Chapter 12:

It was an absolutely beautiful day. Thor was now leading a blindfolded Adriel through the garden as he led her to his favorite spot. It was secluded and away from the castle. He then finally came to his destined spot and slowly walked up behind her.

"Are you ready?"

He said softly as he placed his fingers over the knot. Adriel smiled and gently nodded her head. "Yes…" Thor chuckled as he undid the blindfold and slowly leaned in and whispered.

"Open your eyes."

Adriel giggled and opened her eyes to be completely shocked by the beauty before her. The garden was filled with many different kinds of flowers and it honestly reminded her of a secret garden, a place to hide and cherish. She then looked back at Thor and grinned at him.

"This place is amazing!"

Thor chuckled as he pulled out the blanket and laid it out for them. "I figured you would like it. This is usually where I come when I need to clear my head." Adriel smirked at him and nodded. "Not a bad place." She then placed the basket down and went to sit down.

"Sit with me." She said as she smiled up at him.

Thor grinned as he sat down beside her. "I must ask how are you liking Asgard as of far?" Adriel looked over at him as she pulled out the book. "I like it; I really am starting to feel like its home here. Your brother has been a huge help when it came to that." Thor chuckled as he leaned up against a nearby tree.

"I think my brother is quite taken with you."

Adriel shrugged her shoulders and smirked over at him. "Does that bother you?" She asked, Thor started to laugh and shake his head. "It makes me curious as to whether you feel the same for him." Adriel sighed and gently moved closer to him.

"Your brother has been an amazing friend to me, he's made me feel like I can truly belong here and I just feel this automatic connection to him. I am so thankful that I have gotten the opportunity to meet him and know him."

Thor gave her a closed mouth smile and a serious look. "My brother is a good man but when it comes to love he knows nothing of it." Adriel slowly looked away from him while he continued. "However, the way he looks at you is completely different from how he has looked at anyone else. I think my brother bares more than just friendly feelings for you." Adriel then looked back at him with a curious look.

"My brother is considered many things. A man of Mischief, Lies, Master of Magic, Shape Shifting… But never a man to be known of his heart. I will not lie he has had many admirers who has tried to win it but it seems like you are the only one who has finally broken that shell. What would you do if he decides to pursue you?"

Adriel shrugged, not really sure what she would do. "I don't know but something is telling me that you did not invite me here to read you a book." Thor slowly smirked at her. "Do not change the subject." Adriel then glared at him. "Why is this so important to you? After all I'm nothing but a lowly Midgardian I shouldn't even matter to you people." Thor sighed and gently placed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"That's where you are wrong. You are much older and much wiser than you think."

Adriel furrowed her brows and slowly moved away from him. "What are you talking about!? I'm 28 years old!" Thor grinned at her and shook his head.

"You're much older than that. When your family moved to Midgard they allowed you to grow however before your mother and father died they requested to have your memory edited so you will think that grew up along with your sister and spent your entire life living in Midgard so you can have a normal life. No one thought much about it since you moved around a lot. However you are only two years younger than Loki."

Adriel's eyes started to well up in tears as he told her this. "So all those childhood memories I had with Chloe were not real? Is Chloe even my real sister!?" Thor furrowed his brow at her, realizing this wasn't going the way he wanted it to go. "Of course Chloe is your sister!" Adriel immediately rose up from the blanket as tears started to roll down her cheeks.

"All those memories! All of it is nothing but a damn lie! My sister, my mother and father! All of it, how could they do this to me!? Why would they change my memory!?" She said as she sobbed.

Thor quickly rose up from the blanket and walked up to her and wrapped his large arms around her. "I'm sorry Adriel, I never meant for this to come across in a wrong way." Adriel then shook her head as she looked up at him. "Tell me everything… I want to know it all now!" Thor sighed as he smoothed her hair.

"When your family moved to Midgard you had a very difficult time growing up there because this was your home and since your family aged a lot differently from Midgardians they would have to move a lot. You grew to accept it and once you have turned 28 that is when your aging process had slowed down. Wonder why you are so good with Medicine? It is because you've been practicing it for centuries. When Chloe was born 16 years ago you took care of her, protected her, loved her. However, your father made a pact with our father that if they were to ever to pass that both you and Chloe's memories would be erased and you would never remember this or your true past."

