Chapter Thirty-Seven - Tidings of Heartbreak and Joy

In light of their successful mission, the Warriors Three insisted the team participate in the time-honored Asgardian tradition of excessive feasting and boastful storytelling, which Rosner readily chose to excuse himself from.

Though Loki wasn't interested in participating either, he thought Cami would want him celebrating with the group. He offered to host the event in his private dining room since it was the closest to the team's rooms. Even with all the merriment, Loki could soon tell Cami was in one of her moods. Her smiles were strained; and she grew more agitated as Fandral, Volstagg and Kotter told the tale of Rosner's heroic rescue to Banner, Shale and Montoya who had been enticed out of their beds to join in the festivities.

"What's wrong?" Loki whispered to her.

Cami tried to wait for the noise to die down to respond, but the storytellers were in good form, keeping everyone engaged and practically falling out of their seats with laughter at their impressions and exaggerations of the mission details. She pulled Loki out of the dining room and through the sitting room into the bedroom.

She said with muted anger, "Of all the nights for you to suddenly feel like inviting everyone over."

Loki eased into the chair at his study table. He took her by the waist and drew her over to sit on his lap. "I incorrectly assumed you would want to spend time with the team," he admitted. "I was attempting to be accommodating and sociable."

"I'm not exactly myself," Cami said. "You probably noticed since I wigged out on you like three times today. The bad-luck thing has taken its toll, I guess."

He held her tighter, examining the dark bruise on her cheek with the sad realization that it wasn't just her body that was being continuously battered lately.

Igus stepped into the doorway. "Lady Camille's healer wishes to speak with her, my prince."

"Show him in."

Dr. Lloyd joined them in the bedroom offering Cami a white, oval-shaped pill encased in plastic. "This is only fifty percent effective," he said. "Obviously, I can't speak for the Zovodna's medicine."

Cami nodded, accepting the packet from him. There was a rising flush of pink on her features that mingled with her expression and made the moment astoundingly awkward.

Loki thanked the doctor before he left.

Instead of wandering back to the dining room to find a drink, Cami fished Loki's canteen out of his pack on the edge of the table and promptly swallowed the pill with some water.

"What do you want to do?" Loki asked when she stood for several moments lost in thought.

She glanced at him then her eyes drifted down from his features. "Sometimes I don't know if it's okay to talk about stuff."

This admission caused him unexpected and powerful unease. "When we first met, you were surprisingly open with me about yourself. At what point did that change?"

She muttered, "I don't know."

"You can tell me anything, Cami. I want to hear your observations and opinions. Guessing is so counterproductive."

"You can tell me stuff too, ya know."

He noted the edge to her voice and continuing lack of eye contact. The constant, joyful ruckus from the dining room was the entirely wrong backdrop for such a moment, Loki thought, and the gathering was likely to go on for hours.

"What do you want to know?" He realized how vulnerable he made himself by opening this door.

"You've been married before," she said, stating it as a fact instead of a question.

"Twice."

She took time to process this fact before asking, "Do any of your children have kids?"

"My eldest sons, Vali and Narvi, have families of their own." Loki leaned back in the chair, feeling weary under the weight of the emotions stirring in his core. "I am not welcome in their homes or at their gatherings."

"Why?"

"Because of my nature—and how I treated their mother."

Cami turned, staring at the bed. She looked stiff and somewhat conflicted.

Loki thought he knew what she was thinking. He got up, collected the lantern beside him and took her hand. He led her out of the bedroom, through the bathroom and into the children's room, walking several strides into the large space.

"I was quite young when I married Sigyn. We had the boys right away and raised them here in the palace. They both chose to live with her when we dissolved our union."

After studying the surroundings in the minimal lamplight, Cami said, "I've seen a similar bedroom to this in Odin and Frigga's suite."

"Yes," Loki said. The moment proved immensely more painful than he had imagined. The sight of the empty beds and abandoned books and toys tore at his already wounded soul, reminding him why he rarely came in here.

Cami sensed his turmoil. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"I did this to myself," he admitted. "I became a man they did not recognize and could not love. I pushed them away in the pursuit of far less important aspirations."

The following silence weighed heavily on Loki. He felt exposed and powerless.

Cami's petite frame stirred against his side then broke away to step back through the doorway, responding to the sounds of voices calling through the suite.

Loki followed her only as far as the doorway, watching her slip on through the bathroom.

