Rhea thought long and hard about what dress she would wear to prom, going through countless magazines and websites, but finding nothing. She was up to the point of bashing her head against the table when she was suddenly struck by inspiration. It took a bit of doing, but with the best designers of Asgard on her side it was far from impossible and the look on Peter's face made it tall worth it. Peter felt his jaw drop when Rhea stepped out of the facility and walked down to him wearing a dress he had seen before.

"Is that Padme's dress from Star Wars?" Peter asked wide eyed. It was in fact the pastel yellow, pink, and lavender villa retreat dress although it was a little higher cut in the back in order to be allowed in the school dance. Her hair was curled and her makeup was light with touches of pink in the eye shadow as well as on her lips.

"Not the actual one, just a copy." Rhea smiled doing a little twirl, the material floating around her. Peter felt his breath hitch in his throat as the lights seemed to form a halo around her making her glow. "Do you like it?"

"You look amazing!" Peter breathed out and Rhea ducked her head with a smile, a blush playing along her cheeks. Peter walked up to her holding out a corsage of pink, yellow, and lavender pastel flowers. Taking her hand in his he slipped it onto her wrist making her smile grow as he continued to hold her hand.

"Is this the part of the earth custom where I threaten him that of any harm comes to my daughter he will not live to see another day?" Loki asked as he, in his disguise as 'Thomas', and Vanessa came out of the facility having been waiting inside to give the kids some alone time. Peter opened and closed his mouth a few times trying to think of what to say to the intimidating man.

"Oh don't listen to him." Vanessa nudged Loki. "I for one have complete faith in you Peter. You're a good kid." She nodded to her still frowning husband. "He's just a little protective."

"I promise I will not let anything happen to her. I mean it's just a dance, but I'll take care of her…" Peter stumbled when Loki's gaze intensified. "…and I will be super respectful."

"Well…" Loki approached Peter and for his credit the young man did no back down. Loki stopped in front of him, silent for a moment before holding out his hand. "I'll hold that promise to you Parker."

"Yes sir." Peter shook his hand which felt really cold and his grip was really tight. In a moment of bravery Peter strengthened his own grip maintain eye contact with Rhea's dad. Vanessa and Rhea exchanged exasperated looks at the displays of manliness.

"Unless you two plan on going to the dance together than I think you should stop holding hands." Vanessa commented looping her arm through her husbands who reluctantly let go of Peter's hands.

"We better get going." Peter nodded helping Rhea into the car.

"Be good." Vanessa told them.

"Or else." Loki added with a look at Peter who gulped.

"I'll be just as good as you two were when you were my age." Rhea promised with a smirk before closing the door and they drove off.

"That is not comforting at all." Vanessa muttered.

"I think I should be more worried for the spider child." Loki sighed and Vanessa nodded in agreement.

-0-

Peter escorted Rhea into the gym feeling like he was on top of the world. Rhea took in the paper streamers, balloons, and other school decorations for the dance in interest. They met up with Ned and MJ.

"I thought you didn't like dances." Rhea commented as the boys went to get them some punch and MJ shrugged in response.

"Nothing better to do and it's a great place to see people in distress." MJ replied motioning to where a girl was tearing down her date for dancing with another girl. The boy happened to be Eugene aka Flash and did not look bothered one bit until both girls dropped him.

"Wow." Rhea muttered. "He just spreads happiness where ever he goes."

"Indeed." MJ nodded. Flash seemed to get enough of the girls bickering and unfortunately spotted Rhea talking to MJ. He made his way over with much more swag in his step than he could possibly pull off.

"Hello Rhea Stark." Flash smiled as he looked over her dress which stood out for sure, but she was a Stark, when did a Stark not stand out.

"Eugene." Rhea acknowledged.

"It's Flash, actually." He straightened his jacket.

"Right…" Rhea drew out.

"So how about a dance?" Eugene asked.

"No thanks." Rhea moved away and Eugene stumbled to catch up.

"Come on, why not?" Eugene whined.

"I came with Peter and that is who I want to dance with." Rhea replied barely sparring him a glance.

"Parker?! He's not even the same class as us." Eugene scoffed.

"Class?" Rhea's voice echoed with a raised brow.

"Yeah, I mean, he's poor." Eugene pointed out. Rhea nearly snorted wondering how shocked Eugene would be if he ever found out exactly what her so called class entailed such as being a Princess…of a planet.

"Eugene, I'm with Peter because he's part of a class well above your station." Rhea told him.

"Oh yeah? And what's that?" Eugene bit out.

"Intelligence." Rhea smiled as Peter walked up to them handing her some punch.

"Eugene." Peter nodded to the sour faced boy. Before Eugene could instigate anything Rhea took both her drink and Peters shoving them into Eugene's hand.

"Come on Peter, let's go dance." Rhea took his hand pulling him onto the floor with a large smile.

The rest of the night was spent dancing with friends and having a great time. She was pleasantly surprised when a slow song, Milky Way by GGK, came on and Peter took her into his arms. It was no ballroom waltz, but it was magical all the same to Rhea.

"Rhea." Peter said softly.

"Hhmm." Rhea hummed.

