A/N: New fic I've been working on, and a short one. Only five chapters long. It'll be a bit different from my other Lokane fics and you'll see what I mean by that later.

Please note there will be some spoilers for Ragnarok in the coming chapters.

Hope you enjoy!

The phone rang once before Loki picked it up. The jingly bubblegum pop Darcy set as his ringtone made his ears bleed and until she gave up the knowledge of how to change it, Loki's options were to keep the accursed thing shut off or as close within reach as possible.

Jane's picture, emblazoned on the screen above her name, was a candid shot of her in the lab, her natural habitat. He'd taken it a month ago while she was chatting over video with Stark about reprogramming her bridge for a company trip to Vanaheim. At the same time, she busied herself resoldering the outer plate of her remote transmitter. She still had bedhead and there was a spot of soot on her cheek. It was so perfectly 'Jane' he couldn't not immortalize the moment.

He'd love to gaze upon her image for want of the real thing, but then there was that blasted song again. He unlocked the phone to silence it and was immediately hit with a burst of feedback. Loki held the phone away from his ear, waiting for the white noise to cease. When it did, computerized voice commands and whirring drills took its place. Apparently, they had thirty minutes left until the downloads were complete. A good thing to know.

"I take it all is going well for you, love?" He leaned on the counter, crossing one leg over the other to get comfortable.

"It will be once I get this stupid program to work," Jane muttered. She was typing again, and if he paid attention he knew exactly which keys she was hitting. He grimaced; if she used those codes, her computer would never cooperate.

"Have you tried resetting it?"

"Twice." More typing, followed by a curse. "Anyway, how's your day been?"

Loki hummed. "It just so happens I've found myself in the company of a rather lovely young woman."

"Oh have you?" she said wryly.

"Yes, we've spent many hours together since your departure." Loki glanced into Christina's bedroom. Her door was wide open and she was on her bed, surrounded by stuffed animals and crayon drawings. Her favorite pony doll danced up and down, led by the invisible waves of her magic. "I'm sure you'd agree she's quite a sight."

"Well, now I feel threatened," Jane said. "Mind if I talk to her?"

"If you're brave enough." With barely a thought, Loki plucked the doll out of the air and lowered it to the ground. Christina's magic bounced harmlessly off his as she attempted to wrest control from him. "Your mother's on the phone."

Her face lit up. "Mommy!" She bounded across the living room, leaping onto the couch and snatching the proffered phone. "Hi, Mommy!"

"Hi sweetie," Loki heard Jane say. It wasn't that he wanted to listen in, but with his hearing it was unavoidable. "I've missed you so much."

"I miss you, too," said Christina. "When are you coming home?"

"Soon, baby. Uncle Tony and I are almost done here and then I'll be on the plane. Have you been on your best behavior for Daddy?"

"Uh-huh," Christina nodded.

"And has Daddy been on his best behavior?"

"Um…"

Loki took the phone back, tickling Christina when she tried to protest. As she collapsed in giggles, Loki waited for Jane to finish yelling at Stark for whatever boneheaded thing he'd done now to slow them down.

"Jane, are you sure you don't need me there?" he asked, careful to let only a hint of concern leak into his voice. "I only ask because while a functioning bridge should be child's play, Midgardians other than yourself are understandably slow."

"For a second there, I thought you were complimenting me," she quipped. "So close and yet so far."

"Only for you," he said, smiling once before the mirth faded. "Regardless, it would take me little effort to get there. I can have Darcy over to look after Christina."

"I thought you wouldn't trust Darcy with a gnat, much less our daughter."

"Perhaps she is slightly more responsible than I gave her credit for."

"Everything is fine," Jane said firmly. "Tony's with me and Captain Rogers is here. I'm completely safe. I'm going to get this program working, we're going to get the bridge upgraded, and I'll be on the red eye before midnight."

"So you've said," Loki sighed. "Regardless, I shall keep up my vigil until you are once more in my arms."

"Aww, listen to you, all romantic." Jane chuckled. She went silent for a moment, and for once, there was no discernable reason why. "I love you, Loki."

Loki patted Christina's head as she pressed into his side, the same way her mother did when she felt affectionate. "I love you, too. Tomorrow then."

"Tomorrow," Jane said.

He ended the call, but the phone remained in his hand even as Christina climbed into his lap. She played with a piece of her hair. "I hope Mommy comes back soon. I miss her."

