Loki slept peacefully for most of the day, finally waking up around the time the evening meal would be served in the prison. Slowly getting out of bed, he walked around the vast chambers, just looking at everything. His daggers were in their box, clothes in his closet, almost as if he had never left. Stopping by the door joining his and Laney's room, he hesitated before deciding to knock.

On the other side of the door, Laney looked up from reading her book and felt herself grin. She'd been up for a few hours and had decided to relax. She stood and answered the door to see a well rested looking Loki. "How're you feeling?"

"I feel better. Sleeping in a proper bed really helped." He took a quick glance around her chambers. "Mother will be bringing our meals soon and I just wondered if you'd like to join me?" He asked nervously. After the failed kiss attempt, he wasn't sure how Laney felt about him.

"Of course. Did you let someone know that you're awake?" She asked. "I can send for service."

"No, not yet. I haven't been awake long and I wanted to talk to you first." He took a long pause before continuing. "Last night in the cell... I'm sorry for upsetting you." He said, hoping she would know what he was referring to.

Laney bit her bottom lip, then nodded. "It's okay Loki, I understand." She ran a hand through her hair nervously while she played with her ring. "I'll send for a meal to be brought to us." She stated quickly, then turned towards her main doors to get the attention of one of the maids, leaving the adjoining door open.

Loki watched Laney walk away, then returned to his chambers. He left the door open as well, and walked over to the small table in his room. It was just big enough to seat two, and the top was covered in burn-like marks from magical mishaps during his lessons.

She quickly returned and walked into his rooms, instantly feeling calmer from the scent of bergamot in the air. "They are retrieving one now," she stated with a soft smile. Laney stood just in the center of the sitting room, not really knowing what to do with herself.

Loki returned her smile when he returned from his bedroom and pulled a chair out for her. "You can have a seat if you wish. All I can offer you to drink at the moment is water." He said apologetically. "Oh, I should still have some sweets hidden around here if you want some." He stepped away from the table and began searching his various little hiding spots.

Laney giggled as she sat down and watched him. "Loki, you don't have to cater to me."

"I was only trying to be polite." He said truthfully. He was searching in a box in his closet when the maid knocked on his door. Quickly walking over, he collected their meals and carried the trays over to the table. "Here we are, dinner for two." He told Laney, flashing a charming smile for her.

She smiled back in return. "I know Loki. You just seem tense, that's all. I hope everything is okay." She lifted the lid to reveal a portion of smoked pork with steamed vegetables and bread. "This looks good."

"I'm just a bit nervous about some things, that's all. So much has happened all at once and I'm trying to figure everything out." Loki said truthfully, though it was mostly his feelings for Laney that made him nervous at the moment. He lifted the lid on his tray to see a smaller portion of meat compared to a full plate of steamed vegetables. "It smells delicious as well. So much better than what I've been eating." He said, cheering up a bit.

Laney nodded in agreement as she grabbed for a fork and speared a morsel of meat. "I hated that they barely fed you. I'm sure you'll feel a lot more yourself in a few days."

"I hope so, it will be nice to have my magic back." Loki said, then quickly ate the majority of his vegetables. "Have you been around the palace yet? I miss the library and garden."

"I've been here for almost two weeks now, I haven't really explored much besides the gardens with Frigga. The books I brought you came from here in your room."

"I know they did, that's how I knew you truly brought them on your own. Mother has never brought me books from my room before." He admitted with a little smile, happy Laney remembered his personal bookshelves. "You haven't told me much of our years apart... what is life like for you now?" He asked, wanting to get an idea of whether she had an interest in anyone.

Laney pondered a moment as she took a bite of her food. "Well, I mentioned to you that my mother passed three years ago. Father still commands the army in Yamir. I studied magic and healing under a healer named Claude. She was a nice woman. I made a few friends, but nothing long lasting. The people of Yamir are friendly, but I just never clicked well with anyone. The one true friend I made was Desi."

Loki gave a little nod and picked at a few bites of roast pork. "I always assumed you would have wed and started a family by now." He said, trying to make it sound off hand. "If Desi is such a good friend, she is welcome here in the palace any time." He promised, wanting her to be as happy as possible in hopes she would decide to stay.

