Knock knock "Abigail?" I'm awoken by a servant. "Sir Loki requests your presence in the courts."

"Thank you." I mumble as I rub my eyes and tousle my curls. My eyes settle on a dress that hangs from my wardrobe. It's a plush pink, like my watch. I'm going to kill him.

I put it on anyway. I haven't worn a dress all week; we have been sword training. Loki is convinced that Sif is going to challenge me to some duel soon, and he wants me fully prepared. I swear that girl has the hots for Loki, and he just wants to watch the two of us fight over him. He's probably telling her to challenge me.

Once I am zipped into the soft dress, I tackle my hair. I twist the curls around a diamond, actual diamond, headband and let them flow down my back. When I checked myself in the mirror, I couldn't hold back a smirk. When Loki had first approached the idea of being a queen, I could never see myself feeling such a huge shoes. I didn't have grace, elegance, or beauty. Now I do. I feel the confidence surging. I did look lovely, and I hoped he thought so too.

I walked down the magnificent halls of my new home and still struggle to comprehend that this is real life, not a dream.

I'm caught studying a statue when I run into someone. I stumble to the floor, landing on my butt.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." I apologize.

"Don't worry about it." I glance over at the voice to see a Sif rubbing her head. I quickly put my head down, and let my curls fall around my face. "Here, let me help you up." I hear her say, and peak through my hair to see her hand outstretched. I cautiously take it and make sure I'm standing before she sees me. Instantly she drops her hand, and those dark eyes turn darker.

"Thank you Sif." I try to smile at her, but I feel so insincere.

"Watch where you're going mortal."

She begins to storm down the hallway when my confidence rises. "Why do you hate me?" I thought she would keep walking, but she surprises me. The warrior stops and walks back to me. Her rage seems to have calmed slightly.

"I don't hate you. I don't know you." She deems that an acceptable answer and starts walking once more.

"Then why don't you get to know me?" Her face contorts.

"Because you're a mortal. You aren't going to be here long enough for me to waste time getting to know you." The rage is back.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I question, taking a step closer to her. I surprise her because her eyes widen and she steps back.

A large sigh escapes her lips and she looks at me with honest eyes. "I don't mean any disrespect Abigail." She says my name kindly for the first time, ever. "I just saw Thor fall in love with that mortal..."

"Jane? Yes." I add a bit of humanity to her speech of my future sister in-law.

Sif glares, but continues. "I thought Loki knew better. He knows the difference between our two realms; he saw the trouble with his brother's choice. I didn't think he would go and make the same mistake." 'Mistake' echos in my ears, and I can see she knows she made a mistake. "I didn't mean mistake, I meant that he knows a mortal and an Asgardian don't belong together. It's not good for either of them."

I smile kindly at the woman, and speak softly. "Love is a strange force Sif. My father claimed to love my mother, but at the time he wasn't capable of love. I think it takes the right person to come alone to open one's eyes, and it changes them. Pepper, my stepmother, changed my father's life. I think that's what happened when Loki and I met. We have changed each other. Because love is weird." I try to laugh, but she seems sad.

"Love is weird." Her voice cracks, and I think I notice a tear fall, but she runs away before I can say another word.

Still confused by my encounter with the equally strange warrior, my mind is occupied as I enter the courts. I don't notice the extra bodies standing beside my fiance. Not until they spoke.

"Abs!" My dad comes running towards me with a huge smile on his face.

"Daddy!" I squeal as he spins me in his arms. I laugh as I hold him tight. "I've missed you so much. What are you doing here?" I gasp and look behind him to see Thor and Jane with Pepper.

"We came early to spend time with you before the wedding."

"Oh dad." I sigh and hug him again. Dad is still laughing when Pepper arrives next to him. "Pepper." I hug my mom tightly.

"How are you dear? How is the planning going? Is your dress down yet?"

I giggle as she and Jane jump into talking about wedding details. Dad rolls his eyes and throws an arm around me. "So how is life in this strange palace?"

I punch his shoulder. "It's not strange dad, but the people are strange." I think of Sif, and glance over at Loki and Thor. Loki is watching me out of the corner of his eyes, and smiles when he catches my gaze.

"What about Loki?" Dad is looking at my fiance as well, but in a more concerned fashion.

I snicker. "He's great dad. I'll let you know if he's bad."

Dad doesn't appreciate my sarcasm. "I only mean to protect you Abby. I know he's changed, but I still worry."

My grin disappears. "I know daddy." I touch his shoulder carefully and he turns his eyes back to me. "But you don't need to worry about me. Loki is taking great care of me. He loves me too much to hurt me." I bite my lip, but a smile peaks through anyway.

"I know he does." Dad grins too. "I'm happy to see you so happy, though I do wish you were marrying someone who lived closer to home."

I roll my eyes. "At least now you have a great vacation spot."

"You're a dork."

"Just like my dad."