Surprise! I didn't even know I was going to write this chapter. I just wrote down some parts that I cut out of the original story. Enjoy!

After Stella's mother has dinner with Loki

"I can't believe he didn't know your dad and I aren't married!" was the first thing Stella's mother said after Loki had gone.

"Really? Out of everything else, that's what's bothering you?"

"Well it's a pretty important thing to know about you. Or does he only talk about himself?"

"No, we just never talked about it. Like I said, family is kind of a sensitive subject for him."

"What could possibly be so bad?"

"Ugh! I didn't want to tell this story. I'll give you the short version: his birth father abandoned him as a baby. Odin and his wife adopted him, but Odin just wanted him so he could make peace with a rival realm. Odin always played favorites with Thor when they were kids, so Loki was really jealous for a while, but Thor's less of a jerk now. And on top of all that, his mom died recently. She was the only one who really cared for him as a kid."

"Sounds like the plot of a soap opera."

"Mom! It's my fiancé's life story!"

"Jeez! Can't I have a little laugh now and then?"

"I thought you wanted a serious discussion!"

"I do. I can't help it that your boyfriend's life came straight out of Days of Our Lives."

Lightning struck near the house.

"Oh come on, Stella, I'm just trying to lighten the mood."

"You're doing it the wrong way."

"If it makes you feel any better, I'd be just as judgmental to your fiancé if he was from Earth."

"Thanks"

"I just want you to be careful around him."

"Mom, if he was going to hurt me, why would he go through the trouble of marrying me first?"

"People are crazy like that. He might think he cares about you one moment, and then totally lose his temper the next. He doesn't have a perfect history of mental stability."

"I know, Mom, but you just have to understand that he's getting better. It's not like it's all going away over night, but we're making progress. His family is starting to work things out. They might pretend they don't care about each other, but I know they do. Thor could never hate his little brother."

"Okay, just don't make me a grandma any time soon, and promise you'll come home now and then."

"Okay."

And they shared a hug. "I love you, Stella."

"I love you, Mom."

Odin orders Fandral to kill Loki...

"What am I summoned for, Your Majesty?" asked Fandral.

"Guards, I wish to speak with Fandral in private," said Odin, and the guards left the throne room. They were all alone. "Fandral, you have pledged your life to the service of Asgard, have you not?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"And you have sworn to obey the orders from the throne, no matter what those orders may be?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Then it is time to test your loyalty. I have a task for you which requires you to betray those who have fought by your side since your first battle."

"What is this task, All-Father," Fandral asked nervously.

Odin stood from his throne and came to Fandral with a box in hand. He opened the box and pulled out a syringe full of bright orange liquid. "This is a device used with Midgardian medicine. As you can see, it is now full of the venom of fire."

"I don't understand."

"I want you to take this poison and bring it to Loki."

"Pardon me, Your Majesty?"

"I want you to take this poison and kill Loki."

"Your Majesty, Loki has made mistakes in the past, but I don't believe they are worthy of death."

"He is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocent lives. I shall not live another day knowing I've let such treachery go unpunished."

"Your Majesty, I beg of thee, please don't ask me to commit such an act which will harm my friends."

"You will do as you're told. That is a direct order from the throne. I want it done in secret, tonight."

With a grave nod, Fandral said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Loki's injury on Muspelheim...

Loki finally had his chains removed. "It's been so long since I could feel my wrists," he said to the guard next to him with a snarky grin.

"Loki, with that mouth, they might just send you back to the dungeons," said Thor, half-jokingly.

"It's not my fault no one enjoys my jests."

Sif and the Warriors Three came in with their armor and swords.

"Before we leave for Muspelheim, I've something to say to you—" Sif began to Loki.

"Let me guess: you'll kill me if I betray Thor. Have we not done this before?"

"I was going to say 'I'm glad you're alive,' but yes, if you betray him, I'll kill you."

"I'll have you know, that is not my intention."

"Are we going to stand and babble, or are we going to bring the might of Asgard to Muspelheim?" boasted Volstagg.

They rode by horse to the Bifrost, where Heimdall brought them to the fiery realm of Muspelheim.

The ground beneath them was warm. The sky was dark red, and a smoking volcano sat on the horizon. Massive boulders were scattered across the landscape.

"Where are those rebels?" asked Volstagg.

And he got his answer. The rebels ambushed them from behind the boulders. The resistance was small, only five or so in number. Swords clashed. Thor swung his hammer, and the rebels were tied up in no time. Alas, Loki stood to close to one rebel in particular. Before anyone could react, the rebel drew out a bright red knife and put it in Loki's side. He nearly screamed as the poison burned through his veins.

"Loki!" screamed Thor. He ran to his little brother's aid. Without thinking, he bashed in the rebel's skull. Thor caught Loki before he collapsed.

"Brother, we're going to heal you. You'll be alright," he said to Loki. "Heimdall!"

The Bifrost instantly shrouded around them. Instantly after appearing back on Asgard, Thor applied a healing stone to Loki's wound, but the venom still flowed within him. Loki was only half-conscious by this point, and was swiftly brought to the healers in the castle.

"Loki, don't drift away from me now!" said Thor. He had to keep Loki awake. He could not bear to see Loki die for Asgard again.

The healers began their work and shooed Thor out. They took Loki away to douse the fire within him.

A few of hours later, Thor was permitted to see Loki. He was told that his condition was stable, yet he was very, very weak. Loki was lying in bed with his eyes closed, but when he heard Thor enter, his eyes fluttered open. Thor was concerned by Loki's heavy breathing.

"I hope you don't plan on making a habit of this, Loki," Thor said, trying to cheer up his brother.

"Thor," he struggled with each word, "I need you to do something for me."

"Anything, Brother."

"I need you to go to Midgard. There's a woman, not like any other of that realm."

"Will this woman be able to heal you?"

"No, she is my love. We are to be married soon."

Thor nearly lost his ability to speak. "Married? Is that what you've been doing while we thought you dead?"

If Loki had not been so feeble, he would've laughed at Thor's reaction, but he merely said, "Her name is Stella. Please bring her here. I need her."

"Loki, I don't know if I can—"

"Please, Thor," and those were the last words he said before he passed out.

So now it all made sense. The letter Thor had found in Loki's study was for this Midgardian Stella. This gave some relief to Thor. He had not seen Loki's capacity to love for many ages. Perhaps this lady could help Loki heal. If there was any glimmer of hope, anything he could do to help Loki, he would do it all. Thor immediately went to Heimdall and asked him to find the Midgardian woman called Stella.

...And you know how the rest of the story goes :)