Arriving in Asgard was again breathtaking, before leaving I had managed to created a force field around Aly, because I really didn't want her to feel the pressure and cold of the whole 'ride'.
As soon as we all arrived and stood in front of Heimdal he closed the bifrost.
"Thor, Loki, Mahalia, great to see you again!" Heimdal said smiling at us,
"And I see you brought friends." he said nodding at them, it was the very first time all the avengers were reunited and none were making noise, it was really funny.
I was happy that Clint and his wife and kids were there, as well as Tony and Pepper. I would guess that neither family had time to go on holidays lately or get some time off to rest, so I was happy that they would get a bit of peace while being here.
"It's great to be back." I smiled at him, and then we started our journey walking and crossing the rainbow bridge and arriving in the city, I thought about teleporting us directly to the palace but seeing all of their enthusiastic faces, we decided then to walk even though it was going to take some time.
"It's-"Nat started,
"Breathtaking, it's so beautiful." Bruce finished her sentence, and I just wiggled my eyebrows at Wanda, who also had her mouth wide open,
"Is this real?" I heard Bucky's voice beside me and I turned to see him also looking around and taking the whole thing in, it made me smile seeing him so relaxed and carefree for once.
"Yes as real as can be." I replied, smiling at my friends, they all looked like they were enjoying the trip so far and I couldn't be happier. As soon as we arrived near the palace, I could make out a figure from afar and I knew Odin was here to greet us.
"Father!" Thor said, hugging his father after bowing, and Loki did the same, I took a step before him and curtsied a bit before hugging him,
"My my, so this must be Aly, I already know that she will be a princess too. But she still has time before her coronation. Now come on all, let's get to the great hall and get the introductions going." Odin said, taking a very bubbly Aly in his arms and leading the way, I turned and looked at the whole bunch, and not one of them had their mouth closed, even Tony had been silent for a full 45 minutes, it was a great achievement.
We were all following Odin to go to the great hall, and I realised that once inside we were the only ones, not even the Warriors Three or Sif were there.
"Please all, take a sit." Odin said, we had all left out belongings at the entry were some staff was waiting, we all sat and that is when Frigga arrived.
"Mahalia my dear how are you?" she asked as soon as she saw me, I stood up and hugged her,
"You would think that a mother would acknowledge her sons first." Loki said, a smug smile on his lips,
"Ah my sons." she said before hugging both of them,
"And who might that be?" she asked taking Aly from Odin's arms,
"That's Aly, my little sister." I tell her as she comes and sit next to me,
"Ah, another princess I see. It has been too long since I had a child in my arms." she tells me, nostalgia in her voice, I looked at her and gave her a sympathetic smile, she kept Aly in her arms so I spoke up.
"Odin, those are all of our friends, they actually are more like a family. We wanted to thank you for your generosity in letting all of them come." I tell him, bowing my head slightly,
"We are pleased to have all of you here with us, and for always helping our sons when they are on Midgard." he said nodding his head,
"Shall we feast? I am famished!" Thor said, making me laugh, it seems like everyone was mute and no-one was really talking, so when the food arrived it made everyone a bit more chattier.
"Their dresses are so pretty." Wanda said to me and I nodded,
"I have a couple of those if you want I can lend you one." I told her and she nodded excitedly,
"The food is so good." said Sam stuffing his face, which made us laugh but he earned a scowl from Loki. We had done the whole presentations where everyone said their name and then what they do on earth, and it was kind of funny because everyone seemed way more relaxed after that and the atmosphere was way more warm and family like.
"So you're the princess of all this?" Bucky asked and before I had the chance to reply Odin beat me to it,
"Actually, young man, she is Queen of Asgard, Midgard and the rest of the 8 realms." he replied and Bucky just turned to me his eyes huge,
"Wow." was all he said and I just laughed, and just as I was about to speak, the big doors opened to reveal none other than my favourite people from Asgard, I got up and Fandral was the first to catch me and give me a big hug,
"Look who it is?" he said smiling and putting me down, letting me hug, Volstagg, Hogun and Sif. Loki and Thor soon joining in the hugs.
"Everyone those are the Warrior Three and Lady Sif." Thor made the presentations,
"They are like the best warriors on Asgard." I tell them,
"Yeah that was before you came and just kicked our butts." Frandal said, to which I just laughed,
After an eventful night we got to explore a bit more the palace, and finally all rooms were attributed and well, I could keep mine they had just installed a baby crib for Aly in my room.
"I actually cannot believe that we are here." Wanda said, next to a floating Vision,
"It is remarkable, the designs, the culture everything seems so different but yet so similar to ours." he said still looking around at the paintings that we were passing by as we walked in different corridors.
"I can't believe it." said Nat, "I actually, like, believe in all this, but it's just crazy to be here and yeah I have no words." she said again,
"Well are you enjoying yourselves at least for the moment?" they all nodded their heads, hall of the team had gone to their chambers or were wandering around the palace with Thor and Loki,
"Come I will show you the best view." I told them, directing them towards my bedroom, I pushed the doors open and was greeted with the familiar smell of my mom, which was just amazing to me.
