There they sat near the river. Eating, drinking, and having fun. Jormungand, Fenrir and Rai all kept on reminiscing about the past. "Remember when dad helped Uncle Thor get Mjölnir back Fenrir?" Jormungand started snickering and Rai giggle at the memory.

"Oh yeah! Uncle Thor was dressed as Freyia and dad was his hands maiden!" Fenrir was holding his sides from the laughter. "And remember all the excuses dad had to come up with when Uncle Thor was acting 'un-lady like'?" they were all laughing to the point where they couldn't breathe. They started making their way to see the magical forest of the light elves in Alfheim. Rai had heard so much about it and was excited to get there.

The forest truly lived up to its name. There were little fairies and remnants of magic dust floating about. Some of the trees even came to life! "Wow…amazing isn't it?" Rai gasped and looked at her surroundings. The forest was so green, lush and full of life. "Yeah…it really is something…" Fenrir was also in awe, looking at the little fairies float about.

"We must be cautious mother, we do not know what dangers may await us here…" Jormungand careful as usual, was diligently taking in his surroundings. "Jormungand you're calling me mother now too?" she looked at him, eyebrows raised. He simply gave her a nod. "It's only natural. So in my dear brother's words, get used to it." She glared at him a little. "Well how rude." She pouted.

"Aren't there evil dwarfs here or something?..." Fenrir was now getting closer to Rai. "No I believe that's in Svartalfheim…and I think it's dark elves Fenrir." "Well whatever! Those little things freak me out! And I'm not too fond of these tiny fairy things either!" He had a look of gloom and Jormungand snickered, "Really Fenrir? They do not even come close to the size of one of your paws and you are afraid?" "Shut it! They are creepy ok?!" Fenrir crossed his arms and stayed behind Rai.

They found a nearby clearing and Rai decided to have lunch there before heading back to the nearby Alfheim village. She found it relaxing to have a little 'picnic' of sorts here. They were all eating silently and Fenrir kept looking over his shoulder paranoid of fairies and dwarfs when Jormungand spoke up, "Mother…will you be accepting Uncle Thor's proposal of courtship?..." It was already the third day in Rai's vacation and she couldn't stop thinking of Loki the whole time. She sighed unable to answer his question.

"You should really be with father…" Fenrir was now lying on the grass looking up to the clouds. "This doesn't concern you two." Was all she could say. She tried to avoid the subject as much as possible. "It does concern us…" Jormungand sat down next to his brother and looked over at Rai. "Father is only happy when you are near….without you he is but an empty shell of a man." Rai laughed at that. "A little dramatic don't you think?" "Perhaps…but it's true…he is only happy when you are near…we are like a family…without you…well I don't really want to think about it." She gave him a soft smile but said nothing. She sighed and lay on the grass.

Rai started to think about all the moments she had with Loki. All the kisses, hugs, and gifts he gave her. She inwardly smiled. She truly missed him. There was nothing she wouldn't do for him. But suddenly she started thinking of his darker side. How he was getting more distant and cold towards her. Perhaps it was Thor's coronation? But that was no excuse for him to start treating her like property again.

She thought carefully of how her life would be with either Loki or Thor. If she were to choose the elder brother, she would be queen. She could have anything her heart desired. But then again…what did her heart desire? She was never the type to want jewelry, riches, fancy dresses and things like that. Rai had always preferred the simpler things in life. Like camping for instance. Then she realized she was truly happy in keeping Loki and the kids smiling. Fenrir and Jormungand made her heart swell with joy these past two days. And besides, Rai was a fighter. She knew if she married Thor, he would expect her to act like a lady. A lady who just stood at her warrior husbands' side looking pretty and complimenting him all the time. 'How tiresome', she thought.

Then she thought about Loki. She loved his mischief. She loved all the pranks he would pull on Thor and random people. She figured Loki wouldn't mind her being a warrior. He would let her do as she pleased. Rai could forever be with the children, and besides, they were already calling her mother. She had put up with Loki this whole time…she was used to him. Used to his mood swings when he would be kind and gentle to her, and then being rough and distant. Besides…she couldn't deny the love she had felt for him many years ago. She never really loved Thor more than a brother.

She sighed and stood up. The two brothers looked over at her as she dusted herself off. "Let's cut this vacation short. I miss Loki dearly…and who knows what mischief he's up to without me there." She smiled at them and they had enormous grins of their own. "Thank Odin! This place was creeping me out. Besides it's too…magicy…" Fenrir pouted and stood up.

"Magicy?...is that even a word?" Jormungand lazily got up and stared at his brother. "Who cares! Let's go!" They gathered up their things and Fenrir was leading the way with Rai right behind him. Jormungand had slowed his pace down a bit and was contacting his father through telepathy.

'She has made up her mind then?' it was Loki. He sounded tired. 'It appears she misses you greatly father...she has cut her trip short and we are heading home now.' 'I see… I have Thor's little surprise ready and waiting for his coronation… but what did she decide on?' Loki's curiosity was eating away at him. 'She did not say. But by the looks of things, I doubt she will accept Uncle Thor's proposal.' 'Let me see her through your eyes my son.' 'Yes father.' Jormungands' eyes started to glow a darker shade of green. Suddenly Loki was able to see what his younger son saw.

~ Loki's Point of View ~

There was Rai seemingly lost in thought. She would occasionally trip over little twigs or rocks earning her a snicker from Fenrir. As he saw her walking down the dirt caked road he started to have a flash back…

~Flash back in Loki's point of view~

Out by the lake near the palace grounds, Loki and Rai were on one of their little adventures with Thor. Thor was 13, Loki 12, and Rai only 11. 'What on Asgard is she doing?...' Loki thought to himself as he saw little Rai sitting Indian style, deep in concentration. Her eyebrows were furrowed and she was muttering to herself. He looked around for his brother Thor but he was no-where. 'Probably off with Sif somewhere…' Loki was now sitting across Rai but she still had her eyes screwed shut. "What are you doing?...' he continued to look at her but she kept her eyes closed.

