By the time Thanos was finished with him, Loki was struggling to walk straight. Even with his seiðr he could not heal himself completely, so he was glad to be heading back to his cell. However, Nebula changed those plans for him.

"Dad, I want to fuck him after I sleep," she announced. "May I keep him for the night?"

Thanos roared with laughter. "My insatiable child! You might as well. Just be sure to allow him some rest also – I will expect him to be fresh and ready for me later."

"Of course," Nebula answered, then imperiously beckoned Loki to follow her. He stifled a sigh and tried not to limp as she led him to another asteroid.

Her room was much larger and better furnished than Loki's cell, downright homey by comparison. She had chosen muted hues of brown and beige for the fabrics of her couch and curtains, and there were potted plants of a spiky variety decorating the corners and shelves. Loki watched with clinical interest as she stripped out of her clothing and ran a sanitizing light bar over her body.

"Is there not enough water here for a bath?" he asked.

"It's too expensive. We would have to go to Xandar for that," she replied. She pulled on a loose robe before turning to him curiously. "Where you came from, did they have enough water to bathe in?"

"Yes. That, at least, was one convenience Asgard offered."

"Asgard... I've never heard of it."

"Oh? Thanos seems well acquainted with it." Loki glanced around the room. "Do you have a star chart? I would like to know where exactly I am."

"You don't know?" Nebula frowned.

"I came here by... rather unconventional means," Loki said with a chagrined smile. "The Bifröst – the Asgardian method of interstellar transportation – was destroyed, and I was caught in the rift in space-time created by the explosion."

With a spoken command, Nebula projected a three-dimensional star chart in the middle of her room. A glowing sphere appeared near the outer edge of the galaxy, indicating their location. Loki studied it for a moment, looked for key stars and markers, then crossed the room to point to a speck on the far side of the galaxy.

"This is Asgard, one of the Nine Realms over which Odin All-Father rules and the seat of his power." He paused before adding, "I was raised there as a prince, the younger son of Odin, until I learned of my true heritage recently. For whatever unfathomable and perverse reasons, Odin had taken me as a spoil of war from Jötunheim." He took a step to point to another small dot on the very edge of the galaxy. "I was the son of Laufey, king of Jötunheim, so perhaps he meant to use me as a hostage."

Nebula yawned before declaring, "Well, both of those are too far to go to just for water. If you want a bath, Xandar is here."

As she indicated a star system relatively near the Sanctuary, a musical sound came from her door.

"Who is it?" she demanded.

"It's me," Gamora's voice said through the speaker. "I brought food for both of you."

With a grunt of appreciation, Nebula let her in. "I'm starving!"

"I thought you might be," Gamora said while handing her some nutrition bars. "I saved these for you from the last shipment. Wiphof would have eaten them all otherwise."

Nebula rolled her eyes and bit into one. "He would! Useless pig. He's so fat now, Dad doesn't even want to look at him, let alone fuck him."

Loki took the bar Gamora offered him. "Is he one of your 'siblings' as well?"

Gamora nodded as Nebula scowled and continued to eat.

"How many of you are there?" Loki asked.

"Thirty-seven... eight if he decides to keep you too."

Loki grimaced. "I've no use for any more fathers. But a powerful ally... that would be another matter entirely." He regarded the two women for a moment. "Tell me about this Soul Stone Thanos is seeking."

The next morning (if there were such things as day and night in the Sanctuary) Loki felt better prepared to face his captor. He had managed to sleep out of sheer exhaustion, even while sharing Nebula's bed, but more importantly he thought he knew how to manipulate Thanos into releasing him – or, barring that, at least to lengthen his leash. Nebula had demanded another frenetic fucking session when she woke; sated, she had been drifting back to sleep when the summons came for Loki.

Author's Note: This is exactly as far as I got before being debilitated by the side effects of my new (at that time) medication – depression, thoughts of suicide, difficulty sleeping, irritability, and shortened attention span, just to name a few. After months of adjusting the dosage with no noticeable improvements, I finally got my insurance to authorize a different medication, but then the new one didn't work at all for my symptoms. Long story short, I've finally found another one that seems to be working, and I'm gradually getting my writing mojo back.

