Somewhere Along the Way... (Loki x Reader)

Who's Here Mum...

Mum had left me in charge of helping Liam today as one of the workers had a family emergency, "So much for getting a break," I mumbled to myself.

I checked the clock, 8.30am, it had been a late one the night before after helping foal the last mare. I didn't tell Liam last night but I was pretty sure someone or something had been watching over us last night.

I wasn't scared. I hadn't felt threatened by its presence, the complete opposite in fact.

Part of me wondered was it him, had he found me. I was going to tell Mum but I decided against it and ate my breakfast quickly, heading upstairs and grabbing my chaps. Gearing up and heading out to meet Liam to see what lay ahead of us today.

"Little Lady! Good mornin to ya!" Liam greeted me.

"Your in a good mood today Liam!" I chuckled.

"Well I get to spend my day with this beautiful Little Lady who's basically my daughter. She can't do no wrong in my eyes, but Shhh let's not tell her ok?"

I pretended to zip my lips closed, "Okay your secrets safe with me Liam!" I laughed at him. He always was a ray of sunshine. "What are we doing today then?"

"Well we have some calves to check and the foals to check on, oh, we also have to check the fence at the south end of the ranch. Rick said it had looked a little wobbly last time he was down past it. Then we have a road trip to the Goldstar Ranch, look at a prospect stud. Your Dad always wanted to introduce their bloodline to his horses. I've finally spotted one I think he would have wanted. So what better opinion to have than yours on the matter!"

We quickly got to work, heading out over the ranch to check up on everything we needed to. The fence needed a little fixing but nothing the two of us couldn't handle.

Once back and the horses unsaddled we jumped into his old truck and hit the road, a few hours later we pulled up to the most beautiful horse farm I had seen in a long time.

Valerie and Conrad introduced themselves to us, they were delighted I was here on their yard. Telling me it was an honour to have Dad's daughter here helping continue his legacy.
With that they ushered us inside and offered us some lunch, I didn't realise how hungry I was until I seen the delightful food on the table. Once finished we got the grand tour of the Goldstar Ranch, then they brought us to the stables.

I gasped when they brought the stallion out to meet us. He was breathtaking. He exuded strength and elegance, he was Hades, but here on Earth. I walked over to him and he dropped his head to me, licking my hand as I patted his neck. I turned to Valerie and Conrad, "He's beautiful, what's his name?"

"Well dear he hasn't really got one, he's always been a tad wild so he's gone by Trouble in the meantime but we know it's not very fittin for him. You have somethin in mind?"

"Zeus." I breathed.

"Well I'll be damned." Conrad piped up, walking over to me and placing a hand on my shoulder, "Dear it's perfect. Seems he's takin a likin to you."

Hades had a brother in the myths, there would only be one Hades and he was on Asgard so it was only fitting in my head Zeus would grace us here on Earth. I turned my head to Conrad.
"If Liam doesn't want him for Dad's stud. I will take him."

No part of me needed another horse on the yard, little own a stallion, but in that moment I thought I'd gift him to Loki. He could be his horse here, if and when he wanted to be here that was, if our talk went well.

He chuckled at me, "I'd be honoured my Dear."

After much discussions we agreed Liam would have him stand for the stud for this year, cover some of the mares. Then if he didn't like the foals produced, I would take him back to my yard. With that we sealed the deal and headed back to the ranch.

I ran in the back door excited to tell Mum about Zeus, as I met her in the kitchen she had a tray with biscuits and the good teapot out. Uh oh. Visitors.

"Who's here Mum?" I quizzed her.

"Some friends of yours. I've seen them on the tv. One of them is very handsome lovebug, how you ever get any work done around that place I will never know." She was giddy with excitement.

I felt my stomach knot as she headed to the living room. Then I heard Bucky and Nat thanking her for the hospitality.

I slowly made my way to the living room, when Bucky spotted me, he had a hold of me in seconds lifting me off the ground.

"Thank god your ok Doll. I...we. We were all so worried about you. Why didn't you tell us where you were going?!" With that he held me at arms length before pulling me into him plastering my face in kisses.

I began laughing at him, smacking his chest in protest, "Bucky! Bucky enough...oh my god stop man! I missed you too ok!" With that he stopped and smiled at me.

"Good."

Nat hugged me next, "I told you not to be scaring me again."

"I know Nat, but. I needed some time. You guys know I wouldn't have gotten a chance, to sort my head out, to help myself. It would have been a disaster."

"I know. I know." She smiled reassuring me, "I'm glad our training didn't go completely to waste." She raised her eyebrow at me.

She was the famous Black Widow, of course disappearing when needed was a talent she had.

"I think it's time you went home lovebug. Seems there is someone who is hurtin desperately for you. You remember what we talked about." Mum was leaning against the doorframe watching my interaction between the two of them.

I bit my lip nodding to her, "Yeah Mum I remember."

"Is your answer still the same as the first night we talked about it lovebug?"

"Yeah." I whispered, dropping my gaze to the floor.

I felt Nat let go of me and Mums arms replaced hers around me, "Then you need to go to him baby. Don't be scared anymore. You are stronger than that. Now, you guys can stay for dinner and then you can hit the road back to New York hmm?" She gestured over my shoulder to Nat and Bucky.

"Thank you Mam, that would be wonderful."

I laughed at Bucky. Who was acting the perfect gentleman in front of Mum. If only she seen the savage he was back at the compound!

As she prepared dinner I showed them around the ranch giving them a little insight into its background. Little did I know the whole time they had been here, someone else was here too, in the distance.

He had appeared back after last night, he just needed to see me. To make sure I was coming back. He had been here watching unnoticed by us all, his invisibility spell had held up flawlessly the whole day.

When he seen us heading back to the house, he teleported back to his room in the compound. Sighing with relief. She was coming home to him. Finally.

We ended up staying quite late at the ranch, Mum had got the fancy wine out for it wasn't everyday the Avengers were in the house! She had maybe had a glass too many at this point and was telling embarrassing stories much to my dismay.

"Mum! Stop please, OH GOD NO. NOPE! GIMME THAT!!" I grabbed the photo album off her, she was not bringing that thing out! "Make it stop!" I chuckled at her.

Bucky and Nat where loving every moment of it. Determined to use it against me at some point I was sure. Eventually we said our goodbyes and headed to the airport boarding the jet. Once in the air I felt the need to sleep hit me, and before I knew it Nat was waking me to tell me we had landed.

It was about 2.30am by the time we got back to the compound. Everyone was asleep. So I made my way to my old room. The whole place was quiet.

Too quiet.

I walked over to his door, my eyes lingering on the handle for a moment...part of me really wanted to see him. Then there was another part of me determined to not back down without finding out where he had been.

No not tonight Y/N. Tomorrow.

I willed myself back to my own door, slipping in getting changed and cleaning my teeth before jumping into bed to begin a restless nights sleep as worry engulfed me, I would have to face him tomorrow.