"Mr. Secretary…" Fury acknowledged the graying blond older man in the suit standing behind a desk as he entered the wood panelled office along with Hank Pym.

"We need to have a talk." Alexander Pierce, Secretary of the World Security Council said to Fury, sounding more than a bit tense and displeased with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s director.

"Funny, I was about to say the same thing." Fury replied, he and Pym sitting in the two chairs in front of Pierce's desk.

"This was supposed to be a private meeting." Pierce eyed Pym.

"The prodigal son has returned home. Mr. Pym's been consulting with us on a project, one that's paramount for the future of S.H.I.E.L.D. He also assisted us in the search for the Tesseract."

"Which is precisely the reason I called you here. What the hell were you thinking? You just handed it over to him?"

"I didn't hand over shit. It was Rogers' call. I just didn't argue with him. He's seen the other side of the coin firsthand. We didn't walk away empty handed. The information Asgard's shared with us is going to keep us busy for a long time and solve some of the same problems. In fact I already have a team working through it, headed by one of the top physicists in the world who believes in what we're doing so much that he agreed to come on board even after we threw his ass in a cell." Fury paused for a moment, "It's time to move on to other things. Which is where Mr. Pym comes in…" Fury pulled the tablet from the inside pocket of his black leather coat, calling something up on its screen before setting it on Pierce's desk, pushing it towards him.

"What's this?" Pierce asked.

"Names...of Hydra agents that have infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D." Fury said as Pym stood "Guess who's name is at the top of the list."

Pym reached out, grabbing Pierce by the hair and slamming his face into the desktop. Stunned and dazed, Pierce began to raise his head, blood running from both nostrils of his nose as Fury made his way around the desk, taking hold of the back of Pierce's suit jacket and hauling him up out of his chair to his feet, kicking the chair aside as he moved Pierce's hands behind his back and cuffed him.

"How was that?" Pym asked.

"I'm gonna pull the cam footage...think I'm gonna kick back tonight, have a few drinks and watch it on a loop. You're welcome to join me." Fury replied to Pym.

"I might just take you up on that." Pym said as Fury pushed the still woozy Pierce forward towards the door.

*********************************

"Mother…" Loki said, rising from the chair within the cell in which he sat, setting the book he had been reading aside on the small round table nearby as he saw Frigga approach the containment field of his cell. "I didn't know if you would come."

"I'm your mother, am I not?" Frigga replied as Loki approached the forcefield.

"No...you're not." Loki said, "I know nothing of my true mother. Do you?"

"No, I do not. Nor does your father."

"Knowing Laufey and Jotuns in general, it's doubtful she was allowed to live long after my birth. It seems from the moment I came into the universe I have heralded death." Loki paused for a moment before continuing, looking into Frigga's eyes. "It was I that murdered Thor." Frigga stood silent and stoic before finally responding to Loki's confession.

"Your will was not your own."

"It was not the first time I had tried, only the first time I was successful. I committed other crimes in my own time before she came for me."

"I knew that your path would never be smooth. I always sensed your suffering, the conflict within you. I tried but I knew not what to do, how to help you. I could only love you and hope it would be enough."

"My guilt is not your burden to carry. I won't ask nor do I wish you to intercede on my behalf in what is to come. I'm likely to be exiled to Midgard to live out my days as a mortal man."

"It is a second chance." Frigga responded.

"What will I do as a mortal? I will be as helpless as a babe in arms." Loki said mournfully.

"There are some things that no one, even your father, can take from you. You will discover you are far more than your magic."

*********************************

Loki sat in the king's study off the throne room, the same book he had been reading as he sat on the throne previously open before him on the desk, the book he had purloined from the S.H.I.E.L.D. facility library, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

The somber expression on his face began to darken, his ability to attend to what he was reading disrupted by his thoughts. Placing his elbow on the desk, Loki rested his face in his hand, closing the book in frustration with a disgruntled sigh. Lowering his hand, Loki picked up the book and with a roar of anger flung it across the room where it struck the wall, falling to the floor. Grasping a mug that sat on the desk nearby he hurled it towards the wall as well sending broken shards flying to scatter on the floor. Loki swiftly rose from the chair, turning his back to the far wall, scanning for something else to destroy as an emotional release.

