A/N: new chappie! enjoy!

Chapter 11: Confession

Loki made his way through the palace, looking for Frigga. Thor had mentioned she was in the training room, and though he didn't want to be there in case Sif or Fandral tried to talk him into sparring with them, he had to speak with his mother. He shoved through the door to find her sparring with Hogun, and noted that she was wearing him down before he tried an attack from behind and she flipped him forward, his back slamming into the floor as she aimed her sword at his head.

"I'll take that as a yield," she smirked, triumphantly and Hogun nodded mutely before Frigga helped haul him to his feet.

Slow clapping from the doorway caught their attention as Loki sauntered in, making Hogun bow his head out of respect and Frigga smiled as she handed her sword to him then approached Loki with open arms.

"My son!" she beamed, taking his face into her hands and gently pulling him forward to press a kiss to his forehead. "I'm glad to see you so healed after yesterday!"

"And I'm sure father shares the sentiment," he replied, almost sarcastically as he noticed Hogun put their sparring weapons back on the rack. "May I speak with you alone, mother? There is something of importance I wish to discuss with you."

"Of course," Frigga nodded then turned to Hogun and smiled, "Thank you, Hogun. I think that is enough sparring for one day."

"Your majesty," Hogun nodded with a bow before the three made for the exit, Frigga leading Loki back to her chambers.

"Thor said he told you of the banquet tomorrow night," Frigga began, her arm twined with Loki's as they strolled down the hall.

"Yes, and I will attend," he smirked. "It is to celebrate my recovery after all. So few things are held in my honor in this place."

"Loki, it hurts me when you speak that way," she confessed. "I've tried so very hard to keep you happy, and your father—"

"Father favors Thor in everything, mother, not just as an heir," he cut in. "I am always the troublemaker. Am I not seen by Midgardians as the God of Mischief? Lies and deceit are how they know me."

"And whose fault was that?" she wondered, knowingly.

"Certainly not mine," he retorted, then sighed, "But I did not seek you out to speak of these things."

"Tell me, my son," she entreated, setting her other hand on his forearm as they still walked and Loki took in a deep breath to calm his nerves at the thought of what he wanted to speak of.

"You like Zara, do you not, mother?" he asked, keeping his eyes ahead.

"Of course," Frigga smiled, hugging his arm. "She is the sweetest girl you have ever chosen for yourself, and she cares very much for you. None of us could persuade her to leave your bedside while you were unconscious."

"Yes," he smiled at the memory. "I awoke with her beside me. She has surprised me many times with her hidden fire. On more than one occasion she has put me in my place. In private, of course, she wouldn't dare do it in front of anyone else."

"From the look you're giving I'd say you adore her, Loki," his mother smiled, making his wide-eyed green gaze shoot to her as they stopped in front of her door. "Am I wrong?"

"No, mother, of course…you're right," he murmured, opening the door for her and she stepped ahead of him, releasing his arm. He stepped inside after her, shutting the door behind them and she stepped toward her wardrobe as he sat on the chair of the vanity next to it, the door blocking Frigga as she began to change. "I do adore her. She was all I could think of while I was away. She's all I think of when I am not by her side…and when I am by her side. Mother, I think…I may be in love with her."

"Well, it's certainly about time," she called on the other side of the door, making his eyes shoot to the door, only seeing his mother's feet and ankles, and he could hear the smirk in her tone. "I could see it in your eyes long before I'm sure you even had the notion, Loki. I know you far better than you know yourself."

He swallowed and sat straight in the chair, looking to the various trinkets on the vanity, knowing she was right.

"Do you think…?" he trailed off for a moment lifting his hand to graze his fingertips over a pair of fringed earrings hanging on a stand in front of the mirror before resuming, "Do you think…she loves me, mother?"

"She would be a fool not to," Frigga replied, without missing a beat as she emerged from behind the door in a blue, flowing gown. She stepped toward him, waving her hands to him that he stand and he obeyed, with a smirk at the gesture. He stepped behind the chair as she sat and moved her long, auburn locks so that they draped over the back of the seat then lifted her brush. "And I think that would be a question you should ask her."

