Author's Notes: My apologies if you ship the Thor/Jane relationship. I've just never personally gotten it and the lack of chemistry (in my perception) between Chris and Natalie in the movie just sealed their doom as a couple in my eyes. But hey, he feels really bad about it! If you're the kind of reader that leaks from the eyes, get out a fresh box of tissues and hold on to them until you reach the end of the chapter, because, oh my goodness, the FEELS!

… …

"Okay, so let me make sure I've got this straight. Our resident emo doesn't have family issues anymore…"

"I have family issues, Tony, they are simply less bothersome," Loki interrupted.

"Do you even know what emo means?" he challenged.

"Yes, Darcy used the term in New Mexico and was kind enough to explain it. While I disagree that it applies to me, I can see your point in using it."

"Okay, then. Your half-brother is now King of Jötunheim, you're okay with Thor being crown prince in Asgard, you don't have any other brothers, half-brothers, adoptive brothers or whatever running around…"

"That any of us are aware of."

Tony bit the inside of his cheek. "Yeah, how about you let me finish summarizing and then you can criticize, clarify, or whatever the hell else you want."

"Sorry." Loki didn't sound the least bit sorry, and Tony was certain he saw a certain glint in those emerald eyes.

"Sure you are. Now…where was I?"

"Family issues are resolved and Prince Loki's half-brother reigns in Jötunheim, sir," Jarvis advised him.

"Right, thanks, J. Okay, so everything's copasetic everywhere else, but you may need to go back to Jötunheim in a few weeks and you will be going back for your brother's birthday in six months. Right?"

"Correct, more or less. And Dr. Banner will be traveling to Asgard in a few weeks or so to take part in the new treaty and trade negotiations with the Jötnar."

"Yeah…why? Bruce knows nothing about negotiating or about treaties or trade."

"I'm the big stick, Tony," Bruce told him.

"Huh?"

"The Æsir are not quite as tough, brute strength-wise, as the Jötnar. The height of the average Jötunn warrior also gives them a distinct advantage in battle. They literally look down on the Æsir for that reason even though the Æsir have ultimately defeated them in every war they've had. My other is as tall as a Jötunn, but is broader and stronger and they respect that. They got to see the Hulk take on two of their people hell-bent on killing him and, well, let's just say they were far less durable than Loki."

"They are a good bit less durable, as you call it, than most Æsir, full or part, but you weren't trying to kill me, just subdue me and I thank the Norns, as much as that galls, for that small favor."

"Okay, so you'll be there because they respect your other's prowess as a fighter, right?"

"Exactly, Tony; and I'm a third party. Since my other has beaten on Æsir and Jötnar alike, and I am a friend of both Loki's and Thor's, both sides are more likely to listen to me even if I simply repeat the same thing one of them has just said."

"We just fall further down the damn rabbit hole each and every day, don't we?" He turned to point at Loki when the god opened his mouth. "That was rhetorical, Lokes. No answer wanted." His honorary brother-in-law smirked and shrugged. "Okay. So we also have to get our backsides in gear because we are expecting a return visit at some time in the relatively near future from the Chitauri and this time you guys think their big boss will come with them, right?"

Silence reigned for a moment before Loki smirked at him again. "I'm sorry, were you expecting an answer this time?"

"Loki! Knock it off and be serious, please?" Kara asked him.

"I find levity is the best way to deal with mind-numbing fear." Tony blinked. Had Rock of Ages just admitted he was scared shitless? "Yes, Tony," Loki continued as though he'd spoken aloud. "Only a fool wouldn't be frightened by the prospect of facing the Mad Titan. And if you've faced him before, that fear is trebled, at least."

Shit, fuck, and fuck again. Those green eyes were positively haunted. "Honestly, I don't know how you're as sane as you are." He ran a hand through his hair. "Okay then, you and I need to work on early warning systems and defense. Bruce will help us while he's here, so that's a priority. Thor, I think Haakun has some kind of good will tour planned for you, Nyvorlas and Sif."

"And Loki and Kara as well," Haakun reminded him.

