Hi guys, just a few things before we get started. So, this story is the lovechild of my love for Christmas and my love for the Avengers and I am going to flat out say that this OC is so very unashamedly me. I love these things too much to not put myself in it. If you don't like that, that's okay, just move on, go read something you do like and thanks for even stopping by!

Now, on to the story!

Torra stretched and smiled up at the ceiling of her chambers. She rolled over and glanced out the window at the frosted realm of Asgard. It had been six months since Loki had taken her from Midgard to train as a healer and the land was now in the midst of winter. Frost and snow coating the gilded facade of the castle and made it shine even more.

Today felt... today felt different. Is there something happening today? Am I supposed to be somewhere later? Her mind searched for an answer. Was it possibly something on earth? Sliding off her bed, Torra still puzzled while crossing to the partition she changed behind and began to clothe herself. There was a soft knock on her door

"Torra?" a voice called softly from the hall, she recognized it immediately

"Come in," she smiled," but, be warned, I'm dressing."

She saw the door swing from her place behind the partition and Loki entered her room.

"I was wondering if you wanted to walk with me to breakfast."

"Sure, one moment." she replied, tying the belt around her dark blue dress. She quickly braided her hair at the back of her head then twisted into a bun and secured it. "Ready."

They walked together in silence for a moment enjoying the view of the city surrounding the castle. Torra was the one to break the quiet.

"Loki?" she asked

"Yes? "

"Is there an event going on today? Something important?"

"Hm," he thought for a moment," Nothing that I can think of. Why?"

"Oh, nothing. I just... I feel like I've forgotten something." Torra fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve,"Maybe it's something on earth."

"Well, if you wish we could go visit Heimdall after breakfast and have him look." He suggested.

"Yes, that would be very helpful, thank you." Though it had been several months since she had come to Asgard, the 'proper' way of speaking still felt a bit odd on her tongue, what she truly would've responded with was 'yeah, thanks.'

"I trust you slept well?" Loki asked, Torra noticed he seemed a bit different that usual

"Yes. What about you? Did you have any interesting dreams?" She glanced up at him with a smile

"I doubt you would find my dreams interesting." He replied, shaking his head.

"Try me."

"Well I recently had one... It was rather odd. I was a child again, and Thor and I were playing out in the snow. Building statues of ourselves and hurling spheres of it at each other... It was great fun" he said with a small smile

"It sounds like it."

Then his face turned very grave, and his voice along with it," But then Thor looked scared for some reason, he ran and hid, refused to come near me. My mother was shouting for me to come in out of the cold and my father seized me and ran inside. But not before I saw my reflection in the ice. My body was a cruel, dark blue and my eyes the color of blood. It was the first time I had a hint that I was... different" tears threatened to spill from his eyes. She had never seen him like this.

"Oh, Loki..." she took his hand and they stopped walking,"I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have pressed you"

"No, it's fine. We all must face our fears."

"Well you don't have to face yours alone. Please come to me if you have another dream like this, I don't care what time of night." She said, pulling him into her tight embrace.

They stood like this for several moments, both of them knowing how it must look. People, especially servants, liked to gossip. Saying that the two of them were "together"was rather popular, Loki visiting her at night probably would not aid in the stop of these rumors, but neither of them cared. She new they were only friends and he... well he didn't mind the rumors. She pulled away and smiled up at him

"Now then, we should be going. Don't want to be late."

They reached the dining hall and Loki took his usual place between Thor and Torra. Breakfast was much less formal than dinner, when Odin entered the hall no one stood. They did, however, all wait for him to begin eating after he greeted them to eat. It was just like any other morning, Queen Frigga and Odin discussing their plans, Thor messing around with the Warriors Three (except Hogun, he never participated in their daily "I-bet-I-can-eat-this-in-one-bite" competitions) and Torra talking about her training with Sif. Still, Torra couldn't shake the feeling that something was happening.

