Unexpected

Sudden Decisions and Big Plans

Engaged.

I am engaged to Loki!

The thought thrummed in my mind like a heartbeat of its own. It didn't seem possible! None of this was possible, but I didn't care! I was too exuberant to care, giggles bubbling from my lips as I gazed down at the ring.

It was gorgeous!

The diamonds glittered like fresh fallen snow on the elegant curves of gold that wound around my finger. It was perfect.

"I'm so happy." Loki chuckled, his voice still tinted with disbelief as he clasped my hands, "So happy I could just-"

He suddenly cut himself off, his hands immediately moving to my waist before he lifted me into the air, spinning me around.

"Loki!" I half-yelped, half-laughed, clinging to the shoulders of his overcoat. He grinned up at me, his smile as bright and excited as my own as he put me back down, taking my hands into his own, "Thank you."

I looked up at him, "Why are you thanking me?"

"I was so afraid you were going to say no." He admitted, his thumb running over my ring. "I was worried that maybe you would reject me, that all of this was too much too soon, that you would be too angry or hurt, that maybe you would hate me after all I've done.

I shook my head at him before lifting myself up onto my tiptoes, pressing a chaste, reassuring kiss to his lips. I wasn't used to being the one to initiate kisses, but in my elation I could hardly help myself. A blush dusted my cheeks as I pulled away to looked up at him, my hands splayed over his chest as he moved his arms to wrap around my back, encircling me. It may be a cliché, but his arms seemed to fit perfectly around the dip of my waist, like we were made to fit together. "I will never reject you, Loki, I love you and you alone, and I want nothing more than to be yours and for you to be mine."

My words seemed to strike Loki deeply, his eyes growing soulful again before he dipped his face back down to mine, capturing my lips in a long kiss before resting his forehead against mine contentedly. I took a shaky breath, trying to calm myself down so that more happy tears didn't rise up in my eyes. What was wrong with me? I rarely used to cry before all of this, but this year... this year has had brought me to the lowest places of fear, pain, and grief and had taken me to the heights of love and joy.

The beauty of the moment was cut off as an alarm on my phone started to go off. The opening notes to Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" started playing, growing steadily louder as I gasped in surprise at the sudden music, pulling my phone from my waistband to shut the alarm off. Across my phone screen read, "Head to Work". I'd set this alarm for myself earlier so that I could end my run-jog-walk and start heading over to the Triskelion so I wouldn't be late.

Staring at the screen now, a realization of my new situation hit me. I was now engaged to Loki, prince and now secret stand-in king of Asgard and known war criminal over the nine realms. How was all of this going to work?

Loki read my phone's screen and seemed to understand the questions running through my mind. He closed his eyes for a second before a small smile grew on his face, serious, but warm. Slowly he ran his arms around my waist again, pulling me close, "Penelope, would you like to come to Asgard with me?"

That question shocked me nearly as much as his proposal had, making my head jerk up so I could look into his face, "What?"

He looked me straight in the eyes, his tone steady and serious, "Come with me."

My brain wasn't computing. "To Asgard?"

"Yes."

"Right now?"