Natasha was excited, more excited than she let on. Loki had not only come back, but had made himself an essential part of Shield. His skills were very much like her own. He could manipulate with the best of them, he was good at thinking on his feet and could hold his own in a fight.

Maybe hold his own was an understatement. He was deadly with knives, scarily so. His aim was perfect, except for that one time, when Tony wanted to see how many drinks it would take to get Loki off his game. Seventeen seemed to do it and even then, he missed the bull's-eye on the dart board by only a quarter if an inch.

She had never thought, not in a thousand years could she have predicted, that she would be packing a bag to go to another planet to watch Thor get married while meeting Loki's parents. It seemed a little too fairtale-ish for her. She, an assassin and spy, being able to actually have the hope of having the love of a man who understood her and the things she had done. Not only understood it, but loved her for it.

"Natasha!" Natasha jumped and whirled around to see Loki, smiling at the door way. "I've been calling you for like five minutes. What were you thinking about?"

She smiled at him then returned to packing. "Just the fact that I'm about to travel to another planet."

"Ah yes," He steps into the room. "That would take some time to get used to. Speaking of that, there are a few things I wish to talk to you about before we go."

She raised an eyebrow. "Alright."

"Um," He started as he sat next to her suit case on the bed. "I am a prince."

"I know." She nodded.

"Yes well, that means that you are traveling to my world as a potential princess."

That gave her cause to stop. This was not fairytale-ish, this was a fairytale! "What does that mean exactly?"

"It means that people might call you My Lady, and you might have a servant waiting for you in Asgard. I didn't want you to be surprised. Being royalty can be uncomfortable. There will always be people in the room with us, or right outside the door. There will hardly be a moment of quiet."

"Yes," She agreed. "That will be very different."

"Also, there will be…stories that you will hear about me." He wasn't looking at her now. "Some will be true; most will be exaggerated if not on outright lie. I was known to be a bit of pain on Asgard."

She laughed. "You are known to be a bit of a pain on Earth too my perfection."

He laughed at the as well. "Well, yes, that's true. But on Asgard, my antics aren't looked at the same. Magic and spells are not held in high regard and neither are the people who wield them. I just…. I want you to come to me when some of these stories reach your ears and if you have questions about them. I will tell you the truth about everything I've done. I have never lied to you, and I never will."

In all the time Loki had been on Earth, this was the first time Loki had that sad look in his eyes again. Now that she thought about it, Loki didn't seem nearly as excited to be going to Asgard as she did. He's been a bit off since he told her they had to go for the wedding. Loki had postponed three separate times that they were requested to come. She realized there might be a reason why he was hesitant to visit his family.

"Loki, are you not happy your brother is getting married?"

"I am." He stood up to start helping her fold clothes. "If anyone can keep that oaf out of trouble is Sif. You'll love her. She's a warrior like you and likes to find creative ways to get information out of people."

She nodded. He was not going to offer information, so she would have to come right out and as. "Then why do you have that sad look on your face?"

"I don't." He said as he walked towards the door. "Listen, Asgard is not like Midgard Natasha. I just… you'll see a lot of new sights and experience a lot of new things. I just, want you to be ready."

She would let it go for now. If there was anything she learned about him, he responds oddly when emotionally pressed. "Alright then, I'll be prepared."

"Oh, and I've convinced Bruce to go! Isn't that wonderful?" The sadness left his eye and his smile was real.

She snorted. "That depends why are you bringing him?"

He shrugged. "His companionship of course."

"So you have no desire to see Hulk smash Asgard?" She questioned a knowing smirk on her face.

A look of mock outrage took over his face. "I would never put people in danger that way."

"Loki, when the man forgot to put the McFrosty in your bag you tried to get Banner…."

"That is in the past." He interrupted.

"That was yesterday."

"PAST!"

"Alright, alright. Past."

