Worries filled your dreams as you slept in Loki's arms. Had it been too soon to profess your love? The relationship was so new, but at the same time... You were mated and claimed, bound together for eternity. You were soulmates and mated. So surely it was ok. Especially since he'd said it back.

The worries eventually faded and let you get some proper sleep, leaving you to wake when the sun hit your eyes. You didn't have an official day to return back to your duties. The team understood that you couldn't work while you were in heat and that it varied on how long that actually lasted. Usually, it was about a week, but it could vary by a couple of days.

You groaned softly as you woke, blinking your eyes against the sun. Loki kissed your forehead. "Good morning, Elskling," he greeted you. His voice was husky with sleep, warm, carefree, relaxed. It was a side of him that not many ever got to see.

You couldn't help the smile that appeared in response to your mate. You leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Good morning, mate," you purred softly. Your purr was answered by the rumbling Alpha growl-purr in Loki's chest. The sound had an instant calming effect, especially coming from your Alpha. There was magic in the mating bond, moreso since you and Loki both had magic of your own.

"How are you feeling?" Loki asked you gently as he carded his fingers through your hair.

"Much better," you replied, looking up into his emerald eyes. He was so peaceful and relaxed. He only ever seemed to be like that with you. Or when he was talking about his mother. Even Thor had him strained.

"I'm glad to hear it," he replied and kept petting your hair. "Is there anything you need?" He doted on you and loved you, even if your official relationship was new.

You considered his question and Loki idly pet your hair while you did. "I think first on the agenda is a shower," you finally replied. "Then breakfast,"

"I can agree with that." You were glad that he wasn't offended by your first request. He'd taken wonderful care of you while you'd been in heat, including helping you bathe and eat. But nothing would beat a hot shower and getting rid of the last of the feel and scent of heat from your body. Also brushing your teeth was high on your list of priorities. "Your guest room has a shower, correct?" Loki asked, though he knew your apartment's layout as well as you did by now. He was more asking if he was allowed to use that shower. Omegas could be weird about their spaces and sharing and he didn't want to upset you.

You nodded "Of course you can use it," you answered his unasked question. "But you don't have any clean clothes up here,"

Loki chuckled. "Don't worry, I can summon some clean clothes," he reassured you.

You beamed and gave him a soft kiss. "Sounds like a plan," you told him. You climbed carefully out of bed, stretching as you were sore from your week of heat. That was to be expected. You'd had quite a lot of sex with Loki through that week.

You headed into your own bathroom, Loki watching you the entire time you were in his line of sight. He gave you your privacy, though, and didn't insist on showering with you when he understood that you needed some time to yourself to get yourself back in order. You took a scalding hot bath, scrubbing your skin with your scented soap, scrubbing your hair with scented shampoo. You got the last scent of heat from your body, the scent of sex and desire.

Though Loki's psychic scent would always remain entwined with yours, now that you'd been mated.

When you were clean, you stepped out of the shower and finally got a good look at the snake tattoo on your neck where the mating mark had healed. The mark had healed into what appeared to be a tattoo, that's just how the magic worked. The intertwined snakes were in black ink with green and gold highlights. It looked absolutely perfect. It was known as Loki's symbol for a reason and no one would mistake it for anything else.

You dried off and dressed in comfortable clothes, including the very necessary fuzzy socks. You needed to be comfortable and cozy after the week you'd had. You made your way back to the bedroom and smiled at what you found. Loki had used magic to air out the room and clean the sheets and blankets on your bed. He was sitting on the bed, dressed in clean clothes as well of a pair of soft black pants and a green tunic, reading a book while he waited for you to return. He looked so comfortable and like he was home.

It warmed your heart that he felt like he was home with you.

You sat on the bed next to him. "Feeling better?" He asked as he set his book aside to pay attention to you.

You nodded "Much," you told him warmly. Your fingers went up to the collar around your neck. It was a thought you'd had in the shower and you had to bring it up to Loki now.

"What is it?" Loki asked you gently when he saw your concerned expression.

"Well... I'm not sure how things are done on Asgard..." you hedged as you tried to figure out how to explain.

Loki moved to cup your cheek, forcing you to look up at him. "Whatever it is, it'll be alright. We'll meld both of our cultures," he reassured you. He'd told you as much before, but now you had to hash out the details. You nodded again, leaning into his touch. "So what is it that's bothering you?" He asked gently.

"The collar," you said softly, keeping your eyes closed as you leaned into his touch. "All Omegas on Midgard have to wear them," you reminded him. You'd told him that before. "They're all this same silver until an Omega is claimed. Then their Alpha usually changes it, personalizes it to them somehow," you explained.

"Hmm," Loki made a soft noise to let you know he was listening. "And you would like for me to personalize yours?" He asked. You opened your eyes again and looked up at him. He didn't agree with Omega collars, but he understood that it was law on Earth.

"We need to decorate it somehow," you replied.

Loki leaned forward and kissed your forehead. "I think I have just the thing," he said. He placed his hands on the collar and your felt his magic surround it. A minute later he pulled back and summoned a small mirror so you could see what he'd done.

The collar was gold and silver now and looser. It looked more necklace-like than it had before. You lit up when you realized what the design was. It was a snake biting its own tail. The snake had emeralds for eyes.

"It's perfect!" You told Loki. It appeased his need for the collar not to look like a collar and your need to follow the law. Plus it was snake themed for Loki.

"Just like you, Elskling," he purred and pulled you into a kiss.