I know, this took forever. I'm so sorry. To the people who are still reading this, I promise, it will have an ending. Time is just in short supply right now. But thanks to the folks who are sticking with it and take your time to read this and all my stories. :-)

Now to the business - none of these characters are mine. Just borrowing them for fun.

Skye knows she should be sleeping. She promised her mom she would, and her body wants to so badly, but every time her eyes close, Skye wakes up trying not to scream.

At first it was the vision of Melinda May lying dead in a pool of blood that jerked the young woman from the nightmare… her mother's arm near-severed in that HYDRA compound, Loki nowhere to be found to save her.

Then it changed, and the torment that woke Skye was an image of herself, gun in hand, and Loki cackling proudly as her eyes found Grant Ward on the floor, still, dead from a single shot to his head.

Her first instinct was to run and find Melinda, and so Skye headed for the med bays, but found her mom's bed empty. Her assigned room was empty as well. Skye knew that only left one other place, but that wasn't a door she planned to knock on, not after seeing the way that Loki's appearance had affected May – the dark memories of Coulson's death dimming the older woman's eyes in a way Skye hoped to never see again.

She was beyond grateful that everyone let her have time alone with May once they returned from the mission, but now… well, even though it's beyond strange to think of her mom and Coulson as a couple, she knows how they feel about each other… how they've felt for so long… and she won't interrupt if they're finally finding a moment together in the middle of all this insanity.

She just also can't deal with another nightmare, so wandering it is.

Skye can't say she honestly recognized Thor's voice… it's more the formality she can note in the hushed words that reached her ear as she wandered outside near the helipad. One thing she noticed quickly is that her uncle's way of speaking feels just shy of a Shakespeare play, but she loves it. It fuels fantasies for her of what Asgard must be like… the grandeur of it, the history. Her favorite stories so far all involve Frigga, and it makes her sad that she'll never get to meet her grandmother.

The sound of another voice Skye has heard before makes her stop. It's female but has that same formality, and she knows in an instant that Lady Sif is speaking to Thor. But why would she be there?

And when she moves to get a closer look, Skye can barely breathe.

She sees Odin first, realizes who he must be at her initial glance. Almost immediately her eyes find the stranger in the group, and yet he's not unfamiliar. She's seen his face in photos and videos, but somehow everything about Loki is different in reality. He's taller, thinner, but he looks stronger than Skye anticipated, and he has an intensity that almost makes her take a step back.

But Skye doesn't run. She stands there and reminds her lungs to push air out and draw it in, and then she hears her mother's voice in her head.

"You are every good thing that the two of us had to give turned to a living, breathing person."

When his eyes find hers, she wills herself forward. Sif moves into a fighting stance, clearly ready to pounce on Loki in an instant. Odin stands still, studying her. Thor moves to meet her, a hand too gentle for the power he possesses landing on her arm.

"Are you certain?" he asks, and Skye nods because even though he's done terrible things, Loki saved her mother's life. She doesn't have to forgive the rest… Melinda said as much. But she can acknowledge the enormous good he's done in her life.

Thor eases back at her response and in two more steps, she's there, facing Loki, whose eyes fight to stay even with hers. So she reaches out her hand because honestly, she's not sure what else to do.

"Thank you for saving my mother's life," she offers, and she smiles, despite the tears burning her eyes. "I'm Skye."

His hand is as warm as his brother's, which startles her a moment because Melinda told her about the frost giant thing, and that's not what Skye expected, but she squeezes hers closed over his so he doesn't take her surprise as rejection.

"Skye. I am…"

He pauses, and the only thing Skye can think of to describe the hesitation is that it feels like fear. It seems such a foreign concept to link to this man who's done so much evil in so many worlds, but he's afraid, and it makes him real to her in a way he wasn't just moments ago.

"My father," she finishes. "I know."

His eyes hold hers, mesmerizing in the way they study her, trying to learn everything in this one moment, like he believes he won't get another one.

And maybe that really is what he thinks. It hits Skye and steals her breath away because who knows what happens next… but in this small segment of time, she is looking at her father and she smiles even wider because it feels like the most natural thing to do.

"I didn't know who May was then, to me, I mean, but if I'd lost her…"

Loki's hold on her hand is tender and Skye isn't afraid at all when he moves closer.

"I would say it was blind luck, but your grandmother did not believe in that concept. She would say that I was drawn there on that day to be in that exact spot because… the universe decided it was time for you, Melinda, and I to find one another."

