Sif sat near the burning cauldron in her chambers. After Thor's presence within them in recent days, his departure left them feeling desolate and empty. To Sif it was as if he had died for the second time. For hours she had left the letter unread. To draw it out, to not know his final words to her in a sense kept a part of him alive. In the end however, she had to know what it was he had to say to her that he felt he could not tell her during the time they'd had together. She now held the letter in her hand after having finally broken the seal and read its contents.

In it he had explained to her how he had suppressed his feelings for her, did his best to see himself as an older brother figure and her the sister he was to guide and encourage, otherwise he knew that if he were to become king in the future and she his queen, she would have to set aside her life as a warrior that he knew she had worked so hard to achieve. He could not take that from her. Perhaps there had been a small grain of truth in what Lorelei had said, Sif thought.

Standing, Sif moved the folded paper to her lips before placing it into the fire.

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

"So...what did you think?" Loki asked as he and Verda walked arm and arm past the towering golden statue of Thor that had just been unveiled that morning after leaving the open air theater where they had watched the play Loki had promised him, commemorating him.

"It was...interesting." Verda answered.

"Interesting…" Loki repeated.

"He would have liked it very much, though I don't believe those were likely his final words to you on his deathbed. There was some dialogue I spoke to you I don't recall taking place as well...though I admit my memory may be faulty."

"I took some dramatic license, of course…" Loki responded.

"Of course. The actress portraying myself--" Verda began.

"I believe she captured your essence quite well."

"She was very good, though a bit more...liberally endowed." said Verda, glancing sideways at Loki.

"I cast her solely for her talent on the stage."

"I'm sure." Verda said, though it was clear from her tone she was not wholly convinced.

"We should change into something more comfortable for the revels." suggested Loki, as they had both dressed in formal attire as was fitting to their position for the public presentation of the monument and the theatrical production.

"I'm afraid I won't be joining you." Verda said. Loki looked over at her, noticing that she appeared a touch pale and tired.

"Are you not well?" Loki asked, concerned.

"No, I'm fine. It's just been a long day. I'm feeling a bit worn down. I'm also afraid I wouldn't be much fun seeing as I'd be unable to participate in the principal activity."

"What do you…" Loki began to ask before breaking off as Verda looked over at him with a smile. Loki's brain began to put the pieces together. "You mean….you're…we're…" Loki stammered.

"Yes." Verda replied. Loki grabbed Verda, excitedly lifting her off her feet, laughing joyfully as he spun her around. "Loki! Loki..stop! " Verda squealed. Loki quickly put her down, steadying her as she swayed dizzily.

"I'm sorry, I suppose I shouldn't have-"

"It's alright." Verda laughed. "Just be thankful I haven't eaten recently...you'd be changing for another reason."

"Why didn't you tell me before? We could have made the announcement before the performance."

"It's a bit early yet. I thought it best to wait before making any formal announcement. I didn't want to overshadow the celebrations for Thor. Besides, I know you're always looking for reasons to hold revels."

"Very true."

"I also thought it would be nice for it to just be between us, our secret, for a little while. Most everything we do and say is known by everyone. Sometimes I wish we could go back to that little cabin in the forest on Vanaheim, live out our lives there, just the two of us...three now I suppose...and however many more in the future...I suppose we'd need a bigger cabin..."

"You're still unhappy as queen." Loki said, troubled.

"No...not really. I'm getting used to it. I actually enjoy parts of it. I just worry...we've both said we wish for more than one. You have said how you and Thor became rivals, what that led to that you experienced in your visions...I don't want that to happen."

"I've considered that myself. I'll speak with my father."

"You should include your mother as well in that conversation...and perhaps myself."

"Yes...of course. I believe the time has come to dispense with certain traditions."

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

"Erik Selvig…" Loki said, rising from the booth in the bar in Puente Antiguo to greet Selvig as he approached, the two men shaking hands.

"Loki!" Selvig said with a wide grin. "It's good to see you again." Selvig said. After procuring their drinks from Rita, they returned to the booth and seated themselves.

"How goes your work?" Loki asked.

"Very well...extraordinarily well, actually. It's going to take awhile to work through all you've given us." Selvig answered happily.

