"Run." Loki wasted no time and had helped Oveaus to his feet before he could get the word out. Nebula was ready with her aim but there was no chance of them going down without attempting an escape. They couldn't lose this easily.

Creating a duplicate of them with his illusions, Oveaus was able to hold off Nebula's fire just enough for them to get a running start. The heavy snow made it difficult to run and he could feel the effects of his drained magic weighing on his body. Loki, on the other hand, was invigorated from the snow and adrenaline that he was held back by Oveaus' weakness. He shoved the elf out of the way of a stun bullet while ducking to avoid it himself.

Catching up, Nebula charged the gun once more to fire. Loki could hear the gun recharging and knew there would be no way to avoid it without a fight. He spun around and tried to twist the gun out of her hands, ducking when she attempted to smash his head with it. It came around too fast for him to avoid a collision with his spine, knocking him to the ground. A stun bullet fired by mistake, narrowly missing Oveaus again.

As Nebula furiously tried to recharge the gun, Oveaus helped Loki to his feet and they both tackled the cyborg. Head butting the elf, she threw him off of her but Loki was still working to remove the gun from her grasp.

Screaming, she kicked Loki over and stood again. "Out of my way!"

Loki wasn't having it. He was nauseous from the gut kick and weakened in his mortality but his ambition was hotter than ever. As soon as he stood and saw that she was distracted by Oveaus standing up, he kicked her feet out from under her and the elf took the opportunity to hold her in place with the rest of the magic he had left.

"Cheater," Loki sneered, throwing the gun to the side as he watched Nebula struggle to move. It was a rewarding sight.

Nebula growled and fought. She spat in their direction, her dark eyes burning with rage. "You don't deserve this prize! I will kill my father and you!"

"My dear, you are not the one trapped in magic." Loki took away her batons and also threw them aside in the snow. He wasn't taking any chances. "I wouldn't meddle in things you hardly understand."

Nebula screamed again, her anger boiling over as she struggled to free herself from the invisible hands around her. The sight of the fractal just mere feet away burned awake a ferocious beast that writhed and fought to break free, but to no avail, although she was strong.

"Loki," Oveaus grimaced. "We need to go, I can't hold this much longer."

"Alright," Loki stood, keeping his eye contact with the cyborg. "But keep her stuck here as long as you can."

They turned away from her, leaving her trapped in the cold and to watch as they held the fractal that would return them to Alfheim. Nebula's fury burned within her and she shouted, "You're the one who doesn't understand!"

As Loki watched the fractals shimmer in Oveaus' hands, he couldn't help but focus on her words. They echoed in his ears. Her desperation was shocking to him, along with the desire to use the fractals for the murder of her father. It was a maddening rage, and as she disappeared with the rush of the fractals energy that whisked them away from the planet, he was left with a strange pit in his stomach.

Even as they left Contraxia, he repeated her words to himself, deciding there was a bit of truth to what she had said. The one who doesn't understand... They had learned so much and yet the unknown was vast. At least they were returning with some good news.

...

As soon as the grass of Alfheim touched their feet, Oveaus gave up the last of his strength and fell on his knees. The fractal dropped to the grass beside him, sizzling as the magic pouring from it became dormant once more.

"Oveaus," Loki tried to keep him standing and almost picked up the fractal out of instinct. He stopped himself when his fingertips stung upon contact. "We can rest inside but you need to keep moving now."

"I just..." Oveaus lightly pushed Loki away, refusing his help. "Please, I just need a moment." He was noticeably pale and it was clear that the magic he spent was to an unhealthy extent. He slumped further into the grass but he was propped up once more. Loki insisted on helping.

"Guards!" They landed within the castle grounds and knew there would be someone nearby to hear them. Loki tried to drag the elf along, insisting that he keep the fractals secure in the satchel. "Guards, we need help!"

The assistance came and they were escorted into the castle. Oveaus was immediately taken to a healing room while Loki took over the satchel to bring to Kvasir. Even through the animal skin of the bag hanging on his shoulder, he could feel the tingle of the magic within. It was frightening how sensitive his mortalized body was to power like this.

He met the king in a secure room of the castle. Not even Sol was there to greet him and probably tending to other things. By the look on Kvasir's face, it was clear that their absence was long enough to wonder if they were going to return.

"Your servants have returned," Loki spoke first, humbling himself as he presented the satchel to the king. "We only managed to secure one in the time we were away but we figured it was better than returning empty handed."