She shook her head. "I've never found the right person for that sort of thing. My father has tried to send me suitors but that ended in a long argument between us," she replied. "Desi actually knows all about my dark haired best friend," she added smugly.

Loki raised an eyebrow, feeling intrigued and hopeful. "Mother tried the suitor deal once with me before that ended." He chuckled. "What was wrong with the suitors your father picked?" He asked curiously. "And what does Desi think of your sexy, dark haired friend?" He added with a smug grin.

Laney chuckled and shook her head at him. "I was never interested," she said simply. My thoughts were only on you. "But, Desi knows most of our stories of growing up together and how close we were... are I hope."

Maybe I do have a chance... "What would you find interesting?" He asked, trying to make it sound like he was just making conversation. "I hope we can still be close as well..." He said sincerely, but withheld everything he wanted to add after.

"If I had to think about it... they would have to be well read and knowledgeable. They would need a good sense of humor. Humility. Be open about having a family when it came to the right time... I could go on Loki." She grinned at him and reached for his hand across the table and gave it a squeeze.

He squeezed her hand in return. Dammit Laney, why did you have to describe me? He sighed silently. "You have some very specific requirements, it will be hard for someone to fill those shoes." He gave a little shrug but kept a hold of her hand.

"I guess I'm a special girl then," she said with a chuckle. "What about you?"

You are more special than you realize. "I have had my share of flings, but nothing serious. Most just wanted to say they had slept with royalty with no desire to build anything more." He said, not really bothered by it.

Laney shook her head. "I don't know if I could do that. Being intimate with someone is supposed to be special."

"I think it's about the person you are with. Physically, it's all the same no matter who you are with, but the right person makes it special. I hope that makes sense," he said softly, worried she would now think less of him for his actions.

"I don't know if it would all be the same. Every person has different things they like... I would assume anyway. That's what I've been told."

"Different people do have different preferences, but I've never experienced anything I would say made it feel special. That's why I hope it's the person who makes it special." He admitted, then gently lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. "When you find someone special, you will see."

Laney felt herself blush as she met his eyes. His lips are so soft.

Letting go of her hand, Loki stood up and stepped away from the table, but busied himself with some papers on his desk as an excuse. "I started another letter for you and I've been trying to find it." He lied, hoping she would believe him. Part of him wanted so badly to confess his feelings, while the other part of him still believed Laney deserved better.

"I still need to ask my father about not receiving the last one you sent me," she replied with a huff as she re-covered their plates. "Is it an old letter? I uh... I've saved all of the ones you've given me."

"It is. I was going to send it as part of my next reply, had I heard back about your visit. There was so much I had wanted to say when you visited." He sighed, then stopped messing with the pile of papers. "It has likely been lost over the years."

Laney furrowed her brow then stood and walked over to him. She grasped his hand and made him turn to face her. "Can you remember what you wanted to say?"

Loki made eye contact with her and nodded. "I remember every word, as clearly as if I wrote the letter this morning." He admitted, then tried to turn away again.

"Why are you trying to run away from me?" She asked softly. "I'll listen to every word."

"Laney... it's not you I'm running from. It's myself I'm running from," he mumbled. "A lot has changed since we last saw each other. I'm not who I used to be." He gently pulled away from her and put a few feet distance between them.

She sighed. "Loki..." she murmured.

After making a quick decision, Loki took Laney's hand and led her back to the doorway between their rooms. "Can I ask one favor from you? If I pick one single thing I've done, will you promise you forget that thing and not let it influence any choice you make in the future?"

"Loki, you're scaring me," she admitted, "You should know that what you have done in the past doesn't mean anything to me."

"It wasn't something I did in the past. Please just forget this ever happened..." He sighed, then fought his instincts to run away. In one quick graceful motion, he pulled her close and pressed his lips to hers. He held them together just long enough to feel that hers were as warm and soft as he had imagined, then he pulled away, closed the door between them, and pressed his back to the door.

