"Hello, darling."
I smiled as I woke up and looked into Loki's eyes. He was here, he was right here with me.
The last two weeks had been a horrible nightmare, but he had returned to me.
Everything was okay again.
"Hey, you," I beamed at him.
"Shhhh…. Sh!" Loki shushed me and motioned to his other side.
I sat up a bit, only to see Jessie fast asleep on his other side.
"I seem to have this effect on the women in my life now," Loki shrugged. "They burst out into tears upon seeing me and then promptly fall asleep mid-conversation. It's terribly vexing."
The twinkle in his eyes belied his words; Loki was touched, and more than a little bit entertained by it at the same time.
Suddenly I heard the sound that had woken me up again; a loud rumbling coming from Loki's stomach.
"Hungry?" I asked.
"I have not eaten in two weeks darling, so yes, just a tad," Loki grinned apologetically.
I got up and put on pyjama trousers and a baggy shirt. Loki slowly moved Jessie off his arm and got up as well. She murmured and stirred, but stayed asleep.
We smiled at each other and quietly left the room.
Carter's door was closed, it seemed Jessie and I weren't the only ones needing to catch up on some much-needed sleep.

"Jess must have been so happy to see you too, she missed you so much," I smiled at Loki.
"She snuck in just after you'd fallen asleep," Loki confessed. "You slept right through it.
If I had known you wouldn't read the letter straight away, if I had known how upset the two of you would get…"
"It's okay," I reassured him. "We're just happy you are here now."

Together we prepared breakfast, comfortably moving around each other as we settled back into our old routine as if nothing ever happened.
Still, I couldn't keep my eyes off Loki.
He was here, he was really here!

"Does it feel different?" I asked.
"Does what feel different? The new body?"
I nodded.
"It feels strangely familiar, to be honest. I thought it would feel odd, but it does not.
Not having the scars is nice though.
Some of them made sitting or lying in certain positions uncomfortable, and they would ache at times, keeping me awake. I won't miss those," he smiled that dazzling smile of his at me and I couldn't help but smile back.
"Not having grey hairs anymore is certainly an improvement as well," he said as he ran a hand through his hair.
"I'll miss those," I admitted. "But I can wait a few hundred years until they return. At least I'll have something to look forward to." I smiled impishly.
"Hey!" Loki playfully hit out at me with the wooden spoon he was using to scramble the eggs, but I had seen it coming and dodged just in time.
"It's okay, I can wait. It's fun to have a toyboy for now," I danced out of his reach as I spoke.
"You are impossible, you know that?" The effect of Loki's scowl was ruined by the twitching of the corner of his mouth as he tried not to laugh.
"Just happy to have you back so I can tease you again!"
Loki caught me and pulled me close with one hand, stirring the eggs with the other as he kissed me.
It all felt so familiar, it all felt so right, and my heart soared.
"You are here, you are really here," I whispered.
"I am, and I am never leaving you again," Loki gently stroked my cheek.

We sat down to have breakfast together.
Now that my mood had improved, my appetite had returned as well, and I found myself just as starving as Loki was.
For a while, neither of us spoke, as we ate in comfortable silence.

