TC Stark: Well, folks, here it is! The last chapter! I gotta say it's been so great writing this story, I have never gotten so many positive reviews before and so many loyal followers! I know we only know each other by screenname, but I feel as if I have gotten to know you all a little! I hope you like the way this chapter panned out! I'm going to be taking a couple of days to go out partying (lol), so please stayed tuned this weekend for the sequel "We Could've Had It All". As always I'd love to hear what you'd like to see in the sequel and what you think I must include! Thank you guys once again so very very much!

Disclaimer: I only own Scarlet!

Chapter Sixteen

"The foolish man lies awake all night thinking of his many problems. When the morning comes he is worn out, and his trouble is just as it was"- Havamal, st. 23

When Loki awoke the next morning his head was pounding. He felt as if he had only just fallen asleep when the light from the sun kissed his face. Every time he felt his body falling into a slumber, she crept into his thoughts once again. Ever since he had stopped to actually assess his feelings, she had been all he could think about.

What a mischievous little thing to creep up on him the way she did. This whole time he had viewed her as a welcomed companion, one of the few mortals who had a brain he could pick at. Now she was keeping him up all night in a different way. Over the time he knew her, she had crept into his life both physically and now mentally and emotionally. The question he needed to know was, what was it he felt towards her?

Swinging his legs to dangle over the side of his bed, Loki ran his fingers through his black hair. His father had expressed the love he had always yearned for. Yet, he felt the demons inside of him telling him somehow he was still incomplete. How could it be that he was back where he wanted to be, received the recognition he wanted from his father, and still managed to feel empty?

Scarlet had woken up early in the morning to sit down by the pond. The area looked beautiful with the sun rising slowly into the sky. Her sandals lay next to the edge as her feet dangled into the cool water, smoking one of the last cigarettes she had managed to smuggle with her. Over the week she had made it a habit to get up early and smoke one cigarette before anyone awoke. She didn't know if anyone would be offended by it, yet it hadn't weaned out of her system yet.

"Now, what do we have here?"

Looking up quickly, she soon eased upon seeing Loki standing over her. She calmly took another drag as the god took a seat next to her, keeping his feet on dry land. Blowing the smoke out slowly, she observed, "You're up early."

"So are you."

Scarlet gave him a wise smirk, "What's your excuse?"

He sighed, "I couldn't sleep."

Eying him up and down, she asked, "What's on your mind?"

"Nothing, just mentally preparing myself for the glares of others."

"It's going to take a bit for people to trust you again," She advised while passing him her cigarette, "Not everyone is as forgiving as Thor. You just have to give them time."

Loki narrowed his eyes while letting the smoke seep through his throat, "It's been like this since I was young. I was never good enough to be around them. The only reason they tolerated me was because of who I was."

Resting her hands on the ground behind her, the mortal tilted her head, "I think that's a tad ludicrous. If someone dislikes a person that much they wouldn't be around them no matter what."

"I am Loki Odinson. If it weren't for my last name they'd have nothing to do with me."

By now the prince wasn't even looking at her, instead staring straight ahead into the clear pond. Trying to think what could pull him out of the mood he had quickly developed, she tried, "Well, why would you want to be around people who dislike you? That's really the first step; positivity."

"That's not the point," He mumbled, "I shouldn't even be in Asgard."

Not wanting to take his growing frustration out on the girl, Loki rose before she was able to say anything else. He left her alone at the pond, not once looking back. His emotions were out of control just like they had been after the two had had sex. Only this time he didn't feel like crying, he felt like yelling. And the last person he'd want to yell at was her.

Scarlet watched his figure walk further and further away from her, containing the urge to call after him. Something was clearly bothering him and she had no idea what. She understood he felt jealousy towards his brother, but since they had come to Asgard she had seen nothing but love from Thor and Odin.

Frigga accompanied her husband on his morning stroll that day. It was good for the elderly king to get fresh air daily, especially when it was such a beautiful day. Since he had come out of his latest Odinsleep, the king was careful in taking care of his health. The Odinsleep was not something he wanted to fall back into again, especially when his people needed him so much.

The queen looked at her husband, his eyes was weary today. She hadn't seen him look this way in a while, touching upon his arm, "What troubles you, my king?"

"It's our boy, Frigga," He spoke honestly, "Both of them."

"What is it you fear?"

Stopping around a corner, Odin stopped to sigh, "I fear Thor and Jane will feel the weight of living from two worlds. The mortal is lovely and it would be magnificent to see him rise to the thorn with her by his side. Our people would see we are making the first steps in making peace with the other realms. But, Thor's place is here and hers is on Earth. I just feel for their relationship."

Frigga frowned and nodded, hoping what he husband feared wouldn't be true, "And what about Loki?"

Staring out into the distance, Odin heavily sighed, "I'm afraid he can't go back now. He had spent so long devising a plan to become king…I fear his mind won't let him be at peace."

"Please, don't say that," She almost cried, "Hasn't he been through enough?"

"Only he now can help himself."

Loki had gone back to his room, not wanting to get breakfast with the others. He had woken up with this cloud over his head and he feared if he were around anyone he would snap. Besides, it would be best for him to try and figure out his emotions so he could better control them. He couldn't have an outbreak; not now.

