Chapter 1

Thor had proposed a month ago. Just a month.

Now Maria stood in the church, the very chapel outside which her parents were buried, dressed in flowing white. A month; and now she was to be married.

Maria's palms were sweaty as they held the small, modest bouquet of red roses, fighting the urge to brush them down the skirt of her dress. Not now, she thought. Now she had to calm down and get busy marrying the God of Thunder.

But she wasn't here to get married. She was here for personal reasons; Maria knelt at the altar, her hands clasped around her flowers together in prayer, her head bowed. Thor stood just behind her. She wasn't sure what she was praying for. For courage, for her parents to be proud, for luck, for strength in case she couldn't come back… she just prayed.

Her heart thumped in her chest and she knew she was running out of time. She was almost late for her own wedding!

A gentle hand touched at her shoulder, and she knew her time was up, that she could delay it no longer. "Maria." Thor's soft voice breathed from behind her. "We must go."

Maria let her eyes open – they were wide as she crossed herself, trying to steady the frantic heartbeat that wrestled within her corseted chest. "Amen." shuddered from her.

Her fingers slowly wound up to Thor's at her shoulder and she gripped his fingers, squeezing them as if he were leaving her rather than about to bind himself to her forever. She was scared; she needed him. "Okay." She breathed shakily, letting his strong hand help her up to her feet.

The shirt of her dress pooled around her as she straightened up and turned to the man she would be calling husband in a few hours. No expense had been spared on her dress – they had gone for the works. Thor's limitless supply of endless gold could bring them riches that made Maria's head spin, but she was adamant not to use any of it unless it was an emergency.

Small, she'd wanted. Small, with little attention. Of course, Thor hadn't allowed that. It wasn't in his nature; he wanted to spoil her, she knew. Besides, it wouldn't do for the prince of Asgard to marry outside the adoration of his kingdom and subjects. His parents hadn't even met Maria yet, for Heaven's sake!

The wedding dress had suffered no neglect then. Even for the short rush of time, it had been perfect. The bodice hugged her figure down to her upper hips, where the skirt bloomed delicately from the widest part of her body. The ruffles tumbled floatingly to the ground, the long graceful veil flowing from its source within Maria's loosely bundled curls on the back of her head. A small glitter of jewels shone from the humble tiara-like accessory Maria wore on the top of her head, just before her dark fringe swept forward loosely to be tucked behind her ear. The roses in her lace gloved hands added a nice splash of colour to the mix, highlighting everything to a glorious degree.

She had to be grand for the people of Asgard to see her. Their future king's marriage was no small affair. Maria's head felt light as she thought of all the people that would be there, watching her, and her arm loped through Thor's as he gently led her from the church.

Maria's eyes drank in every inch of it as the door crept nearer, not knowing when she'd next see this place. She gripped Thor's arm to carry her forward, near forgetting how to walk in her dread.

The church was small and humble, its old stone walls as honest and bare as they day they were laid. Tall, thin glass windows stretched high around them, the ceiling pointed sharply. The front of the church was well adorned, the front risen on a platform that bore the stand at which the vicar would preach, the table, still laden with the plate and goblet for communion, and the organ. The floor was stone cobbled, the pews wooden and stiff.

Maria didn't mind. She loved it. This place was home to her, the source of comfort throughout her whole life. Then they were outside, and it was all behind her. Maria's fingers clawed into the scaled armour on Thor's arm.

"You… you're sure about this?" Her voice stammered in her throat as they cleared the cobbled, low gated wall that surrounded the church, into the clear, deserted country dust path outside. Her round orbs gleamed up at him hopefully. "One hundred per cent sure?"

She half hoped he'd say no. That he wasn't sure. That the whole idea was bad and they should just call it off and stay in the safe sanctuary of Maria's home and get on with their new Earthly lives. That would be good. Safe. Dependable. Nothing could go wrong if Thor would only change his mind.

Except Thor was never unsure about anything. And as before, his certainty hadn't wavered.

"Of course I'm sure." He insisted in that deep voice of his, smile and eyes so alight with happiness. "My mother and father are excited to meet you, and I am keen for you to see my homeland."

Maria sighed, heart sinking with poignant anxiety. She'd have to go through with it after all then – Thor was taking her to Asgard.

They stood in the deserted pathway with Thor dressed in all his shimmering armoured glory and Maria in her wedding dress, waiting to embark on the greatest adventure of her life. The clouds swirled for the powerful shard that was embedded in the head of Thor's mighty hammer, grasped in his spare hand. They'd been lingering for a while. Now their time had come.

In seconds that power would transport them across worlds – literally! Maria gulped at the thought and looked around, though there was no one but sheep on the next hill to answer her worried stare.

Thor must have seen the troubled look in Maria's eyes as she averted her gaze; his arm slowly snaked free of hers and wound around her back, gently easing her close. Her eyes glanced up as he did so, her hands finding the muscular swell of his chest. He leaned down, his lips by her ear. "And I want you as my wife, Maria." He breathed, the hot air sending shivers down Maria's spine as it hit her skin.

