Darcy found Jane sulking in the lab. She was used to this behavior. Emotional obstacles avoided for scientific endeavors. Whatever. Her best friend, boss and mentor was so deep in denial as to be rather pathetic.

"Jane, can you stop for one minute and talk to me?" Darcy asked as she blocked Jane's movements around the lab.

"There is nothing to talk about," Jane declared as she opened her laptop.

"Oh yes there is," Darcy closed the laptop and leaned onto the desk, "Earth to Jane. Time to talk. Girl talk. Real talk."

Jane groaned as she crossed the room absently.

"Just out of curiosity, how'd you know Loki was going to be out there?" Darcy studied her perfectly manicured nails.

Jane did not answer. At least not immediately.

This hesitation told Darcy that Jane had yet again been caught at something she didn't want to admit to.

"I didn't know."

"Oh please," Darcy groaned followed by a laugh, "You were so looking for him. We never have lunch outside this lab, and the one day that you happen to choose to eat somewhere else, there's Loki with some Asgardian Hottie. And you are jealous as hell."

Jane turned back to face Darcy with fear and guilt upon her face as she issued her denial, "I am not."

"Jane, do me a favor. Give that big brain of yours a rest," The intrepid assistant motioned to the sofa, "Sit down and talk to me about how you found out."

The astrophysicist slumped her shoulders in defeat as she slowly moved to the sofa. She sank down onto the cushions numbly, "Thor was convincing him to seek out his heart's desire. He said something about seeing a brother in him he once knew and if it was because of a woman, he would owe her many thanks. Loki kinda mentioned he'd be seeing her at lunch in the gardens, and then I found myself spying on him."

Darcy grinned to herself. So Loki had gotten the seal of approval from Thor without even asking for it. He'd probably throw that up in the King's face for centuries to come.

And if Loki had known that Darcy had been spying for a while...the God of Mischief knew for certain Jane had overheard every word of the conversation with Thor.

This dude really was impressive.

"So," Darcy tucked a throw pillow at her side and toyed with the decorative fringe, "Are you going to admit to yourself what you are feeling?"

"I don't think..."

"Shush!" The eager assistant demanded, "I said feeling...don't think. Just shut that brain down and listen to your heart."

Jane looked offended for a moment before she semi-shrugged, "I'm falling for my boyfriend's brother."

"Oh thank god, you've seen the light," Darcy exclaimed happily.

"Oh no!" Jane stood and started pacing, "I am not going to flit from one brother to the next. And I won't do that to Thor. He's been through too much, and I won't break his heart."

"So you will sacrifice your possible happiness for his comfort?" Darcy asked boldly as Jane stopped and looked back to her, "Are you really so in love with Thor now? Yes, you love him. Hell, we all love him. He's a cool god and he's got lightning and all that. But when it gets down to it, can you see yourself growing old with him?"

"They don't grow old."

"Humor me," Darcy shut down the scientist's attempt to argue, "Can you see happiness for you in the long term outlook?"

This time, Jane remained silent.

"I didn't think so," Darcy sighed, "Don't give up on your heart, Jane. Tell your brain to shush and listen to your feelings. I want you to be happy. And I only see a genuine smile and hear true laughter with one brother. And it ain't Thor."

The look on Jane's face was somewhere between feeling guilty but also relieved. And it looked good on the boss.

Darcy smiled at her friend, "Jane?"

"I know. I know," The astrophysicist groaned, "Break up with Thor."

"Again," Darcy added.

Jane rolled her eyes, "I know."

"So?"

"So what?"

"Why are you still standing here? Go find Lightning Boy and dump him," Darcy winked at Jane.

"It's the middle of the day. I'm not going to do that," Jane shook her head as she returned to her computer, "Tonight."

"Tonight," Darcy repeated.

The only problem was...tonight had come and went. Jane had not ended her relationship with Thor nor had Loki made any moves. At least none that Darcy could obviously pinpoint.

At the end of the week, Thor called together a gathering of all his friends and loved ones. Avengers and Asgardians alike joined together for a royal banquet, Asgardian style.

