For Better or For Worse (Loki x Reader)

Chapter Fifty-One

Hey, all! Thank you all for being so patient with me. I just finished up my third semester of college! I can't believe I've already been in college for a year and a half. Again, thank you for being so patient; the cell biology and organic chemistry finals were a bitch.

Anyway, enough from me. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

P.S. I love reading through all your comments, so don't be afraid to drop one or two! Or ten!

I fidgeted with the simple gold band on my ring finger as my mother inspected the wound on my chest. My foot tapped impatiently on the marble flooring of the healing wing as the All-mother wiped away some fluid from the healing wound. I was itching to get out of the palace and to my wife's side. I knew I would have to wait for Thor to return with the rest of the Avengers before we could enact our plan, but I was itching to get into action. If I sat around doing nothing any longer, I would surely go mad. It was a wonder I hadn't already.

"So," my mother began, "are you going to tell me about the ring?" I blushed heavily, looking down at the gold band circling my finger. The woman continued cleaning my wound and prepping the area to be rebandaged as if she hadn't said anything.

"I-I wanted to do things right," I said, suddenly embarrassed. I wasn't sure why I was suddenly feeling this way in front of my mother of all people. If anyone were to understand, it would be her. And everyone else had been so understanding, Thor, Jane, even the Avengers. And thinking about it now, I felt guilty for not having told my mother about the important development.

"It sounds so childish and dare I say silly saying it now, but I wanted to do right by (Y/N). She deserved a real chance at love, at courting, at marriage." Heat suddenly took over my cheeks, and I knew they would be bright red with sudden uncertainty and embarrassment. "So, after that discussion I had with you, I asked her to court me, if she so desired."

"I see nothing childish or silly about that, my son," the blonde woman said as I paused in my story. "In fact, I think it sounds unbelievably romantic. I can't believe you thought that up all on your own," she teased. I rolled my eyes, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. "But in all seriousness, Loki," she said, adopting a more serious tone, "that's nothing short of lovely. I'm so proud of you and the man you have become." She was now grabbing the bandages and beginning to wrap them around my chest. "Tell me more," she prompted when I remained silent.

I "proposed" to her, so to speak, while we were in Midgard. Though it was winter while we were there, I used my magic to create a garden in the courtyard of the Avengers compound. I proposed to her under a trellis of Morning Glories, just like the ones we have in the royal garden. It was there, watching her read under the trellis, that I realized I was hopelessly in love with her," I chuckled and shook my, a soft smile on my lips.

"We were married the night-" I cut myself off, unsure if I was going to be able to continue. "W-we had a wedding ceremony the night before she was taken," I admitted softly. "Tony helped me pick out the rings and I had arranged a ceremony incorporating Midgard wedding customs with our own traditional ones." I paused for a moment. "She loved it," I whispered. "And she looked so beautiful in that simple white cloth gown. I had done her hair before we left for the chapel."

"Loki," my mother whispered but said nothing more. At that moment, it seemed that we were both at a loss for words. And in all honesty, what more was there to say? There were no words that would bring comfort in this more than trying time. The only thing that would bring either of us comfort would be to have (Y/N) back within the palace walls.

"What if we get there too late?" I asked suddenly after a long stretch of silence, voicing the dark thoughts that had been circling my mind ever since my wife had been ripped from my sight. I watched my mother pause in her actions of dressing my wound before she quickly recovered and continued her work.