"Everything okay here?"

All eyes turned toward Natasha as she walked up, a casual tone to her movements even though Skye had learned quickly that the Black Widow was always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"We were making introductions," Thor answered, and it didn't take years of S.H.I.E.L.D. training to note the silent communication going on between the two Avengers.

"Perhaps someone should get Melinda May?"

Sif's suggestion brought a nod from Natasha and after a pointed look at Loki, she turned back for the door.

"I'll take care of that. You all might want to move this inside. Not sure we want to risk any night owls having something to Tweet about."

It was Odin who stepped forward then, and despite the knowledge that he was her grandfather, Skye couldn't help but feel intimidated as he moved closer to her.

"I believe your friend has a point. So perhaps you could show us inside so I can greet you properly without fear of drawing the wrong kind of attention."

Skye nodded and turned, finally releasing Loki's hand as she followed in Natasha's footsteps. Thor fell in beside her, and when his hand fell to her back in a gesture of comfort, she realized she was holding her breath as they approached the door inside.

"I'm not sure we're really ready for this."

"Nor am I," her uncle agreed, "but Loki has come with information that may be vital to your safety."

"So you're saying we're out of time."

At the door, Thor stopped her with a hand on her arm.

"No harm will come to your loved ones, Skye. You have my vow."

"I'm not afraid of him," she said, voice low because Loki and Odin were nearing them now, Sif trailing behind, eyes hawk-like to Loki's every movement. "I just… there was a lot of pain left behind."

Thor nodded and moved to open the door.

"That is something true of everyone out here as well. I promise, whatever happens, I will be right there with you."

Skye nodded and stepped inside, her stomach beginning to knot at the thought of Coulson and Loki coming face to face. She had no idea what that looked like… if it was a silent standoff or a brutal confrontation in the making. Skye only knew that her mother would likely be caught in the middle of the minefield they were about to step into.

Technically, Leo Fitz was not supposed to be anywhere near the room being utilized as a detainment area for Jemma Simmons. They were still double-checking Jemma's story, making sure all the dates and calls and times lined up. Strict orders had been given that until stated otherwise, the only people allowed to see her where Coulson, May, and Maria Hill.

The electronic locks were good but nothing Fitz couldn't beat. That's what he and Simmons did, after all… figured out ways to overcome obstacles in their path. At least, that's what they'd done for years, together, until…

"You gonna go in?"

Tripp's voice nearly made him jump out of his skin, but Fitz recovered and shook his head.

"So you're just hanging out here instead of sleeping, raiding the kitchen, or watching TV because?"

It was easy to remember the days when every word Tripp spoke made Fitz want to scream at him and tell him to go away. Jealousy… that was the root of it, and he could admit that now. The chemistry between his best friend, his… Simmons… and Antoine Triplett was undeniable.

Then Ward had turned on them. And then Jemma. And Tripp had stayed and helped and somehow, Fitz realized, he'd started thinking of the other man as a friend without even deciding to do so.

"I'm not sure what I'd say if I did walk in there."

Tripp nodded and leaned against the wall on the other side of the hallway.

"I'd ask why the hell she didn't trust us. I mean, I know Coulson said she was afraid for her parents, but…"

"He let them have dinner together," Fitz said, mirroring Tripp's pose. "Coulson, I mean, let her have dinner with her parents. So I mean, that means he believes her, right?"

"Probably. It's a believable story. I want to believe it anyway."

Fitz nodded slightly in reply, knowing exactly what Tripp meant. Yes, they all wanted to believe Jemma because if it wasn't true, if she hadn't been manipulated by Ward and Garrett, then she hadn't just abandoned them or turned traitor, she'd put them in mortal danger, and May…

"You know why I think it's true?"

Tripp sighed as he finished the question, his eyes on the floor, not really waiting for an answer from Fitz before he went on.

"Ward's got a cruel streak. He didn't mine toying with our heads, playing games. But Jemma's not wired like that. And she's a terrible liar."

"Oh, the worst," Fitz agreed. "You heard about the Hub disaster, right?"

Tripp chuckled. "I did. I think someone like that can only lie when it's literally life and death. And she did lie… but not just to us."

"Yeah, that's true," Fitz agreed. Coulson had told them Jemma was aware of Skye and May's bond beforehand, that she'd kept that a secret even once she was under Hydra's thumb when the information's value was incalculable.

Almost simultaneously, their eyes moved to the door lock that, between the two of them, would take all of 30 seconds to work around.

