Amy reached over and rolled the third kitten over playfully, letting her wriggle for a moment before letting her go. Then she reached down and picked up a sparkly toy with a bell on it. Immediately, she had three sets of sharp eyes on the toy. She flicked it across the room, and the kittens took off after it.

Loki snickered and then spotted her laser pointer. It took him only moments to figure out what it was, and then he got one kitten's attention and sent it skittering across the floor and almost into a wall.

Amy snickered.

"Just don't shine it near their eyes," she said. She grinned. "Up the walls and on the ceiling is usually fun."

Loki did as she instructed, sending the kittens running and jumping and flying off things to try and get the little red dot. It really was fun to watch.

Amy couldn't help but laugh as she watched it all. It really was adorable and amusing to see Loki playing with the kittens.

Since he had literally nothing else to do, Loki didn't mind spending so much time with the kittens. Mostly it was Amy he liked spending time with, but she didn't need to know that just yet.

The next few weeks were quiet around the tower. Amy was settling back in well enough, with fewer loss-of-control episodes than before, which she counted as a good thing.

Tony, meanwhile, was keeping tabs on the getaway cabin, and it was almost finished.

While all of that was happening, the calendar was creeping along closer to Yule. About a week beforehand, Thor went to Loki with some exciting news before bounding off to go talk to the rest of the Avengers about it.

Loki, of course, went to go find Amy first.

"Whoa, easy there, Point Break, what's got you so bouncy?" Tony said when Thor burst into the kitchen.

Amy was sitting by the single working fireplace on the communal floor, just relaxing with some tea.

"Father has invited you all to come home with us for the winter festivities," Thor said with a huge grin.

Loki walked over to her and sat next to her with a little sigh, rubbing his temples a bit. Things were still strained in Asgard with him around, so he was not looking forward to the holidays.

"Wait, say what?" Clint asked. "Go home with you, as in, to your home? To Asgard?"

Amy looked over when he sat down, and silently offered some of her tea. She knew the look on his face; he likely had a headache brewing.

"Yes!" Thor beamed. "Father said it would be an opportune time to show you all the wonders of Asgard."

Loki took the tea and took a sip of it, rubbing his temples a bit. He did have a headache brewing, but sitting in the quiet with Amy was nice.

At least until he had to tell her the plan, anyway.

Clint considered that for a moment and then grinned.

"I'm game," he said. He looked at the others. "Guys?"

Tony looked like he was torn between desperately wanting to go, and desperately not wanting to be separated from his tech.

"How was the visit?" Amy asked softly after a few moments of silence.

The other Avengers all agreed, with varying levels of curiosity and enthusiasm. Lea hung back a bit, fairly sure the invitation didn't extend to her. Oh well, she'd stay and look after the lab, or something.

"Strained," Loki said quietly. "As usual." He sighed. "I will be going back again soon."

Thor beamed.

"Wonderful!" he said. "This shall truly be a joyous holiday!"

"Why so soon?" Amy asked gently, just watching him.

"Yule is approaching," Loki said quietly. "I have been told I am returning for the holidays, as are the rest of the fools here." He looked at her. "And you, if you wish to see my home."

When Loki had mentioned Yule, Amy's mind automatically worked on equating it with a conventional holiday. When he mentioned that she was invited, the gears in her mind ground to a halt.

"To-- to Asgard?" she asked cautiously.

"Indeed." Loki watched her carefully. "You are not required to go, of course. But I would be grateful if you came."

"You want me to go to Asgard." Amy's mind reeled for a moment before it clicked. "You want someone there you won't be tempted to strangle."

"That is one reason, yes," Loki said cautiously. It was one reason, but one of a few, and certainly not the only reason he wanted her there.

Amy was quiet for a moment.

"What about my sister?" she asked. "I'm not leaving Lea behind."

Loki blinked. Right, he'd forgotten about her.

"She may come or stay as she pleases," he said with a shrug. "If she wishes to come, she will also be my guest."

Amy considered it for a moment.

"Alright," she said. "I'll go with you, once I know what Lea wants to do."

Loki nodded. "Of course," he agreed. "Take all the time you want." He smiled a bit, took another sip of her tea, and handed it back to her.

Amy smiled a bit in return and accepted the cup back. She finished the tea, and then got up and stretched a bit.

"I'll go and find Lea now," she said. "Do you want any more tea while I'm up?"