Loki woke up with a start and found himself looking up into the face of his foster mother. Frigga held a finger to his lips to silence any questions.

"Shhh," Frigga whispered. "Your lady sleeps and I do not wish to wake her."

Loki realized that he was in Sigyn's room and in Sigyn's bed. Sigyn was next to him sound asleep.

"Come," Frigga said. She turned and walked toward the doors leading out to the balcony. Loki quickly and silently slipped off the bed and followed her. Frigga walked over to the railing and stared out over the garden. Loki stood silently a few feet away.

"How are you feeling?" she asked finally, not looking at him.

"I am well," Loki replied. "All things considered. Though, I'm afraid the mission was not a success."

Frigga nodded. "Yes, we've already taken steps to deal with it. However, you did succeed in disrupting his plans."

"That's good to know," Loki said.

Frigga fell silent again and Loki patiently waited for her to continue.

"Lady Sigyn is a remarkable woman," Frigga said finally.

"She is," Loki agreed. "I feel fortunate to have met her."

"You have served us well these years," Frigga said. "Idunn, Gaea and I have discussed this and we believe it is time to release you."

Loki frowned. "You're firing me?"

Frigga laughed lightly. "No, child. We are freeing you to pursue other interests." She motioned to the open door and Loki realized she meant his courtship of Sigyn.

"My Lady Frigga," Loki said, bowing respectfully. "I thank you for your offer. However, I enjoy working for the All-Mother. It is very fulfilling for me to help keep Asgard safe, even if only in secret."

"But what of Lady Sigyn?" Frigga asked. "How do you think she feels having you constantly in danger?"

"I could help him."

Loki turned to see Sigyn standing in the door. She curtsied before Frigga, somehow managing to look elegant even though she was wearing her night clothes.

"Forgive my interruption, All-Mother," Sigyn said. "But I could not help but overhear and I wish to offer my services to you."

"A very generous offer," Frigga said. She turned to Loki. "What say you to this?"

Loki didn't like it one bit. He wanted to protest but he knew it would do no good. Besides, it was unfair of him to expect Sigyn to keep herself out of danger for his own peace of mind while he charged headfirst into it. No, if Sigyn wished to serve the All-Mother he had no right to try to deny her.

"I don't like the idea," He admitted. "But I will support you if that is what you truly wish, Sigyn."

"It is," Sigyn replied.

"Then I will accept your offer, Lady Sigyn," said Frigga.

"You honor me," Sigyn said with another curtsey. "Now, if you will excuse me, I hear my servants milling about in the hall. I should go tell them all is well."

Frigga nodded in dismissal and Sigyn disappeared into the room.

"You planned this," Loki said to Frigga after he was sure Sigyn was out of earshot.

"It was one of several outcomes I would have found acceptable, including you leaving our service," Frigga admitted. "That is, of course, still a standing offer."

Loki sighed. "I wouldn't know what to do with myself."

Frigga smiled that dear, motherly smile and gave him a tender kiss on his forehead. "Very well. Perhaps we can revisit this when you and Lady Sigyn give me some grandchildren."

"Grandchildren?" They weren't even betrothed yet. It was way to early to be thinking about children. Besides, technically he had already provided her with plenty of grandchildren. Thor was the one she should be talking to.

Frigga laughed and began to fade. "Goodnight, Loki," she said before disappearing completely.

Loki walked back inside and shut the door. Sigyn was already in bed and Loki was about to tell her that he would be returning to his own chambers when she pulled the covers back and motioned him over. Loki hesitated; it seemed very improper.

Well, Thor had said to follow Sigyn's lead. Loki kicked off his boots and shrugged off his cloak and outer tunic then climbed into to bed. When they were settled, Sigyn was pressed up to him, her head resting on his shoulder and her arm draped across his chest. At that point, Loki decided to just stop worrying about propriety.

"I'm sorry," Loki said.

"For what?"

"The fight," Loki replied. "For what I said."

Sigyn shifted slightly so she could look up at his face. "I had forgotten all about that," she said. "I forgive you and I apologize as well."

"I forgive you, too."

"Then let us put that all behind us," Sigyn said, settling against him again. "Goodnight, Loki."

"Goodnight, dearest Sigyn."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

They were awakened that next morning by a scream and a crash. Loki sat bold upright in the bed, pulling Sigyn along with him. He was preparing to jump out of the bed when he saw Asta staring at them with a horrified look on her face. A tray with that Loki figured had been Sigyn's breakfast was at her feet.

"Asta," Sigyn began.

"RUINED!" Asta cried.

"Asta!" Sigyn said again, climbing out of the bed.

"The horrid man ruined her!" Asta continued. She spun around and fled the room. "Now she'll never find a proper husband," Loki heard her cry as she disappeared down the hall.

Sigyn sighed and shook her head. "Congratulations, Loki, you've ruined me."

Loki laughed. "Well, then I suppose I'll just have to marry you."

Sigyn turned back to him, an elegant eyebrow arched and a sly smile on her lips. "My dear Prince Loki, is that a proposal?"

It was a joke. At least, he had intended it to be. But now that he had said it and now that she had responded... He could easily see himself spending eternity with Sigyn.

"You know," he replied, matching her smile. "I think it is. Will you accept, my dear Lady Sigyn."

Sigyn tilted her head slightly and placed a finger to her chin, thinking.

"You know," she said after a bit. "I think I will."

I had been wanting to work Frigga into my stories but I didn't really know how. In the movie, they have a very close relationship. In the comics, Loki respected Frigga. But I hadn't come across anything to show that Frigga had any sort of affection toward Loki. Mind you, that's a lot of comic history and I've yet to read the entire run so if anybody know otherwise, let me know. :D

Then came The All-Mother: Freyja, Gaea and Idunn. Freyja is evidently Frigga who is just calling herself Freyja for reasons yet unknown. Then came this line by Freyja/Frigga in Journey Into Mystery #631:

"You are not of my blood. But not actually being my son never seems to alter the way I feel."

Of course, she doesn't specify how she feels, but I like to translate it as meaning that she always held at least a little affection for the child Odin brought home all those centuries ago.

Several of the events Sigyn saw came directly from the comics. Particularly:

*Loki's Adoption (Thor #12 (2007 series))
*Thor finding Loki in Paris (Thor #617)
*Young Loki encountering the spirit of his older self (Journey Into Mystery #622)
*The battle against The Serpent (Fear Itself event)