A New York Secret

Chapter Eighty-Nine

"We'll have to get ice for the tub," Emily said as she looked over at Mary. 

"I've already called it in, so it will be ready for us." Mary replied.

"Are we going to the med bay?" Emily asked.

"No, we're going down to the physical therapy room." Mary answered. "They are better set up for this, when it's not an emergency." She explained.

Emily nodded. "I'll make a bag for Loki. He still has some sweats in my room. But he might have to borrow from James for other stuff."

"I can put these clothes back on after, darling." Loki pointed out, not minding at all.

"Actually... please don't be mad, Em... I felt like something more was going with Loki leaving. So when you asked us to get rid of his things, we put everything into a storage room. Everything is in there, clothes, phone, tablet..." Mary confessed.

"You... you have everything?" Emily questioned.

Mary nodded. "Everything. If you had us take it out, it's in storage. We kept everything."

"But... why did you keep it all? Not that I'm upset, it's good for him to have his things, but... you never told me."

"Things just... didn't add up. The way he left, it felt more complicated than we knew... and staying gone... that didn't feel right either. It has only ever taken one glance to see how in love with you Loki is." Mary tried to explain. "We didn't tell you because we didn't want it to affect your healing at the time."

Emily stepped back, feeling overwhelmed. "This... this is a lot to take in."

"I'm so sorry Em. I thought you would be happy about it now that he's back. I swear I didn't mean to overwhelm you." Mary said, fighting back tears, in part from hormones.

"No, no!" Emily walked around Loki to wrap Mary in a hug. "Honey, I'll work through it. It's okay. I'm glad he has his things, that means he has all of his clothes and everything he loves."

"I'm so sorry Em, truly. I didn't mean to upset you." Mary repeated.

"For what it's worth, it is physical things that bring me some comfort. You are everything I love." Loki said softly to Emily.

Emily pulled away and wiped at her eyes, feeling her heart practically bursting in her chest. "Wh-what did you say?" She asked, turning to Loki.

"Darling, I still love you as much as I did before. Probably even more now, as the thought of you was all that pulled me through." Loki answered.

Tears ran down Emily's face for a whole new reason as she walked up to him. "You love me?"

Loki furrowed his brow. "Of course I do... now that you know what actually happened, do you truly think I ever stopped?" He asked, feeling a little confused.

"N-no, of course not. I just... I haven't heard it from you in a long time. That's all."

"I hope you will be comfortable with me saying it again. If not, I will wait. I will do whatever you need." Loki promised. "Regardless, I just want you to know that to me, you are still my everything." He added, expecting nothing in return.

Emily sniffled and smiled. "I love you, too."

Loki quickly pulled Emily into his arms. "I thought I would never hear those words again." He said, quickly drying his own eyes.

James smiled as he watched on. "Come on, you two," he said sweetly. "Let's get this big man in the bath to help that healing."

Loki nodded, hesitantly letting go of Emily. "It will be good to have my seidr back. I haven't had it since... before." He told them.