It my Birthday! So excited. Woke up in such a good mood.

Chapter 7: Called Out

It had been a month since his wife caught himself and Shay fucking and since their talk in the hallway. Ever since then his wife, Cephera, seemed extra determined to gain his attention. Whenever she spotted him she would catch up to him to make conversation while Loki tried his best to give her little attention in return. Shay, however, wasn't helping matters. Slowly over the last month she'd been sending him back to his room more and more. Claiming to have plans early and he was a distraction. Loki felt as though she was trying to wean him off her and slowly over to his wife.

For the last week Loki had been subjected to sleeping in his own room next to the woman he was forced to marry. Her words in the hallway that one time still sprang to mind often and made it difficult for Loki to completely pretend she didn't exist. He'd walked into his room one night and she had been sprawled on her stomach, her brown and pink hair splayed along her back and down her sides, reading a book her feet swinging in the air. She had her nightgown on and Loki hated to admit she presented a tempting morsel but he promptly went to the bathroom to wash up and get ready for bed. When he came out she had moved to lie on her back under the covers book still in hand. Loki hadn't asked permission before he snuffed out the candles to hide the sight before him so he could rest in peace but it was difficult when she lay next to him.

Loki sometimes went to his tower to sleep but he had to admit there was nothing like sleeping in his own bed no matter what company it held. Loki had woken this morning and as always she was awake before him. And just like everyday since he began sleeping there more often she asked the same question she always did.

"A bath is drawn, would you like to join me?" She asked her cheeks turning a slight shade of pink. She'd been trying ever so hard to get him to spend time with her in any fashion. Loki normally would shake his head avoid saying anything to her and while she bathed he would leave but today he looked at her and let off a deep sigh.

"You really don't get it do you." He said trying not to sound to harsh. "No matter how many times you present me with that question I will not bath with you. I will not do anything with you for that matter. I think it's time you learned that you and me will never happen. I will not do things to promote hope in you that this marriage will ever be more then what it is now. I have no want to secure you as my woman. I have no qualms about you finding a lover of your own. Seek happiness elsewhere." He told her. Her face changed only to a slight frown. She had a soft pretty face. Her eyes the most vibrant he had ever seen with their rare violet hue.

"I won't take a lover. You know as well as I do that even if you approved of such a thing I would be branded with the titles of adulterous or whore and lose all honor or respect from everyone around me." She replied. "I'm slightly offended that you think it's ok to allow me to take a lover when you know that's the outcome if I did." She replied in that same calm voice she always used with him.

"What you do with your life given to you is none of my concern. You are my wife by law only but I will not treat you as such. This marriage is a mockery and a sham that I want no part of." Loki waved a hand at her hoping she'd go away but she didn't.

"I'm not asking for you to parade me around proudly like a trophy, I'm not asking you to give up your mistress of even take me to bed. I'm only asking for some of your time so that you may get to know me. You haven't even given me a chance to do that. To even be your friend." Loki looked at her again her voice had become more stern now and her features set to that determined look she gave often.

"I do not want to get to know you. I don't want a new friend. What I want is freedom from you, freedom from Odin." Loki climbed out of bed with the intention of getting dressed and leaving. As he passed by her the next words she spoke stopped him dead.

"You're a coward." She said and loki felt anger bubble in him.

"How dare you..." He began but she'd turned and stared him straight in the eyes no fear showing on her features.

"You hide behind your decisions using Odin as your excuse so you don't have to feel bad for treating me this way. You run from spending time with me because you're afraid that if you did, you'd like me and that would mean Odin had made a good decision regarding this marriage. You're afraid to like me because it's easier for you to continue this rift you have between yourself and your father than to admit he created something good for you." Her words were like a slap only because he knew them all to be true but his pride felt wounded that she would dare call him out on it. Loki wanted to spit words back at her to hurt her but he found himself mute.

"If thinking that way is what makes your day easier then so be it." He said trying to pass off her words as excuses of their own. Loki dressed by means of magic and left the door swinging shut hard behind him.

(Cephera)

Cephera had gotten her bath a knot in her stomach. Was she wrong with her assessment of him? Did he just not like her in general? She was suddenly worried that her small outburst had been futile and that she'd done nothing more than make a fool of herself and possibly had insulted him to a point he'd never talk to her again...not that that was any different from the norm.

When she finished bathing she passed the servants who had come in to fix up the room and stopped when she reached the door. "Ceres." She said and the kind servant girl from her wedding night came to her. "Show me to the queens chambers. I'd like to see her." She said. Ceres nodded and Cephera followed her upstairs through the lavishly decorated hallways. There were guards posted at the more important doorways like everywhere in the palace. Cephera knew the main hallways for the king and queen when she entered them.

"This is the queens personal sitting room." Ceres told Cephera. "If she is not in here then I am unsure where she might be at this time." Cephera nodded and the servant girl left. It was an hour before breakfast and she hoped the queen was available. She hated to see Loki again at the dining table after what she'd said. She knocked on the door and another servant answered it. Upon seeing Cephera she bowed and opened the door for her to enter.

Cephera walked in and when Frigga saw her she stood and moved across the floor gracefully with a brilliantly beautiful smile on her face. "My daughter." She said in a loving manner. Cephera felt odd being addressed this way even after a month of it. She usually only saw the queen at mealtimes.

"Your highness." Cephera said in return.

"How often must I insist you call me mother." Frigga teased her. Cephera bit her lip. It just felt odd calling her that when she didn't know her very well.

