"Hela." Loki greeted his daughter with a warm smile. He had not seen her in centuries and she was even more beautiful than the last time he saw her. Because of the nature of the realm of Helheim, Loki was unable to visit his daughter. No living soul can pass into the realm of the dead; physically or astrally. He had not seen her since she was given her title and sent off. She had grown into a graceful and exquisite lady bearing a striking resemblance to her father and not, Norns be praised, her mother.

Loki was relieved to see in her anything but a permanent reminder of that sorceress, Angrboda. She had, after trying to seduce Thor and failing, set her sights on Loki in order to infiltrate the highest ranks of Asgard. Once it was discovered that she was a Jotun who had sneaked into Asgard, she was sentenced to death- saved only at the last moment by revealing her pregnancy. Once Hela was born, Angrboda was executed, leaving Loki to raise his daughter alone. He was an attentive and loving father until Odin deemed Hela unfit to remain in Asgard due to her Jotun heritage. By that time, Hela was barely of age but because she was the daughter of a prince, Odin so generously gave her the title Queen of Helheim; the realm of the dead. Loki was devastated and this opened an enormous rift between him and Odin that would never heal.

He wrapped his daughter tightly in his arms. "I have missed you, little bird."

"I've missed you, too," she said with a smile.

They embraced for what seemed an eternity before Hela spoke. "I heard that you had fallen into a rough time. Are you well now, Father?"

He slowly nodded. "I'm better than I was, yes." He smiled as he thought of Astrid.

Hela gave her father a sideways grin. "Does she have a name?"

He was impressed that his little girl had read him so well. "She does. Her name is Astrid and she is of Midgard."

Hela's eyebrows raised. "Midgard, you say?"

"Yes, Midgard. And before you start, do not lecture me. I am your father," he playfully scolded, pointing his finger at her face. "Astrid is my wife."

Hela nodded. "I am happy for you. I love you and it makes my heart glad to hear of your good fortune." She had missed out on so much of her father's life, hearing only of his downfall through the accounts of the dead souls that passed into her realm. It broke her heart when she heard that he was feared dead but she knew that he still lived- he had not arrived in her realm. She was told of his reappearance and subsequent attack on Midgard as well as his imprisonment in Asgard's dungeon.

Loki embraced his daughter once more and whispered, "Thank you."

"I assume that you want to return to Asgard?" she asked sadly.

"Yes, I'm afraid so, little bird. I must attend to some unfinished business," he said. "There are old scores to settle... and the Aether threatens to swallow all of creation."

Hela broke from the embrace. "The Aether? I thought it was hidden away," she said incredulously.

"It was, until a mortal stumbled upon the vault. Now the Dark Elves have possession of it and it looks rather bleak at the moment."

Hela blinked at her father in disbelief. "I assumed that the Dark Elves were extinct."

Loki's face went taut. "We all did. And now it is up to Thor to destroy them and contain the Aether."

Hela tenderly laid her hand on Loki's shoulder and spoke. "You sacrificed yourself to save Uncle Thor, didn't you?" she asked softly. Even after centuries apart, she could still read her father with uncanny accuracy.

Loki crossed his arms across his chest. "Well, someone had to save him from that wretched monster. It was mere seconds away from killing him."

Hela nodded, knowing that her time with her father would have to end shortly. "I should send you back soon. You know how quickly Asgard prepares its dead."

"I do. They'll be lighting the torches any moment now, I suppose. But before I leave, I have a great favor to ask of you, little bird," he said.

"Anything, Father," she replied.

"Do you still possess the grimoire of banned spells?" he asked with a devious grin.

"Right this way," she replied with a knowing smile.

Astrid was still lingering over her husband's body, stroking his face and hair as tears ran down her cheeks. Frigga approached Astrid and placed her hand on her mourning daughter-in-law's shoulder. "Astrid, it is time."

"No," she said as she wiped the moisture from her eyes with her sleeve.

"We must make… preparations," the queen explained, her voice wavering.

"No. I'm not leaving him," Astrid said as her heart beat erratically with anxiety. She clasped Loki's cool hand with no intention of letting go. If she did, they would take him and put him on one of those boats, and she just couldn't bear the thought of it. "P- Please don't let them take him," she whispered around the lump in her throat with her gaze firmly fixed upon Loki's still face.

