A/N: Have I mentioned that I own nothing here?

The next day, Loki pulled Thor aside after breakfast.

"Brother, if Asta asks for me, tell her I went to Asgard."

"You're going home? Why not take her?"

"Because I only need to pick up our wedding bands. I want them to be made of Asgardian gold. This won't take much time and when she finally goes back, I would prefer it to be a long trip. One with a huge welcome and not just an errand run."

"I suppose that makes sense. Yes, of course I shall tell your betrothed of your journey. Be safe. Tell mother I said hello."

"I will. And thank you."

"Anything for you, brother."

Loki took off then. He wanted to return as soon as possible and couldn't tell Thor of all he needed to get from Asgard. Namely a tiara for Asta on their wedding day. He didn't want to charge Thor with making an excuse or some reverse psychology babble. Midgardians loved that drivel, but he didn't see it working on Asta, especially coming from Thor.

When he finally reached Asgard, Heimdall greeted him warmly. "Welcome back, your highness. Your mother is waiting for you."

"Thank you, Heimdall. I assumed she would be."

He hurried to the palace and found his mother pacing.

"There you are!" she said warmly before embracing him warmly.

"Mother! It is wonderful to see you!"

"And you, my boy!" She pulled back and looked at him with a knowing smile.

"Let me guess, you already know why I've come."

"Perhaps. But I want to hear you say it!" Frigga clasped her hands together excitedly.

Loki sighed but smiled. "I've come to tell you that I am getting married."

Frigga raised her hands to her mouth. "Loki! I am so happy for you! And who is the lucky bride?"

"You need ask?"

She rolled her eyes and tilted her head. "Indulge me."

"Very well. After reconnecting with Asta, she has rather foolhardily agreed to become my wife."

"Foolhardy! Loki, hush! And oh!" She pulled him into another tight hug. "I am so happy for you! Both of you!"

"Yes and I am thrilled to talk about it. But I also come asking for two favors."

She let go and grinned. "Ask and it shall be granted, my dear one."

"I need our wedding bands to be made of gold from Asgard."

"We'll go to the jeweler immediately." She turned and began walking. He hadn't meant that exact second, but apparently they were going. "And what else do you need?" she asked as she quickly walked.

"I'd love to give her a tiara for our wedding ceremony. Something with pearls as those are traditional for Midgardian weddings."

Frigga smiled and winked. "My son, I have the perfect one for her to wear! Let's get your rings taken care of and then we'll discuss her tiara."

She hurried him to the royal jeweler and requested the bands. He knew it wouldn't take terribly long as Asgardian gold was wonderful to work with, especially with magic. Then she ushered him to the room where her best jewelry was kept.

Frigga searched around a bit and finally held up a beautiful diadem. It was gold and covered in pearls and emeralds.

"I think this shall fit Asta nicely, do you agree?"

Loki took the crown from his mother and smiled. "It's perfect."

"I agree. There are pearls for your Midgardian tradition, and emeralds and gold for your colors. And she'll look just beautiful wearing it!"

Loki smiled. "She always does."

Frigga beamed at her youngest. "Come, let's have some tea while you wait for your rings. The magic will make quick work of them, but you still have some time. Tell me of how you both are."

Loki didn't think she was giving him a choice, so he followed her again as she ordered some tea from a waiting maid.

"Sit," she instructed as she also sat at a table on the balcony.

"Yes, Mum," he replied, using the endearment he only used when they were alone.

"My beautiful boy, finally marrying the love of his life. I knew this day was coming. Tell me, how did you ask her?"

"The first step in our courtship was a Midgardian date to an ice cream parlor."

"You? Went to eat ice cream?"

Loki sighed. "Yes, everyone was quite in shock. Asta included. But we went and it was delicious. And while I had meant for the evening to only be an opening to renewing our friendship, we somehow ended up declaring our love for one another."

"Absence truly makes the heart grow fonder," Frigga said dreamily. She thanked the maid as they set the tea set on the table.

