Katerina moaned as she awoke to a knocking at the door. "Ugh," She said. "It's too early for visitors" She nestled into Loki. "Make them go away" He laughed as she pulled the blankets over her head so that the light rays from the sun wouldn't disturb her.

"Come on in" He called out. She groaned under the sheets. The door opened and Loki greated their new visitor. "Ah, brother, what can I do for you this early" He told Thor. Katerina groaned again when she found the identity of her disturber.

"I was hoping I could speak with Katerina" Loki stared at Thor in confusion. "I see that she is otherwise occupied. If I could possibly speak with her later in the day" He left, slamming the door behind him.

"I am not going to be able to sleep now" She said as she emerged from the sheets. "You shouldn't have let him in" She poked him. "What's wrong?" He pulled her down into his arms.

"I just wander why my brother has taken such an interest in you" He pondered. "You told me last night that you had met him first" She bit her lip and nodded. "Would you care to tell me of the time you met"

"Well, uh" She slithered out of bed and wandered over to the window. "It was back on Midgard, England I believe. My family had taken me there for a small holiday. We were at a party and Thor caught my attention from across the room." She trailed off and looked at Loki with shameful eyes. "I can't remember most of that night. I remember that during the time I spent in England, we were...together" He sat up and stared at her in disblief

"You…you were in a relationship with him?" He stuttered.

"It was only about two weeks. The week before then my sister went missing. He comforted me. I never actually loved him. Not like a love you" She sat beside him. "Trust me; you are the only person I've ever loved." She kissed him.

"I will be here to comfort you in ways he never could" He stroked her arm.

"Loki, you seem sad. What is wrong?"

"Nothing, I am fine Katerina" He assured her. She eyed him suspiciously, staring into his emerald eyes. She stroked his hair.

"You are lying to me" He looked up at her. "Now tell me what troubles you" He didn't answer. "You are thinking of your father and how he always puts Thor above you"

"How on Asgard did you know that just by looking at me?" She stopped stroking his hair and took hold of his hand.

"Because I know you well enough. Don't listen to their heartless words… you are more than what they treat you as." She told him.

"Would it make you happy if I did so?" She nodded.

"It would make me very happy. Now would you please hold me" He opened his arms and she collapsed into them. He held her tightly against him. He could feel water dripping on his hand.

"Katerina, why do cry?"

"I worry for you" She said between small, soundless sobs. "Don't tell me not to worry because I won't. I know that if you were worrying for me and I told you that it would make me happy if you stopped, you would pretend you didn't worry but you would. So please don't tell me not to worry"

"Of course not" He whispered into her hair. "Uh, my brother still wants to speak with you" She rose from the bed and left the room. She entered Thor's, busily wiping away her tears.

"Ah, Katerina. Please sit" He told her. She sat down on his bed. "There is something I would like to tell you and hope you could help me with"

"Mm, what may I assist you with, my lord?"

"Katerina, I do not believe in love" Thor said. She looked at him with worry.

"Life is too cruel, if we cease to believe in love…..I do not understand why one would want to live"

"I think I do not believe because I never really have loved another that was not my parents nor my brother. Maybe you could tell me what love is, and then I would understand."

"What is love? It's a question I have never been asked nor have I asked myself. But as someone who has experienced it, I guess I could tell you what love means to me. Would that be suitable?"

"Yes, I want to know of the love you and my brother share"

"Love, it is like a mental illness. It distorts reality; it plays with the heart and mind. It may seem terrible when you put it like that, but trust me its pleasure like you will never know." Katerina told him.

"I still do not understand, if it plays with your mind, wouldn't you hate it"

"No, not at all. Love causes the mind to weaken, the eyes to sparkle, the cheeks to turn red, blood pressure to rise but most of all it causes happiness like nothing else. Something else I know is that you would do anything for the one you love. You want to make them happy but above all you want them to feel loved. You want to keep them safe and you would much rather die than see them be killed"

"That sounds beautiful"

"I do not know if that is the same for every person but that is at least what I know. It is simply a description of how much I love Loki, and how much he loves me. When I came to realize that I was suffering those symptoms, I knew I was in love. And that, Thor, is what love is."

"But what would happen if you one day decided you did not love him anymore or vice versa."

"Then the other would be left with a broken heart. And I know your next question. Is there a cure for a broken heart? The answer is that only time will tell. I may never love again, he may love again but his heart would still be chipped. Maybe we both find love again and our hearts are not broken no more. I do not like to think about it too much but if someone was to break my heart it does not mean I would give up on love." She stood up and began to walk away.

"That game you play with him. The one where he chases you. Is that supposed to symbolize something" She turned to face him once more.

"It was simply a game we played the day he first laid a kiss upon me and nothing more. But now it is a reminder that he would chase me for a thousand years and never grow tired. When he catches me though, it is a reminder that he never wants to let go. I have always been one for games and he for mischief. That is why we match so well. You have always been one for boasting. You should try to find a woman who will listen and put up with it."
Katerina hummed softly as she glided back into Loki's chambers. She felt a strange churning in her stomach. Puzzled by what it may be, she tripped and fell. Loki helped her to her feet. "Thank you" She smiled.

"Are you ok my dear? You do not look well" He asked with concearn.

"I am sure that I am just a little tired, that's all" He took her hand and dragged her over to the bed. "Wait" She stopped and clutched at her stomach. "I do not feel well anymore." The churning in stomach grew and grew. She ran quickly to the bathroom and then vomited.

"Katerina, are you ok?" He asked hesitantly as he stood beyond the door.

"No. I am very..." She vomited again. "Very sick" He began to open the door. "No! I do not want you to see me like this" He closed the door.

"Tell me if you require anything"

"Ok" She vomited again and thought about what it could be. It couldn't have been food poisoning because Loki has eaten the exact same meals as her. She could not have picked up a virus because she hadn't been around anyone who was ill. "Loki"

"Yes"

"Is there some sort of magical punishment for murder here on Asgard"

"No, why do you ask?"

"I was just wondering" She threw up again. "Oh my god" She said to herself as she realized why she was sick. "I'm pregnant"