Olivia figured the least she could do was help to clean Loki's wounds after the attack. So, they sat in a small den in front of a fire as Olivia poured hot water into a small bowl. She dipped a rag into the water and turned to Loki, who was tentatively touching the wound.

"Here now... Oh, don't do that." Olivia said calmly, lightly pushing Loki's hand away from the wound. "Just... Hold still."

She touched the rag to the wound and Loki practically roared in pain. The other objects in the room jumped back.

"That hurts!" He snarled.

"If you'd hold still, it wouldn't hurt as much!" Olivia shot back.

"Well, if you hadn't have run away, this wouldn't have happeend!"

"If you hadn't frightened me, I wouldn't have run away!"

Loki opened his mouth before shutting it, attempting to come up with a good comeback.

"Well, you shouldn't have been in the West Wing!" He finally said.

"Well, you should learn to control your temper!" Olivia snapped. Realizing he was beaten in the verbal sparring, Loki lowered his head to avoid meeting Olivia's gaze. "Now, hold still. This might sting a little." She pressed the rag back against the wound and Loki seized up in pain, gritting his teeth. "By the way... Thank you... For saving my life."

Loki seemed surpised at the sincerity. He finally looked at Olivia, still cleaning the wound.

"You're welcome." He offered as the others watched on earnestly.

***

The sun was bright in the sky the next morning, so Olivia decided to spend some time outside in the snow. She pet Sleipnir tenderly before the footstool-- a very much dog-like object-- started messing around in the snowdrifts. It barked as it jumped into Olivia's arms.

From the above balcony, Loki watched her earnestly with Steve and Tony on the railing. He glanced at his patched up wound and sighed.

"I've never felt this way about anyone." Loki admitted as he watched. I wanna do something for her! But what?"

"Well, there's the usual things: flowers, chocolates, promises you don't intend to keep." Steve said.

"Ah, no no, it has to be something very special." Tony cut the clock off. "Something that sparks her interest. Wait, I know!"

***

Heeding the idea of Tony, Loki led Olivia to a tall set of double doors with a genuine smile on his face.

"Olivia, there's something I want to show you. But first you have to close your eyes." Loki told her. When she gave him a questioning raised eyebrow, his smile changed into a grin. "It's a surprise."

Smirking, Olivia gently closed her eyes as Loki opened the doors. He took her hands in his and led her inside carefully so she wouldn't trip.

"Can I open them?" She asked.

"No, not yet. Wait here." Loki said, letting go of her hands and drawing back large curtains to allow light to spill inside the room. Olivia reflexively flinched as the light hit her face.

"Now can I open them?"

"Alright. Now."

Olivia gently opened her eyes and was greeted by the most expansive library she had ever seen. Books on shelves several feet up, books within arm's distance, books above a large fireplace, books on every surface she could see.

"I can't believe it! I've never seen so many books in all my life!" She said, mesmerized.

"You like it?" Loki asked, excited for her.

"It's wonderful!"

"Then it's yours."

"Oh, thank you so much!"

Later on, the pair finally had a nice meal together, a delicious porridge. Olivia delicately began to eat, but was a little stunned at Loki's table manners-- or lack thereof. Noticing her gaze, Loki stopped what he was doing and went for the spoon Peter had nudged his way. He scooped a little of the porridge into the spoon and tipped it into his mouth from high up. Peter laughed slightly before recieving a look from his teapot aunt.

Olivia put on a smile and put her spoon back down. She grabbed the bowl and lifted it as if toasting. Loki chose to do the same as they both began to sip their food straight out of the bowl, finding a middle ground.

The pair then decided to go back out into the snow to feed some birds. Olivia put some grains into Loki's hands as she watched him try to attract the small birds to his large, blue hands.

"There’s something sweet, and almost kind, but he was mean, and he was coarse and unrefined. And now he's dear, And so unsure, I wonder why I didn’t see it there before." Olivia thought to herself with a smile. The birds flew away from Loki's hands to his disappointment. Olivia chuckled and spread a trail of seeds towards his hands. A bird picked up on it, flying into Loki's hands to feast upon. He smiled at her excitedly upon the sucess.

