She awoke the next morning with the first grey fingers of dawn. Melanie lay in the strange, but comfortable, bed and stared across the room towards the still-open door which lead to the balcony. The light, warm breeze had the gauzy curtains floating gently, and it seemed to be beckoning her. Suddenly, Melanie had to see the sunrise here, in this beautiful place would she would never see again.

Loki was still a sleeping lump on his side of the bed, she couldn't see much of him beyond some hair sticking out wildly at the top of his bedding. Easing herself from bed, Melanie padded as quietly as she could over to Loki's closest and stepped within, swiftly locating the luscious green robe she'd placed within the night before.

Belting it closed around her waist, Melanie walked around the foot of the bed and towards the balcony door. The sky opened up above her when she set her feet outside, and for a moment she was nearly dizzy. It was so huge, so lovely, it felt like it couldn't possibly be real. She felt as insignificant as Loki had said she was, and lowered herself, speechless, to sit on the small padded bench near the railings.

Her eyes were wide as the absolutely dazzling array of colour hit them. She was having a nearly overwhelming time processing the sight of a sunrise on Asgard. The sky was streaked with colour, rosy hues, brilliant oranges, soft yellow, splashes of gold, and other colours. Colours she wasn't even certain she could properly identify. It left her feeling breathless.

Melanie folded her arms on the railing, and rested her chin on them, staring up in wonder. Does anyone else here see this? She thought in amazement. New Mexico had some pretty spectacular sunrises and sunsets, especially away from the cities, and she enjoyed them for the pretty things that they were. But this…. This was something so entirely differently; she was learning, in awe, that you could feel a sunrise. At least on Asgard.

The sun's arrival warmed the air, awoke the songbirds, and stirred life into the city and palace below. Melanie felt drugged by it, drugged by the colours, addicted to the vision, lulled by the feeling of the experience. She stayed curled up on the bench, head on her arms as she took deep breaths of the air, watching the clouds forming across the lightly pink-streaked sky. Loki's robe was comfortably tucked all around her, and she had a moment of pure and total contentment.

Part of her thought the reason these Asgardians had always kept humans away must be because this place was enough to turn her little mind into an addict. She felt that if she had to sit here and watch this world around herself, for the rest of her life that she'd be alright with that.

"What are you doing?" She heard Loki ask her, his voice softer than usual. She lifted her head and turned to look at him, not rising from her seat. "I wanted to watch the sunrise," she replied.

"And? What did you think?" Loki questioned her quietly, closing the distance to stand before her. His eyes arrested hers in their gaze as she waved her hand lightly at the sky.

"I've never seen anything like it," she replied, "It was… I saw, well I felt..." her voice trailed off as she found she wasn't really capable of describing it properly. Loki brought a hand up to her face and wiped away a couple of tears which must have found their way out while she watched.

"I see," his voice came out quietly. His hand paused on her face after wiping away the last tear and Melanie didn't move, enjoying the feeling of his large, cool hand cupping the side of her face.

"Would you like to come inside now?" He asked her, his expression restful. She looked back and forth between his eyes and wondered what he was thinking. Nodding, she climbed to her feet and followed him inside. He walked nearer to the center of the room and paused, his back to her. Tilting her head slightly to one side, she watched his hands open and close into fists at his side a couple of times.

Part of her was still drugged by the sunrise, by the colours. The other part of her was keenly aware that she was leaving today, and that meant no more sunrises here, but also, and perhaps most poignantly, no more Loki. It surprised her how much she suddenly disliked that idea.

Slowly she approached him from behind, but he didn't turn to look at her until she slipped her hand into one of his. He turned and looked down at where their hands were joined, and then up to her eyes. She took a breath. He was so very handsome, and his eyes were so incredibly brilliant in the daylight filtering through the curtains.

They each turned to face each other, and she reached her other hand up slowly, to touch the side of his face. When her fingers made contact with his cheek, he closed his eyes, his mouth flattening into a line. Melanie slowly explored the planes of his face with her fingertips. His skin was smooth, slightly cool to the touch, and utterly blemish free. She tucked a dark lock of his hair behind his ear, and then ran her fingertips lightly across his face.

