Loki woke the next morning to the early morning sun spilling into the room. He looked down to see Ava still sound asleep, nestled in his embrace. He smiled at how beautiful and peaceful she looked in her sleep. "Mmm... Loki." She murmured in her sleep.

Loki's smile widened at the sound of his name on her lips. He enjoyed that she was thinking of him even in her sleep. He lifted his hand to move a strand of her hair from her face and then kissed her forehead. "Time to wake up my darling."

Ava mumbled incoherently and snuggled further into Loki's embrace.

Loki chuckled and kissed her forehead again. He stroked her hair and caressed her cheek. "I wish to see your beautiful eyes."

Ava mumbled again, but slowly she opened her eyes. She blinked a few times as if she still weren't quite awake. She looked at him and a smile slowly graced her lips. "You're still here..."

"Of course...I told you I would hold you all night." Loki replied.

"But it's morning now." Ava countered, her smile turning playful.

"I had to see your beauty in the early morning light."

"You say the most beautiful things." Ava told him, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Loki grinned and caressed her cheek with his fingertips. "You deserve only the beautiful things." He moved his fingers below her chin and brought her lips to his for a tender kiss.

When they broke the kiss Ava couldn't help the grin that stayed on her lips. "I wish I could spend every night in your arms and wake up like this every morning."

"I will do my best to grant your wish." Loki replied, kissing her once again.

Just as they were deepening the kiss, there was a knock on the door. "Ava, sweetheart?" Odin's voice sounded through the door.

Loki and Ava broke apart. "What?" She called, her tone showing her frustration.

Loki couldn't help but to grin at Ava losing her temper with her father. He enjoyed her fiery attitude.

"May I come in?" Odin asked.

"Just a moment." Ava called, as she pulled herself away from Loki. She grabbed her robe and threw it on, tying it closed.

Loki rose from the bed. He wrapped his arms around Ava and pulled her in for a kiss. "I'll come back to hold you again tonight." He promised in her ear just before disappearing.

Ava had to compose herself before she unlocked the door and let her father in, while an invisible Loki snuck out. "Good morning, Sweetheart." Odin greeted his daughter.

"Morning, Father." Ava replied. "What brings you here so early?"

"I just wanted to talk with you about yesterday." Odin answered.

"What about yesterday?" Ava asked.

"Just your pranks yesterday…that wasn't very nice."

"Vinius was a good sport about it." Ava replied.

"Will you just try to give the boy a chance?"

"I told you I would get to know him." Ava replied. "I never said I would give him a chance."

Odin sighed. "Well, in three weeks he and his family will be returning to Alfheim."

"Does this mean the marriage is off?" Ava asked, hopefully.

"No." Odin replied. "You will be going with them. Thor will be coming as well to act as chaperone."

"So…you're sending me away?" Ava inquired.

"It will be just for a few days. I think it would be good for you to get to know him on his home realm." Odin replied.

"I suppose you'll be having me spend the day with him once again?" Ava asked.

Odin sighed. "No. I am having your brother and his friends show Vinius around for the day. You are free to do as you wish today."

They spoke a few more moments, before Odin left. As soon as her father was gone, Ava walked to her wardrobe and pulled out one of her warm winter dresses and her cloak. She quickly changed into the clothes and headed to the mountains. She began her climb and then leaped down, landing gracefully in the Jotunheim. She looked around her, making sure that no one was around. Then she hid herself in the darkness that surrounded her and made her way to the temple.

She found Loki sitting there, reading by a fire and practicing one of the spells they had learned. She wanted to fun to him right then and make herself visible, but there was also something in her that wanted to stay hidden for a bit. She wanted to stand there and watch him for a moment. While she found his Aesir appearance very handsome, there was something about his Jotun form that stirred something within her. Perhaps it was because that is the first way she had seen him, but whatever it was, she was happy to stand there and watch him for a few moments.

A slow grin spread across Loki's face and he looked to the place where she was standing. "I know you are there, Ava."

Ava let her cloak of darkness fall. "And here I thought I might sneak up on you."

Loki closed his book and set it aside. He rose from his seat and walked over to Ava and pulled her into his arms. He kissed the top of her head. "I'm glad you came."

Ava wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his chest. "Me, too. Father gave me a free day."

Loki smiled. "Well, I am glad that he did…and that I was your first choice."

"You will always be my first choice, Loki."