"She glanced this way, I thought I saw, and when we touched, she didn’t shudder at my claws. No it can’t be, I’ll just ignore, but then she’s never looked at me that way before." Loki thought to himself, watching Olivia smile at him before disappearing behind a tree. She placed a hand over her chest in mild worry.

"New, and a bit alarming. Who’d have ever thought that this could be? True, that he’s no Prince Charming. But there’s something in him that I simply didn’t see." Olivia looked back around the tree to see Loki absolutely covered in birds. Deciding to be playful, she created a snowball and threw it right at his face. Looking perturbed at first, Loki then saw Olivia's smirk before mirroring the expression himself. He gathered a large amount of snow to create a larger snowball. Though Olivia made another one faster, hitting Loki again and causing him to fall over. Realizing that the war was on, they chased each other through the snow, throwing snowballs at each other.

Once they had their fun, Loki and Olivia went inside and sat in front of the roaring fireplace to warm up, a book in Olivia's hand. She opened it and began to read from it while the object companions watched them from the door.

"You know, perhaps there's something there that wasn't there before." Steve said.

"What?" Peter asked.

"There may be something there that wasn't there before." Mrs. Parker simply replied.

"What's there, Aunt May?"

"Shh. I'll tell you when you're older."

***

The objects came up with the idea of a small formal event for just Loki and Olivia to share. A private ball, to be specific. That, of course, meant Loki had to be properly cleaned up. A sentient coatrack wad scrubbing him up in a tub, soap suds flying everywhere.

"Well, tonight is the night!" Tony said, the candelabra bouncing in excitedly.

"I'm not sure I can do this." Loki said nervously.

"You don't have time to be daring. You must be bold, daring!"

"Bold, daring!" Loki repeated as he dried off.

"There will be music. Romantic candlelight, provided myself, and when the time is right, you confess your love."

"Yes, I conf-- I-I- no, I can't!"

"You care for the girl, don't you?"

"More than anything."

"Well, then you must tell her!"

Steve suddenly entered as the coatrack presented Loki's suit.

"Ahem. Your lady awaits."

***

With a nervous look, Olivia descended from the stairs in a beautiful green gown. She reached the landing and looked up at Loki on the other side of the stairs. He hid is fear as he puffed up his chest before descending down the stairs to meet Olivia at the landing. She gently took his arm as they went down the last section of stairs, the footstool weaving between their legs excitedly.

"Tale as old as time. True as it can be. Barely even friends, then somebody bends unexpectedly. Just a little change. Small to say the least. Both a little scared, neither one prepared, beauty and the beast."

Loki led Olivia into a grand ballroom with a large, golden chandelier lighting up the whole room. They took their positions before waltzing around the room. It took a moment for Loki to find his footing, but eventually he and Olivka found a common ground.

"Ever just the same. Ever a surprise. Ever as before, ever just as sure, as the sun will rise. Tale as old as time. Tune as old as song. Bittersweet and strange, finding you can change, learning you were wrong."

They continued the dance with the sentient instruments providing a lovely score to dance to. Smiling, Olivia laid her head against Loki's shoulder tenderly, truly comforted by his presence. He shot an excited smile over at Tony and Steve, who nodded approvingly.

"Certain as the sun. Rising in the east. Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme, beauty and the beast. Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme, beauty and the beast."

The candlelight started to dim as Loki led Olivia out onto a balcony connected to the ballroom. The stars and moon shone in the sky as the pair sat on a stone bench, flower pots next to them.

"Olivia... Are you happy here with me?" Loki asked. Olivia hesitated before replying.

"Yes." She answered honestly, but she suddenly became distant.

"What is it?"

"If only I could see my father again, just for a moment. I miss him so much."

Loki pursed his lips, a little disappointed. Then, he perked up once he realized a solution.

"There is a way." He said. He led her to the once forbidden West Wing into his room. He led her over to the small table where the blue rose was standing, only a handful of petals still hanging on. Loki picked up the blue cube and passed it to Olivia. "This cube will show you anything. Anything you wish to see."

