A.N.: there will be an epilogue

After weeks of rest and lazing about having a task to focus on again felt invigorating, especially as it was simply a task for fun and the fate of the world didn't hang on her every choice. Party planning at this scale was much more daunting and stressful than she would have imagined, but Kagome was determined to enjoy the process.

She did have a new appreciation for Frigga and how much work she put into every single Asgardian celebration they'd had, and it made her sad her adoptive mother wasn't there to help her and see how far her sons had come in saving not only their people, but their own relationship as well.

They were brothers again and it warmed her heart so much to see them together when Thor came to visit them from his travels. It had taken a little time to get over the gulf of awkwardness completely. They'd forgotten how to interact without some kind of huge conflict brewing in between and around them, but with the peace of the Shrine and Mama's eternal doting and unconditional love and support, as well as Kagome's influence as a much more neutral member of the family who loved them both, they'd bridged the gap and found each other again.

And without the crushing weight of favoritism and the pressure of royal succession, they were even closer than they had been before.

They would usually pay a visit to the memorials set up for Frigga and Odin in New Asgard together to pay their respects to their parents.

The memorials were simply polished stones with their names carved into the surface, but they were regularly maintained and kept free of dust, and it was where Kagome was currently headed before the night's festivities were finally underway.

She wiped down the memorial markers, said a few quiet words for each departed soul with an extra moment of silence for the one who'd spent so much time mothering her when she'd been nothing but a broken, homeless wanderer looking for a place to belong, and then she wiped the stray tear that fell down her face and stood.

As she left she went through her mental checklist of all the little loose ends she needed to tie up before tonight, first and foremost being checking on the stages being built for the main event.

She made her way to the spot she'd chosen to have them built, a flat little meadow within walking distance of the village that made up New Asgard, and surveyed the progress to ensure it was all going according to schedule.

The main stage was fully erected and being swept, and the small, central platform was being fitted with the ceremonial candelabras that circled the perimeter and lit up the person standing inside.

The candles were off to the side being unpacked from the boxes they'd been delivered in, and it reminded her to shoot a quick text to Shippo to ensure he would make it on time to light Loki's staff before the party began. As Shippo's fox fire burned bright blue, he was one of the most important pieces of the night's puzzle, and necessary to make the night's events as authentic as possible.

They were having a Feast of Tales, after all.

One last Feast of Tales to celebrate all they'd survived as a people, even though they were so far displaced from their home, and to say goodbye to old traditions to make way for new ones.

And all the Avengers were invited.

She couldn't wait!

She only had 800 things left to do before the sun went down.


Flickering torches, blazing bonfires, tables with rows of candles and strings of fairy lights strung around the perimeter of the meadow lit the whole space up and made it glow warmly.

It was a far cry from a gilded palace ballroom draped in sheer silks and rich velvets, but it was lush in its own right, and the soft notes from the hired band drifting through all the empty spaces made it just as full and bursting with liveliness.

A bright thrill zipped through Kagome's soul at the sight of all the dancing, laughing, eating and drinking, and with Sesshomaru's contribution of demon grade alcohol for the youkai and Asgardian members of the assembly, it really was almost like a real Asgardian party remade.

Her Stark Industries credit card had really come through and helped her pull this off; Tony's only condition when she'd asked about using it had been a VIP invite when the planning was done.

And now it was, and she was reaping the rewards of all her hard work and stress.

The whole thing was perfect.

She made a few rounds and greeted the attendees, accepted a few curtsies from the more traditional Asgardians who refused to drop the formalities with her despite her giving up her royal title, and then made her way to Loki's side where he was seated comfortably and casually at a table chatting with Thor.

He had pulled out all the stops with his attire, switching his stylish Earth clothes for his more traditional black and green leather get up, complete with long, fluttering cape.

But it was the gold, gleaming horns that sent her heart aflutter. He threw his head back in laughter and the firelight flashed of their polished surface, and suddenly she was 500 years younger, still so unsure and unsteady, being escorted in his arm for her first ever Asgardian celebration.

They truly had come so very far.

