Asta continued her job as Avengers healer, a job that did not get any easier once Loki joined the team. And Loki felt like he finally had a purpose now doing good. And the rest of the team finally warmed up to him too. Even Steve had no complaints, other than Loki's enormous ego that sometimes caused him to say things Captain America didn't approve of, or the mischief that Loki innately seemed to cause.

After a few weeks, Thor found Loki reading in his room.

"Brother," Thor began as he leaned on the doorframe. "How are you today? I haven't seen much of you."

"I'm well. Just lost in thought. I had hoped this book would help, but I'm still trying to decide if I enjoy it."

"What are you reading?"

Loki held up the copy of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

"Ahh! Asta gave you that, I'd wager," Thor said.

"Yes. Apparently she's in love with the whole series. She thought it would be funny for me to read them, but I'm not sure yet. Magic isn't… this."

"She tried to get me to read them as well, but… well, I think we all know reading isn't exactly my favorite pastime."

Loki chuckled. "Not when there's anything else to do."

Thor laughed as well.

Loki paused for a moment. "May I ask you something?"

Thor nodded.

Loki put the book on his night stand. "So, I've been wondering something for a while now. Be honest with me, brother. How long had you been trying to get me to Midgard to reunite with Asta?"

Thor beamed, knowing his plan worked. "Ever since you emerged from your chambers after your temper tantrum."

"Temper tantrum!" Loki said with offense.

Thor merely raised an eyebrow as he sat next to Loki on the bed.

Loki huffed. "Fine. But, you could have just told me."

Thor scoffed. "With as angry as you were? Would you have listened?"

"I… might have."

"Loki, you wouldn't have. You were too consumed with your rage then."

"My love could have gotten through my anger," Loki tried to reason.

"But would you have wanted her to see you like that?"

Loki was quiet. "No."

Thor put a loving hand on Loki's shoulder. "Yes, Asta could have saved you. But it was more meaningful for you to do it yourself and to come to her as a changed man. You were ready for her then."

Loki rubbed his hands over his face. "You're right. I might have lashed out at her during my darker days."

"We don't know that. But it's better that you are together this way."

"Yes, I suppose it is. Thank you, Thor. For everything."

"Anything for you, Loki."

"Can I ask a favor of you?"

"Of course."

"Will you stand with me on my wedding day? As my Best Man?"

"You've asked Asta to marry you?" Thor yelled as he asked.

Loki waved his hands to quiet his brother. "Shhhhh! No, not yet. It's something we've mentioned, so I'm hopeful that she's still amiable to it. But if she says yes—"

"When she says yes!" Thor interrupted.

Loki took a deep breath as he refrained from rolling his eyes. "So, will you?"

"Of course! It would be my honor to stand beside you as you wed your beloved!"

"The honor is mine."

"So, do you know when you're going to ask?"

"Yes. Next week is the 1 month anniversary of our first dessert date. I plan to ask her at the ice cream parlor."

Thor's laughter boomed. "My hopeless romantic of a brother! I love it! Can I hide behind a tree and see it happen?"

This time Loki couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Now who's the hopeless romantic?"

"I have no remorse."

"Well, actually, if you would be available, it would be nice for someone to make a recording of it."

"I would love that!"

"Can you handle a camera or a phone or whatever is used?"

Thor's mouth gaped. "Brother, I'm offended!" Loki's eyebrows rose in defiance. "Fine, I shall ask Stark to help me first."

"Perfect. Now, in the meantime…"

"Don't breathe a word to Asta. I understand."

"Yes. Thank you."

Thor sighed. "My little brother. Getting married. I couldn't be more proud."

"So, when are you going to propose to Jane? You've been seeing her far longer than Asta and I."

"Well, not when you consider the centuries we spent growing up together. But yes, you are right. I should ask her."

"She's probably waiting."

"Perhaps. But, I shall need to wait. I wouldn't want to steal… your… thunder."

Loki pinched the bridge of his nose. "By the nine, Thor. Really? A thunder pun?"

Thor slapped him on the shoulder. "You love it. Now, let's get to dinner. Wanda's brother is visiting, and she made a Sokovian feast for us!"

"Yes. I shall join you in a moment."

Thor stood to leave but looked back at his contemplative brother. "She'll say yes, Loki."

Loki looked up with such doubt in his eyes. "I don't deserve her. I wouldn't blame her if she said no."

"You deserve each other."

"I'm damaged," he said as he slowly shook his head.

"And she's a healer. What a perfect match!"

Loki tilted his head with bewilderment. "Since when did you become such a philosopher?"

"Hey! I can have deep thoughts every now and again!" Thor replied with a big smile. "Now, come on. Whatever your beloved's bestie is serving, it smells delicious!"

"That it does. Let's go."

The next day, Loki went down to Tony's lab. Each step he took forced him to steady his nerves. He wasn't sure why this suddenly seemed so difficult, but Loki never backed down from a task.

He knocked on the doorframe and waited.

"Hey, Elsa! What can I do for you?" Tony called.

