Author's Note: I cannot believe it has been over a year since I started writing these stories. Thanks to all the readers who continue to read and follow my tales of Loki, Thor, and all the others.

Chapter 1: Onset

• Asgard•

Loki woke up. His gaze wandered over to Katirya, who lay sleeping. She moaned softly in her sleep as she as she felt the warmth of his body disappear as he stood up and moved to the balcony overlooking Asgard. He watched as she pulled the covers back over her body.

He turned to gaze over the city. The sun was just beginning to rise, spreading its warm glow. His mind flashed back to that day a year ago, when they returned from Earth

"What happened?" Sif shouted when she saw Loki carrying Katirya, blood gushing from a wound.

"Jane Foster," Loki snarled as he rushed towards the healers.

Thor followed on his heels. "Loki, I think you were rash back there."

"Rash?" Loki kicked open the door to the healers. "You call this rash? EIR!"

Eir rushed out and taking one look at Loki, directed him to one of the rooms. "In here, my King."

Loki laid an unconscious Katirya on the bed. "She was shot, with an arrow. Thor pulled it out, but…"

"I can see the wound," Eir said as she activated the Soul Forge. "It looks like it was clean, no poisons or anything. But…"

"But what?" Loki demanded, staring at the imagines the Soul Forge was projecting above his wife's body.

"Nothing, everything is fine. It missed the baby."

"Baby? She is pregnant? Why did she not say anything?" Loki shouted.

"I do not believe she knew yet," Eir replied as she pointed to a spot on the image. "Here"

"The baby is fine? Will Kiri be okay?" he asked impatiently.

"She will be fine. Let me just tend this wound. It missed everything vital," Eir pushed him gently away. "Go, sit outside for a few minutes."

"No, I will stay here until she awakens."

"As you wish," Eir began tending the wound, calling on her assistants for supplies. Thirty minutes later, she smiled at Loki. "There, all better. See?"

Loki inspected the wound, seeing it had been properly closed and dressed. "And the baby?"

"The baby…"

"Baby?" Katirya stirred. "I am pregnant again? What happened? Did I faint?"

"Do you not remember?" Loki asked her.

Katirya closed her eyes for a few moments. "Ah, yes. Now I recall. We went down to Earth." She started to sit up.

"No, be careful," Loki put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her forehead. "Rest. You need it."

Katirya lay back against the pillow. "I would prefer to rest in our bed, my love." She looked over at Eir. "Can you tell if it is a boy or a girl yet?"

"It is too soon, my lady. Perhaps next week," Eir replied.

A touch on his arm brought him back to the present. He reached out and pulled his wife into his arms. "Good morning."

"Hmmm, what are you thinking?" Katirya asked him.

"Now, how did you know I was thinking?" he quipped.

"You are frowning." She reached up and traced the furrows on his brow. "See?"

He grabbed her fingers and kissed them lightly. "Well, I am not frowning now."

She smiled. "I see. But you were thinking."

"Yes, of that day we came back from Earth last year."

"Ah, that day. I still cannot believe that I missed him changing his target from you to me."

Loki snorted. "Right. There was so much going on that day, I doubt any of us would have seen it. He had his aim on me, the aliens were attacking... I still wonder what caused him to switch?"

"Jane Foster," Katirya replied bluntly. "Did Thor return yet?"

"No," Loki sighed softly. "I still think we should have stayed out of it."

"Impossible. And you know it. If that army had defeated Earth…" she left the rest unsaid.

"I know, who knows where they would have gone next." He leaned over and kissed her. "And you insisted we send aid. Even after what they did to you."

Katirya sighed in pleasure. "Hmm? Oh, that? Forget it. And Thor managed quite well. I think it was for the best to send him. Now, kiss me again," she commanded.

"With pleasure," Loki responded.

o~O~o

"Honestly, Loki. Tony has this marvelous new weapon that I think we can adapt to our technology. You must talk to him about it," Thor expounded as they were eating breakfast two days later.

"Well, I see you have spent your time well on Earth this time," Loki replied. "Perhaps we can look into it."

"No, you have to go see it," Thor insisted. "Tony wants you to see it."

Katirya entered the room carrying their youngest daughter Runa. The twins and Kai trailed her closely. Loki rose and pulled a chair out for his wife. "And how is my charming wife this fine morning?"

"Wonderful." She placed Runa in a small bed adjacent to their table and then took her seat. Once the children were seated, she smiled up at her husband and patted his seat. "Sit, my love. Now, how are the eggs?"

"Excellent!" Loki exclaimed as he resumed his seat. "Thor was just telling me I must go down to Earth and see some fancy new weapon Stark has created."

"Hmmm, haven't we been invited to some event coming up?" Katirya asked as her plate was set in front of her."

"Yes, we have." Loki frowned at the heaping plate. "Eating a lot, aren't we?"

