Hostage to Love

Succession.

Jane stood and looked in the mirror, still not really comprehending what was about to happen.  They were getting married - for a second time! The first time? It had been a spectacle unlike any she had anticipated.  The great hall had been decorated with flowers and banners and every noble and dignitary in Asgard - and one or two other realms - had dressed in their finery. 

The ceremony had been long, intricate, and to be quite honest?  Every bit as dull as Ari had laughingly warned her.  Still, she'd come to a great compromise.  Let Thor and Odin have their moment in the sun, then come to Midgard and have another ceremony for her.  And her friends.

Now, those friends were waiting on her.  Erik had gotten ordained as a celebrant, Darcy and Iain had closed the lab for the day, and even Loki and Ari had made the journey.  Ari hadn't been well, a touch of food poisoning, but had managed to keep out of the bathroom long enough to be her maid of honour.

As she turned back from the mirror, she looked at Ari.  "Thank you.  Thank you so much."  she hugged her tightly. "I am so grateful to you." she pulled back and admired the dress she now wore. Ari had asked her seamstresses to make it for Jane. Not as grand as her Asgardian dress, but every bit as stylish. 

For her part, Ari had loved Midgard with a capital WOW! They'd arrived somewhere Loki had called 'New York' and had been strangely unwilling to walk about in. Jane, however, had no such qualms, and the two of them had spent a week seeing everything it had to offer.

On one day, they'd met up with the wife of a mutual friend of Thor and Jane, Pepper. Her husband Tony was seemingly a big name on earth, mega rich and a fellow "Avenger." She had introduced Ari to the delights of a 'department store'.

Arriving back at the apartment in Tonys' very own towerblock, she'd been laden with bags.  Loki had looked up and rolled his eyes. "We're doomed!" He covered his eyes and turned away so she wouldn't see his laugh. It seemed that some things weren't limited to a single planet.

Now, at the end of the second week, Thor and Jane were tying the knot again.  As Ari handed her the small posy of orange blossom, she smiled. "You look beautiful, Jane. Time to go."

A couple of hours later, they stood in the sunshine, throwing rice over the not-quit-so-newlyweds.

Loki wore a black suit, white shirt, and green and gold tie. He looked, quite frankly, like one of the male models she'd seen pictures of on the billboards around the city.

Ari, as maid of honour, had been supposed to wear a dress. Her newfound addiction to trousers had won over, and she wore a tailored trouser suit with a silk blouse and a pair of the high heels she'd bought on her shopping trip with Pepper. Again, the colours green and gold featured strongly.  Loki decided he really rather liked being able to see her very attractive rear, so trousers were definitely a good addition to her wardrobe.

When he'd commented as much she'd raised an eyebrow in mock disgust, but when he'd walked over and grabbed her to him, placing his large hands on that same rear, she'd put up no objection whatsoever.

Now Jane and Thor were married. Twice. Asgard's future King had his Queen. Odin sat in the shade of a large umbrella as the celebration continued round about him.

Tony, Pepper, and a few of their close associates, including - as Tony so eloquently put it - an overgrown boyscout and a man with outstanding anger management issues, now ate and drank and generally made merry.

As the evening wore on, it grew dark, and the party moved indoors. Sitting around a low coffee table chatting, Thor put Mjolnir on the table.

"Oh no, no, no." Tony wagged a finger, "not going THERE again! Remember what happened the LAST time we did this?" He laughed and walked away to the bar. "More drinks?"