"I'd like to see my father, please." Olivia said. The cube shimmered before a clear picture showed up inside it. Olivia's father was in the woods, the wind whipping around him. He hacked a few times, stumbling and tripping in the weather. Olivia gasped in shock, Loki expressing concern. "Father! Oh no, he's sick. He may be dying... And he's all alone."

Loki pondered this, looking at the nearly wilted rose. He screwed his eyes shut before releasing the tension in his face, his mind made up.

"Then... You must go to him." He said.

"What did you say?" Olivia asked.

"I release you. You are no longer my prisoner." Really, she hadn't been for a while.

"You mean... I'm free?"

"Yes."

"Oh, thank you. Hold on, Father. I'm on my way." Olivia turned to hand the cube back to Loki. He shook his head.

"Take it with you, so you’ll always have a way to look back, and remember me." He said.

"Thank you for understanding how much he means to me." Olivia said, gently touching Loki's face before running out. She blew past Steve in the doorway, who approached Loki in a cheery mood.

"Well, your highness. I must say everything is going just swimmingly. I knew you had it in you." Steve said.

"I let her go." Loki replied, not looking at the clock.

"Yes, splend-- you what?? How could you do that?"

"I had to."

"Yes, but why??"

Loki finally met Steve's shocked gaze, a saddened expression on his own face.

"Because I love her."

***

Finding her father wasn't easy, but Olivia did eventually find him passed out in a snowbank. She mounted him onto Sleipnir and took both of them back home. Olivia slowly nursed him back to consciousness, warning her poor father up.

"Olivia?" He asked, certain he was hallucinating.

"Shh, it's alright, Father, I'm home." Olivia replied warmly.

"I thought I'd never see you again."

"I missed you so much."

"But the beast? How did you escape?"

"I didn't escape, Father, he let me go."

"That horrible beast?"

"But he's different now. He's changed, somehow."

Something rustled inside of Olivia's knapsack. The flap opened to reveal the little teacup, Peter, inside with the blue cube.

"Hi!" He greeted excitedly.

"Oh, a stow away." Olivia chuckled.

"Why, hello there, little fella. Never thought I'd see you again." Her father said.

"Olivia, why did you go away? Don't you like us anymore?" Peter asked her.

"Of course I do, Peter. It's just that--" She was cut off by an insistent knock on the door. Wondering who it could possibly be at this hour, Olivia went to get it. A thin man was standing there with a large crowd of people. "May I help you?"

"I've come to collect your father." The man said.

"My father?"

"Don't worry, miss. We'll take good care of him." The man stood aside to reveal a wagon for an insane asylum open and ready to accept a new resident.

"My father's not crazy!" Olivia protested.

"He was raving like a lunatic! We all heard him, didn't we?" Clint Barton said, emerging from the crowd of bystanders, who chorused in agreement.

"No! I won't let you."

"Olivia? What's going on?" Her father asked, emerging from the house, confused.

"Aemon. Tell us again, old man. Just how big was the beast?" Clint jeered.

"Well he-he was just enormous! I'd say about eight-- no, more like ten feet tall!" Olivia's father recalled. The crowed laughed at him.

"Well, you don't get much crazier than that!"

"It's true, I tell you!"

"Get him out of here." Clint said as a pair of orderlies grabbed for Olivia's father.

"No, you can't do this!" Olivia protested.

"Poor Olivia. It's a shame about your father." Thor's voice suddenly said from behind Olivia.

"You know he's not crazy, Thor!" Olivia said, pleading.

"I might be able to clear this little misunderstanding up if..."

"If what?"

"If you marry me."

"What?"

"One little word, Olivia, that's all it takes."

"Never!" Olivia snapped, pushing Thor away.

"Have it your way." Thor sighed. Frantic, Olivia ran back inside the house before emerging with the blue cube in her hand.

"My father's not crazy and I can prove it!" She called to the jeering crowd. "Show me Loki!"

The cube shimmered and projected an image of Loki for the crowd to see. They muttered amongst themselves at the sight of something so terrifying.

