Hey there everybody! So here is the next chapter. Apology for the wait, but when your lecturer gives you like a million page reading to complete its kind of hard to fit in some writing as well. So this is a nice long chapter as recompense for my neglect. I really hope you enjoy it. It's not much of a happy chappy chapter im afraid, but it is the start of happiness and action to come. There is no point in rushing is as it will go too fast and end too fast, and im sure you lovely lot want a long story. So, in regards to the end (im not going to say anything about it except…) I would love to hear in your reviews what you think Leera wants to show/ tell Loki. By reading the end, you will get what I mean. I really would love to hear what you think it will be. A big box of virtual cookies to the one whom gets it right/closer to what happens. And they are Loki shape and flavour people!

Hello new comers - TheRedDragonEnforcer4, anastacianott, sataal
Savysnape7 – thank you very much. Im glad you found it emotional. I wanted it to come across like that but was not sure if it did. Thank you! Loves x

Marvel owns Loki and all remnants of Asgard. I just drool and wish he was mine to hug and feed cookies… Leera, Leymina and Loofney are my own creation.

…

And so, days passed, then weeks, then eventually months. Just as Lady Sif had predicted, Loki had become withdrawn. He spent most of his time either in the library alone or in his chambers. He rarely went to dinner and such in the great hall. He had told his wife everything that was going on in his mind, about how he felt these recent days. Leera had become so understanding about it all. She had 'checked him over' personally and the young god of mischief did not wish to speak with the palace healers. As much as he did not want to believe it, as much as he was against the idea, Leera had indeed, with the help of her medical knowledge, diagnosed him with acute depression. It was; not so severe that he felt like ending his life, for that is something he never wished to do now that he had his wife and children, but more soul draining. Some days, Leera believed that she too felt his pain, his wrecked emotions as she too shared part of his soul, but that is something she did not wish to bring to Loki's attention. The knowledge of that might indeed drive Loki deeper into misery. So, Leera supported him, day and night, loving as she could possibly love anyone, with every fibre of her being. It appeared that even now, Leera was Loki's rock, his strong hold, and she was what kept him going.

It was a glorious golden, summer's day in the realm of Asgard and the emerald green god sat quietly on his balcony floor, looking out at the sparkling, shimmering village. With a thin blanket wrapped around him, and his legs crossed before him, the lie smith sighed wearily. It was mid-afternoon and Thor had taken little Loofney out for a horse ride in the palace fields and lady Sif had taken Leymina off Leeras hands for the day. Leera sat on the bed, a towel wrapped around her body as she not long left the washroom after a relaxing bath. Rubbing lotion into her skin, the dark haired beauty glanced across at the sitting figure on the floor and noticed the blanket that clung tightly to his body. "Are you cold?" She said, breaking the silence.

"I am" His coarse voice replied and Loki pulled the material closer to emphasis his point.

"It's the middle of summer Loki, are you ill?" she inquired, frowning.

"No, I am just cold Leera" commented the young god, looking over his shoulder at the towel clad woman with the rotund stomach, for by now, Leera was eight months pregnant. Oh how the time flies by. Moving his eyes away from her enticing green orbs, the magician trailed them down to said stomach and kept his eyes there. "How is everything?" He asked.

"Calm, but I suppose there is always calm before a storm" Said Leera, gently rubbing circles on her stomach.

"I WILL be there for you Leera, when you have the child removed" Reassured the raven haired god.

"You need to be there for yourself before you can be there for anyone else Loki. I know what to expect concerning pain now, I will get through it just fine"

"Yes Leera, but last time you birthed the child, this time it is not possible. To have it cut out will be painful, I will not lie. I will be there for you, no matter what my situation may be like" The silver tongue defended himself, a frown deep on his face. Leera sighed and slid from the bed, about to walk to the wash room. "Leera, what is it?" The god of mischief inquired, rising from the floor and came to stand by the side of his bed, staring at his wife's back.

"Nothing Loki, nothing is wrong with me" she retorted and strolled into the washroom, closing the door behind her. Loki shook his head and exhaled loudly, climbing onto the bed, on top of the sheets. Lying down, the exotic prince folded his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. And for minuets he just led in complete silence, and welcomed it greatly.