But prepared she was not. Firstly, traveling on the Bifrost is insane. She didn't know why anyone would want travel that. There were no seatbelts; she had to hold on to Loki for dear life. Banner fared much better than she did, and even asked questions while in motion. Natasha feared that if she opened her mouth vomit might come out.

Then she landed and when the world stop spinning, a large man with an odd head piece sitting on top of his head was looking at her laughing. "Prince Loki, she is so tiny!" He said. "She is like doll."

Loki was smiling. "Maybe like a killer doll. Friends, this is Heimdall. He sees everything but will give you next to no information when asked."

"My Prince, you never ask the right questions." He replied. "Your family wishes you to go to your chambers. They will be in there shortly."

Natasha and Bruce followed Loki down a long hallway and towards his chambers. It was odd to see people bowing to him with murmurs, of "prince". No one looked directly at him, of his companions. It was like watching a movie from the Elizabethan era.

His rooms where not what she expected either. They were bigger than all of Stark's rooms and more lavishly furnished. It was hard to believe that he gave all of this up for Earth. On Earth, he didn't have furs lining his chairs, or book shelves built into his walls. He didn't have windows that spread from the floor to the ceiling and paintings that looked old enough to be worth some real money.

The look on Banner's face was one of awe. "Loki I've been all over the Earth and I can tell you, I have never seen anything like this."

Loki threw an arm over Bruce's shoulder. "Brother, I have so much more to show you."

"Brother?" They all turned to Thor standing by the door. "I thought I was your brother."

Loki's smile widened as he went to embrace him. "You are my brother. Bruce here is my brother of mag… um science! And brother of turning different colors and killing people."

That earned a chuckle from Natasha.

Thor was about to say something but soon there were rapid footsteps approaching. A wild look reached Loki's eyes and he went to Natasha's side. He grabbed her hand, an odd look of pride crossed his face, as if with all the beautiful things he owned in his room, she was the most precious.

"Where is she?!" Odin roared. "Is she blonde?!" Odin entered the room with Frigga's hand in his as he hollered. "HA! A red head!"

"And she is adorable!" Frigga added.

"Like father like son huh!" He winked at Loki. "Blondes are fun, brunets are smart but red heads hold all the passion."

She couldn't help but blush.

"And this must be Bruce." Odin reached out a hand. "Now listen here, we will have a no big odd colored giants."

Bruce took Odin's hand in his. "Yes sir."

"Because we have the tendency to adopt them and not let them leave." Frigga winked a Loki who rolled his eyes.

"I am the only giant in this family!" Loki pointed at Bruce. "I will not be out done!"

Bruce put his hands up. "Not trying to steal your mommy."

That got a laugh from Odin and a harsh blush from Loki.

Frigga grabbed Natasha. "Now you boys get ready for the feast tonight. Tomorrow is the wedding and there is still much to do."

Loki frowned as he watched Natasha be dragged away. "Where are you taking my…"

"To a place where she can change into comfortable clothes." Frigga turned as they reached the door. "And question me again and I'll ground you. Three years with no Avengers."

Loki gasped. "Mother! Three years?"

An eyebrow arched. "Was that a question?"

Bruce chuckled as Loki answered. "No Ma'am."

Natasha walked through the halls of the Asgard castle not looking at the architecture or the beautiful clothing they wore, she couldn't believe how many attractive men walked around Asgard. They grew on trees here. Loki certainly had every right to feel lonely here. There were no black haired skinny men here. Everyone was bulky with deep voiced and blonde hair. This was crazy!

"Stop drooling dear." Frigga teased. "Trust me, all these mea are all brawns and no brains. You got the pick of the litter."

Sif turned around as they entered her chambers. "Hey! You told me I got the pick of the litter!"

Frigga shrugged. "And I meant every word of it." Apparently only her sons were the picks of the litters.

Sif smiled then turned to Natasha. "Natasha! I can' believe you are dating Loki. He's a nuisance."

"Oh yes." Natasha agreed. "Especially when he hasn't had his ice cream."

