A/N: So, here we have some more explicit stuff. Stuff I had planned all along. Thank you so much for your continued enthusiasm for this story; it is coming to and end, and for me, that is bittersweet.

Exploration and Revelation

Warmth…

He moved closer to the source, and felt a soft presence…

Loki opened his eyes a touch.

And there was Jane. Her back facing him, naked, breathing softly.

His left arm was wrapped around her waist, his leg draped over hers. And he smiled. How fortunate he was! He was spooning her, holding her close, shielding her from the terror lurking outside.

And he winced at the thought…he moved his leg slowly from her.

The killer remained at large, and he knew who Jane was.

Loki swallowed his fear. He would be strong for her and her father. He wouldn't leave, nor would he allow them to leave, until Jane was healed. And then he would likely go to work with her; he may never let her out of his sight again.

He was fine with that.

Though she may not be.

Loki rolled onto his back after gingerly taking himself off of Jane, and thought about everything that had transpired, since he had been too numb to think clearly…

Jane had been taken from the Ten Bells.

She had been brought to an abandoned building, tied and gagged.

She escaped after some time, injuring herself in the process.

At some point, Mary Kelly was brutally murdered.

Jane found him, told him that she loved him.

He took her home, tended to her needs, then confessed his own love…

…and they had intercourse.

He looked over at her. He wondered silently whether she had enjoyed it…she had seemed to be so certain, but then she was nervous. And that prompted him to be delicate.

He had exercised restraint because he didn't want to further harm her physically, nor did he wish to injure her delicate sensibilities following a psychological trauma…

Trauma.

She had suffered a head injury…

He sat up straight.

And he turned toward her…"Jane," he hissed, touching her arm.

She moved, a smile on her face.

"Jane?" he leaned over closer…

"Mm…" she stretched a bit. "Loki…?"

He relaxed. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm…" and then she felt her wrists, her leg…the back of her head…she sat up a bit. "Where am I?"

He sat back next to her, against the headboard. "My bedroom."

Her eyes flew open…she looked around, took note of her nudity, pulled the covers up…blushed deeply…turned and saw Loki, next to her, naked…her eyes travelled down…then her gaze snapped back up and she moved a touch away from him, sat up, and leaned against the headboard herself. She put a smile on her face. "Oh."

A playful smirk was on his own face. "Well well. Is your memory intact?"

Jane swallowed. She nodded, the memories of all which had transpired a few hours ago flooding her mind. "Erm…"

"You needn't be embarrassed Jane."

"No."

He smiled a bit more genuinely at her, and pulled the blanket over himself. Perhaps she would be easier if he was covered. "What are you thinking?"

"Ah, well…I was thinking that I had rather thrown myself at you," she offered a crooked, shy smile. "I'm sorry."

He turned on his side, scooted down a bit, and rested his cheek in his hand…he was eye level with her covered breasts…"Oh Jane…don't you know that it's every man's dream to be desired by the person he loves?"

"It's every woman's, too," she replied, watching him pull the blanket down and exposing her chest.

And he smiled, and took her nipple in his mouth.

And Jane's head went back, her left hand went to his hair…though she couldn't grab it, make a fist…it hurt too much…

Her lips were slightly parted, and her breath became heavier.

Loki took his mouth away, and started down her torso, kissing, touching, licking her skin with abandon.

He pulled Jane down so that she was lying on her back now…

And he parted her legs…and situated himself between them.

Loki looked up at her, her head was thrown back, her spine arched; he moved his hands down to her hips to hold her steadily in place.

He kissed her abdomen, and dropped lower…

As soon as he reached her center, Jane's head shot up…

What was he doing…

He was kissing her sex, sucking on…

She cried out…

Loki mumbled…she cried again. She felt as though every cell in her body was trembling, fit to burst. Jane grabbed the blanket, but it hurt her wrists…and his hands grasped her hips harder.

"Stop," she breathed.

His tongue was dancing inside of her…

"Stop," she said louder.

And he heard her this time…He quickly moved away. "Jane? What's wrong?" he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"What are you doing?" she choked, her face contorted…her breath heavy.

"Pardon?" he was confused.

"What is that that you're doing?"

He swallowed. "Ah…I believe the term is 'cunnilingus'?"

She was staring wide eyed at him. "I…"

"Was I hurting you?"

She shook her head.

"Was it unpleasant?" it had been some time...perhaps his technique was off, or perhaps it needed to be modified for Jane.

"You've done that before, I take it?" her voice was very soft.

He sat now, next to her legs. He placed a hand on her ankle…there were small bruises on both of her ankles, he took note. He would positively end the man who had done this to her. "I have, yes. A few times."

