Heart Of Stone

Epilogue

Ten Years Later:

I drag out the last note of the song, my audience's rapt attention not leaving me. The second my voice trails off, cheers and applause ripple through the building. Smiling, I step down from the little stage Tony threw together for this party.

"Thanks for filling in, Lexis," Tony sighed in relief. "No problem," I reply genuinely. "It was fun."

In truth, I wasn't supposed to be singing tonight. The only problem is that the singer had to cancel at the last minute and in Tony Stark's eyes no party is complete without a little music, so he asked me to step in.

After all, it is Tony and Pepper's ten year anniversary. He has a right to want to make it special.

Pepper herself is looking stunning in a long black dress, her ginger hair tied up to make a braided crown. I was the one who fixed that up for her. I styled the hair of her, Natasha and Wanda... well, I technically also did Loki's, but he took out the little braid that I added in due to boredom while he was sleeping.

Loki and I have been dating for years now and we've found a comfortable rhythm. I've thought about marriage before, but I like what we have so I'm in no rush. As long as I have him, I'm happy.

Speak of the devil, I think to myself as I feel a sneaky hand snake their way around my waist. "Loki," I greet, a smile on my face once again. "Lexis," he replies, a matching smile on his own face. "You were wonderful as usual."

"Thank you," I chuckle, leaning into his side. He kisses my forehead, his lips as chilly as the rest of his body, but they still thawed my heart enough to make it flutter.

We start enjoying ourselves, drinking champagne as we talk. There's always so much to talk about, from matters on Asgard to why the sky is blue. We always seem to end up on an interesting topic without even realising. Of course, some people would disagree with our ideas of 'interesting'.

We're soon joined by Wanda, Vision, Natasha and Bruce. We're known as the 'couples' of the Avengers and so often go on dates together. Right now appears to be no exception. We all drink and talk, mostly about our latest mission.

"So here he is, just monologuing like a dork, then boom, I send a car flying into his face!" Wanda was saying, making us all chuckle in amusement. "He didn't even realise! How? How did he not realise a car was flying right at him?"

"I have no clue," I shook my head, chuckling. "He was ridiculously idiotic, don't you think?"

"Agreed," Loki nodded, smiling. "We can read his apparently simple mind but I still have no clue what he was thinking."

We all can't help but laugh at that.

As the night goes on, people then begin to leave, but it's 'Avengers tradition' - as Tony calls it - to go back to the penthouse for a laugh and just one more drink. Once again, it falls on Bruce to drive some of us since he barely drank at all. As he only had one glass, Loki has to drive the other car. They are not huge drinkers, so they're both usually the best two to put 'behind the wheel'.

I don't mean to brag, but I learned that phrase on my own and understood it quite quickly.

The drive is quiet and peaceful, thankfully no accidents occur. Also thankfully, Tony is in the other car, so the only people I have to be boxed in with are Loki (designated driver, so not drunk), Wanda (a little tipsy, but she's a happy drunk so it's more entertaining than annoying), Vision (he never seems to get drunk) and Steve (technically drunk, but apart from being a little sluggish he's acting rather normal).

I guess the other car is Bruce (designated driver, so not drunk), Natasha (drunk, but can hold her liquor so she's acting somewhat normal), Tony (is probably still drinking), Clint (completely drunk, but a happy drunk so he'll be singing by now), and Thor (who will be joining in the singing but making sure the songs are Asgardian ones... despite not acting drunk. He can drink all he wants, it takes a lot to get him actually drunk. He just likes to join in the fun).

Looks like I got the better car.

We get back to the tower and head up to the penthouse in good spirits. As I expected, Clint and Thor have their arms around each other's shoulders and are belting out some Asgardian tune while Tony throws back a flask just to deal with their nonsense. I can't help but shake my head in amusement. How typical of the boys.

We get them into the penthouse and I have a glass of water to help keep my own sanity. I then start pouring drinks for everyone, though I water Tony and Clint down. They don't need any more tonight. I consider doing the same to the girls, but Natasha will notice and have my head, so I leave them be. It's their own fault if they get drunk.

We all sit around together, chatting and laughing. Somehow we get into a round of lifting Thor's hammer. I could've sworn Steve moved it an inch, but overall he couldn't pick it up.

I look in his mind to see how he's feeling. It turned out he was actually able to pick it up, but he knew they'd said that whoever picked it up would take Thor's title as heir to the throne of Asgard. Quite kind of him, if you ask me.

Speaking of thrones, the quarrels with the Atlantians has resolved after I appointed someone as their new leader. I may love the water, but I also have someone else I love.

A certain someone who refuses to even try to lift his brother's hammer even in jest.

The others gesture for me to have a go. I try to say no, but Loki merely laughs and pushes me forward. Sighing, I try and lift it.

As expected, nothing happens.

But that doesn't matter as when I go back to sit next to Loki, he wraps his arm around me, a smile lighting his face. I rest my head on his shoulder and in turn he rests his head against my own one, his skin cold to the touch as always, like soft, freshly fallen snow.

Funny how such a frozen thing could warm my heart of stone.