A/N: Hello my darlings! I've finally updated Another World, Another War, so I was able to focus on adding another story to this collection.

A note on the timeline: This one isn't set during any specific events in the MCU or ONCE, but it does take place in Storybrooke, and Henry is a teenager.

Summary: Regina and Loki have wonderful news to share with his mother, but an altercation with the All-Father threatens to ruin their happy ending before it begins.

Disclaimer: I do not own characters from either universe.

Thank you so much for sticking with me! Enjoy!

Against All Odds

Regina still couldn't believe it. Loki asked her to marry him!

To say she was shocked was the understatement of the century. They'd never so much as talked about marriage before, so his proposal had come as a complete surprise. Of course, she'd been ecstatic seeing him down on one knee in front of her, but she'd been rendered speechless for so long she could see the fear and uncertainty appear on Loki's face.

Everything inside her had screamed yes! Yet she hesitated, but it had nothing to do with the man kneeling in front of her.

After all, Loki was a god. In comparison to a human's lifespan, he was basically immortal. And Regina, well, her life was a blink of an eye to an Asgardian. She knew he loved her beyond measure, and she knew there would never be anyone else for her besides Loki, but she was just Regina. Mortal, very damaged Regina.

She was so caught up in her own head she completely missed the answer she gave him. She only realized she'd given him an answer at all when his face broke out into the most blinding, beautiful smile she'd ever seen on Loki's face. She screamed her answer repeatedly after that, only stopping when Loki picked her up off her feet and spun her around before kissing her senseless.

That was two days ago, and Regina's head was still in the clouds. She smiled constantly. It was so obvious they'd been forced to tell Henry the moment he caught sight of them. The amount of love and happiness they'd seen on his face at the news made Regina's heart soar.

Much to her son's impatience, the couple had sworn the teen to secrecy until Loki returned. The day after he proposed, Loki went back to Asgard to tell his mother with Regina's blessing. They both knew Frigga would want to know about the new development immediately. The god had promised him he'd only be gone for one day, so Henry reluctantly agreed to the terms.

She didn't see the light from the Bifrost, but she physically felt his presence return to the mansion in the afternoon after lunch, and Regina smiled for the thousandth time.

Right on time, love.

She didn't waste a moment in making her way to the library, knowing full well that's where she would find him. It was Loki's favorite place in her house.

"Welcome home, my—" Regina threw the doors open, but the rest of the greeting was forgotten when she saw the state of the room.

The library was utterly destroyed. Pieces of books and paper were still floating in the air and littered the ground. The furniture looked like it'd been tossed violently and now lay haphazard and broken around the room. Regina could sense Loki's seidr crackling in the air.

"Loki?" She saw the god in question standing in the middle of the destruction. His hands were clenched into tight fists and she could feel the tension rolling off of him in waves.

Regina was suddenly very grateful Henry was with Emma and the Charmings for the day.

"Hey—"

Regina started to walk closer to him, but he turned around to face her before she could take more than a step.

She gasped when she saw the look on his face. He was out of breath—she assumed from the energy he'd used making a mess of her library, but she didn't care about that. He looked both distraught and enraged, but what finally made Regina close the distance between them was the angry tears she saw in his eyes.

"Loki, what happened?" She asked, cupping his face with her hands. "Did you tell your mother our news?"

He nodded. "Yes," His voice came out raspy, almost like he'd been screaming at someone.

"Well? What did she say?" Regina's brow furrowed, confused as to why he would have such a violent reaction. Her mind raced, and suddenly her jaw went slack when she realized.

She doesn't approve.

The idea felt like a punch in the gut and Regina had to fight to breathe for a second. An admittedly small part of her still believed that she wasn't good enough for Loki, but Queen Frigga herself had told Regina that she was worthy of him the first time they met. What could have changed?

"Oh, I see." She whispered. She loosened her grip on Loki then, and almost turned away from him when his hands grabbed hers to keep her where she was.

"Mother is thrilled, Regina."

