Awakening

*Mortem glances around Stark Tower*

*Insania giggles from her hiding space*

*Penny smirks*

*Tony backs away slowly.*

It was a rather warm sight I found myself stumbling upon when I reappeared in Asgard's palace. I had pulled myself to Loki, Thor, and Hel's Souls, since they were the ones I was the most familiar with.

I hadn't appeared very far away, but I also hadn't appeared to close, as I didn't want to disturb anything.

Of course, when i spotted the scene in front of me, I was rather happy about that.

I appeared in the doorway of Frigga and Odin's chamber, and quickly hid my presence as my lips twitched into a small smile.

Frigga was sitting on the floor, her skirts pooled around her and her back resting against side of her bed. She was telling a rather thrilling tale about a dragon and ancient warriors to Loki's three youngest children, who were sitting around her. The Queen of Asgard was waving her wands through the air, creating pictures and scenes out of glittering magic to accompany the story.

Fenrir, Jormungand, and Sleipnir were all staring wide eyed at the display of magic above their heads, and at the tale.

Loki and Adayna were talking together in hushed tones, and in a language I didn't recognize. They were no longer in their nightclothes, and were curled up in a loveseat by the fireplace, which was casting a golden glow around the room.

Thor and Hel stood slightly away from the rest, also talking, though it was in Old Norse and they appeared to be catching up.

The twins, Vali and Narfi, were sitting together on the floor in between their parents and their grandmother. They spoke to themselves, and tried to make it seem as if they were uninterested in the story being woven by their grandmother. But the wide eyed glances given to the magical display every few moments gave them away.

I had never actually met any of Hel's siblings before, but she had spoken of them often. Usually it was with annoyance, as she was the only girl out of the five, but more often than not there was fondness and pride shining through her eyes.

Shaking my head I leaned against the doorframe with a smile on my face. The story Frigga was telling the children was one she had often told Thor and Loki as children. This moment was peaceful, in fact you could barely tell that something awful had befallen the family only minutes before.

It was a type of peace that I rarely ever saw in my own life, so I felt like it should last as long as it could.

Because I knew from experience how fleeting such moments actually were.

Mortem and I sit atop of the giant building that was the city and school. The moon hung high in the sky and the night was like a glittering quilt. There were no clouds, and the starry quilt above us stretched on for miles. I hadn't been in this world for very long, but for the first time since I arrived...my Duties weren't screaming at me, and I didn't feel like a hammer was trying to crack my skull in two.

There was a...sense of tranquility in the air, one that was almost foreign to me. Peace, moments of calm...they were something rarer than Laetitia's bad moods.

It was...strange, spending this moment with Mortem. Our relationship was shaky and fragile on the best of days; that's what happens when you hate someone for about five lifetimes.

But at this moment, glancing at the black haired Immortal out of the corner of my eyes...I could feel a small form of friendship, of kinship, being formed.

Maybe we could get along after all.

I didn't notice the tear that had escaped my eye until the memory faded, and I was quick to wipe my eyes.

That had been one of the key moments that had led Mortem and I fixing things. Oh, there had been other moments, before and after that one...but none of those had the same sense of peace about them. None of them really meant as much to me.

"E're!"

It was Thor. He swooped upon me as soon as he noticed my presence and wrapped my up in his arms.

"I am glad to see that you have returned!" He stated, his rather large biceps threatening to crush me. I could barely breath, and even if my form was mostly Immortal, I was still in a Human body!

"Thor...air…" I managed to gasp out and I sensed Loki's amusement.

"Brother, I would rather you not suffocate Aequivalere. She did just assure my freedom after all." Loki almost drawled and suddenly, I was released. However, since my head was spinning slightly from my lack of oxygen, my butt met the floor instead of my feet.

"My apologies!" Thor boomed and I shook my head slowly as I got to my feet.

"Don't worry about it," I told him with a smile. Thor was like a giant teddy bear, you couldn't help but love him.

"Aequivalere," Frigga greeted me with a nod as she got to her feet. "Thank you for helping my son."

"Your Majesty," I have her a small bow and smile. "Think nothing of it."

"E're, you called me Frigga when you lived among us, and I ask you to do the same now," She told me, her hands on her hips and giving me a very warm smile. I nodded and stepped out of the doorway.

"Of course," I replied as Hel waved in greeting, a very evil glint in her eyes.

"So, not that I want to break up this lovely little reunion, but I really have to ask." Everyone glanced over at Hel who was practically bouncing up and down.

I had a feeling that Insania had slipped her some sugar. Lovely.

"What did you do to Granddad dearest?" She asked sweetly, but all of the Asgardians in the room froze.

Hel's siblings were all looking at me in awe while Adayna held onto her husband's arm with an iron grin.

Frigga's grin faded, and her expression darkened.

I could feel her unease and worry, and jumped to reassure her that I hadn't killed the Allfather.