Frigga was absolutely heartbroken but she understood what had to happen next. "My child, he must be cleaned and prepared," she said, her voice trembling with grief.

"Then I'll do it," Astrid quietly suggested.

Frigga shook her head. "I do not think that would be wise."

Astrid whipped her head around and snapped, "I said I'll do it. Let me do it."

The queen knew that Astrid was suffering, just as she herself was. As much as the queen loved her son, she could not bring herself to prepare him for the boat, but perhaps it would help ease Astrid's anguish. "We will still need to move him."

Once Loki's body was placed in the preparation room, Astrid and Frigga entered carrying golden bowls of water and oils. Frigga leaned over and kissed her son's forehead once more. "Let me know when you are finished and I will help you with his armor," she said to Astrid before leaving the room.

It was a rather lovely space, considering its purpose. Small, with a large window that opened to a view of the Bifrost and the ocean, framed in sheer flowing curtains that fluttered lightly in the breeze. Ornate golden tables on both sides of the gurney held the bowls of water and oil backdropped with rich tapestries on each wall depicting scenes of the afterlife. A green and gold loveseat sat near the door facing the window.

Astrid dipped a washcloth into the bowl of water and squeezed out the excess. She didn't understand how she still had any tears left to cry but they came flowing out nonetheless as she wiped Loki's face clean of the black dust. She gazed at his closed eyes that would never open again, recalling their exact shade of green. She rinsed the cloth and wrung it out, then washed his arms and his hands. She wept as she cleaned away the blood that had crusted around the wound in his chest. She abandoned the blood-stained cloth in one bowl and reached for a second bowl of clean water. She dipped a new cloth into the bowl and squeezed, wiping him down from his stomach to the fabric that was draped across his hips. She moved to wash down his legs when she noticed something move in her peripheral vision.

Her eyes were so blurry and swollen from crying that she wasn't quite sure she was seeing what she thought she was seeing: Loki, leaning against the door frame with his finger to his lips. No… Then he smiled at her. She stumbled backwards and knocked over the bowl of blood-tinged water, catching it before it fell to the marble floor. Her dress was soaked and he was standing there grinning at her. Holy hell, I've lost my mind…

He walked towards her with that slow swagger of his, leaned down just in front of her face, and whispered, "Did you miss me, love?"

Astrid just stood there shaking, her eyes wide as saucers, not believing what she saw. 'Goddammit, I'm hallucinating,' she thought.

He sat down on top of his lifeless body, laid back, and disappeared.

Astrid knew she had to be seeing things but she couldn't help herself from cautiously leaning over his body. She bent down ever closer, hovering her face over his. Astrid, you're a damn fool if you think he's going to start breathing again. Her cheek was right over his nose but she didn't feel any movement of air. She was about to give up when… he kissed her cheek. She gasped as she shot up wide-eyed and looked down at his perfectly pale skin and vibrant green eyes.

He groaned softly in pain as he sat up and beamed a coy smile at her. "Ta-da," he sang, raising his hands palms up and out to the side.

Astrid was overcome with joy and relief but she was also very pissed off. She had just been through hell and here he was: scaring the shit out of her again, and enjoying it. "Oh, you rotten little bastard!" she shouted. Then she grabbed him and kissed him hard enough to take his breath away. She knew it was very presumptuous of her to kiss him like that but she didn't care in the least. Loki didn't seem to mind it one bit, either.

Frigga heard the shouting and came running into the room. She saw Loki sitting up on the gurney with Astrid pressed to his lips. She cried out as she flew to him and threw her arms around him.

Loki laughed and then winced in pain. His wound was slowly knitting itself closed but it was still extremely painful. "It's good to be back," he said with a sly smile. He peered down at the cloth draped over his lap and glanced up suggestively at Astrid. "Well, my lady, you appear to be quite overdressed for this occasion."

"Do show some decorum, Loki," scolded Frigga. She waved her hand and Loki's armor reappeared on his body. Frigga grinned as she patted his cheek.

A strange sizzling sound from outside pierced the air. All three heads whipped around to look out the window and then all three pairs of eyes grew wide in horror. A tenuous, swirling blackness was creeping up around the Bifrost and spreading across the bridge.

Astrid clung to Loki and looked up to him in despair when she realized what this meant. Thor was unable to stop Malekith. It was all going to end. Everything bright and beautiful that ever existed would be gone. No more light, no more life, no more love... no more anything. She shook her head when she saw the same realization on Loki's face. "No…" she whispered.

