The next day, Loki and Ava spent in the forest. Loki was feeling nervous about the coming dinner that evening and was reading over books on proper Asgardian etiquette. "You'll be just fine, Loki." Ava told him, kissing his cheek.

"We've got our entire future riding on this dinner." Loki replied.

Ava put her hand on his cheek and forced him to look her in the eye. "Loki, my love, just be yourself and they will fall in love with you just as I have. Then once they know you, we tell them about where you are from and exactly how we met. I just know everything will work out. Just be yourself."

Loki looked into Ava's eyes. "Be myself?" He asked, and took his Jotun form. "We both know I can't do that."

Ava looked into Loki's red eyes. "You know what I mean." She then pressed her lips to his. "I love you, Loki." She said after breaking the kiss.

Loki cupped Ava's face between his hands. "And I love you, Ava." He replied, taking on his Aesir form again.

They stayed in the forest till the sunset began to paint the sky the color of fire. Ava used her magic to give Loki Asgardian clothes that looked like those of the everyday citizen and then they began to walk to the palace together, hand-in-hand. As they walked through the city, Loki couldn't help but to notice that as they walked by, the people around them were staring.

"Why are they staring?" Loki asked, looking at Ava.

"They've never seen anyone so handsome, before." Ava replied, smiling at him and giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.

Loki just gave Ava a look, but didn't say a word. They walked the rest of the way to the palace in a companionable silence. They soon arrived at the entrance of the palace. Loki had come in here several times over the last couple of years, but he had always been invisible. Now he was coming in, for everyone to see. This fact intimidated him.

Ava gave his hand another reassuring squeeze and kissed his cheek. Though she was feeling nervous about this, herself, she knew that it had to work. She also wanted to help Loki be as comfortable as possible. In order to do that, she had to be calm herself. She also just had to have faith that this would work and that she and Loki would be able to be together in the end.

They walked into the palace, still holding hands and made their way to the dining hall. Odin, Frigga, and Thor were already waiting for them. Thor was sitting in his usual place, just looking at them. His expression was blank. Frigga was smiling kindly at them and Odin was staring Loki down.

Loki stood frozen for a moment before he collected himself and took control of himself once again. He bowed respectfully to the king and queen. "Hello your majesties." He greeted and then stood back up straight.

"Mother, Father, this is Loki." Ava introduced. "Loki, my parents King Odin and Queen Frigga and of course you remember my brother, Prince Thor."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, your majesties." Loki said to the king and queen. "And it is good to see you again Prince Thor."

"You introduced your brother before your parents?" Odin asked, looking at Ava.

"When we were children." Ava answered. "It has been years since they last saw each other."

"Come, have a seat." Frigga said. "And it is wonderful to meet you, Loki."

Loki and Ava walked over and sat down at the table. A large meal was spread out before them and they began to eat in silence. Odin decided to break the silence. "So, Loki who are your parents?"

This was a question Loki and Ava had been hoping he wouldn't ask. They didn't want to lie nor did they want to tell the truth…at least not yet. Before either of them could say anything, Frigga spoke up. "Odin, it does not matter who his parents are. It is no important for us to know. We need to get to know the young man himself. Besides as long as he makes our Ava happy, that is all that matters."

Ava wanted to throw her arms around her mother and sing her praises. She had just saved them. Part of Ava couldn't help but to wonder just how much her mother knew, but she quickly banished the thought. We've been fat too careful. She wouldn't know anything.

"You're right, dear." Odin replied. He looked back at Loki and Ava. "How did you two meet…and when exactly?"

"When we were six." Ava answered. "I was supposed to go with Thor, Sif, and the warriors three to the mountains, but Fandrall was being mean to me, so I ran off on my own. I got lost and Loki found me an helped me get to a place where Thor would later find me and bring me home." This was sticking as close to the truth as possible, without telling the entire truth.

"I see." Odin replied. "What are things you enjoy doing Loki?"

"I enjoy reading and learning anything I can." Loki answered truthfully. "I don't have many books of my own and when Ava and I met, she started bringing books with her and we would read together."

"I suppose she has taught you magic as well?" Frigga asked.

"A little." Loki answered.

Frigga smile in approval. "Well, that's great."

The group talked through the rest of the meal and even after they were finished. Loki began to feel a little more at ease as they went on talking. He even began to crack a joke every now and then and laugh with Ava's family. Of course at the end of the evening, was when he became nervous all over again. He had to formally ask Odin and Frigga's permission to court Ava with the express intention of marriage.

"Your majesties?" Loki asked.

"Yes?" Odin replied.

"It has come to my attention…that I have gone about things the wrong way and I would like to rectify my mistake." He began, choosing his words carefully. "I would like to formally ask for your blessing to court Princess Ava with the intention of marriage when we are of age?"

"You seem a decent young man." Odin replied.

"And you make our Ava smile." Frigga added. "You make her glow with happiness actually."

"We give you our blessing." Odin replied. "Just as long as you always treat our daughter with the utmost respect and your intentions are true."

Loki nodded. "I would never dream of disrespecting Ava or gaining anything other than happiness and love from her."

"Good." Odin replied.

It was now time for Loki to be "leaving." Ava walked out with him, as if to say goodnight, even though they both knew he would be returning to her chambers. "That went better than I expected." Loki said.

Ava smiled. "I told you they would love you." She replied, stretching up to kiss him.

"I just hope they still like me once they know everything."

Ava gently kissed his lips. "Everything will work out."

"How can you be so sure?" Loki inquired.

"Because I can't believe that fate would bring us together only to tear us apart."

"I hope you're right."