Darcy wasn't impressed by the splendor anymore or even rubbing elbows with the Avengers. They were just as full of crap as anyone else as far as she could tell...except for Captain America. He might be a true to the bone hero, but cynicism could be a bitch and it owned Darcy.

As Darcy sat through dinner, she couldn't help but notice that Jane and Thor had barely spoken to one another. Yet there they sat next to one another and remained miserable all the while.

Loki, on the other hand, had engaged Jane in conversation throughout the meal. He'd asked about her latest calculations and if she had any plans once the Bifrost was complete. She had answered him casually about the calculations before enthusiastically going on about how she would probably be on the university speaking circuit for a while.

"What a shame. You won't even take time to enjoy the fruits of your labor?" Loki asked, disappointment evident in his tone.

"What?" Jane replied with confusion.

"You could travel the Bifrost. Study other planets. See other stars," Loki suggested casually.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Brother," Thor interjected, "She knows nothing of the customs of other realms. It would be a journey frought with danger. No, she will not do her own exploring."

Jane rolled her eyes and sighed heavily, "Number one, I am not stupid. I can learn the customs of other realms. Number two, I am not some shrinking violet or damsel in distress that only needs you around to save me. And number three," She stood up and pushed away from the table, "I've lost my appetite."

"Jane..." Thor attempted to dissuade her with a lighter tone to his words as he reached for her, "Please..."

Darcy watched as her feisty boss lady stood and walked away, pulling away from Thor's fingertips with her head held high. Once Jane was out of sight, Darcy glanced to Loki.

Loki was eyeing his brother, obviously waiting for Thor to do something. Darcy suspected he was waiting for the golden prince to run after Jane to soothe her anger. Darcy could have told Loki that wasn't gonna happen. She'd seen spats like this before. Right before the first breakup.

Thor turned to her and Darcy held up her hand in a stop motion, "No, Thor. Before you even ask, I'm not getting in the middle of this again."

Thor looked like a helpless child. Darcy would feel sorry for him if she hadn't seen this act before too.

"Maybe I should see to Jane. I did suggest the rather ludicrous notion of her actually being able to use the contraption she's been toiling night and day over," Loki drawled sarcastically as he tossed his napkin upon the table, "Brother..."

Thor nodded sideways towards Loki in a defeated look. Loki stood and walked out of the banquet hall after Jane.

Darcy wasn't stupid. She knew exactly where Jane was going. Formal dress and all.

The lab.

Darcy had planned ahead. A couple of well placed security cameras complete with sound would provide tonight's entertainment. She just needed to get somewhere to enjoy the feed on her phone.

She waited as long as she dared before she slipped into the hallway, double checking to make sure she wasn't followed.

Darcy slipped into one of the fancy alcoves and plugged in her earbuds. Pulling up the main feed from the lab, she watched Jane tinkering with a device on the table. She was obviously just doing busy work while ranting.

"Oh yes, Jane just can't take care of herself and I'm too busy with my life to ever care about hers!" Jane half screamed as she mocked Thor's statements and attitude, "Well, screw that! I am not a pitiful damsel in distress," She let out her scream as she threw the device across the room.

The device busted against a wall, shattering into a million tiny pieces of plastic, wire and silicone microchips.

"I'd say that's a bit of an understatement," Loki mused with a smile from the doorway where he stood casually against the frame with his arms crossed.

"Loki," Jane gasped his name, "I didn't know anyone else was here."

"Don't worry about it. I don't know anyone my brother doesn't have that effect on every now and again," The God of Mischief said lightly, "I apologize that my innocent question caused such an uproar."

Jane looked doubtful of his apology. Still, the astrophysicist shook her head defeatedly, "When is he going to see me as an equal?"

"Never."

Even Darcy thought Loki's answer was quick.

Jane looked as if it was the answer she had expected though. She growled in frustration as she tucked a stray hair from her updo behind her ear, "How can someone so good and righteous be so...so..."

Loki approached the lab table and sat on a stool beside her, "I believe the words I most usually come to in a moment like this are 'Witless Oaf'," He nudged her assuringly with a smirk.

Jane looked like she was fighting a laugh at his gesture. She wasn't exactly succeeding however.

