Loki had left in the morning with Thor on the traditional hunt before the wedding, Leah missed him already but already felt the excitement rise about the upcoming nuptial. Leah was trying on a gown which had been made for her by the Queens seamstress. She had no say in the dress at all which made her take a dislike to it immediately. The Queen had organised it without her, it was very plain is the only description it had.
"What do you think?" Leah stepped out from behind the screen showing Jane.
"It's pretty." Jane commented cocking her head as she held Astrid on her lap. Astrid had taken to Jane, in fact she completely adored Jane. "Very Asgardian style."
"Mmm." Leah sighed turning to the mirror and looking at it. It was cream and gold but it was a lot like her other dresses really. There was not that wow feeling she always thought she was going to have.
"That's a problem isn't it?" Jane frowned sensing Leah's dislike to it.
"It's lovely but that is all." Leah shrugged turning away from the mirror "I would rather have a traditional dress now I think about it."
"Then why don't we go shopping in London or somewhere at least there we could have a day shopping for beautiful bridal gowns. Surely Loki would never expect you to arrive in a beautiful earth gown, it would be a surprise for him. I mean considering your an earth bride why shouldn't you get to dress like one." Jane smiled at her.
"I can't." Leah shook her head remember what the Queen had said before about the responsibilities she had. "If SHIELD finds out."
"You won't see them but we could just pop into some lovely bridal shops." Jane continued to suggest tempting Leah with the idea of returning to earth. "What's the harm in that?"
"And money." Leah stared at her raising an eyebrow at Jane knowing how little she was thinking this through.
"Oh." Jane frowned realising the issue.
"I guess I could pick up my rainy day money I stashed years ago in a bank under an alias. SHIELD wouldn't have found out about that I guess. I think there is a couple thousand dollars in there." Leah then remember smiling at her friend beginning to like the idea herself now. What harm would there be if she wasn't going to see any of them, SHIELD wouldn't then know about her return. It had also been fine the other times she had returned so perhaps they would get away with it.
"A couple thousand." Jane's eyes popped.
"I was working in a job where I knew one day I may want out and I wouldn't be given the choice to retire. A lot of agents do it." Leah explained waving a hand to calm her friend's excitement down. "It was a retirement fund but I retired a lot earlier than I thought I would I guess and I don't really need to worry about finances If I took a little of what I kept safe, it wouldn't matter."
"So we are going?" Jane grinned getting excited.
"I guess we are, I just need to drop Astrid off to the Queen." Leah sighed going back behind the screen and removing the dress she wore. "Give me a little while and I will meet you at your chambers."
Leaving Astrid with the Queen was easier than Leah thought it was going to be. There was no questions asked, the Queen seemed happy enough to have her which was something at least. Leah headed back to Jane's chambers finding Jane had already changed into her earth clothing. Leah borrowed some of her clothing. She pulled on her long leather jacket before they headed to the observatory, Heimdall was waiting at the doorway, Leah knew he had already seen or heard their plan which meant that she was going to have to tell him the truth.
"Good day Heimdall." Leah smiled looking up at the giant of the man.
"You wish to go to Midgard?" Heimdall looked down at the pair of them. Leah sensed how Jane shrunk under the mans stare.
"We do, New York please." Leah replied still looking at him "Is there any reason why we cannot go?"
"None at all Leah." Heimdall shook his head and walked into the observatory and started up the mechanisms to get them back to earth.
Both Jane and Leah travelled down to earth landing with a thud, as both of them hit the floor. Leah got up first checking her surroundings before helping her friend up.
"Home sweet home." Jane sighed looking around.
"Not for me anymore." Leah muttered "Come on let's get to the bank and see if we can get the money."
The bank was a busy one, Leah headed straight in to the right counter before she was seen. Jane just hung back looking around. The man took the both of them straight through the back and into the vaults showing her to where Leah's deposit box was. He then shut the door behind them after handing Leah a key.
"That was pretty easy." Jane whispered
"I passed all the checks, they have my photograph and I answered all the questions they wanted. I paid enough to get this service." Leah muttered opening the deposit box. "I knew that when the time came I would need the money quickly and possibly without any identification on me." Leah pulled out a couple wads of cash putting in into the inside pockets of her coat. "This should be enough to spend today." She smiled back at her friend.
She shut up the deposit box and opened the door to leave with Jane following her. Handing the key in on the way out before they started their shopping spree. They had been to a couple of the top end bridal stores, though nothing caught Leah's eye. They finally went into a small boutique bridal store, Leah spotted a lace dress.
"That's the one." Leah smiled at it as her fingers ran through the lace.
"Oh my god that is beautiful." Jane sighed
Leah got the assistant to help her into the dress, it fitted her perfectly. She just stood in front of the tall mirrors looking at it. It was a beautiful cream colour which complimented her lightly tanned complexion and brown hair. The floral lace which was delicately sequined covered the entire a line dress with a sweetheart cut. The lace got spaced out further at the bottom of the dress. It was stunning, it was elegant and regal everything that Leah wanted from a dress. It was nothing that they would ever have on Asgard but she knew how much Loki would like her in the dress. It showed off her womanly curves, there was no sign of a baby bump at all and the detail suited her perfectly. The tiny details like the buttons at the back just made it perfect, it was the wow feeling she always dreamt of having.
"What about this one?" Leah turned to her friend who was grinning as well.