Regina's eyes snapped back to his face. He looked so certain she immediately believed him.

"Really?" She let out the breath she didn't realize she was holding. "Oh, good. You scared me. Then what the hell—"

"She was so happy, Regina. I've never felt her hug me so hard. But Odin interrupted us."

Loki's face twisted in anger again when he practically spit his name, and Regina felt the uncertainty return.

"And?" She couldn't help the fear that crept into her voice.

"Odin has forbidden me to marry you."

She drew in a sharp breath. "What?"

Honestly, Regina should have known the problem wouldn't have been Loki's mother. Of course, the problem would be that Odin didn't approve of the God of Mischief marrying a mortal. Loki didn't even need to say the reason; she knew it without having to ask.

Regina had never met the All-Father, but she knew he was aware of their relationship. As far as she knew, he had never objected before. But now that Loki had proposed, well, she supposed Odin felt it was time for him to intervene.

Regina felt like she couldn't breathe. They'd been so close, but she couldn't expect Loki to defy Odin no matter what he thought of him. Not for her. She felt tears burn her eyes at the thought of losing him like this. She had absolutely no idea what she'd do without him.

Oh god, how am I going to explain this to Henry?

"No, my love, please look at me." Loki begged, breaking her out of her thoughts.

She didn't realize that her hands had fallen away from his face, but now he brought his own up to her cheeks to force her to meet his gaze.

"I don't care what Odin says. You're mine, and I will marry you. This changes nothing."

"Loki…" Regina tried to shake her head, but Loki only tightened his grip.

"No! Odin be damned."

"Loki, he's your father…"

"He is not my father!" Loki almost roared, but Regina didn't flinch. "He can't forbid me anything!"

Loki could practically see the wheels turning in Regina's head; he could feel her shutting herself off from him, and it terrified him. It didn't take magic to know where her thoughts were taking her. Loki had spent so long chasing away the insecurities he was now watching run rampant inside her.

Loki had never felt the level of rage toward the All-Father that he did when he forbade him to marry Regina. It rivaled even the pain and anger he experienced when he discovered his true parentage. But this… this was what Loki had truly feared, because he knew how selfless Regina was. Even if it meant she was doomed to suffer alone for the rest of her life, she would never fight against Odin because deep down, Regina thought he was right.

And if Loki lost Regina because of Odin, well… Loki doubted even his mother could stop him from burning the palace to the ground.

"No, that's… That's not what I meant. He's the All-Father, you're a god." Regina told him. "Odin is right. I'm not Asgardian, I'm nothing in comparison to a god."

"Human lives are fleeting, they're nothing!" Loki remembered the horror he felt when Odin said it in the middle of their fight.

"How dare you—"

"She is mortal, Loki! And when she dies in a few years, what then?"

The words had slammed into Loki like a physical blow, making him step back and leaving him unable to breathe.

"ODIN!"

It was his mother's outraged cry that kept Loki from spiraling out of control, but he did not stay to hear anything else that came from the old man's mouth.

"Loki, wait!"

He didn't even pause when Frigga called for him. It was safer in Storybrooke. If he stayed in Asgard for another moment, Loki couldn't be held responsible for what he did to the King. He spun around and headed straight for the Bifrost. He needed Regina.

"You are everything to me." He told her fiercely, stroking her cheek. The memory of what Odin said almost threatened to make him completely lose his composure.

"Do not ever speak of yourself that way again."

Regina smiled sadly but didn't respond right away. She felt the tears that had gathered fall silently down her face.

"I'm sorry..."

With a great deal of effort Regina forced herself to step away from his arms. The moment she did she felt incomplete and she almost lost her nerve at the terrible fear that passed over her god's eyes.

"I do not doubt your feelings, my love, and I love you so much. More than I thought I was capable of, but I… I won't come between you and your family, Loki." The words nearly made bile rise in her throat, but Regina forced herself to say them.

"I'm so sorry. You are so much more than I could have ever hoped for, but you've always deserved better than a Midgardian former queen."