Loki smiled at his mother in the mirror as she lifted the brush to start combing it, but he gently took her wrist to pull the brush from her hand to do the task himself. She smiled in return at him as he began from the bottom of her tresses and worked his way to the top, detangling her hair.

"I remember when I used to do this as a boy," he mused, his eyes fixed on his hands and her hair. "I never heard the end of it from Thor that you wished for a girl and that was why you had me do it."

"You were the only one that had the right touch for it," Frigga smiled. "Your father and brother were far too harsh with my hair. You saved my scalp."

He chuckled as he worked the brush through her hair, imagining Odin fumbling through it, and Thor yanking the hairs from its roots.

"Should I tell her, mother?" he wondered, meeting her gaze for only a moment in the mirror.

"Why wouldn't you?" she asked back, making him scoff with a smirk.

"Zara would point out that it is impolite to answer a question with a question," he smirked, his eyes back on his task.

"Then I would tell you that she deserves to know your feelings," she smiled back. "Better to tell her, and she in turn tells you how she feels, than to keep it secret and never know."

He took in her words, nodding that he had heard her then replied, "And if she does not feel the same?"

Frigga gave a sad smile as their eyes met in the mirror again and he gave a small frown before she shifted in her chair to look up at him, taking his hands still holding her brush, in hers.

"You must tell her your feelings, and then ask that question, my son," she answered. "But ask it not to anyone else. Ask it to yourself."

He nodded in understanding and lifted his hands, still holding hers and her brush to kiss her fingers.

"Thank you, mother," he smiled, reaching a hand out to brush her cheek with his fingers. "As always, I've enjoyed our time together. And I will think on what we've talked about."

"I am always here with advice for my sons," she smiled, squeezing his hand. "And I am very glad to see you so happy with Zara. I hope that soon she will call me mother as well."

Loki chuckled, lowering his gaze to their hands, hiding his light blush at what she suggested for their future.

"Now, let's not get ahead of ourselves, mother," he warned, gently as he met her gaze again. "I think she would like calling you mother now, if you would allow it."

"I would," she nodded before patting his hand with a smile and taking the brush from it. "And I will be pleased to hear her say it."

Loki smiled and leaned down to kiss Frigga's cheek before standing tall again to continue smiling down at her.

"I must go to her," he smiled. "I shall see you again soon."

She smiled and nodded, releasing his hands to allow him to head for the door.

In the Gardens...

Zara patted down the soil over the clipping she'd planted with a smile before sitting back on her heels and wiping the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. She grinned up at Edric when she felt his hand on her shoulder, dirt smudged over one of her cheeks and up her arms, her hair askew from her usual hairstyle of side braids to keep it out of her eyes.

"The new rose bush clipping is planted," she beamed as she stood to dust the dirt from her dress. "It just needs water, light and love, now."

"As does every beautiful thing in this garden, hm?" Edric smiled, pinching her chin gently between his thumb and index finger.

"Edric, you flatterer," she giggled as he lowered his hand and she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't let Loki hear you speak of my beauty or he may have you dismissed."

"On the contrary, my sweet Zara," Loki called, sauntering out from behind a tree, making the two turn to him and bow their heads in respect as he approached. "I would readily agree with him and compliment his keen eye for beauty, which he has always demonstrated."

"Thank you, my lord Loki," Edric nodded as Zara smiled at him when he stopped in front of her. The old man smiled between them before announcing, "I shall fetch some water for this clipping Zara planted. I'm sure gorgeous flowers will bloom when it is fully grown."

Zara glanced at Edric as he stepped away then looked to Loki, seeing the light in his eyes that made her smile widen.

"I can see you are in a good mood, my prince," she noticed. "What makes your eyes glitter so?"

"Looking on you, my dear," he smirked back, taking her hands in his as she lowered her gaze to hide her blush. He stared at her for a moment before lifting a hand to brush a few of the loose strands of hair back from her face when she raised her head again and he chuckled, "You are covered in soil."

Zara's eyes widened as her cheeks reddened further in embarrassment, and she tried to straighten herself out.

