(Modern Love)

Sif spun as the door to her hotel suite eased open then lowered the shuriken Nyvorlas had taught her to throw as his face was revealed. "Next time, knock."

"I was fully prepared to use the door as a shield," he told her as he slipped into the room and closed the door behind his lean form. "Damned council had us placed on different floors."

"I'm not royalty. I'm certain they insisted that a floor be reserved for such."

"You will be royalty soon enough; their interference becomes tedious. They'd best hope Edansyr never gets himself killed nor decides to abdicate. Should I ever sit the damned throne every last one of them will be forcibly retired."

"Aren't there several sisters between you and the throne?"

"Technically. The council continues to vacillate regarding the succession. Currently they've decreed it shall be sons first, then daughters. It's the second time they've changed it in as many cycles. This time it is due to Tolthe's betrayals. They fear that a young Queen will trust the wrong consort. Foolish of them; my mother was not young when she took Tolthe to her bed."

"I don't see why Queen Elénaril does not simply ignore them. The All-Father ignores his council when it pleases him."

"In point of fact he does not; he finesses his way around them or woos them into making the decision he favors. I've seen him do so countless times. Your King is not only crafty himself but has a Queen with even greater ability to cajole and confuse. My mother has neither advantage. My father's death left her woefully unprepared to rule, and it shows."

Wonderful. She'd always despised political games yet now she found herself embroiled in the governance of not just one Realm but three; all because of one misbegotten, infuriating and much too attractive for her own good Álfar. Reaching out quickly as he paced by, Sif grabbed his arm, spun him around and slammed him against the nearest flat surface – the closed door to her bathing chamber. His upswept brows lifted as she captured his mouth with hers. Their kiss was fierce, as it always was. They'd not yet learned to find the softer side of their entanglement. It wasn't a relationship, not as she understood them. They simply had a burning need for each other that had not been quenched after nearly two months of lust filled nights and frustrating days. "Bed, now," she demanded.

Nyvorlas laughed. "Later." A gasp was ripped from her when he reversed their positions, lifting her with one arm while tearing aside the dressing robe she wore with the other. She hadn't even noticed him freeing his erection from his trews until she was impaled upon it. Groaning, she wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled in as tightly as her position would allow and favored him with a slit-eyed glare. "I know, I'll pay for my impertinence later," he drawled and then began thrusting hard and fast enough to make her forget even her name.

"Shut up and bring me," she ordered digging her fingertips into his back. If he'd removed his shirt and jerkin, her nails would be leaving furrows in his pale skin. As it was he'd likely need to find an excuse for the damage to the leather when his servants went to clean it. His head dipped and he sucked fiercely on the softness of her neck; bastard, that would bruise. "Marking me as yours again?" she asked breathlessly.

"Always." Each powerful thrust now slammed her against the solid door with a rather loud thud. Sif had heard people on other floors while quietly staring out of the floor to ceiling windows, surely they would hear this? She cared not as the tension and heat built within her. "Gods, Sif; you are perfect," Nyvorlas ground out as she began to tighten around him in her release. Burying her mouth against his shoulder to muffle her reaction she screamed her pleasure as he stiffened and plunged hard and deep within her wet heat, following her over the edge.

Breathing hard Sif looked up at him from where they'd ended up sprawled like broken dolls on the floor after riding out their orgasms. "One day we will make it to a bed," she insisted. A soft laugh was his only response.

… …

Bruce stopped short at the sight of Tony sitting on the breakfast bar in the communal kitchen. "What are you doing up there?"

"Waiting for my waffles," the billionaire responded, nodding at the electric waffle iron that sat next to him on the counter. Tony held out a plastic box that was dripping water. "Blueberry?"

"No, thanks. You're cooking waffles?"

"Um, not really. Pepper made the batter and went back to get dressed. I'm just supposed to take out the waffles when it dings."

That made more sense. "Got it. Hey, can I ask you a favor?"

"You can ask. Whatcha need, Green Bean?"

"Green…you know what? Never mind."

"Wait, where're you going?" He heard Tony's feet hit the floor. "Aw, come on, Brucie, give me a break. It's not even nine and I'm out of bed, my witticisms aren't in gear yet."

