My Best Friend's Brother

Chapter 26

I was sitting outside on the swing, gently swaying back and forth. It had been a quiet night so far, I wasn't too concerned with the time since I already finished all my packing this evening. I just wanted some time to sit and reflect, I guess. And I didn't feel as if I was alone. I don't believe in ghosts, but I can still sense his essence all around me sometimes.
"So, Father. You get your wish. I am getting married tomorrow," The wind flew around me "But it is not for a title. I am marrying for something we never thought possible. I am getting married for love," Nothing but silence. Father didn't seem to want to talk much tonight. That's okay, I don't mind silence. But even that didn't last as a soft, warm voice broke the silence a few moments later.
"What are you still doing up? You're getting married tomorrow, and travelling to Midgard," Thor came out the back door. He was carrying a blanket over his arm. I smiled at him as he put it over my shoulders in a caring fashion.
"Oh, I was just talking to my Father,"
"And is he in a very talkative mood tonight?" Thor smiled as he sat beside me. Thor understood that sometimes I just needed to talk to thin air.
"Not so much," I replied. We used to sit all the time out here just the two of us like this. I'd just sit on the swing and cry for hours on end. Thor wouldn't say a word, just rubbing my back as comfortably as he could. He rubbed my back now in the way he used to, and I grinned over at him. It took me a minute, however, to finally say anything. After a while, my lips parted on their own accord, which my brother noticed "Thor, do you think Father would have liked Loki?"
"Of course, Birch would have! What's not to like?" He said this, earning another sincere smile. He truly loved Loki too; I could tell. Thor saw the good in Loki just like I did "Your father knew Loki growing up. He always told him that he could do wonderful things in his life if he stopped with the pranks and the occasional stabbing," Loki was so different than anyone I'd ever pictured myself marrying before, and the complete opposite of Father's character. My eyes lowered a tiny bit.
"I don't know if he's the kind of man Father had in mind for me," I admitted, reluctantly. Thor reaches down to take my hand in his. He squeezed it, making me look at him again. And he smiled at me.
"Willow, all your father ever cared about is that you're happy. Yes, you going to marry a prince and if your grandfather was alive, he would be claiming it was for the good of the family and blah blah and all that rubbish. But we know differently. You love Loki, and he loves you. That's all that matters now. So yes, I believe Birch would be so happy to see you with Loki. I know he would be, baby sis. There's no doubt in my mind whatsoever." I at Thor, squeezing his hand tightly in return. I don't think he knew how much hearing him say that meant to me.
"Thank you, Thor. I needed to hear that."
"I know," he told me, running his thumb along the back of my hand. Taking in a deep breath, we unclasped our hands and I took hold of the swing ropes. My gaze drifted up toward the sky. I love looking up at the stars as they twinkle away.
"I wish he was here," I sighed to myself.
"I don't. That man was always threatening to cut my hair off," Thor sighed, also glancing up to the dark night sky. A quiet moment passed by before he peered my way once more "Are you nervous about tomorrow?"
"Truth be told, I don't know. I've just loved Father for so long, but now that I'm getting married, my husband should be my favourite man in life," Thor thought about it for a moment.
"Yes, I think that's right."
"And you were my favourite man up until tonight," I looked over at him. Thor blinked at me like this surprised him, but then his face quickly softened.
"Well since your father died, I've been the closest man in your life. Other than your brothers and let's be honest, they ain't much help," Thor smiled as I chuckled "My father was the one who was meant to look after you and despite promising to look after you, I got stuck with you,"
"More like I was stuck with you. Honestly, you were such a pain. But..." my eyes lowered lovingly "I don't know how I could survive those first few years without you," Thor gazed forward, his eyes lowering a tad as he wrapped his arms around me
"And no matter what happens... you will always be stuck with me. The Norns made us best friends because they knew that neither of our parents could handle us as siblings," My smile mirrored his genuine "Well, jokes on them as now we are going to be family. At least people can stop thinking that there's something between us,"
"Like that is ever going to stop people gossiping. You know I am still tempted to tell Sif that you're swinging for the other team," I smile.
"After last night, I don't think she will agree with you," Thor grinned. Then something changed in Thor's face "Are you going to tell him about... you know?"
"About my medication? Oh, I think he already knows it's available. But I'm still afraid if I tell him, he'll start making me take it," a sigh left my lips as I peered out at the grass in front of us. Thor's head shook a little.
"You want to watch him do all these great things, and you want a PhD. But you can only do those things if you're healthy enough to,"
"But I am healthy enough I don't need to start taking it yet." He frowned for the first time that night.
"You fainted in the park,"
"I had run all the way from the house to the park. Of course, I fainted. I am not built for athleticism," I exclaimed.
"Will, I am being serious. Fainting is a reality for you now. Don't forget, Your father passed away because he fainted in the water. You need to tell Loki, and start taking your meds for god's sake."
"I will tell him when the time is right. It's not like he and I will have any kids to worry about in the future; Father and I are in completely different situations. And before you say anything, I do plan on graduating from PhD and perhaps pursuing another, so I do have a vested interest in my health." Thor gave me a firm look.
"You need to take care of yourself. Let him take care of you too..."
"But I don't want to cause Loki unnecessary worry. I don't him to feel like he's marrying such a needy person." Then Thor finally gave me another grin, reaching out to rub my back again.
"He won't think that. He'll think that you're his wife. And like the rest of us, he just wants to keep you around as long as humanly possible."
"Was he like this with Sigyn?"
"No. Sure he cared for her in public but behind closed doors. They lived at different ends of the palace. Their marriage was doomed from the start," Thor shuffled in his seat.
"Loki's never said how she died,"
"Blood poisoning. She cut her hand on a rusty blade that she had found in the garden," Thor sighed "Loki never attended the funeral. He was called back to Jotunheim. His bio father tried to make Loki remarry that day, something about how he needed to produce an heir if he was to be King,"
"What a quim,"
"My feelings exactly," Thor nodded "Anyway, by the time Loki got back, The funeral was over and most thought Loki didn't attend because it was too painful. Only those closest to him knew the truth,"
"I wish he told me," I sighed.
"Enough lingering in the past. You are getting married tomorrow. You need your beauty sleep," Thor stood up and held his hand out "My lady," I sighed as I took it.

