After spending a month in Alfheim, it was time for Loki and Ava to return home. "Thank you for your kindness and hospitality." Loki said.
"You have truly made our stay enjoyable." Ava added.
"It was our pleasure to host you at this happy time in your lives." Frey replied.
"And you are welcome to return any time." Gerd added.
They bowed respectfully to each other and then Loki and Ava were transported via the bi-frost back to Asgard. "Welcome back." Heimdall greeted them. "I hope your stay was enjoyable."
"It was, thank you, Heimdall." Ava replied, smiling kindly at the gatekeeper.
They left the bridge and Loki's horse was waiting for them. Loki climbed atop the saddle and then pulled Ava up with him as usual. "It is a shame our honeymoon is over." Loki said as he snapped the reins and the horse began to move.
"I know." Ava agreed with a sigh. She stretched up and kissed his cheek. "I love you."
Loki smiled and kissed the top of her head. "I love you, too."
They soon arrived at the stables and dismounted the horse. One of the attendants took the horse, while the couple headed inside the palace. They stood outside the entrance to the dining hall, knowing what awaited them on the other side. "You know, we're going to get separated." Loki said.
Ava nodded. "Unfortunately."
"So, let's drag this out just a bit longer, shall we?" He replied, a grin on his face.
Ava grinned back. "I like the way you think."
Loki wrapped his arms around Ava's waist and pulled her to him. Ava wrapped her arms around Loki's neck and their lips met in a sweet kiss. The kiss quickly deepened, Loki's skilled tongue snaking out and parting Ava's lips. Just then the doors opened. "Well, it appears the honeymoon isn't quite over for the newlyweds yet." Fandrall quipped.
Loki and Ava quickly broke their kiss and turned to see Odin, Thor, Frigga, Eira, Fandrall, Volstagg, Hogun, Sif, and a few others were gathered on the other side of the door. A feast was spread out on the table behind them. Ava felt the heat rising in her cheeks, while Loki just kind of glared at everyone.
"Well, it appears that you'll be getting those twenty grandchildren sooner than you thought." Eira said, looking at Frigga.
"Twenty grandchildren? What?" Loki asked.
"Just one of the games we ladies played the night before the wedding." Frigga told her son. "It's just something silly…although if you two wished to have that many children, I wouldn't object."
"Come, let us enjoy this feast before it gets cold." Odin announced, getting everyone's attention.
The group moved to the table and sat down to enjoy the meal. "So, how soon will I be getting my first grandchild?" Frigga asked about halfway through the meal.
"We've only been married for a month, Mother." Loki countered.
"Yes, and that's plenty of time to start a family." Frigga teased.
Loki looked over at Thor. "Brother, you need to get married so that some of this pressure will be taken off of me."
Everyone enjoyed a laugh at that. After the meal was finished, Ava and the other women went off to the garden, while the men stayed at the table. Fandrall stood up, raising his glass. "Well, this calls for a toast. To Loki, who has finally become a man and claimed the woman every man in this kingdom has desired since she left the academy!"
Loki didn't much care for that toast. He waited for Fandrall to have the cup of wine to his lips, when he waved his hand and turned the wine in Fandrall's glass to snakes. Fandrall dropped the glass and screamed as the snakes began to slither over him. Loki couldn't help the satisfied smile that came across his lips.
"Loki." Odin said, his tone disapproving.
"What?" Loki replied. "I didn't care for his toast."
Odin sighed and shook his head.
"You should consider it a compliment, really Loki." Fandrall said, after getting the snakes off of him and collecting himself again. "Many men chased after Ava and tried to win her favor, but you won her heart…and as a result her body as well. I know I for one am jealous of you."
Loki shot him a glare from across the table. "Just remember Fandrall, there are far worse things I can do to you besides the snakes, so have care how you speak of my wife."
Fandrall threw his hands up as if in surrender. "Alright. I shall not speak of the new princess in such a way anymore."
Ava…
Ava strolled through the garden with Frigga and Eira. The other ladies had left them. "Did you and Loki enjoy your stay on Alfheim?" Frigga inquired.
Ava smiled. "Yes. It was wonderful. The entire world was absolutely beautiful!"
"Did you venture to the frozen part of the realm?" Frigga asked, her tone curious.
