Tony waited for them in the penthouse. The billionaire wore an unusually grim expression but Cassandra was too tired from all the time zone hopping to think much of it. Jetlag had nothing on portal travel. "I'm sorry to impose like this. I can't see mom until tomorrow."

"The facility informed me of Ms. Pierce's hospitalization." Tony said, crossing his arms. "There is something I'd like to speak with you about."

Cassandra rubbed a hand over her face, her eyelids struggling to stay open. "Can it wait until tomorrow? I need some sleep." She stood still while Loki helped her out of his jacket unable to muster the energy to do it herself. "I promise we can talk after I make sure my mom is okay."

Tony relaxed his aggressive stance and sighed. "Fine. We'll talk tomorrow." With that ominous warning the billionaire departed.

Cassandra stared at the elevator doors for a second then shook her head. Tomorrow.

Kicking off her sandals she retreated to her old room, pleased to find her clothes still hanging in the closet. She'd have to pack them for her return to Kamar Taj. No sense in having her wardrobe scattered to all four corners of the globe. Bad enough most of her belongings were still tucked away in a storage unit.

Loki knocked on the door and stuck his head in. "Alright, little vixen?"

Cassandra flopped onto the bed. "I'm fine." She mumbled into her pillow.

Loki crossed the room and knelt beside the bed. He pressed a kiss to her temple then withdrew. "Rest well. I'll see you in the morning."

He turned off the lights and gently closed the door.

Despite worry over her mom Cassandra was asleep in a matter of seconds.

*************************************************************************************

"Things really do come full circle." Cassandra remarked as they arrived at the same hospital she'd been admitted to after being shot on the street. She tucked the ends of the scarf Loki bought her in Kathmandu more securely around her neck.

The chilly air bit through her wool coat nipping at her skin. Glancing around to make sure they were alone, she muttered a quick warming spell and sighed as a cloud of toasty air surrounded her. Practice makes perfect after all.

"I am not overly fond of this place." Loki confessed with a twist of his thin lips. "The emergency staff think me an abuser." He crossed his arms over his chest and scowled at the building.

Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, she peered up at him. He looked so handsome in the early morning light. No one looked less like a beater than the former Asgardian king. His long black peacoat draped loosely over another Armani suit, his dress shoes polished to a high gloss. "Well, I know the truth. Let that be enough."

Loki captured her hand and brushed his cool lips against her knuckles. "Its enough."

Beaming, Cassandra wrapped her fingers around his and extended the warming spell to him.

His eyes widened slightly over a surprised smile. "You're getting better."

"I try."

Holding hands, they stopped at the hospital greeting center and was directed to Madeline's room on the third floor.

The second Cassandra saw her mom all the tension and strain of the past several months compounded all at once into a boulder-size fist in her chest. She burst into tears.

Her mom looked so fragile with all the wires and monitors attached to her. Her silver hair was braided neatly, draped over her shoulder. Madeline didn't appear to be in any pain yet Cassandra blamed herself for her mom's hospitalization.

Loki regarded Cassandra in alarm when she stifled a sob. He started to reach for her but she dodged him. "Cassandra..."

Cassandra had no words for how she was feeling. Not any he would understand. Sometimes you couldn't explain things. She dashed past him and rushed over to the bed, restraining herself at the last second from throwing herself into her mom's arms. The poor woman had just had surgery.

Madeline smiled up at her. "There's my girl. The nurse told me you were coming to visit." She held her arms open for a hug.

Tears dripping down her cheeks, Cassandra carefully embraced her mom. Suddenly she was a child again in need of her mother's comfort. Madeline stroked her hair softly and whispered reassurances. "I'm alright, Cassie. I promise. I just took a bad fall."

Sniffing Cassandra pulled back to look at her mom. "Why didn't you call me?"

Madeline offered her a tissue. "I didn't want to be a bother. Mr. Stark told me you are learning your knew job. I know how important it is to you."

Cassandra blew her nose loudly and smiled. "Mom, you are never a bother to me. I love you."

"I love you too." Madeline's blue gaze shifted to Loki who hung back. "Who is this young man?"

Young man? Loki was centuries older than Madeline. Cassandra decided not to mention that. "This is Loki, my boyfriend."

