The remainder of dinner was spent with awkward conversation, and reminiscing on the old times. Eventually the party slowed down until the only people still awake was the group of teenagers.
"Well I think we should head home. Thank you for the food, and welcome home." Volstagg stated, standing up and motioning for his fellow warriors and Sif to do the same. They agreed and said their "thank yous" and "welcome homes" before leaving.
"Well now that they're gone how about we watch a movie?" Thor asks, looking towards his girlfriend, brother, and Natasha.
"No thanks sweetie, I'm exhausted and totally not in sync with the time change. I'm going to bed. Night." Jane replied, standing and stretching before kissing her boyfriend's mouth and heading upstairs to her room.
"Brother? Natasha?" Thor asks, anticipation in his eyes.
"I think I'll clean up the dishes, you and Loki can enjoy a brother's night." Natasha replied, standing quickly and gathering the remaining dishes, kissing Loki's forehead on the way out.
"Brother? Shall we watch, 'Star Wars'? It was always our favorite." Thor asks, smiling like a young child at Christmas.
"Sure Thor. But I'd like to help Natasha in the kitchen first, it's not fair to have our guest do all the work." Loki replies quickly, leaving the table and making his way towards the kitchen.
When he arrives at the kitchen he sees a sight he didn't think was possible. Sure he and Natasha had their fun at home, washing dishes, which usually ended in water and suds fight and a messier kitchen than before, but this sight was unusual.
Natasha was standing by the sink, facing the mountains, rinsing off the stack of plates lined on the side. She had her phone sitting on the windowsill playing her iPod at maximum volume.
"I wanna love like Johnny and June, rings of fire burnin' with you, I wanna walk the line, walk the line, till the end of time, I wanna love, love you that much, cash it all in, give it all up, when you're gone I wanna go too, like Johnny and June…" Natasha was singing along to the iPod.
Loki just stood there completely mesmerized. He loved seeing the way Natasha hips swayed back and forth to the music, the way her hair moved with her head, the way her lips moved singing every line word for word.
"Having fun there?" Loki asks, smiling at her startled face as she turns off her iPod and gives him a glare for sneaking up on her, one of the few people who can actually pull it off.
"What do you want? And wipe that smile off your face." Natasha threatened, sending some suds towards the taller teenager. Loki just smiled wider and laughed full heartedly.
"Why? You're so adorable when you're startled, and even cuter when you're mad." Loki replied, walking towards his shorter girlfriend and kissing her on the forehead.
"Very funny. I thought you were going to watch a movie with Thor?" Natasha asks, suddenly curious why he isn't.
"I am. I just wanted to help you with the dishes. It's not very hospitable for me to leave all the work to you is it?" Loki asks, taking Natasha's hands and starting to rub small circles on hands.
"You're never interested in helping me with the dishes at home though. What's with the sudden change of heart?" Natasha asks, skeptical of her boyfriend's motives.
"Well you're a guest here, and I don't want you to feel obligated." Loki replied. Moving to stand behind Natasha, rolling up his sleeves and sticking them into the soapy water. Natasha, now trapped between the sink and her boyfriend, can't refuse his actions now, and must wash dishes with her boy standing directly behind her; her back is pushed up against his chest.
When the dishes are all washed, Loki dries his hands off with a dishrag and looks at his much shorter girlfriend.
"Well Thor will be waiting for me in the basement, I'll see you later my dear." Loki purrs towards his girlfriend, kissing her lightly on the mouth before waltzing downstairs to join his brother.
Natasha dries the dishes by herself, and climbs the stairs to her room. When she enters she notices Jane's bed is empty, the covers not even pulled back, and suspects she's in Thor's room. She tosses the idea aside and gets ready for bed, the time being close to 1:00 eastern time. Natasha drifts off to sleep, wishing Loki were next to her.
Downstairs Thor chose to watch "Spider-Man 3" and was already skipping through the commercials.