"This is serious, Tony."

"Fine, okay, I've got my serious face on, hit me with it."

"I need two favors from you. First, I need you to lend me fifteen thousand dollars. Second, I need you to be my best man when I marry Darcy."

Tony blinked. "You sure you don't want a blueberry?" An electronic beeping started. "Hold that thought." He put the carton down on the counter and popped open the waffle iron. "Does that look done to you?"

"It looks a little light."

"Yeah, that's what I thought." Tony closed the appliance and glanced at the clock. "Any idea how much longer I should leave it?"

"Not really."

"Damn. Okay, so, lend you money and be your best man; uh, no and yes."

"Why not and thank you?"

"I never lend money to anybody. Besides, you don't need to borrow money; you've got your own."

"No, Tony, I don't. I wouldn't be asking…"

"Jarvis, did I remember to send that email to Dr. Banner?"

"No sir, but Mrs. Stark remembered to do so in your name."

"Oh, cool. Bruce, did you read my email?"

No, he hadn't and with good reason. "I stopped reading your emails because you always send me porn. I don't want to look at porn."

Puppy dog eyes; why did Tony have to use puppy dog eyes? "I'm hurt. Sometimes there's actual important information with that porn."

"Tony…"

"Fine, fine, be a party pooper. J, resend that email from Pepper's account, okay?"

"Done, sir."

"Thanks. Okay, so Bruce, open Pepper's email and then do what she told you to do. If you still think you need fifteen grand after that I'll give it to you."

"I…uh, Tony?"

"Read the email."

"Your waffles are smoking."

"Son of a bitch."

… …

"Jesus."

Darcy opened one eye and frowned at the sight of Bruce staring at the HUD of his computer set up with a shocked expression. "Wassup?" she managed.

"You know that building material we came up with after Kara toasted the Aerogel?"

Building material? Oh, right. She yawned as her brain kicked into what passed as awareness. "Um, the stuff you thought could be used for construction and you wouldn't need insulation?"

"That's the one."

She waited for him to continue, but no, he just sat there staring. "Soooo, what about it?"

"Oh. Tony pushed through the patent application paperwork and even though the patent will be pending for quite a while we already had a buyer for the rights to manufacture the stuff."

"Do you have a mouse in your pocket or do you just like to dole out info one excruciating tidbit at a time?"

"We, as in Kara who accidentally created it, Loki who kept us all alive when she created it, Tony because he figured out how to replicate it in a manufacturing process and me because I discovered just what Kara had accidentally created and what applications it could be used for."

"Huh. So how much did you get for the rights? Um, geez, never mind, that's none of my business."

"No, it's okay. The initial rights to use the process went for six million dollars. They have to renew the rights every year based on a percentage of their gross receipts. Honey? You're literally marrying a millionaire…well, before taxes."

Her eyes popped all the way open. "You're shitting me!"

"No, I'm not. You sure you don't want an expensive ring?"

After chewing on her lower lip for a minute Darcy shuddered. "Nah, I'd be too paranoid to wear it. I mean, don't go all chintzy on me, but no way would I want one that cost as much as Pepper's."

"Or Kara's, I imagine. Those matched green diamonds are pretty rare, Tony said."

"Yeah, uh, no colored diamonds, 'kay? Not because they're pricey, I just like regular diamonds."

"Got it."

"And maybe we could do a private wedding?"

"You're our social director, isn't that your choice?"

She rolled her eyes at him. "I'm the Director of Social Media, totally different thing. It's probably going to be up to…hey, wait a minute. I just had an idea."

"Uh oh."

"Hey! I have good ideas!"

Bruce grinned and crossed the room and pounced on the bed, tumbling her back against the pillows. "I'll agree that you've had some very good ideas," he said huskily as he hugged her close.

"Humph. Why don't we get married in Asgard? One of the gang can get a license for whatever state we're leaving from…that should do it. I bet Frigga would love it."

"Uh…you'd better have Pepper run that by legal, hon; that doesn't sound kosher."

"Fine, rain on my parade."

"Maybe we can do a quick Vegas wedding here then head over to Galisteo and go to Asgard for a private fancier one."