"It was Verda's idea...to give you the information to begin to unlock those secrets yourselves over time. She thought it would be better that way."

"She's not joining us?" Selvig asked.

"Oh...no...it has been some time since we last spoke. She sends her regards. I must have forgotten to mention it when I invited you here. Things have been quite hectic as of late. She recently gave birth to our first child."

"Congratulations! Boy or girl?" Selvig asked.

"A son...Thor, in honor of my brother." Loki replied.

"So I guess you figured it out." Selvig said.

"What have I figured out?" Loki asked, puzzled.

"The first time we were here, the day we first met. You said you were still figuring it out...what loving someone means."

"Oh...yes." Loki answered. He was surprised Selvig remembered such detail of their conversation, Selvig having been obviously drunk at the time.

"I suppose I'm figuring it out too. I've met someone as well...Lynn. She's a physicist like myself. She's working with S.H.I.E.L.D. along with me. She originally worked for N.A.S.A. I guess we'll see where it goes."

"What of Jane and Darcy?"

"She's taken a position in London teaching part time while she continues her research. Darcy went with her as a graduate assistant. She's met someone too. He's a doctor, I don't recall what specialty."

Loki looked across the bar towards the door he had been keeping an eye on since his arrival for both Selvig as well as the man who now entered, a gift wrapped package tucked under his arm.

"Excuse me a moment." Loki said to Selvig, leaving the booth and walking to the entrance, greeting Stark and leading him back to the booth and introducing him to Selvig who slid over to make room for Stark to sit.

"Is it just you? None of the others are coming?" Loki asked as Stark sat down next to Selvig.

"Barton and Romanoff are off somewhere playing Robin Hood and Little John on some assignment. Banner doesn't drink...for obvious reasons, but he said to tell you hello and to pass on his congratulations. Rogers...not sure why he bowed out...something Coulson told him...oh, and the fact he can't get drunk...I guess there is a downside to being a nearly indestructible super soldier." Stark said before handing the package to Loki, "For the kid. I don't know what it is, Pepper bought it so I'm sure it's something nice."

"Thank you. I'll let Verda open it." Loki said, "Let us have that drink now. What can I get you?"

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

Loki walked in the darkness from the Rainbow Bridge to the palace, the package Stark had given him tucked under his arm. Passing the statue of Thor he stopped in front of it, looking up at it before ensuring there was no one else nearby. Passing his hand over the base of the statue, the door to a compartment appeared. Opening it, Loki reached in, removing the leather bag containing the Norn Stones. Emptying the bag into his hand, he examined them for a moment before replacing them in the bag and back into the compartment before disguising it once again.

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

Loki entered his and Verda's chambers, the room lit by the dancing flames of the cauldrons, as Verda rose from the armchair, the infant Thor, swaddled in a blanket in her arms.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" Verda asked.

"Yes, a good time was had by all. Next time we will go together. You didn't have to wait up for me."

"I wasn't planning to. Someone else had other ideas. He just went back to sleep. I was about to put him back down." Verda said. "What's that?" she asked, noticing the gift he held in his hand.

"A gift, from Stark. I thought I'd let you open it."

Loki approached Verda, reaching out and taking the infant from her as he handed her the package, doing his best not to wake the sleeping baby. Verda opened the box, revealing a blue blanket embroidered with a crown and the words, "Little Prince."

"It's adorable."

"Go to bed. I'll join you shortly." Loki told her before kissing her. Verda made her way to the doorway leading to the bedchambers, the blanket over her arm.

Loki walked across the room to the balcony, stepping out onto it, peering in the darkness out over Asgard. Loki thought once more of his visions of the future and how different was the trajectory his life had now taken. All was quiet and peaceful, but would it remain so? Looking down at his newborn son slumbering in his arms, he knew he would do whatever it took to put an end to any threat to that peace as his own father had done. .

It then hit him like a bolt out of the blue. The pain, the loneliness, the self loathing he had carried in his heart for so long had flown. Selvig was right, he had 'figured it out.' He was Loki, son of Odin, King of Asgard...and of course, the God of Mischief, as Verda had been reminded that morning upon opening her trunk to find a mass of twisting, writhing likjs.

"So what surprise shall we spring on your mother tomorrow to keep her on her toes?" Loki whispered to Thor.

The End