Adriel frowned and slowly look away from him. "So they were trying to protect us and give us a normal life?" Thor nodded. "Yes…" Adriel nodded and gave him a confused look. "They why did your father bring us back here?" Thor then grinned down at her and caressed her cheek.

"Because this is your true home, he felt you had a right to start over and so did your sister."

Adriel crossed her arms over her chest and backed away from him. "Will my sister age the same way as me? We are both half Midgardian." Thor smiled and nodded. "Yes." Adriel's eyes were red from the tears that have been rolling down her cheeks and sighed. "Thank you for being so honest with me. But I have one more question." Thor gently wiped away her tear and gave her a closed mouth smile. "Of course." Adriel sighed and slowly looked away from him.

"How did my mother live for so long? She is not from here."

Thor chuckled as he forced her to look back at him. "Let's call it a wedding gift from my father. He gave her eternal life so she can live with your father forever. That is until they both decided to become regular midgardians that was a week before the accident. They were going to have the same thing done with you and your sister but it was too late." Adriel gently nodded and bowed her head.

"If you don't mind I would like to go back to the castle so I can clear my head."

Thor frowned at her and took her hand into his. "Alright my lady." He said in a whisper, he then bent down and grabbed the basket and blanket. "Perhaps another time?" Adriel gave him a sad smile and gently nodded. "Yeah another day would be fine." Thor sighed as he escorted Adriel back to the castle; he led her back to her room and stopped once they made it to her door.

"I apologize if I have upset you; it seems that every time we meet I always have you end up in tears." Thor said with a small smile.

Adriel started to laugh and immediately shake her head. "I promise it's not you, I'm just extra emotional lately." Thor chuckled and kissed her forehead. "It's understandable." Adriel looked away from him while he sighed. "I suppose I will leave you to your thoughts. Have a wonderful rest of the day my lady." Adriel smiled up at him and nodded. "You as well my Prince." Thor chuckled and then started to head down the hall while Adriel walked into her room.

Once she was inside she was thrilled to see that no one was in there. She closed the door and rested her back against it as she allowed the tears to flow. She slowly started to move down against the wooden frame of the door and stayed like this for majority of the day, allowing her mind to wander of everything that has happened thus far. She then heard a knock that completely startled her and caused her to straighten up. She quickly looked back at the door and heard someone knock once again.

She then quickly fixed her hair, wiped her tears and adjusted her clothes before she opened the door. She then placed her hand on the knob and slowly turned it and pulled the door open to see Loki standing before her with his arms crossed behind his back and with a serious look upon his face.

Adriel couldn't help herself, she was so happy to see him that she immediately wrapped her arms around him and started to cry. "Thank God you're here! I was hoping it was you." She sobbed; Loki looked completely surprised by her admission. He was honestly there to confront her about how she allowed Thor to get so close to her, how she allowed him to touch her so intimately but seeing her like this made him worry for her and he couldn't help but wrap his arms around her small frame and hold her tightly to him as she cried into his chest.

"What happened?" He whispered, as he rubbed her back.

Adriel sniffed her nose and gently pulled away from him. "Thor told me everything." She said brokenly. Loki gritted his teeth, even though he saw everything and heard everything it still irritated him thoroughly how much Thor can bring Adriel to tears. He gently took her hand and closed the door behind them and locked it.

"Tell me everything." He whispered as he smoothed her hair.

Adriel sighed as she pulled him towards her bed and gently sat down on the mattress. Loki watched her and hesitated when she patted the empty space next to her. "Sit with me?" She asked so softly, Loki cleared his throat and slowly walked around the other side of the bed.

It was not customary for an unwed couple to be in a room together by themselves and most of all not sit upon the same bed together without supervision, he hesitated once he came to the other side. Adriel rolled her eyes and grabbed his arm.

"Oh for God's Sakes!" She growled as she yanked him down.

Once he was on the mattress with her, she then cuddled up next to him and wrapped her arm around his waist. She then rested her head against his chest as tears continued to pour. Loki stared down to see her burying her face into his chest and clutching onto the fabric on his arm. "Adriel…" He whispered softly as he placed his other arm around her. Adriel sniffed her nose and gently rose herself up and looked into his green eyes.

"Loki I am so sorry. I am just a mess right now."

Loki gently caressed her cheek and kissed her forehead. "It's alright… Tell me what he told you." He whispered, Adriel snuggled closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder.