The dark malefic vibration of the Aether thrummed through Astrid sending shivers up her spine and threatening to bring her to her knees.

She wondered if it would hurt when the blackness took them and worried that her family had already been consumed. Were they scared? They probably had no idea what any of this was. She thought of her parents, of Cait and Mike, and of Amy and Mikey, and hoped that they were asleep and unaware when it came. She hoped with all her might that they felt no pain or fear. Her body trembled as the dark shadow crept closer to the palace, threatening to swallow Asgard whole.

Loki pulled his wife and his mother close to him, one in each arm. They huddled together just as the dark shadow made its way up the side of the palace. Suddenly, it was being sucked back into the gaping hole in the sky, back to wherever it came from. The entire realm collectively sighed in relief.

The three stood clinging to one another in stunned silence. Astrid broke away and slowly crept to the window. She cautiously peered out and saw people emerging from doors and poke their heads out of windows. She spun back around to Loki and Frigga. "Is that it? Are we safe?" she asked anxiously.

Loki joined Astrid at the window and gazed out over the palace and the streets below. "It would appear so," he answered with a relieved expression.

Astrid couldn't hold back the smile spreading across her face. They were all safe and she hoped Thor and her family were as well. But there was still one burning unanswered question. She whipped her head to Loki and narrowed her eyes. "How in the hell are you here?" she asked incredulously. "I watched you… take your last breath." she said softly, remembering that exact moment and all of its agony.

He gave a half-smile and looked to Frigga. "Your granddaughter sends her regards."

Frigga nodded with a tear in her eye. She also had not seen Hela since she was sent away to Helheim and she missed her granddaughter terribly. "Such a good girl, my little Hela."

Astrid's eyebrows raised. "Hela is your daughter?" she asked Loki. 'Guess that myth is true,' she thought, making a mental note to ask him about some of the others later. There was still so much she didn't know about him.

"Yes. She sent me back," he replied with a coy smile. "You can't be rid of me that easily."

Frigga knew that there was much for Loki and Astrid to discuss. Hearing that her son's resurrection was Hela's handiwork was enough for her, for now. "And I am eternally grateful to her. I shall go seek word on your brother," she said to Loki as she turned to leave the room, shutting the door behind her.

No sooner than the door had closed, Loki waved his hand, casting a green glow around the doorframe, across all four walls, the ceiling, and the floor of the small room. "I have sealed this space so that we may speak in the most absolute of privacy."

"Okay…" She prepared herself for another one of his bombs to be dropped into her lap.

"Astrid, I am sorry but what I am about to ask of you goes against your very nature. I understand that, but in order to accomplish what needs to be done, I require your help. I need it and I can trust only you with this task. Not Mother, not Thor- only you."

Against my very nature? Her confusion and suspicion reflected in her expression. "What are you wanting to do?" she asked cautiously. This sounded really serious and it made her nervous.

He drew a slow, deep breath before he spoke. "I am going to remove Odin from the throne of Asgard."

It took a moment for his answer to process in her brain. Her eyes grew wide as she asked, "Are you planning on…?" She couldn't finish the rest of her question.

"Killing him? No. But I should after all he has done. I have acquired a spell from Hela's grimoire that will induce the Odinsleep- permanently. He will sleep and never wake, thus requiring Asgard to name its new king."

Astrid's jaw hit the floor. She couldn't respond, she could only slowly shake her head in disbelief. He wanted her to help him put his dad to sleep. Her palms were sweating and her stomach lurched.

"There are things you do not know about Odin. He has wronged not only me, but my mother, my daughter, my brother, and many of the Nine Realms. If I were to list and explain each instance, we would be here in this room for days," he said. He took her clammy hands into his as he continued, "I know that I am asking you to take a leap of faith by placing your trust in me, but I am asking regardless. Please trust me when I say that Odin must not remain king."

Astrid was dumbfounded. Her first impression of Odin left her with a bad taste in her mouth and the way he handled Loki's heritage enraged her to no end. He sent Loki and Thor to Svartalfheim without any military backing and he didn't have any sort of reaction to Loki's death. It was safe to say that Odin didn't rate very high with her and she could only imagine what kind of crap he had pulled over the ages. Loki seemed very convinced that dethroning Odin was the best option and she was inclined to agree with him.

