Lost in Glorious Mischief

Reunited

Months have passed. Loki has fooled everyone in Asgard into believing he is Odin. He visits you from time to time. He is often consumed with the responsibilities as "king."
The healers are worried that their process won't work. They have kept you alive but you have yet to wake up. Loki can't stand to see you wasting away any longer and most days avoids going to see you.
He seeks comfort in the newfound power he possesses.

~

As Loki lies in his bed reading he can't help but let his mind wander to you. He looks over to the empty pillow where your should be lying.
He sets his book aside and stares at the ceiling.
The guilt of him not being by your side begins to eat at him.
He misses the way your soft hand fits perfectly into his. How your voice and your laugh make him feel at peace. He misses the way your hair falls over your shoulders. He misses waking up in the middle of the night to find you resting peacefully next to him. He misses caressing your body as the two of you intertwine passionately with each other. How your eyes allow him to dive into the essence of you.
The ache he feels in his heart from your absence is almost too much to bear. He gets out of his bed and makes his way to the healing room.
As he approaches the room he notices the guard is gone. He becomes suspicious and stops at the door. He looks around before opening the door and walking hastily in.
You are laying on the table. The healers are nowhere in sight. Loki slowly approaches the table.
"Brother," Loki hears from across the room. The voice stops him in his tracks.
He looks up in the direction of the voice.
Thor steps into the light.
"Thor, what a pleasant surprise," Loki says nervously.
"Is it? I had come to tell father that I have stopped Ragnarok and I cannot seem to find him," Thor says.
"Well, you know father, always busy with the people and his duties. I am sure he is around somewhere," Loki attempts to convince Thor.
Thor looks at Loki, he then turns his attention to you,
"I see the healing room hasn't help Claire," Thor says.
"No, I am afraid she may never wake up," Loki says, stepping to the table.
"I am not sure what else to do. I have tried to enter her mind. To find out why she hasn't returned but all I see is nothing. It's as though I am lost. I can feel her though. Her spirit, her soul, I just can't see it."
"Brother, maybe it is time to let her,"
"No!" Loki yells, cutting Thor off as he snaps his head up to glare at him.
Thor looks at Loki with shock.
Loki clears his throat and looks back down to you,
"We are not there yet," he says stroking your hair.
Thor stares at Loki. He can see that his brother is troubled and in pain. He can see that you being asleep again, and for so long is drawing his brother back to his mischievous ways, back to the darkness.
"Maybe she will wake up with a little more time," Thor says, attempting to convince not only his brother but himself.
Loki keeps his attention on you.
After a few moments, Thor breaks the silence,
"Well, I think I shall go and rest now. If you see father please tell him I have returned and wish to speak to him."
Loki looks up and nods to Thor.
Loki watches Thor leave before looking back down at you.
"Darling," he whispers
"If you can hear me, please come back to me."
He leans down and kisses your forehead.
As he straightens up he walks to the side of the table. He pulls a chair to the table and sits next to you.
He stares at your hand for a moment before taking it in his. They are warmer than they have been. However, you not reciprocating his touch makes the hope that you would wake, the hope he has been clingy to begin to fade.
He gently places your hand back to your side. He settles into the chair. Even in sleep, your beauty takes his breath away. He pulls out the book he was reading and begins reading aloud, in hopes you will hear him.

~

"He is reading again, " a voice says from behind you.
You smile,
"It's Shakespeare, my favorite, " you say.
"Why haven't you gone back, " the voice says.
You drop your smile and look down at your hands.
A female sits next to you,
"It safer if I stay here. Awake I bring nothing but danger and pain to the ones I love, " you lookup.
"Here, they can stay safe."
The woman takes your hand. As she does you turn your attention to her and smile,
"Besides, you and dad are here, " you say.
Lillian smiles back at you,
"Sweetheart, we have always been with you, you must have known that?" she asks.
"I know, but seeing you and dad has made me miss you more than I thought I did. I can't leave you again," you say as tears begin to form in your eyes.
"Sweetheart we will always be here. When your time is up we will all be together. He needs you though. You have an epic and crazy love, you mustn't lose that. Maybe you believe you are keeping them safe but maybe they don't need to be safe, maybe, he needs to be with you," your mother says wiping a tear from your cheek.
Teary-eyed you smile at her.
"Your mother is right Claire," a man says from behind you.
You turn to find your dad standing near the bench.
You smile at him.
He walks around the bench and sits on the other side of you.
"You know you can't stay here with us. It isn't your time," he says taking your hand.
You look into your dad's eyes. Seeing him and your mom forms a pit in your stomach. You regret every running away from home, for getting involved in the super soldier project. They would have lived a full life if it weren't for you.
You turn to your mother,
"I want you to know how sorry I am," you say. You turn back to your father,
"It's my fault you ended up murdered. If I would have just stayed home after our fight," you trail off.
"Claire, you are our daughter. We were determined to find you, whatever the cost. Seeing you alive gave us closure. As long as you were alive we knew you would fight for your freedom, and you have. Don't ever feel sorry for what your mother and I decided to do to find you," Henry says.
"If we had the chance to do it again, we wouldn't change a thing," your mother says.
You smile at both of them.
You all turn your attention to the setting sun.
"You don't have much time left Claire, you need to decide," Henry says.
You turn to him and smile, tears form in your eyes,
"I already have," you say.

