"Noba, please don't go," you whispered, tears streaming down your face.

The door slammed and he was gone, and you sank to the floor sobbing, left alone with the crushing weight of your newfound pregnancy and the stabbing truth that the man you had loved had left you broken and afraid. You bit your knuckles as tears fell hard and fast, unsure of how you were supposed to put the pieces of yourself that had been shattered back together.

You walked through the ornate palace doors and couldn't help staring at the intricately decorated ceiling. You had been working in the palace as a royal guard for a long time, but the beauty of the castle had always filled you with hope. But today was different – you looked up like usual and saw nothing but chipping paint and muted colors.

You wandered down the long hallway, a few fellow castle guards smiling and nodding at you in acknowledgement. Your face remained blank as you waved a hand carelessly back. You rounded the corner and came upon Thor and Loki's adjoining rooms. "Hey, Y/N," your friend Kovu said cheerily, his green eyes sparkling. "I thought you were off duty today?" "I am," you said quietly. You took a deep breath. "I just needed - is Thor or Loki around?" Kovu's smile faded slightly. "Yeah, I think they were down training. Are you OK? You don't look so good." You forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine, Kovu. Thanks, though. I'll see you." "Alright, see you," he said, his face still drawn with lines of concern.

You had known Thor and Loki since you were a girl, the daughter of Frigga's handmaiden. You had played with them, fought with them and had forged an inseparable friendship with the pair. A friendship that you were counting on more than ever right now.

You turned a few more corners, pushing open the heavy oak doors to the palace's training room to hear a familiar warm laugh. "Is that all you got, brother?" Thor chuckled, holding Loki in a tight headlock. "Just wait," Loki snarled, his dark hair falling in his eyes. "I - Y/N," he broke off in surprise as his eyes followed you in through the archway. "Y/N!" Thor cried out happily, still keeping his grip on his adopted brother. "Come, this fight has been won," he said smirking, releasing Loki. Loki rubbed his neck, his cheeks flaring up with embarrassment. "So, Y/N," Loki stammered. "What brings you here?"

You crossed your arms, your windpipe constricting as you felt waves of fear and pain flooding through you. "Um, I," you broke off, your voice cracking as your eyes filled with tears.

In a second, Thor and Loki were both at your side. "What is wrong? Has someone hurt you? Was it Noba?" Thor asked, his eyes darkening. You bit your lip and nodded your head. "I will rip his skull in two," Thor snarled, actually starting to move toward the door. Loki held his brother back, his eyes still fixed on yours. "Y/N," he said softly. "What happened?"

At the sight of Loki's compassionate gaze, you broke down, telling the brothers the whole story. Loki sat patiently the whole time, though his jaw was set in a hard line of anger. Thor, on the other hand, let out loud exclamations of profanity as he stood up several times to, once again, head for the door to go annihilate your now ex-boyfriend.

"It all happened so fast," you muttered through your tears. "We were both drunk and he wanted to have sex, I didn't. But the next thing I knew, we were and I just let it happen because I didn't know what else to do," you whispered miserably. "And when I found out I was pregnant, I never thought he would leave. I just couldn't believe – I thought he loved me. I'm sorry, I didn't know who else to go to. I just needed to tell someone because I don't know what I'm going to do. I can't raise this kid alone. I'm so scared." You buried your face in your hands as you cried, painfully aware of your ragged sobs echoing around the cavernous room.

You looked up at the touch of Loki's hand on your shoulder. "Come here," he said softly, pulling you into a hug. You wrapped your arms tightly around him, trying your best to steady your breathing. Loki ran a hand up and down your back lightly and you felt the tears start coming again, mixed with an overwhelming gratitude for the man holding you in his arms. For the first time in a long time, you felt safe. You felt another pair of arms wrap tightly around you from behind, and you couldn't help but smile in the hug-sandwich.

"Guys, this is so nice but I'm getting smushed here," you said with a quiet laugh. You all untangled and Thor tilted your chin upward. "Y/N, you will not be alone in this. If you want the child, he or she will be surrounded by the finest of Asgard. I will not allow you worrying about the birth of your first born. You will have all the help you need at your disposal, and" he added smiling, "I will be at your side constantly. As for Noba," he said growling. "We will find him and he will face Asgardian justice."

You shook your head sadly. "There's no point, Thor. What are the High Judges going to do? All they'll say is that if I didn't want him, I should've said no. That it's my fault for letting it happen, that I shouldn't have been drunk anyways. They'll ask how a member of the royal guard wasn't able to fend off one man. He won't be punished."

Thor sat speechless for a moment. Loki stood up, grabbing your hand in his and pulling you to your feet. "He will still face justice. But not court justice – OUR justice." Thor grinned. "Excellent, brother." "Y/N," Loki said seriously. "I'm here for you. We all are. Everyone here loves you," he said, his cheeks heating up, "and will love your child just as much. You won't be alone in this. And we aren't going to let Noba walk away from this unscathed. He will suffer for what he has put you through." You nodded. "Thank you, Loki," you murmured, your eyes filled with tears. "Just don't kill him," you added plainly. "Anything else is fair game."

Thor pressed a light kiss to your forehead. "I'll go round up our friends. I am sure they will be more than willing to come with us to avenge you after they here about Noba's disgrace." He walked out the door, leaving you and Loki alone.

You sighed deeply. "You should go rest, Y/N," Loki said gently. "You've got another's health to think about now." You smiled wryly. "I guess I do." You looked at Loki, hesitating for a brief second before wrapping your arms around him. "Thank you, and thank your brother for me. I couldn't be doing this without your support. You've made me feel like I can actually do this, that my child can have a good life." Loki pulled back and smiled at you adoringly. "You're going to be a wonderful mother. That child is much better off without Noba anyways. He never deserved someone as – well as great as you," he said quickly. You smiled softly. "Thanks, Loki. I just need time to heal from this." You moved to leave but he grabbed your hand. "Y/N," he breathed out. "You know I'll always be here, right? Anything you need, anytime, come find me. I'll keep you safe." You hugged him again, lingering longer than before to savor the warmth of his clothes and the feeling of his arms wrapped around you. You broke apart. "You're the best, Loki." You kissed his cheek gently and walked out the door, wiping away tears but smiling slightly. You knew were going to be ok.