Change was an ever-evolving thing. Many people opposed it, tried to run from it even. In the end, change always came, and people came to accept it.

It was hard to say where Esme stood on change. It all depended on the kind, for her. She had hated when Hela had swept Asgard for her taking. She had been reluctant to journey with Thor to find Loki the first time around. She had been hesitant to allow him to make amends with her after years of being separated.

Esme was skeptical, nervous even, when she had help putting her place up for sale. She began to grow more so when there was no quick bites on the market for her home. It took some time, but one lucky soul was interested enough and seemed to be willing to pay full price.

Though Esme knew nothing about real estate, Pepper helped her a great deal. She felt like she owed the woman her life, for helping her make such a monumental move and pull it off so nicely.

With money on hand and all of their belongings, Thor and Esme travelled away from home in search of a new one. Temporarily, while they were in search for it, they were to bunk with Pepper and Morgan, much to Morgan's insistence. It was hard for Esme to say no to Tony Stark's little girl, whose persistence reminded her a lot of her father in the times she had met him.

Spring had come and gone, and the cabin was now in the last stretch of the summer heat. The humidity felt ungodly outside despite the gentle breeze that maneuvered near and around the cabin.

Since hunkering down with Pepper and Morgan, the dynamic and routine changed vastly. Pepper often had Esme help her make meals, letting her do bits and pieces on her own with careful supervision and instruction. Morgan would often watch, and Pepper would allow her daughter to do small things that did not involve cooking on the stove or wielding big knives.

Ever since they had moved in, Esme felt like she was taking advantage of the Starks. They were being so generous and so kind, how could she ever think to repay Pepper? Could she offer babysitting duties for Morgan to allow Pepper some time out of the cabin? She wasn't even sure where to start, she never grew up with younger siblings. But Morgan didn't seem like an unruly, difficult child to be near. She was very intelligent and rather curious—two traits Pepper warned Esme could be dangerous if she was left to her own devices.

Though she woke many mornings in the cabin, with Thor at her side, the change still felt strange. While the search for their new home was still underway, Esme felt attached to the cabin. It would be hard to say goodbye, but it wasn't as though they were going off planet to settle down. They could still see the Starks if they truly missed their company.

It was the early morning hours, and Esme tossed and turned in the bed. She was in a nightmare that had been all too real for her.

~*~

Esme could not believe it. Here was this madwoman with a manic look in her eyes who claimed to be Odin's firstborn. To her knowledge, Esme did not know of Hela. Her knowledge of Asgardian history didn't mention anything about Odin having a daughter.

The warriors of the army who stood against Hela were demolished, and she had had no help. A dangerous solo act she was.

Anger boiled in Esme's veins. She had seen the carnage, her mind unable to comprehend how one person alone could do so much damage. She mourned for her people. They never stood a chance.

"Did I happen to miss you?"

Esme spun around, sword out and ready. This was the closest she had been to the Goddess of Death. She had been a spectator from afar when Hela had declared herself Queen of Asgard. She had watched as many Asgardians fruitlessly got struck down.

Hela's cold gaze examined Esme. "You don't look like part of the army."

"I'm not," Esme spat. "I'm a guard of the prison."

Hela scoffed. "Have you come to arrest me? Dear child, do you not see what's before you?" She gestured to the courtyard of corpses. "If you had any sense, you'd flee—or perhaps join me. But if you have a suicide mission, I won't stop you. In fact, I'll be more than happy to carry out your death wish." The woman smiled cruelly, as though she was hoping Esme would want to fight her.

Esme had half a mind to attack Hela, to see if she could even scratch the hag with her sword. But glancing down at all the death at her feet...it made her rethink it. Was it really worth the try? Thor and Loki still hadn't returned, and if what Hela said was true, if King Odin was truly dead...

Asgard was in terrible danger, and the only person—perhaps two—who could really take on Hela were not on their home realm. They were still missing.

I alone cannot do damage to her. I can only hold out in hopes that Thor and Loki return and stop her. For now...Esme swallowed. What she wanted to do was not an option, what she believed she had to do was not what she wanted.

It does not matter what I want right now. I need to survive.

Esme lowered her sword, still locking eyes with the Goddess of Death. "Don't expect me to bow at your feet and present my sword in an act of fealty."

"But you are willing to serve me."

I don't want to. "Yes."

"Truthfully, I don't need a warrior, as I'm all I'll ever need. But, I cannot push away someone offering me their service. Come, guard, follow your new Queen."

~*~

The hag is dead. Ragnarok took care of her. But while it was good that Hela was no longer a threat, Asgard was no longer a realm. Destroyed at the hands of Surtur, Asgard had been eaten by fire and lava.