"Brother! Remember when we watched this movie? We snuck out of the house to the premiere?" Thor asks, smiling at the memory.
"Yes, I also remember we waited in line for two hours, nearly froze to death, and when we finally made it into the theatre, a blizzard knocked the power out." Loki replied, smiling at the memory himself. It had been awhile since he thought of the times when Thor and him would actually spend time together and not argue. They were rare moments and memories but they were dear to Loki, even if he wouldn't admit it to anyone.
"Come brother the movie has started." Thor smiled. Loki turned off the lights and the two settled down on the couch and began to watch.
By 12:55 Natasha had tried every sleeping position imaginable and still hadn't caught a wink. Tired of lying in bed, she crept downstairs and looked around the kitchen. The lights were off and everything was the same as how she left it when she went up. She noticed the lights on towards the basement, and quietly walked down the steps to check on her boyfriend and Thor. Reaching the bottom, she noticed the TV on, in the middle of "Spider-Man 3" but neither Thor nor Loki were watching. Instead the two brothers were sprawled out on the couch Thor's mouth open and drooling and Loki snoring lightly.
Lightly chuckling to herself, Natasha silently crept closer and took a couple pictures on her phone. Kissing Loki's forehead softly she turned off the TV and searched in the closet for some blankets. Walking back she draped a blanket over each Odinson and walked back upstairs, turning off the stair light in the process.
Sighing to herself once she reached the third floor, she walked towards Loki's bedroom, instead of the guest room. Opening the door she sat down on Loki's bed and admired his various posters, books, and accessories that decorated his room. She crawled under the covers of his large queen size bed and fell asleep with the scent of Loki surrounding her senses.
The next morning Loki awoke to a loud noise. He tried covering his ears and rolling to his other side, but instead ended up rolling off the couch. Landing on the floor with a loud thud, Loki untangled himself from the blanket wrapped around his legs, and looked for the culprit of the awful noise.
Sure enough, Thor was now sprawled out on the couch, drooling rolling down his check and snoring like an old man. Loki growled towards his sleeping brother and stood up, stretching his sore limbs. The couch was not designed to sleep two large brothers, especially when one was the biggest linebacker on the football team. Loki growled at his brother one last time and walked upstairs, throwing the blanket back on the sleeping Odinson.
Reaching his room, Loki mentally noted he needed a shower, and probably should check on Natasha. When he opened the door he noticed instantly the body occupying his bed, it was the sleeping form of Natasha. She had the covers pulled up tight around her shoulders, and her red hair had fallen in her face. She was shivering slightly and he noticed that she was hugging the pillow with a vice-grip.
Loki quietly walked towards his sleeping girlfriend and brushed some curls away from her face. He kisses her lightly on the nose and noticed Natasha's shoulders relax some from his touch. Loki inwardly and outwardly smiled at the redhead. She had grown accustomed to his body and smell next to her when she sleeps, and the lack of it last night had proved to upset her sleeping abilities. Loki smiled brighter when he put the pieces together on why she decided to crash in his room.
"Morning sleeping beauty." Loki purred towards his girlfriend's ear. He noticed the Goosebumps rise on Natasha's fair skin and her eyelids began to slowly open.
"Morning, how was sleeping on the couch?" Natasha asks, blinking the sleep from her eyes and sitting up a little to look at Loki's face better.
"It was…hard. That couch is not made to sleep two males, especially a football player." Loki responded. Natasha smiled at his comment.
"We have to do Christmas shopping today." Natasha stated, it was only four days until Christmas day, and Natasha didn't have a gift for Loki and vice versa.
"Alright. Let me shower up and we can go." Loki responded, standing up and moving towards the bathroom.
"Ok, I'll shower in the guestroom. By the way, you're really cute when you snore." Natasha says, walking towards the bathroom door and standing behind Loki, who was taking off his shirt.