After breakfast they parted ways, Loki promised to meet her by the stables in half an hour, then departed to get the proper clothing for riding in the cold. Torra returned to her room and pulled on a pair of leggings under her dress. She had to ride side saddle in her long skirt, but it wasn't that bad. She searched around the bottom of her closet for a moment then knelt on the floor of her room, pouring the contents of the bag on the smooth floor.

They were her things she had brought with from Midgard, mostly pictures and letters and some clothing. She smiled when her hands reached what she searching for: a hat. It was a black ski hat, with two long tassels hanging from either side, but, her favorite part was the knit pink and white bow and kitty ears. She lifted it and it smelled of home. Her parents cigarettes and her own perfume, dust from the costume room and stage makeup. There was a bit of incense underneath it all. It almost made her cry.

Pushing the sadness from her mind she pulled on her hat and clasped on a heavy, fur lined cloak around her neck. Torra slipped on a pair of gloves as she set off for the stables. When she got there the stables were empty save for the horses themselves. Even their keeper had disappeared somewhere. Torra spent a quiet moment stroking her favorite gray and black mare. Then her vision went black.

"Who am I?" asked the owner of the hands covering her eyes

"Can I have a hint?"

"Hm... your favorite Asgardian prince." She could hear the smile in his voice

"Oh, hi Thor!"

"You hurt me, woman." The hands were removed and she turned and she turned to face Loki, he raised an eyebrow at her choice of headgear. "What?" she asked

"I was just thinking that we might not want to make this journey." Loki smiled

"To Heimdall? Why not?"

"Well, after all," he said, tugging the ear on her hat,"Curiosity did kill the cat."

"Oh, come on."

"All I'm saying is that if this leads to your demise the fault is only your own."

"Do you honestly believe I'm going to die in the twenty minutes it takes to get to Heimdall?" she asked

"Not really, but you can never be sure."

"Well, if I die you have to tell Sif." she laughed at his shudder. Torra mounted the mare as Loki went to retrieve his own steed. Just as he was about to settle himself on its back, she took off at a gallop.

"RACE YOU!"

He laughed and took off after her, soon catching up. How she was sitting side saddle and keeping her balance at this speed was a mystery to him, she was a bit clumsy even on her best days. Torra glanced over at Loki and couldn't help but grin. He was so somber and reserved when they had first met, it was good to see him enjoying himself. She saw it as a kind of healing, obviously not the same as the healing she learned in training, but healing all the same. They skidded to a halt as they neared Heimdall at the edge of the bridge. The tall man was standing on the ledge with his eyes focused on the open space, as if he could see things going on in the emptiness.

"Greetings, your Highness, Lady Torra." Heimdall said without looking at them.

"Good Heimdall, we wish to ask you a question. About another realm." Torra began

"Pose it then." he replied

"Well... I was wondering.. Is something happening on Midgard?"

"Yes, the humans seem to be preparing for something important to them. I cannot tell what though."

"Do you know what the date is there?" she asked

"If I understand correctly, my Lady, the date is December the twenty-third of the Midgardian calendar." The puzzle pieces clicked together in her head.

"Oh, thank you for being so accommodating, Heimdall." Torra said, growing quiet and heading back to her horse. The sadness on her face was apparent

"What is it?" Loki asked, turning her toward him,"Torra? What's wrong?"

"Its, um, Christmas... they're getting ready for Christmas." she said softly

"Christmas? I believe I've heard the name before, what is it exactly?"

"Its a Midgardian holiday, a very big one. Usually everyone gets together and exchanges gifts and sings songs and it's just... kind of magical. It's the one time of year when everything is happy. It was my favorite time of year..." her eyes were focused on the ground. Loki thought for a moment, then grabbed Torra's wrist and began pulling her back to the horses,"Come on" he said brightly

"Where?" she asked, looking confused

"To pack. We're spending Christmas on Midgard."

Okay, so chapter 1! I hope you guys liked it, be prepared for marshmallow baby bunnies to coat your screen, self, and possibly a five foot radius. That's how cheesy/cute I plan on this getting.

Reviews are motivation (not that I need motivation... okay, yeah I do. I'm a bit of a procrastinator..)