Hello world. It's funny, the previous chapter covered like over 1,5 years and now the next four chapters will cover about 48 hours of their life. But I think life can be like that...There's a long time nothing special happens and then suddenly it does.

Also, the next six or seven chapters were my favourite ones to write. Like I told you in the intro of Chapter 1, this work of fanfiction was born during National Novel Writing Month 2016. If you don't know what NaNoWriMo is, I strongly suggest to find out. I recommend it to anyone.

Background music suggestion: Craig Armstrong: Glasgow Love Theme, Love Actually Soundtrack. Looping suggested :)

But now...Chapter 10 :)

Follow! Not to mention favorite and review - I hope it's going to happen one day :)

Chapter 10 - Friday Night Chickenpox

If you need a friend
Don't look to a stranger
You know in the end,
I'll always be there
But when you're in doubt
And when you're in danger
Take a look all around,
And I'll be there.

- When in Rome: The Promise

...

Loki couldn't help overhearing the conversation in the lobby. He was just arriving from his daily run. Mr. Knowles was talking to one of the nurses, Amanda.
"Diana isn't better yet. Could you please take her something to eat and check on her? She is in no condition to leave the house and I didn't have time to get her anything..."
Mr. Knowles looked very troubled and was shaking his head.
"Of course I would have cancelled but they couldn't have found another speaker in time."
"Why of course we will take care of Diana. Don't worry, Alan," Amanda said reassuringly.
"Thank you, Amanda."
Mr. Knowles glanced at this watch and noticed Loki.
"Hello Loki. I'm afraid I'm in a hurry. My taxi is here soon. You should know, I'm afraid Diana is ill...But she'll be staying a bit longer since the Easter term ended."
Loki nodded.
"The taxi is here. See you on Monday, Amanda. Have a good weekend, Loki," he took his suitcase and left.

"What's wrong with Diana?" Loki inquired from Amanda.
"Chickenpox, she's quite ill," she said a bit absentmindedly.
Loki constructed a face as if he knew what chickenpox meant. He had heard the word sometime but couldn't exactly connect it with anything...But the thought that Diana was ill and he wouldn't see her this weekend bothered him. A thought crossed his mind.
"I couldn't help overhearing you. If there is something that is needed to be taken to her, I could do it. I have time."
Amanda thought for a moment.
"Well...Actually, that would help me a lot. Thank you."
But then she hesitated.
"But are you quite sure, you heard that it is chickenpox? I mean, have you had it?"
"I cannot get it," Loki immediately replied and shook his head.
"Okay. Let me get the food," she said and went to the nurses' room.

Loki walked towards Diana's house with a large paper bag Amanda had trusted him with. It was a lovely summer afternoon. He definitely preferred summer. He arrived at the house. He rang the doorbell several times but there was no answer, and the door was definitely locked. If he had had his magic, he could have just opened the lock. Now, he walked to the other side of the house and luckily the back door was open. He entered the house.

"Diana, it's me, Loki!" he raised his voice.
No answer.
"Are you there?"
Still no answer. He walked up the stairs and asked once more in a loud voice.
"I'm here!" he could hear from one of the rooms.
He opened the door a bit and saw Diana in the other end of the room, lying in her bed.
"What are you doing here?"
He could only see her face as she was under covers.
"I came here to see what your chickenpox looks like."
Even from distance he could see that her skin was filled with little specks, and she looked feverish.
"You're sick."
He tilted his head a bit confused.
"But it would appear it is you who is sick."
"Wiseass."
Ah, another Midgardian saying, he thought to himself.
"Oh do come in then."

Loki entered her room. Even if they had known for years he had actually never been there. Crossing the threshold he felt a strange sensation. He guessed this was probably the reason she had never invited him there. He could have always sensed she too was a very private person. This was her sanctuary.

Loki noted the room had two large pieces of furniture made of dark wood, a desk in front of the window and a bed with a massive headboard. The curtains were dark blue velvet. The wall opposite her bed was practically a bookshelf from floor to ceiling. Besides books, she had all sorts of things there; photographs, toys and such. She had a black leather armchair next to her bed. The rug was Persian style. But suddenly Loki realized what was the most defining thing about her room. It was the ceiling...His first impression was that it was black which he found a bit odd. But then he truly looked at it and saw it was actually painting of a starry sky. Among the constellations there were nebulae with the most beautiful shades of violet and blue...He just looked at the ceiling and felt very much at home in her room.