"So maybe we should go in," Tripp offered.

Fitz stood up straighter and moved closer to the door. "Yeah, maybe we should."

But neither man moved, not until they both shrieked at the sudden bang that echoed at them over a loudspeaker perched overhead.

"For the love of… go in! I disabled the damn lock already."

Feet in motion, Fitz pushed the "door open" control as his mumbled "Yes, ma'am, Commander Hill, ma'am" spilled out of his mouth. Tripp followed on his heels as the door slid to the right, revealing an awake and pacing Jemma Simmons.

"Fitz. Tripp. I didn't think… I wasn't sure you'd want to see me, but… I'm so happy to see you."

Both men stood there, a little uncertain despite the fact that they were all now standing in the same room. Jemma clearly sensed their unease because she stayed where she was, refusing to move closer.

"That was damn stupid," Fitz finally said, the words bubbling up like an explosion he couldn't contain. "Since when do you do stupid things without me?"

"I… well, that's a fair point, I suppose. Right, then. Next time evil HYDRA operatives threaten my life or the lives of my loved ones, I promise to drag you into it with me."

A small smile tugged at the corner of Fitz's mouth despite his resistance.

"I know it's a lot to ask, but… if you could forgive me…"

"Come on, girl," Tripp drawled, moving in, pulling Fitz with him, enveloping them all in an enormous bear hug before they could even register it was happening. Jemma laughed, tears clogging up the sound as she spoke through the muffle of their tight embrace.

"God forbid, but if there's ever a next time, I promise… I'll come to you. I'll come to you both."

A month ago, Fitz would've pulled away and angrily rushed out of the room. But tonight… tonight, Jemma was home and safe and hopefully on her way back to them, and Tripp was his friend, and whatever came next, those were the things that mattered.

Phil Coulson loved to watch Melinda May sleep so long as it was real sleep and not an unconscious state resulting from yet another life-threatening injury.

He wished the better times outweighed the scary ones. Had they held a little tighter to one another years ago, maybe they would. But Phil wasn't a man who needed to learn a lesson twice.

He had Melinda back. They had Skye. The family that should've been once was, and nothing was going to tear it apart.

An easy vow for his heart to feel... a far harder one to keep given the list of enemies trying to destroy everything they believed in.

Still, Phil wasn't sure his life wasn't better than it had ever been before, back when he'd had a singular purpose, defending the world simply because it was the right thing to do. It all felt so much more important to him now that the world had filled with light in a new way. Or maybe it was in an old way, one reminiscent of Young Agent Coulson, whose idealism and sense of duty had been tempered by a belief he could have the woman he loved and their child, too.

Somewhere along the way... maybe after Bahrain, after May had surrendered herself to a desk in order to heal... Phil had lost sight of all that. The world became an idea apart from him... a place that needed his guardianship and sole focus, something he protected for others.

It happened too often... agents seeing too much along the way, deciding life without loved ones to lose was safer, easier. But it wasn't true. It made risking your own survival easier, sure, but it made enduring the accumulated toll so much harder. He'd have to work on that as S.H.I.E.L.D. continued to rebuild, help some of his young coworkers avoid that dangerous pitfall.

The soft knock against his door was designed to only get the attention of anyone in the room who was awake. Phil eased from bed and stepped over to the portal, knowing that meant whoever it was likely knew he wasn't alone.

"Hate to do this, boss," Natasha teased as Phil stepped into the hall. "But we need you guys in the conference room."

"She's exhausted, Nat."

The redhead nodded. "I know. But... Odin, Sif, and... Loki... they're here."

Phil felt his whole body tighten at the idea of his murderer so close by, and it took a nearly superhuman effort to try to keep his next words from sounding as angry as they were.

"Of course, because that's just what we all need now."

Natasha's hand touched down on his shoulder, and Phil forced himself to take a deep breath in response to her uncommon show of concern.

"Skye is fine. But I think it would help her to have you both there."

He nodded, another deep inhale steadying him.

"I'll wake Melinda. Please let Skye know we're on the way."

"I will," Natasha agreed, then her hand squeezed against his bicep in a gesture of reassurance. "We've all got your back this time."

He offered her a weak attempt at a smile and then slipped back into the room. Melinda had roused, likely from the tension in his voice.

"Is Skye all right?"

He shook his head and sank down on the bed beside Melinda, his hand reaching for hers instantly.

"Skye's fine. But apparently half of Asgard is here, and our presence is requested."