"That is perfect." Jane squealed slightly looking really pleased for her. "Please say you're getting that one."
"Definitely, this is the one." Leah nodded looking back at herself in the mirror grinning.
They paid for the dress, which wasn't as bad as Leah thought it was going to be however Jane seemed quite shocked by the amount. They went for something to drink before returning to Asgard as they sat outside a busy café. Leah was just looking around the busy street and buildings; she didn't miss the new York life style at all. She just let out a sigh as she turn back to her friend seeing Jane frown.
"Why don't you speak to your brother?"
"He doesn't want to know me or accept my choice." Leah sighed sitting back and sipping her tea. "I made my choice and he made his, he would probably see me imprisoned on earth till I gained my senses."
"Surely he wouldn't?" Jane shook her head looking at her seriously. "It means so much to you to have your family at the wedding. Perhaps while we are here we should try to at least contact him."
"Jane." Leah warned her. "My brother is as dangerous to me as Loki is to him. He is still with SHIELD and is more than capable in taking both of us out if he wanted too."
"Okay I will stop." Jane began staring at Leah seriously. "If you tell me honestly it's what you want, to go back to Asgard and never see him again. But only if it's the truth."
Leah knew that Jane had her there, she wouldn't be able to do that honestly at all. She just let out a frustrated sigh looking down at the tea. She did want to at least try to sort things out with her and Clint. Not just for her but for Astrid and the next baby, she wanted them to know they had a family what ever happened.
"Okay but don't say I didn't warn you." Leah muttered getting up picking up the bag which contained her wedding dress and walking off Jane quickly following her.
Leah just knocked on the door praying that someone was at least in considering it was the middle of the afternoon. She waited looking at Jane who seemed to be finally a little nervous but then again after a 20 minute walk of Leah saying the number of different ways this reunion could go and none of them were that good she could understand why.
Leah heard movements from behind the door, she saw the door open and Steve standing there in his gym gear looking a little surprised to see her.
"Leah, your back?" He finally said, still looking a little shocked to see her at his door. Leah just smiled nodding to her friend before giving him a hug.
"Yeah, would you take this?" Leah handed him her wedding dress. "It weighs a ton."
Steve took the dress bag off of her with ease before letting them in. Leah immediately sat herself down comfortably while Jane seemed to take her time in settling.
"Steve, this is Jane Foster, Jane this is Steve Rogers or you may know him as Captain America." Leah introduced the two strangers to each other. Steve seemed to be looking a Jane like he knew who she was. "Steve this is Thor's better half."
"I knew the face." Steve nodded glancing back to Leah smiling. "Why are you back after so long?"
"I need to talk to Clint." Leah said coming out with it knowing that there was no point dodging the subject with Steve. "I want to solve the rift between us."
"Leah." Steve groaned looking a little troubled by what he said. "I can't I am sorry, I am sure that he will inform SHIELD and I don't want you to be a prisoner. I am telling you Leah as a friend, please don't ask me to do this. Don't ask me to see you put in any form of danger."
"Worth a try though, I am getting married in two days Steve." Leah explained understanding what Steve meant, after the last time she knew it would be a push to get him to agree. "I am also pregnant again so that was why I was hoping to sort things. I want all of you to meet Astrid and this next little one."
"I would if I knew what he would do. Clint is a little unpredictable when it comes to anything about you at the moment. He misses you, we all know it but none of us say anything just in case." Steve sat down opposite them. "But I don't know how he would react at all if you just arrived at his place. I would hope that he would give you a chance to explain."
"Thanks Steve." Leah sighed thinking perhaps it was for the best. "How is he doing, where is he these days?"
"Him and Natasha have a flat together where they spend a lot of their time." Steve smiled explaining to Leah. "I think they are happy but it's hard to tell. How are you doing Leah?"
"I am good, happy and excited about the wedding." Leah replied smiling to herself. "I was going to invite you but I could see that causing problems with SHIELD."
Steve just nodded, Leah stood up looking to her friend before giving him another hug. She pulled back looking at him.
"We better head back." She sighed "Don't want to be missed, I will come back once everything has settled down Steve."
Steve nodded. They left not saying a word, Leah had too much to think about to even start explaining it to Jane. When they arrived back at Asgard and were out of Heimdall's direct look Jane muttered.
"I am sorry, I should have never mentioned trying to see him."
"I knew what would happen in my heart anyway." Leah smiled back at her. "Thank you for helping me find the perfect dress though."
"It's okay." Jane said trying to smile weakly. "I am off to collect Astrid, I will see you tomorrow."
Jane just nodded as they went off their separate ways, Leah knew that Jane must feel guilty but she had actually given Leah the push she needed. Leah dropped the new wedding dress off changing back into a simple mink coloured gown before meeting the Queen. Astrid was already asleep in the Queens chambers, Leah just placed a kiss on the little girls head.
"A good day?" The Queen asked stepping into the room to join her.
"Yes." Leah smiled lying. "I was wondering would you keep Astrid for the night? Jane and I are going to have food out in Asgard and a few drinks."
"Of course." The Queen nodded "Tomorrow we will need to start decorating and then tomorrow night you will need your rest before the big day."
"Yes." Leah agreed. "I will pick Astrid up in the morning then, early."
The Queen just nodded again before Leah left. She pulled her cloak tightly around herself as she headed back down to the observatory knowing that in her heart this was the right thing to do. It was the only way she could get peace with herself.