"What happened?" I asked as I pushed the last crumbs around on my plate. "Where did you go before the battle?"
"I went after Beaumont," Loki spoke between bites, having filled his plate with a second helping.
"Up until then I had no idea where Beaumont was hiding, but at that moment, for the first time, I knew exactly where he would be.
I surmised I could easily slip behind enemy ranks if I just looked the part. I daren't use a glamour, just in case Beaumont would see through the deception, so I left my armour at home and died my hair."
"But he saw through it anyway?" I asked as Loki took a sip of his tea.
"No, he did not, it worked perfectly. My initial plan was to kill him, take his place, get close to Halja and kill her too. It would have been the perfect way to win the war before the battle had even begun.
But as I saw Beaumont, I hesitated."
"Why?"
Loki rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. "Blame Thor for that," he said.
I raised an eyebrow. "What did Thor do?"
"Remember when I told you about Beaumont, and Thor suggested that if there was still good in me, mayhap there still was some good in Beaumont as well? I suddenly could not get that thought out of my mind."
Loki winced.
"Beaumont and I weren't all that different.
I know it has always baffled you why I had no problem shouldering the blame for Solomon Island even though that wasn't my doing. But the truth is, besides Beaumont being my creation and thus I was at least partly responsible for his actions, I would not have done anything differently if I would have been there in his stead.
I would have walked that same path."
Loki shook his head.
"All it took for me to change was one person reaching out to me and offering me a hand when I was at my lowest.
One person who believed in me even when I did not.
One person who saw the best in me when I was at my worst.
You reached out to me, and your kindness and love changed me, made me believe I could be a better version of myself."
He rubbed his brow and grimaced at me, I could see he was embarrassed by what he was about to say next.
"I thought that perchance I could do the same thing for Beaumont. That perhaps, if I could find the right words, he would change his course and find a different path.
Maybe it was the wrong time and the wrong place. Or, as it may be, while I do not lack in eloquence I do not possess the warmth and sincerity you have.
Either way, I failed.
I know, it was foolish of me to even try."
I shook my head.
"No, it wasn't. In a way, I'm glad you did. Because the thought had crossed my mind too, more than once. But Beaumont wasn't sane anymore, there was no reaching him."
"Wasn't there?" Loki asked softly. "There have been times in my life, multiple times, where you would have said the same about me if you met me back then."
"But I didn't meet you back then. I met you when you were willing to change, when you were looking for a different path.
All I did was help you on your feet, but I couldn't have done that if you hadn't taken the hand that was offered.
It was you who chose the path you walk now. I simply have the honour and privilege to walk it beside you," I smiled.
Loki slowly nodded and squeezed my hand.
"The honour and privilege is all mine," he said.
"Either way, I failed to persuade Beaumont to stop this madness.
I failed to convince him there would be a place for him here if he wanted it. That we could live side by side, as brothers. That he did not have to be alone.
But he was so blinded by how close he thought himself to be to success that he would not listen.
The rest, you know."
"I'm so proud of you for trying," I swallowed at the lump that had suddenly appeared in my throat. Few people knew how kind and empathic Loki could truly be, he always tried to hide that side of himself. "I'm so glad you did. Even if it didn't work."
Loki shook his head.
"Perhaps it would have been better if I hadn't. My foolish actions lead to my captivity and gave Beaumont leverage over you.
I knew he'd use me to lure you to his side, and I knew you would stop at nothing to keep me safe.
Beaumont would have locked me up in the deepest, darkest dungeon he could find, only to let you see me when he needed to remind you again of what you would lose if you'd stop dancing to his tune. Your love for me would make you his creature for certain and you would be forced to sink to depths you could not even begin to imagine. I could not let that happen."
Loki gave a wry smile.
"So when he dragged me onto the battlefield during his parley, I gave no sign it was me. I simply hoped you'd see it as another one of his ruses, one you'd be too smart to fall for twice.
You reacted the way I anticipated, after which all I could do was pray that for once I would not fail spectacularly as is my wont, but would succeed and reincarnate in this body with my soul and memories intact.
For whatever reason, fate smiled on me for once, or perhaps she smiled on you. After all, you are far more deserving of it after everything that I've put you through.
And thus here I am. New body, same old me."
I reached out and stroked his cheek.
"I don't think I'll ever find the words to explain how happy I am to have you sitting here. I thought I'd lost you. I missed you so much.
And so many others did too."
"I doubt that," Loki smiled self-deprecatingly.
"Come, I'll show you," I smiled and stood up, took his hand and led him to the sitting room.

"The flowers have mostly wilted, but the girls showed them all to me and brought me the cards."
There wasn't a single surface that didn't have some token of sympathy or respect on it. So many people had sent cards or flowers to convey their condolences.
Loki raised his eyebrows in surprise. For a while he walked around, reading the cards people had sent to me.
"Aaron and Lucas," he said softly, holding up one of them.
"They must have missed you so much! We are going to have to let people know you are still alive. I won't be the only one delighted by that news," I smiled.
Loki smiled back.
"Let's get dressed, I know just where to start!"

Quietly we snuck into the bedroom so as not to disturb a sleeping Jessie, and grabbed some clothes.
I watched Loki as he buttoned up a dark green shirt and threw a charcoal grey knitted cable sweater over it.
He winked and smiled as he caught me looking at him and I smiled back.
He was here, he was still here, and he was still mine!

