You spent the next month bouncing between your classes where Loki hung out on campus with you when you weren't actually in class, patrol, healings for the Avengers, and dance practice for the ball. It was a lot of work, but not the most you'd been through and being with Loki helped.

"Thor and Sif want to come visit," Loki told you the day before the ball.

"Are they coming for the ball?" you asked him excitedly. It would be fun to have them there. They obviously knew how to dance and a ball was something the Asgardians could understand easily.

Loki nodded. "It will not be a problem, will it?" he didn't want to upset Fury anymore than any of the rest of you did. You shook your head and texted Fury to let him know Thor and Sif would be attending the ball, and coming to town. "Great! Mother will be opening the portal for them in a couple minutes." It was much easier now that you all had the portal spell to use that instead of trekking all the way to the bifrost.

"We should get downstairs, then," you commented dryly. It had been a late start that morning and you had neglected to get out of bed so far. It was nearly noon. Oops.

You got out of the bed no matter how reluctantly and summoned clothes for yourself, a simple pair of jeans and a t-shirt. You tied your hair back in a simple tail. You were getting stupidly fancily dressed up tomorrow so today was extra casual and lazy. At least that was the plan. Loki could just deal with you being lazy and casual today. He still pouted at you anyway. "C'mon, Lo. We want to be downstairs before our Lady Mother opens the portal," you reminded him. That didn't stop you from still having to grab his hand and physically pull him from the bed.

You were both laughing as you made our way downstairs to the commonroom where the portal would open. "What are you two up to?" Tony asked at your laughing, looking up from whatever he was reading. "It was so quiet with you sleeping in," he teased.

"Thor and Sif are coming to visit," you explained. "We need to be down here to greet them,"

"Why are they coming here?" Tony asked, more curious than anything. He liked Thor, so of course he didn't mind that he was coming to visit.

"They would like to attend the ball tomorrow," Loki replied eagerly and a bit excitedly, which was strange for when he was speaking with Tony. He was usually more wary around your uncle.

Which sparked another question. "How do they even know about the ball?" you asked Loki, turning your attention up to him.

"Mother asked for an update about what was going on here, and if we'd heard anything from Balder. I mentioned that there was a ball coming up," he replied, but there was something off about his explanation. It wasn't a lie, not really, thanks to him you'd have been able to smell if it was. But he was skipping something.

You didn't argue with him.

Yet.

But you did make a note that he was keeping something from you. It seemed so unlike him.

A minute later, the portal crackled open. You and Loki both stepped back from it to allow Thor and Sif to walk through. You greeted them with hugs as per usual though Loki gave them more formal greetings, until Thor squished him in a bone-crushing hug. "Welcome to Earth," you told Sif, who hadn't been to Earth in a rather long while, and never to the tower.

"Thank you sister," she replied with a smile. She went over to greet Loki once he was free of Thor's hug. Thor came over and gave you another hug. You didn't get squished, since you submitted to it willingly. "Sister, we wish to go visit your parents to pay our respects," Sif told you formally once she had greeted Loki.

You nodded, expecting that. It was their way after all. "Of course." you looked over at Tony. "Do you want to come too?" you asked him. It had been awhile since either of you had been to visit.

He nodded. "Yeah, just let you go change." He was wearing lounge clothes since today was supposed to be a lazy day..

"Need me to-?" you asked, offering him a hand. You had already used magic to change into a green sundress which was much more appropriate for visiting your parents.

Tony hesitated but finally held out his hand. "Fine," he grumbled. You didn't think he really liked anyone using magic on him, but it was a quick spell and would get you out of here sooner. With a flash of magic he was dressed and ready.

"Lo, take care of Thor, will you?"

"Of course, Sig," he replied. You rolled your eyes. He was teasing you with your superhero name as a direct result of you calling him 'Lo' in front of his family.

You turned to Sif and offered her a hand. "Will you allow me to conjure you Earth clothes?" you asked her more formally than truly necessary. You didn't know her as well as Thor and sometimes still found yourself unsure about her and about whether she'd appreciate your using magic on her behalf.

"That would be appreciated," she replied with a smile. You relaxed then, and took her hand. You summoned her a very pretty maxi dress, which was very flattering to her figure. You took a look at her left hand, which was covered in the swirls of her own soulbond with Thor. You summoned a wedding ring set for her and slipped them on the appropriate finger. It was costume jewelry, but looked real enough for this purpose. You tossed the gold ring for Thor to him. He caught it and slipped it on, remembering it from the last time he was on Earth. "What is this?" she asked, indicating the rings.

"It's a wedding ring set, the Earthen symbol that someone is married. The diamond ring is an engagement ring. Generally the man presents it to his lady when he asks her to agree to the Earthen equivalent of the soulbond. The plain bands are exchanged during the ceremony," you explained. "I gave Thor the gold ring to wear last time he was here to protect him from admiring females," you added with a grin.

