Unforgotten

Chapter 13

"I've got to give it to him, the Asgardian has style," Natasha said, laughing as we sat with my Aunt Pepper at a corner bistro waiting to have lunch.  Loki and I had been back from our adventure in Asgard for two weeks, and Natasha was still gushing about the ring on my finger.  "It was a family heirloom?"  I shrugged, taking a drink of my iced tea.

"Kind of.  His mother had it made for him, and one for Thor, I guess when they were children." I said. "He went and got it from her the second morning after we got there."

"And he proposed on a beach!" Aunt Pepper said whimsically.  "It sounds so beautiful."  I smiled at her, and she smiled back.  "I'm so happy for you, sweetheart.  I don't know how much I can say it."

"Thank you," I said, feeling myself blush, as I looked down at my hand and twisted the emerald on my finger.  It didn't feel as foreign there as it had at first, but I was still getting used to everyone hugging me and giving me their congratulations.  I wasn't accustomed to being the center of attention.  "I don't envy him having to talk to Uncle Tony about it though," I thought aloud.  I looked up when Aunt Pepper laughed.

"Oh, sweetie, Uncle Tony knew all about this a while ago," I frowned at her, and she reached over and put a hand on my arm.  "Loki came to Tony at the beginning of June, before you both even left, and asked permission." I felt my jaw drop open, and when I glanced at Natasha, I saw her gaping as well.  It shocked me that Loki would ever ask permission for anything, much less from a man like Tony Stark.  Aunt Pepper smiled at me again, her eyes tearing up, and put a hand on my cheek. 

"He's doing everything right, honey." I closed my mouth and nodded. 

"Yeah, yeah he is."

"Quite the change from the Loki we first knew," Natasha said, and I looked at her, but she didn't offer any more.

"Come on," I slammed my fist on the desk next to my laptop when it gave me another error message, and tapped the mouse area again to try to drag the image into the editing program I was using.  I pulled my knee up to my chin, and sighed heavily.  It had been a long afternoon - technology was not being my friend.  I had nearly three hundred images to edit from a high class publishing event I had covered the week prior, and it wasn't going anywhere very fast.  Plus, my head was pounding.

"Be right with you," I hollered when I heard the bell chime at my front door opening. 

"Only me, darling." I smiled to myself when I heard Loki's voice, and heard his footsteps coming around the front counter.  "Are you ready to go home, kaersta?" I turned my face to kiss him when he reached my chair.  I slammed my laptop shut a little harder than planned, and Loki raised an eyebrow at me.

"Yes.  To hell with this." I said, pushing my chair in to the desk.  I wandered to the back of the studio to grab my purse, and walked into his arms.  He hugged me close. "Rough day?" He asked, and I nodded against his chest.

"I just want to go home, eat, and drink wine."

"That can be arranged." Loki said quietly, kissing the top of my head, and taking my hand.  We walked out the front door, and Loki waved his hand, sending a green spark over the lock.  I grinned at him.

"Cheater."  He grinned back at me, and we began the 20 block walk to my apartment. 

My headache was a dull throb by the time we arrived at my door, and after depositing my purse behind the front door, I kicked off my shoes and started making spaghetti.  Loki settled into one of my living room chairs, across from the kitchen so he could still see me.  I smiled as I stirred the sauce, looking at his long hair falling around his face as he thumbed through a book, his legs crossed in a pair of loose jeans and a tshirt, feet bare.  He looks like a normal person, not a god, I thought.  I could get used to this.  Suddenly, I felt my stomach turn, and my hand flew over my mouth.  I dropped the spoon I was using to stir the sauce and dashed to the bathroom, barely getting the door shut before I threw up.  I flushed, and sat on the toilet, trying to get my wits when I heard a soft knock on the door.