The astrophysicist giggled softly, "I'm not going to argue with your terminology. Seems fitting."

"In all seriousness, Jane, if my bumbling Brother is unwilling to show you the wonders of Yggdrasil, I would be willing to do so," Loki offered, his tone soft, resolute but almost hiding a question somewhere within the sentence.

Darcy knew they didn't call this guy the God of Mischief and Lies for nothing.

Jane's giggles screeched to a halt in her throat forcing her to ahem to gather herself.

Darcy knew Jane Foster's weaknesses: coconut rum, mint chocolate chip ice cream, delicately woven gently worn sweaters...

Hunky aliens...

and, most importantly...

S-C-I-E-N-C-E!

To have the chance at more than one of those things at any one time was like Kryptonite to Superman. Darcy wondered for a second if Asgardians had a Krptonite before shaking it off to study her friend's reply.

"Didn't Thor just kind of forbid that?" Jane had recovered quite nicely before she angrily added under her breath, "Asshole."

Loki couldn't suppress his smile at her added remark, "Since when has that stopped me from doing something I felt worthwhile?"

Jane was a little flustered by that question. And Darcy thought anyone would have been from the sinfully delicious smile he was aiming at the astrophysicist.

Darcy saw this for what it was. Loki was practically daring her to defy Thor and run away with him. And yet, oblivious Jane snorted.

Darcy blinked her eyes as Jane laughed, spinning around on the stool.

"Are you drunk?" Loki asked as he watched her laugh.

Jane shook her head as she stood and walked away from him, her laughter trailing off, "I must be if I just heard you propose what I think you did."

"Jane, I'm completely serious," Loki followed after her.

"No!" Darcy shouted at her phone, "Not the terrace! I couldn't get a camera out there!"

"Lucky for you, I could," Tony Stark announced at the opening to the alcove. He tapped his watch and moved a picture with sound to hover before them, "And I did."

"What? How?" Darcy stopped herself. She glowered at the billionaire, "Why?!"

"I asked him to do it," Pepper Potts stepped to lean against Tony, "It's just that we've noticed that neither Thor nor Jane are happy in their relationship. They aren't even trying, but neither one of them wants to be the bad guy to break it off again."

"So you are spying on Jane?" Darcy asked defensively.

"Just like you are, Agent 99," Tony rolled his eyes, "Long story short is that Thor and Sif have been making goo goo eyes at each other for weeks. And then we noticed that Jane seems to be making similar goo goo eyes for Loki and vice versa. We decided you shouldn't be the only one to enjoy the show."

"Really?" Darcy asked looking to Pepper for verification.

"Really," Pepper agreed, "Now shush, we're missing something here."

All three members of their spy group focused on Jane and Loki.

"What about your lady friend?" Jane asked as she stood against the railing of the terrace, enjoying the gentle cool breeze against her skin.

"Whoa, lady friend? What lady friend?" Pepper repeated, looking to Darcy

"Illusion," Darcy replied simply.

"Nice," Tony replied which earned him an elbow in the ribs from Pepper.

Darcy smiled turning her attention back to Jane and Loki.

"She and I weren't really suited," Loki answered Jane's question, matching her posture at the railing.

"In what way?" Jane's eyes desperately searched the horizon for anything to focus on, anything to keep her from looking directly at Loki.

"I want a relationship with more substance. I want a partner who not only stand beside me will also challenge me. I want to know that we will be able to share more than a few casual pleasantries over dinner for the next thousand years."

Darcy spotted two jabs at Thor in that explanation. The God of Mischief was nothing if not sassy.

"You think it's possible. To find someone to spend the rest of your life with?" Jane asked absently while staring at the horizon.

"I do," Loki replied. His eyes were fixed on Jane now in a delicate gaze which almost reached out to touch her.

Darcy sighed, "Here's where Jane's oblivious nature will kick in. Or the desperate denial she's in the middle of," She glanced to Tony and Pepper, "She's hopeless."

Pepper looked at Tony for a moment with a wry smile, "Geniuses usually are."

"I resemble that remark," Tony quipped quickly.

