Loki was standing in the drive of the compound, awaiting your arrival long before the sound of your car caught his attention. He had to be very careful now that you had returned, as to not ruin his masterful plan. It left him hollow to be without you, and he didn't believe that keeping you occupied would me much trouble. However, when the car came to a screeching halt and you hurried out from the driver's door, the urgency of your voice and actions nearly transferred to him with your touch, it was so overwhelming.

"Hi, sweetie," you greeted, with a fast hug and a chaste kiss before getting right into business. It wasn't that you weren't happy to see him, because you were; you were desperate to see him. You were also desperate for people to see Loki as you did, and it was now becoming a reality that they were about to if you did this right. "Okay, did Nat give you the heads up about tomorrow? We need to get you fitted for your own suit. You looked good in Steve's but I think it's time you have one. Tony and Happy are taking care of security, Clint is arranging where we can land the quinjet-"

"Darling, you need to breathe. You're so tense and rushed," he interrupted, his voice contrastingly calm and quiet. "You're making me tired from just listening to you. All will work out as it should, and there is plenty of time."

"Pfft, for you maybe. You just need to show up."

"And I will," he nodded, "but until then, are there any tasks for the event that are left unassigned?"

You furrowed your brow as you thought about the question, running everything through your mind, from start to finish as it had better go tomorrow. "Um...no? No, I don't think so."

"Very well," Loki smiled, "in that case, I should like to spend the evening with you. Since we've left the tower under such tenuous circumstances, we haven't had a moment alone."

"I do enjoy our moments alone," you smirked. "So, what did you have in mind?"

Loki stepped forward, reaching down carefully to take your hand in his as to not drop any of the clearly valuable pieces of work in your other. His thumb grazed the top of your left hand as his eyes studied it; he was acting almost strangely now, and before you could ask the question, he took a quick breath and looked up to you with a playful grin. "Oh, my love, I have plenty in mind. I'll pick you up at your door at 7pm."

"Can I have an idea? What should I wear?"

"Worry not. I'm certain that anything you choose will render me breathless."

"Oh," you scoffed, "so no pressure then. Helpful, thanks."

~~~

The hours passed, and you finished enough work for the day to finally go to your room and begin to prepare for whatever plans Loki had in mind. He wasn't as ready, however, and once you left his side he hurried up to the roof of the compound, where Tony, Thor, and Clint were hard at work making preparations that he never would have expected from them. From the first step of his foot through the door to the outside, it was as if he had stepped foot into Asgard, and his heart actually skipped a beat at the sight.

"I do believe that we've done well, brother," Thor greeted with a hand extended and a broad smile. "This is very reminiscent of home. Much like the gardens we ran through as children."

"Gardens that we destroyed as children," Loki corrected. "Mother took her time in forgiving us for each transgression."

"Hmm, I remember," Thor nodded along, "though we wasted none in moving to the next."

Loki took measured and careful steps around the garden, taking time to be sure to not step so much as an inch out of place. Everything was so perfect and manicured that he dare not disturb even the pristine blades of grass beneath his feet. "It's somewhat of a shame that (Y/N) will never see the real Asgard, as it was meant to be. I would've enjoyed showing her so many things there. This will have to suffice, however."

Tony's attentions perked up, turning to the two men with his hands deeply in his pockets and a bounce in his step. "We can keep this up as long as you guys want. Or, I can have the gardeners change whatever you want too, just say the word. We strung some mood lighting up all the way around, and I think it would be nice to change them up for holidays, don't you? Liven it up around here."

"It would be nice to have even a small comfort of home," Thor agreed. "Thank you, Tony."

Loki was eager to join in, so much as to give Stark a bow of appreciation. "Thank you for this, Mr. Sta...Tony," he corrected quickly. "I am in your debt."

"Repay me by making (Y/N) happy. Simple as that."

"Consider it done. I fully intend to spend the rest of our years together doing exactly that."

~~~

At 7pm sharp, the gentle knock on your door pulled you from your trance as you waited for him, looking out to the lake to find a calm to settle into your nerves. It was crazy; Loki didn't make you nervous at all, and he never had even before you met him, so this strange churning and tumbling in your stomach left you confused and uncomfortable. When you opened the door, however, all of those feelings were gone, only to be overwhelmingly replaced by others. It had been so long since you had just real contact with him that he stepped through your door with a hand powerfully pushing it back, taking you in his arms for a kiss that robbed you of your senses, and immediately made you want to forget whatever plans he had made.

