Finally!

This should be the final companion-fic to the Guardian saga (can it be called a saga?). But you know me...I change my mind every two seconds! ;) I've decided to make it a short multi-chapter.

I do want to mention some things:

First: This fic is obviously rated M. So...yeah. Be prepared and such.

Second: I have challenged myself with this: Expect to see some of Loki's old darkness resurfacing to small extents, as well as some new...ahem, instinctive behaviors.

Third: Despite aforementioned dark sezziness, I will try desperately not to stray too far from the romance I set to establish in the previous installments! )

And of course: I own nothing!

Enjoy and please review!

It had been nearly a month following the news of Thor's fate, and Jane Foster was becoming increasingly uncertain as to her future with the other Asgaardian prince that had settled into her life.

Loki had stayed with them from that night forth, much to her (and of course, Kari's) relief and delight. But not long after the decision had been made, Loki's demeanor had begun to change.

And Jane was beginning to wonder if she was the cause.

Several days after Fandral's visit, Jane found herself struggling to sleep. Waking up nightly, her first thought would be the noticeable absence in the bed next to her. Loki had remained patient and respectful, it seemed, by returning to his own room to sleep after that first night they had shared in hers.

He had slept next to her once. And she already missed it.

So she had made a bold move one night, reaching out to grasp his elbow in the dark hallway as he made his way to his room.

"Will you….will you come to my bed tonight?"

She had felt Loki freeze in mid-step. She scolded herself for sounding so meek when she truly had no reason to. If he refused, so be it. He had more than impressed her with his gentlemanly behavior anyway.

But he'd turned, eyed her with a gaze that seemed a combination of surprise and apprehension; nodded quietly with a small smile.

And so they had curled into each other, just as before, silent and comfortable and warm; the almost cologne-like spice that clung preternaturally to his skin both lulled and excited her in a way she had not experienced since….

Since before Kari had even been a realistic thought in her mind.

Jane turned to watch him in the darkness, and in the low moonlight, saw him staring at her. Staring through her, as if deep in thought. As if he was completely distracted; no longer with her in the room in any way but physically.

So, breathing deep, she took the initiative (again).

Bid him a quiet "Good night."

And leaned over to press her lips into his.

The results were far different from the last time.

Jane felt her skin prickle as Loki leaned forward immediately, slanting into the kiss with a fervor she had not expected or prepared for. Her eyes slammed shut when met with the intense, almost intimidating look he was giving her in the darkness.

A small sound escaped into the air between them.

Jane realized it was her, moaning weakly.

Heat shot into her gut when a cool tongue ran across her lips. Her head sank into the pillow as the weight of the man above her gently but determinedly coaxed her down.

The kiss changed the moment Loki came to loom over her.

His mouth was suddenly hot, fierce, and desperate, breaking away from hers for only a split moment to inhale before returning to suck in her very breath with a quiet, almost painful-sounding hiss.

Eyes shot open when his hands reached for her face. Jane blinked at him almost helplessly, struggling to comprehend the fact that the hand on her left cheek was blazing warm, while the one stroking long, elegant fingers down her right was frigidly cold.

Dual gasps met her ears and she realized he had licked a slow, seductive trail across her bottom lip. Her voice escaped again with a pitiful, high pitched groan.

And then he stopped.

Leaned back to stare at her in what could only be described as mild shock and restrained lust. His chest heaved and Jane could tell his breaths were almost shuddering as they escaped.

A painful frown tore at her mouth when he abruptly turned away, rolled over and pressed his face into his pillow.

Nothing further occurred between them.

The rest of the night had Jane lying in a state of half-aroused confusion, straining to hear the nearly silent breathing from the man beside her.

She decided not to attempt to scoot closer to him.

Morning had brought even more uncertainty.

Mostly sleep-deprived, Jane awoke several hours later than normal, the sun having long since rose above the tall forest outside her window. She blinked and turned away from it.

And found Loki watching her blankly.

For several long seconds they lay as such, silent and staring, before Jane finally bit her lip and attempted to reach for him.

Her hand met air.

Loki was gone from her bed in less than a blink.

Jane sighed, defeated. Rolled over again, into the residual warmth left from his body. Inhaled the mouth-watering, muscle-loosening scent on his pillow.

And felt the tears of fear prick at her eyes as she realized he may very well have left completely, disappearing into the vast world beyond her home, not to return for days or months or even years.

Laughter suddenly carried into the room from down the hall.

Scrambling out of the bed, her hallway was a blur as she came to a halt in the den.

Found Loki in his favorite recliner, head cocked to the side as Kari laughed at a Christmas special playing on the television.

He hadn't left.

Her heart stopped sinking into her stomach and she smiled at him.

Jane felt her eyebrows furrow when his green eyes darted toward her briefly, and in them she could see the same blank stare she had awakened to.

He did not express any interest in returning to her bed after that night.

The holidays now weeks past, Jane had seen little change in Loki's character.

Although the almost dead-like stare had faded and he had taken to giving her small smiles throughout the day, she found she could not get him to have an open conversation with her.