Katirya laughed. "Yes. Runa eats as much as the twins did together! I can barely keep up with her. Now, about this new weapon, why don't you go see it?"

"Well, you and I have never exactly been on good terms with Stark and his friends to begin with, and…"

"Forget about what happened last year. I told you, Barton was not at fault. And quite frankly, neither was Jane," Katirya had noticed Thor's uncomfortable look when the topic was broached.

"Jane was…" Thor began.

"Not herself. We have gone over this before. She is not in her right mind through no fault of her own. I do not blame her, and Barton only reacted to what was happening," Katirya stopped him before he continue his litany of excuses. "Thor, I have told you, it is not your fault either. We do not know why Thanos chose her, but he did. Now, until she is willing to see me, to see if I can help her, we cannot do anything for her."

"So all the more reason I should not go to Earth," Loki interjected.

"But Tony wants you to see this," Thor said.

"Are you certain?" Loki asked his brother.

"I am. He specifically asked me to bring you back."

Loki looked at Katirya. "What do you think?"

"Go. Tony Stark seems to be willing to make amends," Katirya said. "I can forgive them, can you not?"

Loki sighed. "I suppose, if you insist. Personally I prefer to remain here."

"I am certain. Like I said, it appears they are trying to make amends for their actions. This invitation is proof of that, plus we agreed to go to that event in two weeks, did we not?" Katirya replied.

"Then I shall go," Loki said reluctantly.

"Excellent! We shall be back before supper!" Thor grinned.

~œ~ Earth ~œ~

"What do you think?" Tony asked as he watched Loki handle the new weapon.

Loki lifted one eyebrow. "Intriguing, and I believe Thor is correct. If we adapt this to our technology it would be even more powerful."

Stark grinned from ear to ear. "We'll crush those aliens!"

Loki sighed. "Perhaps. We still need to figure out who is behind all this. The attacks on Earth have been minor from what my brother tells me. Heimdall has indicated there is a huge gathering of forces in the Dark Nebula."

"Minor? You call those attacks minor? They took out half of Iowa, not that Iowa is important in the grand scheme of things. I wonder why they chose that place though? Mostly cows and cornfields," Stark rambled on. "So who are these new forces? Any worse than the cow killers?"

"Skrulls, Dire Wraiths, and any Chitauri who are still alive are joining every day," Thor added. "Earth is bound to be their primary target. If we can get these weapons ready in time, they will be in for a big surprise."

"Why Earth?" Stark asked. "Why not Asgard instead?"

"You are inferior," Loki replied.

"Inferior?" Stark snapped. "We're ready for these creeps! Send them on!"

"Sir?" Jarvis interrupted. "The others have arrived."

"Others?" Loki asked.

"The other Avengers. You know, Barton, Natasha, those guys," Tony answered. "I, uh, think it might be wise if they don't find you here right now. Sorry, pal. I know I invited you down here, but Barton is still kinda mad at you."

"Mad? At me?" Loki's eyebrow crept upwards. "Why is that? I am not the one who attacked Katirya."

"Well, you did kinda knock his socks off that day. He's not quite gotten over that, despite what your brother keeps telling him."

"Then, I suppose I shall leave. Thor? Are you returning as well?" Loki asked his brother.

"I will be back before supper. I want to speak further with Dr. Banner about my idea." Thor looked at Stark. "If that is acceptable with you?"

Tony shrugged. "Hey, I don't care what you do. Just figure out a way to make these things more powerful and I'm fine. I've done all I can, I think."

Loki looked at him curiously. "You think? You mean you are not sure?"

"Well, what I meant is, with what I have available here. From what Thor tells me, if I had access to say, your technology, I bet I could do a lot more. And if I could bring along Erik Selvig and Dr. Banner… well," he grinned cheekily at Loki. "The possibilities are endless."

"Indeed?" Loki looked back at his brother. "Then bring them along for dinner as well. I shall inform Kiri to expect guests."

"Oh, no! I didn't mean today. I still have a few bugs to work out on these. After our New Year's bash. Okay?" Stark spoke up quickly, stalling his visit to Asgard.

"If you insist. Now, if you will excuse me," Loki turned and disappeared.

"Damn, how does he do that?" Stark asked.

Thor laughed. "You will have to ask him that one."

Author's note: A year ago I started writing what I thought was going to be a simple story, 10-20 chapters or so. Alliance was the first story in what has become a series. This is the sixth story in that series. If you are new to my stories, I suggest starting with Alliance. There are also several one-shots that have been written that contain many of these characters. And, I have not gotten through the outline I created, so expect more to come!

These stories are all my creations based on some things that captured my attention while watching "Thor: The Dark World". It is my story of what happened after the movie ended. I have no intentions of linking these stories to any new movies that may come out (e.g. "Thor 3" or any Avengers movies). It is my fanfiction, and I write it because I enjoy writing it. I hope you enjoy reading it as well.