She contemplated for a moment longer before she asked him, "Is this for revenge or for the greater good?"

He knew that if he was going to gain her trust and cooperation, he had to be direct and forthright. The god of mischief and lies had to lay it all out and be completely honest. He licked his lips and then spoke. "If I am to be truthful… then I seek both."

She nodded, appreciating his candor. But another question entered her mind. "So who's going to replace him?"

"The burden of the throne falls to Thor, " he replied with a slight hint of envy in his voice.

Thor seemed like a far better option to her than Odin, although she didn't get any kind of vibe from Thor that would indicate he had any interest in ruling Asgard. He seemed content with the status quo. "What if he doesn't want the throne? What if he isn't ready?" she asked.

"Then he could abdicate. But I have serious doubts that the alternative would be viewed as acceptable," he replied, slightly bristled.

She suspected she knew the answer to her next question but she asked anyway. "And what's the alternative?"

"Me."

Astrid sighed as she realized he was right. There was no way the Asgardians would accept his reign. Still, she thought he would make a better king than Thor. It wasn't that she thought that Thor would a poor job, she just knew that Loki possessed the sharp intellect and capacity to rule. He could make the tough decisions and bring about the changes that Asgard desperately needed. She believed in him but she was part of a very small minority of one, maybe two.

"What kind of help do you need from me?" she asked quietly.

Frankly, he was surprised that she didn't need any further coercion. He had expected that he would have to plead a much stronger case to her but she quickly sided with him. Astrid and her unwavering loyalty. "The spell requires the power of two magicians. All I need you to do is hold my hands and allow me to channel your magic."

She understood and nodded. "Okay. When do you want to do this?" she asked anxiously. She couldn't believe she was agreeing to something so insidious. This was so unlike her but being married to Loki had changed her in ways she hadn't even begun to comprehend.

"The sooner the better. Right now, everyone is distracted and no one would question his falling into the Odinsleep. He is weary and this has been an incredibly stressful event. If we wait then we run the risk of arousing suspicion," he replied. He leaned in close to her and looked her straight in the eyes. "If anyone discovers what we have done, we will lose our heads."

The ability to speak escaped her brain as anxiety coursed through her body. Her heart pounded an erratic rhythm and her hands trembled. She knew Loki was right and it wasn't like they were going to kill the king. They were only going to make him take a nap. Of sorts. It felt like something out of a Shakespearean play except that this was reality, as strange and surreal as it was.

She finally nodded, indicating she was ready. She drew a deep breath and offered her hands to Loki.

"Are you absolutely certain that you wish to carry through with this?" he asked, giving her one last chance to back out. He knew he was asking her to put her life on the line for him and it was not to be taken lightly.

She inhaled a shaky breath and answered, "If you don't do this right now, then I'm going to lose my nerve."

"Very well," he said as he took her hands. "Try to relax and allow me to access your magic. Let it flow into me."

She tried to calm herself and focus but found it more difficult of a task than when she had been dying in her bathroom. She even felt less afraid when Loki had his hands around her throat that first night. This wasn't just her life she was changing- she was altering the course of an entire realm, possibly even the universe itself. Talk about pressure.

Loki dropped her hands and cradled her cheeks gently as his eyes met hers. "I know this is incredibly difficult and I am sorry to ask this of you. If there were another way, believe me, I would not involve you."

All she could do was nod wordlessly as she took his hands again and cleared her mind of the uneasiness and the fear. She had to believe that she was doing the most sensible thing. She had to trust Loki.

His eyes closed as he absorbed her magic. He could feel it mingling with his own. His lips quietly uttered the ancient words to the spell to invoke the Odinsleep.

Astrid felt an electric tingle pass through her body as the spell was cast. She briefly wondered if her magic was strong enough and if it would be returned to her once Loki had finished borrowing it.

He opened his eyes and looked to a very nervous and frightened Astrid. "It has been done."

Her body began to shake as she asked, "D- Did it work?"

"There's only one way to find out…" he replied as he removed the privacy enchantment from the room. He cracked the door open and peered out. Only three healers were in the healing room standing together and discussing the most recent events. Loki beckoned for Astrid to follow him out of the preparation room as nonchalantly as possible.

One of the healers, a young maiden, caught sight of Loki and gasped. Her eyes grew wide as if she were seeing a ghost. The other two healers whipped their heads around to see what had given their friend such a turn and the same expression of fright and disbelief painted their faces.

