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Special thanks to Beta Notesfromaclassroom. She just recently finished off a terrific Star Trek 2009 team fic called "Deeper into Darkness". She's in my favorite authors tab-check her out-all her fics are excellent.

The Fifth Time Loki Meddled in Steve and Darcy's Relationship

Darcy is sitting on her couch. Steve's sitting next to her, one of his hands in hers. Bruce is leaning against a wall, eyes blinking rapidly behind his glasses. Thor is standing, one hand on a hip. Jane is standing next to him, biting her lip. All eyes are on the coffee table in front of Darcy. On it are two beautiful apples, their red skins flecked with gold. They're filling the room with the fragrant smell of apple pie. Next to them is a piece of paper, a handwritten note in slightly shimmering green ink.

Bruce sighs. "Well, I won't tell Fury."

"Nor I," says Thor.

Steve squeezes her hand and exhales loudly beside her. "Just go ahead and eat them, Darcy."

"What does the note say, Darcy?" Jane whispers.

Darcy reaches towards the paper. The sun streaming through the curtains briefly puts her hand in a harsh spotlight and Darcy restrains a gasp. Her hand does not look really old...just twenty or thirty years older than the twenty odd years it actually is. The veins are more prominent; there are fine lines around her knuckles that weren't there two months ago. She flexes her fingers. Seeing her face in the mirror is worse. The sudden onset of crows feet and laugh lines still takes her by surprise. And when she looks closer she can see the way the skin on her cheeks is beginning to cave inward, as though her face is made of tiny dried out riverbeds.

Steve, bless him, says he can't see any of it. But neither of them can ignore the signs of menopause and her drop in energy. Darcy and Steve had wanted children eventually...but although adoption is still an option, Darcy's not sure she'll have the stamina to raise a child, especially since Steve is gone so often. It makes her heart ache, and sometimes the sight of children makes her feel like she might burst into tears.

It's all a result of an experiment to try and replicate Steve's superserum that went terribly wrong. Darcy wasn't even supposed to be at SHIELD that day. She'd been meeting Steve for dinner when there was some sort of equipment malfunction and -

"The note," says Jane.

Darcy blinks. It's not like she needs explanation of what the apples are. They are Loki's latest business venture, and they have the power to bestow eternal youth.

Picking up the paper she reads anyway:

Dear Darcy,

These apples will only erase a few years at a time, and eating more than two a year is unwise. I will continue to provide them to you at harvest time until such time you wish me to stop.

I am aware that many of your people-Steve, Fenrir, Jory, Bruce, most of your televangelists, the head of your senate (though between you and me, he is a customer) and too many more to count-find the product of my New Zealand orchards morally dubious.

I cannot be with you as you decide whether or not to eat these or hand them over to my well meaning, yet horribly misguided, sons. I fear you will decide not to eat them.

Loki

Steve lets out a sigh. He isn't crazy about Loki's venture. Loki sells his apples to the highest bidder-sometimes the bids are money, sometimes they are favors. If Loki wanted to rule the world now, he probably could, if not overtly, through his customers.

Beside her Steve says, "Just eat them, Darcy." He squeezes her hand. "Better you than half a dozen senators or congressmen I can think of."

Darcy meets his eyes and he looks down at her hand. She knows that's not the real reason he wants her to eat them. They'd always known that the superserum might extend Steve's life and slow the physical manifestations of aging. They hadn't realized Darcy would age so quickly.

Steve hasn't taken it well. It's not the aging itself-he really doesn't seem to see-which is odd and weird, strange and unexpected. They've made love, and if anything it's more intense. Every time it's like he's trying to hold onto her. He's terrified of losing her. He's even thrown around the idea of giving up his work as Captain America to 'be with her as much as possible'. Darcy had nixed that idea. He needs work, something to focus on besides her, more than ever with the prospect of her leaving sooner.

Now as he sits beside her, blonde head bowed. It makes her stomach twist in knots to look at him. He loves her so much. She's afraid to die and leave him alone.

"Eat them," says Bruce.

Thor looks vaguely perplexed. "They are delicious, as good if not better than Idunn's! I highly recommend them."

Everyone turns to look at him sharply.

Beside her, Steve kisses the shell of her ear. Darcy turns to look at him. "Eat them for me," he whispers.

Darcy picks up an apple. After only a moment's hesitation, she takes a bite.

Lying on the floor of Avengers' mansion, Darcy stares at the photo on Steve's phone. She still looks like the "older woman" in the photo, but it's not so bad as it was a few months ago. She's sitting across Steve's lap in the phone as he sits upon a throne. More precisely, the throne of Alfheim. They just got back a few hours ago. Or maybe a day ago. Darcy's head is still a little foggy.

In the photo, behind Steve and Darcy are Jory - in Coulson form - Fenrir, in wolf form - standing on two legs with his tongue hanging out and looking goofy, Thor with Jane on his shoulders making 'V' victory signs with her fingers, Hel with an arm draped over Natasha who has an arm draped over Clint who has an arm draped over Pepper. Slightly to the side is Loki. Everyone but Loki looks slightly drunk-even Steve, Natasha, and Thor get hammered on Alfheim mead. Everyone but Loki is smiling wildly. Even Tony was smiling at the time-but he was holding the camera and not in the picture.

Beside her, on the floor, Steve looks at the screen and laughs. "Look at me! I got to sit on the throne with a cougar on my lap!"

