Ok, so here is a filler chapter before we go into more detailed stuff... Any ideas as to what you think will happen? Conspiracy theories? I think if you look, you'll find lots of little hints as to who Isabella will actually be, considering her past is the slightest bit suspicious (I think ;) ), which will happen in about a chapter or so...

Anyways... On with the story!

Previously

Loki looks at her calm face and feels a wave of answering calm wash over him. Grabbing her hands and lifting from her seat, saying, "I don't need to."

Isabella squeezes his hands softly and asks in a serious but gentle tone, "Are you sure?"

Loki nods and smiles, although it's not much more than a slight lift of his lips, "Yes, now, let's go home and get married."

Chapter 19

Isabella looks over at her fiancée out of the corner of her eye as they drive to Westminster, Kansas. They were driving the 1,587 miles from New York City to their hometown in order to have some time to collect themselves and prepare themselves for at least 4 months of wedding planning and little to no time for themselves. Plus, she had a feeling that he wasn't completely alright despite their tête-à-tête after her recovery from the battle.

Ever since then, they each have gotten more protective over the other, even going so far as to talk about protection and commutative runes spelled into their rings after the rehearsal.. Speaking of which, they still haven't picked a date for the actual wedding... More important issues to focus on, come on Isabella...

Loki is worried about his children being targeted by Thanos after his apparent disobedience, yet he said his ex-wife was partly in charge of his transference to servitude, so they should be safe. He hasn't seen his children in years, according to how he speaks of them and the longing in his eyes at the mere mention of them. Did she keep them from him?

So there was the issue of his children, and also the separate issue of his ex-wife herself... Wait, what did she look like? Is she who sent that man... No, it can't be.

"Loki, pull over at the next pit stop, please. Quickly." She says suddenly, not even looking at him as she runs possibilities of what it would mean if the woman who visited her after a murder attempt was Loki's ex-wife and if those children were hers... "Please, now."

If this is Loki's ex-wife, that explains why she would send someone to kill me, especially since she's the jealous type, you can just tell. But assuming my identity? What is that all about? How does it all connect?

"Why, what happened, what's wrong?" Loki asks, shocked at the sudden demand from his normally soft-spoken Isabella. He pulls into the pit stop and parks the car, jumping out with her as Isabella gets out, following her as she rummages in her bag as she runs and sits at a table.

Gylfi, Arnbjörg, Gylfi, Arnbjörg, Gylfi, Arnbjörg! What does it all mean? How do they connect? What is missing? Why can't I figure it out?

He watches as she spreads out the papers she pulled from her drawing pad where she sometimes translates her visions. "What is going o- Where did you find a picture of Sigyn?"

"This is your ex-wife? Are you absolutely sure?" Isabella asks desperately, her hands shaking as she runs one through her hair, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath to calm herself.

"Yes, why, why are you so upset? Did you see something happen in one of your visions? What's wrong?" Loki asks, a little frantic at how quickly Isa's moods went from shock to frantic and thinking rapidly to grim understanding.

"I'm not sure, but when you left, I saw her and then someone tried to kill me and assume my identity." Isabella says, looking him in the eyes.

...

"What do you mean 'tried to kill you and assume your identity'? I mean, the tried to kill you I understand, especially when I wasn't there to ward them off and I was still being hunted, but to assume your identity? Why would anyone want to do that, it's not as if you are important enough for their notice." Loki says, confused, something niggling in the back of his mind.

"I don't know why either, but they left me this, as if I knew what it meant, and mentioned name as well: Gylfi." Isabella says with a frown, showing him a baby blanket that says "Arnbjörg".

"Arnbjörg, Arnbjörg... that name sounds familiar, but I can't place it right now, I'm sorry, flora." Loki says, frowning as he tries to remember why that name was so familiar. "But Gylfi is the name of the Light Elves' king."

"Light Elves? Who are they?" Isabella asks, excitedly grabbing onto this piece of information with both hands so she can analyze later.

"They are a race of elves that are quoted to be 'fairer to look at than the sun', as well as powerful entities that have a big connection to the basic elements: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. Most have an main affinity for one with minimal control over the others. The power from these elves are said to be monumental. It is even rumored that they were the first race to ever be born from one of the nine children of the Creators. Gylfi has been their king on and off for years, only coming back after his children were murdered and frauds were put in their place."

"Really? That's interesting to know." Isabella says, filing that information away for later.

"Yes, now, tell me more about this murder attempt." Loki says, his brow furrowing in worry and guilt.