"Forgive me for looking like this in front of you, my prince!" she fumbled, touching her hair, but he gently took her wrists into his hands and she looked up at him with wide, blue eyes as he lowered her hands with a smile.

"There is nothing to forgive," he murmured. "I would rather see you caked in dirt and sweat and happy than see you draped in jewels and silk and miserable."

She smiled, broadly and nodded in understanding as he looked her over again, resolved in what he was about to confess.

"Come with me, darling," he smiled, turning to pull her after him, making her frown in wonder at his back, his pace quick.

"Where are we going?" she wondered as he led her back toward the steps leading into the palace.

"Somewhere…special to me," he replied, making a turn into the hall and she tugged on his hand to bring him to a stop. He turned and frowned at her in wonder, still holding her hand.

"Forgive me, my prince, but should I not tell Edric that I'm leaving?"

"He can well see that," Loki smirked, stepping closer to her. "He knows my word overrules his. He will not question where you've gone."

"Then…should I not clean up before you take me to your special place?" she wondered, looking down at herself and trying to dust more of the dirt from her skirt.

"Darling," he smiled, making her look up at him with wide, blue eyes as he lifted a hand to brush his fingers, tenderly over her cheek. "You are fine just the way you are. Now, come along before I toss you over my shoulder and carry you there."

Zara's eyes widened in astonishment, but she saw the glint in his eye that lessened it as she breathed, "You wouldn't."

"If you stop me once more, I might just," he smirked back before turning to head down the hall again. "Now come along! Perhaps there will be someone there you've yet to meet."

She frowned in wonder but said nothing else as he led her down the hall, quickly. When she saw Thor coming toward them she gasped and ducked behind Loki, making him frown but he kept walking.

"Zara?"

"I can't be seen in such a state by anyone else!" she whispered, her hands gripping at his tunic. "It's embarrassing!"

He couldn't help but snicker as they both stopped in the hall, Zara still ducked behind Loki.

"Glad to see you up and about, brother," Thor nodded before asking, "Where is Zara? She is never far from you."

"She's still in the gardens," Loki lied, smoothly, making Zara frown and look between the two over his shoulder. "I've just visited her. She was rather busy."

"I see," Thor nodded then grinned, "Care to spar with me? Sif and Fandral will be sparring as well."

"No, I think I shall retire for the day," Loki nodded as Zara remained silent but glanced between the brothers in absolute confusion. Couldn't Thor see her? She was right there. "Perhaps tomorrow…if you're lucky."

"You must get to sparring more often, Loki," Thor nearly scolded. "Your sword skills will rust."

"My aim with a dagger is unmatched," Loki shot back. "I could demonstrate on your head, if you'd like, though I'm sure one of my daggers will be the only thing in your head if I do."

"Why do you avoid the training area? We will not bite!" Thor grinned, slamming a huge hand into his brother's back so hard that Loki stumbled forward a step.

"I need no practice with my skills, Thor," Loki strained, stepping back again and rolling his shoulder where Thor had 'patted' his back. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I am meeting Zara in my chambers."

Without another word, Loki grabbed Zara's hand again and pulled her down the hall, away from Thor, whom she stared at in confusion before turning to Loki.

"Why couldn't he see me? I was standing right there!" she wondered as they turned down another hallway.

"Perhaps he is just as much of a dolt as I've always said he was," he smirked back at her, pulling her closer to wrap her arm around his so they strolled side by side. "I cloaked you with my magic so that he would not see your state of disarray."

"Oh," she blurted, glancing at the retreating Thor then looking back at Loki to ask, "Am I still cloaked?"

"Yes, darling," he smiled. "I wouldn't wish you to be embarrassed in front of anyone else but myself."

"How generous of you," she muttered, making him chuckle before stopping next to a door and reaching out to push it open, leading her inside. "What's this?"

"The library," he murmured into her ear as they stepped into the chamber filled to the ceiling with books and a window on the far end of the room where the sunset could be seen in all its glory. He leaned toward her ear again, still holding onto her arm as they entered, whispering, "You're no longer cloaked, but anyone else will see you as freshened up, rather than disheveled."