"Hey, are you two coming back?" Clint's voice inquired, probably from within Loki's bedroom.

"No," Cami answered. "We're going to bed soon."

"Everything okay?" Natasha asked next, sounding concerned.

Cami said, "We're just talking about stuff."

"We'll clear everyone out," Clint offered. "Give you two some privacy."

"No, it's fine. Let them have their feast," Cami said. "Shut the doors for us and tell everyone we'll see them in the morning."

Clint and Natasha agreed before heading out.

Cami returned to the bathroom and found Loki standing there. She said, "I'm not really helping you, am I?"

He considered her, balancing his own upset against his desire to not hurt her with words spoken too quickly and without care. "Wouldn't I be the better judge of that?"

"I overstep my bounds," Cami said. "My questions only bring up painful memories."

"My life has always been under the scrutiny of others. The worst choices I ever made are not only the gossip of the realms but the writings of Midgardian legends. Honestly, I'm dumbfounded sometimes by how little you do know about me." Considering that her calm had been delicate as of late, Loki expected that he'd been overly callous, but her expression changed little.

"I would rather curl up at your side than with a book full of your secrets." She frowned. "Now, I know that sounds really cheesy, but it's how I feel."

At a loss for words, Loki didn't try to speak.

They got ready for bed. Once under the covers, Loki kept Cami close while he shared brief details of his disastrous second marriage to the volatile and conniving Angrboda, who was a nature witch of mixed Frost and Swamp Giant parentage and the mother of three of his children—including his daughter Hel.

"We were terrible for each other," he admitted. "She was just one of many destructive relationships I've had over the years."

Cami was quiet and still as she lazily traced his scars with her fingertips, making them ache and tingle.

"Have I shared too much?" he asked.

"No."

"You haven't said anything in awhile."

"I've been listening and thinking. I made bad choices in the men I dated, but I learned a lot of important lessons too. Joyce and Bobbie always said that some mistakes are okay as long as we learn from them."

"Those are the Murphys? Your foster parents?"

"Yeah."

"We should visit them sometime."

Cami sounded pleased and appreciative as she responded. "Yeah, we definitely should."

In the morning, the trill of sparrows woke Loki from a revitalizing rest. He opened his eyes, turning his head toward the sound outside the window and blinking at the first hints of the rising sun lighting the room. He was snugly nestled within the covers and Cami slept inches from him, turned on her side and looking content. He sat up, rubbing at his face and running his hands through his hair. Considering how good he felt, Loki was equally tempted to get on with his day as to lounge in bed a bit.

It didn't take long for him to start collecting his thoughts and realize the anomaly. He had awakened on his own, without Cami or Odin's assistance. Also, he had no memory of speaking with Hel or being in Niflheim at all during the night.

Loki left the bed, desperate to find clean clothes because there had to be a reason that Hel had deviated from the nightly routine. He decided that he needed to see her straight away. After dressing, he grabbed his cold-weather coat and left for the stables, stopping for only a moment to ask Igus to inform Cami when she woke that he'd gone to inquire after Hel and would be back later.

Sleipnir stepped to the front of his stall when Loki entered the stables.

"How's my boy?" Loki asked. He lovingly patted the horse, who in turn offered him gentle nuzzles and let him put a saddle and bridle on him. "We're off to the Underworld," Loki told him.

Needing no further encouragement, Sleipnir carried Loki out of Asgard along the branches of Yggdrasil, the Worlds' Tree, to Niflheim and right to the doors of Hel's hall.

Loki climbed down, opened the door to the hall and walked in with Sleipnir keeping to his side. The shadow serpents began to hiss and slither closer, causing the horse to bray, stamp his hooves and shake his head in a challenging manner.

"Hel," Loki called out because he didn't see her in the low lighting of the hall. When there was no response, he went to step around the collecting snakes, only to have them move to block his path. He asked with a growl of agitation, "What has gotten into you all?"

Hel entered from the archway. "Let them be," she said; and the snakes drew back to a more respectful distance. She moved only a little closer before asking, "What do you want, Father?"

"I was worried when you did not pull me here last night."

"Maybe I grow tired of you," she said, projecting boredom into her voice.

He wasn't convinced. "Tell me truthfully." He added softly, "Please?"

"I do as I wish. I do not have to explain myself."

Loki chose to overlook her attitude. "I'm glad that you're alright," he said with strained calm. "I feared the worst after our talk the other night."