Back on the lab terrace, Jane was aware of Loki's gaze. She licked her lips nervously before she quickly changed the subject as music played from the banquet hall. She turned to Loki bashfully, "I'm sorry you came chasing after me. I feel like I ruined your evening. You should be dancing with the others."

"Shouldn't that apply to both of us?" He asked with a shrug, "Besides, it was my dolt of a Brother who ruined the evening. If it's any consolation, he's a horrible dancer."

"Really? We've never actually danced," Jane frowned.

"Ouch, that relationship has been doomed. Dancing is absolutely necessary," Tony noted with a cheeky grin at Pepper.

"Shut up," Pepper patted his arm playfully as she returned her attention to the terrace feed.

"Be grateful. He's horrible. He's stepped on every toe he's ever danced with. And some of the elves have a lot of toes," Loki added with a fond grin as if recalling a memory of better times. He then continued, "There's only one partner who can dance with him. Sif. And it's because she leads him," He laughed softly.

Jane shrugged, "Good. Maybe she will dance with him then."

"It would be a shame to allow this lovely night and lively music to go to waste," Loki offered his hand to Jane with a bow of courtly flourish, "May I have this dance? I'm infinitely more graceful than Thor."

"Oh for heavens..." Pepper covered her mouth to hide her smile.

"He's incredibly smooth," Darcy agreed with a smile of her own.

Jane couldn't help the giggles, "I seem to remember Fandral had a differing opinion."

"My oafish Brother was leading if you recall," Loki added, "Let me save your evening with a dance."

She placed her hand in his and shook her head with a soft laugh, "I can't believe we're dancing on a terrace in the moonlight."

"Something I should know?" Loki questioned as he eased her into a gentle dancer's embrace.

"Just every girl's dream," Darcy laughed as she rolled her eyes, "I have no idea how they do romance on Asgard but gees..."

"Nothing special I guess," Jane replied with a coy smile. Darcy could have sworn there was a slight blush to her friend's cheeks.

Loki began to lead Jane in the dance which was not unlike a quickstep but had its own Asgardian twist. Lucky for Jane, Darcy had dragged her to ballroom dance lessons to get her out of her pajamas. As it turned out, Boss Lady had rhythm.

"Speaking of dancing, we'll be missed if we don't get back," Pepper nudged Tony.

"Yeah yeah, spoil sport," Tony unclasped his watch and placed it in Darcy's hands, "I'll get that back before I leave tonight."

"Yes sir," Darcy agreed while the Billionaire and his bride walked away. She quickly refocused her attention on Loki and Jane.

The music had shifted to a slower pace. It was much more seductive and all together more intimate. Loki's left hand held Jane's right while his right hand splayed across the small of her back.

"What dance is this?" Jane asked softly as she ran her left hand along his shoulder, slowly gliding with him in the gentle rhythm.

"It's a dance of courtship. By all rights, it should be Thor holding you this way, but I can't say that this feels wrong either," Loki replied as he met and held Jane's eyes.

"Whoa..." Darcy whistled softly, studying Jane's reaction.

Jane was meeting Loki's eyes, refusing to be intimidated in the moment, "Is that what you would be doing by taking me on a tour of Yggdrasil? Courting me?"

"Score one for Jane," Darcy grinned with a smile.

Undaunted, Loki replied immediately, "If you were not involved with my Brother and you would allow me the honor, then yes."

And suddenly all of Loki's cards were on the table, and he had one hell of a hand.

Darcy would classify it as a royal flush.

Jane fell silent as she continued to glide with him, their bodies gently swaying together with the music. She continued to stare into his eyes, and Darcy knew her boss lady was head over heels with the man at the other end.

When the music ended, Loki brought Jane's hand to his lips for a tender kiss upon her skin, "Thank you for the dance."

Jane watched as Loki slowly let his fingers withdraw from hers before he bowed in a princely gesture and bid her goodnight.

Darcy studied Jane who seemed shell shocked by the entire episode. Once the doors to the lab had closed, Jane seemed to step forward to verify she was alone. Deciding she was indeed all by herself, Jane squealed in delight and spun happily in a circle.

Darcy turned over Tony Stark's watch that night confident that Jane and Thor would be history by morning.