"It's been three days since she remembered he girl through the dream." Loki old Lady Gail, as they stood in the doorway to the garden outside the palace. They watched Ava, who was standing with he back to them, lost in thought. "She's been in mourning ever since...and I've no idea how to help her."

Gail nodded. "I'll see what I ca do to help...but it is hard when you've loved a child and then lost them. For the most part all we can do is be there for her."

"She hasn't smiled since recovering the memory...I would give anything to see her smile again."

"It takes time." Gail replied, patting Loki on the shoulder. "I will speak with her and see if I can be of any help."

"I'll leave you two be, then." Loki replied.

Gail gave him a soft smile. "You are a good man, Loki...and a good husband to my daughter. I can see how much you love her. I am glad that she married you."

"Thank you." He replied and then tuned to give them some privacy.

Gail stepped out into the garden and walked towards her daughter. "Ava?" She asked, hesitantly.

Ava turned around to face her, her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Mom? What are you doing here?"

"I was told about a memory that you had about your life on Earth." Gail answered. "And that you might need me." She opened up her arms.

Ava walked right into her mother's open arms and buried her face in her shoulder and let the tears fall freely down her face. "I know she wasn't mine, but...I loved her like she was."

"I know." Gail replied, lovingly stroking her daughter's hair. "And I know it hurts. I know how much I hurt after you disappeared."

"It hurts so much." Ava said. "I feel like there is a gaping hole I my chest and it aches."

"I felt the same way for so many years." Gail replied, knowing the feeling all too well. "You love you children more than yourself and you want to protect them at all costs, but then comes something that you never anticipated and it's something you can't protect them from...and you're left devastated. You feel like you'll never be whole again. You feel that all the love and light is gone."

"That's exactly it." Ava replied, through her tears.

"The pain does get better, Ava." Gail said. "It never completely goes away, but it does lessen with time."

"How did you get through it, Mom?"

"I leaned on your father a lot." Gail answered. "I spoke with Frigga often as she is my closest friends...but what really helped me was to remember the good times. I thought about how happy I was when I carried you...how happy I was when you finally arrived...and then watching you grow and how you changed so quickly. I thought about all of the times I read to you and held you until you fell asleep...watching you run and play. Then I remembered that even if you weren't with me physically, that you would always be with me in my heart. That the love that I had for you would keep you alive and the love you had for me still existed. Because love is what lasts even long after we're gone."

Ava pulled back and looked at her mother. The tears were still falling, but they had slowed. "It's just so hard because I keep thinking about how sick she was a the end and how horribly she died. I mean she was coughing up her own blood and she could barely breath."

"But you were with her, caring for her and holding her and loving her during her last few moments. She knew you loved her and you got to tell her before she died. And she loved you. She was with someone who loved her at the end. So, I that way, she really didn't die horribly. She may have been sick, but she had love right up till the end."

"She did smile at me before she died." Ava said.

Gail smiled. "Don't dwell on the pain, think of the good. Think of the love you shared as a mother and daughter. Think of how truly blessed you both were to have had time together."

Ava gave her mother a small smile and then wrapped her arms around her. "Thanks, Mom. I needed that."

Gail kissed Ava's forehead. "Any time you need me, I am here. Just next time come to me yourself instead of worrying your husband so that he comes to me."

Ava pulled back. "What do you mean about worrying my husband?"

"Loki came to me because he is worried about you." Gail answered. "He thought that perhaps I could help you."

"And you did."

Gail pulled Ava into a hug. "Go to him."

"Thanks, Mom. I love you."

"I love you, too."

Ava broke the embrace with her mother and then went off in search of Loki. She found him in their chambers, sitting on the terrace reading. She walked up behind him and bent down to wrap her arms around him and kissed his cheek. Loki closed his book, reached a hand up and took one of Ava's hands. He placed a kiss on the back of her hand. Then he gently pulled her around in front of him and down into his lap.

He lifted a hand to cup her face and gently caressed he cheek with his thumb. "How are you feeling, my love?" He asked.

"A little better." Ava answered. "I just had a talk with my mother...it helped."

"Well, I am glad of that."

Ava leaned in and pressed her lips to Loki's for a few brief moments. "Thank you."

"For what exactly?"

"For telling my mother and having her come to me."

"I hate seeing you in pain." Loki replied.

"I know." Ava replied. "I still grieve for Emily...and there will always be a part of me that will grieve for her...but I'm just going to do like my mom said and just think about the time that I got to spend with her and all of the happiness I shared with her."

"That sounds like a good idea." Loki replied, pulling Ava in for another kiss.

When they broke apart, Ava gave Loki a soft smile. "You're too good to me."

Loki cupped her face in both of his hands. He pulled her towards him and kissed he forehead. "You are my love and my life. I can't stand to see you in pain and I will do anything to make you smile."

A rush of emotions filled Ava and made her heart race. She could feel just how much Loki loved her through his words and his touch. An intense need to be closer to him ran through her veins like fire. She felt like she needed to show him just how much she loved and appreciated him and everything he had done for her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his in a passionate kiss.

Loki was surprised by the sudden kiss, but he didn't fight it. He wrapped his arms around Ava and held her as close as possible. He felt need and desire rise up inside of him, as a fire threatening to consume him. After a few moments, he broke the kiss. He and Ava stared into each other's eyes breathlessly for an immeasurable moment.

"I love you, Loki." She told him, breathily.

"I love you, Ava." He replied, his voice thick with desire. He rose from his seat, picking Ava up along with him and carried her into the bedroom. He gently laid her back on the bed and climbed on top of her. He dipped his head and claimed her lips with his.

Ava wrapped her arms around him, pulling herself as close as possible. She needed to be close to him in every sense of the word. She needed him to know that she needed him and wanted him. She had to show him everything that she was feeling in that moment.

They removed each other's clothes and ran their hands over each other's bodies. They connected on every level as they made love. They could feel everything the other was feeling, as if they were truly one. Afterwards, they lay wrapped in each other's arms. Ava nestled further into Loki's embrace and rested her head on his chest.

Loki kissed the top of her head and gently caressed her back. "I love you, Ava."

Ava rubbed circles with her finger tips on his chest. She then gently pressed her lips to his neck. "I love you, Loki...and I am glad that you came to Earth to find me."

"I missed you terribly." Loki replied.

"And I am glad that you are my husband."

"I'm glad you are my wife."

"Even with all of my baggage from having been on Earth for so long?"

Loki took Ava's hand, that was drawing circles on his chest, in his and pulled it up to his lips and kissed her palm. "Ava, I have loved you ever since we were children and there is nothing that could change that. And I am here to love and support you through all of the good times and the bad. If you're laughing then I'll be right there with you. If you're crying I will be there holding you and letting you use my shoulder to cry on. I am here for you and will be anything that you need me to be."

Ava hugged herself closer to Loki. "I am lucky to have you."

"No, I am the lucky one."