~

Loki closes the book and stands. He gazes down upon your face.
A tear escapes from your eye.
Loki takes notice. His heart begins to race.
This is the first sign of life in months,
"Claire?" he says quietly.
You remain asleep.
"Claire!" he says louder.
You remain still.
Loki grabs your hand.
As he does Thor storms into the room,
"When were you going to tell me brother?" Thor says, walking angrily to the table.
Loki ignores the comment,
"Brother, I think she is trying to wake up!" Loki says, changing the be subject.
"Where is father Loki?" Thor asks.
Loki looks at Thor,
"Did you not hear me? Claire is trying to wake up, " Loki says angrily.
"I heard but that isn't important at the moment. Where is father Loki?" Thor asks again.
Loki becomes irritated,
"Loki, he is not in his chamber or attending to the people. In fact, some of the citizens have complained of him not being around much at all. What have you done with him?" Thor shouts.
Loki darts his eyes up to Thor.
"Not important? What you're telling me is the woman that I am in love with, waking up after months of being comatose is not important? What you are saying, brother, is that our thousands of year old father, who banished you, stole me away from my realm, and lies constantly is what you are most concerned about?" Loki says.
Thor looks in your direction. You have yet to wake up and remain still on the table.
"She looks the same as she did hours ago. Now take me to father," Thor says.
"I will do nothing of the sort! Let him live out his remaining days where he is!" Loki says.
Thor walks over to Loki,
"How could you be so cruel? If you want to play that game then so be it!" Thor says. He throws his hammer out the window and grabs the back of Loki's neck.
"You are aware nothing will stop my hammer from returning to my hand. Not even your head," Thor says.
"Brother! Have you gone mad?" Loki yells.
"Take me to father," Thor says.
"No," Loki says.
The hammer is now flying toward the castle. Loki can see it approach.
"Yield brother and take me to father," Thor says.
Loki tries to release Thor's grasp.
Thor squeezes tighter.
Loki can now see the hammer hurdling toward the window.
"Fine, I yield!" Loki yells.
Thor pushes Loki to the side as the hammer flies into the window and to Thor's hand.
"Now, take me to him," Thor says.
Loki looks over to you.
"She will be fine until we return," Thor says
Loki looks back at Thor.
"Father isn't here. We have to go to Midgard," Loki says.
Thor shifts his weight and looks at Loki with disappointment.
He swings his hammer and grabs Loki by the back of the neck.
They both fly out the window toward the Bifrost.

~

"I thought you decided to go back?" your mother asks.
"I did but something is holding me here," you say looking up to the sky.
"What is it?" Henry asks.
"I am not sure. I was almost awake then something pulled me back down here," you say.
"What do you think is holding you back?" your father asks.
You take a second to think.
"I am scared," you say.
"Scared of what?" Lillian asks.
You shake your head,
"I don't know. Scared that things will be different. Scared that someone I care about will get hurt, scared that Loki is already too far into the darkness to get him back. Scared of leaving you guys," you say.
"Honey, fear lets us know we are alive. You are very much alive and belong back there. We will be here, waiting for you," Henry says, brushing the hair out of your face.
"I love you guys," you say, pulling them in for a hug.
"We love you, we always have," Henry says.
"And we always will," Lillian adds.
A bright light appears in front of you.
"It is your decision sweetheart," Henry says.
You stand and turn to them. You grab their hands and smile. As you step back into the light you begin to cry. You take one last look before letting go of their hands. The light surrounds you.
You take a deep breath.