She accused, "You think I'm weak."

Loki approached her through the snakes. "No, I don't."

She withdrew as he reached for her. "A few tears and you come rushing back, thinking you can ease my pain with kind words and warm touches."

"If I knew what to do, I would have done it centuries ago."

Her anger escalated. "You abandoned me and my brothers to the All-Father's whim. You stayed away, allowing yourself to become deaf and blind to our suffering because it was easier than standing up to Grandfather."

They had discussed this on numerous occasions. "Odin did not trap you here, Hel. He had no idea this would happen when he asked you to bring order to this realm."

"So you say."

Loki continued to close the space between them, even as she backed away. "Many nights you hid your tears behind the pages of some book or rubbed them into your pillow because you didn't want me to know how miserable you were in Asgard. You had so much talent to share, but people were afraid of you. Odin and Frigga knew this too."

"You could have sent me back to Mother in the Jotunheim."

"You assume I did not pursue that option."

Finally taking the last long step that put him within reach, Loki gripped her shoulders and gathered Hel into a tight embrace. Hel fidgeted uneasily within his grasp, but didn't really try to pull away. To avoid his gaze she laid her head on his shoulder, closed her eyes and got very still. Sleipnir slipped his head over Loki's shoulder to rest gently on top of Hel's, causing her to smile despite her tearing eyes.

Loki took her head in his hands, kissing her forehead. "I wish there was time to talk like we used to, my dear," Loki said in earnest. It had been far too long since they'd engaged in casual conversation.

"Surely my work no longer interests you."

"I've actually met some fascinating people that I'd like to tell you about sometime. Of course, it won't be nearly as satisfying if you don't share stories of your subjects too."

Hel laughed. "Is that the best you can do? Being around those humans has dulled that sharp, silver tongue of yours, Father. Why not just scold me for ignoring my duties like Grandmother did?"

"Well, if Frigga has already spoken to you on the matter, I won't. Though, I do expect to see far less souls wandering the wastes when I next visit. Tidy up the place like any respectable queen would."

Looking effectively rebuked, she nodded.

"Does Cami Barton truly make you happy?" Hel asked.

Loki considered his response. "Yes, she does. I'm surprised you choose to breach this subject with me after what you did to her."

Hell turned away from him, conjuring a thick mist ahead of her that formed into a slender throne of gold to which she walked and sat. She also took care in choosing her words as she said, "I wanted to meet her."

Hel had rarely felt compelled to speak about or wished to meet any of his lovers. Loki felt especially protective as he said, "Promise me that you are not planning to hurt her, Hel."

"Give up your pursuit of the double. Take your team back to Midgard and you could be happy with her, even if only for a short time."

"Bad Loki chose to provoke S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers. There will be no backing down or returning to Midgard until his threat is neutralized."

"You cannot defeat him," Hel said pointedly.

"That is yet to be seen. I do have particular insight into his methods. We will be many against his few."

Hel looked conflicted and vexed, but stopped arguing. "Cast yourself into his dark abyss if you wish, Father, but you must send Cami away to safety."

"Tell me why and I may consider it," Loki said with a tone that challenged. Then he surprised her by lowering to his knee upon the stone to plead, "You want a new life, but how can she give that to you?"

Sleipnir brayed as Hel's gaze shifted up to look over Loki's head.

With a fearful shiver, Loki heard his own voice say from behind, "Yes, my dear, do tell him."

"I do not your bidding, shadow," Hel said. "You only wish me to hurt him."

"He wants to know," Bad Loki said, stalking forward with a cruel grin. "Tell him. I will just conceal his memories anyway."

Loki stood. "Maybe you should go first then. Why not confess all your plans and sins to me?"

His echoing laughter was warm and laced with delight. "You know these things. My plan is chaos. My sins are your sins. I lie and misdirect, steal and sabotage, kill and destroy. The list is very long and entertaining—as you recall."

"I'm not that person anymore."

"Nonsense. You merely lack opportunity. I doubt you will take the high moral ground when S.H.I.E.L.D. calls you to duty. You will lie and kill for what they deem just causes," Bad Loki taunted. "It is the very path your child bride strides and yet she has no talent for it. S.H.I.E.L.D. will be the death of her."

"You're wrong."

"You hope I am."

Hel left the throne and moved to stand between them. She spoke to Bad Loki. "Let him go and we'll get to our business."

"You really mean to not tell him," he said, studying her with a disappointed scowl.

