The morning sun traced a lazy path across the carpet, slowly falling on furniture, summoning rainbows in crystal and soft colours in the silk hangings it shimmered through. It made it's way across the room as if set on a certain destination, and found it on the bed where a figure slept contentedly.

Sigyn let out a groan when the light hit her eyes and pulled a pillow over her face to hide it from the harsh glare. She would have preferred to stay that way for while longer, she had a late night and was not ready for the day to begin. She had almost succeeded in drifting back to sleep when she felt fingertips sliding seductively up her leg and hip causing her skin to tingle where they touched. Sigyn let out a gasp as the nights events came slamming back to her. She shifted herself until she was facing the owner of those hands and saw him looking down at her with a mischievous smile which lit his bright green eyes. She still couldn't believe how exact in colour they were to hers, and by the shade they were now she knew what he was thinking. He had his elbow resting on his own pillow so he could look down at her, his dark hair falling over his shoulders. he leaned over and kissed her forehead.

"Good Morning," he whispered.

Sigyn tried to bury her face in her pillow. "It's too early," she grumbled.

Loki chuckled as he pushed the pillow from her face, Sigyn flinched at the unmerciful light. "You were not much in the mood for sleeping last night," he reminded her.

Sigyn shot him a mocking dark look, "I don't recall you complaining at the time,"

Loki quirked a half smile, "No," he admitted "I certainly wasn't."

Sigyn could feel her face burn crimson and tried once more to hide behind the pillow.

"Don't do that," Loki pulled the pillow back off her face, "You look so cute with red cheeks."

Sigyn knew her face was even redder and she tried once more to cover it. But Loki held onto the pillow laughing at her futile attempts to retrieve it. Finally Sigyn gave up and grabbed the blanket and yanked it over her head. "Wake me when it's a more decent time of day." she grumbled.

Sigyn felt his hand slide around her waist and pull her up against him. She shifted her position until she fitted next to him like they were two pieces of a jigsaw. One hand laced with the fingers around her waist while the other was tucked under the pillow her head lay on. Loki used his free hand to slowly entice the blanket down, and when he succeeded began to gently brush her locks of dark hair from her face.

"We have to get up," he whispered gently kissing her earlobe. "the ceremony is today and we have to prepare."

Sigyn's brow furrowed in confusion. "What?"

"Sif will be here soon to take you to the baths while I am with Thor."

Sigyn turned to around to face Loki. "You don't mean that archaic ceremony of shedding my 'maiden' life for a married one, do you?"

"It is traditional."

"I'm not a virgin. It would be pointless."

Loki quirked a knowing smile "No, I can certainly attest to that,"

Sigyn yanked the blanket back over her head. "See," she said her voice muffled by the covers, "pointless. Now let me get some sleep."

Loki gently tugged the blanket back down to see that by Sigyn's eyes and set of her jaw that she was going to be stubborn about this. "Look," he soothed. "You don't need to go through the whole process. Just think of it as a chance to reconnect with your friends as you prepare for the ceremony."

Sigyn's eyes narrowed "And you," she asked "are you going to go retrieve a sword from the grave of a fallen ancestor? That is tradition, too."

"No, I will not. Thor is having a sword made for me. He thinks it should be for our lineage, unique and our own."

"What a relief," she mumbled sarcastically.

There was a knock on the door. Sigyn let out a sigh, she knew there was no further possibility of sleep now. With some reluctance she climbed out of the warm comfy bed and the safety she felt in Loki's arms and reached for the robe draped on a chair by her bed. It was made of pale green silk, decorated with gold and sapphire blue flowers. She tied the belt around her as she left her bedroom, closing the door behind her. She crossed her rooms and opened the door just as a second knock echoed from the door. There standing before her with her arm raised in mid rapping stood Sif, a look of momentary surprise flashing across her face.

"Your up," she announced dropping her arm.

"Not by choice," Sigyn grumbled stepping back and letting Sif in.

Sif hurried in and waited for Sigyn to close the door and turn to her. "Your not even dressed yet," she announced looking Sigyn up and down.

"Because until very recently I was happily sleeping."

"I woke you?"

"The sun did, actually. But I was trying to get back to sleep."

"But we have things to be done to prepare for the ceremony today."

"So Loki was trying to convince me of."

"He did, when?"

Sigyn tipped her head toward the bedroom door. "Just now."

Sif rolled her eyes "You couldn't have waited until tonight?"

"We're making up for lost time," Sigyn let a blissful smile slide across her face.

"You've been doing that for six months," Sif reminded her. "you think you would have caught up by now."

Sigyn bit her lip. "Not quite."

