Author's Note... Hello to everyone out there that is still reading this story, I hope you're still enjoying it. Apologies for posting a little more slowly at the moment. Having finally got to the big proposal scene, I'm having second thoughts about where this is going.

I hate to sound like a needy author, begging for reviews - but - this needy author would really like some feedback, cos its all gone a bit quiet out there...

I know people are still reading but - reviews would be greatly appreciated by my long suffering beta who is sick of my being neurotic...

They must have been engaged for all of three minutes, thought Hermione hazily, as their romantic reverie was shattered by a thunderous banging on the door.

Loki rolled his eyes in disgust "Thor – it can only be Thor. No one else has such delicacy, such finesse - such perfect fucking timing..." Hermione giggled, Loki had been picking up some Midgardian curse words recently, and they never failed to make her laugh. It was something to do with his precise, almost Shakespearean delivery. Her amusement turned to a scowl seconds later when she realised that Loki's magic had just changed her outfit from the leather trousers to a traditional riding habit in – unsurprisingly – green.

"Loki – we have to talk about..."

What could have turned into their first quarrel as an engaged couple was cut short by the bedroom door crashing open, revealing a highly irritated King of Asgard.

"I do realise that you two lovebirds have more important things to think about but the whole party is once again awaiting your convenience in the ..." his voice tailed off when as he saw the wooden box, now open on a small side table. His eyes went questioningly to Loki's face, then to Hermione's left hand.

A huge grin split his handsome face from ear to ear.

"On the other hand. Some things are far too important to wait. Just now brother, you had to ask her now?"

Loki shrugged wryly. "What can I say. When the moment is right.."

"And the moment must have most certainly been right. Lady Hermione – sister" Kissing her hand, Thor beamed down on her, his delight evident. "Welcome to the family. I cannot think of anyone I would rather trust with my baby brother's heart." Turning to his 'baby brother' who was glowering at the epithet, he pulled him into an enthusiastic hug.

Eventually, Loki was forced to break away, simply to breathe. Looking straight into his brother's eyes he said – very seriously. "It is time brother, if you will still have me?"

The delight in his brother's eyes answered his. "Are you certain of this? There is no rush"

Loki shook his head. "We cannot return immediately. Both Hermione and I have commitments to Hogwarts that we must honour. But I would see this settled between us before we leave."

Thor thought for a moment.

"Say nothing of this for now. With the ring on your betrothed's hand, it is inevitable that other's will notice, but this can all be accomplished at the feast tonight. Are you content with that?" Loki nodded, Hermione looked a little confused, but let it rest for the time being.

Thor looked them both up and down. "Are we ready to go now? We have kept everyone waiting long enough I think."

Arriving at the courtyard, Hermione was delighted to find that she had been given the roan mare that she had ridden previously, although she pulled a face at the side saddle. She smiled down at Loki though, as he tossed her up into the saddle, kissing her hand before he went to mount his favourite chestnut. The back of her neck prickled, and looking around she was suddenly aware of Sif's eyes on her, her expression unreadable. Hermione smiled politely, lifting her chin. She was unsure of this woman, aware that she was one of Thor's most trusted warriors, and deep in his confidence. However, she had also seen the way that the lovely dark haired warrior looked at Thor, and thought grimly that Jane would need to watch her back.

Frigga rode happily alongside Hermione; as they left the palace telling her of the countryside around the city, a little of the geography of the realm, and asked Hermione many questions about Hogwarts, and her childhood.

"What of your parents my dear. Has Loki met them?"

Hermione's face clouded briefly. "My parents are both dead. They died not even knowing that they had a daughter." When the Queen looked puzzled, she continued. "As you may be aware, when I was in my final year as a student at Hogwarts, there was a great war in the wizarding world. My greatest friend, Harry Potter, was at the very heart of it, and I was at his side throughout. Knowing that my parents would be a key target for Voldemort's forces, I wiped myself from their memory, and sent them to Australia. My intention was to go back to restore their memories once everything was over." Her face was shadowed with sorrow. "But when I went back, I found out that they had both been killed six months previously, in a terrible car crash. Wherever they are now, I hope that they remember that they had a daughter, and that one day they can forgive me for what I did."