With a glower of her own, Hel turned back to Loki. "You must go," she said, shifting her gaze to Sleipnir when he approached and reached out to pat the horse's nose.

"You're planning something horrible," Loki muttered as his stomach knotted.

The dead side of Hel's features managed to tighten as her living half conveyed an expression of shame. "I wish you not to return here. I release your soul."

"How touching," Bad Loki said with sarcasm and mild contempt before Loki could react. The double held his hand dramatically over his heart while he smirked.

Loki said, "I didn't ask to be released. He came between us before. This is what he wants."

"I desired no part in your quarrel, but now I must choose my side." Hel planted a quick kiss on Sleipnir's nose, saying, "Take him home." Then she pushed past Loki and strode off to her private rooms.

Bad Loki said, "That must sting."

Loki chose not to respond. What good would it do to rant or threaten? He could put his energy to much better use back in Asgard. Placing his foot in the stirrup, Loki pulled up into the saddle and took the reins.

"There's still time to back down," Bad Loki said.

"Why should we?"

"To save the lives of your Mischief Makers."

"You underestimate us. This time we have the armies of two realms—and the Hulk," Loki taunted. Then Sleipnir took off, carrying him away from Bad Loki and his pleased grin.

Clint enjoyed the feel of Natasha's weight on him and her wonderful scent as he drifted awake. He looked down at her crimson curls resting on his chest and admired how the strands shined in the light filtering in between the heavy drapes of the window.

"Morning," she said, sounding drowsy.

"Ya know, if you keep crawling in my bed every night, I'm eventually gonna try to take advantage of you."

She responded with a soft chuckle, "I like how you said try."

Clint kissed the top of her head, guessing from her reaction that he didn't have to explain that particular choice of word. "What's on your mind?" he asked, craning to get a better view of her features.

"A lot," was her honest response.

"Anything I can help with?"

She sighed and rolled off of him to allow herself some room to sit up. Then she turned back, pushing curls out of her eyes and busying herself with smoothing the covers. "We're never going to have a normal relationship," she said, looking solemn.

Clint turned on his side so he was close to her again and propped up on his elbow. "We shouldn't compare ourselves to other couples. That's hardly fair."

"Maybe I'd like a little normal for once."

Caressing her thigh with his free hand, Clint said, "Tell me."

"Let's get married."

Clint balked, taking much too long to collect his thoughts because Natasha had time to examine his expression, regret the suggestion and slip out of the bed.

"Whoa—wait!" Clint flung the covers away and scrambled off the mattress to chase after her.

She didn't sound nearly upset enough when she said, "Forget I said anything," and opened his door.

Clint snatched her out of the corridor, pulling her into his room and shutting the door behind them, mindful of their nearby teammates. "Just wait a sec," Clint pleaded, mildly panting because he'd forgotten to breathe with all the shock. "Give me a chance to catch up. Okay?"

Natasha backed away and folded her arms, which only accentuated her already stiff frame and hurt look.

Clint took in a deep breath and rubbed at his forehead for a few tense moments before stepping closer and gently taking her hands in his. "I love you," he said, wanting to make that point very clear before he could mess up anything else.

"I know," she said with moistening eyes.

"Our work with S.H.I.E.L.D., the Avengers and now the Mischief Makers, is going to put a lot of strain on us. We'll be fighting to find time together sometimes. Marriage is serious business; and I know I'm not always the best at compromising. That's why I hesitated—not because I don't want to."

And I'm a little hungover, he thought, but didn't feel he had to mention that since they'd both joined in the team's post-mission celebration.

"When have you had time to think about this?"

"I've been adjusting to sharing my bed lately. So, I've been thinking more and sleeping a little less."

Natasha teased, "Whoever she is, I'm going to hurt her."

Clint laughed. "Obviously it's you, but thanks for the totally possessive attitude."

She smiled and leaned into him. "I really do want to get married right away, before some excuse comes up."

"Then we will, but I have some conditions," Clint said, staring into the two most beautiful and mesmerizing eyes he'd ever encountered. "First, we have to come clean with the team and our friends. No secret nuptials."

"Agreed. And?"

"I have no problem letting you plan the dream wedding of a lifetime, but I refuse to get married in anything other than a traditional tuxedo or my uniform."

"Fine," she said with a playful smirk. "Anything else?"

"I know who I want for my best man, but I might need your help calling in some favors."