"Now that you've inspected my room, could you tell me why you are here?"
Loki forced his eyes away from the ceiling.
"I have brought food for you, courtesy of Amanda. Your father asked her to take care of you."
"So logically it is you who is here."
He couldn't help noticing the remark wasn't as biting as it was meant to be. He placed the paper bag to her night table.
"I offered my help." he shrugged.
She tried to pull herself up. He noticed that she actually looked quite weak.
"If you want, I can help you," he said gesturing towards the paper bag. She nodded and finally succeeded to lift herself against the headboard and the pillows.
"Thanks," she said meekly.
He unpacked the bag to the small table beside her bed. It was that cold tomato soup, gazpacho, so she could just eat it.
"Could you fetch me a spoon from the kitchen?"
"Of course," he said and left the room.
Soon he returned with the spoon.
"Thanks. Are you in a hurry? I wouldn't mind the company."
"I am in no hurry," he said and sat in the armchair.
"I saw your father in the lobby as he left."
"Yes, I know he wanted to stay...but the conference," Diana said and took a spoonful of soup.

Loki also noticed she had those strange spots in her hands. She wore a long sleeved shirt but he assumed they covered all her body. It really didn't look that awful though.

"I must look scary," Diana said she said noticing he was looking at her.
"No, it doesn't look scary. I've seen a bilgesnipe that was scarier."
"I'm not even sure if that's a compliment or an insult."
"A compliment," he said with a grin.
She had soon finished her soup.
"I'm actually bored," Diana said.
"I've been in bed since yesterday."
"Well then...How can I entertain you?"
"Are you serious?"
"I am at your service. This might not ever reoccur so I suggest you make good use of it."
She immediately had an idea.
"Please, could you read something to me?"

Diana guided him to take a certain book from the shelf. Loki studied the book, it had the image of a majestic lion on it. He read the back cover.
"Is this...a children's book?" he said raising one eyebrow.
"Yes…I remember my father reading it to me when I was a child. In fact, he read the whole series of them. The books are there right behind you."
He looked at the row of these books, running his finger over their backs.
"That's nice. My mother used to read to me too," he said smiling and sat down in the armchair.
He had extremely rarely mentioned his mother. Perhaps five times during the time they had known each other. Diana decided to ask something she had always wanted to. After all, she had the home advantage now.
"Your mother...What's she like?"
"Frigga…" Loki glanced sideways and said her name with great care.
"She is a very wise...A very skilled woman."
There was a smallest smile playing on his lips.
"And I was always her favourite...Indeed, when I was very young she already noticed my skills and taught me many things..."
He looked at the book and lifted it a bit.
"Like our classics."
Diana could hear from his voice his mother was very important to him.
"She lead me to the world of culture, art, music and…."
He said the last word gazing into distance.
"Magic."
Then he opened the book.
"Are you ready?
And so he began reading.
"Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy. This story is about something that happened to them…"

She closed her eyes and enjoyed his voice. He made each sentence become alive, speaking with such eloquence, pronouncing the words in such a beautiful way. After two chapters he took a break.
"Diana...His writing is dry," Loki winced.
"He was an academic, of course his writing is dry. But just give it a chance. It'll get better. And have I ever told you should read audio books?"
"Audio books? I guess I've been told I'm a decent reader."
He shook his head smiling.
"Please continue," Diana pleaded.
"Alright then."

...

"And that is the very end of the adventure of the wardrobe. But if the Professor was right it was only the beginning of the adventures of Narnia."

He had accidentally read the whole book. It was already quite late at night.
"He's not very subtle, is he? This author…"
Loki looked at the cover.
"…C.S Lewis."
"What do you mean?"
"This Aslan...He is based on the One Beyond Time, am I correct?"
"The One Beyond Time?" Diana echoed his words.
"I believe you have a different name on this realm…"I am"."
She just stared at him. Then he turned to really look at her and immediately noticed she looked more flushed than before. Her condition had weakened.
"May I?" Loki asked gesturing to touch her forehead. She nodded so he placed his cool palm on her forehead. To Diana its coolness actually felt quite euphoric. He was now sure that she was running a high fever. He hadn't noticed it rising because they had been so immersed in the story.
"I know," she said interpreting his worried look.
"Just...Can you give me those painkillers from the desk? And some water?"
He gave her the medicine and she swallowed them.
"These should help soon...But I have to change my shirt. It's soaked."
She pulled herself to sit on the edge of the bed and took a moment before standing. Loki stood close just in case she wouldn't be able to stand. Then Diana got a shirt from her wardrobe and walked to the bathroom in the corridor. Soon she returned wearing a t-shirt.

