"Luka dear. Is there something I can do for you?" Frigga asked. She was in her parlor enjoying a cup of hot jasmine tea and working on her embroidery. Loki looked around and for the first time, let herself enjoy being a woman. She'd always loved this room before, she thought because it was her mother's. Now it was clear that it appealed to her on a feminine level. Deep down, she'd always wanted to join Frigga in here and embroider right beside her. The room was done up with gold and pink accents. Flowers were everywhere and the room was perfumed with the smell of fresh cut roses.

"Yes mother. I was wondering, if you would teach me to play the piano?" She asked. Frigga smiled widely at that. She has always wished one of her children would take it up but Thor never showed any interest in music and Loki was always too worried about appearances. Far more than even she realized as it turned out.

"I would love to. Come, sit beside me." Frigga said. They moved to the piano bench where Frigga went over each key one by one explain what note it was and how it corresponded to a musical note on the sheet. Loki started singing the lyrics that accompanied the song, surprising Frigga and delighting her.

"You have a lovely singing voice." Frigga said. "Your father and the scholars are searching through the ancient texts to come up with answers for you."

"I know."

"If they find a way to make you how you were before, would you want that?"

"I don't know. I obviously wasn't very happy then either. I don't see how changing back would fix anything." She said. "I was miserable then and I'm miserable now. Aside from some major physical differences nothing has really changed for me. People still regard me the same as before for the most part, though I am seeking to fix that."

"Why? Loki you've always placed too much importance on the opinions of others. What is your opinion of yourself?"

"I'm the wrong color. Thor pointed out to me yesterday, that since I am fully a woman now, many of the taboos I struggled with in my former life are gone. I can wield magic, throw daggers, desire men, and it is all considered acceptable and natural for my gender. But I am still blue."

"You admit that you desired men before the change."

"I do, but I'm sure he won't. He wouldn't want anyone to know that he still does."

"Frost Giants are all masculine in appearance. Such desires are only natural for you both."

"Not for him, not anymore at least. He's fully Aesir now. He'll have even more reason to hide his proclivities, however minimized they have become."

"How do you know?" Frigga asked.

"I just do."

"Well, that will be his burden to bear. As for you, I think you are gorgeous, exotic even."

"Thor said so too."

"Your brother loves you very deeply Loki. Since your other half seems eager to distance himself from you, take solace in Thor. He will lift you up and give you the love you need for now. But eventually you and you need to learn to love each other."

"I don't see that ever happening. I embody everything he used to hate about us."

"Give him time. Now that he has what he thought he always wanted he'll get to see how fleeting the love of acquaintances and strangers can be. Sooner or later he'll discover that their opinions are not that important, as will you."

"Will you teach me how to weave on the loom? I always wanted to learn how."

"To make cloth or to see the beyond?"

"Both."

"Oh Loki, you make me very proud. We will start our lessons tomorrow."

"Thank you mother."

XxXxXxXx

"Luka!" Thor called after her. He was absolutely filthy but as happy and charming as ever.

"Good lord Thor, pigs in a barn are more conscious of cleanliness than you are." She said.

"Blame Loki, he started it." Thor said.

"Oh, well. I'm glad the two of you had a good time." She said, but it was in that tone that meant she was obviously jealous. She turned to walk away but Thor ran up in front of her to stop her from leaving.

"I did have a good time. I had a wonderful time with my brother. I would now seek the company of my sister." Thor said.

"I suppose it would be unfair to force you to choose between us. Go take a shower you, and for the love of the Norns put on some clean trousers. I'll be waiting for you in the garden." Luka said.

"Thank you for understanding." Thor said, bending down to peck a quick kiss on her cheek. It was very brief but it felt like a sizzling branding iron that rocketed desire straight between her thighs. Thor took off at a jog down the hall to his room to bathe, smiling all the way.

Loki ran back to her room and dug through all of Frigga's old dresses which were now hanging in her closet. One by one she held up each in front of her in a mirror and tossed it onto her bed before moving on to the next.