She laughed at that. "I am sure the females were very entranced by his form," she added, smiling fondly at her husband. You didn't blame her. Thor's physique was very attractive.

"Quite entranced,"

"Shall we, ladies?" Loki asked, drawing your attention away from discussing Thor's body. You both laughed at him, but agreed that you should head out.

"You're driving, Uncle!" you announced. Tony growled at you, but it was half-hearted at best. "I need to call the florist on the way anyway," you reminded him.

"Fine, imp. I'll drive," Tony smirked and led the way out to where he was parked. You offered Sif shotgun, even though it was your to claim, but she refused, preferring to sit with Thor in the back. So you took shotgun and made a quick call to the florist. On the way, Tony, Loki, and Thor went into the liquor store to pick out something for your dad. You and Sif sat chatting in the car while you waited for them. You still weren't of age and didn't want to make a fuss with the store thinking Tony was buying it for you. "Thor tried to pick out an entire case of beer for dad," Tony grumbled as he drove you to the florist which caused you all to laugh.

"What!? It is a warrior's drink!" Thor protested, making you all laugh harder.

Mary had your flower order ready when you arrived at her shop. It only took you a minute to go in and collect the flowers. The order went on your tab.

After that, you drove straight to the cemetery and to your parents' graves. You and Tony went up first with your offering of flowers and alcohol and greeted your parents, apologizing for not visiting more often. You stepped back and Sif stepped up next, kneeling and murmuring a prayer. Loki was flipping the pages of a spellbook while she did. You looked over at him, but he was distracted with his spellbook. "Lo, you don't have to do that-" you started, but knew he wouldn't listen as per usual.

"I would like to. Would you assist me?" he asked. You realized there was no arguing with him. He had a reason for wanting to do this. So you nodded and took his hand so you could recite the spell together. You kissed him when it was cast, but ran to greet your parents a moment later. You couldn't help it. You got to see them corporeally again, even though they'd been dead for years.

You introduced Sif to them, and Thor properly since he could speak that day and hadn't been able to last time. You caught them up on everything you'd been up to, while getting lots of hugs in. At one point, you noticed that all of the boys took dad off to the side. You and Sif tried to ignore whatever they were doing and mom helped by asking Sif something about Asgard to distract you both. You had a feeling mom knew what the boys were up to, but apparently you weren't allowed to know.

"Did you get the message from Frigga?" Sif asked you while the boys were distracted.

You nodded, remembering that ominous note. "Did she have any other hints or warnings to go with it?" you asked softly. You still hadn't told Loki about the note and knew that you shouldn't.

Sif shook her head, regret in her eyes. "No hints, but she said to ask for our help if you need it when the time comes,"

"What message?" your mom asked, looking between the two of you confused.

"Loki's mom gets premonitions of the future. She saw something happen and sent me a warning," you explained a little of it. Mom didn't need all of the details of this. Not of this.

"I'm sure whatever it is, it will be ok," she answered instead of pressing the matter. You was grateful to her for not pressing it.

"I'm sure it will," you answered her with a smile and changed the subject to the next day's ball.

You spent a long time talking with everyone, sitting on a picnic blanket by their graves. "Loki, if you don't end the spell soon, Thor's going to have to carry you home. And me along with you," you told him. You had been feeding him power to maintain the spell and could feel the effects. Loki nodded, though he looked sad that it couldn't keep it going. "Lo, that spell is insanely draining. You know that as well as I do. Don't feel bad that we can't keep it going. We got to visit and actually see my parents," you reminded him.

"Yeah, Loki, the fact that you can give us this at all is amazing," Tony said. We all just stared at him for saying something complimentary to Loki, but Tony didn't acknowledge it.

You and Tony both said your goodbyes, with the usual bittersweet tears and promises to mom that you'd take care of each other. Loki ended the spell and you felt the backlash of power. You couldn't stop it. All you could do was wrap your arms around Loki's slim frame and offer your support so he wouldn't collapse. Though you weren't much better "I'm alright," he promised you. His power levels were so low. That spell was stupidly draining.

"Sure you are," you replied sarcastically.

Thor stepped toward you. "Allow me," he bid you gently. "Go say your goodbyes," you nodded and let him take Loki's weight from you.

"Thor! I can stand!" Loki protested a moment later, when he was thrown over Thor's shoulder. You laughed and made your way over to Tony so you could say your last goodbyes to your parents.

"Thank you for coming with us," you told Sif as we walked back to the car.

"Thank you for allowing me to come pay my respects," she replied formally, pausing her laughing at Loki, who had fallen asleep on Thor's shoulder while arguing for his brother to put him down. He was adorable when he was so stubborn and pouty.