EPILOGUE 2/3: Earn Your Love

3 years after marriage

Poppy lay collapsed on the floor, sweat dripping down her whole body. "Why are you training me like I'm going off to war. I just wanted to be a little stronger so I could use my magic," Poppy complained. Loki dabbed the sweat from his forehead with a towel. His muscles flexed under his t-shirt. He looked down to the woman surrounded by a puddle of sweat. "Because you need to learn how to defend yourself. Because you are a beautiful woman and there are scary men out there. I'm not taking my chances."

Poppy chuckled, "that's what magic is for." Loki huffed, "what if you are unable to cast magic! Like if you are underwater. You can barely move your body underwater to draw a spell let alone speak!" Poppy rolled her eyes, "yeah well then how would I swordfight under water? Hm?" Loki paused to think about it. "Exactly," Poppy huffed.

"Mom! Piper is throwing lightning balls at me again!" A boy came running through the entrance to the training ground. "Leon?" Poppy called out to her son. His indigo hair glimmered in the overhead sun. His blue eyes and freckled face was contorted with fear and tears. Poppy sighed. She tapped the ground beneath herself, "raise." and the ground lifted her up to her feet. After her husbands torturous training she'd grown better at controlling her magic. She dusted off her pants and walked to her son. Poppy looked over to Loki. He nodded to her and went to go get Piper.

Poppy calmed the crying toddler and lead him to the outdoor playground they had built for the kids. On the ground was scorch marks. Beside Poppy's husband was a small, blue haired girl with identical features as her brother. She was wearing a fluffy yellow dress and plenty of yellow bows. "Momma?" Poppy kneeled down and called her over with open arms.

"Hey. Come one Pipes, why are hurting your brother? What did I tell you about when to use magic?" Piper looked down, " not to hurt people." Poppy nodded, "well it seems like you knew you were in the wrong so why do it?" Piper looked up to her brother. "Cuz he said Papa and Mama were going to send us back any minute if I didn't act more like a proper lady like Viola." Poppy's eyes widened. A part of her heart broke.

Loki kneeled down and hugged Leon. Loki kissed his son's forehead, "Leon we never plan on giving you back to the orphanage. We love you so much." Poppy nodded, "I don't want you guys to live a boring snobby noble life. Do what makes you happy. Your father and I only want you guys to be happy. It doesn't matter how lady like or tomboyish you are we still love you."

•••

Poppy hugged Loki under the covers of their bed. "Loki, do you think Viola feels that way? That she has to act perfect in order to earn her stay here?" Loki stroked Poppy's hair. "I wouldn't doubt it. She was a commoner before we adopted her. I'm sure she is intimidated by the extreme rise in social class. She just seemed..." Poppy caught on,"she seemed fine. Like it wasn't a problem to her?" Loki nodded. Poppy sighed, "I think we need to talk to her in the morning." Loki smiled, "I agree."