I know it has been a while since the last chapter. I rewrote this at least twice. Thank you to everyone that commented and kept me going. Please enjoy.

The rest of the night swam by quickly. Loki had disappeared as suddenly as he appeared and all of the guests departed soon after. Sif escorted me back to the chambers Loki and I shared.

When I got there, I found the room containing only one gold swathed bed and no sign of Loki anywhere. I carefully undressed and folded the gown neatly on the dresser top. The glow that Loki had given it faded when I took it off and it was now settled back to its original hue.

I pulled on the nightgown at the foot of the bed and nestled comfortably beneath the covers. I was exhausted and my feet were sore from dancing, but sleep evaded my eager grasp. After a seemingly infinite time waiting to drift off, I gave up and swung out of bed.

I padded softly through the short hall to the sitting room. Moonlight streamed through two high windows on the far wall. The pure white light cast deep shadows on the furniture. It was too dark to see color and the black and white room was still and calming.

Afraid of waking anyone, I tiptoed to the window and looked out over the city. Few lights burned but the city still glistened in the night. Looking further, I could see the rainbow bridge. It's iridescent colors swirled brightly enough to see from here.

There was something so picturesque about the whole scene that I almost convinced myself I was dreaming. I felt that I would wake up and be safe at home. I would roll over and rub my face in the pillow. I would drag myself up the stairs to find my brother and sister watching cartoons. I would pour myself a bowl of cereal and forget all about the fantastic things I had seen in my sleep.

I rolled this idea around for a bit. The more I considered it, the less I wanted it to be true. I realized that if it was a dream, and if I did wake up, I would be sad to lose it. There was so much that I had seen and felt that if I were to lose it all, I would lose a part of myself.

/

Loki heard her first. The soft click of the door and quiet slap of bare feet on stone floor. When she stepped into the moonlight, she looked almost ethereal. The moonlight bleached out her skin so that it matched the pure white of her nightgown. He watched her pad across the room from his position on a couch.

She didn't notice him and Loki felt a light blush warm his cheeks. He was aware of the indecency of not making himself known. He knew he should say something, but he found himself absorbed in watching her.

Her slightly mussed hair lay dark against the white of her skin and gown. She settled her elbows on the window sill and let out a long breath. Loki watched as she took in the view and her posture went from one of contentment to sadness. She let out another soft sigh and Loki heard his own thoughts echoed in the breath. She was sad because the beauty would all be gone soon. She would have to leave, just as Loki had to.

Letting the feeling fade, Loki rose from his spot and silently moved to join her at the window.

/

The view from the window was breathtaking. I had been looking at it long enough that my already sore feet began to protest again. With a yawn, I took one last look across the city and decided it was time to try for sleep again.

I turned slowly and was startled to find Loki standing just behind me. He smirked slightly at my upturned face. I felt suddenly guilty at being caught wandering about. "What do you want?" I asked.

He raised an eyebrow lazily at me. "I was here first. I think it would be more appropriate if you told me why you're here." Forcing back a yawn I said, "I couldn't sleep. Besides, it was you that snuck up on me." A vague smile crept across his face. "I am sorry that you cannot pay adequate attention to your surroundings. You really are very naive."

I poked my lip out at him in an expression of minor insult. "And you're mean." He raised his eyebrows at me. "As I recall, I was the one that kept Mr. Barton from decapitating you. I also did not lodge any projectiles beneath your ribs."

It took me a moment for my sleepy brain to understand what he meant. When I finally worked through his statement, my stomach turned with guilt. "I really am sorry about that." Loki reached out and ran his fingers over the now bare skin on my neck. "Frigga is an accomplished healer. Just as she erased your scars, she repaired my organs." He stood for a moment longer, his touch sending nervous chills down my spine.

Then he withdrew and his face changed from sad contemplation to a mask of formality. "It is late." he announced calmly. "We should both retire." He nodded at me and turned away into the dark halls. With a shudder from the sudden aloneness, I padded back to my room to resume my chase with sleep.