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"Good news?" Darcy asked as she descended the staircase. She carried two steaming cups of tea with one hand and a plate of cookies in the other. |
"Yeah," Jane replied distractedly, running a hand through her hair. "Doctor Strange believes he will be able to repair Mjolnir. He emailed to say he could be here as early as tomorrow if that worked for all of us." |
"You told him yes, right?" Darcy asked before setting the treats down on the lab table and hopping up onto one of the stools. She grabbed for her tea and then snatched up a cookie as well. "Because, let's be real, Thor is like a sad, little puppy without his hammer." |
Jane laughed, shaking her head as she did so before joining her longtime friend at the table. "He does seem to miss it, doesn't he?" |
"Yuuup." Darcy chewed on a bite of her cookie thoughtfully, her eyes roaming around the room as she contemplated her next words. "So are you two okay then? Have you decided what you're going to do at the end of all this?" |
Ignoring the cookies, Jane seemed content with her tea for the time being. Cupping the mug, she allowed the warmth to give her comfort for a moment before answering Darcy's question. "To be truly honest, Darcy... I have no idea." She refused to meet her friend's eye as she finally sipped the tea, but she could feel her... |
"I saw the letter," Darcy blurted out and then flinched as Jane's gaze snapped up to glare at her. "Sorry," she apologized, setting aside her tea. "It was just sitting there and you know I'm curious by nature..." |
"It's okay..." Jane hadn't realized she'd left the letter sitting out. Now, it seemed, the cat was out of the bag and she had some explaining to do. "I don't know if I'm going to take it. Really, it depends on what happens with Thor and Hela and this entire nightmare." |
"I think you should go for it," Darcy told her with a huge grin. "An opportunity to teach an entire course on Astrophysics over the summer? That's, like, your dream job." |
"I know..." Jane trailed off, staring down into her mug as her thoughts became muddled. "I applied for the position before Hela came into the picture. I thought that you and Thor would want to travel to South America with me but now..." |
"Well," Darcy started, pointing half of her cookie at Jane for emphasis. "I'm in. We both know I have nothing better to do now that my extraterrestrial travel plans have been-" Darcy flinched and cut herself off as her heart gave a lurch. |
"I'm sorry," Jane whispered, reaching out with the hand not wrapped around her mug to pat her friend's hand. "I know that you and Hogun didn't get to spend much time together, but I'm really sorry for your loss. He was an honorable warrior." |
"Thanks," Darcy muttered, hating how affected she was by the loss of her lover. "I think he loved me." |
"I think he did too," Jane agreed with a tight-lipped smile. She hesitated but then decided to ask her question anyway. "Did you love him?" |
"Hah," Darcy barked out and then sighed. "I don't know. Yes? No? Maybe? I know I really enjoyed the way he made me feel. I've never had that with anyone before." |
"It feels good when it's like that," Jane said and then took another sip of her tea. "I adore Thor, but I don't think it's how it was in the beginning or even after the Convergence." |
"A lot has happened since then." Darcy resumed nibbling on her cookie which prompted Jane to join her. "I thought we would have been back in the States by now, yet here we are." |
"Are you ready to go home?" Jane asked, smiling. |
"Home? What's that?" Darcy grinned at her friend and then they dissolved into laughter, thankfully evaporating the melancholy that had descended upon them. When they were able to control themselves, Darcy said with all seriousness, "I've not had a proper home in over ten years." |
"I thought this could be home but it doesn't feel like that anymore." It hurt to admit that, but it was the truth. Jane had come to London seeking answers to her research and calculations. And also because she thought Thor would find her there. However, now it felt like she'd overstayed her welcome. "If I take the posi... |
"It's not like we can see them right now anyway," Darcy grumbled before finishing off her tea. "I mean, you said Pansy wants to get Loki and Hermione back together, but that doesn't really mean we get to be involved." |
"I'm sure we would. I don't see Hermione keeping the Isolation Act in place once everything is all "Happily Ever After" again in her world." Jane bit back a grin at that and then pointed at their empty mugs. "I still have some time to decide about the position and about Thor, but what do you say if we go upstairs and m... |
"I think that sounds like a plan to me. We can watch Netflix and wait for this mysterious Doctor Strange to appear." Darcy jumped up and collected the cookies and mugs to carry back upstairs. "When do you think he'll arrive?" |