When it came to Mine and Loki's wedding, There wasn't much in the way of a ceremony. Thor gave me away while my own mother sobbed with either tears of happiness or sadness. I am not sure. Frigga was sick so she couldn't attend and Odin didn't care enough to attend. Believe it or not, Prince Dewitt turned up. Thor had told him the news and he came straight back, claiming he would not miss my wedding for anything in the world. The priest read the usual rights to us then slid the certificate across the desk and handed me a pen. I signed the document, then Loki, then Thor, and our witnesses. (Loki had brought along, a man called Mobuis and Thor's Girlfriend, Sif) Once the paperwork was all signed and gone over, The Priest announced that Loki and I were officially legally married. I was no longer Willow Featherwine; I was Willow Odinson, Duchess of Asgard. And more than that, I was Loki's wife.

Thor and Loki thanked the judge, then thanked Mobius and Sif. The five of us exited together when Will took his leave of us. The three remaining of us went to gather the rest of the Featherwine clan and had brunch at a fancy place downtown. We didn't have much time; I was leaving for Midgard this afternoon. Of course, everyone came to the Bifrost with Loki and me. But before we set off in the carriage, I discreetly pulled my new husband off to the side. Loki glanced down at me in surprise, his eyebrow raising. I looked back up at him sincerely.
"Yes, my love?"
"You don't have to come to Midgard with me, Loki."
"Really?" He gasped scandalized but I didn't let him continue, quickly interrupting him with a head shake.
"Don't get me wrong. Of course, I'd love it if you came; I'd love nothing more than tracing around Midgard with you. But I know this is short notice. Plus when we get back, I have to go to the university and register. It's not going to be a relaxing time is what I'm saying, and I feel bad dragging you into all that after we just got married." my husband put his hand firmly but lovingly onto my shoulder. I like calling him husband. His expression was genuine and already told me everything I needed to know.
"Did you hear what you just said? You're right; we just got married. And there's no way I'm going to stay here and let my new bride go off to some foreign on her own like that." I smiled at this.
"I'll be alright. I've lived there for nearly two years by myself now." But he shook his head.
"It's not a question of you being able to take of yourself. We both know that you can. It's a matter of me not ready to leave your side yet. I need you close, just for a little longer," I gazed down at our feet with the widest smile across my face. I know this obviously isn't the case, but I feel like the first person in the world to love their partner. I couldn't stop thinking to myself just how lucky I am to have found someone as wonderful as Loki Odinson.