"I was wondering if maybe you wanted to be my girlfriend." Peter asked causing Rhea to pull back so she could meet his gaze. "I mean if you wanted to…"

"I'd love to be your girlfriend." Rhea gave him a kiss on the cheek. As the song played the gym melted away leaving only the two of them, their arms wrapped around each other so they were close as they swayed their foreheads pressed together.

-0-

The night had been perfect and Rhea couldn't help but to feel that it was time to tell Peter everything. She couldn't agree to be in this relationship without doing that, but she was so worried that he might break up with her if she did tell him. When they pulled up to the Avengers facility she told the driver that she needed a moment with Peter.

"What's wrong Rhea?" Peter asked noticing how nervous she looked.

"I need to tell you about me, Peter, about my family." Rhea stuttered.

"You don't have to." Peter shook his head knowing how touchy a subject it was for her.

"But I want to and it'd feel good to confide in you." Rhea replied sheepishly, smiling a bit when Peter reached over taking her hands in his. "Peter, everyone knows who my mother is, but no one know who my father is. It is one of the most closely guarded secrets as is where she and I disappear to all the time…" Rhea looked worried, her hand clasped tightly. Peter reached over covering her hands, taking note of how they shook. "And you have to hear the whole story before you freak out…promise?"

"I promise." Peter nodded gently rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb, having never seen her look so timid. Peter listened in rapt attention as Rhea explained how her parents met and how everything went wrong at the battle of New York.

"Peter, my dad is Loki." Rhea finally blurted out starring down their joined hands and quickly explained how her father had been taken over and forced to attack earth. She stumbled over her words descending into rambling. "But I swear he's not dangerous or…"

"Rhea." Peter interrupted gently and Rhea clamped her mouth shut biting her lip. She was shaking, refused to look up at him, and he could hear her trying not to cry. She was so different from the normal confident girl she always seemed to be. "Not going to lie, it's a big surprise, I mean, that makes you a princess…of a planet, but…" Peter gently cupped her face so that her teary gaze met his comforting one. "I care about you a lot, I don't care who your parents are and I trust you so I believe you when you say he's not dangerous to us anymore."

"So you still want me to be your girlfriend?" Rhea asked with a small smile.

"More than anything." Peter leaned forward and had just placed a kiss on her forehead when the door was flung open and Loki in his Thomas disguise was standing there with a dark look.

"Would you leave them alone?!" Vanessa came up to her husband pulling him back.

"He was kissing her!" Loki pointed.

"On the forehead!" Rhea said in exasperation.

"Why are you crying?!" Loki demanded as they stepped out of the car.

"Happy tears." Rhea smiled. "Peter asked me to be his girlfriend and I agreed."

"That's wonderful." Vanessa smiled, very much approving of the relationship.

"Peter, a word." Loki grabbed the young man by the arm dragging him away from his wife and daughter. Rhea made to move after them, but Vanessa stopped her.

"If he is ever going to get your fathers trust he's going to have to do it on his own." Vanessa advised.

"I know, but the timing could be better." Rhea sighed.

"Why's that?" Vanessa asked.

"I just told Peter who dad was." Rhea replied.

"Oh." Vanessa hummed. "How'd he take it?"

"He said he believed me about dad and that even if dad really was in a bad way he'd still want to be with me." Rhea smiled happily and Vanessa wrapped her arms around her daughter.

"That's a good one you've got for yourself." Vanessa laughed, relieved. She had always worried that her daughter may struggle due to the past of her parents, but she was thriving and Vanessa could not be happier. "Come on, let's wait for them inside."

Peter would be lying if he said he was not nervous as Loki led him out of earshot of the others, but he wanted to make a good impression. Loki turned on his heal bringing them to a sudden stop and starred down at Peter with an ice calculating look.

"You should not enter into a relationship with my daughter lightly." Loki began. "There is much that comes with her and she will need someone that can stand with her. She has a great destiny ahead of her and there will be times when she needs someone to be her rock." Loki took a deep steadying breath. "If you are not up to the challenge or in any way leave her or betray when she needs you most there will not be a corner of the universe that you can hide where I will not find you."

"I'll always be there for her. Even if we did part ways romantically, and I hope that never happens, I would still be there for her." Peter said with such sincerity that Loki could find no reason not to believe him. "I care about her a lot and I know she's got a lot on her plate in the way of her future and I will do whatever I can to help her with it." Then Peter held out his hand. "I swear I will never leave her alone Mr. Loki."

"She told you." Loki let his illusion fall and after another moment of consideration he grasped Peters forearm in a tight shake. "Very well child. I am trusting you with my treasures heart." He tightened his hold leaning in close. "Do not make me regret it."

"I won't sir." Peter gripped his arm back.

"Good." Loki nodded as they parted. "Then let's get back to Vanessa and Rhea. "There is much to discuss."

"Can I visit Asgard?" Peter asked as they walked back to the facility, Loki once again adopting his illusion. "I've never been to another planet. What's it like? Are there other planets you've been to? What are aliens like?" For a moment Loki had forgotten he was dealing with a child as the question fell out of the teenager's mouth. "Do you have a space ship?"

It was going to be a long night.