Laney looked at the closed door, stunned. First she felt her lips, still able to feel his against her own, then she smiled. Butterflies raged in her stomach as she continued to stare at the closed door, then she quickly decided to knock on it. "Loki!" She called.

He flinched when she called his name. He really didn't want to face her right now. "You know I'm not allowed to open the door..." he reminded her, glad of that magic in this very moment, as he could never work up the courage to open it on his own. "Please just forget what I did." He begged her.

"I don't want to," she answered, then boldly opened the door, "Do you want to know why?"

Loki stumbled a step back, then turned and faced her direction but kept his eyes on the floor. "I don't expect anything from you Laney. I just had to know what it was like, nothing more." He said truthfully.

Laney smiled at his blushing face. "Loki, look at me." She waited until he met her eyes reluctantly, then stepped up to him. "Do you want to know why I don't want to forget?" She asked again.

His expression was almost fearful, scared of the rejection he expected. "Laney, please... this isn't something we need to ever talk about..."

She sighed, getting impatient as she stepped closer and put a hand on his chest. "Answer my question."

Loki felt his heart quicken when her hand touched him and he quickly stepped back, breaking the contact. "Don't... you deserve better, so much better. It was selfish, what I just did, and I know it. But I won't let you consider going forward with me, I won't do that to you." The words just spilled from his lips, full of the pain he felt, barely making a complete thought.

Laney huffed, getting frustrated with him. "Loki Odinson!" She exclaimed, ignoring his outburst.

"I can't do anything for you, can't give you a good life. Trust me, you don't want to be the one at prestigious events, explaining that you attended alone because your husband is locked up. I can't give you a family. You will find someone better!" He was clearly getting worked up again, but his true thoughts were also spilling out, unable to stay hidden any longer.

She'd had enough. With a growl, she quickly walked up to him and grabbed the front of his tunic before she forced him down to her level and pressed her lips to his.

Loki's eyes went wide with shock but before he could think to pull away, his arm wrapped around her, pulling Laney tight against him. His other hand moved up to cup her neck, holding them together.

Laney eagerly kissed him back, feeling his heart thunder against his chest beneath her hands, matching her own racing heart. She smiled against his lips before she slowly pulled away when the need for air became too great, and rested her forehead against his. "I wanted you... to do it again," she breathed.

"Laney... I meant what I said, that you deserve better. You need adventure and excitement, not a man locked in a cell..." He said, hoping he could reason with her if he stayed calm.

She looked up at him, reaching up to run her hand along his sharp jaw. "You aren't in a cell Loki. Not anymore. This holding spell is temporary, I just know it." Her other hand straightened his tunic gently before she rested her hand back against his chest. "I don't know how you will react to this... but it's always been you Loki. Since we were kids... it's always been you."

Loki leaned into her touch. His beliefs had not been changed yet, but this still somehow felt right to him. Keeping his arm around her waist, he moved his hand from her neck only to comb his fingers through her hair. "That letter I wrote, asking you to visit... I had invited you because I wanted to confess my feelings for you." He finally admitted. "I never could find anyone else because I had already found you."

Laney smiled wide even though she knew she was blushing from her hairline to her neck. "I would have been elated to hear those words from you," she murmured, then pecked his lips, "I still am."

Loki returned her smile and the fleeting kiss. "At that point in our lives, would you have been ready to return those feelings?" He asked curiously, prepared to accept the answer even if it was negative.

"Absolutely," she replied eagerly, "The notion of it hasn't changed."

"You have no idea how long I've waited for this day. It isn't at all like I had planned, but the end result is what matters." Loki said, giving Laney a loving smile as he brushed back a stray lock of hair from her face. "The fact remains that I'm still a prisoner..." he pointed out, sadness taking over his tone.

"I don't care," Laney answered. "I just want to be here, at home in Asgard, and be with you."

Loki sighed, prepared to argue until he met her eyes again. In that instant, his resolve broke and he couldn't fight it anymore. "I will do everything I can to give you the life you deserve. In the morning I will send for my mother. She can have your posting immediately changed to the palace." He briefly pressed his lips to hers. "I know she will be very happy to know we are finally together."

