"Thor? Thor! Come quick!" Frigga said, pulling Thor's arm.

"What's the matter?"

"It's Loki, he is not well."

"Not well? The ceremony begins in mere moments!" They walked into Loki's room, where he was sitting in front of his vanity, all dressed in his ceremonial costume, being attended to by a number of servants. He had his arms folded and his legs crossed stubbornly.

"Loki, what is going on?" Thor demanded.

"I'm not doing it. I refuse." He flinched as a servant pinned some of his hair back under his gold ornate head dress.

"Why? I thought you were excited."

"I'm sick. I'm going to throw up."

"Oh, Loki, you are merely anxious," Frigga said, sitting next to him and putting an arm around his shoulders. "Now, tell me what's wrong."

"I told you, I've fallen ill. I cannot go through with this, we'll have to cancel."

"We cannot cancel, Love, there are so many people waiting for you right now!" Loki whimpered. "Aw, Loki, are you afraid of the people?"

"No, Mother, I just don't want them to look at me! Why are there so many? Why do they care about me getting married?"

"Because this isn't just a wedding between the two of you, it symbolizes the union between us and the Midgardians."

"Mother, please don't make me! I'm going to throw up!"

"Loki, just relax. Think about Tony, he's all you need to concern yourself with right now." Admittedly, that was a nice prospect, but Loki's gut churned at the thought of so many people watching him . . . all his life, he had stayed in the shadows, avoided people. Now . . .

Thor caught him as he stumbled off his chair. He clutched his brother's arm and whimpered again.

"Loki, it is time; we must go," Thor said. Loki's breathing accelerated and he looked at his mother desperately. She took his hand and led him to his place.

"I have to go now, Loki. Just stay calm. I promise, it will be wonderful. It will be over soon," she reassured.

I'm going to pass out, I'm going to throw up, he chanted silently. All too soon, the doors opened for him and he walked up the aisle, keeping his eyes downcast. He took his place in front of his parents. He was dizzy and his hands were trembling.

Then, the doors opened again, and Tony came through. Loki felt relief wash over him. He wasn't alone, they would do this together. Tony walked down the aisle with such confidence, he looked to Loki like a soldier accepting an award of honor. Trying to replicate Tony's pride, Loki stood up straighter and held his head higher.

When Tony entered, he immediately locked eyes with Loki and didn't look away. At first, Loki looked nervous, but he soon regained his godly demeanor. Tony couldn't help the small smile that graced his face knowing that he had made Loki more comfortable. He felt butterflies in his stomach as he reached the altar and joined hands with Loki. And damn, he looked good in that outfit.

The Allfather welcomed everyone and said his spiel, his voice booming through the halls with authority. Frigga stood next to him, holding a pillow with a box and a golden apple on it.

"I, Loki Odinson, take Anthony Edward Stark to be my eternal partner. I vow to remain faithful to him and honor him for all eternity."

"I, Anthony Edward Stark, take Loki Odinson to be my eternal partner. I vow to remain faithful to him and honor him for all eternity."

"You will now exchange gifts," Frigga announced, and Tony noticed she held just as much reverence and authority as the king, which Tony thought was very nice. Tony took the box from the pillow, opened it, and took out Loki's ring, sliding it on Loki's finger. Loki did the same, and when they were both on, the rings grew and twisted around their fingers ornately. Loki's bloomed multiple green jewels, and Tony's red, but in the center of the largest gem on each ring, a light the color of the other's jewels glowed. Tony noticed that he didn't even really feel it on his finger, he was just aware that it was there.

Loki then took the apple and placed it in Tony's hand. The audience, which had been silent before, now seemed to hold their breaths. Tony placed the fruit to his lips and took a bite. It was the sweetest, juiciest apple he had ever tasted. As he chewed and swallowed, Loki took a bite of his own and set the remainder of the apple back on the pillow with the now empty ring box.

After a few words of finality from Odin, he announced that they were to retire to their chambers to seal the marriage (Tony did not bite his lip to hide a smirk) and the guests would join for the feast. Loki took Tony's arm and led him out the doors and started down the hall.

"Loki . . ." Tony said as the doors shut behind him.

"Yes?"

"I'm not sure that apple worked. I don't feel any different."

"Give it a moment, and be glad you didn't transition in the middle of the ceremony. Few mortals have been granted immortality, but such a change is said to be quite a shock to behold." Tony nodded, and not two minutes of walking later, he felt a warmth in his heart, slowly changing to a burning heat and spreading through his veins.

"L-Loki!" Tony gasped, stumbling into his arms. Loki sat him down and stroked his hair calmingly as he writhed in agony. It wasn't painful, not really, just excruciatingly uncomfortable, and nothing he had ever felt before could compare.

He felt himself rejuvenate. Scars smoothed over, a broken fingernail healed, a cavity he hadn't told anyone about (can't trust those dentists) filled up. Pain he hadn't even realized he had, having grown accustomed to the normal abnormalities of a frail mortal body, ceased. Even at 25 years old, his joints had weakened, and now were strengthened. Aging is such a slow process you hardly notice it until your much older, but even in the youth of the twenties, having it thrown in reverse is spectacular and significant.

Tony didn't know how long it lasted, but soon enough he was laying still in Loki's arms. "Are you alright?" Loki asked, voice full of concern. "I didn't know it would be so painful, they told me it wouldn't hurt . . ."

"No, it didn't hurt, it was just . . . I don't know what it was. But right now, I feel like I could move mountains!" Loki smiled warmly and helped him up. Tony practically dragged Loki to his room, kissing him passionately as he slammed the door shut with his body, now faced with a new problem: How do you get these clothes off?

Sorry, not smut for you! I'll leave the events of the night to your imaginations. Heck, write it in the reviews if you want, so we can all enjoy your imagination. One last chapter!