"Thank you for your concern but as you can see, I am quite well now. Bit of an ache in my chest but I believe I will pull through," Loki said with a mischievous grin. The healers watched in shocked silence as Loki and Astrid left the healing room.

"Where are we going?" Astrid asked Loki as they entered the hall. A small group of Einherjar marched past them in double-time headed in the direction of the throne room. She felt an air of duty and concern among the guards but no hint of panic.

"Follow them," whispered Loki.

Astrid and Loki walked briskly to the throne room and found Frigga struggling to support a slumped Odin whose limp body was sliding off the throne. He had indeed fallen into deep, unconscious sleep and the guards were rushing to pour him into a stretcher.

Freed of her comatose husband, Frigga approached her son and Astrid with Gungnir in her hand. "He has fallen into Odinsleep," she stated with mild concern. "When Thor returns, he will be coronated immediately. According to Heimdall, Malekith is dead and the Aether has been contained."

Astrid cut her eyes to a blank-faced Loki who nodded in response to his mother's report.

Just as Odin was being hurried out of the throne room by the guards, Thor walked in, followed by Sif, Volstagg, and Fandral, holding what appeared to be a small, red lantern. "Mother, what has happened?" he asked as he watched his father being carried down the hall.

Astrid sensed the Aether's presence but it didn't affect her as it did before. She suspected that the lantern held the Aether in some sort of dormant state but she wasn't going to ask. She didn't want to draw any sort of attention to herself considering what she and Loki had just done. She was a terrible liar and hoped with all of her worth that no one spoke to her or asked her any questions.

Frigga answered, "Your father has fallen into the Odinsleep. The throne is yours now, my king." She kneeled to her oldest son and held Gungnir out to him.

Thor eyed the staff and his mother warily. He did not want the throne. He had every intention of returning to Jane on Midgard once the Aether had been safely stored away. He shook his head as he spoke, "Mother, I… do not wish to rule."

Astrid was correct in her assumption. Thor had no interest in becoming king even though it was his responsibility. She was a bit disappointed in him but she also felt an odd sense of relief coupled with dread. Was he going to abdicate or would he step up to the plate? Surely he wouldn't thrust this onto Loki… No way would the Asgardians accept him as their king. He didn't need that kind of rejection. She clenched her jaw to keep from speaking her mind- an extremely difficult task for her.

Frigga rose, still holding the staff in her hands. "Son, you must assume the throne whether you wish for it or not. It is your duty."

Thor reluctantly took Gungnir in his free hand and glanced to Loki. He opened his mouth to speak but then closed it before any words left his lips. He turned to his friends, who genuflected with broad smiles upon their faces.

Turning once again to his brother, Thor asked, "What shall we do with the Aether?"

"Well…" Loki started stiffly. "The Aether is an Infinity Stone. We already have one stored in the vault here on Asgard. As king, do you think it wise to have two Stones in such close proximity?"

Thor gave the question deep thought. "I do not. Perhaps we could take it to the Collector for safekeeping?"

Loki's lips tightened into a straight, grim line. "Why in the Nine Realms would you give it to him? He cannot protect it from…" His arms crossed tightly over his chest as he shivered slightly.

Thor's brow knitted. "Protect it from what? Is there something we should know, brother?"

Only now was someone bothering to ask Loki the important questions. None of them had cared to ask before, when he was rotting in his cell. He bristled with anger and fear as he spoke. "The Mad Titan seeks the Infinity Stones to complete the Gauntlet. He will stop at nothing and will think little of destroying any and all who stand in his way."

Thor eyed his fearful brother carefully. "Are you certain of this?"

"Of course I'm certain, you oaf!" Loki spat.

Even though Loki was still blocking his vibrations from Astrid, she knew he was spiralling back into the deep darkness. She feared that if he went down too far, she wouldn't be able to reach him. She lightly touched his arm and sent out calming energy mixed with her own feelings of love and acceptance.

Loki visibly melted under her touch. He placed his hand over hers as he glanced to her with a pained smile. He knew what she was doing and he appreciated her for it. A kind heart and a tender touch was enough to take the edge off of the memories of the Mad Titan's atrocities.

Thor and the Warriors glanced to one another as they observed how Astrid was able to rein in Loki. Thor, of course, knew of Astrid's ability to calm his brother but this was their first time witnessing her in action.