"Yes, in this case, that is remarkably true. So, a month later, we returned to the establishment, and I ensured that her ice cream had green and gold sprinkles, and then proposed as we finished the confections. Thor has the whole thing recorded, so I'm sure he'll show you."

"I'll be happy to view it later. So, only a month of courtship and you're ready to wed?"

"In any other situation, I would find it laughable. But our separation only enhanced what I already knew: I love Asta with every fiber of my being and I never want to be apart again. I need her as much as I need the air I breathe. So, while some may find it hasty, I find it to be far too late."

"I don't find it hasty at all. When you know, you know. And while you mask your true feelings much of the time, you are very in tune with your emotions."

"Odin will say I let them cloud my judgement too much," Loki said with the tone of a bitter child.

"And I say they actually enrich your judgement. You know what you feel and you feel it strongly. That is not a weakness, but a strength. Your father understands strategy better."

"Hence his favor to Thor."

Frigga smiled sadly. "But you and I appreciate feelings." She lowered her voice as she winked. "Hence my favor to you."

Loki grinned. His mother truly was the best. "Thank you, mum. You're the only one besides Asta that truly understands me. I don't know that I've ever fully expressed how I appreciate you."

"One day you'll have your own children and you'll understand that I already knew."

"If I am blessed enough to have more than one child, I will never favor one more than the other. Even if I knew that you and I had more of a connection, you never showed that to Thor. Unlike Odin who always threw his preference of Thor in my face."

"I tried my best to shield you from that. I obviously failed."

"No, mother, please, don't feel like that. It was still an honor to know that you loved me. You taught me my magic. And you helped form me into the man that Asta could love. In the end, I could ask for no more than that."

Frigga put a hand to the side of his head. "My sweet son. You have learned so much. I am so proud of the man you have become. You and Asta will do wonderful things together. Great things! I cannot wait to see how you flourish as a husband. How you both prosper as a couple. I look forward to seeing her again. When are you returning with her?"

"Our Midgard ceremony is in a week. We'll return here a week after that. Then the ceremony will be a week after we return."

"Only three weeks to prepare here? You certainly have a great deal of faith in us!" Frigga said with a mischievous smile.

Loki tilted his head in a knowing manner. "If I know you, Mum, you already have the gears in motion."

The queen took a sip of her tea. "I don't know what you mean."

He chuckled. "Yes, of course you don't."

"Now, drink your tea and tell me of your Midgardian family."

"Does it bother you? That I consider others to be family?" He sipped his tea and hoped for a good response.

"Of course not. You'll always have your family here, but the family on Midgard is one you built on your own. That is special."

"Well, Asta gets the credit, not me. But they are a truly special group. Tony, he's the de facto leader and has such become a father figure to Asta, despite the fact that she is centuries older than him. His wife Pepper is a mother to her as well. They have a precocious daughter named Morgan who is 4. She and Asta are inseparable and very much like sisters. Captain Rogers, Steve, is a bit of a big brother that no one asked for," he said with a chuckle. "And the rest are just goofy cousins, as Asta likes to call them. Though, I am particularly fond of Clint Barton. He and I have a mutual love for practical jokes and a game called Mario Party."

"It's wonderful that Asta had people to watch over her whilst she was away." He notes that she does not mention that Asta was sent away.

"Yes, I am most grateful for them all and their care for her."

"And I am most grateful for their care of you. You needed this."

"Asta says the same thing. I suppose you both are right. I should get used to that, shouldn't I? The two of you always being right?"

"And likely conspiring against you, yes," Frigga said with a laugh. "It's the privilege of a wife and mother."

Loki nodded, thinking to all the times he and his mother hid things behind Odin's back. He wondered just how much would happen behind his now. The thought made him smile thinking of Asta and their future children.

Frigga's smile dropped a bit. "But I think that you shall handle your family a bit differently than your father."

Loki held in the urge to scream "he's not my father" at her again. The pain he inflicted once was enough. But it did make him think.

"Mum, I need to apologize for how I spoke to you when we fought before I left. It was wrong and I didn't mean it. Well, not most of it."