"Very funny." Loki responded, kissing her lips sweetly before closing the door. Natasha smiled to herself and walked back toward the guestroom.
Inside she saw Jane emerging from the bathroom, wet hair and a towel in hand.
"Morning, how was your night?" Natasha asks the brunette, as she began to strip.
"It was fine. I couldn't catch a wink of sleep. Have you seen Thor? I waited for him in his room but he never showed." Jane replied, brushing her long brown hair.
"He spent the night on the couch with Loki. The two fell asleep during 'Spider-Man 3'." Natasha responded, grabbing a towel and walking towards the bathroom. Jane just nodded and began to put on her minimal amount of make-up.
When Natasha was finished, she changed and walked downstairs to find Frigga waiting with Jane, both buddle up warm and preparing to go somewhere.
"What's going on?" Natasha asks, curiosity getting the better of her.
"We're going into town for Christmas shopping. Care to join us?" Frigga asks, holding up a dark green coat for Natasha with a matching gold scarf and a green and gold hat. Natasha nodded and bulled on the snow boots waiting for her, and slipping into the warm jacket, hat, scarf and gloves that Frigga had laid out for her. "Thank you." Natasha says, once she's all bundled up like her best friend and Mrs. Odinson.
"My pleasure. Shall we?" Frigga asks, opening the door and stepping out onto the fresh white snow.
"Wow I've never seen so much snow!" Jane exclaimed, kicking some with her feet and throwing some up in the air like a child.
"Why is that dear?" Frigga asks, turning the SUV on and starting the heaters.
"I grew up in New Mexico before moving to New York. In the desert you don't get a lot of snow." Jane replies, smiling like a child and forming a small snowball in her hand.
"Well I've seen plenty of snow for a lifetime." Natasha states almost bitterly. She didn't know where the sudden sourness came from, and instantly regretted her tone once it left her mouth. "Sorry, it's just snow brings up bad memories." Natasha quickly apologizes and climbs into the warm SUV.
"It's alright dear. I know what it's like to have a few sour memories." Frigga replies, as Jane climbs in.
"Where to first?" Jane asks, dusting off some snow from her boots before closing the door.
"I was thinking Macy's, Tiffany's and Co., Coach, and Asgard mall. If that's alright with you ladies?" Frigga replies, checking in the review mirror at Natasha's expression, which was blank, as she drove down the curvy road.
"Sure that sounds fun. Right Tasha?" Jane asks, enthusiasm written all over the teen's face. Natasha merely nodded, looking out the window watching the snowfall.
Jane and Frigga were both slightly taken back by Natasha's lack of words, and lack of enthusiasm but Jane instantly realized what was bothering the Russian teenager and was hit with guilt.
"I'm sorry Tasha." Jane said quietly to the redhead in the back seat. Natasha refused to cry in front of the two women in front of her so she merely nodded her head in understanding. Frigga confused over Jane's apology said nothing as the car continued down the mountain towards the town below.
The SUV parked in front of Asgard Mall, the largest mall in Asgard and in three counties. The three ladies walked through the main entrance and immediately were greeted with a good three-story mall that appeared to house every store imaginable.
"It's the biggest and most populated mall in three counties. We are quit proud to have it in our town." Frigga said, explaining a little of Asgard's history to the two baffled teens.
Marvel County had their own mall; it was a two-story mall with all the loved and mainstream brands and stores, but Asgard mall also held plenty local and tourist shops. The three walked around the first floor, window shopping and admiring all the wonderful holiday décor displayed throughout.
"Would you ladies like to stop in Express? I hear they have a wonderful selection of clothing." Frigga said, not used to having the company of females, something she very wished to have more often. The two juniors agreed and excitedly began to tour the racks and displays inside the spacious store.
Jane found a couple of holiday dresses that had very nice chiffon, lace, and sparkles decorating the items, while Natasha scanned through some of the other racks, finding a nice emerald green dress with a sweetheart neckline and two thick straps. It was a vintage styled dress and fell a little passed Natasha's knees. The redhead instantly fell in love with the dress and grabbed her size to try it on.
