The Goddess of Victory [Book 3]

Chapter 6

Loki paced the living area on the Avengers floor. They were late and he was worried Odin had got wind of what he had planned. While he had said you both still had to remain on Midgard once you had recovered from your melancholy he never said anything about communicating with any of the other realms, so you had both decided to keep in contact with Vanaheim. Njörðr had accepted his answer but wanted to wait a couple of years till his son was closer to adulthood since he was almost two years younger than Astrid. The latest letter after Freyr turned twenty said Njörðr and Skadi were to come visit you both to discuss things so as not to anger Odin or have him decide to get involved if he received word you had left Midgard as technically he should be informed of any royal marriages.

You sat with your head propped up on your hand as you leant against the arm of the couch watching Loki pace in front of you.

"They are late!" Loki said when he caught you watching him.

"Sit down," you told him. "They have possibly been caught up. You yourself told me many times that there is always last minute business that seems to crop up. How often did I not see you for days when Ry was little because of it."

"Knowing my luck Odin has probably found out and has put a stop to it," Loki growled out in annoyance.

"No he hasn't. We'd currently be in chains standing before him if that was the case."

Loki just rolled his eyes at you and went back to his pacing.

Eventually they turned up, both greeting you like old friends even though you hadn't seen them in over a decade. It was nice considering everything that had happened previously that there was no ill blood between the four of you. You still laughed to yourself some days that Njörðr had tried to win you over and now here you both were playing matchmaker in the hope your children might like each other.

Loki decided at the last minute to invite them down to your apartment to avoid JARVIS spying on the conversation for Stark, but you think he had forgotten about Astrid being home as you both heard a squeak of fright and her bedroom door slam closed as you all walked in.

"I thought she was out?" Loki whispered to you as you shut the main door.

"No, she was home tonight." You watched as a look of guilt crossed Loki's features, he had forgotten it seemed. "Too late now. Red or white?"

You and Skadi were now sitting on the couch drinking, eating and rolling your eyes while the men sat at the table discussing what must be the finer details of any union. You had left it to Loki because you honestly had no idea what was involved, though you and Skadi had both made it very clear to them before they started talking that this was not going to be a forced marriage, yet it seems they had both ignored you from what you could both overhear, having petered out your conversation to eavesdrop on them. You knew Astrid was sitting just behind her bedroom door listening as well.

"These two," Skadi commented after Njörðr made some heated remarks about 'living arrangements'.

"I know, maybe this was a bad idea letting them be involved." You pursed your lips before taking a sip of your drink.

"I think so. Men just don't seem to understand matters of the heart." Skadi smiled slyly, making you laugh. "Maybe we should have just left it to the women."

"I heard that," Loki commented, levelling a look in your direction as you both giggled.

"So I was thinking..." Skadi started as you both discussed maybe organising an informal meeting that was not a 'date' between both Astrid and Freyr.

Later that night you walked into Astrid's room to talk to her while Loki went with Njörðr and Skadi to say goodbye and confirm when they would be back.