"I know. It hurt when you first said it, but I know it came from a place of fear and not of hatred."

"I could never hate you."

She covered his hand with her own. "My boy, I know this. And I never held it against you. I appreciate your apology, but there is nothing to forgive. You were lashing out and I understood. It has all led us to here, with you happy and in love. What more could a mother ask for?"

"I don't deserve you," he whispered as he hung his head.

"Oh, Loki. How often does that thought cross your mind?"

He rolled his eyes. "Constantly."

"And how often does Asta correct you?"

He laughed humorlessly. "Constantly."

"I thought as much. Loki, you must let go. You are loved. I love you, your brother loves you, your dear Asta loves you, your Avenger family loves you, and your father does too. He just can't show it as the rest of us do."

Loki held his tongue. His mother truly believed that, even if he didn't.

"I think eventually Asta will get me to see that. It just takes time. Centuries of one belief cannot change overnight."

"Yes, that is true. But at least you're on your way." She squeezed his hand. "I have missed our conversations like this."

"I have as well. May I ask you a question?"

"Always."

"Did you actually see this? Did you know that Asta and I would wed?"

"I saw several paths, but this was the brightest. You both needed to make decisions to get here, especially you, but yes, I did see this likely happening. But of course, I couldn't tell you as much."

"Yes, I realize that. But it's good to know I've made the correct decisions."

Frigga smiled. "Yes, you certainly have. And I am so proud. I am so pleased to see what you have become. And I'd actually like to see you more often," she added with a pointed look.

"Yes, I promise to visit more often now. I don't feel as unwelcome as I used to."

"Good. You were certainly never unwelcome." She continued before he could contradict her. "And bring your bride. I look forward to chats with her as well."

She raised an eyebrow as she took another sip. They haven't had much of the tea, but it was merely a formality anyway.

Loki smirked. "I don't trust that look. I've worn that look. But I suppose I need to give into the inevitable."

"Oh hush, you secretly love the idea of us getting along."

"It's no secret. I savor the idea! I'm just wary of what will come of it."

"You may be the god of mischief, my son, but remember who raised you."

Frigga winked at him and he smiled. Then his other question occurred to him.

"I do have one other thing to ask about."

"Yes?"

"Asta… she can touch my Jotun form. It doesn't burn her. How?"

Frigga smiled and gave a soft laugh.

Loki's eyes widened. "Mother! I fail to see how this is funny!"

"My sweet boy, I fail to see how you don't understand. Asta is your soulmate."

"Well, of course she is, but—"

"No," Frigga interrupted. "In every sense of the word. Your souls are intertwined. Your Jotun form cannot hurt her because of your connection."

"Truly?" Loki asked with such hope.

"Yes, truly," she answered with a lilt to her voice. She was so thrilled for her son.

"Well, that's fantastic news! I worried about it for so long."

"Yes, I'm certain you have. Probably before you were even a couple. But concern yourself with it no longer and instead delight in the idea that she is perfect for you in all ways."

Loki smiled a rather dopey grin. "Yes, I believe I shall."

Frigga stood (confident that she had encouraged her son) and he followed. "Now, my boy, let's get back to the jeweler and see how those rings are doing. You'll need to get back to your beloved soon."

Finally, once the rings were magically finished and approved by the groom-to-be, Loki collected the tiara he asked for and walked to the palace gate with Frigga.

"Farewell for now, my son. I will begin the preparations for your wedding here and things will be ready when you return."

She pulled on his shoulder for him to lean down and kissed his cheek. "Jeg elsker deg, Loki." (I love you, Loki)

"Og jeg elsker deg, mamma. Thank you again… for everything." (And I love you, Mum)

"Always. Tell your brother I need to see him about something."

Loki raised an eyebrow and Frigga raised one in return; a gesture that clearly indicated she wasn't telling what this is about.

"Right then. I shall see you soon." He mounted his horse and took off for the bifrost.

Frigga waved as he rode out of sight, beyond happy with her son's life.