Jane nodded.

"Are you jealous?" he looked at her sincerely.

"No," she quickly replied. "No…I just didn't know that such a thing…I had never heard…" she blushed and dropped her eyes, smiling her embarrassment.

Loki bent his knee to look at her more fully. "What has been your experience with sex, Jane?"

"Ah…" she covered herself. "Well…a few years ago, I had gone on a few dates with this man. He was a student at the University. I was a touch older than him, but he was very nice."

Loki nodded.

"And, well…I think that he was, to my dismay, a virgin…we were at dinner one night, and on the way home, he took me into an alley…started kissing me, had me against a wall…lifted me up so that my legs were wound around him…"

Loki shifted with discomfort at the visual.

"He…he was aroused, and I felt it. He sort of, ground himself against me…and I responded…but I think that he orgasmed, because he was suddenly nervous, confused, and rather angry. He left me there to walk home alone," she finished.

"Is that all?" he asked her softly.

"Well, no. I've been in a number of heated embraces…nothing of real consequence."

"I see."

"Do you?"

"Yes," he smiled.

"I'm so embarrassed…I had no idea that…whatever that was…existed…"

He laughed. "Did you enjoy it?"

"Yes," she sheepishly replied. "Bit too much, I think."

"Oh Jane…" and he took the blanket from her, and got back into the position. "When it comes to intercourse, there really isn't such a thing as enjoying it too much…" he moved her legs so that they rested on his shoulders. "Allow me to demonstrate…"

And he dove in.

She moaned audibly, and he moved faster…His hands went back to her hips, and he moved her in time to his mouth…

She was being devoured…savored…

And she loved it.

She was being siphoned…her whole self…and she felt the fabric of her being slowly tearing with each cell…she was going to explode…

And just as she felt it, he stopped..

And Loki moved away, his fingers inside of her…he picked up her hips and guided her to his arousal, sliding easily within her…her ass rested on his thighs. "Are you uncomfortable?" he asked, heavy with desire.

Jane could hardly answer…she shook her head…

And he began to move his hips, and she felt him inside, deep…his fingers massaging her sex all the while…

His left hand was palm down on the bed, he was looming over her…"So symphonic your sound, Jane…I feel your every flutter…and the dance is unlike anything I've felt…"

She was going to rupture…she felt it…she could not contain it any longer…and she cried and spilt herself over his fingers…

And Loki followed.

She relaxed, he fell to her side.

"How was that?" he asked softly.

She was heaving, sweaty, and barely conscious of what was happening. "I think it was good."

"You, Jane, are impossible."

"You love it," and she smiled.

Fandral was sitting alone in a smallish room in Scotland yard. Lord Durlish, his step father, had appeared an hour previous, but Fandral remained silent, unwilling to speak with the man. He rather loathed him.

And all the more now, considering.

Lord Durlish, it was not well known, had a penchant for oddities. He was known to subject his pretty wife to odd sexual exploits, often hiring others, men, women, to join them in their orgies. Lady Durlish, a proper lady, was reluctant to partake, but for the sake of her roof, obliged.

Fandral hoped to god they wouldn't bring his mother to the Yard. It would be too much to bear.

He kept the fact that Wesley Durlish had a morbid curiosity with the human form. He stayed silent when he discovered that he was speaking with Anthony Stark of Philadelphia about human organs.

He hadn't really put the two together…

Until he heard about the foreign man asking about Mary.

He knew that Mary consorted with all sorts of riffraff. He knew that she had broken more than one heart, and he knew that many of those broken hearts were also very poor.

Bad mix, that.

He hadn't any proof, so he stayed silent.

He wanted to protect his mother, so he stayed silent.

And now Mary was dead, and she was heartless (he believed that was no coincidence), and he was alone.

He could probably fade into obscurity…perhaps go to Scotland or something. Start afresh. Demand money from Durilsh in exchange for his silence…but then, he was no better than that prat.

His head was on the wall behind him. He was waiting, though he knew not what for. Reprieve for his bleeding heart, perhaps.

But none would come, and the constant drip of water ticked the time for him in the cold stone room of his captivity.

"Fandral?"

He looked up to see Selvig there. "Hello, Erik. Won't you come in? I'm sorry…haven't had the chance to tidy up."

Erik came in and sat on the chair across from him. "Have you eaten?"

"I can't."

He nodded. "I've seen Loki and Jane."

"She's all right?" he felt awful…he had forgotten all about her.

"She's hurt, but Loki is taking care of her."

"Is he really?" he said with a smirk.

"I believe so, the cad."

Fandral laughed. "I am glad for it. He loves her."

