"Sylvie, when is your birthday?"
Sylvie turned over in the bed and stared at her boyfriend curiously.
"I don't exactly remember, but I assume it's the same as yours, why?"
"That date is only two weeks away," Loki said as he fiddled with the sheet," I thought we might have a small celebration...eat cake and exchange a gift or two."
"Alright, that sounds nice,actually."
"Really?"
"Yes,really,"Sylvie laughed before kissing him on the cheek," now come on, let's go get some breakfast and discuss these grand birthday plans of yours."
***********
"Hey Vie, you gotta minute? I...woah."
Mobius walked into the room and saw what could only be described as a holly jolly disaster. Wrapping paper was strewn all over the place, and in the middle of the tornado sat Sylvie, completely ensnared in ribbons with rolls of tape sticking out of her hair.
"Do I even want to know what happened?"
"Loki wants to exchange gifts, and everyone says that you're supposed to wrap them. Well, I've never wrapped anything before so I thought I'd practice on a few boxes, and then one thing led to another, and....AAAAAHHHHHH!"
She threw the wrappings off with a blast of power, and hid her face in her hands. Mobius sat down next to her and patted her on the knee.
"Don't worry about it, Vie, I can help. How big is the present anyway?"
"That's the other problem, I have no idea what to get him! I don't do shopping and I could probably conjure something but what? What could he possibly want that he can't get himself?"
"Hmm, that's a good question," Mobius said as he scratched his chin in thought,"Maybe something symbolic? Sentimental value is always more important than material."
"Was that your thought process when you gave Thor a light up keychain of Mjölnir?"
Sylvie started laughing at the sight of Mobius's flushed cheeks. It had been obvious since the day they landed in New Ásgarð that he'd had a crush on the Thunðer Góð, and the gift he'd given him on his name day had cemented that.
"Well it worked, didn't it?"
"Indeed it did, you two make quite the lovely couple...although I'm still trying to understand Stark's continuous jokes about "Hammer time".
"Vie, I don't think the multiverse itself could understand Tony Stark's humor."
They both busted out laughing at that. When they finally recovered, she ran a hand through her hair and sighed.
"I don't know....I mean the first time we had a sentimental moment was when he drunkenly sang to me on a train."
"Huh....well how's your singing voice?"
"Pretty good I suppose....why?"
"Because I think I have the perfect idea for a gift," Mobius said before fishing out his cellphone and dialing one of its contacts," Hey Tony? It's Agent Brostache....I need to borrow a piano."
***************
The evening of the party, Loki used his magic to give Sylvie a beautiful strapless evening gown that went to the floor in beautiful waves of sapphire. He dressed himself in a sleek black suit, with a black vest,and a dark green tie. Once they were ready, he led her by the arm and they walked through the village and down towards a remote beach, which was lit up by lanterns strung along several huge,white tents.
"Thought you wanted a small celebration?"
"Well, you know Thor, he never does anything by halves."
As they approached, all the citizens of New Ásgarð clapped and cheered for the couple. There was a large feast filling several long tables and in the center of the banquet, a large cream cake with the words "Happy Name Day Loki &Sylvie" written across it.
Thor was standing to the side of the desserts with his arm around Mobius. When he saw them coming, he unwound from his lover and embraced the Chaos Góðs.
"Brother! Sister! It's an honor to host your nameday feast!"
"Thank you for setting this up, it looks wonderful."
"My pleasure,Sylvie....now let's eat!"
*************
Most of the night went by in a flash. Everyone ate, drank, and danced to a wild variety of music. Even Bruce imbibed some after his girlfriend Valkryie offered him a very explicit incentive.
Then it was onto the gifts. The citizens of New Ásgarð all contributed various weapons, armor pieces, and spellbooks to the couple. Tony wasn't able to make it but he sent a collection of an experimental whiskey 'guaranteed to get you more trashed than Thor's ale' that he'd been working on. Thor wanted to give them goats for some reason, but Mobius convinced him to offer cash instead.
They were down to the presents they'd planned to exchange with each other, when Sylvie stopped Loki from grabbing the box he'd wrapped.
"Let me go first, my gift wasn't something I was able to wrap."
"Alright Darling, I can't wait to see it."
Sylvie nodded to Mobius, who headed over to the piano they'd had set up earlier in the evening. He sat down in front of the keys while Sylvie stepped up to the microphone in front of it. She took in a deep breath and let it out, and when the notes began to play, she started singing.
Find me here,
And speak to me.
I want to feel you,
I need to hear you.
You are the light,
That's leading me,
To the place,
Where I find peace again.
You are the strength,
That keeps me walking.
You are the hope,
That keeps me trusting.
You are the light,
To my soul.
You are my purpose,
You're everything.
How can I stand here with you,
And not be moved by you?
Would you tell me,
How could it be,
Any better than this?
You calm the storms,
And you give me rest.
You hold me in your hands,
You won't let me fall.
You still my heart,
And you take my breath away.
Would you take me in,
Take me deeper now.
And how can I stand here with you,
And not be moved by you?
Would you tell me,
How could it be,
Any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you,
And not be moved by you?
Would you tell me,
How could it be,
Any better than this?
Cause you're all I want,
You're all I need,
You're everything, everything.
You're all I want,
You're all I need,
You're everything, everything.
You're all I want,
You're all I need,
You're everything, everything.
You're all I want,
You're all I need,
You're everything, everything.
And how can I stand here with you,
And not be moved by you?
Would you tell me,
How could it be,
Any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you,
And not be moved by you?
Would you tell me,
How could it be,
Any better, any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you,
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me,
How could it be,
Any better than this?
Would you tell me,
How could it be,
Any better than this...
When she finished, all the guests at the party gave her a standing ovation and cheered(Thor being the loudest). She looked at Loki and saw him standing there with tears running down his cheeks. He didn't say a word, choosing to simply walk up and pull her into an intense kiss. They finally broke apart for air several minutes later, and she leaned against his chest while he wound his arms tightly around her.
"I love you."
"I love you too, so goddamn much. Norns Sylvie, your voice is utter perfection. My gift to you pales in comparison."
"I still want it, nothing from you could be anything less than wonderful."
He laughed before pulling away to retrieve the item from his pocket. He handed it to her,and she carefully undid the small ribbon and peeled off the paper to reveal a small box. She opened it, and inside was a ring with a large diamond in the center of several emeralds."
"Loki...."
"Sylvie, will you spend the rest of this life, the next, and whatever else the multiverse plans for us,as my wife?"
She nodded and let him slip the ring on before pulling him into another kiss.
Mobius watched them with a soft smile. Those two were overdue for some happiness, and he was glad they'd found it in each other.
When Thor's hand slipped into his, he was even more glad for their coming together, because it helped him find his happiness too.
And there was no better gift than that.