Everything was warm, inviting, and ever so safe. Lying in his bed, Loki's head rested on his feather fluffed pillows when a pierced this eyes lids. A soft voice cooed at him and petite fingers brushed over his cheekbones. Slowly he opened his eyes to find the owner of such delicate hands.

Tira lay beside him, her smile was sweet and her blue eyes shamed the clearest of skies. A dress of sheer chiffon layered her skin in the color of pure alabaster. Her golden curls lay over her head along the pillow, cast in the heavenly glow around them and making her more angelic than he had ever witnessed.

Feeling a sudden distress, Loki raised his head and looked around his chamber. It was the same as it always been, it was the atmosphere itself that seemed to have changed. Everything gave a warm and fuzzy feeling. A soft yet blinding light peered through the windows, blocking out all existence of the outside world. He was in his room...but his room seemed have moved to somewhere more heavenly.

Tira touched his face, pulling his gaze back to her. Once there eyes met, her smile grew.

"You were asleep for a long time." Her voice was like a lullaby.

Excited to have her near, Loki smiled back and snuggled closer, taking her hands in his. "Where are we?" he asked, Still unsure of the atmosphere.

"We are at our most peaceful."

"Is this a dream?"

"More like, a melody of your heart," she answered him. "experiencing your deepest, purest desire."

"How long will it last?"

"For a little while." Tira's smiled was ever so sweet when she looked at him. Still, there was a hint of sadness in her tone. She suddenly beamed with excitement before he had the chance to ask her the cause of her sadness. "Do you remember the night we almost got caught in the gardens? When you took me to the lily pond, showed me the koi and read poetry to me."

"The one where you took a swim yourself?" Loki added. "Your arm slipped and you plunged in head first."

"As I recall you pushed me."

"No," Loki gasped, almost offended. "I declare different."

"You pushed me."

"I was protecting you."

"Protecting me....by pushing my in a pond."

"In my defense I thought I heard someone coming," Loki defended, "And as I recall you got your revenge when I went to pull you out."

Tira laughed and buried her face into the pillow. Loki recalled the memory as one of their favorites, it was the very first time they were able to truly be themselves. To act like children in the purest form of innocence.

"Do you have any idea how hard it was to walk pass Thor with a straight face." Loki told his love. "To see the look one his face when I told him that I had turned into a fish just to know what it was like to breathe underwater."

Tira touched his face as she looked back on the memory, redirecting the conversation to it's original purpose. "It was also the night I said I love you for the very first time. You face changed, and I worried that I would have no more nights with you."

"I was just not used to hearing it." Loki admitted, "and I never said it out loud but I too love you. I love you more than the stars themselves Tira."

"I always knew you did," Tira smiled, almost sadly again. "If only I could relive that night once more."

Loki knew this had to be because of Odin, remembering his father had the biggest outrage of the era. She was sad, worried that they would never be accepted by the court or in the eyes of Asgard...this had to be it.

He inhaled deeply and squeezed her hand. Leaning forward he kissed her lips softly and held her in an embrace. "We will have moments, many moments like this. Father will cool off and I will go back to him, we will talk like civilized men and I will claim you as my bride."

"I know you would my love." Tira sighed, "You would fight the nine realms for me but..."

She stopped suddenly. That's when Loki noticed it, the small glint of red working it's way up her dress. It stained it, like dipping a white rose into the darkest of wine. He watched almost in horror as the crimson continued to travel upwards, dying her dress blood red. Tira's eyes held sadness and he could have sworn a single tear trickled over her nose.

All at once Tira set up and looked over her shoulder towards the window, as if someone called out to her. Loki heard nothing, but he began to worry as the atmosphere around him began to turn cold.

"What is it?"

"I am...out of time." Tira spoke with sorrow.

"Time?" Loki set up.

"I must go."

Tira rolled out of the bed in her now red dress and stood facing away from Loki. Her eyes remaining in a trance like state, forever looking towards the window and it's blinding light. In a panic, Loki reached out and took her hand, only for it to grasp air. Passing through her body like one of his tricks.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

She started to cry. "... I don't want to leave."

"Then don't!" Loki reached for her again, only to get the same result. "There will be more walks through the gardens, more stories to read and discover. Only this time...I'll parade you through the crowds, proud to be your husband! Once I wake up -"

"I won't be there." Tira cut him off.

"Why?"

The room continued to grow colder and fear swelled inside his soul. Loki never pulled his eyes from her due to this intense feeling that once he looked away it would be the last time her ever saw her.

"I knew that someday our dream would end." Tira said with tears in her eyes. "I wish I could have had you longer, but I must go."

Loki shook his head in protest. "I will go with you, I'll chase you to the end of the nine realms!"

It was then Tira smiled at him, "Where I am going my darling, you cannot follow."

His beloved turned away from him and walk towards the window. Confused and in absolute disbelief, Loki wanted to jump up and run after her, yet something invisible held him to the bed. The flowers in vases wilted as she passed, book pages cringe and ripped. Even the color itself love it's vibrancy. The whole room around him grew dark, as if she was taking all forms of life with her.

"Don't do this." Loki cried, "Don't leave me - I love you Tira!"

Her voice echoed around him like whispers in the end, never ending yet vanishing. She spoke of her love for him until she reached the window stepping up on it's seal as the breeze flowed through her. Without looking back, Tira stepped off the edge and faded into the light.

Loki screamed and shot up. Soaking in a cold sweat and gripping the sheets by the fist full...his eyes still filled with tears. Frigg spun around and lower herself on the bed, taking her son's face in her hands.

"You're awake!" she almost cried tears of joy "You've been sleeping for days, I was so scared."

Gasping for air he looked around his room and saw that everything was normal. "What happened?"

"After the hearing I came to check on you and we found you in the floor lifeless."

"Hearing?"

Frigg tilted her head, confused. Reaching out she touched his face and pulled his eyes to her "Yes, don't you remember... you beloved Tira."

Loki finally released the breath he had been holding the moment he woke up screaming. Looking towards his mother, he searched her face for answers before finally speaking again.

"who is Tira?"