Regina knew it wouldn't be that easy. He would fight her fiercely. She knew Loki would never accept what she was suggesting, but she didn't know what else to do. No matter how much Loki may hate the All-Father, she wouldn't let him defy his orders for her.

Even if it wasn't true, Regina had to tell herself that Odin was doing this for Loki's benefit. After all, her life would end long before his, and the thought of leaving him alone was gut wrenching. Loki once insisted there were ways around her mortality, but she knew now that whatever they were, Odin would never allow it and it would only further the rift between them.

She would readily sacrifice her happiness to preserve his family, even if he insisted that she was also sacrificing Loki's. As much as it killed her, she should have known the odds were against them. Loki was a god, and would find someone who could be with him for the rest of his lifetime; someone more worthy of him than Frigga once said she was.

Regina looked down at the beautiful emerald ring he'd placed on her finger just two days ago. She knew she needed to give it back to him, but her hands were shaking so badly and she didn't have the strength to remove it. Not yet.

As she expected, the God of Mischief was desperately shaking his head, and the devastated expression on his face almost stopped her from backing away from him.

She didn't get more than two steps away from Loki when a sudden urgent yell cut through the tense silence like a knife, and Regina froze.

"Loki! Regina!"

It caused both the god and former queen to turn fully toward the door leading out to the hallway. Neither of them was sure who was more shocked to find Queen Frigga standing there.

"Mother?" Loki's voice was hoarse, betraying the maelstrom of emotions he felt and it made Regina's stomach clench.

The Asgardian queen didn't even look surprised at the state of the library. She knew immediately her son had done this in a fit of rage, and she couldn't blame him. If her heart cracked when she saw the expression on Loki's face, it completely shattered when her eyes fell on Regina. The pair looked truly devastated, and the goddess could see the self-doubt creeping its way back into Regina's mind.

"I'm so glad I found you two."

"What are you doing here?" Loki asked.

Regina heard him closing the little distance between them she'd achieved only a moment ago. She took a deep breath but didn't move away.

"You left so quickly, my love. I asked Heimdall to send me here after I had words with your father."

She watched his face twitch, but he did not protest the title this time.

"I will not listen to him. He has no power over me." Loki told her firmly.

He wrapped his arms around Regina to hold her against him, as if he dared anyone to try to rip her away from him. Frigga instantly felt a rush of pride.

She could see Regina open her mouth to protest his denial, but Frigga smirked at Loki before she got the chance.

"I'm sorry, did you believe for even a moment that we were going to listen to him?"

She could have laughed aloud at the absolutely flabbergasted look they both gave her.

"I beg your pardon?" Loki was instantly skeptical, because surely he hadn't heard her correctly. He was still reeling from Regina's words and didn't trust his ears.

Frigga smiled, "Oh my dear, you didn't honestly think I'd allow Odin to forbid your happiness, did you?"

Regina's stomach flipped and she saw Loki's mouth drop open out of the corner of her eye, but she did not move her gaze away from the queen. She immediately shifted to grab the front of Loki's shirt in a vice-grip.

"But, the All-Father made his decision…" She looked and sounded resigned to the fate Odin had decreed, and it made Frigga's stomach twist.

"The All-Father can be prone to gross lapses in judgment." She almost growled.

Her voice was hard, and it was enough for Regina to realize that Frigga had given her husband hell after Loki left Asgard.

She allowed the slightest bit of hope to claw its way back into her heart. Maybe it wasn't as hopeless as she thought. If Frigga was this upset with Odin, then…

"So… we can get married?" Her tone was hesitant, and she felt Loki's grip around her tighten.

Frigga beamed. "Absolutely nothing would make me happier."

The moment the words left her mouth, Regina's eyes closed and Loki almost sagged against her. The nearly crushing relief she saw on both of their faces made Frigga's heart ache. She knew Loki would have married his queen regardless, but she was also well aware that Regina would have denied herself the happiness she deserved if she thought it would ruin her son's relationship with his family. She could not and would not allow Odin to stand in their way.