"Brother…" Loki heard Thor's voice, turning to see Thor standing inside the doorway, moving the hood of the cloak down to reveal his face. He looked to his right at the mess on the floor. "I assume there's been no change." Loki sank back into the chair, his shoulders slumped, his head bowed.

"No…"

"You must not-" Thor began.

"Give up hope…" Loki finished for him, "I know...I know. It's taking every ounce of my will not to go and throttle the life out of him. Would that be considered murder or suicide?" Loki once again put his elbow on the desk leaning his forehead against his hand. "In an hour I'm to officiate a marriage. How am I to do that when my own bride may never return?"

"I'm certain father would be happy to-"

"No...I'll manage..."

"Have you considered my suggestion?" Thor asked.

"Yes. Are you sure? It's likely your path will now be different than it was to be. That in turn will likely alter other events. You know what it would mean." Loki said in a tone of warning.

"Yes, I know. It will not be easy, but it is for the best." Thor said before changing the subject. "What of the Tesseract?"

"In the coming days I will take it to Nidavellir to be cast into the heart of the dying star."

"And the Norn Stones?" inquired Thor.

"They must remain here and where no one can find them. I will deal with them as well."

"You must know….there is another Infinity Stone on Midgard, the Time Stone. Thanos may yet come to Midgard to claim it."

"Where is it?" Loki asked, his countenance changing to one of concern.

"A place known as Kamar-Taj. Those who make it their home are sorcerers. They are sworn to protect it. They make use of it to prevent mystical forces from invading and destroying earth. I would not advise simply taking it from them."

"I was not aware Midgard had sorcerers...do they know of us, I mean at this point in time?"

"I believe so."

"I will seek to meet with them and warn them of Thanos and come to an arrangement." Loki responded.

"I have come to ask a favor of you, brother."

"What is it?" Loki asked, curious.

"Seeing as my time remaining on Asgard is limited...there are places I would like to revisit one last time. I have asked Sif to accompany me..."

"Say no more." Loki said before casting an illusion over Thor, changing his appearance.

"Thank you."

"You have spent much time with her since Verda brought you here. I am concerned for her when you return. Her grief at your death was profound...though I suppose that's true of everyone."

"She is strong. She will persevere." Thor replied, though his expression conveyed that he had been contemplating the same issue.

*********************************

Loki stood in the throne room in the same spot in which Odin had stood as Loki and Verda had made their vows. In their place now stood two other Asgardians, the woman in a lovely golden colored gown, her betrothed in equally formal attire. A small crowd of supporters stood nearby.

Loki fought to keep his expression from giving away the melancholy he felt as the pair recited the traditional promises to each other. As he wrapped the gold cord from the bride's to the groom's wrist and proclaimed that they forever after belonged to each other, his eyes caught sight of Frigga entering the throne room from the entrance across from that which led to his study.

Uneasy, as his mother would generally not interrupt an audience unless it concerned a matter of great importance, he attempted to discern any clue from her face or body language as to the reason for her presence. As the newly wed couple were being congratulated by their family and friends in attendance, Loki, his part in the proceedings now completed, excused himself and crossed the throne room to meet his mother.

"Verda...? Has something happened?" Loki asked anxiously. Without giving Loki an answer, Frigga embraced Loki.

Now more disquieted than before, Loki returned the embrace before moving Frigga back to question her further. As he did so he felt his heart skip a beat as Frigga's form changed into that of Verda.

"Surprise…" Verda said with a grin. Loki stood stunned for a moment, but only for a moment.

"Verda!" Loki cried ecstatically, swiftly pulling her back into another enthusiastic embrace as the real Frigga also stepped smiling through the doorway.

