Astrid was never one for rebellion before her extensive stay in Vanaheim. She had loved Egil as a father figure, was docile in most aspects, and she thought she wouldn't have her favorites. She had realized that she wasn't the same girl she had been and she wasn't a girl at all anymore. In her time away from Asgard, she became a more empowered woman and that's probably why her mother had sent her to Aunt Thyra. Egil wasn't honest with her from the beginning and it hurt her to know that. It made sense to her why he was so insistent on her and Thor being together since of his own arrogance and greed. Perhaps he only saw her as a tool for bettering his own life and to compensate for his lack of magic and prestige. One of the worst things Egil had done was influence Thor to pursue her and that almost put an end to their many years of friendship.

Thor thankfully had apologized since he was aware he was out of line with what he did to Astrid. He realized that affections take time and she was someone he truly cared for. Astrid accepted his apology and just hoped he wouldn't try that stunt again. She would always give him a chance since they were very close; perhaps it was partly that closeness he was compelled to try and romance her. Astrid didn't want their bond to change since she saw Thor as a brother and her interests didn't match his. She only hoped Egil would lay off on setting them up and just allow her and Thor to have their friendship.

Weeks had passed since she first snuck out at night to see Loki and they have made that a frequent thing. They've grown closer in their late night book readings, star gazing, and showing off their magic. They still met in the daylight of course, but they needed to be careful because of Egil. Astrid and Loki weren't always alone as they were accompanied by Sif and Thor a lot. In her passing days when spending her time with Thor and Loki, it was clear to her the relations she wanted with both men. Her own type of man and features she valued were clear; the dark hair, the not so obvious strength, the brilliant mind, and magical capabilities...all of that matched Loki and she wasn't blind to those observations. Despite her fears of change...she wanted to take the risk to see if there was more she could be for Loki.

Loki and her had a private afternoon together and he playfully stroked her hair as they watched the sun set. Astrid smiled lightly and cuddled closer to him as they rested under a tall tree on a small hill. She listened as Loki read, listening to his charming elegant tone and her heart was entranced by him.

"I don't want to return to Egil." Astrid sighed.

Loki sighed as he closed the book.

"I know you don't, but you need to. He already sees me as a bad influence and unworthy."

Astrid scoffed.

"He's more unworthy than any man I've met. He lied to me and he was dictating my life for me. Egil just wants the trend of women marrying for brute strength to continue. He should know me and that I am not that type of woman."

Loki smirked lightly but he was also very hopeful and relieved by that. He wanted Astrid to be his and he was so enchanted by her.

"Yes otherwise Thor would have already claimed you, or Fandel...or any brute with a pulse." Loki chuckled.

Astrid chuckled lightly and gazed softly at Loki. No man in Asgard would claim her heart because in some aspects...Loki had and he didn't even know it.

"Are we meeting again tonight?" she mused.

Loki smiled lightly but he knew they met at night if things were rough for her, which made him worry.

"That's three nights in a row Astrid. Has Egil been that unruly lately?" he asked.

Astrid sighed and nodded.

"He's going to have another fight with me again, I just know it. You always lift my spirits."

"As do you Astrid. You make pleasurable company and I will be sure to get to the library first to let you in."

Astrid smiled lightly.

"You're always a good man letting me in and making sure my tail doesn't get caught when I'm a sweet kitty."

Loki chuckled.

"Well it would be rude of me not to be mindful."

Astrid chuckled and glanced at the leftover food they had in Loki's basket.

"Knowing Egil, he will send me to bed without supper after our argument despite me being a grown adult woman."

Loki nodded and he got out the remaining grapes, nuts, and cooked meat and made a plate for Astrid. He didn't want Astrid to be hungry and he smiled lightly as she ate. They watched the sun go down and Loki teleported them down the road from her place. He was going to walk her to the door but Astrid stopped him.

"I don't want you getting death glares or threats. I'll see you later." Astrid whispered, kissing his cheek softly.

Loki wanted more than anything to kiss her lips right now, but he didn't want to risk Egil coming out to search for her and see him kissing Astrid.

"I'll see you later Astrid."

He teleported back to the palace as Astrid walked the remaining steps home. Sure enough as soon as she opened the door, she was confronted by an angry and crossed Egil.

"Where in all of Asgard were you!"

