Love in a Winter Wonderland

[innitmarvelous_og]

Eva has always been like her father in so many ways, and so like him, she has never been a morning person. But when she opened her eyes to see the snow falling outside her window, it was enough to make her get out of bed earlier than she originally felt like. After she wrapped herself in a thick robe, she then headed to the kitchen to make herself some nice, hot mocha coconut coffee. With her mug in hand, she stood at the kitchen window staring out the window at the winter wonderland outside lost in her thoughts until she heard a knock on her door.

"Who in the world?" she muttered, as she walked to the door.

Eva checked her door camera first, and she couldn't believe who it was she was seeing standing on the other side of her door. She felt her heart pounding as she reached out, and opened the door. "Loki! Oh my gosh!" she cried, throwing her arms around his neck. "What are you doing here?"

He was obviously stunned for a moment as he neither moved nor spoke, but then he lifted his arms to hug her back. He murmured in her ear, "Why I came to see you," he replied, "Of course."

The hug lasted for another few seconds then Eva pulled away, and gestured towards the interior of her home. "Please come inside!" He nodded, and stepped into her house, his eyes scanning the room.

As she followed him inside, and offered to take his long grey coat from him, Eva couldn't help but feel a little flustered. She and Loki had been friends for years, but lately in the last few years, there was always an underlying tension between them that she couldn't quite explain. "Do you want some coffee? It's mocha coconut!" she asked, motioning to the Keurig.

Loki nodded, and Eva made him a cup, savoring the warmth of the mug in her hands. They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, watching the snow fall outside.

Finally, even he must not have been able to take the tension in the room as Loki broke the quiet to ask her. "Do you want to go for a walk?"

Eva hesitated. It was freezing outside, but something in the way he asked made her say yes. They bundled up in their coats and hats and stepped outside into the snow.

As they walked, they talked about everything and nothing, the snow crunching under their feet. Eva felt her cheeks grow warm, and not just from the cold. She couldn't help but feel drawn to Loki, despite the fact that they had always just been friends.

Eventually, they found themselves at a park that was close to her house, and Loki led Eva to a secluded spot. "I have something for you," he said, pulling a small box out of his pocket.

Eva's heart began to race as she opened the box. Inside, she found a beautiful necklace, the pendant shaped like a heart. "Loki, it's gorgeous," she breathed, feeling her face grow hot.

Loki smiled, taking the necklace from her and fastening it around her neck. "It's not as beautiful as you," he said, his eyes locking deep into hers.

At that moment, Eva was finding it hard to breathe. She had never seen that look in his eyes before. She realized in that moment that what she had been feeling all these years was mutual. As she watched, Loki started to lean towards her, and before she knew it, his lips were pressing against hers. Eva immediately deepened the kiss, and cupped his face with her gloved hands. Suddenly, Eva found herself almost face down on the bench when Loki pulled away, and sprang up, walking away from her at a fast pace.

Eva was stunned for a second, and then sprang up to hurry after him, catching up to him quickly. "Loki, is something wrong?"

He didn't slow his pace, and he nodded. "Yes, I've ruined

everything!"

"Ruined everything how?" Eva asked in a breathless tone as his fast pace was starting to get to her, even as fit as she was. "Loki?"

Loki stopped suddenly, and without facing her answered her. "I-I shouldn't have kissed you!"

"Why shouldn't you have kissed me?"

He sighed, his head dropping. "Because you see me as only a friend, nothing more or less. For me to kiss you, that is a betrayal of our friendship, as I am trying to turn it into something it is not. I'm sorry, Eva. It will not happen again." With that said, he started walking again, this time at a much slower pace.

Eva shook her head, and went after him. She walked beside him in silence, trying to figure out how to word what she wanted to say to him.

"If you wish to return the necklace, I will understand, as it was a presumptuous gift on my part," he said, sounding utterly defeated.

"Oh for crying out loud, would you just stop being an idiot already?!" she exclaimed.

Loki stopped walking once more, and looked at her. "I beg your pardon. What did you say?"

"I said would you stop being an idiot already?!"

"I am not being an idiot!"

"Yes, you are!"

"No, I'm not!"

"Yes, you are, or you wouldn't have ended one of the most epic kisses ever until we were both out of breath!"

Puzzlement crossed Loki's features. "'Most epic kisses ever'? Am I to understand that you are telling me that you were enjoying my kissing you?"

Eva took a step closer to him. "Yes, you big dolt! That is exactly what I am telling you! Believe me, if I hadn't been, mythical god of mischief and chaos or not, I would have knocked you out cold with the right cross my Dad and all of my Uncles helped me to develop, and left your butt there on that bench to wake up on your own!"

"You would have?" Loki said.

"Yes, I would! Loki, I... I love you!" she exclaimed.

His eyes widened, and then he closed the gap between them. "You what?"

"I said, I love you!" Eva muttered, dropping her head. "I have for a long time, I think." She bit her lip, hoping now she wasn't the one to destroy everything between them.

He placed a gentle hand underneath her chin, and lifted her face up. "Eva Stark Anthonysdottir, I love you too."

"You do?" she asked in a whisper.

Loki nodded. "Eva, there are so many things I love about you. I love the way you see the world. You have this unique perspective that I can't help but find so fascinating. Ever since we met, you have challenged me in ways that no one else ever has. You've made me see the universe in a new light. You make me want to be a better person."

As she stared into his eyes, Eva felt her knees going weak. She knew without any doubt that Loki is the one she loves without every part of her heart. She knew with all that she is, he is her soulmate, and they will be together forever. With this knowledge and certainty, she is the one who initiated their second kiss.

For a long time, they stood there, kissing in the snow, with the hot intensity of their passion keeping them warm. As they finally parted, Eva couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected, snowy morning that had brought them together.