When she came to his lips, she paused, and his eyes came open. His grip on her other hand tightened infinitesimally as she ran her thumb over his lips, which, she noted, were warmer than the rest of him. He was much taller than her, and at this point, if it were Eli, she simply would have flung herself at him like a flying squirrel.

She wanted Loki to come to her though, and removed her thumb from his mouth, cradling one side of his face in her hand. Still he didn't move, seeming to enjoy being near her, but not doing anything else. She removed her hand from his gentle grip and his face, deciding she would take the lead here if he was going to be skittish.

She reached for the belt on the robe and easily untied it, letting it fall to the floor. She didn't take her eyes from his as she began undoing the buttons on the shirt that she wore. When it also joined the puddled robe at her feet, she saw Loki's gaze tighten, grow hotter. Left only in her underwear, Melanie tucked a thumb under each side of them, and smoothly eased them over her hips.

She wondered if he could hear her heart. It was pattering away frantically in her chest. She stood utterly naked in front of him, possibly the most bold and brazen thing she had ever done in her life. She wanted him so badly, that she felt like she might explode into a thousand pieces if he didn't do something. He stood still in front of her, though his gaze did not remain so; his eyes wandered all over her.

He finally met her eyes again, and she tried very hard to look calm and confident, though a distant part of her mind told her she definitely must look nervous and horny.

"You," he began, before closing his eyes and swallowing, "You don't need to do this." He opened his eyes again and she saw a muscle in his jaw twitch.

"I want to though," she replied quickly, "Loki, I'm literally standing naked in front of you, if this isn't permission, then I don't know what is."

"For the record," he told her, reaching for her, his fingers getting lost in a tangle of her dark hair, "This is probably a very bad idea." She nodded. His other hand moved to her shoulder, resting on the bare skin there gently, his thumb stroking over her collar bone.

The hand in her hair tightened and she tilted her chin up slightly. Mild impatience flowed over her when he still didn't make a move for her. "Are you going to kiss me or not, you big chicken?" She demanded, frustrated and full of wanting. His smile turned wolfish at that, and he finally, finally bent to her, his arms coming around her, pulling her closer to him. He spoke to her again, his lips so close to hers she could feel his next words.

"I told you," he purred, "I always have them begging for –" She cut him off abruptly by thrusting her own hands up into his hair and closing the gap between their lips herself. She mauled his mouth with her lips, her tongue. They became a wild snarl of hands and limbs and mouths. His clothes parted from his frame as his hands came beneath her behind, boosting her up.

He carried her to the bed while she attacked his neck, and when the world tipped and she was suddenly on her back beneath him, she laughed. Mistake or not, this was happening, and at least in her mind, was long overdue. Just has she had felt with the sunrise this morning, she knew she'd likely never be back here, with him, again.

She was excited by his body, so different than what she was used to. To be fair, he seemed pretty into hers. She smiled at him when he looked up at her again. "Hi," she whispered stupidly, not really sure what else to say. He rolled his eyes, and she felt his cool fingers meet up with her most decidedly warmer areas. Melanie arched her back and let out a soft sound. "Hello," he murmured back, before moving on.

He was praising her breasts with his lips and tongue, and she felt weird tingles following the movements of his hands, as they explored her skin. "Are you using space magic during sex?" She managed to gasp out, and he paused, lifting his mouth from her. He smiled at her, a huge grin and she laughed, propping herself up on her elbows to look at him.

"Of course, I am," he replied easily, "Now don't interrupt me again."

"Yeah, of course, back to work then," Melanie gulped air and flopped back down on her back. She wasn't sure how long they spent together in his gigantic bed after that, but she was sure not to interrupt him again.

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

Much, much later, they both sat chest deep in his huge bathing tub, her back leaning up against his chest. His was lazily drawing wet patterns on her arm with one finger, while she sat dreamily against him, exhausted. He'd known that humans didn't have even a third of the stamina he did, but he was still impressed with how hard she'd tried to keep up as she became more and more worn out.

