Jane made her way down to the garden and there was Loki…watching the stars.

She went outside and stood next to him.

"Beautiful," she observed.

He breathed in deeply and nodded. "As lovely as any sky I've seen…though my view next to me surpasses it completely."

"Do you honestly think that I can surpass the beauty of the heavens above us?" she asked, turning toward him in doubt.

"There is no question in my mind."

"You are too funny, Loki…" and she giggled.

"I am, on occasion, but not in this instance, Jane…" he took her hand and looked at her face reverently. "You hold the stars in the pools of orbs on your face…"

Her eyes fell in embarrassment. "Loki…I am not naive…I know that I am no great beauty, nor do I wish to be."

"No…I don't imagine that your pragmatic brain would wish to be regarded as anything but profoundly quick and wise."

Jane shrugged her acquiescence.

And Loki continued. "Jane…I love you…and…" he dropped her hand. "…and I know that you had expressed doubt in joining me on my journey over many millennia."

"Yes, I have."

"Quite. Have you given it any thought since?"

"Yes."

He raised his eyebrows in anticipation of her answer.

Jane turned away. "Well, the thing is, is that I love you. And I want only to be with you…and so…I have reached the conclusion that yes, I'll eat the apple."

She turned back around to find Loki looking at her slightly mystified. "You, Jane Foster, are a wonder…" and he took her face and kissed her slightly. "And you are a great beauty, despite your vehement protests…your face holds the trace of mirth…" he touched her mouth. "Your luster is unfathomable…" and he kissed her eyes as they closed. "Your skin…its radiance unparalleled to mine eye…but it is the singular coruscate of your mind and soul which draws me to you…and I cannot believe that I am moved thus by such an exquisite elf."

Jane held onto his shirt in a firm grasp as he draped his words over her in a soothing overlay of adoration.

"Where is it, Loki?"

"Where's what, love?" and he bent, kissing her neck softly.

"The apple," she breathed.

"Ah…" and he pulled away. He reached in his pocket, and pulled out the apple.

Jane took it.

She examined it curiously, for it was in her nature to be inquisitive.

It was small, it was golden, and it was very smooth, like glass, almost.

"Are you sure, Jane…? Careful…it is a sentence most dire…me…for thousands of years…"

At that, Jane bit into the apple. Once…two times…three…

And it was though nothing had ever been felt before…nothing seen with her mortal eyes…nor heard with her inadequate ears…the world opened to her in radiant illustration. She swayed a bit…overcome by the magic taking over her mortality.

Loki grabbed her arm.

"Jane?"

She took hold of him, her hands on his chest…she swallowed…"I…"

She looked up at him…and her hand touched his cheek.

"My god, Loki…you're even more…" and she smiled. "Ha…" she giggled.

"Jane…what is it?" he appeared to be very worried.

"Nothing…you're just…more…more…."

"More…?"

"Just that. More," and she kissed him, and pulled him down with her to the ground.

They laid there together for a while, when Loki pulled away. "I have something else for you, love."

"What's that?"

"Here."

And he handed her a volume, a rather slight one, and bound in leather.

Jane took it, and opened it up.

"Reflections on Beauty

A Collection of Poetry"

By Loki Odinson, Prince of Asgard

"You bastard," she whispered.

And Loki laughed heartily. "I never claimed any expertise, Jane…therefore, I am no poet."

"YOU'VE BEEN PUBLISHED YOU JERK."

He laughed harder. "And I'm a prince…do you not think that I could see to publishing my own compositions?" he giggled. "What's more…I'm a sorcerer…I could simply have created it for my own pleasure."

Jane sat up with him now and folded her arms in front of her in playful anger.

Then she swatted his arm with the volume.

"Ow!" Loki exclaimed, rubbing his arm. "Come now, elf…I meant no harm…"

Jane eyed him suspiciously, and giggled.

And under the stars of Asgard's ceiling, they embraced.

Frigga took note of the scene, and went to retrieve the tapestry from her room, which held that very image on it…Loki and Jane under the stars in the garden…and placed it on their bed.

And so, reader, they married a short while later.

Jane was as happy as she could ever have imagine herself to be. She was wanted and loved, and had found such in the most faraway of places.

And Loki's magic did return in time…not quite as quickly as he would've liked, but it returned, and in its fullest vigor.

And when he held his firstborn child, a daughter, in his arms, he saw his magic in her…powerful, radiant, and binding.

A/N: Well, that's that. Lovely ride, it was. Thanks to everyone who followed, favorited, and reviewed…especially JaninaM8, odinstatter9, jeadamized, and Renaissancebooklover108. You guys kept me going at my usual crazy pace.

My next story will be a comedy of sorts…I'll likely be publishing the first installment this week. YAY!