"Oh, now that sounds like a plan. I'll ask Frigga tonight if that would be cool with her." She frowned and then started giggling as a thought occurred.

"What?"

"Can you imagine Loki in Vegas? I bet he'd be hell on wheels playing poker."

"Hmm. Maybe, but I bet Kara would be just as good, if not better."

"Oh, we've got to get those two playing."

"We never did get around to poker on our game nights before Thor came to take Loki back to Asgard."

… …

Kara's stomach tightened with nausea as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Natasha was pinning up her hair in an elaborate up do that allowed one thick lock of hair to curl down the nape of her neck while ringlets adorned the sides. It looked kind of odd, but it went well with her dress. "That's perfect, Natasha," Frigga told the former assassin. Kara sighed. That meant that it looked like a traditional Asgardian hairstyle, she supposed.

"Kara? What do you think?" Nat asked her.

She smiled at the tiny note of concern in her friend's voice. "It goes perfectly with the dress and it will show off the necklace that Pepper described, too. Thank you." Nat nodded briskly and stepped to the side to replace the hair implements with makeup brushes. Oy. Another trial to suffer through.

"It's all for a good cause, Kara," her mother-in-law told her, evidently catching her rolling her eyes.

"If you say so. Even though I know we need to do it this way to help Loki's image, I still kind of hate that…" she trailed off with a shrug. It wasn't important.

"It should be all about you." Beth's tone was commiserating, but she felt annoyed. "It'll be the same way if Steve and I ever take the plunge; everybody's going to want a piece of it." Ah, that was what annoyed her. "Totally sucks, but you need to try to ignore all of the other stuff and just concentrate on Loki and how much a ceremony you actually know is happening means to both of you."

Wow, deep. "I'll try. Thanks, Beth." She glanced around the room. "Where is Sif?" she asked as Pepper rushed into the room. The Asgardian was supposed to be her Maid of Honor; they'd wanted to match up Asgardian to Asgardian with Thor being Loki's Best Man.

Pepper grimaced. "We have a problem. Nyvorlas threw a hissy fit when he discovered that being Maid of Honor meant that Sif had to not only be seated with but also dance with Thor. She's now refusing to participate."

"What? Oh for…that is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

"Ridiculous or not, she's adamant. I wouldn't have thought she'd kowtow to a man, but there it is." Pepper was every bit as disgusted as she was.

"That isn't the issue," Frigga said soothingly. "It is because of how it would look to the Ljósálfar court attendees should the potential betrothed of one of their princes dance with another man. They would both lose respect."

"They couldn't have told us this earlier?" Kara's mind raced as she tried to think of anyone she knew that might fit into a dress designed for Sif's body type. Right…tall, slender and highly toned. "What am I supposed to do for a…hmm. Has anyone seen Hel this morning?"

… …

"Your genius astounds me," Loki said in as droll a tone as he could manage.

"Oh, come on, Lo, it'll be great. The ooh and ah factor alone is mind boggling."

"Tony, it is naught but cheap theatrics."

"Um, no; cheap it is not. That is arc reactor technology lighting that thing. Look; people are all enthralled with the idea of one of their own marrying not just a prince, but a prince of fabled Asgard. They've all read or heard about the rainbow bridge. The symbolism of this is going to make hearts melt. You need that."

He groaned. Stark was right, damn his bones. "I'll put up with it," he allowed. "Have you told Kara?"

"Pepper's handling it. Don't want your gorgeous bride falling off the thing in surprise when it powers up."

"If you value…"

"Hey, guys?" They turned to stare as Darcy leaned in the room. "Have you seen Hel?"

Tony shrugged. "Last I saw she was chatting with the living version of the Grim Reaper; that was about two or so, why?"

"The what?" Loki asked.

"Fury."

"Oh. I've seen her since. She was riding here with Sif and Nyvorlas," he told the girl.

"Crap. God only knows where they are after this shit hit the fan."

"What shit?" Loki glared at his honorary brother-by-marriage for echoing him.

"Well…" They stared at the girl in growing shock and anger as she told the tale.