"Soon, I hope," Jane said as she trailed behind her friend. "I'm ready for this entire ordeal to be over with." |
"I think you're just anxious to end things with Thor without feeling guilty a battle is heading our way," Darcy teased, briefly glancing over her shoulder. She smirked when Jane flinched, clearly indicating she was right. "Don't sweat it. You'll figure something out." |
"I hope you're right," Jane mumbled before she closed the door to the lab behind them. "I really hope you're right..." |
Jane was forced to stop abruptly, her eyes lifting to find out the reason as to why Darcy had paused in the middle of the kitchen. What she found made her mouth drop open in shock. There was a swirling golden portalhole right there in the middle of the kitchen! Before either of the women could cry out in surprise, a ta... |
"Who are-" Jane began, stepping around Darcy's frozen form. |
"I'm Doctor Stephen Strange," the man said, extending his hand."And you must be Doctor Jane Foster and Darcy Lewis. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." |
Hermione stood in the middle of her living room, staring around as if seeing her flat for the first time. And perhaps she was, she had been in a fog for the past few months, not really seeing anything that was going on around her. She'd been so caught up in her emotions that she hadn't realized there was an entire worl... |
In truth, she wasn't really alone, but it did feel that way. Her healers and therapist insisted that Gwyneira remain with Ron and Pansy for at least a few more days or until she was settled and comfortable in her own skin once more. She'd been in the hospital for only a couple days, but it was enough that it left her f... |
After having talked to her healers and therapist, as well as Ginny, Hermione decided that suffering from postpartum depression wasn't the worst thing in the world and that it could definitely be tackled one day at a time. She'd endured and overcome her depression in the past, not to mention the occasional flare-up over... |
She wondered, as she continued to stand in the middle of the room, if her life was ever going to be easy, normal, or carefree. She also wondered if she would ever have a day where there wasn't something on her shoulders, weighing her down and making every little thing difficult. Probably not. That was a depressing thou... |
Gwyneira was that light. Her daughter was supposed to be the one thing that she needed in her life to overcome all of the darkness. Somehow, though, that did not go exactly the way she had planned. Maybe, if her daughter was a normal child, one who wasn't created from Star Magic and who wasn't the daughter of one of th... |
Hermione suspected that in order for her life to feel whole and happy, she needed Loki by her side, along with their daughter. She could not have one without the other and vice versa. The three of them were bound together, and until they were by each other's side once more, there would be discord within their lives. He... |
At long last, the floo ignited in the fireplace, drawing Hermione from her frantic thoughts. Slowly, she turned to face one of her oldest and dearest friends. Harry stood in front of the fireplace, deep frown lines marring his forehead. He ran a hand through his dark hair as he observed her uncomfortable looking postur... |
It was hard, Hermione had to admit, because she had shared so many of her difficulties with Ron over the years and not so much with Harry. He had always been so busy with the Auror department, Ginny, and his family that she just never really wanted to get him involved. Granted, there were times over the years where he ... |
Harry wanted her to get better and he certainly didn't want her to suffer. Hermione was glad to have him by her side because now it was Ron's turn to flourish. Her beloved friend was about to become a father for the first time and he was also planning on opening another shop with his brother, George. Hermione would hat... |
"Are you alright?" Harry asked, stepping forward and setting her bag from the hospital on the seat of the chair. "You look a little pale? Do you want something to eat? Or, I can make you some tea?" |
Hermione shook her head. "No, I'm alright. I'm just trying to figure out where to go from here. I'm not really tired seeing as I slept so much in the hospital." Shrugging, she said, "I don't want to sleep and I'm not hungry because I had lunch before you brought me home." Her chest began to feel constricted and she kne... |
"Well, I can help you unpack or we can watch some TV if you want?" Harry looked immensely uncomfortable. |
Hermione shook her head and released her fierce grip on the chair to take hold of Harry's hand, which she gently squeezed. "I think maybe I need some time alone." When Harry gave her a look of alarm she squeezed his hand again. "Not like that, Harry. Don't worry. I'm fine. I just think I need a little time where there'... |
