This story is a sequel to the fic 'Like the Pharaohs of Old.' If you start here, it won't make much sense. You can find the first story on my profile or around in the Thor section somewhere. But, who am I to tell you what to do? If you want to start here, that's fine. I can't tell you how to live your life. Anyways: enjoy the story! (only if you want to though)

Darcy and Loki sat across from each other at their kitchen table. Darcy was still wearing her pajamas, but Loki was dressed for the day. Apparently he had somewhere to go today, which meant today wasn't one of their shut-in days. Damn.

Loki had his foot propped up on her chair beside her leg, and her legs were crossed and up so that her feet lay between his legs, dangerously close to his nether regions. She did that to mess with him, to tease him. Teasing him was always fun, just like playing with fire.

"How about this one?" Loki turned his laptop to face Darcy. They were both currently looking at different charity options for the two of them to share some of their gratuitous wealth with. They had decided that they had more money than they would ever know what to do with, so they were researching which charity would be receiving a little under a billion dollars.

In the six months since finding the treasure and receiving their reward, Darcy and Loki had bought a large apartment in Central Park West, complete with a library and a pretty great view of the park and Stark Tower. It was grand while still being cozy, exactly what they had wanted.

"The Smithsonian?" she asked unsurely. "Worthy, but I feel like we've already helped them out plenty with the treasure itself. I want our money to really mean something, save lives,"

"Bleeding heart," Loki smirked at her. She responded by sticking her tongue out at him.

Loki became serious again, "How about the Red Cross? Very general, widespread,"

"Who's the bleeding heart now?"

"Just attempting to please you, darling."

"That's not going to work this time."

"What's not going to work?" He actually looked fairly innocent; Loki was always a great actor and liar.

"You, trying to 'as you wish' yourself into my panties. Again. I'm going to make you work for it this time."

His face remained innocent and confused and puppy-eyed, but for a split second Darcy could've sworn she saw mischief flit through those green eyes. "I haven't the faintest clue as to what you're on about, darling. I only want what you want."

Oh, he was pushing it. Well two could play that game, and the way she played this game was a little different than Loki's method. He was in a playful mood already, and she wondered how far she could go with that before he lost it.

Slowly, she moved her foot against and up his leg. Loki glanced down for a second, almost surprised but definitely pleased with her actions. Always a great way to start.

The two of them fell back on the kitchen table, Darcy completely nude and Loki still wearing his now very loose tie and unbuttoned shirt.

Why is he dressed up anyway? Dressing up meant he was planning on going out at some point today and that he needed to be presentable for it, so it was probably a speech in a class at Columbia. He'd been doing a few of those recently; every once in a while, Columbia University or some other college nearby would ask for Professor Odinson to come give a talk about the find. Darcy had never been asked by a college, but every other Saturday she talked to visitors at the Met in the newly founded exhibit dedicated to their find. It was loads of fun and gave her a chance to get out of the house, which was always good.

They were both panting, attempting to catch their breath. Darcy put her hand on her stomach, her hand rising and falling with each deep breath.

"And before ten o'clock in the morning this time," she said in disbelief.

"You started it."

"Yes I did. And what a way to start the day,"

"This should be routine. I could definitely get used to this."

"I don't know; we'd never get anything done. Well, besides each other."

"That's a sacrifice I am willing to make."

"I bet it is." Darcy sat up and hung her legs off the side of the table. "You know, I'm glad we chose this table. It's very sturdy."

"Agreed." Loki brought his hand to her back and lightly ran his fingers up and down her spine. She tried not to let the stroking get to her so she could carry out a normal conversation, but it was difficult. Loki was probably doing that on purpose.

Suddenly, across the house, Darcy could hear her phone ringing. Darcy jumped down off the table, quickly walked around to stand beside Loki, leaned him up, pulled his shirt off of him, and walked toward the bedroom, pulling Loki's shirt on as she went. Just as the phone was on it's last ring, Darcy answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Hi Darcy. I was just calling to make sure your bridesmaid dress came in," Jane's voice said. Even on a different continent, Jane still manages to cockblock like a pro. Well, she was a little late this time. That's progress.

"Yeah, it's here." Darcy glanced over at her yellow bridesmaid's dress hanging on the back of the door. "You wanted it in neon green, right?"

"Darcy, what? Is that dress green? Darcy, I—" Darcy could feel Jane's panic through the phone, so she cut her short.

"It's a joke, calm down. It's yellow or gold or whatever color you said."

"Canary, Darcy. I said canary."

"Right. Bird-color. So, how are things on your side of the pond?"

"Stressful. Some things are going wrong, some things are going all right. What day are you and Loki flying in?"

"The Tuesday before, if I'm not mistaken. We'll have five days to help you guys get ready."

"That's good. The staff we got will be doing most of the stuff, but moral support is greatly appreciated."