There was a knock on his door as he reluctantly stood up and opened it. Flashbacks of when Scarlet entered his room that one night on Earth ran through his mind. Only she wasn't drunk and he was in no mood, "It would be unwise to be in my presence right now."

Not heeding his warning, the black haired girl stepped in while closing the door. Damn. She could really be so stubborn at times. His green eyes looked her over, her mortal cloths must have run out and were being washed as she wore a simple short white dress. Tearing his gaze away from her body, he walked over to the window and stared out.

"What's wrong?" Scarlet asked, taking it upon herself to sit down on an arm chair.

Softly snorting, he spoke out the window, "This world doesn't welcome me."

"You need to stop."

Turning wildly around, Loki looked at her as he never had before, "Excuse me?"

Standing out of the chair, she walked over to him, "Your self-pitying. It needs to stop. You're never going to feel better if you fill your head up constantly with negativity."

"Who cares," He scoffed while gently pushing pass her, "This is how it's been all along. How blind I was to think I actually was a part of these people. I was the little foster child everyone felt bad for because I didn't know the truth!"

She could see the anger slowly rising in him, watching him trying to fight the demons within. If there was anything quitting drugs had taught her it was that you had to face those demons. As painful as it was, she had to admit openly to herself why it was she had stolen Jane's money and went out on a three year drug spree. At first she could justify it by saying she liked the feelings, but after a while none of it was fun anymore. The little doses she did originally for a kick became larger amounts as her body became sick each time she needed it.

And when it came time she needed to admit she had been wrong. Her parents loved both Jane and her equally. She could never see when she was younger Jane was treated the way she was because she was getting attention the positive way. In her mind the only way she felt love was by making a sorry case out of herself.

"You've been saying that, Loki, but you're still here. Don't you think if your father didn't want you here he would have banished you just as he did with Thor? And your brother loves you, can't you see it? You're the one whose closing yourself off from all of them."

Sharply staring at her, Loki took long steps towards Scarlet, looming above her. There was no fear in her eyes as his lips tightened, "Don't analyze me, Scarlet. How dare you."

Snorting slightly, the mortal pointed at him, "You fucked up. You ruined your brother's ceremony, you led the Frost Giants into Asgard, and you sent the Destroyer to Earth. Just admit what you did and get over it. Everyone else seems to have forgiven you, why can't you forgive yourself?"

"You weren't around when it happened. You couldn't feel the hatred I felt burning inside of me," He began to growl, staring deep into her eyes, "If I had successfully destroyed Jotunheim I would have came after your sister! I was so angry she softened Thor. Before her he wouldn't have hesitated! No, but of course the arrogant fool allows himself to become a Romeo after a day!"

Scarlet had felt the urge to punch Loki in the face, but refrained. She knew he had only brought it up to anger her, to make himself seem unworthy to her. She would not even justify him by addressing that situation, "Why are you always pushing away the people who are trying to show you that they care! It's as if you want to continue to be miserable! I mean, c'mon, Thor is here, Odin's here," She then jabbed her index finger into her chest and yelled, "I'm here!"

"YOU WOULDN'T BE HERE IF YOU KNEW WHO I REALLY WAS!"

Scarlet placed a hand on her hip and stood up straight. She lifted her chin and tried to prevent tears from forming in her icy blue yes. Gritting her teeth, she let him calm down for a second, seeing his face had become red. His breathing was heavy and he hadn't realized he had let his anger out. Gripping his fists, Loki paced around the room while wiping the sweat off his face. In a way it felt good to yell, but not he felt guilty for yelling at her.

After he had calmed, Loki turned to see Scarlet sternly staring at him, "Why don't you try me?"

The two stared at each other for a moment, as if he were trying to see if it were worth it. Seeing she wasn't budging, he breathed in a deep sigh. Concentrating deeply, he formed the Casket between his hands. It was a tool he had been able to keep since the battle at the Bifrost, having not yet seen a use for it.

Letting it hover above his palms for a moment, he slowly wrapped his fingers around the handles. His eyes were fixed on her as his skin started turning blue and his eyes red. He was sure she would be freaking out by now. Instead she stayed still, never taking her eyes off him. Blinking his now red eyes, he couldn't help but feel confused. Why wasn't she running out of his room?"

Making the Casket disappear, his skin and eyes slowly started turning back to normal as he stepped forward. The closer he got the better he could see her blue eyes glossed with tears she was determined not to let out. Still, she stood in place until they were a foot apart, "You do not feel scared?"

"No," She whispered, "Not at all."

"What is it you do feel?"

Biting her lower lip, Scarlet whispered, "I love you."

Loki stared down at her with wide eyes. The emotions he had been trying to figure out had finally been given a name. Seeing her look so vulnerable below him struck something with his heart, not being able to control himself. His fingers slinked pass her soft cheek into her black hair, pulling her up a little to place his lips on top of hers.

Scarlet wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling her body to form into his. Her lips were even softer than he remembered, deepening the kiss as his lips parted to beg entrance. Granting it happily, their tongue brushed against each other's as his arms wrapped around her thin waist. Loki then broke the kiss to bury his face in her neck, holding her close to his body. He felt her rest her head against his chest, hugging him back.

"I love you, Scarlet."