"I guess I can understand that," Harry said, sighing in relief. "I well remember what it was like to have everyone's attention on you all the damn time. You probably need a proper shower in your own home and then a little space to unwind and clear your head." |
"That sounds absolutely amazing, to be honest." Hermione let go of his hand and then wrapped her arms around her midsection. "I also need to figure out what I'm going to do without my daughter for the next couple of days. I miss her desperately and I can't wait to see her." |
"She misses you too, Hermione," Harry told her, full of concern for his best friend. "She's okay, though. You know Ron and Pansy are taking really good care of her right now." |
There was something in Harry's face that Hermione didn't quite trust, but she needed to take his word for what it was. She knew that, whatever was going on, her daughter would be kept safe. Her friends would never allow any harm to come to her Eira while in their care. |
Nodding, she took a step away and glanced towards the kitchen. "I know that she's safe and probably much more content than she would be if she were here with me right now. My emotions are still a little all over the place, and I'll have to take more potion later on when it's time." She ran a hand through her tousled cu... |
"Okay. If you're sure you don't need anything else, I will leave you here," Harry told her as he slowly backed away to grab some of the spare floo powder from the top of the fireplace mantel. |
"I'm sure. I'm going to be fine. I swear." Hermione met Harry's gaze and gave him a solid nod. She didn't want Harry to worry about her even though she worried about herself. |
"Just text or call if you need anything. If you end up feeling too alone, just floo right over and you can spend the night at our place," Harry offered as he stepped into the fireplace and met her eyes. |
"I'll definitely keep that in mind," Hermione said. "I'll talk to you later. Thank you for everything." |
"You're welcome," Harry replied before throwing down the powder and shouting the address of his house. He disappeared in a swish of green flames, leaving Hermione alone in her flat. |
Once alone, Hermione stood staring at the empty grate for a few minutes before shaking herself and reaching for her bag. She grabbed hold of it and carried it down the hall into her bedroom where she placed it next to her closet to be dealt with later. She really didn't feel like unpacking and putting things away or ev... |
Hermione had no idea how long she stood there, but at some point, the light in the room began to change, signaling that sunset was approaching. Knowing that she couldn't stay here staring at the empty crib, pale pink blankets, and toys for the rest of the evening, Hermione wiped the tears from her face that she didn't ... |
With that settled, she decided to take a shower and then have some tea and perhaps some toast before crawling into bed with a book. She wasn't going to do work or research or even think about anything work-related for that matter. She needed this time to unwind and just be herself. As if sensing her need for comfort, R... |
"I can always count on you to be there when I just need that simple amount of comfort," she told her familiar. "I'm so thankful that you've been with me all these years, even if I haven't been the most attentive of owners." Hermione smiled as the cat meowed and playfully nipped at her fingers. "I know. I know. You love... |
Straightening up, Hermione walked to the bathroom and prepared to shower. She wasn't going to let her loneliness get to her. She had a daughter to get back and, hopefully, she could win back Loki's affection as well. But that was something she would need to think about a later time, once the threat of Hela was gone and... |
Although, she didn't blame him if he never wanted to see her face again. She had been truly hurtful to him and it was a shame to think that she quite possibly threw away a love of the ages all because of her lack of knowledge on postpartum depression. Loki had issues and so did she, but she had promised to accept his a... |
"We're going to get in so much trouble for this," Pansy whispered as she waddled along the pavement leading to the house where Jane and the others stayed. She and Ron were wearing wizarding robes that resembled what Death Eaters used to wear. They were trying to remain unseen so that they wouldn't be arrested for viola... |
"We're fine. As long as we don't use magic, no one will ever know we're here," Ron muttered, holding Gwyneira close as she slept soundly underneath his robes. It was almost as if she knew she was to be reunited with her father shortly. Continuing on, Ron added, "Besides, Harry sort of gave us permission to be here..." |