"He told me that I am much older than what I thought I was and that I had a hard time accepting that I was now living in a new world and there is a reason why I am so good at medicine. That my father made a pact with yours that if he and my mother pass away that Chloe's and my memory will be completely erased so we can have a normal life. And that my parent's became mortals a week before they died."

Loki sighed and shook his head.

"My brother… the master of words."

He then looked down at her and gently moved her head to so she could face him.

"Yes… this is all true. However, you did not have a hard time fitting in at Midgard. In fact you had plenty of friends, you are a master in medicine and healing that is true and after your sister turned 14 it had become more apparent to your Father that in order to truly live a normal life in Midgard that he and your mother must become mortals. They decided to become mortals first before they turned you and your sister however the real reason why they didn't make you and Chloe mortal is because they knew what Eric was doing to you. They figured that you were safer as you were and after that mongering Neanderthal constantly abused you it proved your father right as to why he didn't make you mortal. It took every bit of convincing from my father for me not to come down to Midgard and strike that man dead."

Adriel gently rose up to look at him with a confused look upon her face. "Wait… you already knew about what happened to me and Eric?" Loki gave her a serious look and sighed. "Adriel I have not been entirely honest with you." Adriel furrowed her brows and gently moved away from him. "What do you mean?" Loki shook his head and looked back up at her.

"Since you've left Asgard when we were children I have been keeping tabs on you. I have been doing that for a very long time. I wanted to know that you were safe, that you were happy. When that man came into the picture I must admit that I was not very happy with the thought but there was no way I could come down to you and convince you to not be with him and when he started abusing you it was the hardest thing for me to tolerate. I begged father to let me come and protect you but he refused and insisted that your Father would protect you. As soon as you were taken to the hospital after your parent's had died I convinced father to bring you back here, since it was a pact that your father and my father had made if something was to happen to them. That is why they did not leave you much money it was because it was always planned that if something happened that you would always come back to Asgard, you would come back to me." He said softly.

It had dawned on Adriel that Loki has been a part of her life so much longer than she thought and it made her realize that she wanted to know more, she needed to understand why her parents went this route and knew that this man before her could help her understand. "Loki please bring back my memory I want to remember." Loki shook his head as he placed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I cannot."

Adriel stared at him, pleading him to do so. "Loki please, I know you can." Loki sighed and pulled her closer to him. "Adriel its better this way I promise you." Adriel sighed and looked away from him. "I just want to remember, I just want to know what's real." Loki stared at her with complete remorse. "If I do this you must not disclose this with your sister or my father do you understand? If I do this I am going against the king of Asgard." Adriel nodded giving him a small smile. "I promise." She whispered, Loki then grinned at her and then gently took her hands into his.

"Close your eyes."

Adriel did as she was told and felt as if her body was being yanked away. Everything was coming back to her. He showed Adriel her entire life till now, and then he showed her why her parent's did what they did. Tear's started rolling down her cheeks as memories came flooding in. The memories of her as a young girl being taught by her mother how to dance, how to love, how to have compassion and see good in everyone.

Memories of her father playing games with her and teaching her the rules of life, teaching her how to be strong and how to be an independent and knowledgeable woman. Memories of her helping people, saving them from illness. Memories of when she officially stopped aging, Memories of when Chloe was born. Even though she had full knowledge of medicine she decided to take a break to learn more about the world of Midgard. She practiced at one of the top schools of dance and music which explained why she was such a good singer and dancer and once she learned all that she could from there, she decided to travel the world to experience and to understand what life has to offer.

Once she had enough of that she came back home. She studied, received her diploma and decided to pursue her medical degree to become an official doctor and that's when she finally got accepted into medical school. She felt her mother's love radiate through her, her father's strength consuming her, and then there was Eric. Memories of when they met. The love they shared, the real reason why he became so abusive, it was all clear as day.

Then there was that day, the day that she will never forget. It was the day she heard that knock on the door and came face to face with the kind officer who told her of the horrific news. She remembered the pain that shattered her heart, the endless tears that continued to fall, she remembered that Chloe was in school and Eric was with her trying to convince her to continue their relationship. She remembered having to go to Chloe's school to tell her the bad news.

Even though things were so chaotic and things between she and Eric were so strained she was so thankful to have him here to help her. However, after the funeral and everything was said and done she then decided that it was time to finally move on. Adriel remembered telling Eric this however he did not take the news very well and threw her down the stairs.