Frigga reached across, and took Hermione's hand in hers. "Any parent would be proud to call you daughter my dear. I am sure that they understand that you had your reasons, and that you did what you did to protect them. It was very brave when you were so very young." Frigga squeezed Hermione's hand comfortingly, then paused and looked down at her hand properly for the first time. Seeing the ring, her eyes widened. "Ride ahead with me a little my dear." She nudged her horse to a canter, Hermione alongside her. Just out of sight of the rest of the group, she slowed back to a walk, and took Hermione's hand in hers.

"He asked you?"

Hermione nodded "Yes, this morning, it was why we were late. I needed a few minutes to wrap my head around it all."

Frigga nodded. "It is a big decision for you. I know that it was not easy for Jane either. You have both of you given up so much for my sons." She looked back to Hermione, anxiously. "You will be coming to Asgard won't you?. Or will you make your home on Midgard?"

Hermione smiled, seeing the concern in Frigga's eyes. "We will have to go back to Midgard for a while, for we both have commitments there that cannot be broken without giving the proper warning. But yes, once that is done, probably in the summer, we will return to Asgard permanently."

Frigga reached over, gathering Hermione into a hug. "Oh my dear girl I am so happy to be having you both here, you can have no idea." For a moment, she was overwhelmed with emotion, needing a moment to compose herself. "I cannot believe that two years ago I believed the happiest times of my life to be over. My youngest son was estranged from his family, permanently I feared, and it had driven a rift between myself and my husband. Thor too spent little time in Asgard, since his father refused to countenance his relationship with Jane. Then we believed Loki to be dead, then we discovered that he was alive, but in New York, then Odin told me again that he was dead." She shook her head. "If someone had told me that two years in the future I should be so content, and that my family would be reunited once more, I would never have believed them." A shadow crossed her face and she sighed. "It is a shame though, that Odin had to die in order for all this to come to pass. He was, in many ways a good man, and a good husband, but he favoured Thor more than he should, and he was ever his own worst enemy."

Hermione sighed. "I am afraid that, having never met him, I will only ever know him as the one that inflicted such terrible damage on Loki. In some ways it is a shame that I never knew the other side of him, although had he been alive I would not be here, and I would certainly not be as ridiculously happy as I am."

Both women turned, hearing the sound of hooves coming up behind them. Hermione's heart lifted at the sight of Loki approaching. He was dressed casually by his usual standards, in just a light linen shirt, and the ubiquitous leather trousers, the same brown pair he had worn two days previously. As the weather was so mild he had eschewed his normal long leather riding coat, although a lighter jacket was rolled on the back of his saddle. Hermione noticed that his shirt was laced more loosely than usual, his sleeves rolled up, evidence of the haste with which he had dressed himself that morning, it was a good look on him, and Hermione felt herself flushing at the turn her wayward mind was taking.

Seeing her blush, and the sudden heat in her eyes, he leaned over to snatch a swift kiss, taking her hand in his. "Hermione has told you our good news mother?"

Frigga's smile was bright enough to dim the sun. "Indeed she has, I am so pleased Loki, I cannot begin to tell you. When will Thor announce it?"

"At the feast tonight. I am afraid that Hermione and I will have to return to Midgard tomorrow. If we are to return to Asgard in the summer, there will be much to do, and we cannot, in all conscience, keep Professor McGonagall in ignorance any longer than is necessary."

Frigga's mind was clearly running ahead. "If you are returning at the beginning of the summer, there will be much to be done if you want a summer wedding. We have to make plans."

Hermione couldn't suppress a chuckle. Whether it was Molly Weasley or Frigga of Asgard, it appeared that mothers were the same the universe over when it came to the subject of weddings...