Astrid rolled her eyes and didn't even want to answer him. Egil blocked the doorway and he demanded,

"Where were you!"

"Out."

She pushed her way through and Egil grabbed her hand forcibly.

"Out with who?" Egil growled.

Astrid didn't answer and instead focused on his leather armlet. Smoke started to fume and soon it ignited. Egil yelled and he retracted his hand to put out the fire. Once he put it out, his face turned crimson and he yelled,

"You were with that good for nothing mischief maker again were you! What part of 'you belong with Thor' do you not understand!"

"The belong part since Thor and I are friends. Be thankful we were able to get past him trying to kiss me since that made me very upset."

Egil tried to slap Astrid again but she put up a protective energy shield this time to protect herself. This made Egil hiss in pain when he made contact and he glared coldly at her. He regretted having Astrid learn magic from Tove and Thyra since he couldn't do much to retaliate physically. He clearly saw dark energy around her and he knew just where it came from.

"He's an evil man Astrid and so is his magic! Can't you see he's enchanted you to favor him over your soulmate! You're not grown up if you don't see him cursing you!"

Astrid scoffed since he was ignorant. If he saw magic as evil, why didn't he abandon Vanaheim and try courting an Asgardian woman instead of her mother. Then again Vanir women do have beauty and he probably inherited his own father's vanity in that case. Astrid wasn't as vain and she was smart enough to know what she wanted.

"When are you going to learn that that magic isn't a curse because you can't do it? I hate that you raised me since it's clear you're just an insecure man who never could live up to your father and brother in the magical sense."

Egil's eyes widened in anger. He punched the magical barrier but it wouldn't break and only did him more harm.

"What did Tove's sister tell you about my father and brother!"

Many many things she thought but she needed to pick her battles, this wasn't the time to play the 'You're not my father' card.

"Enough but I'm not telling you a thing. I'm an adult and I am not going to please you by ruining my friendship with Thor so he can kiss and sleep with me like a common whore. You might have raised me but you can't tell me who my heart belongs to. " Astrid argued.

"I can and will continue to do so until you see things my way! I'm telling you to continue seeing Thor since he's for you and leave Loki in your past!"

Astrid rolled her eyes and ignored her father as she went upstairs. Both Thor and Loki will be in her future, but one of their roles will change and her heart decided as much.

It was very dark out and Egil went out for drinks with his fellow warriors in arms. A perfect night for her to escape but she still needed to be cautious in case Egil popped his ugly head in her room. Astrid made her magical copy and snuck out again. It was routine at this point, shape shift into a variation of a cat but keep the amber eyes so Loki would know it's her. Then again, he can probably sense magic so she could actually have shifted the eyes as well but she liked the way Loki looked into her eyes. She scampered off and found her way into the palace and found the library doors. Astrid scratched on the door several times until they opened. Sure enough, Loki opened it and he smiled softly at her.

"Hello Astrid"

Astrid entered the library and she shifted back to herself again. She was quiet as she went to gather some tomes for herself to read. Loki noticed Astrid was quiet and he knew Egil started something again.

"What was the quarrel about this time?" Loki asked softly

Astrid sighed since it was becoming sad that Loki just knew that Egil was the center of her sadness and woes.

"About my time and who I should spend it with. I'm a grown woman and I know who I want to spend time with. He thinks I don't value it but I do and I'm not his little girl anymore...maybe I never was despite him raising me."

Loki sighed since he had a feeling about who Egil wanted Astrid to spend more time with. It wasn't a secret Egil hated him and it kind of upset him that Egil would never accept him, Odin's son or not.

" Let me guess, he is still entertaining the idea of you and Thor someday marrying?"

Astrid nodded as she gathered the books she wanted to read and sat on the couch near the fireplace. There was more and she knew Loki would ask, but she wanted to get comfortable before sharing more of the awful things her father spoke. Loki sighed and joined Astrid on the couch with his books.

" What do you think of all of this?" Loki asked

"That he should clearly thank the stars that my mother married him at all since he was a bit of a disgrace to the Vanirs. He never lived up to his father's name and his brother outclassed him. He has some nerve to tell me to think about my time and my relations where my mother shouldn't have spent her time with him. She should have left him but something in my mother made her stay and that's sad. My mother should have known what she wanted; at least I know what I want."