"Yeah, um, this impending invasion takes precedence. Loki's the only one with direct experience; we'll need him working on that. How about you pick just a few specific events that they need to be at and have only the other three at the rest and I can fly them out for those events?"

"Kara can join us…"

"No. Kara stays with me." Loki sounded determined to make that one stick.

"We can spin it," Pepper told Odin's representative. "Use the romance angle to explain their absence from most of the trip."

"That might work."

"Of course it will," Tony said, clapping his hands enthusiastically. "Yep, that's a plan. Okay, anything else we missed?"

Loki frowned. "I don't think so."

… …

Clint exchanged glances with Natasha. She nodded all but imperceptibly. "Well, there's one more thing." He waited until all eyes turned to them. "Natasha is having our baby. She's due in about eight months."

Everyone who had remained behind on Earth stared at them in total shock. Finally, Stark shook his head. "Jarvis, who won the pool?" he asked the AI.

"You started a pool on when I would get pregnant?" Natasha asked in a deadly voice.

"Nooo, we had a pool going on who would be the first to get pregnant."

"Marginally better," she grumped.

"The winner, Mr. Stark, is Director Fury."

"That…" Clint trailed off, not really having words just now to express his annoyance.

"Despite having one usable eye, he's not blind, Hawk," Natasha said wryly.

"Yeah, but I thought we were more discrete than that."

"He did have the advantage of knowing we would likely not think about contraception after all those years of having it routinely handled for us."

He pursed his lips, thinking about it. "Shit."

"Any idea what you're having yet?" Pepper asked with a tiny smile.

"A baby."

Loki snorted. "Funny, Barton. Was it intentional or did you not understand that the lady wished to know the baby's gender?"

"Oh, right." He frowned and shook his head. How freaking embarrassing. "Uh, we're having a girl. Lady Eir confirmed it and said she's as healthy as can be and then some."

"Why 'and then some'? Beth asked.

"While it was nowhere near the level of what was done to Captain Rogers, I was also physically enhanced a bit as a child," Natasha explained. "Apparently that enhancement was at the genetic level."

"Oh, wow. I guess I'd better update your medical file then. And review gynecology practices."

Pepper held up a hand before they could ask Beth what she was talking about. "Beth will be Dr. Anderson by this spring and has agreed to be the Avengers' personal physician. So, please, give her any and all information you can so she's able to help you when you need it. She's going to do her internship at NYP's trauma center when she isn't needed here."

"Nice," Clint approved. "We were wondering what to do about a doc. Not saying Banner doesn't do a good job when necessary, but having a pure M.D. around never hurts." He grinned and looked around at the group to see if they were all relaxed before dropping the other shoe. "Loki and Kara are going to be the baby's godparents."

"Clint…" Loki warned as the group exploded in surprise. "We've discussed how that would be a problem."

"Could be, not would be. Pepper will get legal working on it, won't you, Pepper?"

"Certainly, but what could or would the problem be?"

Loki pinched the bridge of his nose and frowned at her. "Hmm, well, firstly, I'm still considered a war criminal here. Secondly, I am not a citizen of this country, let alone this realm, and…"

"Hold up, doubting Thomas, you've missed a few things too. Haakun has been really busy these past two weeks," Stark told them.

"And what has he been doing that has a bearing on this?"

Haakun sat up and leaned forward from the comfortable chair he'd been lounging in. "I have secured pardons from the governments of the United States of America and the Federal Republic of Germany for your actions in relation to the invasion. There were no charges for the Puente Antiguo incident as S.H.I.E.L.D. had explained away that event with a tale about a scientific robotics experiment gone wrong or some such nonsense. Of course, it helps that no one saw you there other than Prince Thor."

Loki looked stunned, Thor was grinning ear to ear, and Kara's eyes were wet. "So, that only leaves the citizen thing." Clint offered. "I'm sure there's a way around that."

