A week passed and Loki did not have another dream about Thor. After sitting alone in his house for seven days, sleeping, watching television, and listening to the sounds of the house he'd had enough. He needed human contact and Jenny was not there to force him to socialize, and so he knew he had to do it himself. It was Wednesday and Loki decided to attend the local Bible study group in the church's basement.

It was awkward to say the least, being surrounded by people that knew of his sexual appetites. However, the people smiled at him and the topic of conversation stuck to the lesson for the evening. The topic was temptation.

"Now Matthew mentions temptation many times. There are the three temptations: Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life. These are the three temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness by Satan. Now open your books…" The Reverend pulled out his yellow highlighter. The others did the same. Loki felt embarrassed and woefully unprepared as he did not bring his own. A nice old lady sitting next to him took pity on him, loaning him one of hers. He noticed that nearly everyone in the room was at least 15 years his senior.

"Small is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction. Now this passage has been interpreted in numerous ways but the meaning is the same. The inverse of this is, long is the way and narrow is the path that leads up towards righteousness and few there be that find it. In what aspects of your daily lives can you think of how you have been tempted? Anyone? Loki? How about you?" Reverend McDowell pointed at him, hoping to engage the new guy.

"Oh…ah…well…" Loki's cheeks flushed pink.

"No pressure. You're just being watched by a room full of strangers all waiting on pins and needles to hear your eloquent response." The Reverend said as he leaned in close to Loki. The effect was comedic. Loki and everyone else chuckled, relieving the tension.

"I know a lot about temptation actually. When my parents died I was left with a huge life insurance pay out plus a very large trust fund. I could have gone a numbers of bad ways with that. I was orphaned and even though I did have a family, my parent's friends took me in, I still felt adrift."

"I imagine being a teenager with no parents and a fat bank account was a huge temptation indeed. So what did you do about it?"

"Grieving like I was I wanted to drown in drugs and alcohol but I had already gone through that while in high school. My father found pot in my room a week before their deaths and threatened to ship me off to military school. They were still debating it when they died. I haven't touched the stuff since."

"That is commendable Loki and I applaud you for honoring your parent's memories. Who else wants to share?" The Reverend asked. Others responded but Loki did not listen, lost in his thoughts. The lesson continued on and at the end as Loki tried to leave the Reverend caught him.

"May I speak with you before you go?"

"Yes, what is it?"

"I heard about what you did for Jenny and her dad. It was no small thing."

"You were right to recommend her to me. She was an exemplary employee."

"Yes well, everyone is talking about the incident at the party. I know that some of the people in this town are very old fashioned about certain things but please know you'll not be shunned or lectured to here. I'm more of the opinion that God made you as you are, and that is fine."

"Oh…OH! Um…thank you. That is reassuring."

"Well now that the weirdness has been addressed I wanted to ask you how business is going?"

"I'm shutting down the Bed and Breakfast. It's not for me."

"That is a terrible shame. I know of several people that were disappointed when their reservations were cancelled. Will you be selling the estate?"

"No. I think I will continue living there if only for the time being."

"Did the shutdown have anything to do with that priest dying in your home?"

"You don't miss much do you Reverend?"

"Being observant is my most important skill."

"Yes, in part. That and the woman that died earlier in the summer, and then Jenny being chased by that dog and falling into the icy pond. Bad things keep happening in my home."

"Jenny did not mention the dog or the pond. I had no idea that that had happened!"

"Her right hand required four stitches." Loki said. The Reverend winced.

"Well I'm glad you came to Bible study tonight. It was good for you to get out of that big house and be with people."

"Jenny told you to keep tabs on me didn't she?"

"She sure did."

"Thank you Reverend. I'll see you Sunday."

XxXxXxXxXx

As November pressed on Loki continued in a drought of Thor-less dreams. He continued going to Sunday services and Bible study groups in town. As Thanksgiving approached Loki longed to be in the company of friends and family. Since he didn't dare let anyone stay in his home he knew he'd have to make the trek to New York City to spend the holiday with the Starks.

"Hello?" Emily answered her phone.

"Hey gorgeous, got room for one more at the Thanksgiving Dinner table?"

"EEEEE! Oh my god! Yes! I miss you so much! I can't wait to see you." Emily said.

"How are your parents doing? And how is Daniel?"

"They are fine I guess. Daniel says mom has been drinking a lot though and my dad has been spending more hours late at the office but such is life on Wall Street. Nothing new. Daniel has been staying late at the office with him so at least I know it's not an affair."

"Yeah, that is good news. Will you meet me at the train station on Wednesday?"

"Hell yeah!"

"I'll see you then sweetheart."

"Ooh, sweetheart! Maybe Christmas will come early for me….or on me?"

"Dirty girl. Love you. See you in a couple of days."
"Bye…."

"Bye." Loki hung up the phone. It was the first genuine smile he'd had in days.

XxXxXxXx

"Will!"

"Grace! I mean beard! I mean girl I'd totally fuck if I were straight!" Loki yelled. People give the two weird looks as they embrace on the platform.

"You could close your eyes and pretend I'm someone else." Emily batted her eyelashes at him.

"Don't tempt me." Loki giggled. He draped his arm over her shoulder and they walked together to the street curb to hail a cab. They laughed at each other as they rode back to the Stark apartment. Loki remembered how the real estate vultures had circled around him when his parent's obituaries hit the newspaper. The worst incident was when a couple was out apartment hunting had knocked on his door to ask him if it was for sell yet. Mr. Stark had given the couple an earful as Loki ran to his room to cry. The apartment fell into probate and the bank sold it with record speed. His childhood home now belonged to someone else.