However, most of my headcanons have been blown to bits by the movies that have come out since I started writing this in 2014 (after Thor: The Dark World). I've also been much busier with work (now that I'm physically able to, thanks to the meds) and since I only have so much time and "spoons" for writing, I've decided to summarize the plot as I had envisioned it, so those of you who may be wondering will know how this was supposed to end. It feels like giving up, which I really hate to do, but I'm hoping to at least provide some closure to this story. For those of you who kept sending me notes of encouragement, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH! The past few years have been difficult, to say the least, and while I felt guilty at having abandoned this story, I was always uplifted by your kind words. :::HUGS:::

Interlude 4 continues with Thanos reading Loki's mind (while raping him again) and discovering Loki's rage and hate toward Earth – specifically, toward Jane Foster, whom he blames for taking Thor away from him and ruining all of his plans (which had included allowing Thor to return to Asgard eventually, after he'd been sufficiently humbled on Earth, if only to be Loki's sex slave). Thanos decides to send Loki after the Tesseract instead of the Soul Stone since he is already somewhat familiar with Earth. Nebula asks to go with Loki, just so she can get away from Thanos, but he denies her, saying she would be a distraction for Loki's "glorious purpose." Loki then tells Thanos that he would like to have Gamora as a reward for the successful completion of his mission, to be his consort when he rules Earth – also pointing out that Nebula would chase after him anyway, out of lust for his cock. Thanos does not consent to giving him Gamora, but she knows that Loki was trying to help her get away, so she is somewhat grateful. Thanos orders The Other to send Loki to Earth and the events of The Avengers take place. This concludes the Interlude section.

We return to the main story with Loki awaking from a nightmare/flashback of his abuse by Thanos. When the Titan had squeezed Loki's arm, turning him into his Jötun form as well as reading his mind, it had caused tremendous pain, which Loki still feels and makes it difficult for him to sleep.

Meanwhile, Clint – staying in Loki's room – doesn't know how to set the alarm on the timepiece, so he goes out into the hall to ask maybe a guard for help, but he meets Thor instead. Thor feels awkward about Clint sleeping in Loki's old bed where he and Loki used to fuck; in fact he feels horribly jealous and unsettled about Loki and Clint's relationship overall, and since the Bifröst has been repaired by the Tesseract, Thor decides to go to Earth to be closer to Jane.

Hearing of his plans, Frigga sits Thor down by Loki's cell and tells them both about Thor's true parentage – that he is Odin's son by Gaea [this is comics canon – I left hints about it earlier in this story]. Knowing that Frigga truly loves Loki just as much as Thor, not being the biological mother of either of them, helps Loki trust her more. For Thor, this is a shocking revelation, but he does not doubt Frigga's love for him, and it also helps him understand some of what Loki had gone through upon learning that he was not Odin and Frigga's biological son. Loki later discusses this with Clint, who asks him if he feels some satisfaction in finding out about Thor. Loki answers that it makes more sense now, how Frigga didn't favor either of them and how Odin favored Thor, but he admits that he sympathizes with Thor, knowing how a betrayal like this feels. Thor goes to Earth as planned.

Sometime later, Clint goes out drinking with the Fjǫðr Lið [the Asgardian military's elite archery unit, where Clint has been assigned] after work to celebrate Frækn's birthday. Clint is approached by the owner of the establishment, Svástir, who asks after Loki. News of the younger prince's pregnancy has spread quickly from the soldiers guarding the prison, who also frequent Svástir's tavern. Clint vaguely recognizes the name, and realizes (from the man's concern for Loki) that he is the former guard that Loki had fallen in love with. When he tells Svástir how Loki still remembers him with disappointment and heartbreak, Svástir admits that he had loved Loki as well, but because the prince had been so young (by Asgardian standards) and Svástir had only been a rank-and-file soldier with no impressive family or credentials, he had felt like he could not pursue Loki at that time, and had settled for a marriage arranged by his parents. He confesses that he still often thinks about Loki and only wishes him well. Clint isn't unkind, but he points out that part of the reason Loki had spiraled so out of control was because everyone he loved seemed to abandon him. They both wonder how different Loki's life might have been if only Svástir had had the courage to act on his feelings, but since there is nothing they can do to change the past, they have a drink – Svástir drinking to the safe delivery of Loki's baby, having three children himself.

Clint goes to Loki's cell to tell him he had met Svástir, but while talking about him, he finds out that Loki had never had sexual relations with the former guard. Clint wants to know who all Loki has slept with, and it's a surprisingly short list; however, he finds out about Nebula (Loki's only female partner) and then Thanos, about whom Loki is unusually reticent. Clint demands details, which Loki gives him at last, making Clint furious. Loki continues to feel defiled and unworthy despite Clint's repeated insistence that it was not his fault.

