Peter woke up from his blissed out daze from what appeared to be gunfire. When he opened his eyes though, he saw the sky was filled with colorful blasts of fireworks.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

Hela's voice sounded as if her mind was residing in a completely different place. He turned and looked in her eyes. They were green again, that black had probably been a trick of the mind.

"Yeah…"

"Mr. JARVIS t-told me… t-there would be… fireworks… above the tower…"

"It sounds like something Tony would do yeah…"

They lay there in silence, happily watching the fireworks in post-coital bliss. Peter had never thought it would be like that… So tender and soft… Hela's bony hand caressed Peter's body with languid, slow movements. He shivered under her touch.

"No one ever wanted me…"

"I do. I do Hela…"

Hela was happy. Her mind felt like the beautiful show that was going on in the sky… Never she had thought it could be like this, so… intense. All the explanations from her minions and servants couldn't have prepared her for this experience. She realized she loved Peter. It was bad, so bad…. But she couldn't help it. She loved him with all the power her cold heart could produce. She noticed he had fallen asleep again, and smiled her sad half smile.

"Oh Peter… You have no idea what you have done…"

(PAgebreaka

Tony woke up in bed, with Loki curled against him, the god's head resting on his chest right next to the arc reactor. He recalled the events of the last evening. The press conference had been over soon enough, but it still had been quite the ordeal for Loki. At the party he had never left Tony's side, throwing him looks of unrefined terror each time they got separated by people wanting to talk to Tony. It had been much like those very first days, only now Loki wasn't alone. Much to everyone's surprise, Pepper had kept him company during the time Tony had been doing his social duties.

They had done the countdown, kissed as the fireworks filled the sky, and then they had retreated, not wanting to hang around with the highly inebriated crowd. Back in the tower they had made love, slowly and sensually, so different from their first times yet not a bit less pleasing. Tony inhaled Loki's scent. The god had a very particular smell, of old books, leather and fire… and something else he couldn't define… Tony loved it. He observed his sleeping lover, who looked so innocent now, so relaxed and untroubled… Recalling in how bad a state Loki had been when he teleported into his workshop, it was almost unbelievable that it was the same man. Tony hesitated to wake Loki, but eventually let his hand slide over the god's spine. Loki shivered at the touch, smiled, and opened his eyes. Tony whispered.

"Happy new year, husband…"

Loki smiled wider and pulled Tony in for a kiss.

"Happy new year, my love…"

They lounged in the bed a little longer, and got up at long last to shower together.

"You know… this is the first time I don't have a hangover after New Year's Eve…"

"Must be my positive influence."

"Who knows, Reindeer Games… Hang around and perhaps you may change my bad habits forever!"

Loki laughed at that, but inside it didn't please him. Tony rejoiced in his mortality with the foolishness of the brave. There was so much he didn't know about the engineer's past, so much he didn't understand, starting with Tony's love of self-destruction and lack of fear when it came to dying… This date they had celebrated was a feast of mortals, a celebration for the passing of time… Yet when Loki thought about it, he didn't find it a reason to celebrate. With every passing year Tony would grow older, and eventually he would die, and then… Loki almost didn't want to think it. Then he would be alone again.

On a whim he embraced Tony, pulling him so close the man almost couldn't breathe.

"Never leave me."

Tony answered the strangely desperate hug and whispered.

"Never."

Loki knew better… But he also knew better than to cry. He let go of Tony and smiled.

"I think I'm going to visit my daughter."

"Sure, I'll make breakfast."

"You mean you'll eat whatever breakfast my mother made."

"Details, my dear, details…"

Tony didn't see how Loki's smile lessened when he turned and left the room…

(Pagebreak)

"Dude."

"Mhmm?"

"Dude."

Peter grinned hazily at his friend. Justin sat next to him on the couch, giving him his patented "Justin Is Not Impressed" look.

"What now?"

"You had sex."

"Uhuh."

"With Hela."

"Duh."

Justin's mouth fell open.

"DUDE! I didn't think you would actually do that!"

"You bet… your comics on it. You m-must have been sure..."

Justin raised his eyebrows.

"Peter, are you drunk?"

Peter didn't know. He felt very strange; it had faded at first but grown worse as soon as he had had breakfast. It wasn't entirely unpleasant, when he was honest. Everything was very bright and clouded at the same time.

"Don't know. Don't care."

"Seriously, did you get date raped?"

"By Hela?"

"Uhuh?"