Frigga had never been so vocal about anything in her life, even when Odin had banished Thor to Midgard. She'd been absolutely furious, and she made it very clear that if the All-Father wished to keep his queen, the only thing out of his mouth from that day forward would be words of love and support.

"Mother… Thank you."

Frigga came closer, smiling at her son. "Of course, my love."

"Are you sure Odin doesn't have a point? Your support means so much to me, but Odin is right; I'm mortal."

Although she didn't mean the words negatively, it still made both gods tense.

"Regina." Frigga finally closed the remaining distance between herself and the couple and reached out to her.

Loki did not loosen his grip on his fiancée, nor did Frigga expect it. However, she was happy when Regina let go of Loki's shirt and twisted just enough to take the goddess's offered hands.

"I told you that you were worthy long ago, and I will never not believe that, no matter what you are, were or will be. I have never said anything I did not mean. Odin may be the All-Father, but as much as he would love to believe otherwise, my husband does not know everything."

Regina laughed joyfully, and the Asgardian queen saw her son smile for the first time since she walked into the room.

The fact that Regina somehow managed to extract herself from Loki's arms was quite an impressive feat, but Frigga couldn't have been happier to return Regina's embrace when she stepped forward and threw her arms around her.

"Thank you so much. I was about to do something incredibly stupid." The tears that came to Regina's eyes now were happy ones and she couldn't have stopped them from falling even if she tried.

Frigga laughed genuinely, tightening her grip and winking at her son over Regina's shoulder before pulling away.

"You really think he'll come around?" Regina couldn't help but ask the question.

"Oh, yes." The goddess's clear blue eyes darkened momentarily. "If he wishes to preserve our marriage and be permitted anywhere near me in the next millennium, he absolutely will."

To anyone else, the statement may have sounded like an over exaggeration. But both Loki and Regina saw the fierce expression on the Queen of Asgard's face. They knew that she was being deadly serious and was fully prepared to make good on the threat.

"Now then," Frigga smiled suddenly, and the energy in the room felt lighter. She reached a hand up to wipe the remainder of Regina's tears from her face.

"We have a wedding to plan, Regina. Did I mention that Thor is beside himself with excitement?"

Loki groaned and rolled his eyes, "Oh no, of course you told him." Despite his tone, he didn't fight the smile that spread across his face.

Regina genuinely beamed at Loki's mother, because she would never know the heartache she'd just saved both of them. If Queen Frigga was so willing to fight against her husband for them, Regina let herself believe that everything would work itself out. She'd been so afraid of splitting apart Loki's family, but thanks to Frigga, that was no longer a concern.

Loki turned her around to face him and kissed her with such fervor Regina was left absolutely breathless.

"I love you so much." He breathed into her hair when he pulled away, and the smile she gave him was blinding.

"I love you, too. I can't wait to watch Thor embarrass you during his speech." She giggled at the horrified look on his face.

"Absolutely not. Thor will get drunk and act like a complete buffoon! I am not letting him make a speech."

She rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "C'mon, darling. He's your brother; you have to let him. He loves you."

Frigga watched her son's indignant expression melt at Regina's insistence, and she smiled gently.

"As you wish, my love. But if he makes a fool of himself, I'm blaming you."

Regina's laugh was beautiful and melodic. "Deal."

Watching the two of them, Frigga was reminded once again how good Regina Mills was for her son. Seeing how easily the usually stubborn god had caved, she felt happy tears stinging her eyes and her heart swelled. Not long ago, Loki insisted that Thor was not his brother. Now he wasn't even trying to deny his family, and it spoke volumes. The love they had for each other was painfully obvious to anyone that bothered to look for it. It was of little consequence that Loki had chosen a mortal, no matter what the King said.

Loki was Frigga's son, and she loved Regina like a daughter. They both deserved so much, and Odin was an utter fool to think his wife wouldn't fight like hell for them to have their happy ending.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Please review!

Until next time...

~Neve