Heaven Sent (Loki/Asgard Fanfiction - Aislinn's Story)

Chapter One

Point Pleasant, NJ

The air smelled saltier than usual, and Aislinn Lokidatter smiled as she inhaled deeply. It had been two years since the last time she was at the Jersey Shore and she hadn't realized just how much she missed it until she heard the sound of the carousel at Jenkinson's, and breathed in that tangy air.

"Feel better?"

Aislinn smiled down at her sister-in-law Celia, who shifted her youngest daughter Amanda, from her left shoulder to her right. "Absolutely. There's nothing like being at the Jersey shore to forget all about stress and every day drudgery."

Celia chuckled. "Stress and drudgery in Asgard? If you said that to anyone else, they'd think you were mad."

"Ah, but I can say that to you because you understand."

"Mommy! Can we go on the merry-go-round again?" The oldest of Selig and Celia's four children, eight-year old Alex, came bounding toward them, his seven-year old brother Erik waiting by the merry-go-round in question, holding his five-year old sister Camilla's hand. "Daddy said we had to ask you."

Celia sighed softly. "Of course. Is he still there?"

He nodded, his bushy black hair blowing in the breeze. "Yeah. I think he's the one who really wants to go again."

"Of course he is." Celia shifted Amanda once more and shook her head. "I like to tell people I have five children and the oldest supports me."

Aislinn laughed, raking her hair away from her face as the wind kicked up once more. She was three years younger than her brother, Selig and like Selig, had inherited their father's thick black hair. Unlike Selig, she had yet to marry or start a family of her own, but she enjoyed the time she spent with her nieces and nephews. They were boisterous and lively, and each night, when they fell asleep, she realized just how precious quiet could be.

"How does Selig like being referred to as a fifth child?"

"It depends on his mood and how much sleep this little one lets us get."

Aislinn reached for her niece. Amanda was just six months old and beautiful, with a smattering of blonde peach fuzz and her mother's wide, midnight blue eyes. Amanda stared up at her for a long moment, then her face split into a wide smile, complete with three pearly little baby teeth. "Are you giving Momma and Poppa a hard time, sweetling?" she cooed, dipped down to rub noses with the baby. "Why do I find that so hard to believe?"

"Oh, believe it." Celia bent over to rummage through the diaper bag tucked into the basket under Amanda's stroller. "Damn it."

"What's the matter?"

Celia straightened up, blowing a wayward blonde corkscrew curl away from her forehead. "I forgot an extra blanket for Mandy."

"Never fear, sister, dear," Aislinn passed the baby back to Celia and grinned, "you have me and I can get you a blanket just like that."

As she said that, Aislinn wiggled her fingers and a pale pink blanket appeared in the stroller. "Selig's not the only one who can do this, you know."

Celia grinned. "You are a lifesaver, Al. Thanks."

"Sure." Aislinn nudged her with her shoulder. Only a select few people got away with calling her Al, while the rest of the Nine Realms would address her only as Your Highness, or Princess Aislinn.

Aislinn Frigga Lokidatter, sixth in line for the throne of Asgard and the older daughter of King Loki and Queen McKenna of Asgard. Named for her grandmothers, she preferred Aislinn over Al, but was pretty sure she'd never cure her family of the need to call her by the dreaded shortened form of her name.