Not like she had in the past few years.

It was as if Loki had kissed her and decided she tasted disgusting and unworthy of his attention.

It was as if the assumption of his feelings for her had been greatly exaggerated, by both herself and Thor.

She somberly wondered if she had pushed Loki Laufeyson too far too fast.

Jane snapped awake for what had to be the fifteenth time in the past month.

It was a bitingly cold January morning, and snow had once again settled against the windows of the home. Jane thanked Odin himself that her heating unit was state-of-the-art.

Darkness filled the home, and she realized with a frustrated groan that it was early; the sun would not be venturing over the horizon for over an hour and her alarm clock would not go off until nearly an hour after that.

Nevertheless, she was awake.

And from the familiar smell that wafted into her nostrils from the kitchen, so was someone else.

Jane shrugged out from under her blankets and followed the sharp scent.

She found him in the kitchen, leaning against the counter in deep blue sweatpants (sans shirt, she instantly noted), sipping coffee.

That…he had made himself?

Jane blinked, raised her eyes to ceiling to avoid staring at the lean muscles set in his pale torso, and tried to remember when she had showed Loki how to use the coffeemaker.

Her thoughts were disrupted when his voice whispered to her almost shyly.

"It is actually not bad, for my first attempt. Would you like some?"

Returning her gaze to him, she immediately noticed the daytime clothing he had magically changed into. She fought the disappointed feeling in her gut and smiled at him sleepily.

"Sure."

Her smile grew genuine when his lips quirked upward before he turned away to pour her cup.

They sat in silence once again, and Jane found that this time, it was a relatively comfortable one. Loki did not appear utterly disinterested in her presence; on the contrary, he was watching her with a look of curiosity and hope.

Jane shook her head to herself at realizing he probably wanted her opinion on his coffee making skills.

Her lips parted to compliment his first try.

His tongue, quick and likewise hesitant, beat her own.

"It has….been a very long time. I am sorry, Jane. For my behavior."

She craned her head to hear his whisper, the hope in his gaze muddied with a sadness she had not noticed before.

Understanding hit her like an avalanche. She had indeed pushed him too fast, with no knowledge of how long it had been since this immortal being had been involved with anyone of the opposite sex.

But after almost thirteen years, the feel of a man in her bed had just been too much.

Especially considering the fact that…..that she loved him.

Her mouth attempted to open again.

And again, Loki was faster. His hand flew into the air, and for a moment Jane felt the now years-old nervousness that his presence had once brought about in her.

His fingers moved.

A snap sounded in the kitchen.

A short, metallic ring followed a second later.

Jane's eyes were drawn to the countertop, where her toaster-oven had opened and two bagels sat cooling within it.

She grinned when Loki nodded in its direction.

"I almost burned them."

For the first time in almost a month, the two smiled openly at each other.

She fought a strange blush when he moved to set a plate in front of her, and before he could turn away to retrieve something from the fridge, her hand grabbed his wrist. Words tangled her tongue for a moment as he blinked down at her, curious.

"I….I'm sorry too, Loki. It's uh….been awhile for me too."

Her head ducked away from his gaze when one of his eyebrows rose at her.

She chuckled nervously.

"At least you haven't really changed all that much. Apparently Asgaardians are naturally resistant to crow's feet."

She could feel the cool skin of his fingers as Loki moved his hand into hers and leaned down slightly.

Jane felt an old sense of déjà vu at seeing him press his lips into the back of her hand.

His voice was still soft but clear and confident as he spoke.

"Technically, I am not an Asgaardian, if you recall. As far as I know, Jotuns do age, but at a slow pace similar to that of the Aesir."

He paused, and Jane felt his fingers squeeze hers softly.

"It matters not, besides. You are beautiful."

Jane felt heat flush her cheeks against her consent and her eyes were hesitant to meet his as he leaned down.

His kiss was soft and firm at the same time; gentle, and yet confirming.

His mouth held hers for a few seconds and Jane fought the urge to snake her tongue against his lips. Before her body could do something to once again send Loki running away from her, he broke away and kneeled farther down.

She felt her heart thud against the inside of her chest when he came to eye-level with her.

"I love you, Jane Foster."

Words died in her head and she knew her brain had tried to shut down yet again.

A voice in its recesses screamed at her to verbally reciprocate his declaration, but her mouth was numb and her consciousness practically dumbstruck.

But she was certain the broad, ridiculous smile that stretched across her face was enough to assure him. His own smile was gentle and his eyes appeared relieved.

His fingers snapped again, and from the corner of her eye Jane could see that her bagel had appeared on her plate. She also noted that his coffee cup had appeared in his hand, and he sipped at it as if nothing at all had just occurred between them.

She did not turn away to eat her breakfast.

Her head moved forward and she caught his mouth the moment the cup was brought away from it.

The intense flavors of coffee and sugar met her tongue as his own dared to dance with it briefly.

She did not hear the hot liquid in his cup crystallize as his hand clenched it tight.

A/N: Please let me know how you feel so far!

More intense moments to come. ;)