"Kyra?"

No answer.

"You know it isn't your fault."

No answer.

"You could not have known. We were all deceived. You, me, the world. She deceived us - all of us."

Still no answer. Loki's sigh was muffled from the other side of the bedroom door.

"At least say something? You worry me."

Still no response. His voice hardened.

"Kyra, I am not lying when I say I will break down this door if you do not give me any sign that you are still alive within the next thirty seconds."

Another bout of silence, and Loki was about to take a few steps back, preparing himself to be a human ram when -

"Just leave me alone, Loki. Please."

"You can't seriously be expecting me to listen to that?"

"I - I need some time alone. I need to think."

A short pause. "Okay. Take your time. I'll be staying out here - "

"No." He could almost hear her shaking her head. "I want to be alone alone. Just me. Please Loki, please. I don't want to see anyone, I just want it to be myself. Go."

He could hear the desperate plea in her voice, as if she was on the verge of breaking down.

They had drove back to Kyra's apartment directly after. She said not a single word during the journey back, and the haunted look in her eyes had his heart jumping once in awhile to his throat. He knew she was remembering, comparing herself to Judy, because he knew in her mind's eye she saw six-year-old Judy as what she could have been if she had been brought up by her biological mother.

Once they entered the apartment she went straight to her bedroom, and had stayed there ever since.

The way she had gone hysterical earlier was scored in his brain. He could replay every single detail - the sound of her screams, the pain in her voice, the helplessness in her eyes. He was shocked and beyond worried, he didn't want to see her like this ever again.

So he didn't persist like how he normally would have done.

"Alright." He stood up. He patted the pocket of his trousers and was relieved to find that it was still there.

"I'm heading back to the office to tell Richard that you're taking a day off. I'll be back for dinner with some really really good food. Sushi perhaps, with your favourite wine? If you want me to come back earlier just call - I'm your boyfriend after all, I'll come flying."

She didn't even respond to that, just a small "Okay" was what he heard. He was so tempted, so so tempted to break the door down and pull her into his arms, but she had made it clear she needed space.

So rather reluctantly, with a longing glance backward at the bedroom door, he headed out of the apartment.

*

From inside Kyra could hear the front door slam, the sound echoing all around the now empty house. She had thought having Loki leave would give her some time alone with her thoughts, and maybe calm down, but instead the sound of the door slamming make her feel like bursting into a fresh bout of tears.

Man, women really do mean the opposite of what they say.

She sat there for maybe ten minutes more, silent and unmoving, lost in her thoughts that kept blaming herself, lost in remembering Judy crying, lost in hearing Jennifer's words rebounding and resonating in her ears.

I never wanted her anyway.

These were the words Jennifer had told Judy.

These were the words her mother had told her teacher.

I never wanted her anyway.

To Kyra not only did she fail to save little Judy, she also failed to save the younger version of herself.

*

Loki burst into the office as if someone had told him he'd ran out of hair gel.

"People! I have news!" He ran past the cubicles, tapping urgently on everyone's table to get their attention as he flew past to Richard's office. "We might just get our attention-grabbing headline this time!"

Within minutes Richard was out of the office and everyone was gathered around Loki. Without further ado he reached a hand into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

He searched for recordings. There was only one file inside.

To be honest he felt rather proud of himself. His quick thinking and reflexes were something he'd always known of course, but to think he would also be creative enough to figure out and use Midgard technology....

Sometimes I surprise myself.

He pressed "play".

Jennifer's voice was instantly recognizable.

"Oh please. I never lied. Judy is Nathan Wilde's daughter. Go ahead, do a DNA test. I'm just claiming what's rightfully mine."

"No you're not, you're just using Judy to blackmail Nathan into coughing up!"

The Tidbits employees listened to the recording, and the shock soon gave way to incensed outrage. Even Sherria looked disgusted. Dirty tricks amongst adults was one thing, but to drag in an innocent child......

"She can't get away with this! She's not even fit to be a mother - if that's the case I'd rather Nathan take custody of Judy!"

"It's clear Nathan has no idea what's going on - probably the news article was the first inkling he had. I bet the manager knew Nathan wouldn't be strong enough to stand up to Jennifer, so he took matters into his own hand instead."

"We have to expose her!"

The discussion was fervent among them as they decided on the best way to make a splash and how to go about doing it. At this point Loki interrupted them by saying his job was now over and he wanted to go home -

"But Loki you can't go! You're a key witness in this, we need you around - if we're planning to take this further you need to be here!"

He furrowed his eyebrows and glanced at his phone. He should really be getting home to her.......

But then again she hadn't called. And he'd only left her for fifteen minutes, maybe she needed a longer time to compose herself? He did say he would be back around dinner, and now it was only 1 pm.

Plus if he did this right it would be a great comfort to her.

With that last thought in mind his resolve strengthened. He was doing this for her after all, he had to make sure everything went right.

"Okay. What do you need me to do?"

As Loki bustled around with the rest of the journalists,one thought kept popping into his mind.

I can't wait for this exile to be over so I can go back to Asgard.

Not to stay there, no.

But to tell Odin he had found his true home.

Right here on Midgard, right next to her.

The first - and only - girl that had stolen his heart.

*

After about ten minutes of just sitting there she couldn't take it any longer. One thing because it was getting kind of hot and stuffy in here, second - she really really needed to pee.

She got up and went about her business, her mind still dead to the world. It woke up just enough to help her make the coffee and heat up some toast. She was just setting her plate down on the table when there came a ring at the door.

Loki.

She felt a sense of relief. She hadn't realize how much she depended on him, how safe and secure having him by her side felt.

All things that would only serve to cut her inside when he finally left.

She shook her head, heading over to the door. Don't think about it. It's only been what - ten days? He has a month here right? That means twenty days more. Many things can happen in twenty days.

She opened the door, her mouth already ajar to call out his name.

A bow, one of immense flourish, and a pleasant voice.

"Hello Lady Kyra. Do you remember me?"

And Herrick smiled.