"I still do not comprehend how in the world we will make it to Earth with the Bifrost out of commission...", a member of the Vanaheim muttered under his breath, the same one who had wailed aloud earlier.

"The same way Thor visited Midguard a while ago...portals," answered Kadir.

"To be fair, the Bifrost has already been repaired and we could...", Loki started only to be cut off.

"No. The Midguardians must not be alerted of our coming until we get there. Last time, I used the Bifrost...there was a bit of a mess," Thor replied.

"As if your presence alone will not alert them to our coming. Thor, you are as loud as a bilchsnipe."

Thor grinned silently at his brother's remark and turned around, saying, "Friends, let us not be too hasty to embark on this momentous quest. Are we not forgetting something?"

"What!" they all shouted in unison at the obnoxious Thor.

"The throne has to be well-kept...and I know by whom."

"Oh no...no, no, no, no...", Loki commented until he saw the person who liked him the least in all of Asgard.

"Lady Sif, what a pleasure it is...to see you here!", Loki choked out.

"Oh Loki, do not look so forlorn. She has probably forgotten all about your little escapade when we were younger. Is that not right, Sif?", Kadir asked in jest.

Sif grimaced and responded, "As I recall, Kadir, you did not attempt to stop the Asgardian troublemaker from committing the aforementioned atrocity. Thus, you are just as guilty as Loki was in the manner."

Thor embraced Sif in a side-hug and declared, "Let bygones be bygones. Are we not all comrades at arms, united in defense of the nine realms?"

Loki started, "I am truly sorry Sif..."

Sif glared at Loki and he shut his mouth like the air was on fire and he could hardly breathe.

"I charge you and the Warriors Three with keeping watch while we are gone," Thor stated.

Kadir brushed Loki off to the side while Thor and Sif continued chatting only to face an extremely bristled heir to two thrones.

"Kadir, how could you bring up that delicate matter at a time like this?"

"You know I have always been up for a bit of fun now and then just like you enjoyed a bit of mischief in the past. Do you not reminisce on our misadventures? Are the rumors true that you have changed in the while that we have not seen each other?"

Thor overheard this and replied, "He has grown up."

Kadir pursed his lips and calmed his thoughts before turning and showing silent approval by nodding his head. However, Loki knew him better and chose to partake in mental conversation like they did as children.

That arrogant oaf...wait, so you hear me now, Loki?

Yes.

Who does he think he is to say that? I distinctly remember you complaining just a few years ago that his maturity was on par with a belligerent adolescent and here he comes mocking our astuteness?

To be honest, you did strike a chord with Sif at an inappropriate time.

She should be over that by now. Dying hair a different color is so simple to do. I am surprised she did not redye it herself.

It is the principle of me taking away her once most prized possession.

Oh, please. She was but a simple flower girl before you gave her a cause to fight for. I am thinking she should be grateful that your foolish act made her be recognized by the mighty Odin who saw a warrior spirit within her.

People are not always logical as we would like them to be, I believe.

What of Thor, hmm? Have you been keeping him in check lately?

Frankly, as of late it has been the other way around.

Speaking of which, how was...what happened during your absence?

Loki closed his eyes and showed him a bit of the horror he underwent.

Oh my. That is...reprehensible. I can understand why your humor has died down as of late. However, I am left wondering how you can truly stomach it all.

Stomach what?

Pretending to be alright while screaming internally and dealing with your night terrors as you do. I find it a miracle that you can even stand upright let smile...

I have become numb to it all.

Thor wrapped up with Sif and proceeded out of the passageway towards the light streaming from the outside.

Kadir and Loki both stopped pretending to chitchat with their mouths and ended the mental conversation with a harrumph from one of his subordinates.

Mind reading was a skill that only Loki shared, but somehow in the few moments they shared Loki could feel myself into believing that someone actually understood. Kadir had no idea what he had gone through these past few years and it was better that if this mission succeeded, Loki let him down gently.

All Loki wraught was chaos and those who had the unlucky misfortune to be by my side when 'he' came for him would pay for it dearly.

It was better to cut them all off. Afterall, to them I am simply an arrogant ex-villain desiring my brother's throne, he reminded myself.

Strangely at that moment, Loki felt something brush against him and heard a very familiar squeal.

"Oops! So sorry, that was so careless of me. I should have seen where I was going," an apologetic lovely creature bemused while feigning distress.

"Always nice to see you as well, Abigail," Loki answered.

"How many times do I have to tell you! It's Abby...say it...say it!", she said as she readied her latest weapon-her high-heeled shoes.

"The Princess of Trolls returns!", Kadir called out as he opened his arms for a long-awaited embrace.

She pouted and pursed her lip, saying, "Only my betrothed could call me that and as far as I know, you have never laid a ring on my finger."

"As precious as we all know your finger is...we also all know that you have denied me the right to do that since we were but wee sprout-lings," Kadir responded in kind.

"Hmmph", she replied, only now seeing the rest of the Vanaheim party plus Thor lingering in the hallway.

As soon as they caught sight of her looking at them, they panicked and struggled to look busy. However, pretending not to gaze at the divine beauty before them was not a skill they had mastered yet.

Kadir  chuckled and commented, "Face it. You like men to like you, yet you ignore them when they want to lay a claim on you."

"That is because I would never want them to have a 'claim' on me. I would rather we have an equal partnership."

"A woman who is able to share her opinions. I like her," Sif postulated as the rest of the group gathered around the newest addition-Lady Abigail.

Loki introduced, "Her name is Abby and she is a dear friend, long lost, but now found."

"Where all you headed off to? If it a fight as I wager it might be, pray do tell."

Thor interrupted, "Lady Abigail, we do not have much time, however, I ask that as an ambassador to your realm, you shall stay here with Lady Sif and the Warriors Three and keep peace as a favor to me."

Lady Abigail bristled, but gave in unexpectedly.

"I would love to finally spend time with the renowned Lady Sif and practice my sparring abilities, if you would be so kind?"

"Of course, Lady..."

"Abby will do." The two women left and strolled off likely to engage in a fight with the Warriors Three.

Knowing Abby as Loki did, she would have several of Asgard's finest warriors on their knees by suppertime.