Kvasir eagerly accepted the gift and removed the glowing, red fractal. "You have done more than enough..." He turned the gem in his fingers, studying it, feeling its magic. "This one is tame. We will be able to easily secure it in our treasury."

"I am glad to hear of it." Loki was exhausted but the security of a fractal was a weight off of the burden he had been carrying. This progress was needed. He couldn't pretend that he didn't notice the growing darkness over the outskirts upon returning and he knew the more time went by, the more progress their enemy would make. "May I notify the princess of my return?"

Kvasir's eye twinkled ever so slightly, as if to insinuate that he knew the intentions of such a question, and he nodded. "You may, and you deserve to rest while you can. I will see to the security of this fractal personally."

Loki was grateful. "Thank you, my king. Do you happen to know where the princess may be?"

"Ah, I do believe she is still in her chambers. She hasn't left them much for the past week and I also believe it is her worry over you."

Loki's heart ached. He had missed her too, terribly. Wasting no time, he spoke no more words and left to find Jennica. He did not want to allow her worries to persist. Hopefully she had not become angry with him over his lengthy absence. No doubt, the hovering darkness outside was dreary and bore a heaviness that was draining to her. He was thankful, however, to notify Jennica that another fractal was now in their possession. That meant they would have five in total: the teleportation fractal, all three within the locket, and then the new one just found. This was possible and they were making progress.

He arrived at Jennica's closed chamber door and knocked, the same as every other time. He had a unique rhythm to his knock that he knew she would recognize. Tip tip tap. His heart nearly froze when she didn't come to the door and he wondered if he should knock again. When doing so, there was another lengthy pause before he finally heard rustling from inside. The knob turned.

She stood there, looking tired and wearing simple garments as if mourning but her eyes couldn't help but light up when she saw that Loki had returned, alive and well. Without a moment's hesitation, they embraced.

"I was so worried," she whispered into his shoulder, continuing to hold onto him tightly. She felt his muscles relax as he held her and he breathed into her hair.

He replied, "Neither of us planned for this to go on so long. I wish there was a way I could have kept in communication with you but we were worried someone would infiltrate any sort of established commlink."

"It's alright, that isn't your fault. We still have no idea who our real enemy is." She at last pulled away and allowed him inside, figuring it would be alright since no one else was around to watch them go in alone. She closed the door behind them and continued. "Where is Oveaus?"

"In the healing room. He had spent so much of his magic keeping us safe and he only needs to regain his strength. No true harm done."

"That is a relief." She pulled out a chair for him. "Please sit, you look exhausted yourself."

Admittedly, Loki was. He accepted her offer and sat down, wondering why she wasn't inclined to sit as well and noticed how she paced and rearranged small things in her room. "What happened during our leave?"

"The darkness has grown substantially, as I'm sure you have seen." Her voice quivered at that. "I've done what I can to help keep everyone safe and I've spent most of my time learning more about the elvish culture. Father's had me sit in on meetings with the guards and acquaint myself with possibly joining the council he plans to one day rebuild."

Loki was impressed. He was thankful to hear that Jennica was continually making herself at home where she rightfully belonged while also taking on her duties as princess. It was admirable. "I have no doubt that the kingdom feels safer having you. Plus, I am very glad to see that you are doing all of this successfully. Your strength is inspiring."

Jennica felt his words deeply and they felt wonderful, but she tried not to let them butter her up too much. She knew he was saying them to please her but part of her didn't want to be pleased. Not yet.

"Thank you..." she finally said. "That's very kind." She stood near him but didn't look at him, rearranging flowers in a vase that was sitting on a small table near the window.

Her hand was near enough to hold and Loki took the advantage, gently grasping it in his and trying to pull her closer. He ignored the way she startled when he touched her. "Are you afraid?" When she shook her head, he continued pulling her near and she gave in. "What's going on? You seem so worried."

"It... it's nothing."

Loki frowned. "Please, I'm not trying to be devious. If something awful happened while I was away, then I care enough to know."

His voice was so sincere that it eased Jennica a bit. She finally looked at him, taking his other hand and rubbing the back of them with her thumb. "Just... the tension of it all. I'm very glad you've returned but these past three months have filled the realm with such fear and so little hope. With being so involved with their lives now, I also feel that emotion very deeply."

"As anyone would, darling." He brushed some hair out of her face. "But everyone has been kept safe so far, yes?" She nodded. "And your brother and I have returned with another fractal. Hope is not lost. We are going to win."