Jane also was having a successful time picking out a nice 1950s looking red dress with two large straps and a small crumb catcher, it reached her knees as well and when you spun the skirt flared out.
As the two girls tried on their selections, Frigga waited patiently outside their dressing rooms anxiously waiting. Jane emerged first, looking absolutely stunning in the dress, matching Thor's signature color. It fit her to a T and the middle hugged her small waist and widening out slightly passed her hips. She twirled a couple times, impressing Frigga and revealing the full skirt. Frigga instantly loved the dress on the brunette and decided to purchase it as a Christmas gift to the nerdy girl.
Natasha emerged next, taking both Frigga and Jane's breath away. The green dress fitted all her curves exactly right, and the emerald color brought out the slight green in Natasha's green/blue eyes. It made her olive skin look even finer, and her small petite frame wasn't drowning in the size of the dress.
"Oh dear, you look wonderful." Frigga complimented the unusually quiet girl. Natasha blushed at the attention she was receiving from the ex-mayor's wife, her best friend, and half the staff.
"You so have to buy that! Loki will love it." Jane also complimented, mentioning Natasha's boyfriend brought on an even deeper shade of pink to Natasha's cheeks. Frigga agreed and bought the girls both dresses as a gift.
The small trio of women continued their hunt around the mall, stopping at Men's Warehouse so Frigga could buy her three boys new suites. They also stopped at Starbucks and bought a couple of coffees and decided to rest their feet.
"We had success didn't we?" Jane asks, trying to start a conversation. Natasha smiled and nodded towards her friend.
"I agree. I'm sure Thor's going to love the gifts you bought him." Frigga agreed, smiling at the brunette waiting for Natasha to answer.
"I bet he will too. He loves anything you give him." Natasha replied, giving a small smile towards her friend.
The rest of their time at the mall was full of awkward silences and shopping. On their return trip home Natasha sat in the passenger seat while Jane occupied the back.
"Tell me Natasha, tell me a little bit more about you." Frigga asks, starting a conversation for their half hour drive back up the mountain.
"Not much to tell ma'am. My father and I moved to Marvel County when I was in seventh grade. I used to live in New York City." Natasha explained, not going into much detail, much to Frigga's curiosity.
"What about your mother?" Frigga asks, not realizing she had asked a question not easily answered, in Natasha's mind.
"She abandoned my father and I when I was younger." Natasha answered bluntly, letting the words soak into Frigga's ears as she processed the information.
"What about your father? We would have love to have him join us." Frigga invited, adding a warm smile.
"He died a couple months ago." Natasha stated quietly. Frigga barely heard her.
Realization dawned upon the only Odinson woman, this girl; this barely sixteen-year-old girl had lost her family and was completely alone in the world. She understood now why her son had great love, admiration, and respect for her. She had raised herself.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know. My greatest condolences." Frigga replied, looking over at the redhead, who just continued to stare out the window.
Frigga sighed, knowing she had to make this Christmas extra special now.
Ok there's chapter 9. Sorry it took so long to type up! I know it might be somewhat short and choppy (I've written over a period of two or three weeks sorry about that…again). Well I hope you enjoy! Hope y'all enjoyed the Frigga/Natasha/Jane scenes. A little mother-daughter bonding! Btw sorry if I'm making any of them out of character. It's so hard to tell so please give me feedback if you feel I've misused their personalities or traits. Sorry that not a lot of other Avengers in the story, I've been receiving some complaints about it and let me try to clarify. This story is totally 100% Loki/Natasha (with the exception of other couples), but I will try very hard to include the others. Once they return home from their Christmas break there will definitely be more drama and interactions I promise! Please don't hate me for taking so long! Love you all who have reviewed, favored, followed, and basically red this story! It means so much to me!