"Yeah, we'll worry about that later," Tony said. "So, anything else?" The genius waited but no one said a word. "Cool beans. We're all going out to dinner to celebrate. And sorry, it's another fancy place so there will be food grumping and I don't want to hear it. Direct your complaints about the venue or the menu to Pepper. Uh, sorry, Pep, but you did choose it."

"I did and it's okay." She smiled sweetly and Clint knew that complaining to her would be as foolish as trying to put something over on the Black Widow. Oh, hell no. "Our reservations are for eight this evening at the NoMad, we'll be leaving at seven; formal dress, please. For those of you from off-realm, that means something like you wore to the wedding feast if you have it with you; our citizens, black tie and evening gowns."

"Kara will be wearing Asgardian dress," Loki informed them.

"Oh will I?"

The god frowned and looked at his wife. "Kara, I'd appreciate it if you wore Asgardian dress."

"Not quite a request, but close enough. Was that really so difficult?"

"I think you know the answer to that," Loki groused.

Kara smirked and leaned in against him. "If you get in the habit of it, it will get a lot easier." He shook his head and frowned at everyone who laughed.

"Wait a minute," Clint said, deciding to grab the attention before Loki got pissed. "I have to wear black tie? Aw, man, that sucks. There's no good way to carry my quiver with one of those monkey suits on."

… …

Jane frowned as Thor disappeared yet again. Was he avoiding her or was it just her overactive imagination? She sighed and flopped down in the armchair Haakun had recently vacated. "What's up, Jane?" Darcy asked her.

"I wish I knew." She stared up at the younger woman. "Did it seem to you like Thor was avoiding me?"

Darcy frowned and sat down across from her. "Now that you mention it, um, yeah, kind of."

"He's going to dump me, isn't he? We haven't even had a real date, but I'm about to get dumped."

"Jane, just relax and breathe, okay?"

"I need a drink."

"What? No, you really don't need a…"

Her friend broke off as a wine glass was moved in front of Jane's face. Jane looked up and took it and smiled wanly at Pepper. "Thanks. You're a lifesaver." She took a sip of the light fruity wine and leaned back in her chair. "I'm not sure what I'm so torn up about. It's not like we really even have a relationship."

"You wanted one," Pepper said gently as she handed Darcy a glass and then sat on the sofa and sipped her own wine.

Jane looked around the room. Beth was heading over to the sofa with Natasha. The redhead was carrying a bottle of water instead of a wineglass. Of the women, only Kara was missing and with the annoyance Loki had been showing at the end of the meeting, that wasn't surprising. "So, is this an intervention, or what?"

"I asked Thor to hold off on talking to you," Pepper began. "He's really torn up about this and he hates that he might be responsible for hurting you, but he couldn't let you continue to have false hopes for something more with him."

"You mean he doesn't have the balls to face me."

"No, that's absolutely not true," Natasha told her. "He wanted to take you aside first thing, but Pepper asked him to hold off until tomorrow. We were discussing maybe a spa day afterwards when we realized that it would be better if we talked to you now so you weren't left hanging. You're a bright woman, you were bound to notice."

"So why not just let him tell me today?"

"Thor asked Tony for advice on how to tell you. He didn't want to blurt it out and just make it worse." Pepper said. "He isn't the world's best at communication; not on his world or ours and he recognizes that."

"He asked Tony? Oh, wow, that's rich. Um, no pun intended."

Pepper smiled. "Tony knew to call me. Jane…"

"No, you know, it's okay. I-I was probably reading more into the chivalry and gallantry and all of that stuff than was really there. After all, I'm the one that kissed him, right? He didn't make a move on me. Jesus, I am such an idiot."

"You are not an idiot, Jane," Pepper scolded. "You are a strong, intelligent woman. You saw a man worth having and let him know you were seriously interested in him. He likes you and he appreciates you, and because he is worth having he knew it wouldn't be fair to you to string you along with a casual relationship when he realized he didn't feel as deeply for you as you deserve."

She drained her glass and stood then promptly sat back down again as a wave of dizziness hit her. "Damn it. I just swallowed the stuff it shouldn't be hitting me that fast."