Natasha shook her head at him. "You're really going there?"

Clint wasn't deterred by some red tape and regulations. "He recruited me, Nat. He's had our backs through the hardest times in our careers. He'll be offended if we don't ask."

"Fine. Fury is going to blow a fuse, but we'll try," she promised, which meant their chances were pretty good. Natasha could be very convincing when she wanted.

Queen Frigga stood in the hallway between their rooms when they stepped out to start their day. There was a knowing look in her eyes and a soft, conspiring smile on her lips as she simply said, "Yes, you may."

Natasha shifted her questioning gaze from the queen to Clint, silently asking if he knew to what she was agreeing.

"I think that's the answer to our request to get married in the palace," Clint whispered to her.

"We didn't ask yet," Natasha said. "No one else should know."

"Frigga sees things."

"We would be honored to host the celebration," Frigga said. "Let me know your wishes and we'll get to work."

Natasha was speechless, revealing that she wasn't as prepared for the idea of a quick wedding as she'd imagined.

Clint said, "We appreciate the help and enthusiasm. Let us get through telling our people first."

"I understand," Frigga said and took her leave.

Collecting herself as they walked, Natasha asked, "Have you been seeing things?"

"No. Haven't tried."

Natasha asked with care, "What good will your power do us if you don't learn how to use it? That is where Frigga's efforts would be better served, teaching you."

Clint chuckled, not really sure why he found the comment so funny. Neither of them had parents to lean on for help with wedding arrangements or even emotional support. Perhaps Frigga's interest felt too much like she was stepping into that role.

They headed to the team's dining room across from the command center surprised to find Jane and Tony seated around the table with Bruce and Brandon. The group went over data and plans for the magic detection device, but looked up to acknowledge the couple's arrival.

"How is the device coming?" Natasha asked, taking a chair next to Jane.

"We hit a snag," Jane admitted. "Tony suggested we get Bruce's perspective."

"Perfect excuse to visit Asgard," Clint said slyly in Tony's direction. "Did you enjoy the ride?"

"Uh… yeah," Tony said, flashing a smile that even a kindergartener would have recognized as false.

Clint recalled that Tony's last venture into space included a nuke, portal and almost not making it back to Earth. It felt more appropriate to let the moment pass by than try to continue an uncomfortable conversation.

Clint sat beside Natasha to start filling his plate. He was supposed to meet with Rosner in a little while, then had another appointment with Director Fury via video conference at the Puente Antiguo bifrost site after that. He didn't have time to waste this morning.

People continued to filter into the room, helping themselves to the feast provided by the palace kitchens. When Cami walked in, Clint noted Loki's absence and stared at his sister until she looked his way.

Cami said, "He woke up all by himself this morning and rode off to Niflheim to see Hel."

This comment drew looks from several of their teammates, which Cami saw, but chose not to elaborate. She slipped into the chair next to Clint and took a warm roll from the basket in front of them, tearing it apart and nibbling distractedly.

"Cami has shown an aptitude for understanding gadgets and machines," Bruce said, gazing down the table in her direction. "Maybe we should have her take a look at these plans."

Perking up from her thoughts, Cami gave a small shrug. "If you want."

Clint felt a little proud when she climbed to her feet and padded down to stand among the mental giants of their collective. It was a position he'd never find himself in, he realized.

"I wonder if Loki's going to be back soon," Natasha whispered to him, obviously pondering if they should make their announcement while the majority of the team was gathered.

"I know a quick way to find out," Clint said and activated his comm. A brief exchange with Heimdall revealed that Loki had returned and was making his way from the stables.

By the time Loki arrived at breakfast, he'd picked up Frigga along the way. Mother and son stopped in the doorway of the dining room to finish their discussion before they ventured over.

Clint decided that getting this over quickly was the best course of action. He stood, using a loud tone to ask if he could have everyone's attention. The group quieted and those standing found chairs. "I know we've got several important issues in front of us today and this announcement isn't meant to detract from any of them," Clint began, then wondered with unease why he hadn't let Natasha do this since she was much better talking to people. He turned to look at her, asking with his eyes for her to assist.

Natasha rose from her chair and slipped her arm around Clint's waist, hesitating long enough to let everyone notice and start pondering the gesture. Then she announced with a confidant, eager grin, "We're getting married."

