Chapter 19: Moving On

The silence could have been cut with a knife. A pin drop could have been louder in the room. No one knew what to say except give relieved smiles.

The most Tony could manage by conversation was, "We should get you to a doctor."

Brigid's brow furrowed. "I come back and that's all you have to say to me?"

"I haven't seen you in three months, I'm just worried-" Tony replied before Brigid cut him off, gasping for air.

"What? Three months?" Brigid looked as if she'd been strangled as the color drained from her face. "Months?!"

"Yes, months, so lets get you checked out," Tony said calmly.

Brigid dropped to the couch. "I can assure you I'm fine. The one thing I'm just adjusting to how you knew."

Tony smiled at her, holding her hand. "I never gave up on you. I'm your father. I never will. So, where were you all this time?"

Brigid shook her head. "You're not gonna believe me so I can't tell you."

Tony stared at her open mouthed. "So all the worrying is for nothing? Come on, kid. You can tell me anything. I'm your father. "

Brigid sighed before she spoke, knowing she could not keep the truth forever. "Do you remember when I was little and I would dream of going to Asgard?"

Tony nodded. "Don't tell me you were actually there?"

"Well, not by choice," Brigid admitted. "See, Odin wanted me to marry Thor because I'm a Norn and Midgard. But we hit a little snag when he had to banish him for starting a war."

"So, is that the reason they sent you back?" Tony asked.

Brigid thought for a moment. Her father could never know about her brief romance with Loki. She knew he would never accept it. "Yes, it was too complicated and Thor was banished so they sent me back."

Tony nodded. "It sounds crazy to me but I've heard crazier."

Brigid looked at her father up and down. "I see you're not dead. What happened? Did you fix the palladium issue?"

Tony piped up. "I did, in fact. Thanks to a tip from my dad."

"And that attacker in Monaco?" Brigid added.

"Dead," Tony answered. "His name was Vanko and he had it in for me since my dad fired his dad for giving secrets about the Arc reactor to Russia."

Brigid raised her eyebrows. "Wow. I go away and things get interesting."

"I don't know. Things have been boring compared to being on Asgard," Tony commented.

"Well, I am used to boring," Brigid said with a smile.

"So, other than being a captive, how was Asgard?" Tony wanted to know.

"Well, it was beautiful, very golden and shiny," Brigid said brightly. "Odin and Thor were complete assholes, though, but Queen Frigga was lovely and wise. She reminded me of Mom."

"And what about Loki?" Tony asked.

Brigid shifted uncomfortably. "What about him?"

"Come on, Brigid. You used to dream of this guy. So did he live up to your dreams?" Tony questioned.

Brigid wrinkled her face in disgust. "I grew up a long time ago. He and his brother were both vile ."

Tony nodded. "Understood."

"There is something else you need to know," Brigid told him. "Thor killed my parents."

Tony wrinkled his brow, unable to believe what he heard. "What? How can you be sure?"

"Ever since my parents died , I dreamt of a great hammer. When I came to Asgard, Thor wielded a hammer. He caused the lightning that killed my parents," Brigid explained, shaking as she did.

Tony felt his heart sink as he realized the truth. His friends were gone because of a god and his daughter paid the price. "We're gonna make them pay, Brigid. God or not, they're gonna answer for what they did."

Brigid smiled, her spirits lifting. "I missed you, Dad."

"It's good to have you back, Little Leprechaun," Tony replied before embracing his daughter.

Elsewhere on Asgard, Loki brooded on the throne over Brigid's departure. He was deeply troubled ever since she had left. To soothe his troubled heart he kept his plan in action making sure his brother did not return to Earth. He decided to take his plan further and ensure his brother stayed in exile. Under a veil of smoke, Loki traveled to Earth where he came face to face with Thor who was caked in mud from a recent brawl.

Thor's eyes widened with joy to see his brother. "Loki! Tell me what has happened? Is it Jotunheim? Let me speak to father."

"Father is dead," Loki said earnestly.

Thor looked as if he had been struck by his own hammer. "What?"

"Your banishment, the threat of a new war, it was too much for him to bear," Loki explained. "I know you loved him. He refused to listen. It was so cruel to put the hammer in your reach knowing you could never lift it. The burden of the throne has fallen to me now."

Thor wept as he spoke. "Can I come home?"

Loki shook his head. "The truce of Jotunheim is conditional upon your exile and mother has forbidden your return."

Thor wept and bowed his head. He had failed and he would never see home again.

"I'm afraid this is goodbye, brother. I'm so sorry," Loki said ruefully.

"No, I am sorry," Thor sobbed. "Thank you for coming here, brother."

"Farewell," Loki whispered.

In the blink of an eye, Loki disappeared and he found the hammer within his reach. This was his chance to prove his worth. Loki reached out and grabbed the hammer, and tried to wrest it free. Alas no matter how hard he tried, the hammer would not yield. No matter. Loki would prove himself another way.