Pansy laughed, shaking her head and then making sure that no Muggles were watching them from their houses. "Don't be foolish, love. You know as well as I do that if we're caught, we're both going right to Azkaban. We need the Minister's approval and neither Hermione nor Theo will give that to us right now." |
"To be fair, Hermione has no idea we're doing this," Ron pointed out as they finally approached the familiar looking house. They had taken Muggle transportation to the edge of the neighborhood and then walked the rest of the way there. |
"Yes and Theo can't go against her word unless she formally steps down. We both know the Wizarding laws." Sighing, Pansy rubbed both hands over her rounded stomach and ignored the way her baby fluttered nervously in her stomach. "I want to help them all get back together, but I cannot have this baby in a dank, dark cel... |
Stopping, Ron whirled around and closed the space between the two of them. He couldn't hold Pansy with Gwyneira in his arms, but if he was able, he would have held her close and kissed her soundly. Instead, he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead and whispered, "Our child will not be born in Azkaban, Pans. I'd never a... |
Pansy took hold of Ron's cloak and held on tight. She was trembling with a multitude of emotions but, despite Ron's promise, relief was not one of them. "Merlin, I hope you're right." |
"I am. I swore to protect you when we were married and I will fulfill that promise, love." Ron placed one more kiss upon Pansy's forehead and then stepped backward. "Come on, let's hurry inside before we're seen." |
Nodding, Pansy allowed Ron to lead the way to the door. She watched silently as he entered the familiar passcode and the door beeped open. He stepped back and let her enter first, quickly following behind and shutting the door. No one was in the kitchen as Pansy removed her hood and glanced around. She slipped off her ... |
"I haven't seen her sleep so soundly in months," Ron said in hushed tones as he too removed his robes. Throwing them overtop Pansy's, he gestured to the doorway. "I'm going to try and find someone. See who's here and all that. Stay here for a minute?" |
"Sure. We don't need any surprises," Pansy answered and then smiled. There really was no reason to worry while here. This was supposed to be a safe place. |
Ron took a deep breath and then headed through to the living room. They were expected, but that didn't meant their arrival wasn't an inconvenience. With everything that was going on there was no saying what kind of situation they were walking into at any given time. Ron found the room to be empty but there seemed to be... |
However, the further he moved down the hall the more unease he began to feel. The noises sounded less and less like passion and more like frantic directions in regards to someone being violently ill. A deep voice was shouting directions as sounds of retching reached his ears. Frowning, Ron jogged the rest of the way do... |
Standing in the doorway, Ron watched on in horror as Loki vomited blood into a bucket. An odd looking man was standing by the bed with a stethoscope and trying to get Loki to lie back again. Behind him, a red cape floated as if by magic. Jane and Thor were standing there with matching terrified expressions. Something w... |
"Bloody hell," he gasped as Loki's body convulsed and he was thrown backwards on the bed. The vomiting had stopped, but now he was thrashing about as if he'd lost control of himself. "What the fuck's wrong with him?" |
His outburst drew the attention of the others in the room, except for the doctor, who was now trying to pin Loki down by the shoulders. Jane hurried to the doorway as Thor moved to help the doctor secure Loki in place while he seized. Looking at him, Jane said in a panicked voice, "He's dying! He was fine and resting u... |
"Dying..." Ron's eyes moved from Jane's tearstained face to stare once again at Loki who did, in fact, look worse for wear. As his breathing picked up and panic settled in, Ron looked back to Jane. "What can we do? Pansy is a Healer." |
"We could use any help at this point," the doctor muttered, his mysterious eyes lifting briefly to meet Ron's stare. "I'm a little out of my element here." |
"She's in the kitchen with Gwyneira," Ron said, taking a step backward. "I can go and get her." |
"No," Thor said sternly. "Allow Jane. Come over here and help us hold him down. We need him to stop thrashing so Doctor Strange can administer a sedative to make him sleep." |
Without another word, Jane darted from the room and down the hall. Ron hurried to the foot of the bed and grabbed for Loki's legs. Taking hold of his ankles, he forced them down into the mattress so he could no longer kick at Thor and Doctor Strange. As he did so, his curiosity caused him to stare openly at the doctor.... |