*********************************

Loki rose from where he lay staring at the ceiling in the bunk in his cell as two einherjar approached. Loki sat up, looking in their direction and rising, noticing the shackles held in the hand of one of the einherjar. He crossed the cell to meet them as they stopped before the containment field.

"The time has come. So be it." Loki said. Taking a steadying breath, he held his arms out in front of him as one of the einherjar lowered the field, the other with the shackles placing them on Loki's wrists. Each of the einherjar grasped one of Loki's arms, leading him towards the stairway.

*********************************

Thor, Loki, Verda and Sif stood before the pool in the garden as the two einherjar approached, Loki's other between them, a look of confusion on his face. He had expected to be escorted across the Rainbow Bridge to Himinbjorg where Odin would be waiting to use the dark magic to transform him once again, as he had done upon finding him as an infant, this time into a mortal, which would in turn relieve him of his magical abilities, before Heimdall would send him into exile on Midgard.

"Why have I been brought here?" Loki's other asked as one of the einherjar removed his shackles.

"You are to return with me to Midgard and New Asgard." Thor informed him.

"With you...?"

"I trust you will behave yourself in the future." Loki said, his use of the word 'future' being quite literal.

"Define 'behave.'" Loki's other answered.

"Let's keep it simple and begin by not attempting to conquer the planet." Loki responded.

"Agreed."

Sif turned to Thor, this time making no attempt to hold back the tears in her eyes.

"I will miss you." Sif said, her voice quavering.

"And I you, Lady Sif. I thank you for your sword and your company." Sif threw her arms around Thor who returned her embrace. Separating, Thor took Sif's hand in his own, kissing it.

"Are you ready?" Verda asked both Loki's other and Thor. "Each of you take hold of my arms. Do not let go." Verda directed them. Both took their place on either side of Verda, Verda leading them into the pool, the stones clutched in her right hand. Loki, who had already said his final goodbyes to his brother in private before they had made their way to the gardens, watched Thor disappear along with Verda and his other under the water.

"Thor asked me to give this to you." Loki said to Sif, handing her a folded piece of paper that appeared to be sealed with a wax seal.

*********************************

The chill wind off the sea lifted Verda's hair from her shoulders as she approached the cairn. Thor was not there which was unusual as he usually met her for her daily visit. She waited a few moments, looking around before deciding to go on without him.

Kneeling before the cairn, Verda reached out, straightening the clay figure of Loki she had sculpted and painted that rested against its base and arranged the flowers she had left the day before that still appeared relatively fresh back around it before bowing her head.

"Guardian of souls, as Loki has come to you, know that he was loved. He was a soaring spirit and a brave warrior. Watch over him and welcome him with honor and glory. Loki, son of Odin, I bid you to take your place in the halls of Valhalla-"

"Where the brave live forever." both she and another voice, not Thor's finished, a voice she recognized. Raising her head in shock, her eyes wide, she turned as she rose quickly to her feet to see Loki standing behind her in the same spot Thor had stood on the first day she had met the God of Thunder there. Verda's hand flew to her mouth as she gasped. "Hello. Verda...that is your name?" Loki asked.

Verda stood as if frozen for a moment before slowly lowering her hand, her eyes still wide as she stared at the man she had believed to be long dead. She then recalled the strange sense of his presence she had experienced since the afternoon of the day before that she had been unable to explain. She had half expected to see his specter since then, however, the man who stood before her now did not appear to be in the form of a spiritual visitor, but solid and alive.

"Yes…" Verda answered finally.

"I'm Loki."

"I know who you are." Verda replied.

"It looks as though you will now need to find something else to do with your time. Perhaps I can be of assistance." Loki said, holding out his hand, Verda staring at it before reaching out and taking it, leading her closer to him before he released her hand, embracing her. Verda, still in shock, returned the embrace, wrapping her arms as tightly around him as she had done that day in the forest after Loki had rescued her from the pit.

Looking past Loki over his shoulder, her vision blurred by her tears, she noticed Thor standing near the road a few yards away. He raised his hand in greeting, though he knew in a sense it was a farewell, before turning and walking away.