"Nope. All consensual. Mhmm."

"Yeah, yeah, you've had sex, I get it. Stop rubbing it in my face." Justin rolled his eyes. "You know what? I'm gonna check out Tony in the workshop. Come see me when you're sober."

Justin left Peter to his own devices, shaking his head at his friend. Yeah, he guessed having sex with a goddess was fun, but he didn't need to act so smug about it…

(Pagebreak)

Loki stood at the door of the library, now officially dubbed Hela's Lair, and he could hear her play the piano, as so often. Her voluminous voice sang a peculiar song.

"When I was younger I saw, my daddy cry and curse at the wind… He broke his own heart and I watched, as he tried to reassemble it… And my momma swore that she would never let herself forget… And that was the day that I promised I'd never sing of love, if it does not exist…"

Midgardian music had always astonished Loki. For one he had not thought mere mortals capable of creating such variety in music, let alone excel at it as they did. Pop music only recently caught his attention, mostly thanks to Hela, who had taken on the quest of learning songs for every feeling and occasion. Because he knew of the connection between what she played and what she felt, Loki waited to interrupt her until the song became clearer to him.

"But darling, you are the only exception, you are the only exception, yes you are the only exception…"

A light went on for Loki, and at the same time he felt his heart clench. Hela would not…

"Maybe I know, somewhere deep in my soul, that love never lasts… And we've got to find other ways to make it alone, or keep a straight face. And I've always lived like this, keeping a comfortable, distance. And up until now I had sworn to myself that I'm content, with loneliness… Because none of it was ever worth the risk, well…"

Loki knew enough. He pushed open the door and was met by his daughter in her true form, her eyes radiant with happiness and a smile gracing her living side.

"Father!"

"My daughter… How was your celebration?"

Hela bent her head for Loki, but he could clearly see her blush. Despite the dark sense of premonition that lingered in his mind he couldn't help but smile warmly at his daughter.

"It was wonderful, father. I must say thanks to your friends who allowed me to participate."

Loki sat down on the piano stool next to his daughter.

"Hela dear… They are your friends as well."

Hela looked up and smiled.

"I… I don't know how to thank them."

Loki carefully embraced Hela. He knew he had to ask, but he didn't want to disturb his daughter's happy mood so soon already. She had known so little happiness in her long life, it seemed wrong to take it from her now. Eventually, Hela broke the news to him as well. Blushing red she came out of his embrace.

"Father… I sincerely hope you will not think in shame of me… But I am no longer a pure maiden."

Loki looked sincerely at his daughter.

"Have you been cautious, my daughter?"

It may have been an awkward question in any other father-daughter conversation, but for them… Loki wished he could have been there for Hela when she was younger, but she had been raised at the hands of Death instead. He wished he could have buried her under good advice and warnings, like Frigga had done to him… When he saw Hela's living side grow pale, he realized his suspicions were correct.

"Hela!"

"I… He… He asked me, father! He asked for my true form!"

Hela's eyes were wide with shock. Loki bit his lip. He pulled his daughter close and pulled her up.

"Come. I will bring you to Frigga. Don't worry. It's all going to be okay."

Comforting people wasn't Loki's greatest strength, but after observing the likes of… well, Steve Rogers mostly, he had picked up on a few things. Foremost that warm beverages and encouraging words were practically failsafe. Hela was trembling, and he had to be careful not to make her fall on the way to the kitchen. Luckily no one was there but Frigga.

"Good morning my son!" She exclaimed cheerfully. Then she saw Hela. Immediately she rushed to the girl and helped her on a chair. "What happened? Has she overdone herself at the feast?"

"In a way, perhaps. I have to go. Could you please look after her?"

Frigga looked confused at Loki, who stormed out of the kitchen. Then she bent over Hela.

"What happened to you, my dear?"

Hela looked at the Allmother with teary eyes. The magic had once again covered her bony side, but it did nothing to cover her despair.

"Death… She… My Mistress… I should have known…"

Frigga rubbed her hand over the girl's back.

"Calm, calm… Just tell me."

The girl trembled.

"I have showed Peter… my true form…"

"Didn't you already do so?"

"I… I did it while we were… mating."

Frigga became silent. There were many possible causes for Hela's distress. She decided to go with the most likely one.

"Did he… dislike it?"

Hela shook her head.

"No… But he… My Mistress… She… She… She will take him now!"