They arrived at their building and Loki flung his overnight bag over his shoulder and tipped the cabbie generously. The ride up to the penthouse was long but filled with sentiment and the warmth of comradery. The atmosphere of the Stark apartment however was not. The hair on the back of Loki's neck stood up. Emily's too, if her frown was anything to judge by.

"Emily!" Pepper came running up to her daughter, a glass of rum and coke clinking her hand. They hugged and Loki noted the dark purple bags under Pepper's eyes. She looked sick. Pepper turned her gaze to Loki and she stretched a fake smile across her face and greeted him.

"Loki. Good to see you. I'm glad you're here for the holiday."

"Me too Mrs. Stark."

"Well, come on in and unload your luggage. Dinner will be ready in ten minutes." Loki and Emily nodded and said nothing as they headed back to Loki's old room which now had the impersonal air of a generic guest room. None of Loki's possessions remained. Emily shut the door behind her.

"Emily what is wrong with your mother?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen my folks since school started two months ago. We've talked on the phone but I didn't know she looked like that."

"What do you think it is? I'm worried about her drinking."

"Me too. Something happened. Something had to have happened for her to look like that."

"Have you seen your father yet?"

"No. Do you think he'll know what is going on?"

"Won't know until we assess them at dinner. What about Daniel? Is he going to be here tonight?"

"No, not until tomorrow. He's working late at the office again."

"On the night before Thanksgiving?"

"I'm surprised dad isn't there too." Emily said. Pepper's voice rang out as she called the children to supper. Loki and Emily filed out of the room and took their seats at the dinner table.

"Loki! Hey my man how are you!" Mr. Stark said with an exuberance that came across as phony.

"I'm good Mr. Stark."

"Oh come now. That's not what I heard."

"What did you hear?" Loki asked growing worried.

"I heard that your guests keep dying at your house. Want to tell us about it?"

"Tony!" Pepper admonished him as Emily shot Loki a horrified look.

"How did you find out about those? I never told you."

"I read the paper Loki."

"Yeah but it's not like the stories headlined the New York Times."

"No but the local news posted a story online. You want to tell us about it?" Tony asked. Loki most certainly did not want to tell them about what has been happening, but it at least explained their weird behavior.

"There was an accident. One of my very first guests was hit by a car on the road right in front of my house. It turned out the woman had been abusing her adopted son. Then there was a priest I invited to dinner. He had a stroke while trying to bless the house and died at the hospital."

"Oh my god! Why didn't you call me you asshole!" Emily glared at Loki.

"I didn't want all of you to worry or discourage me from pursuing the business."

"Loki! That is a terrible excuse. You know better! I'm your friend god damn it!" Emily yelled at him.

"I'm sorry. I wish I could explain why I didn't tell you but saying my excuses out loud sounds…"

"Stupid. Really fucking stupid." Emily said. "Aren't you guys going to say something?" Emily looked at her parents then.

"You know Loki you should really draft a will. I know you haven't. It's not something a 22 year old thinks about, but it's something you need to do."

"What? Dad what the fuck?"

"He's right honey. Loki's seen enough death to know that he should have one."

"I…suppose?" Loki is baffled by their response. They're right. He doesn't have a will but like Emily said, what the fuck?

"Well, let's eat before the food starts getting cold." Pepper says as she takes a big gulp of her chardonnay.

"Mom? Are you okay? Is there something you're not telling me?"

"What? No honey. Why would you think that?" Pepper displays another unconvincing smile that does not reach her eyes.

"Cut the bullshit mom. Are you guys getting a divorce or something? Is that what this is?"

"What? No! No honey your mom and I aren't getting a divorce." Mr. Stark interrupts.

"Then what is going on? What is wrong with you two? Dad your hair is fucking white!"

"Honey I'm getting old. It happens."

"Bullshit."

"Emily!"

"Don't Emily me! You're keeping a secret from me. What is it? Mom are you dying? Do you have cancer or something?"

"No. Honey. I… I'm fine."

"Fine. Don't tell me. I'm not hungry. I'm going to my room." Emily stormed away expecting Loki to follow, but he lingered. He had his own concerns to address.

"You two look like you haven't been sleeping at night. Any nightmares?" Loki asked. Pepper and Tony both looked at one another, guilt written all over their faces.

"How long have you been having them Mr. Stark?" Loki pressed.

"I don't know…um… a few weeks." He admitted.

"Since spending the night in my house during my parent's death anniversary?" Loki leaned forward. Mr. Stark swallowed hard.

"What is it you think you know Loki?" He bristled defensively as if ready to attack Loki verbally.

"I know that bad things keep happening to my guests. They've seen things in the mirrors and had dreams that made them do things out of character, or perhaps in character, but horrific all the same."

Tony and Pepper both laughed loud and giddy as though they were expecting something else entirely to come out of his mouth. It only confused Loki more. The hysterical desperate laughter ended abruptly and Mr. Stark leaned towards Loki.

"What? Like the house is haunted or something? You know Loki, you could probably make all those bad spirits go away if you gave me that desk ornament of yours."

"Desk ornament. Right. I'll have to remember that the next time I visit. I'm not hungry either. I think I'll save it up for tomorrow."

"Sure Loki. Goodnight."

"Goodnight Mr. Stark."