Darcy elbows him and he giggles in a way that is distinctly unmanly.

Somewhere, Fury groans and Coulson hisses. Darcy's not sure if they really don't know about the apples, which SHIELD is officially opposed to, or if they're just turning a blind eye for Steve.

On the couch, draped over Thor, Jane hiccups. Natasha says something in Russian and Hel says something back. Clint sighs. A long snaky tail whips briefly over Darcy's head and then settles across her tummy. Darcy gives the tail a pat and hears Coulson, in his Jory form, give a happy hiss. The only member of the birthday not present is Loki. As soon as they arrived back on Earth he teleported off to New Zealand-something about apple worms becoming immortal and being worse than a Bilgesnipe larvae infestation.

From the couch, Thor laughs. "A trip to Alfheim. Did I not tell you, Steve, that Loki gives the best gifts?"

Steve smiles. The trip had been for his birthday.

From a chair, Tony crosses his arms over his chest and grumbles. "Just trying to show up my birthday gift."

Darcy thinks that might be the case. Tony had loudly declared in front of Loki that no one gave better gifts than he did.

Staring at the picture, Darcy follows the direction of Loki's gaze. He's looking at her and Steve, his face a little sad.

Beside her Steve's brow furrows. "It was great-but I don't know what to get Loki for his birthday." His eyes slide to Darcy. "I owe him so much."

She squeezes his hand. "We do."

They both look at the screen. Darcy's memories of the last day, week-or whatever-are a bit blurry, but she remembers Loki saying, "Sigyn and I came here together..."

"Sigyn," whispers Darcy. "He's still madly in love with her." She sighs, thinking of a painting she's seen of Sigyn, cowering with a bowl in her hand, catching snake venom before it fell onto Loki's head. "Sweet, loyal, submissive Sigyn." She shakes her head. But who is she to judge.

"Who is submissive?" says Thor.

From somewhere near her on the floor, Natasha says, "It's true. He is in love with her."

Darcy sits up. Natasha is leaning against one of Jory's coils, her eyes half lidded, an arm around Hel's shoulders. Hel's head is pillowed on her breast. Shaking her head, Natasha says something in Russian, and then in English says, "Poor man, he has needs even I, with all my training, would be unable to fulfill."

Darcy blinks.

So does Natasha. "I think I am still drunk," she says.

Hel sits up. "I don't think I want to know how you know my father's needs."

Tilting her head, Natasha says, "I am trained to assess such things and sometimes he's spoken of Sigyn." Wobbling slightly, Natasha smiles at Hel. "You meet all my needs."

And then they kiss. Every man in the room, except Jory-Coulson and Fenrir-Fury, sits up and stare. Actually, Darcy and Jane sit up a little, too. Natasha and Hel are both so beautiful, if she did go that way...

Beside her, Steve clears his throat and looks pointedly away, catching Darcy's eye and flushing a little as he does. "Thor, do you know if Sigyn harbors any feelings for Loki?"

"Mother's best friend?" says Hel, drawing away from Natasha. "I always wanted to meet her."

Thor grunts. "I don't know. Sigyn isn't particularly welcome in court." Scratching his beard, he says, "She would never be allowed to visit Loki on Earth even if she does-and every time Loki ventures to Asgard the Destroyer sets upon him."

Thor scowls. "And if father knew of Loki's continued affections..." he shakes his head. "It could be bad for her."

Steve sits up straighter, and in his biggest Captain America-y voice he says, "Don't tell me there's no hope."

Thor blinks. "I did not say that. If the lady still harbors affections for Loki there is hope. The trouble is that unless we distract Heimdall's eyes..."

Thor's eyes widen. And then he smiles. "But yes, I think we could do that! We'd need Jane's skills to deliver us to Asgard, Hel's magic, all our skills as warriors to create a spectacle, and Lady Pepper would have to see to smoothing over the diplomatic crisis that would result, but..."

Grinning, he declares, "This, my friends, could be a prank worthy of Loki himself!"

From the doorway to the kitchen, Pepper enters the living room, a cup of tea in her hand. "Why do I get the feeling you're planning on storming Asgard?"

Punching a fist in the air, Thor says, "Because that is exactly what I intend to do."

"For father, anything!" declares Hel.

"For you, anything," says Natasha, eyes on Hel.

As everyone else voices their assent, Steve smiles happily. Darcy feels kind of proud of him. He did start this. "Way to go, Captain," she says, elbowing him a bit in the ribs. Steve beams all the brighter at her praise.

And then Thor's eyes fall on Darcy. "Of course, someone will have to confront the lady herself to determine if she still holds Loki in her heart."

The room is silent, and all eyes turn to her.

"Me?" squeaks Darcy.

Beside her, Steve shrugs. "Can't be as dangerous as Nilfheim."

Eyes still on her, Thor just beams.

A/N:

Yep, next chapter Darcy meets Sigyn, in Asgard. And Nari and Valli too!

Sorry for the long absence. Promoting Chaos, fixing minor bugs, and getting it onto all the various sites took up a lot of my time. Also, I've begun working on a novella for I Bring the Fire and Part IV too.

If you read Chaos (or Monsters or Wolves)-PLEASE review them on the site you downloaded them from.

If you haven't read any of my original stories, give them a try. I Bring the Fire stars myth!Loki and the first part is FREE. Links to download are in my profile!