Frigga pointed a chamber not far from the chamber she was in. "Go take a shower and I suggest you wear comfortable clothes. There will be lots of food."

Natasha nodded and walked towards the chambers. She had just turned to close the door behind her when a servant stopped her. He bowed. "My lady, are you the human that Prince Loki is staying with?"

She smiled at him. "Yes. Can I help you?"

"My name is Vlor." He hands her a vile. "This is a vitamin that I have been giving the Prince since he turned of age. He doesn't know I've been giving it to him. It's specifically for Frost Giants and he wouldn't take them if he knew. It's why his wine always tastes sweeter when I serve it to him."

She looked at the vile. "How much do I give him?"

"Just a drop. When the vile runs out, please let me know. I will get some to you as soon as possible."

Natasha nodded. "Thank you."

"Please take care of the Prince. He forgets to do it himself."

Natasha watched the servant leave. He seemed much more concerned with Loki than any other servant. Loki had mention Vlor a few times since he returned but she didn't realize how into his life the servant was.

And why wouldn't Loki take vitamins that were meant for Frost Giants? Was he ashamed of himself and his heritage?

There was no time to think on it. Natasha showered and dress and went to meet Loki and Bruce at the feast. They were sitting at a long table, their plates filled with food. Stories of their adventures in their youth started to go around.

She couldn't help but laugh at some of their antics. It seemed Thor had a knack for starting trouble and Loki had a knack for ending it.

Some of their antics became more dangerous as they grew up but it seemed like on Asgard, the more danger you faced and overcame the more of a man they were considered. Most of the stories seemed to be about Thor, but every now and again they told stories about how Loki would create a smoke screen for them to escape or talked their way out of trouble. But it never sounded like there was pride in what he did; it was more like how Loki couldn't fight or smash his way out so had to use trickery in order to do what Thor could do with his mighty hammer.

As the night wore on, it seemed the stories were becoming more vulgar. Perhaps it was because they were getting older in the stories or perhaps it was because everyone was getting more inebriated. "I must say." Volstagg started pointing a piece of meat at her. "I am not surprised to see Loki with a warrior, but, I am surprised to see him with such a feminine woman."

She tilted her head. "Really why?"

Volstagg shrugged, it seemed he was trying to pick his battles. "Well, Loki has always needed someone to fight his battles for him."

The group laughed though Natasha frowned. When did the happy story telling turn into teasing? Did Natasha miss something?

"Well, Loki has always been able to fight for himself against the biggest of monsters on Earth. "Natasha was happy Bruce answered before she did because he words would have been a lot harsher.

"I think what he's trying to say," Thor started. "Is that we were sure he'd be with a warrior, we were just never sure it'd be female." The laughter than followed was cruel. "I mean, magic, leather clothes, throwing knives. These are all very feminine here on Asgard."

They were, in essence, calling him gay. Natasha knew it. She looked at Bruce, who looked at her, a tint of green starting to show on his skin. As subtly as she could, she grabbed his hand as a way of comforting and calming him down. Then she looked at Loki, who stared red faced and slack jawed at his brother. It wasn't until someone called his name that he snapped out if it.

"Come here." The voice said. "I want you to meet someone."

Loki nodded then turned to Natasha. "Don't move."

A thousand things were running through her head at once. Was Bruce going to Hulk out and destroy Asgard? Was this what Loki was subjected to here? Harsh jokes and mean words? Did she have to kill everyone sitting at the table for being cruel to him?

Suddenly Bruce stood up. "Excuse me I'm not feeling well." He excused himself quickly. He would not embarrass Loki here, but he would not forget these words or the look of embarrassment on Loki's face.

Loki came back to the table. "Natasha, I have to go see to somethings."

She nodded. "I will meet you back at your room.

Loki was happy a few of the healers wanted to pick his brain. He wasn't sure really what just happened. It wasn't that he didn't know the Warriors Three thought him to be found of men. It was that Thor always defended him. But now, it seemed Thor was agreeing with them.