With a calmer tone, Loki painfully explained, "I am certain of this plan because it was that monster who forced me to attack Midgard and fetch the Tesseract."

Thor's face fell as he understood his brother's words. 'Then why did you fight us, brother?" he asked quietly.

"I didn't have a choice," Loki replied flatly. "If I hadn't carried through with the plan, I would have faced endless pain and torture without the sweet release of death."

"Why did you say nothing of this until now?" Thor was flattened by his brother's confession. "It would have changed everything…"

With a hard expression, Loki replied, "Because no one cared to ask."

Thor rested his large hand on Loki's shoulder and stared straight into his brother's eyes. "I am sorry it seemed that way, brother. Never will it happen again."

Loki nodded and shrugged Thor's hand away. "So where do you plan to take the Aether, given that no place is truly safe?"

"We shall return it to the vault where it resided for the last five-thousand years."

An announcement was made that there would be a realm-wide celebration held to commemorate victory over Malekith and to honor Thor's coronation. The universe was safe, for now, and every citizen in the realm was overjoyed. The massive formal entertainment hall would be used to accommodate as many as possible and the crowd would likely overflow out into the parade grounds.

Astrid was in her chambers trying to decide what to wear. The green gown she wore to the Vanaheim victory festivities had been cleaned and returned to her wardrobe. She pulled it off its hanger and slipped it on. She put on the earrings and crescent necklace but not the hair clip; instead, she left her hair long and free.

She had just finished brushing her hair out when there was a knock at the door. Loki strode in and smiled brightly upon seeing Astrid in her gown. "You look… stunning."

She returned his smile and replied, "Thank you. And I'm surprised. You do know how to use a door instead of sneaking in and scaring the shit out of me."

"You're welcome," he laughed.

After a brief moment of awkward silence, he spoke again. "There is one thing I need to share with you. Would you join me out on the balcony?"

'Now what?' she thought as she followed him to the patio. This was either going to be really good or really bad. There was nothing boring or mundane when it came to dealing with Loki.

They stood together out in the late evening air. People dressed in their finery were still filtering into the front gates and the palace glittered in the twilight. Small bonfires dotted the landscape and the faint sounds of music drifted up from the streets below.

Loki took Astrid's left hand and gave it a small squeeze. "You asked me to inform you when I had information that would affect you. I am honoring that request."

She tilted her head and replied, "Okay… What is it?"

He stared out at the distant mountains for a moment and then up to the sky before his gaze settled back onto her. "When I died, our bond was severed."

Her heart grew heavy and sank as his words flowed into her ears. She swallowed hard and set her jaw, attempting to mask her breaking heart. "We aren't married anymore." she said almost inaudibly.

"No," he replied softly.

Tears formed in her eyes and she looked up to the sky to blink them away. Her lips tightened as she inhaled deeply, desperately trying to fight back the deluge that wanted to pour out. She remembered the sensation of her soul being ripped apart as he was dying and at the time, she had attributed it to grief. It would appear that the pain was from their souls separating.

"Astrid?"

"Yep?" she asked, biting her lips together, still gazing up to the swirling nebulae and stars above.

"Will you look at me?" he asked.

She closed her eyes and replied, "I can't…" She knew if she looked at him she would cry. She still couldn't sense his emotions and she wasn't sure if she really wanted to right now. Her heart was breaking into a million pieces but he didn't seem to be troubled at all.

"I can clearly see that you are upset but I assure you that there is no need to feel this way. This is a situation that can easily be remedied… if that is what you desire," he said softly as he caressed her hand.

Her eyes opened and met his. "Do… do you?" she asked in a shaky voice.

He smiled sweetly as he dropped the shielding spell he used to block her perceptions. "What do you think, darling?" he asked, knowing that she could now feel everything he had been hiding from her.

It was like being hit with a tidal wave. Tears once again spilled down her cheeks but not because of sorrow or heartache. These were tears of sheer joy and happiness.

"Since I met you, Astrid, you have been a constant source of kindness and acceptance. You are truly beautiful, in your appearance and in your heart The fact that you love me escapes and defies all logic but that does not make it any less true," he spoke tenderly. He dropped down onto one bended knee and continued, "This night, I kneel before you and I ask that you would bestow the highest honor upon me by becoming my wife… again."