~ Chapter 10 ~

"How do you feel?" Bruce asked as he checked Loki's vital signs.

"Tired more or less. But it's to be expected when you carry these two around." he said, stroking his big stomach. The month since the charity ball had been a challenge because his children had grown enormously. According to Bruce they had grown close to double the normal speed a human child would. It had taken a tool out of Loki.

He had now been pregnant for almost a year and he was now paying for it. His back hurt no matter what he did, be it asleep or awake. His insides were in agony of trying to keep up with his pregnancy. His appetite was gone from the stress and what little he could force down was hard to keep down.

Thor had done his best to help Loki but sometimes it wasn't enough and it left Thor like a lost puppy. To add to Loki's stress, that woman from the party – Jane Foster – was stalking Thor. His brother hadn't said anything and he would have been ignorant if it weren't that he had overheard a conversation where Thor told the woman to stay away from him. It wasn't a big deal for Loki to figure out what was happening based on that line.

"How is your appetite?" Bruce asked as he double checked his readings.

Loki scuffed. "What appetite?"

"The same then." The doctor said absently, focusing mostly on his papers. Only registering what the God told him.

With a pained sight, Loki put one hand over an area that was being kicked. "How much longer?" he asked tiredly.

"Hard to say," the human said, finally finished with his checking. "From what I can tell you are about eight months by human standards and the growth seem to be slowing down, but I can't say for sure. I still know very little about Asgardian pregnancies to make a correct assumption on how long you have left. It could be a week or you could have months left for all I know."

"All because I'm an unknown factor." Loki said defeated. "Fabulous." his female persona muttered darkly. Not only was he sick of being pregnant but he was missing his male persona. It was easy to say that he had no other choice if he wanted to have healthy children, but it made it no less easier on a mind that was used to being male.

Bruce Banner turned to face the Trickster with a solemn face. "From what I can tell you are perfectly healthy considering all. I'm sorry I can't tell you anything more."

The tone of voice brought out his sympathetic side. "Don't worry about it." Loki told him. "As long as everything goes well, I can handle some more months like this if needed." He pushed himself of the bed at the same time Thor entered the medical bay.

He smiled brightly at the pair. "Are you finished? How did it go?" he asked curiously.

Loki gave the human doctor an apologizing smile. "I'm sorry for his lack of manners. I failed to teach him better."

Banner held up his hands. "Don't worry about it. I'm used to more aggressive manners myself." He turned to Thor. "All is well." then turned back to Loki. "You may go. Be sure to remember your next appointment and if anything changes, don't hesitate to call for me."

"Thank you, Bruce." Loki said before walking toward Thor with a hand pressing against his back. Thor wrapped one arm around Loki's waist and lead them out of the room.

Well outside the medical area and heading toward the relaxing sun deck, Loki couldn't help but notice the upbeat manner his brother was in.

"Did something good happen?" he asked curiously.

Thor gifted him with a warm smile. "I've got a gift for you later and I'll admit that I want to tell you right now, but I'm trying my best to not spoil your surprise just yet."

"Yet?" Loki teased. "Meaning that you will later?"

"You know how bad I am with secrets." Thor kissed the top of Loki's head. "But it will be worth it to see your reaction so I will do my best in refraining from saying anything more."

He could accept that. "In that case I will not probe you for any information. I will look forward to see what you've done this time."

"You will love it." Thor proclaimed confidently.

They walked out on the sun deck and joined the rest of the Avengers there who all had a day off, by the order of their leader. Someone Loki had never met, and didn't particularly want to either.

Natalia pulled up a sun chair next to hers and waved Loki closer.


On the other side of town, in a hotel room, sat Jane Foster and bit her thumb nail. No matter what she said or did, she couldn't get Thor to see her. She didn't like being told of and wouldn't accept it. No way. No freaking way.

Much to her charging, her phone calls no longer reached Thor. All she got was a voice that told her politely to piss off, in a manner of speaking.

Her research was coming to a stop from her lack of commitment and if she didn't return soon and produced results then her budget could be cut. She didn't want that but she wouldn't give up on Thor.

"I know a way to get to him." a voice said from the open door.

Jane hadn't heard the door open and jumped up.

"Who are you?" she demanded.

"Someone who shares your problem." the voice told her.

"Problem?" Jane questioned carefully. Ready to bolt if needed. Pepper spray hidden in one hand.

"Yes. Loki."

"Loki? The God of Chaos? What does he have to do with me?"

"Silly girl. He might go by a different name but he's the one standing by Thor's side."

It took a moment before all her encounters with Nic clouded together into one single name. "That woman is Loki?" she exclaimed with distaste.

"Yes, and I want to get rid of him just as much as you."

"Why should I trust you? If you want to get rid of... Loki from Thor's side then you must be after Thor too. That makes you my rival."

A chuckle rose in the small room. "You are bright but there I am willing to compensate. As long as Loki is gone then I don't mind if you play for Thor's attention. It will be fair game. I rather see him with you as his Queen than that bastard." The voice hissed.

Jane watched the form carefully before she raised her head to appear as an equal.

"What's your name?" she asked seriously. "If we are to work together then I should at least know your name."

Out of the shadows stepped a female in leather and iron. Long brown hair spilled from a pony tail high on her head.

"My name is Sif."

TBC