Loki kissed the crown of his daughter's head. "And your mother misses you, but fear not, Angel. Soon she will be home with us again, and all will be well."

"You promise?" Christina looked up at him, her eyes sharing his color but more inquisitive than his had ever been, even at the equivalent of her age. Just another way she was truly Jane's daughter.

He pushed away the inexplicable dread gnawing at his skull, remembering this was not the first time Jane's work had come with risks. All possible scenarios had been accounted for with proper measures taken to ensure safety and success. Jane was not alone and Midgard's heroes had proven themselves worthy warriors in the fight against Thanos. Loki was not so proud (or no longer so proud) to admit the universe would've fallen without them. Compared to that, protecting one woman should be simple. It was simple.

There was nothing to fear.

"I promise."

The news would report on the accident for weeks to come, and every story was exactly the same.

"A series of explosions sent shockwaves through the New Mexico desert earlier today-"

"Dr. Jane Foster-Odinson, Noted Astrophysicist and associate of The Avengers, was on the scene at the time of the incident-"

"We currently have no official death toll-"

"Sources indicate no one was killed but several were injured in the blast-"

"Representatives of Stark Industries and The Avengers have been unavailable for comment-"

"We're just getting word that Dr. Foster was in range of the blast-"

"Surveillance footage shows Captain Rogers carrying Dr. Foster out of the rubble. She is being airlifted to a secure location as we speak-"

"So far, no explanation has been released as to the cause of the explosion-

"Dr. Foster is in our thoughts and we wish her a speedy recovery. We'll keep you updated as the story unfolds here on-"

Loki kicked open the double doors leading to the Intensive Care Unit, never breaking stride and paying no mind to the doctors and nurses doing their best to get out of his way. As a former villain and potential world conqueror, there was never a shortage of Midgardians on high alert when he was near. That no one had turned a gun on him yet was thanks to the sleeping child in his arms.

Christina had nodded off on the way over. Pulled out of bed at four in the morning, she'd had strength enough to grab her favorite toy and nod at Loki's hurried explanation that Mommy was hurt. She stirred in his arms as the chaos reached her ears. Loki whispered soothing words, but his voice was strained and he doubted he'd put her at ease.

Nurses wheeled in more injured scientists. Some were bleeding, some had bones sticking out in the wrong direction. Nobody was dead, he'd been told. His Jane was alive somewhere in this building. Scanning the lobby, he saw no one he recognized. Stark and Rogers were either on a gurney or outside containing the media circus. It was nothing but hospital white and doctor blue for miles.

"Daddy, where are we?" she asked, rubbing the sand from her eyes.

"The hospital, angel," Loki answered. "We're here to see your mother."

He searched for an information booth. He found Natasha Romanov barreling towards them. Since the war with Thanos, Loki had reached an understanding with the Black Widow. She'd never forgive him for what he did to her friend (Loki still held that her feelings for Barton were more than platonic), but she'd accepted his change in allegiance gracefully and the two maintained a civil, if not very close, relationship.

"Where is she?" Loki demanded.

There were bags under Natasha's eyes and her makeup was smudged. Her casual dress indicated she'd been dragged out of bed for the occasion. "She was injured in the explosion but I don't know anything else yet."

"Where is my wife?"

"Room 302 is hers, but you have to go alone," Natasha nodded sadly at Christina. She had a soft spot for the girl and her mother. Another level of common ground they shared.

Unfortunately, such respect wouldn't get her far when Loki was already in the worst mood of his life. "I will see her with our daughter at my side, thank you."

"It's a hospital rule," said Natasha. "Kids aren't allowed in the ICU unless they're a patient. She shouldn't even be in this hallway."

"I'd like to see you or anyone else try and stop me," Loki seethed.

Later on, when his mood had improved, he'd commend Agent Romanov for standing her ground. She and her comrades had witnessed his 'interrogation' techniques against Thanos's loyal followers. The way they screamed in agony, slowly driven insane as he dug into their minds and ripped apart their memories, taking what he needed and leaving soulless, drooling husks behind.

"Loki, if it were up to me, you would both be with her right now," she said, "but Jane has a concussion and we don't know what state she'll be in when she wakes up. It's better if Christina doesn't see her until she's stable."

"She will see her now."

