It had been two months since Rose's departure. Loki spent the day in his room like he did most days. For a while he tried to busy himself with work around the kingdom but no one seemed willing to let him lift a finger. Some days he trained with weaponry. It was a nice distraction. At the end of the day, it was the same sinking feeling. Tonight, he planned to bed a woman for the first since Rose had left. An Asgardian woman – what was her name? Eria or something. She would arrive shortly but until then Loki made no attempt to move. He simply stared into the fireplace wondering how Rose was adapting.

When Rose came back home everyone was in an uproar. The never ending questions came but she couldn't tell them where she had been. She didn't remember a single thing. The last memory she had was Tiffany telling her to pick out a cute outfit and then everything went back. However, almost two years had pasted and everyone thought her to be dead. Her parents were extremely happy to see her and although Tiffany was angry about her abrupt departure, she soon forgave her and asked her to be her maid of honor in her upcoming wedding.

On this evening Rose was having dinner with her parents and brother. They were having a good time catching up. Bryan was doing well at his job and her mother and father went on and on about their upcoming cruise.

"What have you been up to, Rose?" Bryan asked with a friendly smile.

Rose paused. "I actually have an art show coming up."

"Painting anything new?"

"I actually keep painting the same thing. It's weird – I can't get the image out of my head."

Her mother smiled. "What is it dear?"

"A bright light surrounding this big – castle? And there's a man –"

Her mother and father exchanged looks. "A man?"

"Yes, with black hair-"

"And greens eyes," finished her father.

Rose stared at him with wide eyes. "How did you know?"

Her parents exchanged worried glances.

"That was your imaginary friend when you were little, remember Rose?"

She strained to remember but everything seemed dark.

"No, I don't."

They all stared at her with the same concerned looks.

Back at Asgard, Loki was looking up at the beauty, Eria. She had come to him in only a thin robe. Now she was completely naked. Her breast were large and her hips curvy. Eria smiled down at him as she removed the clip from her hair letting her golden curls spill down her shoulders. Loki watched the curls bounce feeling a familiar pang in his stomach. He ignored it as he stood.

Eria began stripping off his layers. Her hands were quick. He was soon naked. She took his member into her hands.

"Do you not find me attractive?"

Loki knew why she asked the question. He was not hard despite the naked woman in front of him.

Eria began caressing his chest while planting small kisses on his chest. She came to his mouth. When her full lips pressed against his he sighed. Behind his closed eyes he saw Rose's soft, pink lips, her shining eyes –

Loki pulled away wiping his mouth. "Please, go."

Eria looked offended. "Why would you invite –"

"GO!" roared Loki.

Eria narrowed her eyes, slipped back in her robe and was gone.

Loki dressed himself. He could not stay away from her anymore. He had to at least see her.

When he arrived on Earth it took a while to track her down. When he finally did see her his heart stopped beating.

Her hair had grown much longer sine the last time he saw her. The sun bounced off her curls as she walked briskly down the street. She wore a light blue dress with a brown belt and sandals. Loki could hear the words "blue has always been my favorite color" echo through his mind.

Before he could even process the thought he was walking towards her. He had to get closer.

Just then she stopped looking around. Loki watched as she was joined by another mortal – Luke. They both smiled when they saw each other. He watched with much jealousy as Luke planted a kiss on her cheek and then they walked arm and arm with her into a small pink shop. Loki felt his heart sink to his stomach as he read the sign above the store: Bridal Boutique.

He wanted to squash the puny human, to step on him like the bug he was.

Loki stopped himself from walking into the bridal shop and murdering everyone in sight. He had let her go. He had lied to her face. Why should he now ruin her happiness especially after all he had put her through?

Inside the bridal shop, Rose was chatting away with Luke.

"I can't believe you have a baby! I still keep seeing the 17 year old Luke in my head."

Luke smiled. "I know what you mean. It feels a bit odd seeing you all grown up. You will have to come by for dinner sometime. My wife would love to meet you."

"I would love to!"

Tiffany joined them after a minute. "I found your dress! Look at it! Isn't it gorgeous?"

Rose stared down at the emerald green dress in her hands. That color was so familiar. It made something flutter in her stomach – when she strained to remember all she saw was black.

She put on a smile. "It's gorgeous!"

After shopping, the three friends went to lunch. They both agreed to come to Rose's art show.

Rose was very nervous about the show. She only had six paintings to show and they all were very similar. When she got home, she slipped into a light green dress and put on her silver heels. She decided to leave her long hair down knowing she would be fighting a losing battle anyway.

When Rose arrived at her art show, she was surprised to find a large crowd. Everyone seemed very interested in the paintings. They seemed – other worldly.

"Where did you get the idea for this one?" asked an older man looking at the painting of the kingdom covered in warm star light.

Rose cocked her head to the left. "In my dreams. It sounds strange, I know but some days when I wake up the only thing I can see is this image."

"And this one, of course," remarked a tall lady beside her.

She pointed to the painting of the pale man with black hair and green eyes.

"Who is he?"

Rose smiled. "I wish I knew."

Out of the corner of her eye, Rose could see someone staring at her.

She looked across the room and felt every nerve in her body scream out.

It was him. The man from the painting. Ignoring everyone around her she walked to him quickly. He walked even quicker heading out the back door. Rose ran to catch up with him. When she exited the building she found herself in a dark alley.

"Looking for me?" came a musical voice from behind her.

Rose spun around. She stared at the beautiful man in front of her for a long time before speaking.

"Who are you?"

Loki forced a smile trying to keep himself under control. The urge to grab her and crush his lips against her own was becoming stronger by the second.

"A friend," he answered simply.

Rose stepped forward raising her hand to touch his face.

"Don't," he whispered but her hand continued forward caressing the side of his face.

Immediately, Loki leaned into it sighing her name.

"How do you know me when I cannot remember you?"

Loki decided to answer truthfully. "I stole your memories."

Rose almost looked offended. "Well, give them back."

"If I did, you would know the last words I spoke to you to be true. I am not sure if I can handle the exposure."

"If you won't give me back my memories then take this one as well. If I leave here knowing you are real –" she shuttered. "The pain would be too much to handle."

"I doubt that –" began Loki.

"You don't know what it's like – missing someone you can't even remember. It's the worst kind of emptiness."

Loki began to pace around her. "You seem to be doing fine. You have Luke and the wedding –"

"Luke?" she asked in confusion. "He is married. We only met today for Tiffany's wedding."

Loki stared at her for a long time.

Rose moved closer to him. She put her hands softly on his chest.

"Do I love you? Because it certainly feels like I do."

Loki could do nothing but nod when she opened her mouth again he leaned forward and crushed his lips against it.

They kissed for a long time. Loki lifted his hands to her letting her memories fly back in.

Rose pulled away. "Loki?"

Loki felt like he could almost cry. "No one says my name quite like you."

"But I thought –"

He began shaking his head. "I love you, Rose. If I could redo everything I would. You are the best thing to ever happen to me. I –"

Her lips cut him off. Loki wrapped his arms around her.

"Let's go home," whispered Loki. "You should meet my family."

Rose's fingers danced across his neck and down his chest. "Maybe we could stop by our bedroom first."

Loki grinned. "I was hoping you would say that."