"How can you be so sure, granddaughter? The Lady Death is usually lenient towards those young and free of illness. You needn't worry…"

Hela interrupted the mother goddess.

"You don't understand. Her lips and Her hands have touched him together with mine. She was with me, as we mated, he… he…"

"He is mortal."

Frigga finished the crying girl's sentence. If it was true what Hela said, and Death had indeed touched the young mortal, he was sure to die indeed… Hela cried desperately.

"I am only good for death and demise… How did I think love was for me, daughter of the Bringer of Sorrow and the God of Mischief? I am a goddess of death, of chaos!" She banged her head into the table. "I bring chaos down on all I care for…"

Frigga knew from having raised Loki that being a Chaos God was not an easy feat, and Hela was still so young compared to the others… She pulled the young goddess in a comforting hug and caressed her head.

"Sssh… Calm down my dear…"

Hela sobbed, her head buried in the Allmother's cloaks, and Frigga held her like she had so often held her own children when they were younger. When Hela had calmed down a bit, Frigga got up and prepared her a cup of tea, with two spoons of an amber tincture mixed in it.

"Here… This will surely make you feel better."

With all the drama she could muster the young goddess exclaimed.

"Nothing will ever make me feel better again!"

Yet she still drank the tea. If the bittersweet aftertaste caught her attention, she gave no sign of it. Frigga continued to comfort her, and soon Hela's speech became increasingly slurred.

"Wha… wha… I mush… see P-peter…"

"The only thing you're going to see for now is a nice warm bed."

And as the strange concoction had already dulled her senses enough, all that Hela did when hearing that was mumble something unintelligible, before her head lulled to the side and she was sleeping soundly. Frigga carefully took the girl in her arms.

"JARVIS… Are you there?"

"Yes, Lady Frigga. How can I help you?"

"Could you show me the way to Hela's bedchambers?"

"Of course."

Carrying Hela, Frigga let the AI direct her to the broody dark bedroom that belonged to the young death goddess…

(Pagebreak)

Loki found Peter sprawled on the sofa, staring glassily at the Christmas tree. A moment he feared Death had indeed claimed him…

"Peter?"

The boy turned to him, pinching his eyes to see better.

"L-Loki?"

Loki crouched down next to Peter and held a hand to his forehead. The boy was glowing with fever…

"You are ill."

The odd and not entirely unpleasant feeling had changed into a much more unpleasant one. He couldn't think straight, feeling ice cold and burning hot at the same time. Loki's cool hand against his forehead was a delightful sensation… Loki frowned when feeling the high fever of Peter. This… this was similar to the illness Hela experienced after making use of Death's powers… but Peter had done no such thing!

"JARVIS?"

"Yes, Mr. Laufeyson?"

"Could you alert Mr. Banner that Peter has fallen ill and will be requiring immediate assistance?"

"Of course."

Loki silently thanked his husband for inventing such a wonderful servant. Barely a minute later Bruce and Steve dashed into the room.

"What has happened?!"

"Long story…"

Bruce checked Peter's vital signs and shook his head.

"Save it for later. His fever has to be brought down, now..."

Peter's eyes had glazed over, and now he just dreamily stared into space. Loki truly wondered if there was something his daughter hadn't told him of the nature of this young mortal's encounter with Death… These were not the symptoms of Death punishing a mortal for defiling Her handmaiden…

(Author's Notes)

AT LONG LAST, another chapter! I have waited it out a bit, because I only got ONE review on the last one and seriously, I do require a bit more motivation. If you want me to continue this, you'll have to feed my muse your lovely (or mean) reviews!

Anyway... Mystery illness for Peter, emotional turmoil for Hela (and her THIRD involuntary sedation this story, poor girl, I feel for her really), existential sadness for Loki (at least a bit), JARVIS being very sparse with words and making himself useful as always, and Justin generally being annoyed with Peter. Ah well, Justin's not one to hold a grudge, after all he hasn't lost his comic collection thanks to Peter and Hela's little tryst xD

Again, anyway...

REVIEW! PLEASE!

HUGINN AND MUNINN ARE STILL EAGER FOR FRESH EYEBALLS OF YOU PEOPLE, THEREFOR REVIEW OR GO BLIND IN PAIN! (They will return in the story, I just imagine them having a NYE celebration of their own by flying out, peaking at improper things and eating all the leftovers.)

PS: jaquelinelittle, my most loyal reviewer... The whole cast loves you ;) Prepare for epic group hug.