… …

Kara was drumming her fingers on the arm of her chair, her expression tense. "You've got to calm down," Natasha told her. "The power level you're generating is making my teeth ache."

"What? You can feel…of course you can. Sorry." The bride took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "What was I thinking? I really didn't need all of this."

"Yes you did. You would have wondered for the rest of what promises to be a very long life just what you'd given up if you hadn't," Pepper told her. "Relax, it will work out; it always does."

"Says the woman whose reception was interrupted by a maniac from some boondocks country I'd never even heard of before," Kara grumped. "Nat, do you think it will work out?"

"If it doesn't, I know who to hold responsible for ruining it for you." She smiled dangerously and the other redheads blanched. "They'll be so busy worrying about Loki's revenge that they'll never see mine coming."

"You know, it could work without a fourth attendant," Beth said. "Steve wouldn't mind sitting this one out and he won't care if I have to dance with Thor." The blonde frowned. "Or Clint or Bruce; you know they'd be okay with it too if you or Darcy wanted to take over that duty," she added hastily. "Our guys are all mellow like that."

Kara snickered. "True, the only one who'd have a fit about his woman even temporarily being officially partnered to another man is Loki and that's out of the question considering he's the groom, so no problem."

The door burst open and Natasha spun, pulling her weapons from the holsters concealed under her long skirt. "Whoa, it's just me," Darcy yelped. "Loki tracked down Hel and she's on her way. He sweet-talked her into doing it. Told her the only reason she hadn't been asked to begin with is that you weren't sure she'd be able to attend."

"That wasn't sweet talk, Darce. Hel had told him that she'd try to make it but wasn't certain she would be able to. That's why we were so surprised that she not only got here, but arrived a day early." Kara had barely finished speaking when the goddess that resembled a female version of Loki entered behind the only other brunette in the group.

"I am near as good at spotting untruth as my sire," Hel agreed. "Shall I try on the dress tailored for Sif?"

"You are a lifesaver," Beth said fervently.

Hel smiled. "There is a first time for everything." Natasha had to suppress a shiver at the goddess's wry tone.

… …

"Where is he?" Loki growled as he charged into the room followed closely by the Man of Iron…Iron Man, Odin corrected himself. "He will pay."

"Calm yourself," he ordered his younger son, barring the incensed boy's forward progress with an arm across his chest.

"I will not! This is Kara's day and he has nearly ruined it, and for what? Petty jealousy?"

"I have spoken to him about the issue, Loki. He had no choice, nor did Sif. Ljósálfheim's Royal Council would have forced him to cancel their betrothal ceremony had this event gone forward with Sif's planned participation."

"That's no excuse for leaving it until the day of the event."

"He did not know of this part of the human tradition until this day."

"Oh by Yggdrasil's Branches, father; Thor knew what was expected, he attended Tony's wedding. "

"Your brother would not know a political quagmire if he were caught fast in one."

"He-ah, he would not. Damnation."

"Indeed. And Thor will not easily learn to spot these things, which is why you will be so necessary to Asgard once I step down." His mouth twitched as he watched Loki's anger visibly ebb. "You said nearly ruined; has a solution been found?"

"Hel and Sif are of a size or near enough; she has graciously agreed to step in."

"I am glad, Loki. I have no wish for your beloved's day to be other than perfect."

"We'll settle for it being other than a battleground at this point. The Stark's wedding reception was not nearly that fortunate."

… …

"It's going to do what?" Kara asked him incredulously.

Pepper had delegated the big reveal to him. She had enough on her plate with the last minute change in the Maid of Honor. Tony sighed at the way his honorary sister's voice had raised to a squeak. Yeah, an actual squeak; who'd have thought? "Light up so it resembles the Bifröst. It'll be great."

"Oh for…Tony, that's so over the top it's tacky."

"Is not," he countered defensively. "It's awesome and it's symbolic. The marriage between you and Loki is creating a bridge between our two worlds."

The kaleidoscope eyes stared at him unblinking as she mulled it over. "Okay, I'll give you the symbolic, but it's still going to be tacky."

"Trust me."