Loki wondered why she looked so odd. And then he realized he had actually never seen her wearing something like that, a clothing that revealed her arms. And then he quickly understood why. He saw them, even in the dim light. Scars on her upper arms. He pretended like he didn't notice them as he helped her back to bed, supporting her the last few steps. After resting her head on the pillow she immediately drifted to sleep. He understood she was quite ill and wondered what he was supposed to do now? Leave? Stay? What did she expect him to do? Although he already knew the only solution was to stay. Then his mind returned to her scars.

What had happened to her?

Although he guessed only she could have done them herself. She was under the blanket so he could no longer see them. But the memory still lingered in his mind. He had a feeling this had something to do with the subject she never wished to talk about, why she had left school.

Loki sat in the armchair feeling frustrated. He also thought that if he only he had his magic, he could repel this infection that was now in her body. The mortal bodies were so weak...Eventually he shut down the night lamp. There was some light coming from the window. It was the moon. He didn't feel like closing his eyes, so he just sat there. At some point he touched her forehead and indeed the fever wasn't as bad but she still had it.

While he was sitting there, he also thought about the story he had just read. Yes, it was a children's story but there were parts...that made him wonder. He couldn't help thinking about the character of the younger brother, Edmund. The one who betrayed his family, blinded by the White Witch, dreaming of becoming a king…He shuddered. It had come somehow...quite close. But then, the lion had somehow redeemed him. Yes, it was a fairytale after all, he thought to himself.

Suddenly he was startled by Diana's voice.
"You noticed them, didn't you, the scars?"
They could feel each other's presence in the darkness and see each other's form, but no expressions.
"Yes, I did saw them," Loki said quietly.
She sighed.
"So, now you know why I wear only long-sleeved shirts," she tried to give a strained laugh.
"You did that to yourself?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"It was so long ago. It feels like a past nightmare, nothing real anymore..."
There was brief silence. He waited for her to continue.
"Do you remember how I told you I hated school?"
"I do."

He had been right.

"Well, let's just say...I didn't like it there, because I wasn't liked there. And somehow, and I know this sounds mad, but causing these…Was the only thing that made me feel better, even for a just moment."
Her voice was stating, a bit sad.
"I'm just so happy it is now past. And I don't actually like anyone seeing them…So consider yourself privileged."
He could hear she yearned for some levity.
"Alright, I will then. But I am still sorry someone caused you to do that."
"It's okay, Loki. I've forgiven them."
Those words sunk into him. There appeared to be something she could do that he could not.
"I'm tired. And you know that you don't have to…stay here."
Her voice sounded conflicted. He understood that she wanted him to stay.
"I'll stay. You might need help."
"Thank you…Good night."
Her voice was drowsy and she fell soon back to sleep.

At some point Loki woke up in the armchair, noticing it was dawning. He rose from the chair and stretched his stiff limbs. Despite the odd sleeping position, he felt surprisingly good. He walked to the window and could see that indeed it was the first break of dawn, sun would rise soon. It was grey and cloudy though so it wouldn't be a spectacular but still. He looked at the landscape and thought to himself that summer in Midgard was actually kind of pleasant. Some days even better than pleasant...Perhaps after his exile he would visit Midgard sometime during summer. Then he was suddenly startled by his own thoughts. What was happening to him? Where did this originate? Although his heart knew very well the answer to that. And then he froze. For he realized by the time his exile would end, Diana would be...He chose not finish the thought. He could not finish it.

He turned around and saw Diana's peaceful sleeping face, looking a bit strange because of the chickenpox. Her hair was messed up, framing her face. She looked lovely in a way. He walked to her and gently touched her forehead. Indeed, the fever wasn't that bad anymore. He sat back in the armchair and watched, feeling like the guardian of her sleep. Her arms were no longer under the blanket so he could see the scars clearly now. Seeing them hurt him to his core. It pained him to know someone had made her suffer like that. And he knew that in the past his reaction would've been to make those people suffer. But she had made it clear that she held no grudge. So he would neither, out of respect to her. And he could only think...That if through some miracle he had his magic back, he could just...make the scars vanish.