Goodbyes at the Bifrost were definitely tearful. I gave each of my siblings a very long hug, even Heath. I promised Alder to come back with extra chocolates. Cassia, Rowan and Oak sobbed their little hearts out.
"You can stop crying now. I am not going off to war. We will be back in a month," Finally, after saying goodbye to each of them, it was Thor's turn. He was admittedly the hardest to say farewell to. I cried and a few tears rolled down his cheek. His thumb gently wiped mine away.
"Your father would have been so happy today," he told me. Hearing him say this only made me want to weep more.
"Don't you start crying," I mumbled "I love you, Thor,"
"I love you too. I'll always be here if ever you need anything; nothing's going to change that. Not ever." We threw our arms around each other, with both of our eyes closed for a moment. When Thor's eyes eventually reopened, he was gazing at Loki, who was standing by observing patiently. He smiled at my husband, which he returned in full "Take care of my new sister."
"I will."

Heimdall quickly teleported us back to Midgard where we landed in the Avengers compound. I looked around and spotted a man in a black trench coat waiting by the door.
"Oh, goody. Fury's here to greet us," I rolled my eyes "I wonder how he's going to react to us being married,"
"I'm betting shocked. You did leave single after all," he chuckled softly.
"I think Stark will be even more shocked. I think he was trying to set me up with his... I don't know who he was to Stark but he was called Peter,"
"Well, they are going to have to get through me first. You are my wife now,"
"Thanks again for coming to Midgard with me. I'll try to make it a nice trip for you." His head shook a little from side to side.
"You don't need to worry about that. I'm just happy to be with you. It's going to be just the two of us. for once." Loki wrapped his arm around my waist.
"It's a little weird? We've never really been alone for very long like this together," I said as I placed my hands on his chest.
"I like it. Being around you is the easiest thing in the world. I'm really looking forward to this trip actually."
"I'm so glad to hear you say that," I let out a sigh of relief. Loki's eyes locked onto me, lowering slightly. It's like hearing me say that made him happy.... which in turn made me happier.
"We are married, Willow, which means that if you ever need or want anything, you can tell me. We work things out together. That's the way it's going to be from now on. You're my sun, My whole world resolves around you."
"Loki," my jaw dropped a tad.
"I want to see you fly and will do whatever I can to support you."
"Oh, Loki; you already do. There's nothing else you could give me you already don't. I'm just so happy being with you. We're going to spend the rest of our lives together."
"Willow," Loki sighed. We pressed our foreheads together. That's when he got quiet. We stared into the other's eyes for a moment before I cracked a pleasant smile. His eyes softened in the most tender way possible "Willow, I love you," I matched his adoring expression.
"I love you too," I'll never be able to tell you how much I love you. His lips parted open again a minute later.
"Is there anything you want? Anything I can get you as a wedding present?" My new husband asked me. I shook my head.
"I can't think of anything, I already have everything I need."
"There must be something you'd like," he said, making my eyes grow a little. I smiled a little more.
"You know what I really want, Loki?"
"What? If you tell me what it is, I'll buy it for you." This organic smile drew across my lips. Yes, there is something; something I've wanted ever since we were in North Asgard together.
"I want to hold your hand." I sighed. All Loki could do was stare. Slowly his hand crept across the armrest over to where mine was lying. His fingers wrapped around mine, our palms pressing into one another. He took my hand and I immediately squeezed his hand. I enjoyed the last moment we had before Fury started yelling at us to get a move on.