She turned a sweet smile to him and he smiled back at her as they stopped in the center of the room, amongst books and shelves, the light of the torches lit to give a romantic glow to the entire room.

"So, this is your special place?" she wondered through a smile and he nodded. "I could see you finding refuge in a library."

"There is another reason I like this place so much," he told her, resuming his journey through the room. "Over here."

She kept quiet as he pulled her toward the window, holding her hand to help her sit on the window seat as she kept her eyes on the breathtaking sunset. He sat on the seat with her, his eyes on her the entire time and he couldn't believe how beautiful he thought she was, even covered in dirt and her hair a mess.

"This is my favorite seat in the entire palace," he explained.

"I can see why," she sighed before her gaze moved down to the view below. Her eyes lit up as she grinned, "Oh! You can see the rose garden from here! How lovely!"

Loki said nothing as he watched her expression change from delight to thought, then realization as she turned to him.

"This…" she breathed as he smiled at her, knowing she'd realized what he was actually showing her. "This is where you were sitting when I saw you the day we met."

"That's why I've brought you here," he nodded, shifting closer to take her hands in his, their eyes locked. "I couldn't think of a better place to tell you."

"Tell me?" she echoed, wonder glowing in her blue eyes.

He watched her for a moment as he lifted a hand to stroke some hair from her face, his thumb tracing her lower lip as her eyes softened and she smiled again.

"I brought you here…to tell you—"

"Ah, my lord Loki," a voice called from one end of the room, making Loki sigh and bow his head in exasperation as Zara turned her gaze to the man that sauntered toward them. "Come for an evening visit, have you? And who is your lovely companion?"

"Good evening, Xenos," Loki sighed again, drawing their attention to him as he stood, and Zara stood with him, wrapping her arm around his. "Master Librarian, may I introduce Edric's gardening assistant, Zara."

Xenos smiled as he lifted a hand toward her and she placed her hand in his, letting him place a kiss to the top of it before he lowered her hand, Loki watching him closely the entire time.

"So, you found out her name, did you?" Xenos smirked to Loki, making Zara frown at the prince, who in turn, glared at the librarian.

"Yes, I did," Loki replied before explaining, "I had yet to show her the library, I thought now would be a good time to do so."

"At sunset," Xenos nodded, with a smirk. "Very romantic."

Zara lowered her gaze to hide her blush as Loki glared at Xenos who only kept smirking at him.

"Well, perhaps I should go, then," he smirked, knowingly. "Forgive my intrusion, my prince. My lady."

He bowed out, and Zara was about to say something, but Loki tugged on her arm to draw her attention to him and shook his head that she remain silent as Xenos shut the door to the library behind him.

"Loki, I thought—He seemed like your friend," she wondered as he pulled her back toward the window seat.

"He is," he nodded, sitting again, but this time leaning back on the frame with his legs stretched out across the cushion. "And now you've met him. Come, sit with me."

Zara smiled and sat on the edge of the cushion, letting him take her hands in his again and she recalled, "This was how you were sitting that day. But you held a book in your hands then."

"And now I hold your hands in mine," he smiled, pulling her closer so that she leaned against his chest, letting him wrap his arms around her. He gave her a slight squeeze, making her giggle as she moved her hands up to stroke the tips of her fingers over his chin and jaw line. "Are you comfortable, little one?"

"Very," she grinned, still touching his chin absent-mindedly before asking, "What was it you wanted to tell me?"

"Ah…yes," he nodded, his heart beginning to race as he recalled why he'd brought her here. He licked his lips, nervously before taking a deep breath for courage then whispered, "I um…I have a confession."

Zara frowned at his sudden hesitation and he could see the slight fear in her beautiful eyes as she breathed, "Confession?"

"Darling, don't look at me like that," he murmured, lifting a hand to stroke the tip of his middle finger down the side of her face. "I won't be able to get through this if you look at me that way."