Sif threw her hands up between them. "No, stop. I have heard more then I need to. You get dressed and we can get started.

"Can I say good-bye to Loki at least?"

"As long as you are quick."

Sigyn hurried across the room and slid through the bedroom doors, closing them behind her. Loki had risen and was partially dressed. He wore his black pants which were decorated with diamond shaped studs on each thigh and was in the process of buckling on his knee high boots. He was sitting on the bed with his back partially towards her and she could see the the scratches she left on his shoulders and back from the night before. Normally Sigyn would have admired them, but she knew that Loki had had enough scars and she didn't think he wanted more. She stepped towards him and placed her hand on his back and began to summon the spell.

Loki straightened suddenly. "Don't," he said softly.

"But I thought.."

He turned and gave her a sad smile. "What was done to me by Nebula is what I would want to forget. What you have done to me I want to always remember. If they scar, let them, I am sure they won't be the only ones." Loki rose and came around the bed so he stood before Sigyn. She bit her lip as she once more took in his toned build. He was by no means the same bulk as Thor, but he had muscles and stamina of his own that made Sigyn quite satisfied.

Loki cupped her chin in his hand and tilted her head up so her eyes met his. "Hey, I'm up here," he teased. Sigyn laughed and he bent down to kiss her. His lips felt soft against hers and she found herself craving them as much now as the first time he kissed her on floor of the throne room. But he pulled away far too soon. Sigyn knew he had to be brief because if it had lasted a moment longer they would not be leaving the room for some time and they both had somewhere else to be.

Sigyn threw her arms around his waist and leaned against his bare chest. "I don't want you to go."

Loki wrapped his own arms around Sigyn, "I know, Sig, I don't either. But we can't spend the rest of our lives in bed."

Sigyn smiled against his chest, "It doesn't have to always be in the bedroom,"

Sigyn felt a chuckle rumbling against her cheek. "You are going to be the death of me." he said giving her a squeeze.

"But you will die happy."

Loki laughed again and reluctantly pulled away from the embrace. "You better go before Sif starts to break down this door as well."

Sigyn sighed a little disappointed. She snapped her fingers and there was a flash of gold and green light. She stood in cream coloured dress which hugged her figure and flared from her hips to fall down and brush the floor. It was plain except for the rope of small emeralds around her hips, falling in one loose strand to mid thigh. Her dark hair hung in loose curls about her shoulders and around her forehead was gold circlet.

Loki looked her over a smile of approval on his face. When he saw the gold circlet on her forehead he arched a brow. "You really think a kransen will be necessary?"

Sigyn gave him a wink. "You said you wanted to be a traditionalist."

"What I said," Loki corrected "Was it was a tradition. As you pointed out, it would be pointless to wear such apparel."

Sigyn flicked a finger to her forehead and the circlet disappeared. "Better?"

"It's more you." he amended. He bent down and retrieved his green tunic from the floor where it was tossed the night before and pulled it on. Sigyn could not help but feel a little disappointed, but she knew he couldn't go wandering around the palace topless as much as she would like him to. Turning reluctantly away she opened the bedroom doors and they entered the room where Sif waited a look of impatience in her dark eyes.

"I said, 'quick', did I not?" Sif demanded.

Sigyn and Loki glanced at each other. "For us that was quick."

Sif closed her eyes and pushed her hand up between them. "OK, you can stop now." When she opened them she saw Sigyn trying to smother a grin. She shot Loki a dark look "You are a bad influence on her." she accused.

Sigyn looked back at Loki and was about to comment when Sif grabbed Sigyn's arm and hauled her out of her rooms and down the hall to the bathing area. All Sigyn had a chance to do was wave good bye before disappearing through the door. Only when she felt they were a safe distance away did Sif release her.

"Was that entirely necessary?" Sigyn asked straightening her sleeve.

"Yes, it was." Sif answered abruptly. "You two are like a couple of sex crazed rabbits. This is the first time I have seen the two of you apart since we took down Nebula." Sif paused and turned so she faced Sigyn. "Don't get me wrong. I am happy for you. I admit I had my reservations about Loki, but he has proven himself loyal to Asgard and, since Thor wants to share kingship with him, I guess I should learn to trust him again. But it will just take some time."

Sigyn reached out for her friends hand and gave it a squeeze. "I understand. He broke your trust once and he needs to earn it again."

"Yes, he does." Sif returned the squeeze. "But you have to go the bathes so we can get you all decked up for the wedding ceremony."

"You know magic would be faster,"

"But not nearly as much fun. Now come along, the day is quickly slipping past and there is still much to do!"