A light rapping on her door and a sweet, motherly voice drew Kagome the rest of the way into the waking world.

She'd clung as desperately as she was able to sleep and the lovely dream she'd had, but all good things must come to an end.

"Kagome? Dear, it's time to wake. I have an errand I'd like you to attend with me."

She drug herself from the bed, her feet chilled against the floor as she padded softly to the door.

She opened it and smiled as best she was able to Frigga, who'd waited patiently on the other side.

Frigga tutted softly, lifting Kagomes face with a finger under the chin and turning it side to side, observing the dark, puffy skin under her eyes and the sticky residue of tears on her cheeks.

"Oh child, let's clean you up."

She gently ushered Kagome back into her room, pulling the curtain concealing the vanity table back and pushing her down into the seat.

She fetched a wash cloth from the water basin and softly wiped away the tear tracks before taking a comb to the snags in her hair.

Kagome would usually demur from such a thing, insisting there was no need to fuss. But truthfully, after spending the night in dreams with her mother and waking to find her gone, it felt like a balm to the prickly parts of her broken heart to be "mothered" in this way.

Frigga's touch was soft and her voice was sweet, and her soul ebbed around her own protectively.

She may not be her real mother, but she was a perfect stand in.

"There. Much better. I can't imagine how tired your heart must be, and so young. You will have as much room and time to grieve as you need, dear one. And when you're ready, you will forever have a place here to step into and belong."

Kagome's smile was tremulous but genuine and she placed her hand on top of Frigga's where it rested on her cheek.

"Thank you. Thank you so much. I'm so, so grateful for how welcome you've all made me. Please don't think other wise. It's just... I haven't had much time to really let myself accept what I've lost. I have too much to gain here, I know that, so I have to let go of the other stuff first. It's just hard."

"You take your time, we all have plenty of it. Now, let's get you dressed. I'll be taking you to my tailor this morning to get you fitted for a new wardrobe."

Kagome did balk at that, recovered enough to not allow herself to be too selfish.

"Oh, you don't have to do that, really. The dresses in the drawers here are more than enough. I couldn't accept something so extravagant.."

"Of course you can. And you will. The clothes here belong to the room and whichever visitor is placed here. You'll be moving to a bigger room very shortly, and besides, you need more than two dresses at a time. Think nothing of it and come along."

Kagome had little choice but to follow, now dressed in one of the simple garments housed in the dresser on one of her walls.

She'd noticed, of course, that it was nowhere near as lovely as some of the other things she'd seen worn. A simple, brown dress that fell almost completely straight from her shoulders to her feet, cinched at the waist with a polished metal belt. The other in the drawer was much the same, but in a dark green fabric. She'd thought they'd suited her well enough, and anything was better than that old set of miko robes she'd been wearing that Midoriko had conjured up from who knows where.

But apparently Lady Frigga had other ideas, whether she liked it or not.

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"What about this one, my lady, with the trailing sleeves?"

"Hmm... I think not in that color. It wouldn't suit her complexion. Bring out that one with the embroidered hem."

"Very good my lady, keen eye as always."

Kagome stood stock still, fabrics swirling about her while measurements were taken and pins were placed here and there.

A stack of new garments already laid neatly folded on a small table, and it was only growing. Everything in it was many times more extravagant than the simple clothing she'd been borrowing. She stared at it with dread, it made her unsure and uneasy to just be given these things, but Frigga only added more and more beautiful pieces to the pile.

"What do YOU think of this one, dear?"

She startled and snapped out of her daze, glancing at herself in the mirror. She wasn't sure what there was to decide, it was a gorgeous dress.

"It's lovely."

"Yes, but do you like it little lady?" The tailor asked, his voice not hiding his eagerness for her approval, but also ready to find something else to please her.

"Of course, it's beautiful work. Did you make it?" He blushed and tittered and preened, pride for his craft and skill making his eyes shine.

"Oh this old thing. It was nothing at all, nothing at all. Let me show you something remarkable indeed. I've been working on it for you my queen."

He disappeared into a back room and returned with a stunning gold garment, an image of the bifrost embroidered in shimmering rainbow threads circling up from the bottom of the hem.

"Made of the finest Asgardian silk and hand stitched and embroidered all by me."

"Oh what a lovely surprise! And just in time for the upcoming celebration in a few weeks time. Oh dear. That means we'll have to find Kagome something formal as well. I don't believe you have time to make something new, so let me see what you have ready."

"But you've just given me so many new beautiful clothes, can't I wear some of those?"

Frigga chuckled distractedly, already sorting through the new stash of formal wear.

"Don't be silly dear, those are day dresses."

Kagome shrugged helplessly, deciding to simply hang on for the ride as they began holding dress after dress up against her form to get an idea of length and color and style.

The last one she actually found particularly stunning, and at her gasp, Frigga and the kind tailor smiled at each other in triumph.

"I think we've found the one."

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Dressed in one of her new garments, arm wrapped around Frigga's, Kagome walked serenely at the side of the Queen of Asgard to breakfast.

She hadn't realized how early they'd been up and out in order to make it all the way to the tailor's, pick all those dresses, and then get back. They'd had a ride there and back, but it had still been quite the journey. Safe to say she was starving now.

"Thank you, my Lady. For everything. You've been so generous, I don't-"

"Say no more, dear. It is my greatest pleasure."

A slightly demented chuckling coming from just up the hall stole their attention, and they both caught sight of a black haired figure walking backwards towards them.

Frigga shot Kagome a suspicious look.

"Loki darling, what mischief are you getting up to? And so early?"

Loki spun around abruptly, a look of surprise on his face.

"Mother! What are you doing in this hallway?"

"We've come from the tailor's shop, dear. This is the quickest way to the dining hall."

He looked in between both of them quickly and then back up the hallway.

"Well, it's a lovely morning! Why not take the scenic route? Allow me to escort you ladies."

He slipped between them, linking his arms in theirs and turned down a connecting corridor, walking them swiftly in a different direction.

"Loki, what have you done this time."

"Nothing mother, just a bit of fun."

A loud clanging and what almost sounded like fireworks went off, followed by loud cursing in what sounded like Thor's voice. Loki stiffened, stepped back from them and morphed before their eyes into a perfect replica of Kagome's form.

"You didn't see me." He turned and ran back up the corridor he'd led them down, going back the way he'd been coming from in the beginning.

"Thor? Thor, what's happened?" He was mimicking her voice perfectly. Anyone who couldn't read the unique signatures in a person's aura would be utterly fooled by him.

"Oh wow! He... that was amazing!"

"Yes, Loki is a trickster through and through. Keeps us all on our toes."

"He just... he looked just like me! He even had my voice! I've known high level kitsune who couldn't replicate a person so perfectly!"

Frigga chuckled and began leading them back towards the dining hall.

"I'm sure he'll appreciate having someone new to impress with his tricks. Now come along dear, I'm starving."