Loki stews over their situation during the long hours he is alone in the cell, and he decides to release Clint of any obligation to him – setting him free to pursue other lovers. When he tells Clint, the archer is outraged at what he considers is the result of Loki's low opinion of him, and they have their first spat. Later, Loki envisions Clint being charmed by Sif, with a flashback to how she had rejected Loki in favor of Thor when they were younger. However, Loki is mollified when Clint continues to visit his cell, insisting, "I just wish I could touch you." Frigga sees their frustration and begs Odin to do something about it – for the sake of the baby's health if nothing else – but Odin remains noncommittal.

Meanwhile, Tony and Bruce figure out how to set up Skype with Asgard (using radio waves like Thor had used to contact Earth [don't ask me how it works – maybe there's a wormhole somewhere]), using the StarkTunes 3000 they had sent with Clint as a receiver. Loki is startled when their voices come through it, but he is so happy to have somebody to talk to that he is downright polite, explaining why he has it and not Clint. The Asgardian scientists create similar receivers so Thor and Clint can talk to their respective family and friends whenever they wish. Tony teases them both with "ET phone hooome!" but he also (much to everyone else's surprise) takes time to talk with Loki, entertaining him with gossip about Bruce and Steve's ongoing "scientific experiment – my ass" (which is progressing quite well) and other Midgardian trivia. Frigga uses the device to ask Fury to send the footage from Loki's room when they had visited Earth, which she shows to Odin, hoping to persuade him to let Loki out of prison. Odin refuses to do so, citing that he cannot go easy on Loki just because he's pregnant and especially not just because he loves him. Frigga demands that he at least go and talk with Loki, but when Odin finally does go down, he overhears Loki talking with Tony and realizes (with chagrin but not anger) that Loki's confinement is not as horrible as it ought to be. Odin leaves without Loki knowing he had been there. Thor also finds out about those recordings and insists on seeing them; when he does, he realizes for the first time how much he had hurt Loki when they were young by giving up their relationship so easily.

At this point the events of Thor: The Dark World start to take place. Jane becomes possessed by the Aether so Thor takes her to Asgard. Frigga informs Loki and Clint what has happened. When Kursed (Algrim) breaks free in the dungeons, Loki persuades him to let him out also, saying, "I do not wish to birth my child in this hole! I can lead you where you need to go – I know all the secret passages of this palace." Loki helps him destroy the force field, blasting the guards out of the way (and thereby saving their lives), then leads him to the great hall to get to the royal quarters where he knows Jane is. Once in hall, Loki creates multiple illusions of himself to get away from Kursed, himself running straight toward Clint, who had rushed down from his post on a tower to the balcony of the great hall. Clint shoots back an implosion bomb meant for Loki and destroys Kursed.

The Asgardians forces regroup for a moment, Clint hurrying down a wire to hug Loki – "Don't you ever scare me like that again! You're carrying our baby!" – and then Odin accuses Loki of being in league with the Dark Elves, which Clint hotly refutes, getting right in the All-Father's face. Loki points out that the Dark Elves want Jane, so they (including Thor) rush to Frigga's quarters where they find Malekith fighting the Queen. Thor's lightning, Loki's seiðr, and Clint's arrow all hit Malekith simultaneously, killing him and saving Frigga [because this is my fic, dammit!]. Although the palace is damaged by the ship, very few Asgardians were actually hurt, and since the dungeons are wrecked, Loki is allowed to stay with Clint temporarily in his own room (though with manacles – cue sexy times!).

Thor tells Loki that he has seen the recordings, declares his feelings for him, and begs for his forgiveness. Loki is outraged about the recordings but, when pressed, grudgingly admits everything. The two brothers are reconciled, and Loki is even able to wish Thor happiness with Jane, who has agreed to stay on Asgard.

Finally able to be with Clint at least in their chambers, Loki settles down and gives birth to a healthy (seemingly mostly Human) baby boy with blue spots above his buttocks. Odin surprises everyone by revealing that he has had special chambers prepared which would contain Loki's powers but be much more amenable for raising Heideral (also in case he comes into his powers suddenly). Jane, holding Heideral, hints at Thor that she would not mind having a baby herself.

Epilogue: Clint and Loki move to Earth with Heideral, who shows some magical abilities but is able and content to hide them while at school. Clint goes back to work for the Avengers while Loki tends to their horse ranch, breeding Svadilfari with Midgardian mares. A few years later they have a daughter, Megin, who has stronger seiðr than her brother, so eventually she is homeschooled by Loki and Frigga. Thor and Jane visit with their children, as does even Odin, who purportedly comes to meet with Fury (his "awesome eyepatch twin" according to Tony) to discuss intergalactic politics.

THE END! Thank you for your patience!