"We should stay in," you hummed against his lips, "we can go out some other time."

"Mmm...no..." he sighed, reluctantly setting you down, though not releasing you. "What I have in mind for you is far too important, darling. But don't you worry, we're coming back to this."

"Okaaay. I know that's a new suit, and you look unbelievable in it, but it's going to look even better on my floor later."

"On your floor? Why would I not hang it in your closet...oh," he smiled, the red in his cheeks beginning to grow, "I see. Very clever."

"I could remind you just how clever if we stayed in..."

"Believe me, the temptation is difficult to resist, but have patience."

"Easy for you to say."

"It most definitely is not."

Even the little pout you were giving him didn't work like you thought it would, though he had to look away to maintain his composure. Without saying anything further, he took your hand again and led you through the door and towards the elevator that would take you to the roof. You had a million questions with each step, but you held back, knowing that your answers would come soon enough. When the door opened and you stepped over the threshold, the questions multiplied beyond comprehension.

"Loki..."

"Do you like it?"

"This is...it's incredible," you whispered. The roof was covered in flowers of vibrant colors, accented by decorations of gold and crystal that reflected the moonlight so vividly that you were mesmerized into immobility. There were trees where they were never meant to be, but they looked to be in their perfect home. Loki slid his hand around your waist and pulled you to him, leading you to walk through the garden that Thor, Clint, and Tony had put so much work into for you both.

"This garden is very much like one that Thor and I played in during our youth. Our mother loved her flowers, and the sound of one footstep into the dirt was all it took for us to face her wrath."

"I can totally imagine you two as naughty little boys. You still are."

"Some things can never be outgrown," he smiled softly. "It helps that Thor refuses to grow up." After that, he continued the walk in silence, taking in the sights as if he hadn't seen them merely an hour before. It was remarkable how similar it was to the true Asgard, but beyond that, he was at a loss as to why Tony would help him with such astounding results when the man owed him nothing. "I should have liked to take you to Asgard one day," he finally continued, "and now that we no longer have it to call home, I appreciate what I had and have since lost. I refuse to make that mistake again."

"You'll find a home here, Loki. We're all here to help you."

"I know, my love," he sighed nervously. "We've not known each other for long, you and I, but it feels as if it's been forever. From the first time I saw you in that kitchen, in Barton's stolen pants and Stark's borrowed shirt-"

"Ugh, don't remind me."

"But you werebeautiful," he argued emphatically. "I fought Thor in coming to Earth, but he resisted. He is smarter than I've given him credit for. He is a solid judge of character. So much so that he saw something in me that I had yet to see for myself. Something that you saw from that very first day. I've also come to learn that not only is he a valid judge of a person, but he is a trustworthy judge of remarkable beauty, suitable to be worn only on the hand of a queen."

It didn't register in your mind immediately; your eye had been caught by a shimmering flower at your side, and perhaps he had planned it that way to draw your attention away for just a second. When your mind sped to catch up to the moment, you turned back only to see him lower himself onto one knee, looking up at you with wide eyes that glimmered in the moonlight, and a ring in his hand that sparkled with the life of the gold luxury around you.

"(Y/N), I kneel before you in deference to not only your beauty, but in gratitude for the love you've shown me. The love you have allowed me to return and that you've graced me with your acceptance of. You looked upon me with understanding and compassion when others chose to look away, and I fear the day when your gaze no longer falls upon me, and the love that I see in them now is no longer within my reach. I do not wish to go another moment without knowing that our remaining days will be spent together, so that I can give to you all that you've given me. Please, (Y/N), I offer myself to you fully, and I ask if you will accept me now, as your husband."

As to be expected, the team had lined themselves up along the top floor of one of the adjacent buildings so that they could watch the moment play out, keeping themselves in the darkness and having to stifle their cheers and applause when they watched Loki slide the ring onto your finger. Tony was the first to approach Thor, giving the god a firm slap on the back in congratulations, and to acknowledge the job well done in their effort to help bring this moment together.

"See that right there, Point Break," he chided quietly, pointing towards you, "that's the kind of sister you deserve. Welcome home, my friend."