Loki didn't wake until nightfall, when the moon began to open his favorite flowers outside the window, and the fragrance permeated the room. With a soft smile, he turned his attention to the love of his life and stroked her hair from her peaceful face. A soft, fluttery kiss, he pressed to her neck. "Time to wake, little one."

Nancy groaned softly as she felt Loki's fingers lightly brush over her cheek and his lips gently kiss her neck. She rolled over, facing him, and curled against him. Why did he want her to wake? Couldn't he just let her lay in his arms in peace? But then she remembered… the spell. He said he was going to turn her Asgardian while she slept.

She opened her eyes, blinking against the hazy light from the golden sunset. Nancy smiled at him. "Did it work? Am I Asgardian now?"

"Darling, think of who you are speaking to." Her smile lit the room as effectively as any torch, and a thousand times more pleasing. Distracted now, Loki let his fingers work in downward strokes over her shoulder and arm.

"True." He was clever and talented and magical and wonderful. And this was no ruse. He'd never lie to her about something like this.

Nancy sat up and leaned back against the headboard, stretching as she did so. When she stretched, she absent-mindedly moved her broken ankle. But, wait… it didn't hurt. Nancy moved it again. It moved perfectly. Good as new. It'd healed.

With a laugh, Nancy wrapped her arms around Loki's shoulders and hugged him tightly. "Oh, thank you, Loki! Thank you!"

Loki laughed and held her close, inhaling her unique scent and memorizing how she felt in his arms. "'twas nothing. Now... are you prepared to spend the night awake with me? I think you will find you have much more stamina now."

Nancy gave a mock shocked gasp. "You are bold, aren't you?" Her smirk slid into a warm smile. "Of course, my love. I'll do whatever pleases you." That's when she remembered… his promise. He told her he'd remove the collar. Nancy lifted her hands to her neck, only to feel the cool metal and emeralds. It was still there.

Loki laughed softly at her distressed look. She thought he had forgotten. She thought he would not keep his promise, and to be fair he had thought about backing out. But it meant so much to her. "No, pet. I haven't removed it yet. I did not wish to wake you needlessly."

With her smile still in place, Nancy took his hands in hers and moved them up to her neck. "As you remove it, I hope you remove that word from your vocabulary." She smirked at him again. "There are other terms of endearment."

"But I like that term." Loki slid the necklace gently from her neck, letting each silken inch caress her skin as he watched goosebumps prickle. He hummed softly, loving the ability to be this close to her, to have her reach out for his touch and his help.

Nancy's eyes fluttered closed as she felt the collar slide from her neck. For a moment, she had the faintest sensation of sadness, as if a part of her was falling away. But then she felt the freedom it gave her. The gentle breeze on her neck; she hadn't felt it so fully in months.

When she finally opened her eyes, she found her lover's kind smile and the brightness of his love. "Fine. You can keep the term." Nancy leaned close and pressed her lips to his, feeling their warmth and tasting his skin. She slowly wrapped her arms around him, ready to hold him forever. Oh, how she savored his closeness now. This new feeling… was strange and exciting. It was as if she could feel his heart beating within her own. She could sense his every move and desire. His passions and dreams. As if their very souls were intertwined.

Loki chuckled at the almost desperate way she clung to him. Perhaps her appetite for these things mirrored his own, after all. He tucked her a bit closer as he flicked a wrist. The collar disappeared in green smoke, and Loki paid his attention to his lover. He was gentle, but firm, kissing her with all the heated emotions just under his calm exterior. He wanted her. He needed her.

Nancy pulled away just enough to take a breath of air and leaned her forehead against his. They were one. Now… they were one. "What shall we do now that I'm one of you?"

"I believe you began by requesting a dance." Loki grinned at her, knowing he could easily turn that into a double-entendre.

"I believe I did." Nancy moved to the edge of the bed and stood. Her ankle didn't buckle under her weight. She jumped a little. Still as solid as it was before it broke. "Good as new." With a grin, Nancy held her hand out to Loki, a mischievous glint rising to her eyes. "Tell me, how many women have ever had the courage to ask you to dance?"

Loki stood and wrinkled his brow as he thought. So many feasts to muddle through. So many boring nights. "In my entire lifetime... thirteen."

Well, that was quite a few more than she was expecting. She'd hoped to be merely one of a handful. Not one of little more than a dozen. Her hand fell back to her side, her resolve shattered. "Oh. That's a lot."

"Not really, considering the endless balls and feasts I've been subjected to." He shot her a glance he knew she would interpret well. Feasts did not amuse him, not without a worthy woman on his arm. "Althought, you were the first mortal who had the audacity." He took his time circling the bed, almost stalking his prey. She was so fun to stalk.

Nancy caught his glance. Didn't he like her asking him? Had she made a complete fool out of herself? "You don't like it when they ask you?"

"Some, yes. I admire the courage it takes, always."

For a brief moment, Nancy debated on simply sitting back down and retreating again. He hadn't liked her asking him. He'd thought it beneath him. She backed up at step.

No… no more of this. No more hiding and wishing and arguing. No more overanalyzing things. With a quick breath, Nancy lifted her chin and boldly stepped closer. "What about when I asked you? Did you like it then? As I recall, you never danced with me that night."

"You did not know the dances at that juncture." Loki reached out a finger and traced her jaw. So delicate, so fragile, and yet so strong. "And I was still unsure of my feelings."

