And I also don't think it's lost on him that the last thing he said to her is that she wasn't his mother (ironic pain is only fun if the character is aware of the irony).

Now that, I think, is a pain and a truth that Loki worries over like tonguing a sore tooth.

Also, Loki shielding Jane made me think of your prospective fic.

OMG ME TOO! It was one of those magic moments where I could just PRETEND.

I shared your pretending.