The lady Loki re-emerged from the washroom glad in her loose garments coloured in a glorious mint green and strode over to the bed side, standing and staring at her husband led on the bed with his eyes closed peacefully. Placing her hands on her hips and sighing loudly, Leera spoke. "I understand what you are going through and how you are feeling, but really Loki, you can't just lie in bed all day every day, and you can't sleep. You are Easton your time. Time that could be spent with your children... Your wife. I don't want you like this when the baby is born" and with that the lie smith opened his eyes slowly and focused them on his glowing wife. Regarding her beauty, the young prince felt sick; sick that he had neglected her. The last time they spent any time together was when Loki broke down and they led with each other. That was just over six months ago, and strain on both their parts was beginning to become clear. But what was a marriage without its ups and downs?
"I'm sorry I have been distant. It has not been fair on any of you. I should not have taken my sadness out on you all." he replied, pushing himself up the bed on his hands.

"No, you shouldn't have. I am here for you to talk to Loki, not to just stand by and watch you fall deeper and deeper into darkness. Remember that next time you lock yourself away from us. I can't deal with the stress of looking after you and the children and myself in this situation Loki. I love you will all my heart, you know that. And you know that I would do anything for you. But my love, you need to make the effort, you must WANT to get rid of this depression. Seeing past it is the next step to overcoming it" said Leera.

"I understand..." came the god's short reply, looking down at his lap in shame.

"I must go and pick up the children. It will be dinner time shortly. If you mean it. If you want to make the effort and work with me at defeating this depression... Come to dinner... Please" retorted the lady Loki. Casting him one last longing glance, the heavily pregnant woman turned around and strode to the door. Opening it Leera exited and disappeared around the corner. The god of mischief swallowed and clambered from the bed. Gliding to the washroom, he opened the door and locked himself in. Eyeing the golden bath with sudden want, Loki turned the taps and sighed as heat suddenly enveloped his hand as hot water gushed out. Reaching towards his oils and balms, the silver to Tongue picked up one labelled mint and pulled the stopper. Turning back to the increasing level of steaming water, Loki tipped the scented oil into the bath and watched how the water turned a sudden hue of green. Placing the cork back in the bottle, then the bottle back onto the shelf, the raven haired male began to slowly undo the buttons on his loose tunic. Once open, Loki tossed it to the floor and his hands came to rest on the ties just above his crotch. Untangling the ties, Loki bent forward and pulled the slacks from his legs, removing his underwear at the same time. Stepping out of them both, Loki reached for the tap and turned it off. Raising his leg, the youngest son of Odin stepped into the golden tub and gradually sunk into its welcoming heat. Loki gave a clear groan at the warmth wrapping itself around his pale skin when the water was level with his shoulders; his whole body submerged. Placing his hands on the sides of the bath, Loki slowly submerged his head backwards into the water with only his nose in the air. And the young god stayed like that for some time; soaking in the scented water.
...

"No Loki?" Frigga said more as a statement when her eyes came upon the young wife of the trickster god entering the grand hall; her stomach now the object of everyone's attention.

"I'm afraid not, Frigga. We can pray that he will shake from this, but beside that, there is nothing we can do. I've done all I can in my power, but nothing seems strong enough to shake him" Leera answered, taking a seat at the table in front of the golden queen of Asgard. "How has Loofney been with you?"

"A treasure as always my dear. Where is precious little Leymina?" inquired the wise woman.
"Lady Sif has taken care of her this day. She thought it to be nice for Loki and I to spend time together, but he just sits there Frigga. He just sits and looks out at the realm, wrapped in blankets and a blank expression upon his face"

"He has been through much, I gather from what you both have told me. This is not an uncommon reaction. I have seen it in many soldiers returning from battle" Frigga explained.

"Loki is no soldier my queen. Soldiers overcome it, some quicker than others, it's the way they were trained. Loki has had not training as such, and he has been in this predicament for almost half a year. I fear I may have lost my husband" came the solemn reply of the wife of the mischievous one.
"Do not lose hope that Loki will return to us. He will my dear. All he needs is time and love; both of which I know you give him always. I expect Thor would be the same if it had been he that went through such things. Do not think that you are both cursed, or that the fates dishonour you, for that is not the case; I do not believe in such nonsense. What is, is and will become no more in time. Time is life's greatest change. You can accept it and wait for the best to come, or you can let it consume you and wait for it to drain you. If you do that, nothing will seem to move, but will stay the same. That is what my son needs to do; he needs to accept what happened and move on. At the moment, everything that has happened over time has consumed his mind and being. He just needs to let it go; accept what happened and move on" encouraged the golden wife of the king.

"You are right. I think I made it worse by doubting..." Leera admitted.