Once this had happened he was arrested and had a restraining order placed against him so he could no longer be near her. Adriel remembered being completely heart broken and devastated that everything in her life was falling apart but she knew that she was doing the right thing. She knew if she stayed with him any longer that he would not only harm her but harm Chloe as well and she couldn't allow that.

So Adriel sold her parent's place and moved her and her sister to an apartment in Pasadena where she and her sister ended up meeting the best neighbor's anyone could ask for.

Since day one of moving in they were nothing but kind and helpful to her and Chloe. She learned that the two men who lived on her floor were professors at one of the local universities for Physics and were awesome babysitters for Chloe when Adriel had to work night shifts and thanks to them Chloe was now in honor's physics because they would tutor her whenever she needed the help. Their friends who were also professors at the university as well and were also great people that came into their lives.

Then there was her other neighbor who worked at one of the local clubs. She was a great friend one who would help them try to have some fun and it was honestly just nice to have another girl around. Life for them picked up and things started to get better and that was where they were now. That is until they were taken from their home and brought to Asgard.

However, now she felt something different. She felt Loki, she felt his heart, she saw his life before her. She knew that his father has always favored Thor over him but she saw it with her own eyes.

She felt his sadness, loneliness since she has left, she saw the women that he has been with to distract himself of everything before him, she saw how the Warriors Three, Sif and Thor treated him over the years and she saw the love he had for his mother.

She saw his whole life before her eyes and she felt how much his heart really bared for her, she felt the intensity, the severity, she felt the feelings he emitted for her when she appeared before the royal court and that is when she realized how much he truly cared for her.

She then felt Loki gently wipe away a stray tear that was now rolled down her cheek, she felt her breath become shallow and his hands gently placed upon her cheeks as he leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

"Open your eyes." He whispered.

Adriel opened her eyes to see his beautiful green ones. They held so much fire and so much intensity upon them that she couldn't help but become lost. She realized that they were no longer in her room and looked around to see that they both were in a dark bedroom and were both sitting before a large fireplace that was burning embers and crackling giving a calm to the silence that was emitting in the room. She slowly looked back at Loki with confusion written upon her eyes. Loki chuckled and caressed her cheek.

"I transferred us to my room so we can have more privacy. Chloe will be notified that you are with me." He whispered.

Adriel nodded as she stared down at the ground to see that they both were snuggled close together as the fire burned before them. "How do you feel now that you know everything?" He whispered, Adriel looked up at Loki and couldn't help but smile.

"Like there isn't this big gaping hole in my heart, that everything finally makes sense, that what I truly feel is not just an illusion but real."

She then gently moved herself closer to him as she gave him an incredulous look. "Thank you… You have no idea what this means to me." Loki gave her a closed mouth smile and bowed his head. "You deserve to know. After all that is what friends are for." He said as he looked up at her with a shy smile. Adriel couldn't help but laugh as she gently placed her hand against his cheek and gently moved his head back up to look at her.

"Loki when are you going to realize that you are so much more to me than just a friend?"

Loki was about to respond until she gently kissed him. Loki was completely surprised at first and felt his heart race a mile a minute; he then slowly pulled her closer to him and deepened the kiss.

Adriel wrapped her arms around his neck as she pulled him down onto the ground. Loki was now on top of her as she pulled him closer, he the wrapped his arms around her waist as he broke the kiss and started to kiss down her neck.

"You have no idea how long I have wanted to do this." He whispered.

Adriel sighed as he nipped and kissed her neck. "You have no idea how long I've wanted this." She said softly, Loki chuckled as he pecked her lips. "Stay with me tonight." He whispered, Adriel chuckled and kissed him once again. "I don't know if that's a good idea." She said against his lips, Loki snickered as he kissed her once again.

"I promise my intentions are most innocent, I just do not want you to leave me for the night."

Adriel sighed as she gently pushed him back so she could sit up. "Loki… What about Chloe she's going to worry and I don't want people to get the wrong idea. I'm not that type of girl and I know what kind of man you are, you take what you want and I think if anything we should take this very, very slow." Loki frowned and slowly looked down at her abdomen.

"Is it because you lost the child? That you are so fearful to be with me?"

Adriel's eyes widened in shock as she immediately moved away from him. "What!? No! It's not that at all, it's just I got out of a messy relationship and I just don't want to ruin what we have." Loki gently nodded, still not moving his eyes away from her belly.