Together we walked outside.
"Where are we going?" I asked curiously.
"Just here will do, the hold is warded against scrying. I'll drop my own ward."
Loki stood still for a moment, then looked up.
"Heimdall, old fellow!
Be a dear, and let my family know that the rumours of my demise have been greatly exaggerated!
Run along now, there's a good chap!"
He turned around and looked at me with the biggest, smuggest smirk he could possibly manage on his face.
"Did you know Heimdall doesn't like me very much?"
"I couldn't possibly begin to imagine why…" I murmured in reply as I shook my head at him, trying to bite back a laugh.
Loki just laughed and I couldn't help but giggle along.
"You really are impossible sometimes," I said and wrapped my arms around him again. His eyes sparkled into mine, and for a moment I drowned in the stunning blue.
"I love you," I whispered.
"I love you more than there are stars in the sky, until I draw my last breath and even beyond that," he whispered back. "I meant what I said. I'll never stop loving you, even death can not keep me from your side for long."
I leaned my head against his chest, listening to the beat of his heart, as we waited for Asgard's reply.

We did not have to wait for long, it was only a few minutes later when the Bifrost materialised before us.

"Loki? LOKI!"
Thor stood in front of us, in his full armour, his blue eyes round with surprise.
Loki let go of me and took a step towards Thor, his hands wide.
"I'm here. Missed me, brother?"
"HOW? LOKI?"
Suddenly Thor's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"Wait! How do I know it is really you? I saw you were dead with my own eyes! What if you are one of these clone things?"
"I assure you I am not," Loki began.
"Hah! That is exactly what a clone would say!" Thor barked. "Stay back, vile creature! I will not fall for your tricks!"
"Thor, it really is Loki," I reassured him.
"Did you test him? Did you ask for the safe word?" Thor looked at me.
"Well, no…" I shook my head. I hadn't, because I knew it was my Loki. I knew the moment he started yelling about his clothes being ruined.
"See! How dare you, take advantage of a grieving widow!"
Loki glared at Thor in annoyance.
"Oh for Norn's sake, it's me, Thor! Ask me any question to which only I could know the answer if you truly need me to prove it to you!"
"Fine!" Thor eyed him suspiciously. For a moment, the big god's brow frowned in thought.
"Hah! I got one! What was the name of my favourite stuffed toy as a child?"
"It was named Thor because you are a half-witted dolt. And Beaumont and his clones would know that, you big oafish nincompoop! They had my memories!"
"Oh yes, I forgot about that," Thor smiled awkwardly and rubbed the back of his neck.
"What is the thing I say to you to annoy you?" Thor asked next.
"Everything! Everything you say annoys me, what sort of question is that?" Loki was quickly losing his patience.
"He sure sounds like Loki," Thor shrugged at me. "But I meant what I call Sorcha to annoy you.
You know, when I call her 'sister'?
Oh wait, now I just gave you the answer…" he belatedly realised.
"Thor! For crying out loud, can we just get this over with? This is excruciatingly painful to witness…" Loki shook his head and rolled his eyes.
Thor glared at him again, trying to come up with another question.
"What is written on our Christmas stockings?" Thor finally asked shrewdly.
"That… is actually a good question," Loki admitted. "I am almost impressed, perhaps you truly are not as dim-witted as you look!
And it says 'Puppy's First Christmas' on them," he added hastily because Thor was raising Mjolnir as Loki spoke.

"LOKI! IT IS YOU!"
"Put me down you big oaf, this is a brand new body and I liked the ribs just where I had them thank you very much!" Loki's voice sounded strained as Thor picked him up into his arms and hugged him tightly.
"You are here, you are alive!" Thor's eyes shimmered suspiciously as he held Loki even tighter despite his brother's protestations.
"Help!" Loki gave a strangled squeak.
"Thor, maybe hug him a bit gentler?" I grinned, blinking against my tears.
Thor just pulled me into the hug instead.
I wasn't the only one who had to dry my cheeks after Thor was finally ready to let the both of us go again.
"It is really you! My little brother! But how? You were dead…"
"I stole Beaumont's spare body and stowed it away," Loki explained.
"Well, I'm glad you did.
Father might not be as impressed though, he didn't seem to like that kind of magic all that much," Thor mused. "Then again, he did seem sad you died. We had a whole funeral for you!"
"So I heard," Loki grinned. "And you are going to have to tell me all about it, in great detail!"
"I'll see what I can remember. It was a feast for the ages, I can say that, and the tales the skalds told were magnificent!"
It was heartwarming to see the brothers together again, Thor had missed Loki as much as I had.