"We all doubt from time to time, but it is something we should strive not to do. Faith is what keeps us going my dear child, faith and hope. Although it may seem far away, too distant to grasp; it is always there. You just need to reach out and take hold of it. It's that knowledge that keeps me positive in times like these" commented Frigga.

"Indeed. I have always wondered what keeps you happy my queen" chuckled the raven haired woman.

"Well that and my husband and new family" laughed the queen in return, eyeing her daughter-in-law thoughtfully. "Oh and-" Frigga's eyes were suddenly pulled away towards the golden doors when a tall figure, seldom seen in this room for some time, strode in. "see my dear; faith proves... Faithful" Frigga spoke to Leera, but her eyes were focused on up ahead. Turning around in her chair, Leera searched and found her precious loved one standing wearily in the centre of the hall, gazing at her in return. Loki was freshly dressed after getting out if his mint bath. His hair still slightly wet and curling at the edges. He was dressed in navy blue leggings and boots, and a grey tunic; colours of which were hardly seen upon the god of mischief. Taking a deep breath he began to walk forward to his wife and mother and glanced sheepishly to his sides at the armoured guards. "My son, what a blessing this is!"

"my apologies for my recent absences mother" Loki said, coming to a halt beside his wife.
"Apologies are not required my son. Come, sit with us. We are expecting your father and brother for our evening meal. What a pleasant surprise this will be for them indeed!" Frigga exclaimed, flashing her youngest son a most magnificent smile.

The three sat in silence for the next few minutes. Not awkward in the slightest; merely enjoying one smothers company. And they did; especially Loki, as although he did not speak it, he sorely missed the company of not only his wife, but his mother also. Not a second later did a voice rip through the silence with an ear shattering tempo. "Father!" Loki turned around in a flash and looked upon the testy face of his young son, Loofney. The small son of Loki began to weep as he ran forward; arms open in a ready embrace. With his legs carrying his as fast as they possibly could, Loki quickly got to his feet and faced him, ready to take the boy in his arms. And he did. Scooping Loofney up, Loki held him tightly in his arms, and kept him against his chest. Loofney wrapped his arms around the trickster god neck and hooked them tightly, never letting god. "I've missed you father so much!" Loofney's cries growing harder.

"I'm sorry my sweet, I'm so sorry" Loki's whispered in his one ear.

"I thought you were dying father, because we never saw you, and every time I did you were always in bed. You're not dying are you father? I don't want you to" Loofney choked loudly. Odin and Thor whom had stood behind Loofney at the doors had now walked forward, happy tears in their eyes at the sight of Loki, and came to sit quietly at the table, allowing Loki and his son to speak.

"no, no I'm not dying my son..." the emerald green god of trickery rasped, stroking his sons head protectively at the sudden knowledge of the pain and worry he had put his son through; not intentionally of course, but there all the same. Feeling his hear burn strongly inside, the raven haired prince dropped back onto his seat with Loofney still in his arms, and he placed a kiss on the boy's temple.

"Are you going to leave again? Will you disappear after dinner?" asked the small, black haired child.

"I do not plan to my son, I'm staying right here"

"Promise?"

"You have my word dear one" reassured the prince. Loofney sniffled and leant backwards to look at his father's face.

"You look sad father, and thin... Will you eat with me now?"

"Yes, of course I will" Loki replied, a genuine smile breaking across his face as he noticed the gleam of sheer happiness in the small boys eyes. Loofney bounced happily then slid from Loki's lap, taking a seat beside him at the table. Turning back around, the emerald eyed god looked to his father and brother and smiled, nodding his head at the same time.

"Tis good to see you my son" Odin said

"Yes, brother, it has been a while indeed!" Thor agreed.

"I am... Sorry. I will make more of an effort" Loki replies but looked to his wife while he said it.

"I have a surprise for you later on, before we retire to bed" Leera whispered to her husband as the others delved eagerly into the evening meal. Loki swallowed a piece of chicken hard and turned his face to his wife; his cheeks burning and his eyes wide.

"Not that type if surprise I'm afraid my love. That can happen another time. For now, It's a different surprise" Leera chuckled as she gathered by his expression what he thought she meant by 'surprise' as last time she said such things... Well let's just say, their evening was rather pleasant behind the doors of their chambers.

"Oh well, im sure I will enjoy it all the same" Loki blushed even further and brought his goblet to his lips.

"Yes, yes you will" said Leera, and underneath the table out of sight, the dark haired beauty cupped her stomach and smiles to herself.