"Mr. Secretary," Fury acknowledged the graying blond older man in the suit standing behind a desk as he entered the wood paneled 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. Dr. Pym's been consulting with us on a project paramount for the future of S.H.I.E.L.D. His assistance was invaluable 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. 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 Dr. 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 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."

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

"I didn't think you would come," Loki's double said as he rose from his chair, setting the book he had been reading aside on the table as Frigga approached the containment field of his cell.

"Am I not your mother?" Frigga replied as Loki approached the forcefield.

"No...you're not," Loki said, "There is something I must tell you. It was I who murdered Thor," Loki told her, Frigga remaining stoic and silent, though her pain upon hearing his confession was evident in her eyes.

"Your will was not your own. I always sensed your suffering, the conflict within you. I could only love you and hope it would be enough," Frigga finally spoke.

"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."

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

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 at 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…" Thor said, Loki turning to see him standing inside the doorway as he lowered the hood of the cloak he wore to reveal his face, looking off 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.

"Lose hope…" Loki finished for him, "I know...I know. It's taking everything I have not to go and throttle the life out of him. Would that be murder or suicide?" Loki asked as he 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?"

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

"No...."

"Have you considered my suggestion?" Thor asked.

"Are you certain?"

"It is for the best," said Thor before changing the subject, "What of the Tesseract?"

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

"And the Norn Stones?" inquired Thor.

"I will deal with them as well."

"There is another Infinity Stone in Midgard. Thanos may yet come to Midgard to claim it."

"Where?" 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. I would not advise taking it from them."

"I was not aware Midgard had sorcerers. Do they know of us?"

"I believe so."

"I will warn them of Thanos and come to an arrangement," Loki responded.

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

"Anything," Loki replied.

"There are places in Asgard 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, "You have spent much time with her since Verda brought you here. Her grief at your death was profound. I'm concerned for her when you return."

"She will persevere," Thor replied, though his tone and expression conveyed 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 standing 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 proclaimed that they forever after belonged to each other, his eyes caught sight of Frigga approaching.

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, Loki, his part in the proceedings now completed, excused himself and crossed the throne room to meet his mother.

"Verda?" Loki asked anxiously.

Without a word, Frigga embraced Loki.

Now more disquieted than before, Loki returned the embrace. As Frigga ended it, stepping back from him, he felt his heart skip a beat as her form magically transformed into that of Verda.

"Surprise!" Verda said with a grin as Loki swiftly and enthusiastically took her into his arms once more.

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

Loki's double rose from where he lay staring at the ceiling in the bunk in his cell as two einherjar approached the containment field, noticing the shackles held in the hand of one of them. He crossed the cell to meet them as they stopped before the containment field.

"The time has come. So be it," Loki's double said, extending his arms in front of him as one of the einherjar lowered the field, the other stepping into the cell and placing the shackles on Loki's wrists. Each taking hold of one of Loki's doubles arms, they led him from the cell in the direction of the stairway.

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

Thor, Loki, Verda and Sif stood before the pool in the garden as the two einherjar approached, Loki's double 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, and to relieve him of his magical abilities before Heimdall would send him into exile in Midgard.

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

"You are to return with me to 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 told him.

"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, kissing it.

"Are you ready?" Verda asked.

Both men took their place on either side of Verda, linking arms with her as she led 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 double under the water.

"Thor asked me to give this to you," Loki said to Sif, handing her a folded paper 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. She waited a few moments before deciding to go on without him.

Kneeling before the cairn, Verda laid the bouquet of flowers she had collected at its base 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 a voice she recognized, though it was not Thor's, finished the blessing.

Raising her head, her eyes wide, she rose swiftly to her feet, turning to see Loki standing 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.

"Verda...that is your name? I believe we met some time ago," Loki said.

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 finding her voice.

"It seems you will need to find something else to occupy your time," Loki said, holding out his hand, Verda staring at it before reaching out and taking it before Loki embraced her.

Verda returned the embrace, wrapping her arms as tightly around him as she had well over a millennium before in Asgard's forest.

Looking over Loki's shoulder, her vision blurred by her tears, Verda's eyes fell upon Thor standing a few yards away. He raised his hand in greeting, though he knew in a sense it was also a farewell, before turning and walking away.