Erik nodded. "You haven't given a proper statement. I rather thought, for a friend, you might…" he eyed him hopefully.

"A friend," he swallowed.

Erik leaned his elbows on his knees. "Tell me what you know, Fandral. I believe there is much to your story."

He shrugged. "There is and there isn't," he rubbed his face with his hands. "My step father, Lord Durlish, he is…" he paused. "The very worst of men. We do not get along," he swallowed. "But he supplies my mother with a lovely house, food…and me. I pay for very little. So I say just as much."

Erik was rapt. "Go on."

"He…is well connected. He indulges his whims…and he knows many useful people. One of them is Mister Anthony Stark, a scientist in Philadelphia. One night, some time ago…I overheard Wesley, my step father, speaking to Mr. Stark. They were talking about various experiments being done in America concerning the human body and its organs. Wesley seemed interested, and thought that he could network and see if he could find a way for Stark to obtain these parts," he paused. "I don't think that he had much luck…he spread the word, but I honestly believe that nothing came of it, at least that he was aware of," Fandral sighed. "I believe what happened was, people began to talk. They thought that there was a great reward or some nonsense. But I never…I never thought that anything would come of any of it…I had no idea, not until much later, that there was a connection…but by then, I was fearful for my mother…terrified for Mary, for a foreigner was apparently tailing her."

"A foreigner?"

"Yes. Loki had tipped me off…at first I dismissed it, but then I noticed that Mary was behaving oddly. Wanting me to walk her home and such. Almost as though she sensed something was wrong," he sighed, covered his face…then sat up straight. "I honestly didn't connect the two until very recently….and even then, I wasn't convinced."

"What happened this morning?"

"I had been walking. Looking for Jane. I went home to my mother's house…Wesley had threatened to leave her once more, and I was comforting her," he swallowed. "No one treats women right, Erik. Why can't men just love a woman and be done with it?"

"It happens, Fandral…" he replied sadly. "Occasionally."

"I loved Mary," he breathed, lost in thought. And then, "I was making my way to her house to check on her as I often do…I had fallen asleep with my mother…and thinking about Loki, left in a rush. It was then that I saw the crowds…"

"So, you don't know who committed these murders?"

"I wish I did. I'd kill him," he spat.

Erik nodded. "I'm so sorry, Fandral. But before you do anything rash, I suggest you go to Loki. He mentioned wanting to help you."

"Help me?" tears had begun to spill.

"He said so this very day."

"What time is it?"

"Round about six in the evening."

He nodded. "Am I free to go?"

"When you like…will you go to Loki?"

"Not yet. Tomorrow, mayhap. Tonight, my step father's," and he stood, straightened his clothes, and walked out of the old, musty room. "I'm ready to confront him now."

Dr Foster was sitting at Loki's table after dinner. "You know, I am fine, Loki. I require no protection."

Evidently, Dr Foster was proud.

"No. But consider Jane, Dr. Foster. She is in no state to move, and the killer knows her identity. If he is even marginally wily, he will discover that she has a father."

"And he likely knows who you are, my man," he tipped his glass of port.

"Perhaps."

"And then what sort of protection can you offer as a corpse?"

"Father!" Jane exclaimed. She was rather enjoying listening to the banter. But he had gone too far. "Really, have some care."

Dr Foster smiled, looking at Jane. "It appears I am outvoted," he glanced at Loki. "You are very generous. I thank'ee, especially for taking such good care of my daughter."

Jane coughed.

Loki held his gaze. "It's been a pleasure."

Jane kicked him under the table while she smiled at her father.

"Hm. Well, I suppose we are staying the night, daughter."

"It is comfortable, I assure you."

"Oh yes," interjected Loki. "It is my particular concern that my guests feel both comfortable and welcome," he paused. "You have felt both, I trust, Jane."

"And then some," she smiled sweetly.

Loki smiled and cleared his throat. "You see, Dr Foster, no harm shall reach either you or your daughter. I am a sensitive host. My guests are always my primary concern. And their comfort and pleasure."

"Say no more. I'll just go up to the room you indicated," and he got up and walked upstairs.

He was gone, leaving the pair.

Jane burst into laughter. "You need to mind your tongue!"

"Can I charge you with that task?" he winked.

"Happily. By the bye, you are naughty, hm?"

Loki was clearing the things. "You'll need to reprimand me, Jane."

She rolled her eyes. "Can you see to my wrist, please? You never finished…"

"Of course," he went over to the hearth in the sitting room and lit the fire. "Come."

She went over, her leg still giving her some pain, but considerably less than earlier. Her limp was decidedly less pronounced.

