So, we are working our way to the ceremony. First, good news for Wanda, then a welcome feast. And what is Odin up to?

Differences mentioned in this chapter: All of it.

Walking the halls brought back memories for both of them. Last time, Loki was too preoccupied with healing Ariana, but now, every comment and every side-eyed glance played in his mind. Ariana remembered the struggle to find normalcy again. Without conscious thought, both tightened their grips before looking at each other.

"Bad memories?" Loki asked.

"No, just why I was brought here in the first place," she answered. "You?"

"I wasn't the most favored prince," he explained. "Lot of people talked about or avoided me. Few liked me."

"Well, the idiots lost out because I happen to think you're amazing."

"I do not deserve you or how you see me."

They stopped outside Wanda's room. "You deserve the world, Loki. You are intelligent," Ariana kissed his left cheek, "charming," she kissed his right cheek, "handsome," she kissed his neck just below his ear, causing Loki's arms to snake around her waist, "sexy, in fact, " she moved to the other side of his neck, nipping this time and earning a growl, "good," finally, she got to his lips but stopped just short, "but most importantly, you are mine."

He crushed his lips to hers, forcing her against the door with a loud bang. Ariana gipped his shirt to pull him closer, a moan escaped when he inserted his knee between her legs so that her dampening core rode his thigh.

"Don't tease me, my prince," she gasped.

Before Loki could reply, the door opened. Ariana and Loki, along with the parcels they had managed to keep a hold of, spilled into the room. Wanda looked down at them, Vision and Steve on either side of her.

"Sorry," Ariana said, a blush coloring her cheeks more from the kiss than embarrassment. "We came to see Wanda but became…"

"Distracted," finished Loki, standing and helping Ariana up from the floor. He leaned into her ear after she picked up her packages and whispered, "We will pick up where we left off, love, make no mistake about that."

Ariana's blush deepened. She looked down with a smile, clearing her throat.

"Don't make me read your mind," said Wanda. "I would… um… like to see this gift."

Steve and Vision left, shutting the door behind them. Loki and Ariana followed Wanda to the bed, sitting on either side of her. Ariana took Wanda's hand.

"Loki and I are telepathic," Ariana said. "If it is easier for you to talk that way…"

"No," Wanda interrupted. "Just… please, tell me why you have a gift for me."

"Gifts," said Loki. "My betrothed has more than one, it seems."

"An outfit I found in the marketplace just for you," said Ariana, "with jewelry to match. Simple, yet striking."

"Thank you," said Wanda. She opened it to a red Asgardian gown. "I… I don't…"

"There's more." Ariana stopped her. "I don't remember much of my birth parents, and I'd rather forget HYDRA and that orphanage. But along the way, I gained a brother. Losing him, or Loki, or Tony… I don't know if I'd…" She looked down for a moment before looking back at Wanda. "The pain you feel is indescribable, and I know I can't make it go away, but I would like to think of us as sisters… in a way."

Wanda stared at Ariana in surprise, then looked at Loki, who gave her a smile. Wanda turned back to Ariana, her mouth open to speak but no words escaping. Ariana squeezed her hand.

"We both suffered under HYDRA," Ariana explained, "both orphaned while children, and now, we have a second chance at a family… with the Avengers and together."

"What do you mean?" Wanda asked breathlessly.

"I would like you to stand next to Bucky as my sister, Wanda. He's like us, experimented on by HYDRA and now with the Avengers." She looked down. "But if you'd rather not, I'd under…"

Wanda hugged Ariana, tears forming in both women's eyes as Wanda said, "Thank you, Ariana. Of course, we can be sisters."

They pulled apart with a smile. "Then, big sister, we will leave you to get ready for the welcome feast. Wear whatever you want tonight. We'll have fun, try to get the Russian spy and the other super soldiers drunk, and have a real party."

Loki laughed and said, "Only if Volstagg doesn't tell his ridiculous stories."

"Hey, my battles have become part of those stories he tells!" Ariana said, kicking him before turning back to Wanda. "I can't tell you what it means to have you claim me as a sister, Wanda."

"You may be a Stark, but I can't see him in you," Wanda said. "I saw it when you gripped my hand. You don't want the company."

"No, I don't, not that dad listens. I know I could help people, but I don't want to do it behind a desk, not when I remember that weapons used to be made by…" She looked down, then back up, her face serious. "I will not share the same seat, Wanda. I can't."

Loki sat back by the intensity of Ariana's hatred for Stark Industry. For all the love she had for Tony Stark, she couldn't get the hate from her heart for the company he ran. There was very little that put that dark fire in her eyes. In fact, this was the first he saw of it. Wanda cupped Ariana's cheek.

"Why?" Wanda asked, causing Ariana to get up, pacing as anger built and her hands sparked. "Is it because you know what damage they do, or the lives they take…" Wanda tilted her head. "No, you're afraid you'd be just like them. Aren't you?"

Ariana looked at Loki and Wanda, both with worried expressions on their faces. Ariana's fists clenched tightly. A tear rolled her cheek.

"I don't want to be another person who makes things to destroy," she said in a quiet voice. "Even if my goal were to help people… I still could…" Ariana looked down. "Dad is making things he knows nothing about to 'protect' people… but look at Ultron." She lifted her head, her voice rising with each word. "He made something that did more damage than many of his early works, and I want no part of that!"

Loki went to her and rubbed her arms. Ariana's body was shaking with anger, the fear of what she would become if she took over. Wanda came up to Ariana and hugged her.