"Did you manage to absorb any anima with Laufey's Staff, and did you release it back into the ether?" Loki asked.
"I took down a few bone dragons with it," I said.
"And Sif got the big abomination, the giant thing made out of all the bodies," Thor recalled. "And Halja too!"
Loki pursed his lips. "Several powerful undead and the life force of a demi-goddess, that is something at least. Did it make a difference?"
"We haven't released it yet. I was barely able to function, and even if I would have been able to get myself out of bed, I wouldn't know how."
"Very well," Loki ran back inside and came out with Laufey's Staff. "We probably should release the anima back into Midgard.
Although, think of what we could do with the power I now hold in my hands…"
For a moment he hesitated.
I took the staff out of his hands.
"How do I unleash the anima?" I asked before Loki could get any ideas.
"How am I supposed to know? I've never done this before either!" Loki snapped irritably.
"What happens if I do it wrong?"
"You'll unleash a blast of anima with the destructive magical power equivalent to a nuclear bomb," Loki answered.
We looked at our home right behind us.
"Yes, so let's do this a bit further away," Loki and I both said at the same time.

"This will do. I doubt we could walk far enough for it truly to be safe, should this go terribly wrong," Loki said after we walked for a good while.
"Maybe you and Thor should leave, I can survive more than you two," I worried.
"We do this together," Thor's voice brooked no argument.
Loki nodded in agreement.
I gave Thor permission to touch the staff, and the three of us held it together.
"Very slowly," Loki warned, "we don't want any accidents."
Slowly we released the anima back into the atmosphere.
I wish I could say there were sparkles, swirls of energy, or some other epic-looking effect, but there weren't.
All that happened was that the gem on the staff grew dimmer until it glowed no more.

"Did it work?" Thor asked.
"I don't know," Loki admitted.
"I don't feel any difference," I said softly.
"Maybe it wasn't enough to make a difference, merely a drop in a half-emptied bucket," Loki frowned.
Loki aimed the staff at a nearby tree and tried to use it, but nothing happened.
"Whatever anima was in it, it is gone now. We'll just have to hope it helped."

Fandral was leaning against the door of the hold as we came back.
"Loki, I never thought I'd see your face again!
As overwhelmed with joy as I am, I can't help but feel a twinge of resentment.
You returned to us just as I was about to console your grieving widow!"
He grinned as he ducked Loki's dagger just in time.
"I jest, I jest!"
"Joke like that again, and I will set your moustache on fire," I said in a pleasant tone of voice, "the way you oil it will have it burn like a wick."
"I wouldn't vex the lady if I were you," Loki's smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "She doesn't like you enough to appreciate your pathetic attempt at humour."
"I thought it was a little bit funny," Thor mumbled to himself.
Fandral held up a scroll and handed it to Loki.
"I am here to deliver a message from the AllFather," he said in a more serious tone of voice.
Loki unrolled the scroll and read it.
"What does father want?" Thor asked, a twinge of worry in his voice.
"We are expected to appear before Odin in Asgard tonight, before sunset.
Both of us," Loki looked at me.
I suddenly had a sick feeling in my stomach.
When Odin arrived on Midgard he had told Loki they would deal with the crimes Loki had committed after we dealt with Beaumont and Halja.
Loki had been presumed dead after, and nothing had come of it. He had been remembered as a beloved prince of Asgard in his death.
But now that Loki was still alive would Odin still feel as forgiving, or would he remember the lives Loki had cost him, including that of his beloved wife Frigga?
"Still no guards nor chains," Loki pointed out as he seemingly read my mind.
"Then what does your father want?" I asked softly.
"I have no idea," Loki shrugged. "But I guess we will find out tonight."