"Is it dangerous?" A woman asked.

"Oh, no, no. He’d never hurt anyone. Please, I know he looks vicious, but he’s really kind and gentle. He’s my friend." Olivia tried to reassure the crowd, looking at the image affectionately.

"If I didn’t know better, I’d think you had feelings for this monster." Thor sneered at her.

"He's not the monster, Thor. You are!" Olivia snarled at him.

"She's as crazy as the old man!" Thor grabbed the cube from Olivia's hand and kept the crowd's attention on the image of Loki. "The beast will make off with your children! He'll come after them in the night!"

"No!"

"We’re not safe ‘til his head is mounted on my wall! I say we kill the beast!"

The crowd gave a loud cheer of agreement, calling for killing the horrible beast. Each one had something to add.

"We're not safe until he's dead!"

"He'll come stalking us at night!"

"Set to sacrifice our children to his monstrous appetite!"

"He'll wreak havoc on our village if we let him wander free!"

"So it’s time to take some action, boys! It’s time to follow me!" Thor threw a torch into a haystack, creating an instant bonfire. He began to prance around it, warning the people of the dangers of the horrible Beast. "Through the mist, through the woods, through the darkness and the shadows, it’s a nightmare but it’s one exciting ride. Say a prayer, then we’re there, at the drawbridge of a castle, and there’s something truly terrible inside. It’s a beast, he’s got fangs, razor sharp ones, massive claws, killer claws for the feast. Hear him roar, see him foam, but we’re not coming home, ‘til he’s dead, good and dead, kill the beast!"

"No, I won't let you do this!" Olivia protested, trying to wrestle the cube out of Thor's grip.

"If you're not with us, then you're against us. Bring the old man!"

"Get your hands off me!" Olivia's father protested. Both he and Olivia were thrown into the basement and locked inside.

"We can't have them running off to warn the creature!"

"Let us out!" Olivia cried, banging against the basement doors.

"We'll rid the village of this beast! Who's with me?" Thor yelled to the crowd.

"I am!"

"I am!"

"I am!"

"Light your torch, mount your horse!" The crowd chorused.

"Screw your courage to the sticking place!" Thor said, mounting his horse and leading the crowd into the forest.

"We’re counting on Thor to lead the way! Through a mist, to a wood, where within a haunted castle, something’s lurking that you don’t see every day!" The townsfolk started chopping trees in preparation for their assault on the castle. "It’s a beast, one as tall as a mountain! We won’t rest ‘til he’s good and deceased! Sally forth, tally ho, grab your sword, grab your bow, praise the Lord and here we go!"

"We'll lay siege to the castle and bring back his head!!"

Meanwhile, Olivia tried to pry the window open with a pole, but she found no luck.

"I have to warn Loki. Oh, this is all my fault. Father, what are we gonna do?" Olivia cried in despair.

"Now, now. We'll think of something." Her father said. Unbeknownst to either of them, Peter was still outside. He tried to think of a way to help the pair escape, and his eyes landed on the wood-chopping contraption Olivia's father had invented, leading to this whole mess in the first place.

"We don’t like, what we don’t understand, it frankly scares us and this monster is mysterious at least! Bring your guns, bring your knives, save your children and your wives, we’ll save our village and our lives, we’ll kill the beast!"

***

"I knew it, I knew it was foolish to get our hopes up." Steve said to his companions.

"Maybe it would have been better if she had never come at all!" Tony agreed. The footstool started barking at the window, indicating someone was outside. "Could it be?"

"Is it she?" Mrs. Parker asked.

"Sacre bleu, invaders!" Tony cried.

"Encroachers!" Steve griped.

"And they have the Tesseract!" Mrs. Parker said, noticing the cube in the leader's hand.

"Warn the master. If it's a fight they want, we'll be ready for them. Who's with me?" Steve said.

"Hearts ablaze, banners high! We go marching into battle, unafraid, although the danger just increased!" The object inside the castle chorused as they marched down the stairs to meet the mob at the front door.