"It's the stress, Jane," Beth told her. "Not the alcohol."

"Okay, whatever. Pepper, scratch me from the dinner reservations. I really can't be there. Whether everyone else thinks I'm an idiot or not, I feel like one and I won't be able to handle it without breaking down."

"Understood. Are you up for a girl's day out at the spa tomorrow?"

"Can I get wasted there?"

"If you want, sure."

"Sounds like a plan."

… …

Kara stared at the blank wall where her door used to be. "Jarvis, what happened to my suite?"

"Anthony felt…"

"Jarvis, call him Mr. Stark, please. Even I'm getting creeped out by you calling him Anthony."

"Yes, your highness. Mr. Stark felt that since the two of you would be living here long term, you should have a larger living space. Your suite, Dr. Banner's suite and the guest room at the end of this hall have been combined into one apartment. Dr. Banner's former entry is now the main entrance and he has been moved to a different floor."

"I see. Thank you, Jarvis." She turned and headed down the hall, surprised Loki hadn't commented on her resetting Jarvis again. The door was now a double door. Fancy, but why? "Uh, Jarvis, why the double door?"

"It made moving building materials and the larger pieces of furniture less difficult, princess."

"Oh." She stared at knob which had no key, shrugged and twisted it. It didn't open. "Jarvis?"

"My apologies, your highness. The lock has been voice coded to both you and Prince Loki and is semi-independent of my network. I can access it remotely for you, or if I am disabled in any way, you may each simply say your first name and the lock will open for you."

"Loki," Loki said from behind her and the door clicked open. He shook his head. "What is to prevent someone from using a recording of our voices?"

"The system also scans the individual at the door. If the scan results are not consistent with the name spoken, the door will not open."

"What if the power goes out?" Kara wanted to know.

"The scanning and locking system has an independent uninterruptible power source as backup."

There was no sign of a scanner on the walls or imbedded in the door so they both looked up at the ceiling where a small aperture now resided. "Sounds good to me," she decided and pushed open the door to their new home. "Um, Loki? Is it just me, or does this look a lot like your chambers in Asgard?"

He set their bags down and laid his hands on her shoulders as he looked around. "As much as it could with the difference in size and shape of the space, yes." He squeezed gently. "They're our chambers."

"I know, and so are these." She turned around and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Do you like it?"

"Yes. They really want me to feel welcome and at home here, don't they?"

"Of course. Once you let the real Loki come out and play, everyone liked you." She swatted his shoulder playfully. "You're a fun and likable kind of guy."

"Hmm. Then why did no one seem to like me in Asgard?"

"Don't start. Thor liked you. Volstagg liked you. I think Fandral was jealous as all hell of you. Sif, I think, was so busy mooning over Thor that she didn't really notice you until you messed up her hair." She chuckled as he winced. "And I don't think Hogun likes anyone. He just kind of gets along with them or avoids them like the plague. Did he ever go out of his way to avoid you?"

"No, no he did not."

"There, you see? You just assumed because they weren't fawning all over you like they did with Thor that they all disliked you."

"I suppose that's possible. But your-our friends just…like me."

"Yeah, hon, they do. Welcome home, Loki."

… …

"Jane," Thor said, detaching himself from the wall outside of her lab.

She frowned at him and nodded. "Thor."

"I-we need to talk."

"Actually, no, we don't. The girls did your dirty work for you." He winced and his chin dropped to his chest. She sighed and activated the lab's door panel thinking that she really hadn't had enough wine to deal with this. "Come on in, let's talk about it."

He followed her in like a lost puppy. "I wanted to speak to you myself, but I was told that would hurt you worse as I am not good with words." She didn't have an answer for that, so sat down on the stool in front of her worktable. "I am sorry, Jane. I know my actions led you to believe that my feelings for you were strong. You are an amazing woman, but…"

"You don't love me."

"Not as you should be loved. Not in the manner that a husband should love his wife. I-I thought perhaps I might love you, but then discovered that I loved my family more. A man should love his woman more than he loves his family. A king should love his queen more than he loves his people. I realized that I did not love you the way my father loves Frigga or the way Loki loves Kara. You deserve that kind of love and I am not able to give it to you. I am sorry."