"Mother." She corrected and sat with her on her balcony. It overlooked the grand courtyard below and one of the gardens many fountains. "I'm afraid I may have made things worse between myself and Loki." Cephera said the moment she had taken a breath of fresh air and settled into her chair.

"How so?" Frigga asked her hands set demurely in her lap much the same way Cephera held hers. Cephera had always had impeccable manners and found grace through movement when learning dance. When she had been adopted as a princess she had learned to control the words she spoke and how to speak them. Unlike her sister Cephera enjoyed those things.

Cephera proceeded to tell the queen about her morning with Loki, feeling slightly embarrassed but determined to get an opinion. Frigga listened quietly. "Do you think I was wrong to say it?" She finished finally.

"No. I think your conclusion is the right one but Loki is a prideful man. The fact you picked up on his reasons and called him out on them will make things difficult for you. He will hate to prove you right." Frigga looked thoughtful.

"What do you suggest I do. I'm not making any headway with him at all. He ignores me mostly, nods when I speak but avoids directly speaking with me if he can. He escapes our bedroom while I bathed and scurries off after meals when he even shows up at them at all." Cephera was shaking her head. "He seems to be putting in a great deal of effort just to avoid me and I think it's absolutely silly." Cephera was feeling exhausted just thinking about it all.

"I had hoped Loki would have come around by now but even I underestimated his determination to shun everything his father threw at him that Odin see's as good for him. Truthfully I have never seen Loki act so childish before. When Loki returned to us from earth he had changed. He was no longer the calm boy I once knew. I don't know what sorts of things he went through but I think it can be attributed to his newly erratically childish behaviour. I have no advice on how to make my son give you a chance but I can say that he can't hate you that much. If he really hated you he would have found a way to rid you from his room or from Asgard completely. So far he avoids you but he doesn't seem to plot against you. Don't lose hope." Frigga had leaned forward and placed her hand over Cephera's and squeezed them.

(Loki)

Loki fumed from his room to Shay's and without ceremony he walked into her room. She looked to have just finished dressing and was startled for his sudden appearance. "Loki? What's gotten you into such a fizzle?" She asked looking at his current rattled state.

"That...that...my wife!" He said not able to think of a word to call her. Loki saw Shay school her features as amusement began creeping up on them.

"More sentiment?" Shay asked unable to hide the amused sound of her tone. She thought Loki's constant reasons for disliking his wife to be funny as they held no real merit.

"No. She dared to call me a coward. ME!" He all but shouted as he fumed and began to pace the rug on the floor. "Accusing me of being afraid to spend time with her because I might actually come to care for her." Her spat clenching his hand into a fist.

"What bothers you more Loki, the fact she had the balls to call you a coward or the fact she's right." Loki stopped and shot a searing look at his friend.

"Do not take her side." He growled.

"Loki your pride is talking again not the man beyond it. You know she's right. You don't want to know her because then you'd began to feel bad for how you treat her. You'd have trouble continuing to treat her that way. From everything you've told me she doesn't sound like an evil woman just a woman who wants to be given a chance." Loki threw his hands in the air.

"Why is everyone determined to see me with this woman!" He said to the ceiling. "I want nothing to do with her."

"Ask yourself this. If it had been your mother who set up this marriage and not Odin would you be acting the same way?" Loki stopped his seething to stare at his companion. He knew the answer. Had it not been Odin he still would have not liked the idea and he still wouldn't have liked that the woman was human but he wouldn't be acting as he is now. He might not have even taken a mistress. He could have been content to keep her until she died a humans death and then moved on. He hated that everyone so plainly knew this about him. Was he so easy to read?

"It matters not what could have been. The truth is as it is. She will never have my time." Loki left the room feeling ganged up on by truth he didn't want to accept nor hear.

Wow...I don't think I've had so many reviews! So many came in so far and I'm flabbergasted and excited and oh so grateful! Thanks you all. As always more reviews are appreciated and well used to add to my motivation. :)

A/N: Had to write this chapter today. Haha. I had one already set but realized I needed more in between stuff before the next chapter happens. Thanks to Doctor Loki Love, without our RP my call out of Loki may not have ever come to mind. It might have been worded different but it held the same message. :)

Thanks:

- Twifan 1986: cracks are appearing ever so slowly. And yes Cephera has copied Loki's magic but she currently doesn't use any in case she might be seen. It's up to Loki to learn more about her and right now he hasn't given her any reason to tell him about herself in any way. And I forgot that about rogue. Lol. Good thing Cephera doesn't have wolverines temper. Haha

- Novexus Prime: I have loki being a little bit of a drama queen but it will die down in time. As for Cephera it take a good bit to make her angry.

- Loki's Dreamer: a very little nudge in the possible right direction. Haha. As for Shay we will see her more.

- Mama J Marie: thanks a bunch! I'm glad you're enjoying it!

- A. L. Mitchell: oh this story will have an ending no worries. I never post anything I don't intend to finish. Lol.

- Poodle Warriors: Well Cephera would have pleaded for an annulment but that didn't mean she'd get one. It was the fact she would have been willing to go through it was what eat loki up a little. Lol

- Jymmie21: yay! So glad.

- Reneemm: Shay was never against Cephera but as Loki's friend she turned a blind eye to most of it to be there for him. As for Cephera she's trying her best.

- Windstorm: glad the info helped and hope you enjoyed this update.

- Katarina Lillis: haha. When you mentioned that situation in a previous review I had that chapter already written and was liked damn she read my mind. Hahahaha. 3

- Lightening and Ice: I'm glad you don't hate Shay! Loki has his reasons but its hard to hate a woman who keeps being nice even after all she'd been put through.