Yeah, new chapter, actually on a Wednesday! Btw I'm almost at my original target of fifty reviews, If you get me there, I'll love you forever. As always thanks to everyone who followed and favourited and thanks to FlockFighter101, Black Thorn, AlisonAPD and TheEmoVanity for their fantabulous reviews. Also I'm putting out a Cliff-Hanger warning. Don't hate me.

Chapter 13

"I still don't understand how this is considered a city. A town at the very most."

Loki muttered as they made their way to the bus stop. Natasha laughed at his distasteful expression. She was used to small places that were considered cities- and Ireland was full of them.

"I know the cities aren't much, but wait for the countryside. It's practically untouched, as far as I remember… I haven't been here in a while."

Loki nodded silently as they passed shop after shop, until Natasha drew his attention to the small, glass building that declared itself the bus station. Natasha bought them two tickets. The clerk seemed to know the place even though Natasha was pretty sure she didn't pronounce the name right. Then they climbed aboard their clean, albeit slightly old, bus. After several elderly woman and a young teen wearing headphones joined them, the bus gave a violent shudder then merged with the steady stream of cars on the road.

"Excuse me dear, but would you pick of my needle there? I'm afraid I've dropped it." Said one of the elderly women across from them. Loki through her a wide smile and picked it from the ground.

"Oh thank you."

"You're very welcome." He said with a grin. Natasha rolled her eyes.

"Oh Bríd look, a gentleman- those are hard to come by. " She leaned forward to look at Natasha.

"You're very lucky. My William, God rest his soul, He was a perfect gentleman…" Natasha nodded and smiled as the woman discussed her life history and tried not to laugh as Loki whispered in her ear.

"All this for picking up a knitting needle? I should have stabbed her with it."

Finally they arrived at their stop, and as luck would have it, Mary and Bríd had to stay on the bus. They weren't let go without many goodbyes, handshakes and requests to visit if they needed anything.

"Remind me," Natasha muttered as they waved off the bus, "To file a restraining order when we get back to base."

"Really?" Loki said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I thought they were perfectly delightful."

"The Irish are well-known for the hospitality."

"You don't say."

Natasha laughed as she hoisted her bag on her shoulders.

"Come on, we have an Asgardian weapon to destroy."

"Yes ma'am."

"You never said there'd be so much walking."

"What?" Natasha said, not daring to look him in the eye. "You getting sleepy?"

"Not at all. I was just worried about you. You slept very little last night." He said suggestively.

"Neither did you if I remember correctly."

"True enough, but I'm a… what was the term Dr Banner used… ah, yes, an extra-terrestrial."

Natasha thought about it for a minute. Bruce was right. Loki and Thor were aliens, even if she'd never thought of it that way. That just made her… circumstance with Loki all the more dangerous. And exciting.

"We're almost there; we just need to get over this hill."

They were silent for a while, when Natasha decided to bring up a different topic.

"How are the nightmares?"

"Still the same. But I don't think it's going to happen- the torturing I mean" He lied easily. He still didn't want to tell her. Not that the fact that he was having premonitions of her being murdered would scare her. That was the problem. She wouldn't be scared enough. He'd tell her when he had too.

"Just think, if I still had my powers we would be there by now."

"Well you should have thought of that before you tried to take over the world."

"Indeed. Oh the woes of hindsight…" He started grumpily before taking in the sight before them.

"In Odin's name." He mumbled in awe as they looked at the large stone building in front of them. Its ancient stonework and stained glass windows contrasted beautifully against the rolling mountains and farmland surrounding it.

"What is it?" Natasha asked softly, looking at Loki's dumbfounded expression.

"I just never thought that this Earth… could look so much like Asgard." He said quietly, staring at the scene as if he never wanted to forget.

"I didn't know you missed it so much."

"Neither did I. It's stunning. I don't know if I want to destroy it or stay here forever."

They made their way down the hill, and walked through the gates. They weren't able to appreciate the antique courtyard, like the main building what with the vans, trucks and scientific equipment everywhere.

Dodging the men in white body suits and official looking guards they finally got to the front door. Loki smiled at the foreign looking symbols that dotted the edges.

"Look- It's Asgardian. " He whispered tracing the symbols with his fingertips.

"What does it mean?" She asked. Loki opened his mouth to answer, but a gravelly voice spoke instead of him smooth one.

"Close to God." Erik Selvig said from behind them.

"Agent Romanoff." He said with a nod of his head. He turned to Loki with distaste. "They told me you were coming. I didn't want to believe it."

"Sorry to disappoint."

"No it's okay, it's good." He said with a slight stutter, fiddling with his hands nervously. A bead of sweat appeared on his brow. He swat at it with a hand that jerked horribly.

"Dr Selvig, are you sure you're okay? I can promise that Loki won't harm you."

"I said it's fine!" He half shouted, more sweat almost dripping down his face. "You go ahead I'll be there in a moment."

Natasha gave him a worried stare, the turned to Loki and shrugged. Giving a sheepish smile to Erik, they climbed up the loose stone steps.

Making sure they were out of earshot, Selvig tapped into the tiny glowing blue earpiece.

"Sir? She's coming. And you were right- He's with her."