The silence was momentary. People called out their surprise and approval amidst loud applause and some whistling. An enthusiastic Cami left her chair to grab Clint and Natasha in a tight embrace that led to a hugging and handshaking spree before everyone calmed down enough to retake their seats.

"Steve and Thor are going to hate that they missed this," Tony said.

"There are a lot of people who'll want to know," Stott said. "We aren't sworn to secrecy are we?"

"Nah," Clint said. "We are going to try and pull off a fast ceremony here in the palace. We'll have to update everyone as the details come together. We kinda only decided this earlier today."

The group reveled with the news, but eventually calmed as they ate and then dispersed to work on their assignments.

"I hear congratulations are in order," Rosner said to Clint and Natasha as soon as they joined him in the command center. "What a joyous announcement."

"Thank you," Natasha said. "You are very well informed."

"A necessity of my trade," he admitted then gestured to their surroundings. "Your team is using this equipment to track the reports from the inquisitors?"

"That's correct," Clint said. He led the Elf over to one of the consoles and brought up the database search function, demonstrating how it worked. He then pulled up the list the team had been working on for him. "These are the names of the people we know have gone missing in the last several months and the approximate date it was reported. Anyone who went missing, but was later found alive or dead, has been noted in this column."

"May I?" Rosner asked, gesturing to the chair.

Clint got up, letting him have the seat and pulled over another chair for himself.

As Rosner read through the list, it became apparent that he was a very knowledgeable and well-traveled person. His contacts with the leaders and diplomats of the various realms made him particularly qualified to dispense invaluable information about the most notable names on the team's list. At Rosner's request, Clint further sorted and divided the list based on new criteria that surfaced as they worked.

Natasha sounded apologetic when she interrupted their collaboration. "We've got to go if we're going to be on time for the meeting with Director Fury," she reminded Clint.

"Right," Clint said, rising from his chair. He looked around the room then back at Rosner. "I'll have Agent Shale or maybe Loki continue this with you while I'm gone to this meeting."

The spymaster also stood. "That's very kind of you, Agent Barton. I realize that in my absence, Odin has leaned on you to manage this investigation. I am quite impressed with the results your team's had in such a short time."

Through the sincerity of his fine and complimentary remarks, Clint sensed that Rosner was building up to something. So, he decided to save him the effort of beating around the bush. "I get it," he said. "You don't have to stroke my ego, Sir. You are Odin's Royal Inquisitor and S.H.I.E.L.D. is far out of its element. We're all just here to help." Rosner smiled, but kept silent long enough to make Clint think that he'd caught the Elf off guard with his insights. "Odin hasn't said, but I assume he wants us to pool our resources. Wouldn't you agree?"

Rosner gave a simple, yet important nod.

"Would you like to meet our superior?" Clint asked. "It's not a face-to-face meeting, but you'll be able to see and converse with him through similar equipment."

"You surprise me, Agent Barton," the spymaster admitted. "I think I have made hasty and unfair assumptions about you, for which I apologize. Yes, I would be pleased to meet your Director Fury."

Clint left Brandon in charge of the command center, but suggested he roundup Loki and Dr. Montoya to help analyze the new data from Rosner while they were gone to swap updates with HQ.

Cami couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so elated. Between Clint and Natasha's announcement, the request from Bruce to assist them with their device, Loki's surprise gift of a whole crate of gadget stuff and her favorite club music thumping in the background, Cami gushed with joy and couldn't stand still. She danced her way around their makeshift workshop, drawing smiles from the others with her boundless energy.

Loki watched her from where he sat at the worktable. "Are all these songs about love, sex and delinquent behavior?" he asked when she danced within his reach and he snatched her close.

Cami laughed and nodded. "Pretty much." Even within his grasp, her body was still in motion, swaying in a seductive manner.

"I like seeing you this happy," he said, gifting her with a swift, forceful kiss to the neck that made her squeal. "You practically glow, my dear. You are so beautiful."

Cami straddled the chair, resting on his lap so she could embrace him back and reward his compliments with bold, appreciative kisses.

"Okay. Break it up you two," Tony called over. Teasing in his casual way, he said, "Come here, Britney, and tell me what you think of this." He pointed to a schematic in Jane's hands.

"Don't ask," Cami said, giggling at Loki's questioning look. She delivered another deep, longing kiss to Loki's mouth that made his entire frame relax. Then she climbed off him and whispered, "Go to work. I'll see you later."

Loki insisted on one more kiss before he reluctantly stood and headed across the hall to the command center.