Adorable, really, he thought to himself. She murmured something unintelligible, and he realized that the warm bath water had lulled her to sleep. He tightened his arms around her and briefly considered waking her up again. His hands were mere inches from places he knew would instantly arouse a reaction in her. Loki didn't move though. He enjoyed the slight weight of her pressed against his front, the warm aliveness of simply holding her in his arms.

Such foolish sentiment, he chastised himself, you cannot keep her. He didn't want to keep her, not really – but he would have liked to have a better way to see her whenever he felt like it. Gently, he tilted her to the side and gazed down at her face. She was quite lovely, he could see why that oaf on Midgard was so enchanted by her.

He would have to return her to Earth, today. And then the oaf could have her again. It filled him with irritation. He wanted to wake her up, force a promise from her that she would never allow another to touch her. Fool. He knew she'd likely just glare at him, her dark eyes, depthless and snapping. A sure way to make her do something was to tell her not to do it in the first place.

Loki squeezed his arms a little more tightly around her and felt her mutter something as she shifted around in the water. It was an interesting sensation, her warm, wet body pressed up against his own in the water. Her bottom positioned right in between his legs.

"Wake up darling," he urged her then, his fingers gliding down under the water, sliding over her stomach and downwards. She gasped and came awake very quickly. "Loki," she whispered urgently, "You're going to kill me, you know that?" Melanie began to squirm from his ministrations underwater and he leaned his head down, to press his face into her neck.

Her pulse was bumping along quickly, just beneath her jaw, and he licked the spot.

"Of course I do," he assured her, in between small, biting kisses along her jaw, "That's the point."

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

Later, dressed in her own clothing, Melanie stood somewhat forlornly in the middle of Loki's huge bedroom, knowing the time had come. He was gathering up the notes he'd made the night before, focused on the task of doing this correctly. Considering the terrifying experience that arriving here had been, she appreciated the effort for accuracy on his part.

She crossed her arms over her chest, cupping each elbow with the opposite hand, while she watched him. Finally, tucking away the last piece of paper, he straightened and met her eyes from across the room. A fleeting look of regret passed over his features, before they smoothed out into haughty indifference again.

Loki waggled a hand out in her direction. "Come here Melanie," he ordered her, "We must go." She swallowed and made her way across the room. Her feet felt heavy. Which was strange to her because as beautiful as Asgard was, it was another planet and she really wanted to be back on Earth.

You don't want to stay here, she lectured herself, so why is this so goddamn hard? She took his hand from where it was extended to her, and he pulled her quickly into his arms. Her heart leapt for a moment at the gesture, until the air shimmered and dissolved in front of her, and they were suddenly outdoors, in some clearing in a forest.

Melanie let out a little yip of fear at the sudden setting change, and flinched in his arms, gripping tightly at his clothing. The sensation had been a disorienting and frightful one, and she thought for a moment she would fall from his grip and land somewhere in the void of space.

Loki chuckled darkly at her reaction and gently pushed her away. "Leave me to my work now, little one," he directed her, his brow drawing down as he pointed a finger at her, "I mean it – this time, do not move, and do not interfere."

She licked her lips and nodded. He took a breath, staring at her for a moment longer, before turning away to the clearing, crouching down gracefully to begin drawing designs in the dirt. Melanie again hugged her arms around herself, nervous about the journey she was about to make alone. More nervous about the goodbye.

The sappy part of her longed for some romantic, sentimental goodbye full of oaths and emotions. The other part of her wanted to tear this goddamn band aid off abruptly, and just toss herself into the split. She didn't want to stay, but she didn't want to leave him quite yet, and not just because she had seriously never had an experience like today in her entire life (sorry Eli). He fascinated the hell out her, and frustrated her so badly all at once. She really did want to smack him most of the time, and then following it up with a kiss.

Strangely, she didn't want him to come back with her either. Her life in New Mexico did not mesh with him at all. So I can't and won't stay, and he can't and won't go, she mused, frustrated by the contradictions. She wanted him here and now, forever – not on Asgard, but these past couple of days, she wanted these days again and again.

