Chapter 4

"Park near the elevator," Loki's voice advised Boda as she pulled her vehicle into the parking garage of a fairly new high rise office building, driving up a couple of levels before locating an empty spot near the garage's elevator and pulling in, "You're wearing it?" Loki asked as Boda put the vehicle in park.

Boda pushed the sleeve of her blouse up a few inches to reveal a bracelet on her wrist of what appeared to be rose quartz stones, the same Loki had placed a spell on and smuggled to her in the dungeon before her exile to allow communication between them.

"I doubt there'll be any trouble," said Boda, "It's a simple trade."

"Do you remember nothing I taught you?" Loki scolded, "Always expect the unexpected. I've been reminded of that myself recently…what's his name?"

"I told you...Dario-"

"I see no point in continuing this pantomime. If all goes as planned I'll be meeting him soon enough...the child."

Boda stared at the steering wheel before answering.

"Vanargand, after my father–"

"Is this Dario his father?" Loki interrupted.

"No…you didn't let me finish. Vanar for short. Vanar Lokison."

"You're certain?" Loki asked after a moment of silence.

"Of course I'm certain! I have no one, no one but him. I gave birth to him alone in the room above the tavern."

"Alone?" Loki asked in disbelief.

"Animals give birth to their young unattended."

"You're not an animal."

"Your father treated me like one. What choice did I have? I couldn't go to a mortal hospital. When it comes to childbirth, mortal and Asgardian physiology is the same, we just recover far quicker, have fewer complications. I checked out books from the library."

"You're attempting to raise an Asgardian child here...in Midgard? It's madness!"

"You just showed up out of the blue after four years. I wasn't even thinking about it. I'd had no reason to. Why did you decide to come here that night? Were you that desperate?"

"I'm never desperate. I was here on other business. It was a spur of the moment decision."

"So you decided to mix business with pleasure?"

"It had been some time since you'd last contacted me. What passed between us was not unwelcome but it wasn't the impetus for my visit...I wanted to know you were ok," Loki explained.

"I'm sorry. I never know what to think when it comes to you."

"I suppose that's part of my charm," replied Loki.

"I suspect it's a tactic designed to keep everyone off balance. What kind of a trickster would you be if everyone knew what to expect from you? However, it doesn't work very well when it comes to relationships."

"Does he know what he is?"

"I haven't told him about Asgard yet. He only knows he's different. He can't play with other children, he's too strong, he could hurt them by accident. I can't hire anyone to watch him while I'm working, even if I had the money. I made the room above the tavern into a room for him while I'm working."

"Surely he's asked about his father. What did you tell him about me?"

"It's funny, he noticed the same thing you did, that his hair is dark while mine's fair. I told him I loved you very much but you weren't able to return that love, that you live somewhere far away and you went home," Boda explained.

"So my son believes I'm a lout that abandoned him. Lovely."

"What did I tell him that isn't true?" Boda asked bitterly.

"Did you not think I deserved to know I have a son? Did you not think he deserved to know his father?!" Loki railed.

"If he were to know his father, he would lose his mother. I knew if you or your father learned of him he would be taken from me. As I hoped, it appears your spell to obfuscate me from Heimdall has done the same for him by extension. I was a wreck those first weeks, expecting someone to come and take him at any moment. I was upset that you left without saying goodbye but that wasn't why I told you that I didn't want to see you again. When I woke to find you gone, for a moment I thought you'd done the same…It would have been better if you had," Boda ended dolefully.

"How did he end up in the custody of this Dario?" Loki asked.

"After his first visit, he returned to the tavern a few more times over the next few months. A week ago when we returned home he was waiting in my apartment. He must have followed me home after one of his previous visits. He knows what we are. He knows about Asgard, I don't mean the silly mortal stories."

"How?" asked Loki in astonishment.

"I have no idea. He took him. He said he would return him in exchange for the gu."

"He's a mortal. You couldn't stop him?"

"I don't know what he is."

"What do you mean?" asked Loki, puzzled.

"He appears mortal, he said he was born in Greece…"

"And Vanar, a prince of Asgard, was born in Boston…in a tavern," Loki interjected.

"He has the ability to alter his form. It's not merely an illusion. I tried to stop him but he changed into some sort of monster. He was too strong. Without my magic I wasn't sure I could obtain what he wanted. I wouldn't have asked for your help but I didn't have a choice…just as I have no choice but to lose Vanar again when you return with him to Asgard," Boda said, hanging her head, her shoulders slumping, fighting back tears.

Boda felt Loki's hand come to rest on her leg.

"As I promised you, when I become king-"

"If...It's time. We should go."

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Two men in black suits approached as Boda, the canvas tote over her shoulder, stepped out of the elevator into the sprawling lobby of the office building. Without exchanging a word with her they moved to either side of her, each taking hold of one of her arms, leading her across the lobby to another elevator.

