Among the Stars

Chapter 10

While Thor was single-minded in his desire to sweep Jane off to earth in safety, she was able to remind him that leaving Loki alone was never a good idea, so he grudgingly put her down to stalk back to his bedroom and collect his brother. Luckily, Sif and the Warriors Three arrived at right about the same time, and Fandral carefully took Jane in his arms to wait for Thor's return.

Thor found Loki shakily getting to his feet. When he saw his big brother advancing on him, Loki immediately tried to dash to the window, but Thor was quicker than Loki gave him credit for and easily grabbed him by the scruff of the neck to haul him down the hallway. Loki couldn't even protest; his jaw had been broken by Thor's last blow.

Quite unceremoniously, Thor tossed Loki back into the jail cell that he'd so recently inhabited. As Loki curled up into the corner in a huff, Thor glowered down at him through the glass.

"Understand this, brother: the only reason you still live is because Jane's safety is my first concern," he growled. "I am no savage; I desire you to stand trial and receive proper justice. But if you ever come near Jane again, we will cease to be brothers and I will kill you."

Thor stalked back into the main hall and swept Jane back into his arms, shaking with renewed rage when he realized just how battered she was. But she calmed him down and told him she just wanted to go home, and he took her there. That day, he moved his things out of Dr. Selvig's house and moved in with Jane, determined to never let anything harm her again.

Of course, with the revelation of Odin's demise, things couldn't stay the same. Suddenly, Asgard needed its true heir. And as much as Thor was torn, he knew where he rightfully belonged.

It was with heavy heart he took Jane's hand in his only days later as the two of them watched the stars.

"I have to go back," he said. He was never good with words.

"I know," Jane replied.

"I cannot ask you to sacrifice your whole world to come with me," he continued. "I know that."

Jane turned to him, searching his eyes. "You don't need to. Just say the word, and we'll go. The universe separated us once. I won't let it again."

They left within a week. It was hard to leave Dr. Selvig and Darcy, but Jane had her transdimentional circuit—she could always visit. And after everything that had happened, Earth felt too small to stay on, anyway.

The next few months were like a whirlwind. First, there was Thor's coronation. Then weeks later, there was their wedding. And while it took time to get used to Asgard's customs, Jane become more and more comfortable in that realm every day. After a while, it was like Earth was the alien planet and Asgard was her home.

And every night, she and her golden prince would lay outside and watch the stars.