Melanie turned her face up to the sky, relishing the beauty of this place while she still could. She wished she could have filmed this entire endeavor, start to finish, to relive whenever she wanted. Memory was so unreliable.

"What if I forget you?" She blurted out. Loki didn't turn to her as he replied, "Then you'll no longer remember me." She made a face at the back of head, irritated suddenly.

"Maybe that's a good thing, you ass," she muttered. He chuckled and finally climbed to his feet, brushing dirt from his knees. He turned to her and grinned when he saw her annoyed face. He gestured to her with a hand.

"Come here, my surly little one," he told her, his features teasing. Melanie rolled her eyes, but swallowed hard as she approached him. He took her hand and drew her to his chest, holding her there for a moment. She realized he was kissing the top of her head and felt a strange little twist in her chest.

"This will not be like last time," he whispered into her hair, "It will be much easier for you." She nodded and turned her face to look up at him. He still gripped her in his arms as he looked back and forth between her gaze.

"You will have to stand in the certain of that shape behind me," he told her quietly, "You will stand perfectly still as I make the transfer."

"Will it be like falling again?" Her voice soft and worried. He shook his head and ran a hand down the side of her head, cupping her chin finally, holding her there. "No," he reassured her, "You will stand still and your arrival will be sudden and painless."

"Ok," she told him, "I'll trust you this one time." She smiled at him then and he rolled his eyes before lowering his face to hers, kissing her. They stayed twined together for a few moments before he pulled away. He led her over to the intricate pattern of shapes he'd drawn on the ground and pointed at one that looked like a circle with highly embellished edges.

"Stand in the center of that," he told her. She moved the few steps over to it and stepped easily into the confines of the pattern. She was almost panting with fear, terrified to be doing this alone. "Loki," she managed, her voice a nearly raspy whine, "I'm afraid."

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. "I promise you that everything will be fine," he told her smoothly and calmly when his eyes re-opened. She nodded and didn't look away from his gaze.

He began to speak some words and she could feel the ground beneath her feet change in density. It didn't feel like hard packed earth beneath her feet anymore, it felt like she had no feet. The sensation terrified her and she refused to look down, instead not breaking her connection with Loki's own intense gaze.

He stopped speaking and swallowed. "Goodbye, Melanie," he told her calmly. She managed a wobbly smile for him, terror and longing racing together through her veins. "Goodbye, Loki," she replied. Then the world ceased to exist for her.

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

30 Years Later

He knew that imbecile was locked up with whomever Earth considered to be their toughest guards; he'd visited his brother himself, to taunt him.

He didn't return at once to Asgard, choosing instead to revisit old memories. When he arrived in the place he had dropped into so long ago, he could feel the pull of the doorway to his own home. He knew he was there, but nothing else looked the same. The structures now were larger, no longer on wheels, with greenery in their yards, shiny cars parked before them. The roadways were finished, cleaner, less dusty.

Testing the connection to the portal, he knew he was standing in the right area, but the little hovel which had once stood here was long gone. He stood on the walkway out front of the tidy little house in its place, and wondered what the chances were that she still lived here.

He walked up to the door and knocked smartly. He knew he was at least on the right track when the door was opened by a man living somewhere in between middle age and old age. The man was still strong and thick-set. He still had all his same sandy brown hair, though some was tinged towards grey.

"Ah, the oaf lives," Loki spoke in greeting. The man's eyebrows crinkled together in confusion. "Excuse me?" He asked incredulously, "Can I help you?"

"Yes, you can," Loki said dangerously, taking a step forward, "Where is Melanie?" The oaf's features settled. He turned his head and shouted down the hallway behind him, "Mel! You got a visitor! Some kid, probably from the university."

When a woman appeared at the other end of the hallway, he wasn't sure if this was the right person or not. The completely shocked look on her face told him he was probably correct.