She sighed. "I trust you and I even trust your taste in most things, but this is so-so grandiose I don't know if I'm going to be able to keep a straight face. If I end up getting the giggles as I'm crossing the damn thing it will be your fault."

"Look, just focus on Loki, waiting for you on the other end. You'll be so choked up you won't even notice the bridge. But try not to fall off of it." He frowned at looked around at the bridesmaids. "Um, that goes for all of you. Kara and Hel wouldn't be hurt much but I don't want to be defending myself from Cap, Cupid and the Hulk if any of you three," he continued in a louder voice, nodding at the human women, "get hurt."

"Cupid?" Natasha Romanov asked with a smirk. "Has Clint heard that one?"

"Nooo, and it would be really nice if he didn't?"

"You owe me."

Tony sighed. "Add it to my tab. It's a good thing I'm not dying any time soon, that damn thing is getting pretty full."

"Aww, Tony, you love it, admit it," Darcy told him. "You get to run around being generous and magnanimous and all that crap."

"Altruistic."

"In your dreams."

He grinned. Darcy was coming along in the banter department. Now if Spangles' girlfriend could just get with the program. "Pepper had that Bailey fellow bring your dresses to the theater last night. They look spectacular with it all lit up. You are all going to look like goddesses…uh, well, I guess two of you really are, but you know what I mean."

Kara snorted softly. "Tony, quit while you're ahead or at least while you're still in one piece. We've got to finish getting ready."

"Right…oh, wait!" He pulled the velvet covered jewelry box from the inside pocket of his tux. "Think Loki will let me touch you long enough to put this on you?" he joked as he flipped it open.

"Oh my God. Tony, please tell me that thing was borrowed for the occasion."

"Um, okay; it's borrowed?"

"Now try it without lying," she scolded.

"Sorry, kid; no can do. It's yours."

… …

Oh crap. This was not the simple necklace Pepper had described. Kara was glad she'd opted not to look at the thing when her friend had shown it to Frigga; there was no way she'd have been able to keep quiet about it. "It's too much."

"It will look amazing with your dress."

"You've already bought me one overly expensive necklace, why couldn't I just use that one?"

He had the nerve to laugh. "You've already been seen in that; same with the one you wore to my engagement shindig. Nope, you had to have a new one. You can't wear those dresses again anytime soon either. Everybody would think I was a cheapskate if you did."

"Oh for…damn it, Tony! Are you telling me the red and gold necklace was bought too?"

"Um, yeah?"

"Oh for pity's sake." She shook her head tiredly. "Fine, I give up. Put it on."

Her honorary brother grinned like a kid opening presents on Christmas morning. He really was generous no matter how much he denied it. Tony just loved giving things to people whether they needed them or not. He lifted the ornate arrangement of precious gems over her head as he stood behind her and she shivered as the cool metal touched her skin. The tiniest of clicks told her it was fastened even before he spoke. "There we go." Tony walked around to face her and if anything, his grin grew. "You look absolutely fabulous."

"You're just saying that because I could fry you in a heartbeat if you didn't make nice."

"Nah, you clean up real good, kid." He winked. "Seriously; you've always been beautiful, but today you are absolutely amazing." Glancing over his shoulder, Tony nodded at Pepper. "Pepper keeps saying that I'm not the luckiest son of a bitch in the universe; that Loki is. Today, everyone is going to know she's right."

Brushing a tear away before it could ruin the makeup that had been so painstakingly applied by Natasha, Kara gently squeezed Tony's arm. "Thanks, Tony. I think I'm pretty lucky too."

"No doubt about it."

… …

Thor grinned as his normally cool and collected brother paced the room in agitation. "Are they not ready yet?" Loki snapped for what had to be the fifth time.

"Relax, man. You want her to look perfect, don't you?" Clint said soothingly.

"Kara always looks perfect."

"Okay, but this time five other women have to agree that she looks perfect before they'll be ready to start. When's the last time you saw any five women agree on something?"

"Their opinion…" Loki stopped speaking abruptly and sighed. "Never mind."

Thor stood and slung an arm around Loki's lean shoulders. "I am proud of you, brother."

"Of course you are," he said dryly. "And you're wrinkling my cloak."

