Issues Issues...

Issues, Issues...

"I can't wait, Maria." Thor said on the balcony of Jane's wedding reception, the stars watching from overhead as he took up Maria's hand in his own. He brought her knuckles to his lips.

His smile glittered at her along her arm as he held her hand to his lips, kissing it softly as the impossible happened - Thor's knee bent.

Maria's heart had fluttered in her chest as she watched him lower, hardly daring to believe that going down on one knee meant the same thing to them. Her hand was still inescapably in his as his kneecap touched the hard balcony floor. Cultural differences, she told herself. Surely he doesn't realise what he was doing.

The wicked smirk, nursed with the soft, loving look in his eyes told her otherwise. "Brad informed me of the traditions of your world." He offered in way of simple explanation.

Brad... Jane's new husband, Maria thought breathlessly in her head. Thor had been left with the groom and the boys to get ready for Jane's wedding while Maria had gone to the bride's house with the bridesmaids. Those hours of separation had killed her, but then she'd seen the result: his tall, muscular form looked absolutely divine in the suave dark suit he wore, a bow tie tied neatly at the base of his neck. His lengthy blonde hair was combed back lightly from his face angelic face, not at all tainted by gel, leaving no distractions from his bold, bright blue eyes.

Incredible, she thought. Just incredible.

Her eyes flickered instinctively to the side, to the glass panelled doors of the balcony. They were closed over, the patterned glass distorting the images inside. Just minutes ago, Thor and Maria had been one of them; dancing to the music, his hands at her waist before he'd led her efree of the party to the seclusion and privacy of the balcony.

If Brad knew, then Jane did too, Maria affirmed in her head, turning her eyes away from the Hall and back to - gulp - Thor.

He was still down there. "He informed me that it was customary for a man to get down on one knee," His bright blue orbs twinkled and Maria felt mesmerised, like she couldn't look away if she tried. The breath hung in her throat. Especially as Thor's spare hand reached down into the pocket of his suit jacket. "And for him to present his beloved with a ring."

Maria's heart suddenly booted into overdrive as Thor brought forward the small box from the silky confines of his suit. How had she not noticed that lump in his pocket? Her head was torn between nervously cursing and 'yay'ing as the small black box settled beside her caught hand, Thor letting her fingers ease back from his mouth. Now, everything was perfect, he thought with a smile.

To him, Maria looked a goddess tonight. The bold colour of her royal blue dress emphasised Maria's porcelain skin and luscious dark curled locks gloriously, one side pinned back from her pretty face with a gently sparkling clip. The dress hung to her knees, matched with a pair of silver heels that gave Maria an extra three sturdy inches of height. It was gorgeous, absolutely perfect, Thor thought.

His heart was in his throat as his thumb hooked the catch under the lid of the box and flicked, opening the sprung cap with a prompt snap. He didn't miss the way Maria's breathing stopped, her eyes drawn to the jewellery in his hand.

It was nothing huge. But it was right, he knew. Brad had assured him that it was the wedding rings that should be gold and proper, but the engagement ring was one flash, but at the same time, not to overdo it. Thor had scoured the store for a ring that was worthy of his desired woman, yet accommodated her modesty fairly.

The result shone up at her now, the shimmering diamond in its silver clutches glistening in the moonlight. The stone was a crystal blue, the exact shade of Thor's eyes, and shaped in pointed end tear drop. The band of the ring was shaped down like a heart, the tip of the diamond tear nested prettily in the top of the dip. It was perfect she thought breathlessly, the most wonderful mix of Thor's traditional, Norse simplicity and modernity. How did he always get everything so beautifully right?