son?"

His brow furrowed a bit. "Why?"

She smiled at him. "A mother is always concerned about her children."

"I assure you," he said, returning her smile. "There is no reason for you to be concerned. I'm merely taking a walk after a long day," and he turned to leave.

"Loki," she touched his arm. Something changed in her face at that moment…Frigga understood that she must be delicate with her youngest. He was wily and suspicious…even of her, occasionally. She composed herself and took a deep breath. "Nothing is ever gained by failing to recognize the truth inside of you."

He held her gaze for a moment. "I am not a kind man, my Queen. That is not something that I can alter, no matter how you wish it."

"You may not be kind. But you are not the miscreant that you believe yourself to be," and she pulled him nearer her. "If you look, Loki, there is beauty in your heart and honor in your soul. Do no forget that in favor of a dream you do not understand."

It always amazed him that she could say such things to him and he never got angry; her timing was always impeccable. "Thank you," he replied, and with a nod, turned and walked away.

Long strides carried him out of the palace…Frigga's words still ringing in his ears. Be true to himself! He hardly knew who that was. Odin's gaze always compelled him to acts of deviance or else compliance, to simultaneously shut him up and impress him.

He aimed at both in these last hours before Thor's return.

The soft carpet of grass kept his approach unnoticed by anyone, and allowed his thoughts to roam freely…

He would be leaving soon, away from Thor, Odin…and he could make a new life somewhere he wasn't feared.

He could carve a path worthy of the sorcerer he was.

He needed no one, save himself.

…and there, just beyond a growth of trees, were the stables. He saw Jane…she was out late for her clock, sipping a drink on the stoop to her house.

And he thought that she was beautiful.

And she would be on his arm tomorrow night for Thor to see, and then…

He would break her heart.

Again.

Loki swallowed. He should move, but he felt rooted.

This was Odin's fault, he thought, not his. He had not wanted to harm the girl. It was Odin's doing.

And with that, he emerged from the thick, and made his way to the stable man's daughter.