One of the men released Boda, moving to stand before a panel to the side of the elevator, placing his hand on it. The door of the elevator opened, both men taking hold of an arm again, leading her inside, the doors closing behind them.

"That was a rather rude greeting from the goon squad," Boda heard Loki's voice say within her mind.

"I think they're the strong, silent type," Boda replied with her own thoughts.

"I'm the strong, silent type."

"You…the silent type? Since when?" Boda chuckled in her head, "You even talk in your sleep."

"Do I?"

"You were giving up all the dirt last night."

"What did I say?"

"I never would have guessed you had such a soft spot for Fandral."

"Don't be absurd. The very thought..." Loki said in disgust.

The doors of the elevator slid open once again, the 'goons' as Loki had labeled them, once again leading Boda out of the elevator and down a carpeted hallway lit with art deco style wall sconces. Stopping at a door, one of the suited men rang a buzzer.

"Enter," a man's voice responded.

The suited men released their grip on Boda, the man to Boda's right opening the door, gesturing for her to enter. The two followed as she stepped inside to view a well groomed man with short cropped dark hair in a steel grey designer suit and tie, the tie accented with a gold tie pin in the shape of a bull, standing at a marble topped minibar pouring a glass of wine.

"Your presence is not necessary. Leave us," Dario commanded the 'goons.' Turning, they exited the room, closing the door behind them.

"Anne! Welcome. Would you care for a glass of wine?" Dario said with a touch of a lingering Greek accent.

"No, thank you. "

"I insist. It's a new vintage. As a connoisseur of spirits, I'd be interested to know what you think of it," Dario said in an overly ingratiating tone.

"I own a tavern. It's not the bar at the Ritz Carlton," Boda replied.

Dario poured the blood red wine from the bottle into a second glass that sat beside his own, lifting it and crossing the room to Boda, offering it to her. Boda took a drink of the wine, savoring its flavor.

"A bit too sweet for my taste."

"Just a moment," Dario said, returning to the bar and opening a small gold box, taking a pinch of whatever it contained before replacing the top, returning to stand before Boda, sprinkling what appeared to be salt into her glass, "Try it now."

Boda swirled the wine in the glass for a moment before lifting it to her lips.

"Better."

"Salt smooths out and balances the flavor," Dario explained as Boda took another drink.

"I'll have to remember that."

"Please, sit," Dario gestured towards a plush sofa.

"I'm not here for a wine tasting."

"It would be a shame to let good wine go to waste," Dario said, Boda lifting the glass once again, finishing the remainder in one gulp and holding the empty glass out towards him, Dario taking it from her, walking back to the bar and setting it down, turning back to face Boda,"Show me yours and I'll show you mine."

"This isn't a game, Dario. Where is he?"

"You first," Dario said, smiling.

Boda removed a shoebox from the canvas tote, opening it to reveal the gu within resting on a bed of tissue paper. Dario walked over to his desk, pressing a button, as Boda replaced the top on the box.

"Bring him in."

A door on the opposite side of the room from the desk opened, a small dark haired boy, Vanar, stepping through hand in hand with a severe looking middle aged woman in a grey skirt suit, his expression unsure until his eyes fell upon Boda.

"Mommy!" Vanar cried out joyfully.

"Take it," Boda ordered Dario, thrusting the box towards him.

Dario took the box, nodding at the skirted woman. She released Vanar's hand and turned away, walking back through the door from which she entered,

"Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" Vanar called out ecstatically, sprinting excitedly across the room to Boda as she knelt, her arms open wide, a bright smile lighting up her face, the boy diving into them.

Boda closed her arms around Vanar tightly, lifting him off the floor, tears streaming from her eyes.

"My baby…I'm so glad you're alright. I missed you so, so much!" Boda said, her voice quavering, before turning to Dario, "Whatever it is you are, if I ever see you again, I'll kill you," Boda told him before turning, carrying Vanar clinging to her towards the door.

"It was nice doing business with you!" Dario, grinning ear to ear, called happily after her.

Boda opened the door, turning to face Dario.

"Go to hell!" Boda exclaimed before turning her back on him, striding out, Vanar in her arms, the door slamming behind her.

Boda marched past the two suited men waiting in the hallway who stepped towards her.

"I can find my own way," she barked, continuing down the hall towards the elevator, noticing that the button was already lit, the doors sliding open as she reached them, closing behind her as she entered, the button for the lobby on the interior panel lighting up.

"Are we going home? I want Wolfie," said Vanar.

"Yes…you're going home," Boda said, only half successfully holding back a sob as she squeezed his small body even tighter than before.

"Mommy, you're hurting me," Vanar cried.

"Sorry…I'm sorry…" Boda apologized.

"It's ok. Can we get ice cream?" Vanar asked brightly, evoking a half sob, half laugh from Boda.

"Yes, baby, anything you want."

"I…he's…I don't know what to…" Boda heard Loki's voice stammer in wonder inside her head.

"Now do you understand?"