"Raise the flag, sing the song, here we come, we’re fifty strong, and fifty Frenchmen can’t be wrong, let’s kill the beast!" The mob crowed as they started to break down the door.

Inside Loki's room, the prince stood over his nearly dead blue rose as Mrs. Parker came inside.

"Pardon me, Sir." She said.

"Leave me in peace." Loki huffed.

"But, sir, the castle is under attack!"

"Kill the beast, kill the beast!"

"This isn't working!" Tony said as he and the others tried to baracade the door.

"Oh, Tony, we must do something!" The featherduster, Pepper, cried.

"Wait, I know!!"

"Kill the beast, kill the beast!"

"What shall we do, Sir?" Mrs. Parker asked.

"It doesn't matter now. Just let them come." Loki replied, utterly resigned.

"Kill the beast! Kill the beast! Kill the beast!"

The mob succeeded in breaking in and found a grand entrance filled with assorted pieces of furniture, teacups, candlesticks, featherdusters and clocks. They tiptoed in, and Clint picked up a candelabra.

"Now!" Tony cried from Clint's hand. All the objects suddenly sprang to life, attacking the mob with ferocity. Hot tea was poured, coatracks punched villagers, a dresser held a bat ready for attack. Trying to avoid the chaos, Thor ran up the stairs in search of Loki.

***

Back at the house, Peter managed to get the wood chopper working. He then got the machine going, the axe chopping down eratically.

"Here we go!" He said excitedly. Peeking through the space between the wood doors, Olivia's father saw the rapidly approaching axe.

"What the devil? Olivia, look out!" He cried. The machine found the basement doors, hacking them open before the machine fell through the entrance and broke apart. Fanning away smoke, Olivia and her father saw Peter hanging off of a spring through his handle.

"You guys have got to try this thing!" He said cheerfully. The three of them found Sleipnir and rode into the forest in search of the castle.

At said castle, the villagers were getting properly walloped. They ran screaming from the castle to the joy of the castle's object inhabitants.

None of them realized that one was still inside.

Thor managed to find Loki's room in the West Wing. Upon finding the creature, Thor drew back his bow. Hearing the drawstring, Loki looked up forlornly at Thor. He simply looked away, too upset to defend himself. Thor let loose an arrow that jammed itself into Loki's shoulder. He roared in pain as Thor ran at him. They crashed through the balcony window onto the roof of the castle, rain pouring around them. Loki still made no effort to move.

"Get up. Get up! What's the matter, beast? To kind and gentle to fight back?" Thor taunted. Loki again remained still. Thor broke a spire off of the roof and got ready to swing it down for the killing blow.

"No!" A voice cried. Loki recognized it, leading him to perk up. Olivia had arrived with her father on Sleipnir. Seeing her revitalized Loki.

"Olivia."

"No, Thor, don't!" She cried. Thor swung down at Loki, but he caught the weapon in his hand. Loki rose up and the pair proceeded to fight on the rooftop. Finding an opening, Loki found a hiding place among the gargoyles in the darkness. Meanwhile, Olivia entered the castle on the ground. She ran up the stairs with determination.

"Come on out and fight!" Thor goaded, unable to see Loki where he hid. "Were you in love with her, beast? Did you honestly think she’d want you when she had someone like me?"

Provoked, Loki emerged and the pair tussled again. Thor managed to knock Loki back on the edge of the roof.

"It's over, beast! Olivia is mine!" He roared. Loki lunged at Thor, snatching him by the throat and dangling him over the edge of the castle above the abyss below. Suddenly frightened for his life, Thor squirmed. "Let me go! Let me go! Please, don't hurt me! I'll do anything!"

The look of anger suddenly melted off of Loki's face as he pulled Thor back on the roof. He stared the hunter down with a low growl.

"Get out." He hissed, letting Thor go.

"Loki!" Olivia called. She was on the balcony of his room, reaching out for him.

"Olivia!" He called back, climbing up the side of the roof and reaching out for her in return. He took Olivia's outstretched hand in his, cupping her face with his free hand. She leaned into his touch with a warm smile. "You came back."