Laney's face suddenly turned bashful. "Your mother has known of my feelings for you for a... very long time. I think that's why she wrote to me, to have me travel back here. She knew that I would stop at nothing to see you and to help you."

"Mother is the one who helped me realize I had feelings for you. I was so confused... so she has known my feelings for you longer than I have." He chuckled softly. "She was right, you were the only one able to get through to me." He looked away for a moment, conflicted by his current thoughts.

"I feel like you would be able to do the same for me." She reached up to run a hand through his hair and gently pecked his lips. "What is it Loki?"

Loki pulled himself from his thoughts. "Just thinking about a few things I recently learned and what they might mean..." he started to explain when he was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Come in." He called out, not wanting to let go of Laney just yet.

"I brought cookies and milk to cheer you up." Frigga said sweetly, walking in with the tray. "It looks like I'm a little too late though." She said happily when she saw them huddled together.

Laney blushed a bright red and turned to hide her face in Loki's chest, feeling as he tightened his grip on her waist. "Thank you Frigga," she said, though her voice was muffled by Loki's tunic.

Loki chuckled and hugged Laney tight. "You know she fully supports us being together," he whispered to Laney.

"I'm so happy to see you both together. I know it's been so hard to keep your feelings a secret all these years!" Frigga said, approvingly. She walked over and set the tray down on the table with the remnants of their dinner. "Thor has asked if he can visit..."

"I don't mind to see Thor, but I will leave it up to Loki," Laney responded as she turned around to face Frigga, still in Loki's embrace.

"My brother had better not mind!" Thor boomed happily, walking in. "I did not expect to see you here, Lady Laney." He said, but happy to see her as well.

Laney smiled as she leaned back against Loki's chest. "It's good to see you Thor. I haven't seen you in a few days."

"I have tried to visit you a few times, only to learn you had left your chambers." He said, unknowingly referring to the times Laney was visiting Loki. "Wait, are the two of you finally together?" He asked, finally noticing how close they were.

"What do you mean finally?" Laney asked. She looked in between Thor and Frigga for some sort of an answer.

"I have said nothing dear." Frigga said truthfully.

Thor gave Laney and Frigga both a curious look, unsure of what they were talking about. "It was a bit obvious you two liked each other in our teen years. After you left, Loki has never been the same." He explained, proving he was more observant than he seemed at times.

Laney felt Loki nuzzle into the back of her neck, embarrassed. "In that case Thor, I believe you would be right. We haven't announced anything about us courting... um... it just happened before you arrived."

"That's brilliant! We can have a huge feast tomorrow to celebrate!" Thor said cheerfully.

"Thor," Frigga stated as she put a hand on his elbow, "I do not know if that would be wise right now. Loki is still serving his sentence, even if it is more comfortably."

"Come now mother, he will not do anything foolish, not when it could cost him his lady." Thor said, brow furrowed.

"He is right about that. I won't even argue that I should be allowed to attend the feast." Loki admitted, not wanting to jeopardize his visits with Laney in any way.

"I would have to talk to your father if you would like to have a celebration," Frigga replied as she turned to look at the couple. "I cannot guarantee that it would go through, but the most he could say would be no."

"I don't want to jeopardize anything," Laney stated.

Loki thought about it for a moment, then looked down at Laney. "I will leave it up to you darling. Do you want to make a big announcement?" he asked her, fine with whatever she wanted.

Laney felt herself blush at the endearment. "I think I would like others to know, but I don't want to celebrate just yet. Not until you're a free man."

Loki frowned and brushed his thumb over Laney's rosy cheek. "You need to accept the fact that the day may never come where I am free."

She shook her head. "You will be free Loki. I swear it," she stated as she stared into his eyes, completely forgetting about Frigga and Thor.

Loki gave Laney a small but sincere smile, then looked over at Frigga. "Odin told me of a vision you had, maybe you could tell us a bit more about it?" He asked her, looking for any hope of freedom, and what he would have to do to achieve it. He kept Laney wrapped close in his arms, never wanting to let her go.

Frigga grinned. "Which do you speak of? I have many throughout the days."