"Yes, daily in fact." Ava answered. "The snow and the ice were so beautiful and peaceful."
Frigga smiled at that, as if it meant something more than Ava realized. "Did the cold bother you?" She asked.
"The cold didn't really bother me." Ava replied with a shrug.
"How can you not notice the cold?" Eira inquired. "Mother and Father took me to the Alfheim once for a holiday and I couldn't stand the cold."
Ava shrugged. "I just didn't notice it…besides I was too busy thinking how beautiful it was and throwing snowballs at my husband." She replied, her face lighting up when she spoke the word, husband.
Frigga smiled. She was filled with joy that Ava loved Loki so. "I am glad that you two had such a wonderful trip." She then seemed to take notice of the time. "I must be going. I have some things to attend to. You ladies have fun." She then left them.
Eira looped her arm through Ava's. "So, since you are the first to be married, you have to tell me everything."
"Everything about what?" Ava asked.
"Oh, you know what it's like to be married…and all that good stuff." Eira answered.
Ava smiled. "It's wonderful. I get to wake up every morning in Loki's arms."
"Oh for crying out loud, that is not what I want to know about." Eira replied.
"Are you trying to ask me about my wedding night?" Ava asked.
"Well…yeah." Eira answered. "What's it like to be with a man?"
Ava felt her cheeks heating up and she looked away from her friend, choosing instead to focus on her the path her feet were following. "I don't see how that is any of your business."
"Oh, come on Ava." Eira replied. "I've been asking you questions about your relationship with Loki since the first time we ever met…what's so different about this one?"
"This one is special…and private." Ava answered.
"You can't even tell me one little thing?" Eira pleaded. "Was it at least as enjoyable as all the men make it sound?"
Ava laughed. "All I will tell you, is that it is wonderful being that close to my husband."
"You're really no fun, Ava." Eira teased. "And here I thought, when I met you that you would be more scandalous…I mean you had a prince of our realm sneaking into your chambers to see you…and you're really quite boring."
Ava grinned. "I am sorry that I am not as exciting of a friend as you thought I would be."
Eira smiled back at her friend. "But I suppose I'll take you being a boring friend over you not being my friend at all."
Ava smiled. "I hope so, because you're stuck with me as your friend."
Eira had to return home after another hour had passed. While Ava enjoyed spending time with her friend, she couldn't wait to be alone with her husband again. She walked into the chambers that she and Loki now shared and looked around for him. Disappointment flooded her when she didn't find him.
Just then, she felt something wrap around her waist from behind. She couldn't see who was behind her, but she didn't feel any fear. She knew that it was Loki, wanting to surprise her. A smile spread across her face as he chuckled in her ear.
"My darling, you looked disappointed there for a moment." He whispered in her ear, becoming corporeal behind her. "Were you worried that anything could keep me from you?"
Ava leaned back into his embrace. "Maybe just a bit." She answered.
Loki dipped his head down and began to kiss Ava's neck. "I hope that I'll always be able to surprise you, Ava."
Ava smiled and closed her eyes as he ravished her neck. She felt his hands slip under the strap of her dress and just slide it off. A shiver ran down her spine as Loki's hands moved over her naked flesh. His fingers teased and tickled her, making a fire build deep in her belly. A soft moan escaped her lips.
Loki grinned, loving the sound. "I love you." He whispered, as he turned her around to face him.
Ava grinned up at her husband. He had changed into a simple green tunic and breeches. She quickly undid and removed his tunic. She turned her attention to his pants, quickly undoing the laces. Loki grinned, loving that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
As soon as Ava had slid Loki's pants down, he picked her up by her waist and pushed her against the wall. A hiss escaped Ava's lips at the feel of the cold stone against her heated flesh, but she loved it. She couldn't help but to feel that it added to her pleasure.
Loki kissed Ava passionately as he held her to the wall. Ava wrapped her legs around his waist and ran her hands over Loki's body. She moaned into the kiss. She broke the kiss. "Loki...take me...now." She begged, breathless.
Loki grinned as he gazed into her eyes. "I love hearing how much you want me." He then plunged in and took her, there against the wall. Waves of pleasure washed over them and they cried out each other's names over and over again.
Later they made their way into the bed and fell into it, exhausted. They fell asleep wrapped in each other's embrace.