"Too drab."

"Too obvious."

"No."

"No."

"Ew. Mother what were you thinking?"

"Maybe…"

"Mmmm...no."

"Ooh! It's evil. I love it!" Loki made her selection and changed her attire.

Loki went to the garden and sat on the Frigga's favorite bench beneath the cherry tree, which was in full bloom and smelled like heaven. As she waited she posed herself several times. First she pretended to be reading a book, then to be plucking and counting flower petals and making wishes. She picked a bouquet of flowers from the surrounding bushes and held it in her hands, then threw it away and just tucked a daisy behind her ear, then threw it away. Finally, she just sat there fidgeting with her hands when Thor came into the garden looking like Prince Charming from a fairytale.

Thor spotted Luka sitting on the bench and his heart stopped. She was wearing a blue dress that matched her skin tone exactly. At first glance, she looked naked. The form fitting chiffon dress had a sweetheart neckline with twists of fabric coming up from the V, around her neck and back over her shoulder where the fabric then fanned out into a long flowing cape. The skirt portion of the dress was straight with a thigh slit and ruffles. Little gold accents on the dress and in her hair completed the look. She smiled at him and waved.

"Luka!" Thor walked towards her. "You look like a vision out here in the garden sister.

"Thank you. You look as dashing as ever, when you try to anyway." Luka said. She raised her hand to his cheek without thinking. She cupped the side of his face, feeling the scratchy texture of the short beard Thor was sporting. He either needed to grow it out or shave it off.

"Will you come riding with me tomorrow. The lavender is in bloom and I wanted to take you to the field nearby. The farmers are harvesting it and the smell is incredible. Though I dare say you have managed to pick a lovely spot of your own." Thor said.

"It is amazing isn't it?"

"Yes." Thor said looking at her. Luka bit her bottom lip as visions of Thor without his shirt on danced through her head.

"Mother is teaching me to play the piano." She said.

"That sounds wonderful." He said.

"Well, not yet." She giggled and tucker her hair behind her ear, looking at Thor with pure adoration.

Loki, fresh from the showers at the arena entered the garden looking Frigga, and stopped cold at the scene in front of him. Their body language, their demeanor, the way they smiled with their eyes betrayed their mutual desire for one another.

"Brother!" Loki ran up to the pair. Luka's smile fell off her face.

"Yes Loki?"

"Fandral and I are going out on the town tonight. You should join us." He said.

"Perhaps, after dinner." Thor said over his shoulder before returning his attentions to Luka.

"Sif is looking for you." Loki said.

"Oh? What is it regarding?"

"She didn't say, but she is still down at the armory. If you head there now you can catch her." Loki said. Thor frowned but nodded.

"I'll see you at dinner." Thor said to Luka, squeezing her hand. They both watched Thor go and turned towards one another the moment he was out of sight.

"NO, NO, NO!" Loki said.

"What?"

"You know damn well what!"

"Tell me then, why not?"

"Because! He's our brother!"

"That never stopped us from desiring him before. How many times did we lie in bed at night touching ourself while thinking of him?"

"He's not ergi!"

"Neither am I. I'm a woman, remember? All the desire to suck dicks went into me, as you so eloquently put it."

"People will talk about you."

"They already talk about me, why should be concerned with the opinions of people that already hate me?"

"Because they'll question if I desire him also!"

"Oh! I see. And do you still desire him as I do? You seemed to discover a new appreciation for the female form the other day. Sif was looking quite fetching I'll say. Then again, magic or no you are still a frost giant at heart. Frost giants are all masculine in appearance. It is only natural that both of us should fell lust for someone as well formed as Thor."

"You know people will make that leap and come to that conclusion. Stop this before it starts!"

"No."

"You'd better stay away from him or I'll…"

"You'll WHAT?!" She interrupted him. "You'll cast a spell on me? Oh wait, you can't."

"Bitch!"

"Spoiled brat."

"Black kettle."

"You also."

"Two can play this game you know."

"Yes, but only one can win." She said.