"Oh, Thor. I'm sorry, too. I presumed a lot, I know, so it's not all your fault. It's okay, really. I understand. I'm not going to lie to you, it hurts like hell, but I do understand."

"Can we remain friends?" he asked.

She frowned at him. "Did no one warn you not to ask to be my friend at a time like this?"

"No, is that a bad thing?"

"Yeah, it's a really bad thing. You were doing great until you said that. No, Thor, I can't be your friend, not right now. I'm hurt and I feel stupid about the whole thing and I'm not going to be able to just suck it up and be your friend. So…just go, all right? I need to not look at you for a while."

He looked like he'd been kicked. Good. That was the way she felt. 'Be his friend' my ass, she thought. "I will honor your request. The big lug hesitated as the door panel slid open. "I am truly sorry, Jane."

"I know." The door closed behind him and she leaned her arms on the table, put her head down on them and began to cry.

… …

"Prince Loki? Prince Thor requests entrance."

Loki frowned as he came out of the walk-in closet. Their outer clothing and armor was hung up. Kara was in the bedchamber folding their small clothes and putting them in drawers. "Grant him entry, Jarvis."

The door clicked and soon opened. Thor came in, his head hanging like the beaten cur he'd often compared him too. "Brother," he said, sounding miserable.

"Oh, for…what did you do?"

"I spoke to Jane."

He told himself to have patience, but that was a lost cause. "Were you not told to avoid speaking with her?"

"Yes, but that wasn't honorable. I had to tell her myself."

Sighing he gestured to the chairs in the living area. "Sit down. How were we raised by the same parents? You have no common sense whatsoever."

"You were always the brighter of us, Loki. Everyone knows that. But I was doing well, at first. We were talking and I feel she truly understood it was for the best."

"Until you managed to ruin it in some way."

"Please tell me you didn't ask her to be your friend," Kara said as she bustled out of the bedchamber carrying the toiletries they'd brought from Asgard. Thor's head drooped even lower. "Oh for heaven's sake, Thor; why didn't you just punch her in her stomach?" She stormed on into the bathing chamber, muttering under her breath. "Loki," she called out. "You were right all along. Your brother is an idiot."

Loki did his best to hide his amusement but failed miserably if Thor's glare was anything to judge by. "I'm not laughing at you, well, not really. I'm amused because I've been vindicated yet again."

"I want to be her friend, Loki. I don't understand."

"You told her she wasn't good enough to love, just good enough to keep company with. That's quite an insult, brother."

"That was not my intent!"

"I know that, and at some level I'm certain Lady Jane does as well. But she is pained right now and dealing with rejection. That is how she would take it at such a time," he explained patiently.

Thor sighed and covered his face with his large hands. "I was cruel to her all unknowing," he muttered.

"Yes, you were. Keep your distance from her, brother." He used the familial term again, knowing it would lift Thor's spirits. "Eventually she will get over her hurt and might then forgive you. It's possible that one day you might be able to be friends. For now, give her the distance from you she needs." Thor nodded and stood. "Oh, and by all you hold sacred, Thor, do not woo anyone in her presence. That would be rubbing salt in the wound. It's doubtful you will find your one love so soon, but if you do, be discreet."

"I will try, Loki." Thor headed to the door. "Brother?"

"Yes, Thor?" The great oaf just stood there looking lost. Loki sighed, walked over and held out his arms to him and suffered having his ribs all but cracked by Thor's embrace. He tolerated it because Thor was shaking. This whole situation had affected him deeply. "She'll heal, brother," Loki assured him. "Her friends will help her and eventually she'll move on and find someone who will love her as she deserves to be loved. You did the right thing."

"Thank you, Loki. I-it means much to hear you say so."