"I believe that I already miss you in my clothes," he observed as she sat down.

"Curiously, they are more comfortable than ladies' clothing," she observed with sarcasm, and she rolled up her left sleeve.

He pulled over the ottoman and sat with the tweezers. He set to work. "It looks to be inflamed, Jane…it might be in the beginning stages of infection…" he pulled out a few larger pieces of wood.

"Wonderful news," she replied sardonically. "We'll need to clean it out."

"How are your other injuries?" and a few more splinters…

"Much better. This is the only one hurting consistently."

He nodded, and took out a few more bits. He blew on her wrist. "Jane?" he asked, dabbing her wrist with a towel he had brought over.

"Hm?" she was watching him work. It wasn't nearly as traumatic as it had been eight hours ago.

"Should I speak with your father?" a few more bits.

"Well, I imagine you'll need to…we are living here for the time being."

"You miss my meaning."

"I do?" she couldn't imagine what he meant.

He stopped and looked at her. "I mean to ask his permission for your hand."

Her mouth fell open. Did he really…? She ought to be thrilled… she should be happy…everyone her age was married…had been for years. She was in love with Loki…

He paled. "If you are unsure…" his gaze fell.

"Loki…this is rather sudden."

"We had sex Jane. Unless one is paying for it, this is generally how this works."

She nodded. "Can I let you know?"

He swallowed…he didn't know what he expected…she had been kidnapped, nearly killed…was in mortal danger, and had lost her virginity, all in about eighteen hours. "Yes. Of course." He cleaned her wound once more, and put the salve on it, wrapped it in the gauze. "There," he cleared the things up and got up to put them away.

Jane sat there in a slight stupor.

She had just been proposed to. Twenty four hours ago she was at Asgard with Loki. Twenty four hours that had changed her life.

She sat back…she did feel much better. She was sore, yes, pretty much all over…her leg still hurt a touch…her right hand hardly hurt at all…and her left hurt badly.

"So…when does your father go to sleep?" he returned to the sitting room.

"Ah…I'm not sure…." she paused. She rather wanted to be alone. "I'm very tired, actually…I think I'll go up." He had set up a room for her. It was a three bedroom house, thankfully.

Though he had thought that they might go to bed together, after Dr Foster went to sleep.

"In your room, then?"

Jane shifted. "Yes."

He nodded, and kissed her cheek. "Goodnight, Jane."

Loki sat in the chair just occupied by Jane and sighed. He was often brash when it came to things that he wanted. He didn't think things through, acted on impulse.

Jane wasn't like that, ordinarily…though if she was passionate, she could be persuaded. Stubborn tendencies notwithstanding.

He rested his head on the back of the chair. Perhaps he had moved too quickly.

But this was the way things worked! You love someone, you marry them. Precious few people could boast actually loving their spouse. When you discover someone whom you love, you should not waste time… you marry them. Life was difficult and fleeting. To be wary today could mean a lifetime of regret tomorrow…and a lifetime often meant a funeral by fifty. What's more, if you have relations with them, you most certainly marry them.

Perhaps she disliked marriage.

Perhaps she was worried about her father.

Perhaps he loved her more than she loved him.

Loki swallowed. He was all right with that.

Sort of.

It wasn't like he wasn't used to it…

Jane laid in her bed in the bedroom Loki supplied her with. She felt a touch guilty, as though she should just say "yes" and be done. This was how things worked.

At least, that's how her friends whom she wasn't friends with any longer had described it. One went out a few times with a suitor, they enjoyed a few kisses (sometimes more), and then the suitor would ask their father permission.

Unless they were poor. Then it didn't matter.

But Jane had never thought about herself getting married. Never considered herself to be that sort of girl. She was going to care for her father and run the apothecary.

She also, she reminded herself, never thought that she would fall in love. After her infatuation with Thor subsided, she resolved to herself that romantic love was simply not for her. Falling in love…she smiled. But that was what she had done.

Perhaps that was the difference she couldn't account for, and the game changer, as it were.

She rolled her eyes. Of course that makes all the difference! What a ridiculous observation.

But one, she supposed, which needed to be made. She was in love. Why shouldn't she marry the man whom she was in love with?

Jane was wide awake, staring at the ceiling, thinking about how just a day ago, she was looking into the cold blackness of that room.

What would she have thought if at that point, she knew that a day later she would be proposed to?

By Loki.

She smiled. She lit the candle on the bedside table, and glanced at the clock ticking in the corner.

Just midnight…

And she stood.

Dreams, for Loki, were often frustrating in that he would always fall short in them, and would wake up frustrated.

This night was no different.

He went to bed confused and somewhat upset about Jane's reaction to his proposal.