Loki suddenly roared in pain when Thor snuck up and stabbed Loki in the back. Thor yanked the knife out and swung back for another shot. Loki started to fall, knocking Thor off his balance. Olivia reached forward and pulled Loki back towards the balcony. Thor, however, wasn't so lucky. He tumbled down into the vast abyss below with a scream, never to be seen again.

Olivia helped the injured Loki up onto the balcony, where he lay down on the floor. Mrs. Parker, Tony, and Steve emerged from inside, but stayed out of sight.

"You... You came back." Loki said weakly.

"Of course I came back. I couldn't let them... Oh, this is all my fault. If only I had gotten here sooner." Olivia said dejectedly.

"Maybe it's better... It's better this way."

"Don't talk like that. You'll be alright. We're together now. Everything's going to be fine, you'll see." Loki reached up and cupped Olivia's face in his hand tenderly.

"At least... I got to see you... One last time." He breathed. Olivia held his hand against her face for a second before Loki's hand dropped to his chest. His eyes closed and his breaths slowly stopped. Olivia put her hands to her mouth, shocked.

"No, no! Please... Please don't leave me!" She cried, beginning to sob into Loki's chest. "I love you..."

Moments after Olivia said this, the final blue rose petal fell off of the rose. The trio of objects looked at each other, then to the floor to hide their tears. That was it. It was over.

The rain continued to fall in a steady but heavy beat.

Then, one beam of light fell like a shooting star. Then another fell. And another, and another. Olivia finally noticed what was happening and stopped crying for a second. She started to back away as a shimmering fog began to envelop Loki. The objects looked up and suddenly watched anxiously.

Loki rose up into the air magically and began to transform in front of everyone's eyes. The blue of his exposed hands and feet melted away to show pale skin. His face did the same thing, the blue skin retreating and his horns disappearing to reveal a normal young man. He gradually descended and lay on the floor again. The fog disappeared and Olivia reached out to touch him.

She jerked her hand back, however, when the figure began to move. He stood, then looks at his hands. He whirled around to face Olivia. She was met with a normal human face, pale skin, angular features, long dark hair, and brilliant green eyes. Olivia looked at the man hesitantly.

"Olivia... It's me." Loki said, taking his hands in hers. She pursed her lips, reaching up to touch his hair. Olivia met his eyes that looked at her so intensely. She saw the smile lines in the corners and the soft look. She suddenly remembered the ripped portrait in Loki's room she had once found. The portrait was of him. Prince Loki. She grinned.

"It is you." She replied. Loki smiled affectionately at her, brushing Olivia's hair behind her ear. They leaned in and finally kissed each other.

As if by magic, the gloom around the castle disappeared, changing gargoyles into winged maidens, briars into ivy vines with roses growing on them, and dark stone back into a lighter color. Their object companions suddenly changed back.

"Tony, Steve, Mrs. Parker!" Loki said excitedly as each person changed into a human person. He laughed joyously, pulling them all in for a hug. "Look at us!"

"Aunt May!" Peter called, changing from a teacup back into a boy as the footstool changed into an excited puppy dog. Mrs. Parker picked her nephew up as the others celebrated.

"It's a miracle!" Tony crowed as Loki swept Olivia up off her feet in a spin. She laughed joyously with Loki as he did so.

***

Not long after, all the castle's newly changed inhabitants were gathered in the ballroom as Loki and Olivia waltzed around to celebrate their new marriage. It was a grand affair as people celebrated their freedom from the curse.

Of course, Tony and Steve couldn't go two minutes without arguing over something.

"Are they gonna live happily ever after, Aunt May?" Peter asked.

"Of course, Peter, of course." Mrs. Parker said next to Olivia's teary father. Peter suddenly scrunched up his face.

"Do I still have to sleep in a cupboard?" He asked. Both Mrs. Parker and Olivia's father laughed at Peter's question as Loki and Olivia continued to dance in the ballroom.

"Certain as the sun. Rising in the east. Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme, Beauty and the beast!"

"Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme, Beauty and the beast!"