"He's not dead, if that's what you mean." I gave Hel a glare as she pouted. She spent way too much time in Mortem's realm. "I just pulled him to the side for some...self reflection. He's perfectly alright. If, in a month, his head is on right I'll unbind his power and he will be able to return."

Frigga let out a long breath and gave me a thankful smile, her eyes glittering.

"Where is he bound?" Loki asked, his tone smooth despite the dark circles under his eyes. He was quite composed considering everything that had happened to him recently.

I chuckled, and Hel's face lit up again at the tone.

"Midgard, on a small island that practically no one knows about." I told the man who had once been like my son. Thor's chuckle echoed like thunder throughout the room as a quiet cackle escaped Loki's lips.

"Fitting punishment indeed." I heard him mutter, and although Frigga shot him a stern look, she did not reply.

I shrugged, not really replying. It wasn't necessarily a punishment...more like a forced sabbatical. But that's just details.

There was a small moment of silence as we all just stared at each other. Then Sleipnir, doing what children do best, broke the silence.

Skittering up to me, he pulled on the sleeve of my dress.

"Yes little one?" I asked as Hel and the twins shared amused looks out of the corner of my eye.

"Are you really E're?" He asked, his green eyes wide in childish awe.

I chuckled, and nodded. Sleipnir looked so much like his father had at that age. "Indeed I am, why do you ask?"

Suddenly, he blushed and looked away. Jormungand appeared at his side and finished his brother's question.

"Because Hel talks about you aaaalllll the time." He informed me and I glanced over at Hel with a raised eyebrow.

She blushed and rubbed the back of her head, clearly embarrassed.

"Daddy and Uncle Thor talk about you too! They tell us stories about your adventures!" Sleipnir piped up, almost bouncing. His brother's presence prompting him to speak.

"Oh they do, do they?" I asked slyly as I looked over at the two princes, who were both attempting to look composed, though the faint traces of pink across their cheeks and the twitching of their hands gave them away.

"Oh, all the time." Narfi spoke up as he and his twin shared a mischievous look that I had seen on Loki many times.

"It's like you were their hero." Vali continued, shooting his father a playful grin, who glared at him.

I giggled as the brothers glared at the younger duo. No doubt they hadn't wanted me to know that.

"But I'm sure you haven't heard all of their stories." I settled down on the floor by Fenrir, the two younger boys plopping down besides me.

I saw Thor and Loki share horrified looks out of the corner of my eye as Hel and the twins circled around me as well, glints in their eyes and grins on their faces.

"E're," Thor groaned putting his face in his hands.

"Please don't," Loki pleaded with me, while Adayna attempted to hide her snickers.

Frigga raised an eyebrow as she settled back down into her spot against the bed; and I grinned.

"Consider this payback for the Turkey incident." I told them as I glanced over my shoulder and gave them a rather evil grin.

Both men groaned and collapsed into the chairs by the fire. Adayna was looking curious now, glancing between me, the children, and then the princes.

"The Turkey incident?" Frigga asked, looking between the three of us. It seemed that Odin had never bothered to tell his Queen what had happened.

His pride probably hadn't allowed it.

"E're, don't you dare…" Loki threatened, narrowing his eyes at me. I just grinned and tilted my head.

"Don't worry Loki, I'm not telling that one." I reassured them and watched as the Odinsons relaxed.

My lips stretched into a grin as I turned back towards the children and Frigga. "Have you ever heard about the time the two princes decided it would be a good idea to try and prank Heimdall?"

I paused, and cue the princes' groans of horror.

This was definitely one of their more...embarrassing stories.

Especially since Heimdall and I were the only one's who really knew what happened; since the brothers had sworn to never speak of it again.

"Oh? Even I haven't heard this one." Frigga spoke up before pulling Fenrir into her lap. She suddenly turned towards her sons with narrowed eyes. "Just how much mischief did the two of your get up to that I'm not aware of."

"From what I know, plenty." Adayna said slyly, and Loki gave her a pouting look. "Not my fault you two were such trouble makers."

I laughed, "You don't know the half of it."

"Get on with the story!" Vali rolled his eyes, but I could see that he was enjoying this. Who didn't like watching their father and uncle get flustered and embarrassed?

"Alright, alright," I said with a small chuckle. "When Thor was but nine centuries, and Loki about eight, the two princes of Asgard were bored. Extremely bored, and let me tell you. Bored Princes equalled chaos and trouble for someone in Asgard."

Both men groaned and I snickered, this was going to be fun.

I was just glad that I remembered most of my life on Asgard. Because now, I could torment them with it.

Now if only my blasted headache would go away.

I really am sorry how long this took to get up...this chapter didn't want to get written, then I lost inspiration so I took a day and rewatched all of the Iron Mans and Pirates of the Caribbean for inspiration.

Why? Because Johnny Depp always causes some kind of inspiration.

And yes, I did just say inspiration a lot.

Hope you like it, I only have two days of school this week so I'll try and get more chapters up.

We're coming close to the end of Awakening. To be honest I have no idea how many chapters are left exactly, but I know we're getting close.

Thanks everyone!
Cp