"Trying to do magic!" she said trying to concentrate harder this time. Loki looked at her with confusion. He had shown her his ability to do magic and she was fascinated by it. He thought it strange at first because most Asgardians were afraid of it. But not her. She was in awe and always begged him to show her more. He loved that about her. She never judged him for his mischief or his misdeeds. She always wanted to be just like him or simply be near him. And he would never deny her.

"And how do you plan on performing magic?..." She slowly looked up at him. Her eyes filled with sorrow. "I… I don't know…" He chuckled and took her hand helping her stand up. "I just… I want to do magic like you Loki…" He walked up to a nearby tree on the edge of the lake and sat down. He patted the seat next to him and she promptly followed.

"I believe magic is something you are born with…. You either have it or you don't." He was staring down at the lake watching the fish swimming around. He heard her give out a soft sigh and say, "I see…"

"I'm sorry," He simply stated and then felt her lean her head against his shoulder. He blushed at the contact but her eyes were closed again. She took in a deep breath and with eyes still closed said, "… I will have to become a warrior then… so that I may be of use to you."

"Of use to me? You don't need to do anything for me Rai. Your presence alone is enough." He felt his face get hotter. He instantly regretted saying that in fear Rai would think ill of him for whatever reason. "You are too kind Loki… but I know I am only a burden to you… I want to be more… I want to protect you…like you do for me."

He was relieved she didn't pay too much mind on what he said. "You're perfect just the way you are Rai…" He closed his eyes and they stayed there waiting for Thor to come back.

~ End Flash back ~

Loki felt a tug in his chest. He started to remember things about their childhood that he seemed to have forgotten. He could hear Rai's voice in his mind, defending him against Sif when she would pick on him. Hearing her yell at Thor for being too rough on him during sparring practice. Always defending him from the warriors three when they would talk ill of him. She was his savior…she saved him from that loneliness he felt for so long. She had him forget that inadequacy he felt being Thor's younger brother…

~ Flashback in Loki's Point of View ~

"You're more than perfect Loki." Her warm smile was doing nothing to ease his pain right now. He shrugged at her not wanting to speak. "I don't think your father prefers Thor over you but… even if it were true… if it means anything… I'll always prefer you over everyone…" she gave him a silly grin trying to make him laugh. He smiled at her only to convince her he was not feeling so gloomy anymore. It was always Thor who got everything. It was always Thor who father would praise… but it was only Loki who Rai would be with. When Thor asked Rai to spend time with him, she would always ask if Loki would join. She never wanted him left out.

~ Different Flashback ~

Loki sat on the sidelines watching Rai and Sif sparring. Thor and the warriors three edging them on. Loki was now 16 and Rai 15. She had kept her promise. To become a warrior, to protect him and so on. Loki found himself unable to tear away his gaze from her. His eyes never leaving her figure. She glanced up at him from time to time to see if he was still watching her. He would give her little smirks and nods to let her know he was diligently watching the sparring match.

Loki was not fond of love, he had always thought it made people weak. After careful thought, he was thinking of how pitiful he had been acting lately. Desperately seeking Odin's love and approval, causing him to be more distant and cold towards Rai. For he did not want people to know he was close friends with a maid who was trying to become a warrior.

Women always seemed to have the power to render someone useless, especially his brother Thor, but Loki had never thought it would happen to him. The idea of being foolish over a woman was sickening to him and yet the more he thought of it the more he realized how much Rai had already affected him. His face contorted into a look of disgust. A woman having such power over him, it was laughable. His face then turned to a look of worry. He had no idea how to effectively woo a woman, it had always been Thor with that skill. Thor would show up and women seemed to swoon and throw themselves at him like animals in heat. Loki could not, and would not act the way Thor did. He worried that if he could not win Rai's heart, he would be stuck as some hopeless man eventually drifting away for her. But what if she did not feel the same?... What if he confessed his love to her but she loved Thor or someone else? He would look foolish… No, Loki thought, I will not say a word about this. I shall watch her from a distance to see if perhaps she harbors the same feelings….

~End Flashback ~

And so it came to be that Loki would go out with various women. After finally working up the courage to court a woman, he was now becoming an expert in the opposite sex. He would easily woo them, and then bed them. Rai was aware of this but she never said anything to him. Loki figured his suspicions were true. If this did not bother her in the slightest, then her feelings did not match his. So he never told her how he truly felt. Not until about three years ago when he finally worked up the courage to tell her he loved her… he had made her his and she said she felt the same. So then why did Loki go back to being cold and distant? Was he still afraid?... No… Loki just wanted to give her everything she deserved. She was perfect in his eyes even if she wouldn't see it. She could deny her beauty all she wanted but Loki knew better.

He let go his possession over Jormungand. The younger sons' eyes returned to normal and continued to walk with Rai and Fenrir. Loki looked over at his desk. There, in-between piles of books and papers, sat a ring. A beautiful gold ring with a diamond at its center. Bright green emeralds adorned it on both sides. Loki was going to propose to her. Well if he could muster up enough courage to do so. He wanted now more than ever to finally make his feelings known for Rai to everyone. Especially since Thor was trying to court her. But the announcement of Thor's coronation took his courage away. He had been gloomy ever since he found out that Thor would be the one crowned king. Always Thor…it always had to be Thor… but Loki had something up his sleeve. His little mischief-making would perhaps allow Asgard to be safe a while longer from his brothers idiotic rule.