Perhaps he should rethink how he proposed. Perhaps he needed to ask her, not her father.

But that wasn't how it worked…that's not how Thor asked Sif…he went to her father.

He dreamt of faraway places, just out of reach.

Of dark alleys, of screams and of Jane…being taken from him…

"Jane…" he whispered…

She froze. "Loki?" Jane had snuck into his room stealthily to talk to him. It was after midnight, and she supposed that she did have an ulterior motive. She was ashamed of herself.

But not overly so.

She couldn't hear him…"Jane! Wait!"

"Loki…" she went to him and touched his arm.

He jumped, grabbed her, and pulled her to him.

"Ouch!" and she slipped, as she was bearing her weight on her injured left leg, and fell, smacking her knee on the wooden bed frame. And he was squeezing her left arm, though not on her wrist, but it hurt nonetheless.

They were frozen…there had been a clamor…and they were both aware that Jane's father was just down the hall, asleep.

"What are you doing?" he hissed as he sat up and helped Jane to her feet. "Are you all right?" collecting himself.

"I'm…" what was she doing…? "I wanted to speak with you. And yes. I'm fine."

"You want to speak with me now?"

"Well," she paused, sitting down on his bed. "Yes, actually."

He rubbed his face, and sighing, sat back into the bed. He looked at her.

She was looking steadily at him, yet remained mute.

His eyebrows went up, and he turned his hands palm side up…"While I admire your intelligence, Jane, I think that I might need to take my regard under review. Yet again, you think me a mind reader," he paused. "Though perhaps I should be flattered. Either way, you'll need to tell me what this is about."

Jane smiled. "I love you."

He returned her smile. "And I you, but that surely could have waited until morning."

"No," she shook her head. "It couldn't…" she looked at her hands and then up at him. "I was going to apologize for my reaction to the discussion about marriage earlier, but I think that I won't."

He folded his hands and nodded.

"I won't apologize because it was honest. I'm not sure…or I wasn't. But now, now having thought about it, and having lived through a near death experience, and knowing that I love you, why shouldn't we be married, if that's what we want?"

"Is that what you want?"

"I think so," Jane said, nodding. "It's not that I ever had a particular aversion to marriage. It's more that I never thought about it all that much."

"What do you think now, Jane?" he swallowed.

"I think…" she paused. "Have you wanted to get married?"

"I…" he considered for a moment. "I suppose…" he looked at the ceiling, the candlelight flickering and creating shadows of odd shapes…"Yes. I have. But in recent years gave it up as a bad job."

"Why?"

"Sif, mostly."

"Sif?"

"Thor's wife. We were close, and I think, though I hardly admitted it…" he looked at her and laughed. "It seems that I have a predilection for ignoring things…at any rate…I was disappointed with how things turned out."

"Were you in love with her?" Jane asked softly.

Was he? "It's difficult to say. My first reaction is that, no. I wasn't. But at the time, I may have believed myself to be."

"Did you…ah…?" she blushed.

"Have sex with her?" he supplied.

"Yes thank you," her gaze fell.

"No. But we came close a couple of times."

Jane nodded. "Thank you for telling me."

"I want to be as forthright with you as possible, Jane. I do not open easily to other people. I aim to see to that with you."

She looked up at him, and saw his vulnerability…his care for her, his love…how he had demonstrated repeatedly his adoration and his sincerity…and yes, she loved him…and yes, she…"Yes."

"I'm sorry?" he narrowed his eyes in confusion.

"Yes. I'll marry you. You are the best person I've ever known, despite your protests," she added. "And I love you. There really should be no other reason sought."

He didn't move. "Did you just…?"

"Agree to marriage? I did. Were you not paying attention? This is a poor launching point, Loki," she smiled.

He laughed, and through his laughter, some tears were spilt. He leaned over, and took her face in his hands, and kissed her hungrily, ravenously…

He pulled her nightdress over her head and eased her back, pulling his own nightclothes off…his fingers found her sex, and finding her ready (that was encouraging, she was already responding physically without much effort), eased into her.

She gasped.

And as he moved, he whispered in her ear. "Will you be my wife, Jane Foster?"

"Yes," she breathed back. "Yes…yes…I will, Loki Odinson."

Afterward, as she laid in a tangle, she said. "I should go back. It wouldn't do to have father see us like this."

He protested, but relented.

She crept back into her room…

…and Dr Foster shut his door with a smile.

There was a commotion, and Lady Durlish nearly screamed.

"Down here, Wesley! Or on my honor, I will end you!"

Fandral was standing in the middle of the grand hallway, breathing hard, wielding a long butcher's knife.