Cheerful optimism in him was a rarity and she figured he was still only doing it for her sake. Nevertheless, she felt better hearing him say such things and her heart skipped in delight hearing that another fractal had been secured. He pulled her closer and she sat, curled up on his lap to where she could rest her forehead against his.

"I missed you," she mumbled, studying his face to see if there were any scars, any open wounds from his travels. His knuckles had been bruised but there was only a small scratch over the bridge of his nose. "I'm glad that you took care of yourself."

"Oveaus' magic helped beyond description. Your brother is gifted."

"He is." She drifted in thought for a moment, recalling a memory. "He's helped me countless times to save me from the fractals. We needed him."

"I agree." Loki gently kissed her cheek, bringing her out of the memory and back to meeting his gaze. "Now, as long as the darkness stays where it's at for now, we can take a moment to rest and try to dissipate our worries."

"That does sound nice..." she laid her head on his, "...to stop worrying."

Her thoughts drifted once more and they sat in silence, holding each other for the first time in three months. Jennica's heart was ridden with fears, wanting to rest in this moment but not sure how to. Loki laid gentle pecks on the sides of her face that slowly trailed down to her neck, showing her without words how much he thought about her and missed her while he was away.

Jennica let herself lean into his kisses, wrapping her arms around him and trying to succumb... but she couldn't, not like this. She pushed herself away and rushed to the window, trying to hide the tears that were welling in her eyes. Loki was taken aback by her sudden change in countenance.

"Jennica..." He stood up from the chair, waiting to approach her. He didn't understand. "You're acting so strange, what is it you're not telling me?"

Jennica looked up to stop her tears but a couple still escaped. Her heart ached. She was afraid. "I don't...I—" her voice broke.

It was just him and her. There was no one to pretend in front of so Loki let every ounce of what sentimentality he had slip out into the words he spoke. His voice grew very soft. "Jen." Approaching her and placing both hands on her shoulders, he kissed the back of her head. "You can tell me. I only ask because I care about you."

"I-I know."

"Then what is it?"

She had to tell him. It would be known eventually, there was no hiding. Now was as good of a time as ever. "The last time the darkness attacked... you were gone and a storm nearly destroyed the castle."

"Did something happen to you?" Loki hugged her from behind, worried about what direction this story would take and what she was getting at.

"I stopped the storm... but when I visited the healers, they... they found something."

"What did they find?" He spun her around quickly, immediately worried. He held her shoulders firmly. "Jennica, tell me now."

Tears poured and she covered her face with her hands. It changed everything. "Loki..."

"No, no I'm not mad but I need to know, please." His brows furrowed in undeniable concern. "You have to tell me."

"Loki," she wiped her eyes, trembling. "What we did... what we shouldn't have done... I'm pregnant."

He didn't fully process her words at first. His eyes bore deep through hers, and as he focused on her words, he felt his heart clench. "What?"

"The healers told me I was with child." She sniffled. "And... and I'm so afraid. I don't know what to do, I don't want to be a mother. Not right now!"

And Loki didn't want to be a father. He didn't know the first thing about being one, much less how to consistently be someone worthy of a child looking up to. He cursed under his breath. He kept cursing and stepped away from Jennica, running his fingers through his hair, exasperatedly.

"Please d-don't be angry." Jennica nearly sobbed.

Loki huffed. "I am, but not at you. By the Norns... I was so foolish to think..." he cursed again.

"L-Loki, please—"

"There has to be something we can do. Do you know that your realm forbids children out of wedlock?!"

This broke her. Nodding, she cried and hung her head, wrapping her arms around herself. The sight of her tears stung, and Loki's anger began to cool.

If he was going to be a father, then so be it. He knew of the elvish ways. Terminating a pregnancy was illegal on Alfheim and harshly frowned upon back on Asgard as well. It was not something he wished for them but he also was aware that Kvasir and Sol were kept in the dark from this. They would need to be told.

He did not speak again until he had embraced Jennica once more, comforting her cries. No wonder she had seemed so tired, so worried. She was carrying a child and nearly four months along already.

"I'm sorry," was all he could think of to say. "I'm not angry."

Jennica released the tears she had pent up, letting herself be embraced. "W-What can we do?"

"I don't have that answer right now, love." He held her tighter. "What needs to be done is telling the king and queen. We both know the risks in that."

"I can't tell them... not now." She sobbed.

He hushed her. "Shh... we don't have to do that right now. We can just rest, remember? They will find out. In time."

The anticipation of having to tell them was sickening. She wondered if Oveaus could do something, or if there was a way to insure that her father would have mercy. She was undeniably terrified. They had created a family and it was already broken.