HERROO! Is anyone still around? *voice echoes around an empty room* Wow, I have taken such a long time to get back to this! I really hope someone out there is still interested, because since school is getting out I have A LOT more time to write! So please stick around, tell me what you think, give me feed back, tell me what you hate, anything! Updates to come soon!

When Darcy slid through the suites doors, she was faced with Jane Foster propped up in an oversized plush chair, her eyes flickering between the twilight of sleep and smoldering grumpiness. Startling Darcy, she accidentally let the door slip from her grip, the gilded frame echoing a heavy thump.

Jane's droopy eyes flashed open, springing from her chair, making Darcy chirp in more surprise. She jumped a distance to the right, letting Jane stumble forward, her groggy mind clearing as she focused in on her friend.

"Where have you been?" Jane hissed, glaring into the stunned face of Darcy.

"Uhh..err..I was looking for the kitchen! Calm down! I didn't know it was a crime to be hungry!"

"No, but it is an Asgardian crime to associate with known and tried war criminals! So where were you?"

"Food! You know me!"

"Really? Did you find the kitchen?"

"Yes, actually I did." Darcy stated, slowly making her way over behind a sofa.

"Oh, really? Is that why Thor asked the attendant down at the kitchen if they had seen you, and assured us that 'no loud and tiny Midgardian had rummaged through his kitchen.' Tell me, why would he lie?" Jane was at this point just indulging Darcy, her voice reaching a steady calm.

"There is more than one kitchen in this city of a palace. You know that! I could have gone to another one. And wait..Thor? You brought him into this?!"

"I didn't bring him into anything. He wanted to tell me something and when I got up, you just happened to be gone! And if you haven't forgotten, this isn't your home. It's his and everyone else who lives here. Not. Yours. So I think it's safe to say he has every right to know what's going on."

Jane and Darcy stared at each other, empty silence settling in. Darcy didn't want to explain anything that she didn't have to, and Jane was too exhausted to fight.

Just then, Thor slammed open the door, his face creased in worry.

"Lady Jane! After having the palace scoured, I regret to inform you that Darcy has yet to be found. I fear that you are right, my next step is to have an inquiry with my brother."

Jane broke her gaze and rushed to Thor, pointing at the lost girl.

"Don't worry! She came back! Darcy! Get over here!"

The girl in question skirted around the two, lingering several feet from the towering man.

"I'm so sorry! I really didn't mean to cause so much chaos! I just stepped out for a moment. Or, at least I thought I did! Gheeze, I really didn't mean to cause trouble."

"Lady Darcy! I am just glad that you are okay! Without the knowledge of your whereabouts, I was worried! Asgard is no safe haven for a lovely mortal such as yourself without accompaniment. That includes the palace, my dear." The god smiled, grabbing her up into a crushing hug.

"Where did you run off too?" Thor asked, setting her down again.

"That's what I was wondering." Jane mumbled, swiping her hand over her face.

Darcy was about to lie again, but looking up into the golden haired man's face, she couldn't bring herself to do it.

"I went to see Loki. Okay? I was interested." Darcy mumbled, taking a step back.

"What?!" Jane squawked, anger lacing her tone once again. She began berating Darcy in a torrent of reasons of why that wasn't okay.

Darcy expected Thor to be filled with anger, or at least unhappiness, but his face was calm, studying the much smaller brunette.

"You see it too?" He asked, his voice low and hopeful, searching her face for confirmation.

Darcy didn't know exactly what he was talking about, but she felt a stirring in her heart, a chance of someone understanding this web of confusion too complicated for her to grasp.

Shaking her head in agreement, Thor grabbed her hand and lead her over to the sofa. As Jane realized that her beau wasn't eliciting the response she hoped for, she halted her scolding and wandered over to where a lit up Thor sat, deep in conversation with her friend.

"Dear Darcy, what did you and my brother talk about? Why did he let you in? He usually throws whatever objects are in his vicinity at unplanned guests. Did he seem content? He wasn't in despair was he?" The god asked earnestly, pure worry in his eyes.

Darcy looked at Thor, unable to find words.

"Uhh..I..we didn't really talk much. Nothing important was shared. I did take him off guard though, when I appeared. Well, he took me off guard. He wasn't exactly….he wasn't exactly fit for guest, and so that pissed him off, but I wouldn't put up with that."

"What do you mean? Why wasn't he fit for guests?" Thor inquired, pushing her to share more.

"He was blue, alright? Now that I think about it, it kinda freaks me out. Why was he blue? I don't know. I mean , he told me, but right now, nothing is making much sense. We both were so filled with emotions."

Thinking back, Darcy began realizing at the danger she had carelessly thrown herself into. "Gosh, I'm so stupid." She began berating herself. Unintentionally, she began shaking, and Jane came over grabbing her hand.

"What happened Darcy. It's okay. Just tell us. We aren't mad." Jane tried to search her friend's eyes, but they were distant, receded somewhere deep inside herself.

"Well, he got mad. He grabbed me, and pushed me against a wall, yelling at me. I don't remember what he said though. But I wasn't scared. At the time, I wanted to punch him in the face. I didn't of course. I slapped him."

Jane let out a shriek, while Thor boomed a gruff laugh, a smile slipping across his face.

"Lady Darcy, fearless of even a demigod."

Darcy bit the inside of her lip, not looking up into anyone's face.

"Well, after we both calmed down, we just talked for a little bit. Told me of his heritage. Not much. And then I realized that it was getting late…erh..early, and decided to come back. Most of the time I was gone was me wandering around the hallways like an idiot. Dude, do you have any idea how big this place is?"

Darcy thought it wise to leave out the more intimate, albeit innocent, part of their encounter, for out of context it would be easily seen as something much more than it was not.

Thor rose, not sure what to make of his friends recent confession.

"And if I may ask, what did you speak of the visit you had the time before this?"

Darcy tried to think back, not finding anything interesting.
"Humm, Loki asked who I was. That's about it. I stayed maybe ten minutes."

Thor walked over to the winking dawn that was just beginning to show its colors, standing in silence for several moments, as he mulled over the new information.

"I almost forgot, I need to go alert the attendants that I had searching for you that it is no longer necessary. I am sure they will be relieved to hear of your safety. Both of you, Jane and Darcy, you may not think it, but you are both much liked and loved in this realm. We only want the best for you two. Get some sleep. I will return in the morning, and we can sort out any more concerns then."

Thor proclaimed, giving Darcy's shoulder a firm grip and leaving Jane with a lingering kiss before exiting the room. Jane collapsed on the couch, letting out a groan as Darcy curled up in the opposite chair, more exhausted that she had thought. Getting lost around corridors and getting into arguments with your best friend was a very trying endeavor.

Darcy was in-between sleep and her thoughts, lingering on what would come when she woke up, when it was Jane's turn to jolt her awake.

"Tomorrow I think that we should go home. I'll let Odin and Frigga and Thor know how deep our appreciation is, but I don't think that neither of us should stay here. We just don't belong. This isn't our culture. Our world."

Darcy jumped up, letting out a strained cackle.

"You are such a hypocrite! Being such a stickler for traditions, of all people, you know how rude it is to leave a celebration, much less a celebration in your honor, early. These are very noble people. They hold grudges. Very mighty, thunderous grudges. Have fun getting accepted when you and Thor try to marry." Darcy spat, trotting to her room.

Jane stood up, letting out a huff.

"We are not done here. I'm serious. We need to talk."

Darcy turned in the threshold, tapping her fingers in contemplation.

"Well, we may be best friends, but we both have different agendas."