The god stepped forward and affected a gallant bow. "Well, met madame. It is an honor to finally make the acquaintance of my beloved's honored mother."

Trust Loki to turn on the charm. Cassandra suppressed a smile and held out her hand to him. "Come here."

Madeline regarded Loki suspiciously. "You sound like an actor. Are you an actor?"

Loki looked taken aback by the question. "No. I am not. Though I'm not opposed to good theater."

"Hmm. That's good. I don't trust actors. You can never tell when they're being truthful." Her mom extended a hand to Loki. "Madeline Pierce."

The rogue took her hand and kissed her knuckles with a wink. "I like you. You're refreshing."

"I'm not sure if I like you." Madeline said bluntly.

Loki laughed in delight enjoying the old woman. "I can see where your daughter gets her lovely manners from."

Cassandra knew her mother. An interrogation would soon be forthcoming. There were things neither Loki or she could tell Madeline for her own safety. Including how her daughter is now a legendary sorcerer with the fate of the world in her hands.

Now, was the time to suck it up and confront her mother about the circumstances of her adoption. Part of her was reluctant but she put this conversation off long enough. "Mom, I'm glad you're going to be alright. Actually, there's something I want to ask you about."

Madeline rested her head back against her pillow. "Sure. You can ask me anything, Cassie."

Cassandra took a deep breath. "Did you really find me in a dumpster?"

Shock scrawled across her mother's face quickly replaced my guilt. "You found out."

"So, its true." She whispered, a cold lump of grief rising in her throat. Her biological parents really had thrown her out like trash. "I really am a garbage kid."

"Don't you ever talk about yourself that way!" Madeline said fiercely her eyes flashing in anger. "You are my beautiful baby girl and I am your mother! Nothing changes that!"

"Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Because I wanted to protect you! The truth would cause you pain! How did you find out? Did Mr. Stark tell you?" Madeline railed. "If he did I'm going to give him a piece of my mind! That boy deserves a good paddling for interfering in our private family business!"

The image of Tony getting a spanking from her mom popped into her head. Cassandra's shoulders shook with laughter. "I'd like to see that."

"So would I." Loki drawled from behind Cassandra's chair.

Madeline narrowed her eyes. "Have a seat, son. If you're going to be a part of my daughter's life I'd like to get to know you."

At her commanding tone Loki plunked his butt down so fast he nearly missed the chair. He seemed surprised to have obeyed Madeline. Frowning slightly, he cleared his throat and scooted closer. Could the indomitable God of Mischief be afraid of her mom?

Cassandra was intrigued.

"Do you know anything about Cassandra's parents?" Loki asked, resting his elbows on his knees.

Madeline huffed. "I never saw them. Cassie was wailing her head off. When I found her she was in a shoebox in the dumpster. It's a miracle I pulled her out before the trash shifted and she suffocated at the bottom. If I ever find out who did that to her I will kill them with my bare hands!"

"Not if I get to them first." Loki vowed an edge to his voice Cassandra hadn't heard in a while.

Her mom smiled approvingly. "I have a shot gun in my apartment. Would you like to borrow it?"

"No, thank you. I have a far more painful method to destroy them." He said with a faintly evil grin.

Unbelievable. These two were actually bonding. Cassandra was glad and yet also a little worried. This could easily backfire on her. The key banged against her skin reminding her of the other reason for visiting her mother. Cassandra fished it out of her cleavage, dangling the key into view. "Mom, how did you lose this?"

Madeline's forehead crinkled in puzzlement. "I don't know. I took it off before I showered and laid it on the sink. When I stepped out of the shower I noticed the key was missing. I slipped on something and fell."

"So someone stole it." Cassandra concluded grimly. She exchanged a pointed look with Loki.

One of Morgan's minions deliberately sought Madeline out and no doubt arranged her fall. The key was sent to Kamar Taj as a message.

"How odd. The key only has sentimental value." Her mom's gaze flickered to Cassandra. "You were wearing it when I found you."

Suddenly a red light appeared on her mom's chest. Cassandra stared at it then started to turn toward the window.

Loki realized it was a set up a few seconds before she did and tackled her to the floor as the hospital window exploded inward in a shower of glass.

A/N: Yep. I ended it on a cliffhanger. Sorry.

I'm excited for the Loki finale this week. Alligator Loki is so adorable.