As soon as he touched her, all her fears melted away. Nancy gave a breath of relief that came out more like a chuckle and leaned her face into his hand. "And now? Will you dance with me..." Her eyes met his and all she saw was his love for her, "My king?"

Loki grinned. The girl knew how to flatter him. "most certainly." Without another word, he gathered her into his arms and began a simple step around the room.

Nancy smiled as he led her around the room. The setting sun, shimmering candles, and softly glowing green lights were all she needed to feel the romantic mood. As they twirled around the bedroom, Nancy could've sworn they were floating. She was so light on her feet now, easily matching his pace and step.

A soft laugh escaped her lips as Nancy watched a table, chair, and pile of books all float out of their way. "Even the furniture obeys you." She smiled up at him again, "You must be a fine king indeed."

"I like to think so." Loki changed to a waltz step, knowing she would move with him. Now they were more in tune than ever before, sharing everything. "But... what do you think?"

Her step never faltered, their bodies moving together in time with the dance. "You are. You're so different from the man who invaded earth. How can one person be two completely different people?"

"I've changed. Grown." A pointed look and a smile told her she, of all people, should know. She was the woman who changed him, made him see things differently.

He had changed. As had everything else between them. They were no longer enemies, but lovers. Friends. Nancy trusted Loki with her life, body, and soul. And she was ready and willing to spend the rest of eternity with him. "You have?" she teased, "Really? I'm sure if I took off you'd run after me again."

"Yes. It would be great fun. Catching you." Loki grinned at her as he pulled her nearer, needing more of her with each teasing remark. "Punishing you. I haven't outgrown mischief, you know."

"You'd punish me?" Nancy hovered her lips near his, teasing and taunting him. Daring him to try. "But you love me too much."

He smiled against her lips. "You know better than to run away. And, I assure you, this would be an entirely different punishment than last time."

Nancy grinned wickedly. "You'd have to catch me first." She broke away from him and darted across the room, laughing as she did so.

On instinct, Loki shuttered all the doors and windows with his magic. If she wanted to run, fine, but in a limited space so he didn't have to wait long. He studied her, watching to see how she would react, what she would do.

She stopped when she reached the farthest corner, leaning sideways against the wall, but not entirely in the corner yet. Nancy stood there, still grinning, as she waited for Loki to come after her. But he just stood there, staring at her. "Well?" she prodded him. No response. Nancy threw her arms up in annoyance. "Why are you looking at me like that? Come get me."

Loki's strong arms wrapped around her from behind. He chuckled in her ear. She should know by now that nothing was ever so simple as running away from him. "Oh, but I already have," he cooed in her ear. The doppleganger he left on the other side of the room dissipated into nothing but fine mist.

Nancy gasped from his sudden appearance, then leaned back against him. "You don't play fair."

"Never." He could make it up to her. Do something nice. He pressed a feathery kiss to the thin, sensitive flesh behind her ear. "But do you really want me to?"

Nancy's eyes fluttered again from his whispers in her ear and she was instantly brought back to the day they'd met. The feeling of his fingers brushing her hair from her shoulder. How far they'd come… together.

Nancy leaned her head back and turned her face to him, one hand rising up to caress his cheek. Could he really sense what she was feeling the way she could sense him?

Loki bent his head to claim her lips in a kiss of many naughty intentions. With his hands, he guided her around to until their bodies faced each other. He never once broke the kiss. He needed it too much for that nonsense.

She pressed against him and held him tightly, far more tightly than she ever had before. Wanting him more than ever before.

Loki wrapped his arms around her middle and grasped her against him, until he could feel every contour against his body. Oh, she was so perfect. His grip only tightened further.

Nancy slowly pulled away and looked up at him. "That would've hurt me before, to hold me like that. It doesn't now." She quite enjoyed being Asgardian. "And, oh, I have so much energy! I feel like I could run for ages."

"I could think of a far better way to use this energy." Loki shot an intentional look to his bed. He had so many ideas, and so much he needed to show her and teach her. "Shall we see how long?"

Nancy followed his gaze and found the bed. Another mischievous grin spread across her face. "Yes. Let's."

Loki's lips crashed onto hers again as he backed her toward the bed. He wanted her spread out and loving him as soon as possible. He was through waiting. He had waited so long for her, and he wouldn't be put off now.

Nancy fell back onto the bed, not minding his aggression one bit. Actually, she kind of missed it, to tell the truth. But now she could compete with him. In both strength and endurance. Nancy yanked his tunic off him, knowing he could handle the violence. If he wanted it rough, she'd give it to him.

"So eager. Have you no patience? We've all the time in the world." Loki laughed as he climbed onto the bed above her.

"You're the one who started kissing me so roughly." With that, Nancy easily flipped them over until she was on top. She straddled his waist and grinned down at him. "Ya know, I think I like this, you under me. For once I'm in charge."

Loki loved this idea. He could watch her above him all night, but he wasn't about to admit that. He grinned. "One time,love. And if you do anything I do not like, I take over."

Nancy slowly leaned over him and whispered seductively into his ear, "Oh, but you'll like everything."

"Oh yes, I'm sure." His fingers bunched in her skirt, moving it aside so he could run his hand over those marvelous, smooth, long legs. "Let us begin then."

Nancy grinned wider and nipped at the side of his neck. "Mm. I want to hear you beg for a change. Say 'please'."