"I'm sorry, my prince," she whispered, looking away from him to fiddle with a stray thread on his green linen tunic. "I didn't mean to—"

"Zara, please," he sighed, making her bite her lower lip as her restless fingers still played with the hem of his tunic and he took in a deep breath before saying, "While I was away I had time to think about many things. You were never far from my thoughts. You couldn't sleep without me and…I couldn't sleep without you either, darling. I've always found you attractive, you knew that from the first, but—"

"My prince," she cut in, keeping her eyes on his chest. "Forgive me. I know you hate it when I interrupt, but perhaps now would be a time to use less of those wonderful words you use so well?"

He took in a breath, knowing she was right as she looked up at him with pleading, blue eyes.

Come out and say it! he screamed. Sliver Tongue indeed. More like lead!

He swallowed as he looked into her eyes and she gave the sweetest smile he was sure was only for him, strengthening his resolve as he smiled in return, a smile he reserved only for her.

"Zara, I love you."

Her eyes widened as he stared down at her in anticipation, wondering what she would say, but she didn't respond with words. She threw her arms around his neck, planting her lips to his before kissing the rest of his face and he couldn't help but laugh at her behavior.

"Darling, what in Asgard are you doing?!" he laughed, holding onto her so she wouldn't fall off the seat.

"Oh, my prince, I love you!" she grinned, snuggling up under his chin as he stared ahead in shock. "I was thinking about it the entire time you were gone! I was going to tell you tonight before we fell asleep. Perhaps after you fell asleep. I had a feeling I was going to be far too nervous to tell you while you were awake."

"My Zara," he smiled, delirious with joy that she returned his feelings as he hugged her tightly.

"My Loki," she grinned back, lifting her head to look into his eyes and his smile grew at the brightness in her expression. "I was worried you wouldn't feel the same."

"I worried over the same thing," he chuckled. "Apparently, it was all for naught."

She giggled before pressing a kiss to his chin then sat up, making him frown as his arms slipped from around her.

"Come," she smiled. "I need to wash up before bed."

He smiled as he stood, walking hand in hand back to his chamber, Zara with a huge grin on her face and Loki unable to hide the smile on his. When they entered his chamber, Loki lit the candles inside with his magic, then frowned when she released his hand but smiled when she rushed toward the washroom.

"Shall I set out a nightgown for you, darling?" he called, stepping toward the bed.

"Could you, my prince?" she smiled, peeking out of the doorway to do so before turning back inside to clean up.

He smiled, pulling his tunic off and he was about to put it away when he paused, having a thought, then smirked and straightened the tunic out to drape it over the foot of the bed. He sat on the edge of the bed to pull off his boots, setting them in their usual place on his side of the bed before crawling under the covers to wait for Zara. She emerged from the washroom with damp hair, rubbing a towel over her face and arms, her dress still full of dirt as she grinned at Loki when he lifted his arms to cradle the back of his head in his hands, watching her.

"Where's my gown?" she asked, stepping around the bed to her side and he waved a hand toward the foot of the bed.

She frowned but stopped when she spotted his tunic lying there and her smile returned as she sat on the edge of the bed. Loki watched as she sat with her back to him, setting the towel down to lift her hands to her shoulders and push her sleeves down over her shoulders. He swallowed, trying to resist the urge to shuffle toward her and help her undress, but a part of him was sure that she was doing this on purpose. Teasing him. His eyes roamed over her smooth back as she carefully pushed the bodice of her dress down around her waist, then lifted his tunic to slip it on. She turned to him with a smile once she was out of her dress and wearing nothing but his tunic that barely reached mid-thigh on her.

"Thank you for the lovely nightdress, Loki," she smiled, crawling onto the bed and slipping under the covers as he settled back and the candles dimmed in the room until they were completely doused.

"I'm glad you like it," he smiled as she snuggled against him and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

"I like it better than the other nightdresses you gave me," she murmured, hugging his chest. "I love you…my Loki."

"I love you, my Zara," he smiled back then sighed, "It feels so right to say that."

"It feels right to hear it," she grinned, her eyes fluttering shut with sleep. "Goodnight, my prince."

"Goodnight, darling."

A/N: I'm trying to build on Frigga and Loki's relationship, imagining what they've done together since we got a sense of it on the second Thor movie. reviews?