Melinda gave a small nod and then leaned in, kissing Phil with a gentleness that always touched his soul.

"No matter what Loki does or what verbal bait he dangles in front of you, this is the life I choose... you, Skye, S.H.I.E.L.D., our team. This is where I belong."

He didn't want to admit that it helped to hear her say the words out loud, so Phil simply stood and held her hand as she climbed from the bed to get ready.

A quick check of the security cameras gave Melinda a sense of where everyone was. Despite the hour, the entire team was awake and spread throughout the facility. Fitz and Tripp sat with Simmons… Hill had already buzzed Phil to let him know she'd allowed them access. Hill and Fury were keeping Stark occupied dealing with Ward's medical issues and containment. The last thing anyone needed was another Iron Man/Loki showdown before they found out what was going on.

Natasha stood waiting for them near the large conference room that served as their briefing area. That told May where everyone else was.

"Odin's been telling Skye stories about her grandmother. So far, that's the totality of the conversation. I think they were waiting for you."

Melinda glanced to her right and looked at Phil. To anyone who didn't know him, he was the appearance of calm.

"You don't have to…"

He shook his head before she could finish.

"I do."

Nat stepped aside to let Melinda enter the room first. Sif gave her a brief nod as Odin was reaching the end of a tale that had Skye mesmerized.

"I drew my sword, of course. Ready to slay the wolves where they stood to protect my wife and my boys. Frigga looked at me and laughed. 'Put that monstrosity away, love,' she said, and then stepped over to these four snarling beasts. I can't tell you what spell it was she used, but from that moment on, everywhere those boys went, four perfectly behave, highly protective wolves followed, and each and every time we saw them, she would say…"

"Magic in the hands of a woman solves more problems than metal in the hands of men."

Loki and Thor joined Odin on reflex, their voices melding together in something that was clearly familiar and heartfelt. There was even a small chuckle from them before their eyes started to find one another's, the discomfort and distance between Loki and his family creeping back in.

"We don't always have magic," Phil offered, breaking the uncomfortable silence, "but I'd be lying if I said the women around here don't have a heavy lead in problem solving."

Skye stood and crossed over to them immediately, her hand reaching for Melinda's, and she gave a gentle squeeze of reassurance to her daughter's fingers.

"Mom, this is, well, my grandfather. Odin."

Melinda stepped forward and offered her hand to the king she'd heard so much about from Sif and Thor. He seemed weary, but strong, a man ready to defend his family against the threat that circled them.

"My dear, it is a pleasure, and one I fear is long overdue."

"I wish it were under better circumstances," May admitted, and Odin took her hand in his much the same way she'd done to Skye a moment earlier.

"As do I. But I choose to think of this as a family uniting to protect my granddaughter, and that still makes it a joyous moment."

Melinda nodded and looked toward Phil. She introduced him, and Odin warmly greeted the Son of Coul, who was already a part of Asgardian mythology at home based on his time with Thor in New Mexico. Through it all, it was hard not to notice Loki remaining silent in the background, eyes following every interaction.

"We have news," Sif began, "about the threat to Skye and quite possibly to your world, Melinda May."

Anxiety raced through Melinda at the idea that a concrete threat existed, that the "death" that followed Skye might have a name, and worse yet, a true purpose to their hunt. But before she could find out the details, Phil interrupted.

"I know we're all grateful you've come and obviously our primary focus is on finding a way to protect Skye. But I think, for all our sakes… Loki, you and I should have a conversation first."

Her whole body tensed at the notion, but May felt the gentle, almost hidden movement of Phil's hand at her waist.

"We'll be fine. Won't we?"

Looking around the room, Melinda saw she was not the only one with concerns. Everyone present seemed to think this was a potentially dangerous move. Everyone except Phil and Loki, who looked eager for the opportunity.

Her eyes locked on Loki, his flashing toward her, as he walked to the door where Phil had moved to wait for him. May fought the urge to offer any warning, not with Skye standing so near. But Loki stopped his movement and looked at her with the same earnest expression she'd seen when he vowed to help their daughter.

"We will be fine. I swear it."

Natasha walked to her side as Phil and Loki exited the room, the door closing behind them.

"Do you want me to have Hill go to comms?"

A look at her daughter's worried, guilty face gave Melinda her answer. If they were going to do this, if somehow Skye was going to have any kind of relationship with her father despite her deep ties to Coulson, maybe Phil was right. This moment was inevitable.

"No. Trust is the only way we'll be able to do this. So it's time to start."