… …

Pepper directed their outing with the skill of a symphony maestro. The limos deposited them outside of the NoMad Hotel and the Avengers and their now famous guests from Asgard and Ljósálfheim walked a literal red carpet into the building. The paparazzi had been alerted for this junket and one of the network news stations had sent a crew to watch them enter the boutique hotel and its popular restaurant. Handheld cameras clicked and video cameras tracked the group as the turn of the century Beaux-Arts building drew admiring stares from their off-realm guests. Captain America and Ambassador Haakun – the new title courtesy of a writ brought from Asgard by Thor, stopped to speak to the press, giving prepared statements and answering a limited number of questions. The others smiled and waved at the gathered members of the press and ignored the pleas for comments as they were escorted inside. "Well, wasn't running the gamut out there an interesting experience?" Loki said quietly from her right once they were finally all seated. "Will it be like that wherever we go?"

"For a while, yes. Once interest drops off you'll be able to move about more anonymously."

"I don't like them being told that I was controlled by the Titan. That is not truly…"

"That's what they'll best understand. They are being told you fought that control and are the reason the invasion failed. If it hadn't been for your lovely speech in Stuttgart, we wouldn't have had to use the term 'control' at all," she told him, trying to keep any censure from her voice.

"Hmm, that was fun." He looked at her when she gasped. "The speech, dear lady, not the rest of it; the drama of my monologue was…exhilarating."

"And that is why you are not taking questions from the press yet. You cannot say things like that and hope to be accepted."

"You need to be accepted, Loki," Kara told him before he could retort, much to Pepper's relief. "We're here for the next century and some, we'll want to be able to do things other than sit around the tower and wait for our help to be needed."

"Spoilsport," he groused, but a grin played at the corners of his lips. He really was a rogue, Pepper thought, an involuntary smile emerging. But at least he was a charming one.

… …

Haakun watched Thor worriedly. Odin's eldest son was picking at the dish of suckling pig he'd ordered. It wasn't at all like him. The young god generally inhaled the food offered him and then asked for more. The ending of his attachment to the mortal woman had affected him strongly. Thor was also uncharacteristically quiet. Loki was working hard to draw his brother into conversation, but even his silver tongue was failing at the task. Haakun decided that he had best give it a try. "Thor, how is your father faring with the council over a new treaty with Jötunheim?" he asked.

"Fine."

Loki looked at him and shook his head minutely, also quite obviously concerned. "Has he contacted the other Realms to have them send representation to the talks?" Haakun persisted.

The prince blinked several times and then stared at him. "Of course."

Two words. This was so disheartening. "We'll be attending what Stark Industries' public relations specialist called a 'meet and greet' at the United Nations tomorrow evening. You need to be prepared to represent Asgard properly. Can I count on you?"

Thor looked up sharply and squared his shoulders. "Indeed, Ambassador. I will be ready."

"My brother is always ready for everything…so long as there is food or fighting involved," Loki commented lightly.

"Now that is not true, brother. I am also quite ready for everything when gaming is involved."

Loki laughed aloud at Thor's response. Even Lady Sif grinned. "I remember one game you were not ready for, Thor," she said. "Do you recall what happened the day you were supposed to race Loki from the gates of Asgard to Fensalir?"

Thor flushed and frowned at Loki. "Yes, someone got me too well drunk the night before," he growled.

"Don't glare at me, brother. I was in my bed, reading until I fell asleep. Fandral said that you were showing off for those two ladies you had your eye on, insisting you could out drink Volstagg. No one can out drink Volstagg, as you should have remembered."

"Perhaps it was so, I do not recall."

"I hope you recall how sick you were the next morn. Mother was quite put out over the mess you made when you finally arrived at her gates. And I was forced to groom your stallion, you were far too ill to stand after the ride, let alone care for him. I don't think he was any happier about that than I."

"Humph."

"Give it up, Thor," Sif said. "Even I noticed you drinking to excess that evening. Hogun did warn you, but you brushed him off."

Thor sighed. "Now that I do remember; I think perhaps I drank more because our grim friend told me that I could not continue to drink and still win my race on the morrow. I was determined to prove him wrong."

