Return From The Past

About a week after coming back through the Bifrost with her friends, Holly rolled over in bed and opened her eyes. She and her mother, at Thor and Loki’s request, had been allowed to stay in the rooms that had belonged to their late mother, Frigga. She glanced around, not really registering much of her surroundings, before getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom to freshen up and get dressed. She walked out of the bathroom, brushing her hair, and stopped in front of a full-length mirror that she had asked for. She was wearing a floor-length flowing forest green gown with gold trim and a wide skirt. The bodice had lace in a slightly lighter shade of green with small gold beads. She was turning so she could see the back when there was a knock on the door. “Come in,” she said, turning towards the door, as she ran the brush through her hair again. Her mother and three best friends walked in and stopped to stare at her. “Sweetheart,” Laura told her, beaming, “you look beautiful.” She walked up to Holly and hugged her. Noel, Harmony, and Marissa simply nodded. They were dressed in much simpler green gowns and their hair was done up in buns. “You three look nice too,” Holly told them. “Nowhere near as gorgeous as you,” Harmony replied with a smirk, “but then you are the bride and we’re just the bridesmaids.” Holly rolled her eyes as there was another knock on the door and an older servant woman walked in. “You must finish getting ready,” she said. Holly nodded at her and sat down so her hair could be fixed in the same way as her friends. She tried not to fidget but the closer to the ceremony she got, the more nervous she became. She distracted herself by thinking about when she and Loki had brought her friends to Asgard. They had gotten back to the palace and made the introductions. Thor had then smiled broadly and whisked Loki away, saying he needed his brother’s help with some of the arrangements. That had been the last time he had allowed the couple to see each other, and that had been a week ago. She was wondering what Thor had Loki doing during that week. Thor had come to see her the next day and asked for her ring, saying it was needed with his arrangements. She hadn't been very happy but she had given it to him. “You are ready now, m’lady,” the servant said, standing to the side so Holly could get up and look at herself again. “Thank you very much for your help,” Holly said after a few minutes. “It looks beautiful.” The servant woman nodded and left without another word. Only a few minutes passed before there was another knock on the door and Pepper walked in. “Everything’s ready,” she said. “Alright, dear,” Laura gave Holly another hug, “Nick will be here in a few minutes and we’ll see you in the great hall.” Holly nodded and sat back down as her friends and mother left the room with Pepper. About ten minutes later, Nick Fury entered the room. He was wearing a very expensive looking tuxedo. "You sure you're ready for this?" he asked as he took Holly's hand and looked her over. "I've been waiting a very long time," she replied. "I am more than ready for this." "Alright then, let's not keep him waiting." Holly slipped her arm in Nick's and they left the room, heading for the great hall. Nick and Holly entered the great hall and she looked around in wonder. There were flower arrangements with lilies and roses along the aisle that led from the door to where the High Table usually was. Green and gold banners hung from the ceiling and on the walls and the chairs had green and gold ribbons tied in bows on them. She was walking on a green carpet with gold edging. Thor had gone all out for his brother since their mother wasn't able to plan the wedding like she would have. Holly glanced to either side of the aisle as she walked to the front of the room. She caught the eyes of her mother and the Avengers, who smiled encouragingly at her. She noticed another woman with them that she didn't recognize. She closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them she had shifted her gaze to the front of the room and the men and women standing there. Thor was wearing his blue and red formal armor and silver winged helmet and was standing next to his brother. His hammer was on the floor at his feet. Holly's friends were standing across from Thor in their green gowns. Odin was standing between her friends and his sons, wearing his formal golden armor and helmet. Loki stood next to Thor, his hands clasped in front of him. Holly thought he looked exquisite in his formal green and gold armor and his horned helmet on his head. Thor whispered something to him and he looked over at Holly. His green eyes widened as she and Nick walked up to him. He couldn't think of a word to describe how beautiful she looked. Odin signaled for those in the audience to be seated. He then looked at Nick and said, "Who gives this young maiden to be married?" "I do," Fury replied, leading Holly next to Loki and placing her hand in his. He shot Loki a look that said, "I'll be watching you," before turning and taking his seat next to Holly's mother. "Do either of you wish to change your minds about the step you