"Thanks honey," she said faintly to the oaf, coming to stand at the door. Loki's eyes roamed her face and she gripped the doorway tightly. The oaf meandered down the hallway away from them and Loki waited until he disappeared to lock eyes with Melanie again.

She had changed, time had seen to that. Her hair was still thick, worn long, but shot through with silver. Her face was changed, lines in places where there had been none before, glasses resting on her nose. Her golden tanned skin was slightly darker, her chin and cheeks a little thinner than they'd been before; she no longer possessed the rosy smoothness of rounded youth.

She was small still, her waist a little thicker, her breasts heavier looking beneath her shirt. Her small hands clenched at the doorframe until her knuckles went white, and he thought she might pass out.

"Loki," she finally breathed, "I can't believe you've… I mean, you're back and …" He smiled at her loss for words, vainly pleased at her continued astonishment of him.

"I have returned," he assured her smoothly. Her brow suddenly drew together tightly and she hauled off and slapped him across the face as hard as she possibly could.

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

It felt good. He'd stood there and roved her face and body for an uncomfortably long time, clearly, openly judging her – as if he had any right to view her so intimately, to measure her worth in his own eyes. Hitting him felt good. Her hand stung terribly afterwards, but the look on his face was well worth it.

"Won't you come in and sit down," she offered acidly, and his angry eyes met hers. "Not if you're going to do that again," he retorted. She turned on her heel and walked towards the living room, leaving him in the open doorway.

"No promises," she replied calmly. She took a seat in one of the plush armchairs waiting in the living room, knowing that Eli was well buried back in his work in his office. He no longer taught at Culver, but he was so deeply involved in his field, she knew that he was still constantly learning and teaching on his own time.

A moment later and she heard the front close and then Loki strode into the living room and took an awkward seat on the couch directly across from where she sat.

"How did you even find me?" She finally said. He smiled at her briefly before gesturing vaguely at the wall. "The portal remains," he told her silkily, "You must have suspected that; you remained exactly where I left you." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

"Tell me, my darling, did you long for me?" His question was a gentle hiss and she rolled her eyes. "Oh, sweetheart, don't flatter yourself," she laughed, a genuine feeling of amusement welling inside her, "I bought up the land here with my inheritance, when the park owners sold out." He looked confused.

"Eli and are were married shortly after I returned," she explained easily, "We had to you see." He clearly didn't see and Melanie felt her gaze move over the room until it landed on the album she wanted. Climbing to her feet, she retrieved the album and shooed him over on the couch, dropping to sit next to him.

For his part, Loki stayed silent, obviously wondering where this was leading. She pointed to a picture of Eli, on the day he graduated from university. God, he was so smart, she thought, remembering her pride. Loki leaned towards the book of Eli in cap and gown, she, young and lovely, wearing a flowered Sunday dress at his side. She felt smug; Eli was not and had not ever been an oaf.

"He graduated and wanted to move for his doctorate, West Virginia," she explained, "So I bought the land right after we married, a nice investment, and we all moved out East."

Loki's eyes remained locked on the photos, the one of her on her wedding day arresting his gaze. Her belly was so huge by then. He looked up at her and raised an eyebrow. Melanie smiled. "My daughter came two days after the wedding," she told him, paging to the next image of a wrinkled little newborn, thick black hair on her head, and a furious expression on her little face.

She paged through images of life in West Virginia, as Eli progressed through his education and career. She closed the album and removed it from Loki's hands, placing it on the coffee table. "Eli had a heart attack a couple of years ago, and retired early," she explained quietly, still looking at her hands. Loki stayed motionless at her side.

"We had the land here, and my daughter had already moved out here, to study," Melanie continued, a smile of pride stretching her features, "She's so much smarter than either of us, our little genius." Loki said nothing and she met his gaze and nodded slightly.

"So, we sold the land to a developer, keeping a plot for our house, and a smaller plot on the other side of town for our daughter to live on however she wants, though right now she's living in my old trailer – she says it's a classic," she sighed when she finished, knowing that he likely had nothing to say to her.