"Good times," Loki mused.

He glowered briefly but then Thor began to smile. "Yes, brother, they were. And we shall have good times again, starting with this meal here with our friends."

Haakun nodded in satisfaction. Thor's unaccustomed spate of brooding was broken. All would be well. "How is the suckling pig, my prince?" he asked.

… …

Stark was grinning like a loon, Loki decided. They'd all arrived back at Avengers' Tower and the man had blocked Kara as she tried to get out of the vehicle. "Not so fast, Kara. Your evening isn't done yet. Have a nice ride." Stark closed the door in his startled lady's face and tapped the top of the limo. The driver pulled away with them inside, following his previously delivered instructions.

"Where are we going?" she asked him, finally becoming suspicious.

"Just for a ride…and perhaps a bit of a stroll." It was amazing, Loki thought, that she hadn't realized much earlier that something was going on. Stark had come for him shortly after Thor had returned to his own suite, using the excuse of having Loki look over the existing security and defense protocols. He had, in truth, reviewed them while on their way to 5th Avenue and 57th Street, but that was far from the purpose of their outing.

The driver pulled up in front of Central Park and held the door for them. "I'll wait for you here, your highness."

"Thank you."

He escorted Kara into the park, nodding to the park police officers who stood by to prevent any of the press from trailing behind them. This was to be a private moment, though if it had the result he hoped, the press would be advised of it upon their return to the limo. They soon emerged in a clearing, one that he was far too familiar with. He'd left for Asgard chained and muzzled from here and returned to Midgard at the same spot a broken, bleeding mess. It was time to give the place a positive memory…he hoped. Kara was a most unpredictable woman. She was staring at the ground near the middle of the clearing. "It's been two months, or near enough, and the energy is still so…desperate, so hopeless here," she whispered.

Loki was no empath, but he felt a shudder run through her when they reached one spot in the clearing. "Let's change that energy then, shall we?" She stared as he dropped to one knee. "Kara, my beautiful lady; you were given no true choice but to marry me according to the laws of Asgard. Here, on Midgard, you do have a choice and I would give that to you. Will you take me as your husband, according to the laws of this land, so that I might show to everyone how very much I love and honor you?"

Her jaw dropped for a moment and then she smiled…a lovely joyful smile that made his heart sing. "Oh, Loki…that's…yes, absolutely."

He pulled the ring from the small box labeled 'Tiffany's' and slid it on her finger. "I hope you do not mind my choosing for you. Pepper tells me that it can be done either way, but…"

The fingers of her right hand brushed his lips. "It's perfect; it goes with the bracelets, I love it." She admired the dark green stone set in an eighteen karat gold setting. "Emeralds are beautiful in yellow gold, and so very you," she said.

"Emeralds? I suppose so. These are diamonds, love. Stark assured me that diamonds were the preferred stones for engagement and wedding rings."

"I didn't even know they came in green, wow." She stared at the ring for a moment more and then looked into his eyes. "Are we going to do a wedding and everything too?"

"Yes, my love; all of it. I want you to enjoy every tradition, every right and every privilege accorded to brides of this realm."

The dazzling smile emerged again, but this time tears swam in her amazing eyes. "Thank you, you know this means the world to me."

"Yes, Kara. I can't give you the world itself, and I know you don't want it. But this, this I can give you and I am glad to do so."

Her arms slipped around his neck and he lifted her up against his chest as he stood, kissing her thoroughly in the process. "I love you so very much, Loki. I can't even begin to explain how much."

"You are everything to me, Kara. Without you, I would have died at this very spot. If you had saved me, but had not loved me, I would be rotting in a cell in Asgard. If you had loved me but not trusted me, Thor and I would have died when the Chitauri and their masters invaded Asgard. If you had not accepted Odin's terms for my sentencing, I would have died on Jötunheim. I would not exist but for you. More importantly, but for you I would not want to. You are my one love and there will never be another who means so much to me."

"Hmm," she breathed after they shared another deep kiss. "You really do have a silver tongue."

"In more ways than one, my love."