are about to make?" Odin asked Holly and Loki. Holly answered first, head held high and her eyes sparkling. "No, All-Father." Loki stood a little straighter when she spoke, looked Odin directly in the eye and said, "Nor do I." "Lady Holly Webster of Midgard, do you take this man, Prince Loki of Asgard, to be your husband from now until the end of time?" Odin asked, looking at Holly. Holly squeezed Loki's hand and replied "I do, until after the end of time." Odin raised his eyebrows slightly at her answer but turned to his younger son. "Prince Loki Odinson of Asgard," he said, ignoring the sudden surprise on Loki's face at being called Odinson, "do you take this woman, Lady Holly Webster of Midgard, to be your wife from now until the end of time?" "Yes," Loki replied, his green eyes bright and shining, "until time is no more." "The rings," Odin said, turning to Thor. Thor couldn't contain himself and was smiling broadly as he nodded to Noel. He handed Loki a sword while Noel handed one to Holly. She noticed her ring on the hilt of the sword Loki was holding and a simple gold ring with a small green stone on the hilt of the sword she held. "Exchanging swords will seal your vows to one another as you place your rings on your left hands," Odin told them. Holly and Loki faced each other. He held out the sword he was holding, trying to hide the nervousness he suddenly felt. Holly smiled at him and held out the sword she was holding. They traded swords and each took the ring from the hilt and put them on. The swords were then passed to Noel and Thor who stepped back to their places. Odin proclaimed them man and wife and the crowd rose to their feet, clapping. Loki and Holly turned to face the crowd. He bowed and she curtsied before he turned to look at her and swept her up in his arms and kissed her. She returned the kiss and they were conscious that there was now whistles in addition to the clapping, which seemed to get louder. They finally broke for air and found themselves surrounded by their friends, who swept the couple out of the room so the tables for the feast could be brought in. The next few hours were spent with Holly being properly introduced to the other Asgardian nobles and getting a tour of the palace. When the feast was ready and they all entered the great hall again, Holly walked hand in hand with Loki up to the High Table and sat down next to him. She noticed that neither he nor Thor had stopped smiling since the ceremony had ended. She didn't think she had stopped smiling either for that matter. Thor introduced Holly to the woman she had noticed earlier, Dr. Jane Foster, his girlfriend from Earth. The party continued well into the night and the next week with Loki and Holly finding a few moments here and there to slip away and spend some time alone. As the second week started, they found themselves with more and more chances to slip away. A few times it even seemed like Laura, Thor, and their friends were making the opportunities for the newlyweds to escape the throng of well-wishers. Finally, as the third week since their marriage began, the party seemed to die down and things began to return to normal. About halfway through that week, Holly's friends, her mother, Jane, Pepper, and the Avengers informed Thor, Loki, and Holly that they were going to head back to Earth to give the couple some real alone time. "You'll come and visit every now and then, won't you dear?" Laura asked, a playful glint in her eyes. "Of course Mom," Holly replied, with mock surprise at the question. "And you can come here whenever you want." The group said their farewells at the Bifrost with several members of the Avengers taking the last opportunity to remind Loki that they would be keeping an eye on him but that he was welcome to come to Earth with Holly if he wanted to without worrying about being arrested for his attempt at taking over. He thanked them for listening to Holly and giving him a second chance and for helping with the wedding and told them he would be happy to see them again. Heimdall then opened the gate and sent them through to Earth. Thor smiled at his brother and new sister-in-law, then turned and left the Bifrost. Heimdall offered the couple his own congratulations and well-wishes since he had been unable to leave his post at the Bifrost for either the ceremony or the celebration. They thanked him and then turned to leave. As they walked the long length of the bridge back towards the city, Holly wrapped her arms around Loki's waist and leaned her head on his chest. He looked down at her and asked, "Ulfrid, do you have any regrets from the past three weeks?" She stopped walking and looked up at him. He seemed worried again, like he thought he was dreaming and she would be gone when he woke up. "No regrets," she replied. She stood on tiptoe and kissed him. "None at all." "Then shall we see if we can't catch up with our brother?" he asked, mischief dancing in his eyes. "Sounds like fun," Holly replied with a laugh. Loki grinned, took her hands in his, and teleported them to the palace so they could be ready to surprise Thor when he got there. The End.

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