Morning came too soon. My head ached from all the tears, and I had to sweep my broken heart off the floor and pack it away.
Loki met me at my bedroom door. "Good morning love." His eyes frantically take in the state I was in: disheveled hair, red rimmed eyes, and my shirt hanging off my shoulder. "Abigail." His hand flies to my hair, where he grasps it lightly. "Sweetheart." That deep, usually commanding voice, cracks in agony.
"I'm okay." I lie, but my pain leaks out of my being once again. "I'm okay." I cry into his chest as I hold him tightly.
"Abigail, my dear," He pulls my head back so he may look into my eyes. "You don't have to leave." Though his voice aches, and tears threaten to fall, I know that he is serious. "I love you, but I cannot bear to see you in such a fashion. If you need stay, stay." He forces a sad smile.
I stare up at him at I see past the gorgeous facade and into the soul of the broken and lost boy. Just like myself. We were one in the same. Two hearts meant to be joined. My eyes moved to the top of his head. He was born to wear a crown, was I? Taking on the identity of Abigail Stark seemed like royalty enough, what would it be like to become an actual queen? I was terrified.
"No." I shake my curls. "I'm going with you." A smile forms on his beautiful lips. His hand intertwines with mine, and I look down to see a lovely ring now on my finger.
"We should make it official." A gold band with a single diamond in the center, and half a dozen emeralds surrounding it.
I smile up at my fiance, and his lips fall down onto mine. "Are you ready to go?" I whisper.
Loki nods happily. "Let's find your parents." He pulls me down the hallway to the living room. My parents are waiting on the couch for us. Loki leaves me to stand by their side.
"We have a present for you Abs." Dad says with his eyes glazed with tears. The three of them step forward and Pepper holds out a box. I carefully take it from her, and lift the lid. Inside rests a lovely locket.
"This." Dad takes the necklace out, and goes around my body. I lift my hair as he clasps it. "Is your connection home. This will represent the life you lived, and the life you are beginning. So you can remember us." He says as he spins me around. My tough father falls apart before my eyes. I hold on to him as his face falls into my hair. "I love you so much Abigail. More than I ever thought I could love someone. I know this would be no easier if I'd had you, but I wish I had always been there. I wish we'd never lost those years. I'm going to miss you more than you know." Tony pulls away, and it takes all of me to not follow his lead. I barley contain a sob. I hug Pepper one last time before I stand next to Loki. Tears are rolling down my cheek as my attire is transformed. I'm dressed in a pale blue full-length dress that hugs my upper body before falling in soft waves down my legs. The soft material invites arms to warp around my body. My hair is tied in an updo, and I now look presentable. Loki wants me to make a good first impression.
"Goodbye." I squeak out, and wave one last time to my parents. Dad and Pepper stand side by side, waving at us. The rainbow light surrounds us, and Loki grasps me tightly to his body. My last image of them is Pepper falling into dad's arms.
We arrive in a gold, spinning, spherical room. A man adorned in gold armor is taking a sword out of the contraption the center of the room.
"Welcome home your Majesty." He bows before us.
"Hello Heimdall. This is..."
"Abigail." He bows again. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you." He smiles. "She is as lovely as you said Loki." He nods at my fiance, and I see Loki's face flush.
"Come along Abigail, there is much to see. Thank you Heimdall." He nods at the guard, takes my hand, and leads us down the famous Rainbow Bridge.
My first glimpse of Asgard was incredible. It was everything Loki had said, and so much more. He could never capture the essence of the kingdom. Air simply wasn't reaching my lungs as I took it all in.
"Abigail?" Loki has stopped, and is watching me with concern. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." I nod, and grin up at him. "It's truly beautiful Loki."
He sighs. "Yes it is." He glances around before pulling me along again. As we walk into the castle, our presence turns heads. People bow to Loki, and look at me in suspicion.
"The courts." Loki waves around a large room with a throne at the end of it. There is a girl sitting on the steps. She stands when we enter. She is quite lovely with hair similar to my own, chocolate eyes and a fierce expression. She was dressed like a warrior, and I was jealous. She got to be some BA warrior, and I was dressed in a frilly dress. I clasped my watch for security. I could still be Iron Woman.
"Loki." Even her voice was both beautiful and sharp. Her eyes dart to me in a glare before turning back to the man beside me. "Where have you been?"
"Getting Abigail." He smiles down at me.
"Abigail?" The woman's voice is suddenly even harder and her eyes pierce me. "You brought that mortal here? Why?"
"Because she is going to be my wife."
"You're wife?" Her teeth grind together as she scrutinizes me. She then purses her lips and turns her attention to Loki. "You have to know this is a bad idea. Did you learn nothing from your brother? I thought you were the one with sense!" And in a whirl of frustration and unexplained resentment, she was gone.
Loki and I stand silent for a few moments, before he finally laughs. "That's Sif."