"Even though they're at odds, Hermione will have all of our heads if Loki dies, you know?" Ron said through clenched teeth as he continued to hold tight. "I mean, she's going to be pissed Pans and I are even here right now with her daughter, but still." |
"I really don't think that is something to be concerned with at the present moment," Doctor Strange intoned as he prepared a syringe full of a sedative. |
Before Ron could reply, both Jane and Pansy hurried into the room. The former was holding Gwyneira and allowed Pansy to move to the bedside. Rolling her eyes at Thor, who gave her rounded stomach a questionable stare, she took Loki's wrist and checked his pulse. Sighing, she gave Doctor Strange a pointed glare. |
"What are you planning on doing with that needle?" she asked, indicating the syringe he was holding with a nod of her head. "Good Godric, is that a sedative?" |
"Yes..." Strange trailed off, his eyes looking to Pansy before sliding to stare at Thor and then back again. Clearly, this was the wrong answer in her opinion and he watched as she threw her hands up in frustration. |
"He doesn't need a bloody sedative!" she all but shrieked, reaching over to swat the needle away. "His pulse is barely there! You call yourself a doctor! That could have killed him!" |
"To be fair, I've never had to practice on a Frost Giant before," Strange muttered as he stepped back and allowed Pansy to further check Loki in her own way, albeit without magic. "I came here to restore Mjolnir to working order, not to save Loki, who should be locked away in a cell somewhere." |
"We explained this to you, Strange," Thor muttered, shooting the man a dark look. "Loki has proven himself worthy previously. His past transgressions have been accounted for when he sacrificed himself to save the universe from Fenrir." |
"Not really the time to argue about this anyway," Pansy scolded. When Loki had calmed somewhat, she sighed and ran a hand through her short, dark hair. "Okay, he's calmed for the moment. Someone tell me what I'm looking at here? No one thought it necessary to warn us that Loki was literally dying?" |
"We're not sure" Jane admitted, still holding Gwyneira close. "He was sleeping soundly back here while we all talked out in the living room. We were waiting for you to arrive," she further explained. "Suddenly, all of the lights surged and then the screaming started." |
"I've never heard my brother scream in such a manner," Thor said with dead eyes. "It sent chills down my spine." He visibly shivered before resting a large hand on Loki's still form. "He told us he was dying; I thought we had more time." |
"He's vomiting blood," Pansy pointed out. "That indicates internal injuries. Doctor Strange, can you operate?" |
"Not in these conditions and certainly not if I do not know what is wrong." The sorcerer shook his head, a frown settling on his features. "I am afraid the end is near for the God of Mischief." |
No sooner had those words left his mouth than Gwyneira awoke with a shriek. Her wails were accompanied with a flickering of lights. As the adults looked from one to another with panic and concern, Jane held the child out to Thor. The Asgardian quickly came forward and took the squirming baby into his arms. She was a fo... |
Once more, the Frost Giant thrashed about on the bed and blood dripped from the corners of his mouth. His pale skin seemed almost translucent in the flickering lights and the sound of his breathing made even Doctor Strange cringe. |
Pansy met Ron's eyes and he nodded. Swallowing back her fear, Pansy pointed at Loki. "Place Gwyneira in his arms..." She trailed off, her heart breaking as she believed them to be watching Loki's final moments alive. "Let him hold his daughter-" She was unable to finish her sentence, the one last time left unspoken. |
Thor nodded solemnly and then turned to place Gwyneira on the bed. He settled the baby in Loki's arms, his own hands holding her steady so she wouldn't be jostled about too much by his thrashing. Expecting the worse, the Thunder God was more than surprised when instead of getting worse, Loki's apparent seizure calmed s... |
"What the hell?" Ron muttered as Loki took a deep, rattling breath and then calmed entirely. Assuming the worst, he shuffled over to Pansy's side and wrapped an arm firmly around her waist. "Is he-?" |
"Dead?" Pansy whispered, her eyes slightly misted over with tears. "I-I'm not sure." |
"Thor?" Jane asked, indicating that he should check. Inside her chest, her heart was beating with both hope and fear. |
Seeing as both Gwyneira and Loki were no longer moving, Thor removed his hand from the baby and lifted it to check Loki's pulse point. Blinking, he was surprised to find that Loki had a pulse, let alone that it appeared to be steady and growing stronger by the second. "He's not dead..." Thor removed his hand and gestur... |
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