"This was actually my mom's room when she lived here, and when she used to visit Odin, which actually is my uncle and I had never realised." I laughed at myself, and let them inside my room,
"Is that the view you have showed me the last time?" Nat asked and I just nodded, opening the big double doors and letting them out on my balcony, the beautiful sunset over the sea and part of the city before us.
"It's beautiful." I heard Bucky said, and I turned to him, I just smiled back and turned back towards the view, taking it all in. Aly looked completely in awe of the scenery before her and it was the cutest thing, her expression made her look so much older.
"Do you think our rooms will have this views?" Sam asked, and I just shrugged,
"I guess we have to go and find out." Vision said smiling, we all left my room and made our way towards the rooms next to mine.
"So I will be sharing a room with Wanda right?" Nat asked and I nodded,
"Yes, this palace is huge but still we are so many that they didn't get to prepare all the rooms in time, I think that by tomorrow night everyone should have their rooms." I smiled at them, a sleepy Aly resting her head on my shoulder.
"At what time will be your coronation tomorrow?" Sam asked as we all sat down in a corner of the palace that had couches and seats near big windows,
"Normally around 6p.m., but in the morning we have breakfast all together, then I have fittings and then rehearsal, where everyone should be and do when the coronation starts." I tell them and they all were nodding,
"So... first impression of Asgard?" I asked them, when I saw Clint and Laura come our way, hand in hand.
"I personally love it." said Clint once they were next to us, putting his arms around Laura, it was such a cute sight to behold, I was so very happy that they were here.
"Me too, thank you again Mia for allowing us to come. You don't know for how long I wanted to take some time off and go on holidays but never had the opportunity." Laura said and I just couldn't help but smile at her,
"You're welcome guys, I needed my whole family for this big step in my life." I tell them,
"This place is truly magical." Nat said looking outside.
"it really is, and it's crazy to think that the time works differently here." Sam said, Bucky nodding,
"Where are the others by the way?" Wanda asked,
"I think I saw Steve talking to that Sif girl, but besides that I didn't see the others. I think Tony and Pepper are probably enjoying some time in their bedroom to be honest." we all laughed at that last part.
"What time is it back home?" Nat asked, and I looked at the space phone Tony had invented last time I came here, and it said 3 a.m. but three days later than the day we left,
"We are currently three days later back on earth and it's like 3 a.m." I tell them, while looking back outside at the beautiful scenery, the sun going down, soon to be engulfed by the sea.
"I think I might go to bed." said Wanda, looking back at Nat and nodding at her,
"Yeah I think I will go too. I am exhausted." she replied and soon enough I was left alone with Bucky. a comfortable silence surrounded us as the sun was finally disappearing, the only light coming from the moon and the may torches lit up in the palace.
"How are you feeling? Not too nervous?" he asked, sitting closer to me, his warmth making me relax instantly, just like when you're missing something or feeling blue and you just get into bed and go under the covers, that exact feeling. Bucky was a reminder that no matter where I am, home is where my family is.
"I was, but having you guys here is making things so much better." I smile up at him and he smiled back, his beautiful icy blue eyes sparkling in the night, they looked like they were glowing.
"I think I can say that we are all glad to be here and cannot wait for tomorrow." he said flashing a big smile at me, his smile was so contagious that I found myself smile and not even reply.
"And you? You're okay being so far from home?" I asked him, and he just looked outside, a few strands of hair flying around due to the soft breeze. I just heard him sigh.
"Would it be bad if I said yes?" he asked still not looking at me,
"Well no, it wouldn't be bad. I honestly am okay being this far from home, because I have you guys, you are my home." I tell him as he turned to face me, there was something in his eyes that I couldn't point my finger on.
"Well that's exactly how I feel." He tells me, and I smile at him,
"I mean I love those guys, but if I feel home it's because of you and only you." he started, I was still mesmerised by his eyes.
"You have a way with words, and I don't know just being yourself. You are so selfless like you helped me so much, you brought this box full of memories, good and bad and you were up all night with me to help me sleep. I always felt like that with Steve, he's my oldest friend, and we have been through so much. And I am starting to feel the same homey feeling when I am with you. When you are around you just ease all my worries and this constant ache in my heart." I was at loss of words, and the fact that after he said that his warm hand went up to my cheek didn't help.
"Bucky-" I managed to breathe out,
"Mia, you're incredible and I just want you to see it. You help so many people around you, and I wanted to thank you for that." he said, and as quickly as he had put his hand on my cheek, he kissed the top of my head, and his warmth disappeared. He got up ready to leave, leaving me dumbfounded.
"Bucky wait!" I called after him, my thoughts all over the place, my heart racing, my legs completely wobbly.
"Doll?" he said turning around,
"Will you be my date tomorrow? If it's okay, you will have to escort me towards Odin and then be my first dance at the ball. I mean if you don't want to it's fine." I told him rather quickly and I was surprised he didn't ask me to repeat myself. A goofy smile graced his lips, and he just nodded.
"Thank you, for all you said." I told him while I was planting a soft kiss on his cheek, his stubble tickling me a bit. I started walking towards my room and just turned around to see him still at the same spot smiling at me, I smiled back and entered my room.
As soon as I was inside, I let out the biggest breath ever, not even realising I had held it all this time, my heart was racing so fast and I knew I would need a bath to calm myself. So that's what I did, and while taking the bath I couldn't help but think about tomorrow.