"That's what we're here for. Are you sure you don't want us any earlier?"

"That Tuesday's fine. Pepper is coming out the Thursday before that, and she's… well, she's Pepper. We'll have all the help we need."

"Yeah, you'll be fine if Pepper's there."

"Have you talked to her recently? Is her bridesmaid's dress in?"

"Yeah, I was over there the other day. Her toucan dress looked lovely,"

"Canary, Darcy. Canary."

"Right. Yes, all the dresses are in. Before you ask, yes; Loki's bow tie and whatever is in. Pigeon-colored, just like you wanted."

Jane was silent for a moment as Darcy knew she was pulling herself together. The wedding plans were taking their toll on Jane, and even a little bird-color humor couldn't lift her up.

"I'm sorry. Everything's going fine over here. The wedding is going to be fantastic." Darcy said.

"I hope so. Hey, I've got to go. I'll talk to you later,"

"All right. Bye,"

"Bye."

Darcy made her way back to the kitchen to see Loki sitting at the table waiting for her.

"Somebody's a little upset over the wedding," Darcy said, approaching Loki and sitting on the table beside him.

"I'm sure it will turn out beautifully, no matter what happens. Although… pigeon-colored?" Loki raised an eyebrow at her inquisitively.

"She gets so upset over it. You have to admit that's funny."

"Mocking her won't help her stress levels. You wouldn't want her to get cold feet and chicken out,"

"Are you making bird puns now?"

"I'm being serious, Darcy." She could see the mischief dancing in his eyes. "You really shouldn't ruffle her feathers."

"You're making me quail with fear."

"Do you expect me to swallow that? I usually have to be much more ravenous to make you quail,"

"Those were the sexiest bird puns I think I've ever heard."

Loki winked at her and stood up. Walking to the pile of clothes they had been wearing, he asked, "So when is the hen party, anyway?"

"You're dumb." Darcy shook her head and smiled.

"Oh, I don't know about that. I can be clever sometimes,"

"Rarely."

"I'll have to prove to you later that I can be clever in at least one way. As for now, I have to give a discourse to an Egyptian Anthropology class in an hour."

"I'm going to hold you to that,"

"What a coincidence; I was just thinking of how I was going to hold you to something, perhaps the wall."

"Are you trying to be charming?" Darcy asked, watching him as he pulled on his clothes.

"No, of course not. Was it working?" He looked up at her with a purely shit-eating grin.

"You're charming the panties right off me. Well, if I were wearing any."

"That is my aim in life, darling. By the way, I love the view,"

Darcy glanced down at herself; the only thing she was wearing was Loki's shirt, unbuttoned and hanging off of her.

Loki suddenly walked toward her and put his hands on her shoulders. Oh, I guess he wants to go round two real quick. Well, all right. He took her mouth with his and dominated it, opening her lips with his and kissing her roughly and thoroughly. His tongue had a talent of making her feel all warm inside, even when it was just in her mouth (and sometimes even when it wasn't and Darcy was just thinking about it).

And then Loki pulled away from her. She actually followed him forward a bit, hoping he wasn't actually ending it so early. Loki smiled at her playfully, and it was then that she noticed he had taken his shirt off of her and was now buttoning it on himself as he walked toward the door.

"Well played." Darcy said, doing her best to sit confidently, completely naked on their kitchen table.

"Thank you. And I have to say, as much as I liked the view before, what I'm seeing now is definitely an improvement."

"I had a feeling you'd say something like that." She noticed he was trying to tuck in his shirt but was having some issues. She jumped down off the table and went to him, saying, "Here, let me help."

If there was a non-sexual way to tuck in someone's shirt for them, and there probably was, Darcy did not know it. After only a moment of Darcy attempting to help him out, Loki was putty in her hands.

"I could call the university. Cancel. Tell them I'm sick… or something," he said in an almost growl.

"You wouldn't want to do that," Darcy said into his ear.

"I think I do, actually."

"No, we'll have to wait until after your big speech. It really is important." She retreated from him and began putting her own clothes back on. She knew that he knew his speech was important, too, though he hated to admit it. "I think I'm going to visit Stark and Pepper today, see what they're up to. Pepper texted me the other day and told me to stop by when I got the chance."

"Minx." Loki said, still standing there, slightly dumfounded.

"Yeah." She winked at him as she pulled up her pants.

"All right. I'll meet you over there after my speech, and then after we can go to a late lunch."

"It's a date."

"And after that, we'll finish what you started." She could see the promise in his eyes.

"Sounds good to me. Your bird puns and holding me to stuff will begin right when we get home."

Instead of responding, Loki wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her to him, kissing her. This time around, it was much more honest and gentle and simply amazing. When they parted, it was only barely.

"I love you, darling," Loki said softly.

"I love you too," Darcy smiled as he kissed her again.

Yep. This is definitely a great way to begin the day.