Chuckling, he leaned in close and spoke as softly as he could manage. "I know you wanted to say their agreement meant naught."

"Well that defeats the purpose of my not saying it; if you know, then all do."

"Loki, not saying it is the diplomatic thing to do, regardless of whether we all knew you thought it," Dr. Banner offered. "It wasn't so long ago that you would just have made a disparaging remark about the opinions of mortals having no value."

If Loki's glare could kill, Banner would no longer need fear his other. "It has been long enough since I learned better that you should no longer be much surprised."

"Yo Taz, chill," Tony Stark said easily as he breezed into the room. "Are you so nervous that you forgot that it's our solemn duty to tease the hell out of you on your wedding day?"

"You…" Loki relaxed with a sigh. "I had forgotten, indeed. Thank you Tony."

"You're welcome. The girls are ready to head out. It's time for you boys to all take your places and for me to join Pepper front and center. Hey, did I thank you for asking me to give away the bride?"

"We didn't ask, you insisted."

"Oh, right. Well, you're welcome." Thor guffawed at the face Loki made over Stark's audacity.

"Tony, who's got my kid?" the Hawkeye asked.

"Uh, Pepper and Jane. Raj Nassar's sitting with them and he's armed and dangerous. Heh, always wanted to say that."

Thor frowned at the thought of Jane holding little Brianna. Of course, Jane did not know…none of his friends yet knew. "They will keep her safe," he told the nervous father. "You may be assured that my mother watches her as well; she cannot resist the lure of any infant, let alone one who is miraculously Æsir."

"Yeah, there is that.'

"Let us take our places, friends. Our ladies await."

… …

Sif gave the All-Father a nervous glance as they took their seats in the ornate theater. While he'd said that he understood why she could not be Kara's Maid of Honor, his disappointment in her was plain. Wonderful. This did not bode well for her hopes of him allowing Nyvorlas to reside in Asgard following their official betrothal and eventual marriage. Neither of them wished to dwell amongst the political infighting that embroiled Ljósálfheim since Tolthe's betrayal. She sighed. "It is not your fault," Nyvorlas told her.

"No, but it is an issue, one we do not need."

He shrugged. "They've dealt with worse. Be glad the All-Father knows we had no choice; we're not likely to be on the receiving end of Loki's wrath over it."

"That is the point. Loki will feel slighted, he will be wrathful, and we had just…ah, it matters little, I suppose. He has hated me for nearly eight centuries he may as well hate me for eight more."

Gray eyes stared at her from behind a lock of white-blonde hair that had escaped its tether. "What makes you think he's hated you, let alone for that long?"

"I was cruel and unrelenting over what I've since learned was an accident."

Nyvorlas groaned. "Loki did not hate you; he resented your hatred of him. There is a difference."

"You have not been about for nearly a third of that time, how would you know?"

"Hmm. True. But he did not hate you the last we spoke before his fall from the Bifröst."

"Perhaps I use too strong a word. He certainly despised me."

"Sif, even I despised you at one time. You were an insipid waste of womanhood. We have all changed; I do not think Loki will carry a grudge over this."

"I hope you are correct; his company has been almost tolerable as of late." She grinned when her lover frowned at the statement. "I but jest; can I not do so? Or is such also regulated by your Council?"

"If they ever think of it they shall pass a law against it which is why I would prefer we reside in Asgard."

She shuddered. "And that is why I worry over how Loki and Kara take this. Without their approval neither Odin nor Thor would welcome our presence. They've come to mean too much to Asgard."

"It will be fine. Life with Kara has mellowed Loki, and as for Kara, she is always unreasonably reasonable.

"You'd best be right."

… …

Author's Notes: This chapter was supposed to include the actual wedding ceremony but it was getting far too long and promised to get even longer as the characters have taken over yet again. Rather than make you wait another week or more for it to be finished, I've chosen to split it into two chapters. Don't shoot the author!

As a reward for your forbearance I'll share that the reason it was getting too long was the unplanned arrival of at least five non-Avenger superheroes. I'll let you stew…ah, I mean speculate as to just who those heroes are and what they'll be bringing to the story while I finish up Chapter 14. Thanks for your patience.