Loki chuckled and gently took Astrid's hand in his. They were warm, gentle, and he loved how they fit in his hands. Some days it was hard to let go of them since he felt like they belonged to her.

"What do you want, Astrid?" he genuinely wanted to know how Astrid's time back home changed her and helped her figure out important things in life.

Astrid picked up a book from her stack and sat close to him.

"The Vanirs, my people I guess, cared for me when I was there. My aunt and Volund helped me to take in what Vanaheim had to offer. She informed me that just how Asgard was built on strong warriors, Vanaheim was built on powerful sorcerers and sorceresses. Though there are warriors, magic is a key aspect and the warriors least have understanding and some bit of magic in them. Volund taught me that magic can be a lot of things, including peaceful, enriching, and loving. I never want my life to be without magic." Loki smiled as Astrid told him about her home, it sounded wonderful and her aunt was a reasonable being.

"Your aunt is truly a wonderful woman and Volund sounds like a very wise man and mentor. Egil is truly afraid of magic because he can't do anything with it and has been in the shadows of his father and brother. We oddly have that in common in a sense yet he sees me as the ultimate enemy." Loki stated

Astrid lingered a bit on Loki in the corner of her eye and truly was worried about him.

"How was it like with me gone? Thor tells me he's been training and became friends with some very strong warriors. Don't think he missed me too much if I'm being honest." she spoke a bit in a low tone. Loki smiled

" I am sure he missed you, you are a dear friend to both of us. Thor was training though and he had courted ladies in Asgard, nothing serious from what I saw. I did miss you Astrid a lot. It felt lonely without you here. I got so used to us having magic lessons or even simple reading in gardens, when you were gone it all felt not the same to me. I didn't have anyone aside from my mother to have intellectual conversation with. Egil didn't help with him threatening me and helping Thor with training. Part of my heart was gone with you." Loki admitted softly

Astrid felt bad but her aunt didn't allow her to write to either of her friends so as to not distract her from her pilgrimage of sorts. She cuddled closer to Loki and ended up reading along with him at his side. Loki smiled and felt his heart fluttering and his stomach in knots, at the same time being near Astrid felt natural and warm. He stole glances at her as she read. Astrid could feel his glances and she smiled lightly.

"Part of my heart was gone without you too. When I was gone, I discovered something truly important aside from my family history."

"Oh?" Loki mused but was curious.

Astrid took Loki's book and set it aside. She was overcome with warmth and gently trailed her finger over his chest while biting the corner of her lip tenderly. They always had this connection to each other, but she felt something deeper than she's ever felt. Everything about Loki was drawing her in and she didn't care anymore about Egil's disapproval. All the words about his trickery, mischief, and his evil magic...they didn't matter because she truly felt he was her special person.

"I discovered who in my life I would be the most lost without. My mother is wonderful but all girls become women and must leave their mothers. Sif means well but our relationship is very complex. It's mutual but also we can go without each other for some time. Thor...he matters a lot but there were days he never crossed my mind since he could fend for himself. Only one person was in my mind all those days in my five years; who I worried for, who I hoped would be happy despite my absence...the one I truly feel magic with and who I want in all the best ways, in ways a man could ever want a woman...is you Loki."

Astrid blushed tenderly and Loki was speechless. He had hoped for this moment, to hear Astrid want him and this was essentially a lot more than he thought he'd hear. Loki gently rested his hand on Astrid's cheek, he leaned in to finish what he wanted to start weeks ago on that picnic. He locked his lips on hers and the feeling was simply divine. Her lips felt soft, sweet and his heart was now racing. Astrid returned the kiss and she was in her own state of Valhalla. She slowly positioned her body to rest on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck softly. Loki smirked and held Astrid close to him with one hand while running his fingers through her soft rose hair. It felt amazing and so did she. He did not want to let her go as he deepened the kiss.

Astrid tried to speak his name but a moan came out instead as she ran her fingers in his dark black hair. She missed Thor true, but she was longing and pining to return to Loki. He smirked as another moan escaped Astrid and he felt bolder, running his hands lower teasing her a bit. He bit her lower lip lightly and Astrid let out a small yelp in pleasure.

"Loki." she moaned in a low voice.