"He said Thor was on the throne and the realms were at peace. I don't know what it had to do with me, but he must have told me for a reason." He said, hoping that would be enough for her to know which vision.

"Ah," Frigga responded in acknowledgment. "I believe you failed to listen to part of that, my son," she added knowingly. Frigga looked at both of her sons, then grinned. "There was also mention of a tall strong man by Thor's side and by his side a strong woman swelled with child."

"No, I heard that part, but you know I refuse to have children." He said, knowing they would be half Jotun if he did. "So I still fail to see what any of this has to do with me..." He held Laney a little closer, still scared she would vanish if he let go of her.

That's a bit disappointing to hear, Laney thought as she glanced to the floor. As the years have gone by, children with him have always been on the back of my mind.

"There is one detail that I know about the foresight that I have not said, but I do not want you to put all of your thoughts and worries into it if I were to tell you about it," Frigga explained. "Some things need not be known son, they must happen on their own."

"Mother, please tell me something..." Loki pleaded. "If you don't want to talk about that vision, can you at least tell me if I ever have a chance to win my freedom?" He nearly begged, but for once, he didn't want it for himself, he wanted to be free to provide for Laney.

Frigga only smiled and walked up to him and patted him on his shoulder. "Son, you have a very bright future ahead of you, full of happiness and love, that I can tell you. Obstacles will come and go, but if you stay true to yourself, you will triumph." She then turned to Thor. "You too son. I see great things for the both of you, but you will have to fight for them like everyone else."

"I just want to be everything Laney wants, needs, and deserves." Loki said sincerely, ready to do whatever it would take to earn his freedom.

"Father and I have been discussing the throne, and that path remains unsure for me." Thor told his mother, still focused on wanting to be with Jane.

"I know that," she answered, "You will find your path."

"Your vision would have me believe my path has already been decided." Thor said, now worried about his future with Jane.

Frigga fully turned to face Thor once more. "Thor, do not worry about your Jane. Things will work out in the long run for you."

Thor looked at his mother with a furrowed brow. "This is what you always do to both of us... you are always so vague." He complained.

"People with visions have the power to be vague and they always use it." Loki chuckled, then turned to Frigga. "Can you give us a hint as to what we should do next?"

"Now, you know better than to ask that," she scolded playfully as she turned to point at him. "Live your lives, things will happen as they come."

Laney smiled as she held onto Lok's arms. "That's all we can do."

Loki rolled his eyes dramatically, but knew that answer by heart and wasn't upset by it. "Very well mother, be mysterious." He chuckled.

"As for the Lady, you should remember how fun Asgardian balls are, we can celebrate your courtship and later, my brother's freedom." Thor suggested to Laney.

"It would still have to be cleared with your father Thor," Laney countered, "Only then will I agree. I don't want Loki to be treated badly by anyone if we were to have a feast."

"The entire kingdom adores you, no one would dare disrespect my brother in your presence." Thor promised Laney. "If mother and I work together, we can get father to agree." He said with certainty.

Laney nodded. "We shall see Thor," she replied with a soft smile, feeling as he caressed one of her hands. "Just let me know what he says."

Frigga nodded. "We will dear." She looked over at Thor and then nodded towards the door. "Why don't we let these two eat what I've brought them and get some sleep. It's getting late."

"Yes, mother." Thor said, then pulled Laney and Loki into a crushing hug before walking out.

Loki shook his head as he watched Thor leave. "Thank you mother, for everything." He finally released his hold on Laney, to walk up to and hug his mother. "I will make you proud this time." He told her, in barely more than a whisper.

Frigga held him tightly in the embrace he'd offered. "I know you will," she murmured to him, then pulled away. "Sleep well, the both of you."

"You as well Frigga," Laney answered with a soft smile. She watched as Frigga smiled at them both, then quietly left the chambers.

"Will you join me for some cookies?" Loki offered Laney. He heard the door close as Frigga left. "I guess we have a lot to talk about..." He sighed softly, but walked over and picked up the tray of cookies and milk. He carried it over to the bed and sat down so they could eat in bed like they had growing up.