I awoke early. I craned my neck over Loki's shoulder to check the clock; 2AM. I laid my head back down and watched the man fast asleep in front of me. His face was completely serene. His eyes closed, his mouth open slightly. He didn't move, didn't make a sound. His arm was still wrapped around me, however with not as much force as when he was awake. It lay limp, landing in the dip in my waist, his long slender fingers resting on my bare skin. I felt so small next to him, but I liked it. I felt at home, safe, protected. And the one thing I had come to learn about Loki was his fierce protection of what he valued most. I kissed the skin of his chest that sat only a few centimeters away from my face. He remained unmoving. I carefully and slowly pulled myself away from his body, kissing his hand as I pulled it from my waist and rested it gently on the mattress. I made sure I closed the bathroom door completely before turning the light on, so as not to wake him. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I felt different somehow. A good different that was simply unexplainable. I brushed my hair, a few strands tousled together from Loki's hands running through it. I washed my face with some water, and turned the light off before I quietly opened the door and tip-toed my way back to the bed. I moved my way back into his arms with great care. His eyes were still closed, his chest rising and descending slowly as he breathed. I couldn't help but think of the perfection he possessed simply in the way he slept. I laid his arm back on my waist, and decided to snuggle into him as much as physically possible, I laid my hand on the small of his back, and the beginning of his behind, before closing my eyes and trying to find my way back to sleep.

"My love." He whispered. My eyes opened and looked up at him, his eyes remained closed, but a soft smile formed on his lips. Lips I had just spent the previous four hours kissing. I blushed, it seemed to be something I couldn't help.

"I didn't mean to wake you." He smirked, opening his eyes and kissing my nose.

"I have been awake for some time now, I have just been enjoying this embrace." He explained. He moved his arms, both of them wrapping themselves around my waist, resting on my behind as I pulled myself on top of him. We didn't speak. There was no need. I was still consumed in a feeling of complete weightlessness, and I suspected he was also. I kissed just below his jawline, and whispered into his ear,

"I'm yours." I felt the need to say that at least. If it wasn't clear before, it was now, and it was important that he know that. He smiled, kissing me softly.

"And I, am yours." He spoke sincerely and my heart fluttered from the moment.

The next few days, we didn't leave the house much. There were too many 'indoor activities' that required our complete attention. But after about a week, we decided it might be an idea to get at least some fresh air.

"Don't wear your leather get-up though. I'm pretty sure your face and attire is all over the news." I explained, as Loki stood there, a smile painted on his face, ready to leave the apartment.

"And how would you know if I was all over the news my darling?" He teased.

"Im going off common sense, because actually, I haven't been able to watch the news, because someone can't keep their awesome Asgardian hands off me..." I teased as Loki wrapped his hands around my waist.

"There were more pressing matters involving you, that needed to be attended to, more important than the news."

"Mhmm." But I wasn't complaining. I leaned up and kissed him. "Now, what do you plan on wearing?" Loki stepped back, a mischievous grin on his face. His clothes morphed into a black suit, wearing a white shirt and black tie. The coat he wore over the suit was long, ending around his knees. He wore a green embroidered thin scarf around his neck, falling alongside the lapels of his coat. It took me a moment to compose myself and rein in my need to rip those very clothes off.

"My love? How do I look?" He asked. All I could muster was a nod of intense approval. He smiled, taking my hand as we left the apartment.

We walked down the streets of New York, not heading in any particular direction, just wandering along. The city was still in a state of chaos. The streets had been cleaned of the dead alien bodies and debris, but the buildings were still laden with holes and battle wounds.

"It seems my army made quite an impact." Loki noticed, his voice indifferent. He looked down at me. "I am only glad you were not killed. If I had of known...met you before..." He trailed off, looking around him once again. No one noticed Loki as we walked, which I was thankful for. But I was more worried about Shield, and what they would think of Loki being back on Earth. I began to wonder about whether or not they even picked up the trace of Loki's magic as we arrived to Earth, but then, I wasn't even sure if Loki's magic had a trace signal of any kind.

I ducked into some shops, Loki following close behind. Moving through the racks of clothing, I was tempted to try so many things on, but didn't want to bore Loki. He picked up a dress and dangled it in front of me, a simple smile on his face.

"Try it on." He spoke.

"But-"

"You were looking at it before, try it on." Loki pressed. I took the dress and made my way into the change rooms. When I came out wearing a body hugging navy blue dress with a plunging back and full length sleeves, Loki took a deep breath.

"H-how do I look?" I asked self-consciously. Loki smiled and leaned in, whispering in my ear,

"If we were not in a public domain right now..." He didn't finish, but I knew enough about him now to know where his mind was going. I couldn't help but blush. "Go and change my love, I will buy it for you." He rested his hand on the small of my back, ushering me back into the change room. Once I had changed back into my old clothes I handed Loki the dress and he approached the sales girl standing behind the counter. She smiled seductively at him, her eyes giving her away. Loki noticed, but showed no intention of reciprocated feelings, instead he looked away, his hand reaching out for me as I walked towards him, resting his slender fingers on the small of my back as the sales girl ran the dress through the computer, clearly feeling rejected by the slight frown on her face.

When we got back to the apartment, Loki removed his coat and scarf, placing them on the nearby armchair. I sat down on the couch in my tight jeans and loos orange top. Loki took his spot beside me, his arm resting over my shoulder. He raised his other hand, a green mist forming, and within that mist, a perfect red rose spouting from it. Loki handed it to me as I blushed YET AGAIN. But he didn't seem to mind the blushing.

"I must check with Asgard that all is well." I nodded. Loki stood up and went to the bedroom, sitting on the bed, his hands in front of his face as he began to scry. I pulled a book from my mini bookshelf in the corner of the living room, and flipped it open. Loki was gone for about an hour before he sat down next to me again. I closed the book and placed it on the coffee table.

"How is everything?"

"The invasion was only a small group of resistance fighters from another realm. They had manipulated Heimdall into thinking they were arriving for a peace treaty discussion. The invasion was stopped in the dungeons."

"And how is Frigga? Thor?"

"They are all fine. The small damage to the palace is being fixed. Frigga has requested we return to Asgard immediately, out of ease to her nerves." I nodded.

"So...we should go then?" I said reluctantly. I had been enjoying our time alone. Loki smiled and tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ear.

"As soon as we get everything in order here. But before we begin anything of that nature, we may still enjoy our time here, for a little while longer at least." I smiled at him, excited at the idea he was posing. He picked me up and carried me to our room. And it begun again...