He turned his attention to her, smiled softly and beckoned her closer.

She sat on his lap and snuggled into his arms then closed her eyes and listened to the hum of his voice as he talked with his brother, who was also decked out in all his royal finery, winged helmet and all.

Loki kissed the top of her head and nudged her to stand.

"I must go prepare for the story telling finale, and you have more guests to greet my darling."

She followed the direction he pointed and noticed that the ship bringing the Avengers had seemingly arrived, and at the same time as the one bringing her mother, Inuyasha, Shippo, Souta and his fiancée.

They arrived in a vast array of formal clothing. Her mother looked lovely in her flowery yukata and Inuyasha had dusted off his old fire rat robes, and Kagome found herself choked up with nostalgia. Shippo was also dressed traditionally, though Sesshomaru alighted on the grass in an expensive suit instead.

Mama Higurashi fawned over Kagome's fancy Asgardian style dress, and then Steve Rogers walked slowly forward to greet her for the first time in many weeks.

She'd been told about his decision to stay in the past once he'd returned all the stones, but seeing him aged and gray where he'd once been vibrant and sparkling with vitality was a shock.

Her took her hand in his and his face creased with a gentle smile.

"I just wanted to thank you Kagome. It was you that gave me the courage to step onto this path for my life."

"Me?" She asked mystified.

"'A little selfishness never hurt anyone.' You said that once, much longer ago for me than it was for you. If not for you saying that, I wouldn't have taken what I wanted for once, for no one but me."

Slowly, a grin spread across her face, and she looped his arm through hers to help him to a table.

She ordered Inuyasha to get him a plate of food and then fluttered around all her friends and family as they began eating and drinking, explaining the various parts of the night's ceremony.

They listened as various people took to the story telling stage, telling the classic tales of Asgardian victory and valor, and they laughed heartily when Shippo took a turn to share a variety of vignettes about some of the trouble he got into over the years with Inuyasha.

And then the cadence of the crowd shifted as Loki took the main stage.

He lifted his scepter, flickering with the blue tongues of Fox Fire, and the flames dancing around the end snuffed out and ignited the candles around the Story Teller Stage.

His eyes, hard and glittering like cut emeralds, scanned the crowed once, twice, three times as the powers inside him that granted him the title of God of Stories worked to choose the one who'd tell the Tale of the Feast.

Finally, his gaze settled and he raised his staff and pointed...

At Sesshomaru.

Kagome grinned and stepped up to the side of the taciturn demon lord. He glanced down at her and she gestured toward the stage.

"He likes love stories." She said with a wink, and then took her seat again, wiggling with excitement as Sesshomaru took his place as the night's Story Teller.

His rich voice carried over the crowd, and though he did not spin his tale with embellishments and glowing speech, they all listened spellbound anyway.

He told of his father, and how his unusually compassionate heart had led him to a human bride and a half demon child for whom he sacrificed it all to preserve their lives.

And when he was done, Loki raised his staff, calling back the blue flames from the tall candelabras surrounding Sesshomaru, which now flickered with orange flames instead.

The Asgardians cheered, and Kagome filled in her friends and family on the meaning of the symbolism in this last bit of ceremony.

"He won!"

Sesshomaru extricated himself from the celebrating throngs, more than content with the calmer congratulations of his brother and the select few he'd become friendly with, and Kagome rushed to the stage where Loki still stood.

He spotted her in an instant and opened his arms to catch her when she threw herself at him.

"Can't believe you finally gave away my winner's crown." She teased, and he looked down at her with eyes filled with love, pride, happiness and peace.

"I thought it would be a good show of letting go of the past."

"Always with the drama."

He winked at her, pulled her closer, held her tighter, and they stood there for several moments and simply watched the past, the present and the future blend and meld, stirred up with a strong dash of hope and joy. Their friends, their family, their people mingled and laughed and shared food and drink, and Loki and Kagome relished the victory, the belonging, the light.

No piece of the past, no hardship they'd faced, no soul they had lost along the way would ever be forgotten.

But the fight was over, and life was waiting for them again.

They were ready to live it.

Together.