"And here you are," he surprised her by saying. She nodded and met his solemn gaze. "Yes, here I am," she answered, before narrowing her eyes at him, "But not for you, don't flatter yourself."

"Well, you can't be surprised I should think so," he told her placidly, "I know how you must have longed for me." Melanie laughed and touched his face, exactly as she remembered, as young and foolish as she remembered. He hadn't grown up.

"It's been 30 years," she chuckled as she answered, "I know that's nothing but a wink to you, but it's a lifetime to us lowly mortals." His smirk made her heart pang slightly. So familiar to her.

"Why are you here?" She asked, suddenly realizing that maybe that was the most important thing, the thing she should have asked and insisted on an answer for, right from the start. Does he know?

"I came to visit my brother, before I return home, to my rightful place," he told her.

"Your brother? Thor? He's here?" Her voice was incredulous. She remembered the booming voice at his door, so, so long ago. Loki nodded, staring blankly across the room.

"He is getting what he has earned, and I shall have my reward now," he whispered fiercely. Melanie pressed her lips together and climbed to her feet. "So you've overthrown them, just as you said you would," she sighed. He nodded. "I always keep my promises," Loki told her, his voice hard. He climbed to his feet and crossed the room, standing before her.

"Oh sweetheart," she told him, her voice heavy with sadness for him. She picked up his hand and held it in both of hers. "It never got better for you, did it?" He shook his head at her question, swallowing. She pressed a warm hand to his cheek for a moment, feeling an old swell of affection for him stirring inside her. He is just so like…. Her mind cut off that line of thinking. She never allowed herself to think it too much.

Clearing his throat, he pulled away from her brusquely. "You've kept your looks fairly well, little one," he told her condescendingly, "I could be convinced to ravish you several times before I leave again." Melanie blinked at him before laughing, big hearty chuckles of pure amusement. His face twisted into displeasure, before she saw it falter.

"You are incorrigible," she told him, still laughing. He raised an eyebrow at her and turned for the door, clearly intending to leave. She watched him walk past the family photos hung on the wall, school portraits, and family pictures. He paused before the largest one, Jane's graduate photo from Culver. Melanie felt her stomach tightening as he examined the picture closely, his brows drawing together in mild confusion.

It was a lovely photo, Melanie knew that. God, please don't say anything disgusting, she prayed, knowing that might break her. This unexpected visit was rushing everything to the surface and she felt like she might just word vomit everywhere if he stayed too long.

He finally looked over to her, his eyes searching hers. Melanie felt suspended over a great chasm, but forced her face to remain to still. "She looks very like you did," he finally assured her, "Far more pale than you, but still lovely." Melanie let out a slow and easy breath.

"Thank you," she answered him shakily, "You were leaving?" He nodded and opened the door, stepping outside. He paused in the pool of light thrown by the porch light. She couldn't just let him leave, not like this. "Loki, wait," she urged him, and he turned, a question on his face. There was a swirl of emotions on his face and she wondered what he was thinking.

"Don't…." her voice trailed off and she cleared her throat, "Be careful, please." He nodded and walked away. He paused at the side walk and turned to her and smiled hugely, before disappearing in flourish.

She sagged against the open doorway, almost slithering to the floor. She'd held together, survived the encounter she had thought she'd never have. Jane had been about ten years old by the time she realized that Loki was never coming back. So her secrets were hers, and hers alone.

Jane had been such a normal child, besides her above average intelligence, and Eli had been so head over heels in love with both of them, that he and she never ever mentioned, not even once, how the math never added up. Eli Foster is and was a good man.

Melanie straightened herself and stared out into the darkness, knowing that she'd likely never see Loki again. And that was alright with her. She heard her cell phone buzzing behind her and closed the front door. She picked up the device and smiled when she saw Jane's face. Her beautiful, smart, remarkable daughter. Her smile was large and toothy as she greeted her mother on the screen, obviously over the moon about something.

She had inherited her smile honestly. Melanie prayed again, as she had a thousand times before, that Jane inherited nothing more from her father. Everything down that path was trouble.

The End.