Author's Note: This is the story of how Loki met Kiore's father. This story can be read as a stand alone and is set before the Thor movie. This story is related to my other story Child of Loki and the 'Loki of…' stories.

Read and enjoy.

Not Going There

One month was a long time, Loki thought as he watched the pine trees roll by. A month was long enough to bring him from beyond the town of Willsburg to Canyon Grove fifty miles away, and long enough for Adin to remark on how he was going to his winter quarters. Loki had said he would go with and Adin had made no comment on the fact.

Instead Adin had shown Loki how to repair Pinecone's tack and how to patch a shirt. He had also taught him to cook and Loki had taken to the task with surprising enjoyment. Loki thought of cooking as if he was making one of his spells or potions and enjoyed doing it.

He had also been doing his little magic shows in every town they had passed through and had made quite a bit of money that he didn't need. He did enjoy the awe everyone gave at his magic, even if it was only minor illusions and slight of hand it was nice to be appreciated. He had with that in mind stated helping Adin around the camp. He had kept the splint on for three weeks before broaching the subject of removing it and Adin had finally agreed.

With more time Adin had taken to going out with his hunting bow and Bear to rustle up some rabbits or catch some fish, for Loki to cook. Now without the splint on his leg Loki could help out more, but he still slept in Adin's bed while Adin and Bear slept on the rug.

That lately had bothered him a bit, which in turn annoyed him. Loki knew he should not have any problems with the mortal sleeping on the floor, his proper place after all, but after everything Adin had done for him, he felt as if he was being selfish. It wasn't like the bed was as comfortable as the one he had in Asgard it was just the familiarity of it all. He didn't like to share especially since Thor had always taken the blankets when they had shared as children.

Adin nudged him out of his thoughts and pointed further ahead. Bear was wiggling at Loki's side and he looked to see what they were stating at. Just ahead and nestled in the trees was a small cottage with a shack in the back just big enough for Adin's peddler cart and Pinecone. "There is home for the next three months," Adin said. He relaxed the reins and Pinecone immediately started walking forward. They stopped in front of the cabin and Adin helped Loki down though he really didn't need the help anymore.

"I'll take Pinecone," Loki offered. "She belongs in the shed right?"

"Yes, are you sure you can handle her. Your leg just healed," Adin questioned as he finished unpacking everything from the wagon.

"I'll be fine. Pinecone wouldn't hurt me." Loki gently tugged the reins out of Adin's hands and pointed towards the baggage. "You still have to bring all that in."

"Well if it is no trouble. Here is the key to the lock on the shed." Adin pulled a leather throng off his head and handed one key over using the other to open the cabin door. "Should I make dinner or do you want to?"

"I'll do it," Loki replied already guiding Pinecone away. Once at the shed Loki unlocked the door and after moving the cart in unhitched Pinecone and rubbed her down. He settled her in her stall and filled her manger with feed and her bucket with water before leaving the shed and locking the door behind him.

Opening the door to the house he looked around. The inside was as sparse as the cart. It was two roomed with a brick oven and a metal stove on the far wall. There was also a table with four chairs and a set of tin plates in front of the fireplace. The rag rug from the cart was already in front of the fireplace and Bear was drowsing on it tail and paws twitching a little. Loki smiled Bear reminded Loki a bit of Fenrir when he was a pup.

Loki shook his head again and approached the stove and started cooking dinner. Adin wandered back and forth between the two rooms and brought in more firewood from the stack outside the building. Finally the food was done cooking and they sat down at the table and ate.

Adin cleaned the dishes and they changed clothes. Adin took a few blankets and headed for the front of the stove. Loki glanced at the bedroom and then back at Adin.

"My leg is better," he said before Adin could settle by the stove. "We could share the bed." Loki was not used to sharing but he had already robbed the mortal of his bed for a month and he had shared a bed when he had been young with his brother. It couldn't be that different.

"If you are sure," Adin replied, standing up again and tossing the extra blankets onto the bed as he entered the room followed by Loki. Bear bounded onto the bed tail wagging as he turned three times and laid down at the foot. Both men smiled and then followed his example and got into the bed.

"Good night Loki, good night Bear," Adin muttered.

"Good night Adin," Loki responded snuggling under the blankets and closing his eyes.

The sun woke Loki in the morning to find he had ended up tangled in Adin's limbs during the night. He froze and eyed the situation. His right arm was under Adin's head and his left was draped over Adin's hips. He snatched his offending arm back to his chest and tried to retract his right arm. When Adin stirred, Loki panicked and teleported into the kitchen then peered around the door to see if he had woken up the mortal.

He hadn't and as he made breakfast he pondered on how they had gotten entangled like that, Adin's hair between his fingers, slightly greasy but still soft. Loki's eyes widened and he shook his head as if to dislodge that thought. He cut up an apple and grabbing the key to the shed rushed out to go feed Pinecone. He was not going to think about the mortal, of how nice it had felt to be in his arms. Nope not going there, he told himself, not happening.