He smirked and slid his tongue in her mouth. Astrid was aware of Loki's nickname being silver tongue, and it sure was persuasive in wanting to dance with hers. Loki relished in Astrid's touches and could feel her bucking her hips against him, which made him grin as he continued to kiss her. She wasn't so innocent and was a mischievous and passionate woman, the true woman he had the pleasure himself to see. He loved seeing the real Astrid and how she seemed to deceive everyone except him. Against all he odds, Astrid cared for him more than Thor and he was her first kiss.

Astrid pulled away and studied Loki's face. She looked softly at his features, those that varied starkly to men of Asgard but oddly were features that welcomed her. The dark hair, the clean shaven face, the soft blue green eyes, and the devilish smile he wore for her. She gently stroked his face and felt really warm and very light with him. Loki smiled softly and held her in a comforting embrace. He looked at Astrid's beautiful amber eyes. She was always beautiful but more so lately. She was confident but also calm and he admired her. He was blessed and lucky to have her while Astrid was thankful and grateful she had him.

Astrid sat beside him and glanced over at him as he put an arm around her.

"Have I stolen you away from someone? I would hate it if I took you away from another woman."

Loki chuckled and shook his head with a soft smile. No one could hold a candle to her and he made her feel his best.

"No, no woman in my life. I will admit there are beautiful women on Asgard but none of them have what you do. They are more suited for Thor."

"Let me guess; they don't think too much and adore only his status and strength? So one note and misguided but that's to my extreme gain." she mused playfully.

"That is a very accurate description and true." Loki chuckled as he held Astrid's hands.

Astrid smiled but it shifted a bit as she cuddled near him. Things were going to get complicated but she knew she needed to address something.

"Egil and I argue over you."

" He doesn't want you near me does he? He believes you are better suited for Thor? "Loki asked bitterly

Astrid sighed and nodded.

"He went as far as to say that I was enchanted by you, with evil dark magic. Meanwhile for most Vanirs, magic is valued not dismissed. He's making me sick and wants Thor to court me."

Loki said nothing at first, as he was not sure what to say. Most of the magic he learned was his mother. He didn't do anything and if anything, he was enchanted by her in the most natural of ways.

" You are not a child anymore Astrid. What do you want?" Loki asked.

"I want us...I want there to be an us and hopefully still have Thor as a friend. I refuse Egil's name and proudly since I am Astrid Frodedotter, daughter of Frode. I never want to let you go. I'm happiest with you and I don't want to lose this feeling deep inside of me." Astrid told him, kissing his cheek.

"I want that too Astrid, more than anything. You mean a lot to me, so does Thor. He will be hurt no matter what, I don't want to let you go either"

"I might have to take some pages of your book if Egil will force my days with Thor...thankfully we can do what we want. He can't stop us and I don't want us to stop." she spoke with the smallest of smirks.

Loki smirked and kissed Astrid softly.

" Mischief is a beautiful thing when you do it."

"It's charming when you do it." she retorted softly as they shared another kiss.

When they pulled away, Astrid lingered a bit on Loki's neck and giggled somewhat.

"How about we make some of the men shut up about something for a change?" Astrid mused.

" What do you have in mind?"

Astrid kissed a bit of Loki's neck and playfully nipped it, sucking on it slowly. No one would know who as of yet, but at least it would show Loki had someone, a lady friend that cared for him in a romantic way. This wasn't ladylike but Astrid didn't care and wanted to mark Loki with a love bite on his tender neck. He should be proud that he has her heart and people need to see Loki as the man he is and that he has value. Loki moaned a bit when Astrid sucked on his neck. He loved it… he loved Astrid, and he was not going to give her up to Thor no matter how much he loved his brother.

Astrid pulled away and saw the tender love mark she left on Loki's neck. She traced the mark tenderly before kissing it softly.

"Words should be interesting around Asgard tomorrow." Astrid spoke as she gathered her books to put away. Loki smiled softly, he saw the mark in a mirror and felt happy. He looked over to Astrid and he felt more complete than he ever had. He didn't care about what others thought and the only thing that mattered was that there was someone in all the Nine Realms that loved him for him.

" Have a good night my dear Astrid."

"Goodnight my darling Loki."

She shifted into a cat when she was done and ran home.

Loki grinned proudly as he looked at the mark once more. He expected him to do that to her, but never in his wildest dreams he thought Astrid would do that. It was clear to him that he's awoken something in Astrid as she awakened something in him. They were perfect for each other and not even Thor or Egil can stand in their way of their love for each other.