Loki couldn't have been more surprised by Coulson's request, imagining the man would do anything he could to avoid being alone with him. The looks on Melinda, Skye, and Thor's faces told the would-be king they were just as shocked.

They were also afraid. Loki could feel it radiating off his daughter and her mother, and the love they both felt for this mortal man… it twisted Loki's gut into a knot.

As they walked a few steps from the conference room into the kitchen, Loki's memory played through the moments on the helicarrier… the way it had felt to kill a human he'd thought of as insignificant… the way Coulson had fought to hold on, even as his life poured from his chest.

Had he been thinking about Melinda then? Loki could only imagine the answer was yes. And with shame, he had to admit that he had not thought of her once in all the time he'd plotted to steal the throne of Asgard.

He knew that what he should feel now… what the others wanted him to feel… was remorse and regret. But Loki also knew his heart and there he saw only envy and anger. He could've had an entire lifetime with Melinda… if he'd known about their baby, if he'd refused to listen to the words his mother had spoken that had made such sense at the time. And Phil Coulson, this man who seemed to exist solely to defy him, had gotten that lifetime… he knew Melinda strong and weak and happy and broken. He knew what it was to make Skye feel safe with his mere presence.

Loki hated this man so much, it was practically choking him.

"The feeling's mutual," Coulson said, and the words drew a grin to Loki's face.

"I'm glad we understand each other."

"We have our hatred in common. Not much of a surprise. But we have them in common, too. A woman we both love; and I believe you love her, because you're a psychotic monster, but you're not stupid. And that young woman whose whole life is spinning off its axis..."

"Skye is my daughter."

"Biology isn't everything. Ask your father."

The words both stung Loki and cut off his protest. Point to Coulson.

"Odin and I may not be the best example of a successful adoption."

Coulson conceded that one with a small shrug.

"I'm pretty certain by the time Skye wants to be director of S.H.I.E.L.D., I'll be ready to hand over the reins without any warfare. Besides, you clearly care about Odin more than you want to admit."

Loki felt his hackles go up as he stalked across the room.

"Your kind is always making assumptions about me. What could you know of what exists between my fath-"

The slip brought a cocky glint to Coulson's eye.

"Yes, your father. Whether you like it or not. And it may be an assumption, but it seems to me you could've killed him with no one the wiser while you were impersonating him. But you didn't."

"No, I did not. Tell me, Coulson, what great meaning do you find in that?"

"That whatever Melinda loved in you once still exists."

The words could not have stunned Loki more if Sif had been asking him to sit at her side for a game of chess.

"I can't erase you from reality, Loki, much as I might want to. And you're just as stuck with me. You are her past, I am her present, and Skye is the one person all three of us are trying to protect. So we can hate each other. We just can't let it hurt them."

"And you can do that? Even after my scepter pierced your heart? After I laughed at your suffering?"

"I can do it for them. Can you?"

Loki thought of his promise to Melinda, to do what was right for their daughter. He thought of the empathy Odin felt for his loss and how everyone, even Sif, was willing to set aside their differences for the sake of this girl who was part of him and yet a total stranger.

He thought of the radiant dark-haired girl who had seen only the good in him, who had trusted him with her safety, her body, and her heart.

And Loki knew finally, absolutely, that there was nothing he couldn't endure if it were for their sake that he must.

"I have a feeling, Coulson, that you will enjoy the first part of our plan immensely."

"Does it involve punching you in the face? Because I'd be willing to do that. For the sake of the plan, of course."

Loki rolled his eyes and took a step forward. Coulson didn't flinch or step back, and that more than anything told the Asgardian that they'd truly reached some kind of accord, however strange.

"Would you settle for walking me to my doom in handcuffs for the whole world to see?"

"Wait. What?"

Skye's voice pulled both men's attention to the room's entryway. Melinda and the Black Widow stood on either side of the bewildered younger woman.

"We came to make sure no one was bleeding. Did I just hear something about handcuffs?"

Loki smiled and walked over to his daughter.

"You did indeed. It's time for me to be put on trial for my crimes."

Melinda eyed him curiously, uncertain what he had in mind.

"How does that help us expose the threat against Skye?"

"Because the threat is my mother… my birth mother. And if we're right, in order to save me, she'll expose herself." Loki looked at the concern on his daughter's face and moved closer, taking her hand in his. He couldn't deny a surge of relief when she did not resist.

"She wants you because she lost me. So I'm going to give her a son to save in order to save you, Skye."