Loki chose to ignore the nickname. Now was not the time to question or start an argument. "I was wondering if I might have a moment of your time."

"Sure," Tony said, hopping up on the table to focus on Loki. "What's up?" He popped an M&M into his mouth, then offered some to Loki.

"Um, no, thank you. Right. Well, as I'm sure you know, Asta lost her father many years ago and I understand that you have become a surrogate father to her here on Midgard. I wanted, firstly, to thank you for that."

"No need to thank me for that. She's a great gal. And she was excellent practice for Morgan!"

Loki scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. "Morgan is 4. And Asta is over a thousand years old by Midgardian time."

"Hey, kids are kids," Tony said. "So, you said 'firstly.' What else is going on in that horned head?"

Loki chose to ignore that as well. "Yes, well, because her father has passed away and because you are her father here, I wanted to ask you for her hand in marriage. Now, I know she's a grown woman and doesn't need permission, but it is a long standing tradition on Asgard to ask the father of the bride to be, and I believe it is the tradition here as well. So, I come to you and humbly ask for her hand."

Tony's mouth hung open for a moment before his thoughts caught up.

"Wow, that's fast," Tony said.

"I know," Loki replied. "But we've been apart this long and I just can't wait."

"Mmm-hmm. Loki, can I be honest with you?" Tony asked as he got down from the table.

"I value your honesty, yes."

"When you first got here, I was skeptical. Thor told us of your background and then you show up looking like you were in a My Chemical Romance cover band. I wanted to keep an eye on you. And as I did, I realized that you were just like me. A kid with Daddy issues and a thing to prove."

Loki held up a finger to protest, but he knew it was true. He lowered his finger and let Tony continue.

"You've got a father that never showed you the love you wanted or deserved. You're living in the shadow of a huge empire that expects you to be one thing, even though you know you're something else. And all of this has given you the need to have an over-inflated ego and a need to show the world that you are more than your father's disappointment." He smirked. "Stop me when I'm wrong, by the way."

"I… I can't."

"Oh and you've got a thing for the good girls that just want to fix you."

"Dammit, Stark. I didn't expect a psychological evaluation."

Tony laughed before eating another candy. "Pepper tells me all the time I need to be in therapy. I say why? I already know the routine and everything they'll tell me."

"Yes, I can see that."

"So, back to the matter at hand. You want to marry Doctor Who. And you were absolutely right when you said that she has the ultimate decision on that, but I want you to know that you have my blessing, and I'm certain Pepper's as well. And for what it's worth, I absolutely believe that she'll say yes."

"I'm not as assured as everyone else, but I appreciate it."

"Ah, and there's the confidence issues hidden behind the ego."

"Get out of my head, you wizard!" Loki said with a laugh.

Tony laughed as well. "I'm no Wanda or Strange, but I definitely can tell what's in your head. Now, what's the plan for making her Mrs. Laufeyson? Lemme see the ring."

Loki put out his hand and a ring box appeared out of a puff of green mist. He opened it to show a beautiful emerald ring with smaller diamonds surrounding the middle jewel and thin golden vines around it all.

Tony whistled low. "Hot damn, Reindeer Games. That is a nice rock. Design it yourself?"

"Yes. All I had to do was think of Asta and this is what appeared."

"She's gonna love it. When's the big moment?"

"Next week on the 1 month anniversary of our ice cream date. I'm taking her back to the establishment and will propose there. I'm admittedly going to be a nervous wreck that whole day."

"Awww, proposing even makes gods nervous!" Tony teased.

"I cannot deny it."

"Listen, anyone with eyes can see how that girl looks at you. She's gonna say yes."

Loki chuckled. "I never expected to come to Tony Stark for a pep talk."

"I never expected to give one to the second biggest ego in this place. And yes, my ego is big enough to claim being the biggest." Tony winked.

Loki offered his hand. "Thank you, Tony. For everything."

Tony shook Loki's hand. "You're welcome. Just be sure to take care of our girl. She's independent, but everyone needs someone to look after them. Be her support, but don't let her lose that fierce spark. Be her love, but don't smother her. Be her biggest cheerleader, but don't let her lose her confidence."

"I will. I guarantee it. If I didn't already know Gosta, her birth father, I would assume Asta got her strength from you."

"That might be the biggest compliment you could give me. Now, go, get outta here. Too much time in the lab and I'll put you to work."

"Yes, then I shall take my leave. Oh, one last thing. I'm assuming with your love of festivities, you would like to help with the celebration. About how long will you need to organize a rooftop affair?"

"Well, I'm going to jump the gun and go with her saying yes and start planning now. I can have it together a few days after you ask."

"That's perfect. The sooner I can call her my bride, the better. And then we'll need to have a ceremony on Asgard to make it official there. You are, of course, invited to that as well."

Tony winked. "Let's see if I can make mine rival an Asgardian party."

"I have no doubt that you have a good chance of doing so. Thank you again, Stark."

And with that, Loki left, feeling just a bit lighter at the prospect of proposing.