The palace of the Asgardian royal family had many gardens both public and private. But the gem of them all was a small, secret little oasis just off the queen's rooms, locked away from all but those she personally invited.

Loki sat at a small table in a shady corner with his mother, sipping tea and reading, enjoying her gentle company. There was a time once when his mother had been the only person he'd felt truly, completely loved and accepted with. He and Thor were close of course, and his other friends were great, but there were sides to him that they hadn't been able to get, not like his mother.

Not until...

Loki looked out across the garden lawn and smiled softly. Kagome was laughing happily with Thor, playing with some fluffy domesticated animal she'd found that now lived in his mother's garden. They were trying to teach it tricks she'd said people on earth taught their pets. He didn't much care for that sort of thing, so he'd left them to it. But he'd enjoyed watching the way her face lit up in unbridled joy, every nuance of her heart able to be read across her face.

She was always that way, never hiding herself, an open book, so very different to how he'd always conducted himself. He was always putting on a front, spinning a lie, playing a trick, misdirecting. It was what he was made of, shifting shadows of mischief, mayhem, trickery, shrouded in mystery. Able to hide from anyone.

Anyone but her.

She could see straight through to the truth of him, past every layer of deceit and secrecy he was wrapped in. And still she loved him.

And he liked it.

It was refreshing to find the one person he couldn't lie to, the one person who could always tell what he was feeling or thinking. And being the lord of lies himself meant she couldn't be false with him either. It was the easiest love he'd ever felt. He'd had no choice really, once he'd decided to let her closer, get to know her, he'd been doomed from the start.

He certainly didn't care at this point.

His mother chuckled knowingly next to him, drawing his attention away from the little priestess he'd been watching.

"What?"

She patted his cheek, smiled her sweet, motherly smile that had always made him feel so safe and loved.

"Nothing my boy. I'm just pleased you've found such happiness. She's a wonderful girl, one we all already love so much."

He nodded, looking down at his largely ignored book, tapping his fingers on the pages.

"It would be no hardship at all officially adding her to the family then?"

At his mother's soft gasp he looked back up. She gripped his hand, tears filling her eyes, love pouring from her soul.

"Oh Loki, are you saying what I think you are?"

"Is there any specific royal protocol I should be aware of for proposing marriage to a human woman?"

She laughed brightly, grabbed his face and pulled him to her, kissing his cheeks as she'd done since he was a child.

"No my son, none at all! But I want to be the first to know once you've asked her!"

If anyone had been around to see him, they would have said he as floating down the hallway.

He was glad no one was there, but he didn't care how silly he may have looked to anyone who might have seen him.

Loki was... happy.

That's it, just happy.

He was about to fully claim something that was just his, something he hadn't had to fight to prove himself for.

Kagome's heart was the dearest thing he had, and he was thrilled to think he was that much closer to binding it to him more permanently.

He was going to his father's study to inform him of his plans to propose marriage to Kagome, making her a legally official part of the family.

A princess. It was only what she deserved as far as he was concerned.

He stopped abruptly at the door, hand on the knob, when he heard muffled voices inside.

His mother was already here.

"Isn't it wonderful dear? A wedding! I'm so very pleased. I can tell she makes him very happy."

"Yes yes. Very good. But I can't help but wish she and Thor had gotten on instead. She'd make a remarkable queen, would she not?"

Loki felt his heart falter and fall into his gut. The breath in his lungs rushed out as shock, hurt and disgust filled his chest.

"Don't you say that to anyone else Odin. Loki is just as deserving of happiness as-"

"I know I know, Frigga that's not what I'm saying at all. Just that it's a bit of a shame she won't be queen."

Loki backed away slowly, struggling to draw air into his lungs, blinking away the sting behind his eyes.

His father didn't even think he deserved the woman who loved him? Who'd had every opportunity to fall in love with his brother yet still chose him above every other?

Was there nothing his father wouldn't give to Thor over him?

He spun and ran back up the hall, desperate to get away, to get some space...

To get to her.

He found her in the main library talking with Sif and Dalla. She must have sensed him coming, she was already standing, waiting for him to enter, concern shining in her big blue eyes.

"Loki? What's wrong?"

He grabbed her and with a flourish of magic and a puff of green smoke they were gone from the library and falling into their bed.

She was stunned speechless as he kissed roughly up her neck, across her face, down the other side, his hands roaming everywhere, moving her clothes.

The hurt and anguish swirling around around him cut into her, sliced at her heart.

There was no lust here, only urgency and desperation.

She grabbed his face and pulled him up to meet her eyes.

"Loki, what's wrong? What happened?"

He blinked and the haze in his mind rolled back some, but his hard frown remained.

"Who do you belong to?"

Her brow drew down in confusion and she searched his face for some clarity.

"What?"

"Tell me!"

"You! Loki, it's you. Always."

His breathing began to slow, and the torrential storms in his mind broke apart as the light of her burst through.

"And who do you belong to?"

She said it so softly, but there was an edge to it, a firmness to her expression.

'Reciprocate,' it said. 'Give AND take.'

"You."

Her arms wrapped tight around his neck, her legs around his waist, and she pulled him back down to her, prepared to give anything he needed.

And he was prepared to do the same.

They had missed dinner, but that was fine.

She wanted to stay right where she was for as long as possible. She pressed her hand over his heart, feeling its strong, steady beat, so different from the wild tempo from earlier. She still didn't know exactly what had happened, he wouldn't say, but she'd nonetheless helped him, so she wouldn't press. She would just enjoy being with him.

"Kagome?" His voice was quiet, unwilling to burst the bubble of peace and contentment they floated in.

"Hm?"

He hesitated, his thumb drawing lazy circles on the skin of her shoulder as he contemplated timing and placement.

"You would make a wonderful queen."

Her lashes tickled the skin of his chest as her eyes popped open in confusion. His hand left her shoulder to thread through her hair, hoping to keep her calm and soothed.

"Um, thanks? I guess?"

"Have you ever thought of it? Of being queen?"

She snorted and shifted closer, pressing to tighter to his side.

"No. Why the heck would I want something like that? I just want to be with you."

He rolled over her, hovering, searching her gaze with his own.

"Marry me."

She gasped, tears already filling her eyes.

"Marry me. I cannot give you a throne, but-"

With a grunt of surprise he found himself pinned as she flipped them both. Kisses and tears peppered his face and her wet little giggles were precious music.

"I don't want a throne, stupid! Just You. Of course I'll marry you! Did you even think I'd say no?!"

Her happiness ebbed around them and he basked in the glow of her love, letting it fill some of the empty spots and cracks in his soul.

No, he would never have the throne.

He would never have his father's respect or recognition.

But if that could be alright with her, maybe, in time, it could be alright with him.