Esme sat up in bed, swinging her legs over the edge. She hunched over, rubbing her eyes. That was horrible change that she had wanted to fight with all that she believed in. Her current situation was not. It was still scary, to say the least. But she did not have to serve under the Goddess of Death, or watch her home realm be demolished by a giant being made of lava.

Esme padded out into the sitting room, sitting on the couch before the quiet fireplace. She felt as though she stared at the mantle for hours before she heard feet moving around in the house. By the time she heard this, the sun was already up.

Throughout the day, things went as normal. Pepper and Esme made breakfast, Thor went to wake Morgan once the food was ready. The four remained inside due to the horrible heat of summer.

"Well, there are a few options for you, so, we can schedule to go take a look at them," said Pepper to Esme. "I'll be more than happy to go with you."

"Do you have someone to babysit Morgan? I doubt house browsing will interest her."

"We'll work on that."

Morgan insisted on pulling Thor and Esme in for an afternoon of binging movies. As one could guess, the topic at hand was Disney. Esme wasn't sure what movies from the franchise they hadn't seen or hadn't already watched a thousand times over. Despite the tunes The Lion King gave them to sing along to, it was not the preferred movie of choice—mostly due to the lion cub Simba losing his father in a stampede. It hit a little too close to home for Morgan and Thor, and Thor was the one who decided they stay away from the Disney classic. Esme knew, like her, that the God of Thunder had become protective of the little girl.

After Hercules, it was decided the movie day got a break. Esme was happy for that, she felt cramped sitting in front of the TV for hours on end. Morgan was cuddled into Thor's side, taking a nap. He waved Esme on, afraid if he moved he'd wake the little brunette.

Dinner was cooked by the two ladies. Thor entertained the table with tales from Asgard, keeping it child friendly for Morgan's ears. The audience hung on to every word he said, even if he did tend to stumble and give incorrect facts.

Once all stomachs were full, Disney time resumed. Esme took joy in watching Morgan know the musical numbers by heart, sometimes squirming on the couch to try and dance.

"Okay, just one more, then miss Morgan needs to go to bed," Pepper said firmly, plopping in one last Disney DVD to end the night.

"I'm really not tired, mommy," the little girl protested through a yawn.

"Do well to listen to your mother, Morgan," Thor told her gently. "She knows best."

"Did you not see what happened in Tangled?"

"Yes, well, your mother is not evil or mean spirited. She's a good person."

Pepper smiled at Thor's quick response.

The final movie of the night was Aladdin, the original animated, not the live action remake. In the lulls of no musical numbers, Esme found herself dozing. Morgan's movement on her right would startle her awake, to which Thor would quietly laugh under his breath when he noticed. When the first iconic song sung by Genie was on, Thor joined Morgan to perform the choreography. Esme had never seen such a sight, and it made her giggle. Pepper clapped along with the tune to encourage the two.

Thor had to nudge Morgan awake once the credits rolled on the movie. Pepper guided her into the kitchen to grab her a quick drink of warm milk before bed. Esme scooted closer to Thor.

"I'm going to miss movie days with her once we find our own place," Esme said wistfully. The credits still rolled, the DVD had yet to be taken out. Esme went to the TV, stopping the disc, opening the player to retrieve it.

Esme cocked her head. Though the music had stopped, why did she still hear it? It sounded as though it was coming from the kitchen, very faintly. Maybe Morgan wanted to hear a song once more before bed. Shrugging, Esme grabbed the disc, putting it back where it belonged.

Esme turned, nearly dropping the DVD case in the floor. Kneeling on one knee in front of her, was Thor. Esme's ears pounded ferociously with her heartbeat. She recognized the familiar, hand-fashioned ring.

"T-Thor?" she rasped.

"I believe you already know what I will ask by the end," he stammered. "While it's not as spontaneous as the first time, or—or the second...I couldn't think of a better time to do this. I want nothing more than to share this whole new world with you."

Esme blushed, as she knew he was quoting one of the most famous Disney songs, to a degree. "Ask me."

Thor blinked in surprise. The music broke the stunned silence.

"If not, I'll ask you myself."

"Esme, will you—?"

"Without the Disney spin on it, please." She giggled.

"Right, right, yes." Thor cleared his throat. "Esme, will you marry me?"

Esme abandoned the DVD in her hand, casting it to the floor. She knelt down in front of Thor, tears in her eyes. "Yes. Yes, of course!"

As the ring was put on a familiar place, Esme heard excited giggling from the kitchen.

**Don't question, just enjoy it. This legit happened on the fly as I wrote this.**