Topsy-Turvy (sequel to Hidden Beauty)

Elsa and Tom

"Oh look! A bird!"

Rose rolled her eyes and dropped her head on her hands with a groan. "Please stop man. I'm begging you."

Loki feigned an innocent look. "What? What did I do? I just showed you a bird."

"If this is how you meant to spend time with me then no." Rose slapped his hand away from her shoulders. "More than half an hour has passed and you've pointed out every bird and tree and cloud and dung! I want you to stop."

"Well, it's better than to stare aimlessly at the lake and sky! I can't just sit idle! I need to do something that includes mischief!" Loki whined.

"I'm regretting for not kicking you out." Rose mumbled and laid back on the ground, staring at the fluffy clouds.

Loki laid down too, beside her and draped a hand around her waist, snuggling up in the crook of her neck. Rose slapped his head, trying to push him away. "No no! Move away! Don't do that!"

"Ugh! Lay still! Lemme take a nap." He mumbled, nuzzling further against her neck and hair but she pulled herself and rolled away from him. He crashed on his face on the grass.

"I need a hug!" He whined, turning his head towards her, grass sticking to his forehead and nose.

"Sorry but I don't have a heart that you could tickle with your cute whinings." Rose hissed, crawling away from his outstretched hands. "I'm heartless and you're annoying."

"I'm heartless and you're annoying." Loki mimicked her in a shrill high pitched nasal voice and made faces, sticking out his tongue.

"And weird." Rose laughed.

His heart fluttered when he heard her laugh. A genuine happy laugh.

He was about to comment something but suddenly, she whirled around and a wide smile appeared on her face. "Look! Baby goats!"

Loki pushed himself off from the ground and sat up, grass sticking out from his hair. Turning his head to where Rose was looking, he saw a trip of goats, grazing near the lake.

"We are playing the point out game again?" Loki asked but she, instead of replying to him, stood up. Giving him her hand, she grinned widely. "Come with me! Have you ever picked up a baby goat? A kid? Get up!"

She was so excited and elated. It took him nearly a minute to get his frenzy heartbeats under control and tear away his eyes from her giddy glowing face.

Taking her hand, he stood up and she started running towards the trip, dragging him behind, fingers intertwined.

Loki looked down at their joined hands and smiled. Squeezing her hand, he fell into her strides, matching her steps and taking in her giggles that were like melodious tunes to him.

And then she stopped running and stopped him, placing a hand on his chest and finger on her lips with a ssh.

Had she been not so excited about goats, she wouldn't have missed the loud fast excited beats of his heart beneath her palm.

"I tried to catch one last time but they escaped." She whispered, eyes still locked on the little black goats jumping on each other. "These time we are two! We will catch them, right Loki?" She asked excitedly.

He felt something twisting inside his chest.

This was the first time she had called out his name since they met after a long month of separation.

He had missed the way she says his name. The way her lips move and tongue rolls forming the word. Every small details of her moves and talks, he had missed them terribly.