"When I learned that you were with his child I was furious. I never wanted anything more than to bring you back up here and take you away from him. Then when you lost the child and he started abusing you because of it I was ready to come down and kill him however, father would not allow me to do so."

His eyes then met hers with such ferocity.

"I never wanted to kill a man more than I wanted to kill him for harming you. You have no idea the impact you have on me and I will wait for a thousand more years until I can officially call you my own. I'm sorry for my rudeness I will take you back to your room now." He said more disgusted with himself.

Just as he was about to get up Adriel then immediately grabbed his hand. "Loki…" She said softly, Loki looked back down at her mortified and angry. "What is it?" He said with such irritation, Adriel gave him a pleading look as she pulled him back down beside her. "I want to stay." Loki looked at her with complete surprise and slowly started to smile. "Really?" Adriel nodded as she gave him a small smile. "Really." She whispered, Loki chuckled and then leaned in to give a sweet kiss. "

You have made me so happy."

He chuckled as he rested his forehead against hers. "I promise that our night together will be strictly innocent. Chloe will not worry and I will make sure that Polaris will keep this to herself." Adriel arched her brow at him while he laughed. "What you did not realize that she is my care keeper as well?" Adriel slowly smiled at him and started to laugh. "No honestly I didn't." Loki chuckled as he stood up and scooped her up in his arms and carried her bridal style towards his bed.

"Loki!"

She said laughingly as he gently placed her down on his plush mattress. Loki grinned at her as he morphed his and her clothing to their night attire. Loki then pulled back the covers and climbed in and pulled her against him. "There… now isn't this better?" He said with a large smile, Adriel grinned at him and nodded as she kissed the tip of his nose.

"Reminds me of old times."

Loki chuckled as he kissed her lips. "Yes however we have never been this intimate before." Adriel then shook her head. "Well given the fact that we were very young it would seem quite odd to do so." Loki nodded as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "Were you happy?" Adriel looked up at him completely confused while he stared off into the distance. "What do you mean?" Loki sighed and looked back down at her.

"When you found out that you were having his child. Were you happy?"

Adriel realized that this was really bothering him. However, she needed to be honest with him. "Yeah… I was. But that was a different time. We were both very much in love then and life was simply perfect but after the miscarriage he lost it and took his anger out on me. That's when the happily ever after dissipated into thin air." Loki pulled her closer to him as if he was protecting her from everything bad in this world.

"Would you ever want another child?" He asked so simply.

Adriel sighed as she buried her face into his chest. "Yes. Even though I will forever be heartbroken at the loss of my child I can't help but feel that it was for the better. But yeah I would love to try again and have a baby of my own. I always wanted to be a mother and maybe one day I will." Loki smirked and kissed her forehead. "I am sure one day that dream will come true and when it does you will become an absolutely amazing mother." Adriel smiled up at him and kissed him once again. "Thank you." She whispered, Loki chuckled and kissed her back.

"Do not thank me, just love me." He whispered against her lips.

Adriel's eyes widened in surprise by his response and was about to say something until Loki fixed his pillow and grinned at her. "I suppose it is time for sleep. Best get our rest and all." He said with a cute little grin and winked at her. Adriel chuckled and nodded her head. "Yeah that sounds like a good idea." Loki smiled as Adriel turned her back towards him and felt him wrap his arm around her waist and pulled her against his chest.

"I love you Adriel." He whispered into her ear and then fell asleep.

Adriel sighed as her nerves started to take over her. How was she supposed to respond to him, she barely knew him and here he was in love with her. He knew so much more about her than she did about him and it scared her completely.

Yes she had feelings for him and yes those feelings were growing deeper and deeper as time went on but to call it love now was just way to fast and she was scared.

The last time she rushed in this fast it ended up with her at the bottom of the stairs. How could she know if Loki was the man he says he is? How could she accept this place as her home? She didn't know, however she was sure of one thing and that was she was not going to lose her Prince.

The one man who showed her it's ok to live and move on, that it's ok to laugh and smile, it's ok to accept things for good or for worst. She didn't see this man who had his arms tangled around her as her prince she saw him as a man she could learn to allow herself to let go and fall madly in love with. She wasn't sure but she sure as hell wasn't going to allow this to slip through her fingers and that was one thing she was most certain of.

Sorry for the delay on this chapter things have been really busy lately. I promise more is to come and I hope you enjoy this new chapter. Please review I'm always up for new ideas. :)