Loki's world remained dark for a week straight. He could thank Banner for continuously injecting him with a sedative and pain killers from an IV, which sat along side the heart monitor. Thor was against the use of a machine on his brother until Banner explained how truly bad Loki's condition was.

" Thor, you must understand. If that line goes straight... Loki's not with us anymore. This is the only way to see how things are going inside his body. Please, Thor... if you love your brother, we need to take precautions like this. I don't doubt Loki's strength, but he hasn't moved since we brought him here four days ago." Banner had explained to Thor. It took a few hours of convincing from the other Avengers, but Thor eventually agreed that in this turn of events the best route would be the safest one. It was the seventh day that Loki stirred from his sleep, only because Banner and Stark thought that it would be bad if Loki stayed on the sedative much longer. He needed to get it out of his system.   

Sigyn hadn't left Loki for a second since he had returned. As she watched the sky darken, she folded her arms,laying most of her head on them, the top of her head rested on Loki's hip. Her blue eyes filled with tears once again as she fell asleep, silently begging Loki to open his eyes. Thor entered the room around midnight. He took a blanket from the edge of the bed and laid in over Sigyn's small body, her breathing making the blanket appear to be moving. Thor kissed Loki's forehead and, like he had for a week, took his seat on the opposite side of the bed near the dresser, and drifted off to sleep.

A few moments after Thor fell asleep, Loki's hand stirred on the blanket. He opened his eyes, blinking hard, trying to remember all that had happened to him. He attempted to sit upright, but his strength had left him. The best he could do was gently reach out his hand. He expected to feel nothing, instead he felt silky hair. " Se-sigyn." He said, as his eyes drifted down to her body. He stroked her hair as his eyes wandered around the room. His eyes fell on Thor snoring next to him, forcing Loki to smile despite of the numb pain that starting to return from the lack of pain-killers.

He looked around his room one more time before looking back to Sigyn, whose eyes were now wide open. Her hand reached out and took his, she brought it to her cheek, desperately trying to decide what emotion to feel after seeing him awake. " Th-Thor? Thor? Wake up!" She called over to him.

His eyes snapped open quickly and he sat bolt upright. He looked from Sigyn to Loki, and back again. " Loki? You... you're awake!" He quickly moved over to Loki, prepared to tackle- hug him, but gave him a small, light hug after once again seeing the thick white bandages and gauze pads that were wrapped around his thin frame. Thor raced out into the hall, and found his parent's bedchambers. " Mother! Father! Come quickly-Loki's awake!" Frigga jumped out of bed and raced after Thor, Odin followed behind at a slower pace trying to think of what to say to his son.   

Frigga was at Loki's side in an instant kissing every inch of his face. She held his face in her hands, gently wiping his tears away with her thumbs. " Oh Loki. My beautiful baby boy, you have no idea how good it is to see those beautiful eyes of yours open." She held his head to her shoulder, rocking him back and forth with a gentle motion. He closed his eyes, listening to the three of them tell him what had occurred since he was brought home.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw a shadow from the doorway.

Loki pulled away from his mother, never taking his eyes off the All-Father Odin. With difficulty, Loki rose from the bed and walked until he was only a foot from Odin. The light of the dim lamps was reflecting in the tear trails that marred Loki's face as he starred straight into Odin's one crystal clear blue eye. Loki dropped to his knees in front of Odin, and heard the gasps of his brother, wife, and mother who all thought that his legs had given out, but no. Loki folded his hands in his lap, palms upward, and spoke in a voice that was choked with the purest emotion. " All-Father, I am sorry. I am so, so incredibly sorry that I betrayed you, Asgard, Thor, everyone. I don't know what came over me, I don't know why I did this, but I do know that I would do anything to fix all the pain I've caused. I just wanted to make you proud. That's all I've ever done-just try to make you proud."

Odin looked down at the small figure of Loki. He reached forward and ruffled Loki's thick black hair. The All-Father moved down to his own knees, so he would be eye level with Loki. He set the boy up at arm length so Loki's back was straight. He pulled Loki into an embrace, holding his son with such a force that Loki knew he would never be able to break free. " Loki... my son. I know that I have never shown the support that you have deserved. You were correct in everything that you accused me of, and for that, I am absolutely sorry. I am sorry that I never put my faith in you. I am sorry that I have not taken you into this embrace before, that despite how hard you've pushed yourself, how many times you have reached a limit beyond most, that I was never there for you. I love you Loki, I always have and always will. I will tell you now, in a hope to start building back up your hope and love, that I am proud of you. I am proud of all you have done to make be proud in the past, present, and future. Just... please don't go over the edge again. I love you, my son."

Loki could barely believe what he had just heard. He clutched his father with everything he could muster, and then felt someone else join the hug, then another, and another. Thor gave a small laugh and Loki joined in too. Then Sigyn and Frigga, and finally Odin. It wasn't a funny laugh, more of a relief laugh, like they were so relieved that all this heartache was over.

Loki couldn't see what the future was. He didn't know if he would never oppose Thor again. He didn't know if he wouldn't fight the Avengers again. He didn't know if he would do everything right, but he knew that he was home and with his family. Home and family... two words that brought a peace to his life that Loki hadn't felt in too long of a time.