"It's not a big deal.." Isa starts to say, the deflection silenced with a sharp look from Loki, "Well, anyway, someone tracked me down and tried to kill me, but I evaded that attack and used him to draw out information from them. It worked and we had an interesting conversation, which doesn't matter right now, and I am trying to figure out why she felt the need to do so, but something is missing."

Isabella taps the table with her fingers in a complex rhythm for a little while after she tells him about the attack. Sighing deeply, she shrugs and rests her head on his shoulder, snuggling as close to him as the heat will allow.

Pushing this new puzzle to the back of his mind, he intertwines their fingers together, squeezing them softly. Together, the two stay a while longer, looking over at the small pond and semi-circle of trees as both reflect over how things are going to change soon.

Little did they know just how much of a curveball more changes will throw unrest into their life.


Winchester Home; Friday Movie Night 8:37 P.M

"Bobby, any news from Loki and Isabella? They said they'd be here after stopping by the bakery an hour ago." Sam asks, coming to get another beer from the cooler, same as Bobby.

"Loki sent a message that they were almost here a couple minutes ago, idjit." Bobby grumbles, the lack of further insult betraying how nervous he is to see the ones he considers part of his family.

"Alright, okay, thanks Bobby. It's nice to see someone not a nervous wreck," Sam chuckles, taking a long sip of his beer. The two stand in silence, remembering their shock at seeing the two on the news. First was the sight of Loki as a Level-1 terrorist, then a willing participant in the battle of New York City. The whole family was gripping the edge of their seats in fear as to how it would, especially when the live news footage was cut off just as the weird Transformer-lizards started over-powering the Defenders or Action-Fighters or whatever their name was.

The movie on the screen pauses when everyone stands still and listens to the car pulling into the drive-way. They jump up from their seats and push each other for a chance to answer the door, except Bobby, who stands back and watches with a blank, stoic face.

Once Loki and Isabella step through the door, they are bombarded by questions, hugs, demands, plates and bowls of food by all the members of the Clan. The couple tries to keep them at bay to no avail. All it takes is a cough from Bobby for all the noise to stop, everyone almost comically turning to look at the patriarch simultaneously, Loki and Isabella nervous.

Bobby looks over at them with a look of someone sizing up someone else. He asks in a calm, quiet tone, "Are you two here for good?"

Isabella and Loki share a look, communicating how much they should tell their family and how important ignorance was for what they had to do. Finally, Isabella says to Bobby, "We still have to fix some things, but once those are fixed, we'll be back here for good."

Bobby nods, frowning as he knows they are not telling him the full story, but understanding just the same, "Well, are you gonna just stand there like a couple of idjits or are ya gonna watch the movie?"

Isabella nods and Loki sighs in relief; Isabella walking over and hugging Bobby tightly, trying to hold back her happy tears. Bobby grumbles unhappily but hugs her back just as tightly. It takes a little while, but finally Bobby says gruffly, "Any longer and I'm gonna grow some lady parts."

The group laughs, Isabella's a bit more teary, as Bobby rolls his eyes and orders them to get back in the living room. Loki hugs Isabella and kisses the top of her head before following the boys as they catch up. Isabella leans against the table and smiles, looking up at the ceiling and wiping under her eyes, her ring catching the light and the girls' attention.

"What is that?" Charlie bursts out, running over to Isa, followed closely by Jessica as they grab her left hand and turn it this way and that in order to see it better. "Did he finally ask? When is the wedding? Who are the bridesmaids? Have you even picked a date? I can't believe you two are finally getting married!"

That last part is especially loud and the boys in the living room hear, looking between the two of them before even more noise bursts into. Congratulations are heard and hugs are passed around, the annual movie night turns into a make-shift engagement party.

"Now you're officially a part of the family now." Dean says, smiling and throwing an arm around Isabella's shoulders. Sam agrees and wraps an arm around her waist, both hugging her, Cas sneakily taking a picture of the trio. Loki looks on proudly, feeling a sense of completeness fill the hole in his heart vacated by his supposed family.

Now if only Sleipnir, Jörmungandr, and little Narvi were here. Then things would be perfect.

Ooh, considering the mess with Sigyn earlier and the semi-lie Isabella told Loki, it's no wonder something's about to happen. But what could that be, hmmmm? And Loki just might get what he wants after all, just not in the way he thinks.

Let me know in your reviews and don't forget to check out which ring you like more :) There are links in my profile that you can check out later; above my favorite people list.

Just sayin'

;)