Kenna sat on the stairs, staring down at the water that flowed under Asgard. The steps where she sat led down to the water where she and the boys had played a lot when they were small. The sound of the water's waves smacking the rocks was comforting. The blue of the ocean was calming for her. She slid back to lean against the rock wall. She did not have to worry about how she was taking up the entire width of the stairs. No one usually went down to the ocean in the palace except her and her friends. And right now, her friends were celebrating Thor's continuation of being single. Wanting to be alone, she had snuck out of the palace. After the banquet, her mother had screamed and cried until she had given up and decided not to care what her daughter did anymore. Her things were moved into a room next to Loki's where they shared an enormous bathing room. Frigga and Odin didn't seem to care who she decided to choose and were just happy things went well, despite her mother's overdramatic responses.

Feeling overwhelmed, Kenna began to sing.

"I saw you yesterday, watching me in that same way

I looked back at you, but you just turned and walked away

I see it everyday

You look at me one way

That same expression that's different from the way you look at everyone

What I want to know is what is it you see?

What is it you see

When you look at me?

How am I not the same

from any other dame?

What is so different about me?

Is it a something only I can be?

What is it you see?

She stopped, unsure how to continue her song. She tapped her perfectly filed nails against her cheek.

"Come up with that yourself?"

Kenna glanced up out of habit, but she didn't need to do so to know who's voice it was. Loki sat beside her as she nodded. He grinned and looked at her.

"You've been avoiding me."

"I've just wanted to think alone a little. You cannot just decide I am avoiding you after a day."

"Yes, I can."

Looking up at his face again, his bright eyes made her nerves flare. Loki sighed at her.

"I think we need to talk. As I'm sure you've figured out by now, I told mother I wanted to propose to you when I heard Thor was."

"Which you did out of spite..."

"More or less, but I also did it out of jealousy."

"Oh, really?"

Loki frowned at her sarcastic remark. He grabbed her chin, somewhat roughly and made her look at him in the eyes.

"Not jealousy of Thor. Jealousy because even as a friend I care about you ten times more than Thor does."

"Since when does playing with someone as a child result in not being allowed to marry for love?"

Loki's face took on a contemplative expression. Kenna waited for a minute before tapping him on the hand.

"My face..."

His hand instantly dropped. The young woman moved her jaw around to make it stop hurting. Loki was a rather strong young man for being lean and less muscular visually in comparison to Thor. He looked down at her.

"To be honest, marrying for love never crossed my mind. I always assumed I'd receive a wife because I'm the prince. Same for Thor, too. With this concept in mind, why did you pick me?"

Kenna turned a slight pink and looked down at her knees.

"Because...well...for one I wanted to fight my mother. I did not want Thor's female loves to try and assassinate me. And...unlike Thor, you make time to seek me out. I don't know why, but you do and maybe...I...kind of thought that...you and I might..."

She glanced up and caught Loki's eye. He raised an eyebrow.

"Fall in love?"

He smiled as she went completely crimson.

"I do not know what I was thinking. I'm going back to my room now."

She got up and was about to walk past Loki, but he grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.

"It could happen."

Kenna turned back. Loki stood up and put a hand to her face. His thumb brushed her cheek gently.

"We're not getting married for a few years...there is time. I mean, we can't get married until Thor is king. The younger prince getting married before his older brother is just too much for some to bear. I believe I could love you. Honestly, I would choose you for a wife over any other woman in Asgard and if you want love, I will do my best to give you that."

The young woman laughed and shook her head.

"You are very sweet, Loki, but do not force yourself to love me. If it happens...it will, if not...at least we have each other."

He gave her an odd look.

"Then what if you fall in love with someone who isn't me? Volstagg, for instance!"

"That's a horrifying example..."

"Then you might be pushed to-"

"Loki."

Tilting her head, Kenna smiled up at him reassuringly. Her head leaned into his hand.

"I could never do that to you. Even if we were married and there might be someone who catches my eye, I could never abandon you. It is my duty as your future wife to be faithful and I take that very seriously. I will see you later, now. I want to find Sif."

Leaning upwards, she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. He watched her silently as she moved away.

"And do not worry about silly things," she threw back to him before disappearing up the stairs.

It took her five minutes to reach the lounge where their group of friends usually spent time. She ran into Thor, as he was leaving the room. He smiled at her and pulled her into a huge bear hug.

"Ah, future sister-in-law. Not to be rude, but I am quite pleased that you are that instead of my future wife."

"Oh, I feel the same way, Thor, do not worry."

With a quick wink, he walked away and Kenna moved into the room. She jumped as she was grabbed by Sif and pulled to a couch. Once seated, her friend sat beside her and stared at her. Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg were grinning from various positions around the room.

"Why did you pick Loki?" Sif cried, bewildered," He's-"

"Not Thor, I know," Kenna smiled, sitting back in the chair," And I am very glad about that. Sif, you're a much better match for Thor than I am. You can keep him in line sometimes. He runs over me. When you grow up with someone it is they expect you to following along with their plans. Honestly, when I thought it was just Thor, I was preparing to say that I could not marry him because I had a secret relationship with Fandral. Though I must admit. the mustache is a bit of a turn off."

The blonde haired young man laughed.

"I would have gone along with you, despite your distaste of facial hair," he told her with a smile.

The healer stuck her upper lip out in amusement before looking back at Sif. She had expected her female friend to dislike her choice. She was always annoyed and suspicious of Loki. He had earned a reputation for mischief around Asgard. Sif laid a hand on her friend's knee.

"Look, I'm just concerned. After all the pranks he has ever pulled on you, you pick him?"

Loki had always pranked Kenna. He told her it was because it was fun. He always got her and she reacted just how he wanted. It was slightly manipulative and it distressed her as a child, but upon getting older he had calmed down and caused less heart stopping pranks. Sif had once told her he did it to get her attention because he liked her, but Kenna had dismissed that. No one could like the boyish woman who had been raised alongside the princes in everything from schoolwork to fighting.

"I happen to like him, thank you."

Hogun, who had been holding an empty goblet, dropped it in shock while Volstagg choked on the chicken leg he was inhaling. Kenna just raised an eyebrow at them. Sif shook her head, already knowing this.

"But you don't love him."

"Give it time. I'm playing a delicate game. By acting like I don't see him that way, while wishing desperately for it, he should want me. Especially since he is jealous of Thor. He'll do anything to keep me because I am one thing Thor did not get handed."

Fandral shook his head and pointed a finger at her.

"You, my dear, have a sneaky mind. How does Loki not know how similar the two of you are?"

A sly smile spread across the young woman's face as she stood up.

"Because that is how I want it. And I want him, not Thor. And don't get me wrong, this whole thing has me shaken up. I wanted to take my time to fall in love, even with someone who is not Loki, but I had to choose, so I did. It is just very convenient that I harbor feelings for him."

She went over to the table with food and drink covering it and poured herself a goblet of wine.

"I have only about three years. And having him seek me out is easier than fighting for him myself."

"And if he doesn't fall for you?" Sif asked.

Kenna turned and gave her friend a sad look.

"Then I will never tell him the truth. Here is the problem with Loki, he won't tell me he loves me. He'll want me to say it first, but I need him to say it. Maybe my plan is not as well thought out as it could be, but...with a man as secretive as Loki, one has to play the game similarly, no? And the best part is that I've been completely honest with him. I have not told him one lie yet."

Sif sighed.

"Well, good luck."

Tilting her cup to her friend, she took a drink, wondering who would have to make the next move. Would Loki try and win her over, or would she have to approach him first?