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

Chapter Forty-Nine

When Aislinn opened her eyes, it was morning and she had a flash of panic until she remembered she wasn't in the townhouse on Longacre Court.

She was alone in a hospital room.

A toilet flushed and Steve came out of the bathroom a few minutes later looking rumpled and more haggard than she'd ever seen. His hair poked up at odd angles, his jaw was scruffy with beard, and his tee shirt was wrinkled and only partially tucked in.

"Hey, you're up." He smothered a yawn and dragged a chair over to her bedside. "The nurse came in to take blood and check your vitals around six and you barely stirred."

"I was tired."

"Shocker." He sank into the chair. "How do you feel?"

"I'm fine, Steve." She caught the neck of her hospital gown to tug away. The bullet hit her just beneath her left breast and he caught her before she pulled the gown completely down.

"Not a good idea, honey. I might pounce on you."

"Really?"

"You have magnificent breasts, Ash. What can I say?"

With a sigh, she released the gown. "Well, I think all that's there is a teeny scar. The doctor is going to be way confused."

"What're you going to tell her?"

"I don't know. The truth, maybe. I don't like to lie to people." She sank into the pillows, still a little tired from her ordeal. "I hate lying to them, actually. You have no idea how much I hated lying to you when we first met."

He grinned. "I thought you were a porn star, for sure."

"I take it as a good thing that you didn't think you'd seen me in anything." She winked. "Guess you're not much of porn man?"

"Oh, I don't know about that. I've seen my fair share." He caught her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. "But, I have to admit, I thought you were lying about the modeling thing. I'm amazed you're not one."

"Steve, I didn't grow up here, remember?" She sighed softly, raking her free hand through her hair. Her scalp felt itchy and she wanted to take a shower, but as long as the IV was still in, she couldn't. "And honestly, I've spent my entire life having people judge me by my face. I'd hate to have an entire world doing it."

"I don't think anyone in the world wouldn't think you're beautiful, Ash. Inside and out." He lifted her hand to his lips. "And I'm a lucky guy for being the one you wanted."

His eyes were tired, but soft, and as she held his gaze, she realized just how worried he had to be and without thinking, she said, "Steve, you are the only man who ever took the time to get to know me. Who wanted to get to know me. Who wanted to know my hopes, my dreams, my wishes. Do you know how lucky that makes me, to be the woman you wanted? The one you love?"

A hint of the devil flashed in his tired dark eyes. "I just wanted to have sex with you, Ash. Seemed to be the quickest way to get there."

"You're an ass, you know that?"

He winked and leaned over to kiss her. "I'm teasing, baby. I mean, I did want to sleep with you, but I wanted to know you as well."

As he spoke, he rose and moved to sink onto the edge of her bed. As he draped his arm about her shoulders, she snuggled up against him, closing her eyes as he pressed a kiss into the top of her head. "And honestly, Ash, you've made my world a better place just by being in it."

Her throat squeezed shut and her eyes stung as she managed to whisper, "Steve..." She cleared her throat, trying again. "Me, too. I mean, you've made my w-world a bet-better place..."