Her eyes fluttered shut as she basked in it, trying to gather her wits from what Thor so easily reduced her to.

"What if they don't like me?" she finally fretted, letting her eyes blink open to the god, his eyes lifted to the skies he commanded. Thunder crashed overhead. Her eyes closed again lightly. "And if you make it rain I swear I'll kill you."

Thor's intent blue orbs dropped down to hers and the boyish smile that she loved so much was back in a heartbeat, Maria blinking her eyes open just in time to see it form. "Of course they will like you." He reassured firmly pressing a loving kiss to Maria's forehead. "They will have no choice. I do not plan to ever fall in love with another."

Maria's eyes gleamed up at him, unconvinced.

Thor chuckled and let his arm wind round her shoulders, drawing her close to his side. "My father gave me a shard of the Tesseract to reach you, Maria. He would not have done so if he so disapproved of our union."

He tossed his hammer in the air as if for emphasis, catching it casually by the handle as if it were nothing more than a tennis racket. Maria had seen different; she'd seen that hammer crush Chitauri bodies and wield thunder at its master's command, a deadly weapon fitting of a god like Thor. He was just so incredible.

"Hold on to me tightly," Thor instructed, lifting his eyes to the skies once more. "And do not let go. Not for anything. Do you understand?"

Maria nodded, gulping through her dry throat. Her arm hugged the god's waist tightly. "Hold on, don't let go. I've got it." Her eyes flowed his to the storm above, wondering

"It will be quick. But sharp. It will feel like we are being torn apart but you mustn't surrender to it in the second it prevails. I shan't let go of you, I swear." The god's hand found her waist and knocked her firmly to his side, bumping her hip lightly with his. "And then we shall be in Asgard before you can blink."

Maria's brow furrowed with concentration, trying to fill her head with thoughts of focus rather than blinding panic of what lay of the other side of their journey. A foreign realm, with foreign people. Two of those people being the King and Queen – Thor's parents. It didn't get much more nerve wracking than that! What if they didn't like her? What if she was too weak as a mortal, or just too different…

"And if you do not cease your worries, I fear we shall never leave this cursed village."

The smile spread instinctively at Thor's teasing words, and Maria let her arms hug tightly around the god's waist as she giggled into his chest plate. His hand stiffened on her back. "Ready?" he asked softly.

Maria didn't let herself even think about it, for fear she'd cower out in terror: "Ready." She nodded.

Her arms instantly felt the strain. In the vital seconds she knew she was being whisked from her words it felt like Thor was being pulled from her, as if the grip in her arms was somehow slackening even though she hadn't meant it to. She clung tighter, just in case. Her eyes screwed shut against whatever she might see around, focussing her mind only on keeping her hold around Thor's waist strong and dependable. It wouldn't do for Thor's wife to be lost en route to their own wedding.

But just as Thor promised, it was over swiftly. The solidity of ground had never left underneath her feet but gravity seemed to grip back harder than she remembered, thudding up so hard she stumbled forward, half falling against Thor's chest.

A gasp left her, and she vaguely wondered if there was air in the void-travel space for her to breathe – then she realized the answer didn't matter anymore.

A deafening cheer drowned out any thoughts she might have had about her arrival, overwhelming her with the sheer fact that she was there! The familiar rumble of Thor's chest told her he was laughing along at the greeting. Her arms felt locked around Thor as the wave of attention crashed over, freezing her though her eyes were screwed shut against it.

She didn't want to open them, to see all those people she could hear and feel watching her. It might be more than her heart could take, she thought fearfully. The last thing she wanted was to faint at the final hurdle.

Thor, it seemed, wasn't going to give her much of a choice; his finger hooked gently under her chin and guided her up from his chest, lifting her innocently blinking eyes to his. She tried to focus on the cool blue orbs… but the blinding flash of gold from all around her was too distracting.

She found herself sinking into the safe confines of Thor's arms as her gaze washed either side of her and she drank in the full magnitude of what surrounded her. It was like the crowd at a concert – only ten times over!

"Oh sweet mother of God." Her lips mumbled in shock as the feeling left her limbs, her whole body going numb.

They stood in some sort of hall, huge by any standard Maria had ever seen! The roof was held up by golden coloured pillars, clear blue sky filling the gaps, telling her the place was elevated on some sort of stepped platform. She had no doubt they were filled to the brim with people too. There was no end to the heads she saw, all with smiling, cheering faces as they greeted the arrival of their crown prince and his bride.

So many eyes … all on her. Her knees felt uncomfortably weak, and her fingers clung to Thor's armour to keep her upright. She wasn't sure even that would have worked if Thor's hand hadn't firmed around her waist.

"Come Maria." His voice boomed jovially over the crowd, guiding to her shoulders as he eased her back from his body.

Maria didn't have the voice to answer. For that Thor was grateful, as he stepped through the crowd to where he knew the center to be, leading her with a gentle hand at the small of her back. She followed with wide, started eyes. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights, and Thor grinned.