"It is that worry that will keep you from doing that," Wanda said.

"She's right, Ari," said Loki. "You would make sure that nothing would happen to…"

Ariana backed away from them, shaking her head as she said, "Dad tried that with Ultron. I can't copy that mistake and say I'm different, and that's all I'd be doing. And I won't do it. I won't."

"Then keep turning it down," said Loki. "He'll listen eventually."

"And if he doesn't?"

"Then you have me," said Wanda. "You have Loki. You have Bucky."

"You have all of the Avengers, Ariana," continued Loki. "We won't let him make you do something you do not wish to."

She nodded, the fire going out of her eyes. He pulled her to him so that he could hold her. He didn't want her to go down the road he had. He'd do whatever it took to keep her from falling into that pain and misery.

"Well," said Ariana after a moment, "we should let Wanda dress for the feast later."

He nodded and they said goodbye to Wanda before making their way to Loki's chambers. The green and gold were beautiful, no matter the time of day, but Ariana wasn't thinking about it. She paced away from Loki, walking up and down the room. Loki watched her until he couldn't take it much longer.

"Ariana, love, do not think about it anymore," he said, taking hold of her shoulders.

"You don't understand," she said. "He talks about me taking over and mixes in how proud he is of me and how great I'll do…" She shook her head. "I'm still the little girl that wants to hear those words and is willing to do anything for them."

"No, you're not," he said, "any more than I'm the man that tried to take over Asgard to prove something to Odin. We are not those people, Ariana."

"Loki…"

"No, you listen to what I'm saying. Who decided to work with and later join SHIELD?"

"I did, but…"

"And who not only runs their own team, but managed to convince Stark to let them come to Asgard to heal their mind? All of this after being tortured by HYDRA and Stark trying to convince them not to go?"

"Me." She gave a sad smile.

"And who managed to earn the title of Goddess by being so brave?"

"No one." Loki gave Ariana a confused look as she leaned into him. "I earned it by loving you."

He smirked. "That's what I said. Brave."

She giggled before kissing him. "Even know, you know how to make me laugh."

"There's more I can do, love." He began to kiss her neck, nipping over her pulse and using his tongue to ease the sting. "So much more."

Ariana's breath caught in her throat, his hands roaming over her body, finding every erogenous zone she possessed so that she was dripping before he even really started. He worked his way up to her mouth to capture every gasp she made. Loki propelled her backward so that the back of her knees hit the bed, where sat and crawled back so that she was pressed against the back of the bed.

"Grab hold of the headboard," Loki growled. "Do not let go until I say so."

"Is that an order, my prince?" she gasped out, even as she did as he said.

"Most assuredly, darling."

He kissed down her body, ripping her clothes off of her as he went. He suckled her breast as one hand made its way to her dripping core, two fingers entering her slowly before moving at the same infuriating speed. She felt him hardening against the heated skin of her thigh.

"L-Loki!" she moaned, gripping the wood harder. "P-please!"

When he kissed down lower, his mouth finding her sensitive bud, her back arched. His fingers moved harder and faster so that she couldn't sit still even if she wanted to. She kept chanting his name, getting closer and closer to the precipice. But just before she fell, he removed his hand, earning a moan of bereft from her throat before she could stop it.

Loki licked his slender fingers. She bit her bottom lip as watched him until every drop was gone. She thought she would climax just by the sight alone. She almost let go of the headboard, but the growl he emitted had her grip harder so that her knuckles turned white.

"Getting harder to control yourself, love?" he asked, crawling over the top of her.

"Loki," she gasped, "I need you. Please."

"Then hold onto me, love," he said.

She let go so that he could pull her more fully under him. She pulled him down to kiss her while he opened her more fully to him. He pulled back so he could watch her face as he slowly entered her. She gasped, her back arching. He groaned, his head going down. She was so sensitive and tight, it felt like she had him in a vice, never to let go.

Despite all his intentions of stretching out their lovemaking, he could not control himself. He had to move. He had to be hard and rough. He felt her stiff nipples rub against his chest as he pound into her, her nails clawing his back. Her moans played in his ear like the most beautiful symphony that he would never tire of. He felt her clench around him, threatening to take him over the edge, but he managed to ride out the storm, never stopping the pace he set. She screamed his name, and Gods, he loved it.

"Again," he ordered.

"I can't," she said, even as the pressure was building again.

"From how you grip me, my love," he kissed her, moving to her breast, "that is not true."

"Loki, please!"

"Please what?" He began to take his time, feeling how she tried to move her hips to make his speed up again. "Tell me, Ariana."

"For the love of…" she brought up his head so he would look into her lust and love filled eyes. "My king, don't you dare stop! I don't want to remember my own name, let alone walk straight!"

"As you command, my queen."

He slammed into her so that she was screaming out. He was gasping against her breast. She was tighter than before. This time, when she fell over the edge, he could not hold back his own release. Jet after jet shot into her, sending more waves of ecstasy through them both as she clenched again and again.

Loki held himself off of her on his elbows, both of them breathing hard. He only moved enough for him to not crush her under his weight, rolling so he was on his back. She turned and laid her head on his chest. His hand smoothed out her hair as exhaustion began to take over.

"The… feast," she said in a tired tone, snuggling into him.

"Skip it," he said, wrapping his arms more securely around her and kissing her head.

They fell asleep like that, only for someone to wake them by barging into the room.