"No, she won't." Natasha plucked the girl out of Loki's arms, setting her down and kneeling to her level. "Christina, why don't you come with me while Daddy goes to see Mommy."

"I wanna go, too!"

"I know, honey, and you will, but we have to make sure she's better first." If only she knew how close Loki was to destroying her. Magic built at his fingertips. He could her bones into dust with barely a thought. Then she looked up, eyes narrowed dangerously. "You really want to start a fight in here? After everything?"

Of course, she was right, much as it pained him. Loki gritted his teeth but forced himself to relax. He pulled his magic back, the sparks of green light vanishing. He turned his best approximation of a smile onto his daughter. Judging from her expression, it only made her more scared. "Go with Agent Romanov, angel. I will come for you after I've seen your mother."

Christina puffed out her cheeks, clutching her doll hard enough to take its head off. She was neither a problem child nor a golden child. If she couldn't have her way, she'd understand, but only after arguing until her face turned blue. There was no time to play games today, and they both knew it. She whimpered, but took Natasha's hand and walked to the exit with her.

"Tell mommy I missed her a lot!" she shouted back at Loki. "A whole lot!"

They disappeared through the double doors, but Loki heard them a few seconds longer.

"Why don't you introduce me to your friend, Christina?"

A sniffle. "Her name's Twilight Sparkle and she's the princess of friendship."

"Wow, that's great! Just like you're the princess of Asgard."

"Uh huh… Mommy's a princess, too."

"Yeah, she is."

As their voices faded, Loki followed the numbers on the wall through the two hundred eighties and nineties. Every room he passed was occupied. Some wore casts, others were burnt. All of them had come from the same disaster. Friends and family members sat around them, praying if they were so inclined and talking amongst themselves if they weren't. Several patients locked eyes with him. None spoke. Every injury he saw was worse than the last.

Passed the elevators and another crowded reception area, the only obstacle between him and Jane was a commemorative display honoring the many lives lost to Thanos. Hundreds of photos lined the walls in rows of ten, but they were only a fraction of the true death toll. Most of the names or faces were unknown to him, and he cared little to learn them. It wasn't a matter of apathy, but simply that death was so commonplace in wartime. He was a thousand years old and a seasoned warrior. He'd seen more lives snuffed out than there were people in America. Such was the way of it when fighting for a worthy cause.

At the center of the memorial, one photo stood out. James Buchanan Barnes smiled at Loki's solemn face. He had a handsome visage, his eyes older than his face but bright regardless.

'In Memory of Bucky Barnes: a true hero,' read the plaque. A similar one marked his grave, merely a decorative amenity. There hadn't been much left of Barnes to bury once Thanos was through. He'd taken a hundred members of the mad titan's army with him, monsters who would've killed hundreds more if left unchecked. For that, the dead man earned Loki's respect. A shame he'd never known him.

He found Room 302. A curtain shrouded his Jane and her nurses in shadow. A woman stepped out, carrying a wet washcloth. She was short and squat and her tag bore the name 'Mindy'. Her professional countenance disappeared in the face of Loki's penetrating gaze.

"Oh… hello, Mr. uh… sir," she twiddled her thumbs like a buffoon. Loki could've ripped those thumbs off at the bone.

"How is she?"

She gulped and straightened her back, feigning courage she'd never have. "Dr. Foster is asleep right now. We're not sure yet the extent of the damage. We won't know anything until she wakes up. Until then, she's comfortable-"

"Let me see her." Loki wasn't asking and he wouldn't listen to any more blubbering. He walked through the door- the nurse was smart enough not to block him. He ripped open the curtains and his stomach dropped.

Her face was peaceful. She could've been asleep in their bed at home if not for the gash on her cheek and the bandages on her forehead. Fair skin was blanched white, her hair a mess of knots. Had she always been so small? She couldn't fill that bed if there were three of her. A thin cotton blanket covered her from the shoulders down. They'd dressed her in a hospital gown more hideous than their uniforms. He never thought such a feat was possible, but Midgardians were full of surprises.

The nurse checking Jane's vitals was stronger than her compatriot. Her reaction to Loki's presence was to stand between him and Jane, her arms outstretched as if she had the strength in her tiny mortal body to restrain him. "Mr. Odinson, wait a second."

"Move."

"I need to explain what happened to your wife."

"Move or you will be moved."

