It has been over a year since the New Mexico/Asgard Take-over events.

Differences in this chapter: Loki and New York events are different

The plan in Germany had gone to plan, though now, things were a bit uncomfortable. Loki sat inside the Quinjet when the sound of thunder could be heard.

"What's the matter?" asked Natasha. "Scared of a little thunder?"

"I'm not too overly fond of what comes after," Loki said, looking around. "And not comfortable with what will accompany it."

The back of the jet opened and Thor entered. He grabbed Loki and flew out with him. Loki landed on the ground. Dalla walked up to stand next to Thor when he landed.

"Where is the Tesseract?" Thor asked in anger.

"And quickly, brother," said Dalla.

Loki laughed and said, "I missed you both too."

"Do we look to be in a gaming mood?" Thor growled.

Loki started to get to his feet. "Oh, you should thank me. With the Bifrost gone, how much dark energy did the Allfather have to muster to conjure you here, your precious Earth?

Thor picked him up and glanced at Dalla. "We thought you dead."

"Did you mourn?"

"We all did," said Dalla.

Thor continued, "Our father…"

"Your father!" Loki yelled, causing Dalla to jump back at the unexpected anger towards her. "He did tell you my true parentage, did he not? Or was it our dear sister?"

"We were raised together, we played together, we fought together. Do you remember none of that?" Thor asked.

"I remember a shadow, living in the shade of your greatness alongside Dalla. I remember you tossing me into an abyss, I who was and should be king!"

"So you take the world she and I love as recompense for your imagined slights? No, the Earth is under our protection, Loki!"

Loki laughed. "And you're doing a marvelous job with that! The humans slaughter each other in droves, while you idly fret. I mean to rule them. And why should I not?

"You think yourself above them?"

"Well, yes."

"Then you miss the truth of ruling, brother," Dalla replied with sadness.

"A throne would suit you ill," Thor added.

Loki sneered, "I've seen worlds you've never known about! I have grown, Odinson, in my exile! I have seen the true power of the Tesseract, and when I wield it…"

"Who showed you this power?" Dalla asked, stepping up to Loki in concern.

Thor also asked, "Who controls the would-be-king?"

"I am a king!" Loki yelled.

"Not here! You give up the Tesseract! You give up this pointless dream!"

"You come home," Dalla said in near tears.

"I don't have it," Loki said. Thor raised his hammer threateningly, but Dalla took hold of her twin's arm to keep him from actually attacking their brother. "You need the cube to bring me home, but I've sent it off, I know not where."

Dalla looked at Loki as Thor said, "You listen well, brother. I…"

Thor and Dalla were knocked off of the mountain, causing Loki to say, "I'm listening."

Dalla and Thor hit the ground hard as a man in a metal suit landed and tried to stabilize himself. Thor stood with his hammer while Dalla drew her sword, alight with flames.

Thor said, "Do not touch us again!"

"Then don't take my stuff," said the metal man.

Dalla interjected, "You have no idea what you are dealing with."

"Uh, Shakespeare in The Park? Doth mother know you weareth her drapes?"

"This is beyond you, metal man," Thor proclaimed, followed by Dalla saying, 'Loki will face Asgardian justice."

"He gives up the Cube, he's all yours. Until then, stay out of the way." Under his breath, the man said, "Tourists."

Dalla sighed, put her sword away, and let Thor take over, knowing his anger at being mocked would drive him. She leaned against a tree, shaking her head. I should have brought something to snack on.

I'm quite enjoying the view from here, said Loki.

It's been a long time since we have talked like this. Brother, I know this isn't you.

You know nothing!

I know pain when I see it! What has happened so that I may help you!

You… wouldn't understand.

Try me. I do not wish to see my brother in chains, but if you do not let me aid you, I fear that is all that will take place.

After what I have done… They watched as the armored man and Thor flew into the air.

Where did you learn all this knowledge, Loki?

I agreed to aid his cause to… gain a kingdom. Thor and his opponent returned, crashing close to Dalla, who did not so much as twitch.

The God of Mischief, caught in a lie. Did you forget that I can tell when you do not speak the truth? I can just go in, even from this distance, and check for my…

To protect you! I did it to protect you from Tha… him.

There is a strangeness to your mind I cannot place. I can clear your mind if you let me.

There is one who watches me. If he sees me working with you…

Then, just as before, we work together to defeat our enemy. Anyone who tries to keep you away from your family will not live long.

Before Loki could say another word, someone yelled out "Hey!" as a disk-like object flew through the air.

"That's enough!" a man in a blue suit jumped from a log.

Dalla stood away from the tree, shock filling her. She knew that voice. Memories rushed her and a tear fell. She was frozen in place, unable to move. From where she stood, he could not see her, but she would recognize him anywhere. But… it should be impossible…

"Now," said the newcomer, "I don't know what you plan on doing here."

"My sister and I have come to put an end to Loki's schemes!" Thor bellowed.

"Then prove it. Put the hammer down."

''Yeah, no," said the metal man. "Bad call. He loves his hammer."

Thor knocked his first opponent aside and yelled, "You want me to put the hammer down?"

Dalla looked for cover and covered her ears. Thor ran to the man with the shield, who ducked behind it. Upon impact, a loud gong-like sound rang out and a wave of power flowed through the crash area, knocking over nearby trees. Loki nearly jumped from his perch to go to Dalla but stilled himself at the last second.

Everyone was blown back, debris falling off of them, but no one was seriously injured. They looked around at the devastation. Thor spotted Dalla and went to her, blocking her from the view of the others as he looked her over.

"Are we done here?" the newest man asked.

Dalla walked around Thor up to him, his own eyes widening. It seemed a slow walk, but Loki could not believe what he was seeing. Disbelief and relief played over his sister's face.

"Steve?" she whispered, the surprise evident in her voice.

"Dalla?" he asked in return.

When she was a foot away, he pulled her in for a hug. "I thought you had died."

"I thought I had, too."

"This can't be real. How…?"

"I'll explain later." They pulled apart. "I'm so sorry, Dalla. I never…"

"We'll talk when we have time. I still have to work on believing you are actually here."

"Me too." He chuckled. "Let's go."

She nodded but Thor pulled her to him, asking, "You know him."

"My grief didn't matter, but my shock of his return does?"

"I have apologized for that."

"You did, brother. I forgave you long ago, but your attitude towards things has my head spinning. Either care for how I feel or don't, but by Odin, do not dismiss things one day and then act like they are the most important issue the next."

"If he hurts you…"

"I don't need you to protect me. I can do it on my own. Besides, Steve would never…"

"I will keep an eye on him, all the same."

"Fine. Then, I shall keep an eye on your woman, should you ever attempt to see her again. 'Tis only fair."

With that, she walked after Steve while Thor went to fetch Loki. She climbed into the Quinjet and sat down across from Steve, but couldn't bring herself to look at him. He couldn't help but steal glances at her, even after Loki and Thor boarded the jet. Both Dalla and Steve remembered their shared past, making them both smile.