Loki caught up with Thor while he was heading back to his chamber. "I want to speak with you brother." He said as in fell in step with his brother.

"Alright. Walk with me brother, I miss Sif terribly."

Loki could understand that. "Are you angry with me?"

"No. Why?"

"You were," He tried to find the right way to say it but decided to just say what he felt. "Well, you were mean earlier."

Thor looked shocked at that. "With what?"

"You were surprised I'm with a woman?" Loki explained.

"Oh that, it was a joke." Thor defended. "Midgard has made you soft."

"No, me being in Midgard has made you mean." Loki placed an arm on Thor's shoulder to stop him from walking any further. "Thor, I knew what the other's thought of me but since when do you think that?"

"Come now, you are going to tell me you aren't less masculine than the average Asgardian male. Even as a Midgardian you are feminine. Natasha herself said she goes out with you when she needs a girl's night."

That took the wind out of him. "Wait, what?"

"Yes Tony told me. It seems when the two of you went shopping, she told him she just wanted a girl's day. It was a bit of a joke between them."

A joke? Did Tony think this about him, and Natasha? Was she embarrassed at his appearance and mannerisms?

Without another word he marched to his chambers to find her.

"Natasha?" He called out not realizing that Bruce was in the room too

"Loki, I was waiting for you?" She stood up from the chair to embrace him but he stepped away from her.

"Why did you say you wanted a girl's night?" He was yelling. He never yelled and now there he was yelling at her

"What?" Confusion stumped her for a moment.

"Isn't that what you and Tony laugh about behind my back? How I am one of the girls?"

Now she was really at a loss. "Loki, I have no idea what you talking about it."

"Thor told me everything. He said when we first went shopping you said you needed a girls night out."

It took her a moment to remember the day. When she remembered she realized how hurtful that would be after a table full of people called him gay. "Loki, that is not what I meant."

"Then please, explain to me why the woman I bought to my family thinking she loved me as is, thinks I am woman like?"

"Loki, I was there." Bruce tried to stay out of their conversation, but it was getting harder to do as he realized nothing Natasha would say, he would believe. "She was saying that in an attempt to prove to Stark that she was only interested in you as a friend. Obviously her feelings changed. It was no great joke. No one says anything behind your back that we don't say to you."

"Loki, I love you." Natasha found her words and they came tumbling out without thought. "I don't think at all the way your, so called friends, think. None of us do."

Loki deflated. "I want to be alone." He tried to walk out the room, trying to get away from this all.

Bruce prevented him from doing so by grabbing his forearm. "No. Being along is the last thing you need. You need to see this for what it is. A group of people bullying you into believing that someone can't love you as you are. Loki, we won't stand for this. We will not allow you to be teased like that. We think it best that we take you home after the wedding."

Loki looked defeated, tired and he'd only been here a day. "I have obligations here."

"We have already spoken to Odin." Bruce said. "We can't let you stay here Loki. We are telling you. We have permission from your father and mother who were more understanding than you think they'd be. We are take you home right after the wedding."

"You spoke to Odin?"

Natasha moved closer to him slowly. "Of course we did. Loki, I never want to see that look on your face again. You don't have to take this anymore. "

He nodded and she embraced him. "This is what you were trying to tell me wasn't it? Before we left?"

Another small nod and she knew she would keep him away from this place for as long as possible.

"Brother, where are you going?" Thor asked as he watched Loki walking to the Bifrost.

"I'm going home Thor." Loki said.

"You are home." He countered.

"No Thor, I'm not. Midgard is my home.

Thor watched as his brother left, that woman hugging around him. Banner, his other "brother" standing protectively behind him only made Thor angrier. It was then that he decided, he would get his brother back, by whatever means necessary. He would show Loki that the attention of these mortals would be fleeting and in the end, he'd only have Thor.