She looked magnificent. A dazzling image of white with red roses and red luscious lips, dark, seductive hair – he could feel every male eye on his woman appreciatively, in ways that would have angered him if he wasn't sound in the knowledge she was about to become his forever. Let them stare, he thought, Maria is a fine woman. And those looks would be the only experience with Maria they would ever have. Let them indulge themselves, Thor thought.

Thor led her past the line of fine soldiers into the cleared aisle running from the grand doors to Odin's throne, where his father sat, and his mother stood beside. A smile blossomed.

Maria's eyes followed his down the aisle, a breath leaving her as soon as she was clear of the sea of people, but she could still feel thousands of gazes upon her, examining her. Including the two ahead of her. The two of the King and Queen of Asgard.

The breath locked in her chest and she froze, knowing she must look like a Barbie doll all made up and stiff. Suddenly, she started to feel self-conscious. She started the curse how narrow the dress made her waist look and how wide her hips. Was the outline too curvy, too alluring? Was her autumn red lipstick too bold? Was her hair too purposely scruffed?

She could feel her hands start to tremble, and started to think she'd drop her bouquet if she kept up like this. Thor's fingers gently secured her free hand and guided her arm to fold under and around his.

He was beaming as his arm linked through hers and he took a step towards his parents. Maria stumbled with him, absolute fear written on her face.

Thor was grateful for the deafening cheers as he walked Maria down the aisle. "Relax." He said quietly, loud enough for Maria to hear him. He knew she did from the way she jumped on his arm. "There is nothing to be afraid of, Maria. They love you."

It was true. The cheers and screams came from every angle, but every eye was drawn to Thor's bride, giving her a taste of the adoration Thor was used to.

He showed her off proudly, knowing she looked absolutely stunning by the standards of any world. He drank up the applause, the cheers, knowing that this was the best day of his life. He'd missed his home. He'd missed his parents. But it was just made all the sweeter that he saw them all again with Maria at his side. He could read the joy, the smiles on his parents' faces getting bigger with every step he took.

"Thor, I'm scared." Maria breathed. Thor could feel her arm trembling against his.

His smiled on, hand crossing to her fingers in the crook of his arm and squeezed reassuringly. "I love you, Maria." He grinned. He knew nothing he could say to her would ease her fear. "Smile."

The words made Maria's heart skip a beat and her lips curved obediently, instinctively. Her eyes were locked on the royals ahead, getting closer with every second.

The woman was kind faced, her elaborate hair pulled up in a regal twist, the dress on her body champagne coloured and elegant. She looked every part the Queen Maria would expect. The man sat on the throne wore armour, his right eye covered with a golden eye patch, his wizened white hair and beard completing his kingly appearance. The staff in his hand just bled importance, but Maria was more concerned with the objects at the Queen's side – the table, bearing a goblet and an apple.

She gulped; the objects that would make her one of them officially.

Frigga smiled gloriously as Maria and Thor reached the first step to ascend them to the royals' level, lifting the couple up and into the view for all to see. Odin's smile shone through his eyes more than anything else.

Maria tried to force her heart to steady its frantic beat as she stepped up the steps, taking her slow, careful time to make sure she didn't fall. It was a very real possibility with how nervous she felt right now.

The King rose from his seat as the couple approached, and Maria's heart dropped into her stomach as she paused, blind anxiety finally getting the better of her. Her breaths came in fast gasps. She felt like crying, feeling all those eyes on her back, pinning her I place with absolute fear, despite the joyous occasion that lay ahead of her, the kind looking people waiting to accept her.

But she couldn't do it. Her fingers gripped at Thor's painfully tight. "Thor." It came out as a breath, dripping of terror.

Her eyes were wide and locked ahead, staring at nothing in her frozen panic. Thor finally let his smile drop. He shamelessly turned to face her, his arm unlinking from hers. His palm cupped her far cheek and guided her to gently face him, his other hand at her shoulder to angle her body round. Once facing him, he let his lips curve again, his hands cupping either side of her beautiful face adoringly.

"It's alright, Maria." He soothed softly, his bright eyes staring patiently into her wide startled ones, trying to unlock their tension within. "I'm right here. Everything's okay."

He curled one hand and gently ran the backs of his fingers over her cheek, brushing a strand of dark curled hair out of her face, letting nothing obscure his view of her. Her red, kissable lips were hovered apart, trembling slightly.

Thor ignored the crowd behind, ignored his parents in front – all he cared about was the wonderful woman with him there. He leaned forward and grazed her lips with his. "Just look at me." He told her softly, letting his thumb stroke her cheek lovingly. "Only me. I'm here. Now listen to me: we're going to take two more steps and you won't even know there's anyone but us there. I promise. Two more steps and we will be married."

He watched patiently as the panic started to be taken over with recognition, Maria finally coming back to her senses at Thor's voice. She blinked, and the gap between her lips thinned as she actually saw him.

Thor smiled lovingly. "You trust me, don't you, Maria?" he breathed, letting the warm air wash over her face.

Maria breathed it in, and the last of her awareness snapped into place. "With my life." She replied without hesitation.

Thor's smile widened. "For now, all I need is your hand."