"Mr. Odinson, Dr. Foster has a moderate to severe concussion," she shouted over his threats. "She's stable for now but we don't know when she'll wake up. You can stay, but you have to be gentle with her."

Loki closed his eyes and balled his fists. Exhaling through his nose he calmly stepped backward, allowing the nurse to finish her work. She was comfortable enough to do so, barring a glance here and there over her shoulder. Loki briefly considered leaving a few duplicates around the room to make her squirm, but no. Jane wouldn't approve.

A weak moan issued from Jane's parted lips and she turned her head from one side to the other. The nurse was on her before Loki could push her away, bending over her prone form with a hand on her forehead. "Jane? Honey, are you awake? Can you hear me?"

How dare she! She was speaking to Jane as though she were a child. His Jane, the most brilliant woman in this realm… in any realm! Treated like an infant by this insignificant nothing of a mortal...

"Wha…" Jane moaned weakly.

"Jane, you're at the hospital," the nurse said. "Don't try to lift your head, but can you open your eyes?"

"Ha… there was… splosion…"

"You're safe now, Honey. You're going to be okay," the nurse patted Jane's head like a dog. "I've got your husband here. He's been so worried about you."

"Husband…" Jane spoke clearly for the first time. A tiny curvature of her lips and the weight on Loki's heart alleviated. "Hus... "

"Why don't I leave you two alone okay?" She saw herself out with a single nod in Loki's direction.

With that nuisance out of the way, nothing mattered to Loki except Jane. She was not yet fully conscious, so he set to work repairing the damage that fool of a nurse had done to her hair. Jane was not a vain woman, nor did she give more than a passing thought to her appearance, but she never liked anyone else touching her hair. They didn't know how to be careful with the knots, she'd say. Except for Loki, of course. He could run his fingers through those flowing brown locks as much as he pleased.

How had he found such a woman as Jane, he wondered. How had he won her heart when her first interaction with his world was Thor. Certainly women had preferred Loki in the past, but never once had the great thunderer lost a woman to the trickster. Not before Jane.

He found her in a vulnerable state, running through the battlefield with a weapon she and Stark had developed. There she was, this fearless human with no combat skills, dodging fatal blasts by virtue of dumb luck. Loki had followed her, intrigued by the gall of her. Throwing herself into battle, her only concern was that she wouldn't reach Stark in time to hand the device off.

Fortunately for her, Ironman met them halfway. He rolled his eyes as though he was in any position to judge someone else's life choices and ordered (yes, ordered) Loki to 'get her the hell out of here'. Loki was so amused that he happily complied, carrying her bridal style to an underground safe house amid protests that she could walk, thank you very much.

That was the moment it began. The moment the God of Mischief went soft. Except he hadn't really, he'd just gained a new reason to fight. And when Jane became pregnant, that gave him two. Four years had passed and their love burned brighter every day. Sometimes, Loki wondered what his life would be if he hadn't followed Jane that day on the battlefield. Where would he be now? Would he have rejoined Thanos? Would he be alive today at all?

So many questions he could never answer, and would never want to.

Jane twisted out of his grasp. She moaned and opened her eyes to stare at the beige curtain. It was an ugly color, he thought. He should change it to blue for her. Blue was her favorite after green.

"Jane," he whispered. "Can you hear me?"

She turned, following the sound of his voice. Her eyes were glassy and unfocused. She looked at him, not smiling or sighing with relief. Not demanding he get her out of this dump and take her home because she was fine and they needed to figure out what went wrong with the test. She just… looked at him.

Then she screamed.

She screamed loud enough to send Loki into the wall and bring not only the nurses but several men in white coats back into the room. They held Jane down as she struggled, her shrieks of fear rising over their bewildered assurances that everything was fine.

"Jane, stop it!" One doctor said. "You need to calm down."

"NO!" she shouted. "No! He can't be here! He's dead! Get him away!"

"Mr. Odinson," the first nurse, Mindy, had lost all fear of him and pushed him outside. "She might be confused right now. Let us take care of her."

He nodded, standing rigidly like a zombie as the cries of his wife assaulted his ears like a thousand knives.

"Dr. Foster, it's okay! It's just your husband-"

"No! He's not my husband! He's not my husband!"

The nurse left him with a sympathetic look, closing the door behind her. He couldn't hear the doctors anymore, but as he walked to the other end of the ICU, Jane's voice echoed clear as a bell.