"Toni, seriously just have a go, it's not that difficult." Toni scowls at me, it would've been cute and I would have laughed, except that she's been in a bad mood most of the nearly three months we've been here and I don't want to be turned into energy again.

"No, last time I tried it I ended up in your parents' room in Asgard and you remember what happened that time." I cringe at the memory, I'd tried to get Toni to teleport into the living room from the bedroom as a way of distracting her from her condition. But she'd overestimated her power and somehow ended up in Asgard, and I only found out because Odin brought her back. I don't know how she ended up in their room, but at least Frigga had been reading whilst Odin was overseeing the vineyard otherwise he may have thought her an intruder and blasted her accidentally. At least with Frigga she has some sense.

"Come on, it'll be fine this time." I say trying to be optimistic. Toni glares at me and I try not to gulp, she can be really scary when she wants to.

"Famous last words Loki." She says before closing her eyes and clenching her fists. For a moment, I'm afraid that she won't be able to do it when she suddenly disappears. I press a finger to the earpiece in my ear that Bruce gave us on our wedding day, waiting for Toni to speak. We decided that we'd use them this time so that we'd be able to find each other, after Toni checked that the Avengers wouldn't be able to spy on us through them.

"Toni?" I ask, becoming slightly panicked that she hasn't responded yet.

"I'm in the garage Loki. Dummy! Don't touch the–!" I hear a crash through the earpiece and wince, Dummy's going to be in a lot of trouble momentarily. I wait for Toni to return to the living room, I know better than to go down there as I'd rather not be the next target of her wrath. After about half an hour of Toni yelling at Dummy and a few minutes of apologising to the Bots, Toni finally manages to teleport to the living room.

"See? I told you it would be fine." I say, albeit a little smugly. She glares at me again before sighing and sitting down next to me on the sofa, resting her head on my chest and her arms around her bulging stomach. We'd both hoped that it would start to shrink or change, but it's just gotten bigger every week. The continual growth has Toni scared as well as her sudden mood swings, though that's really to be expected considering what she's going through. Neither of us have left the property since our arrival, occasionally going for a walk outside when Toni can manage it or just sitting on the beach and talking. Some of the nights have been really romantic leaving us both happy for a few hours and very rarely, a few days. We've had the occasional fight as is expected with a newly married couple due to our habits being almost complete opposites and our opinions on films so abstract it's a wonder there isn't a war going on between us sometimes.

Work has been interesting. Toni's obviously still having to go to meetings at Stark Industries down here and not in New York, but now the Board are thinking of removing her due to her condition worsening. Toni's obviously against it, claiming that it doesn't really affect her work or input to the company. In most cases it doesn't, it only does when she's exhausted from being unable to sleep. The Board just want to start making weapons again, but without Toni's approval or any of her family's (which only consists of me) then it is impossible for them to do anything about it. There have been a few attempts on her life when she does go to work, since her enemies think that she's now an easier target. But they've quickly learned not to come against her when I'm around as it is completely certain that her attacks won't be making it to the trial in most cases.

"What are you thinking about?" I suddenly hear her ask, surprising me. I look down to see her blue/white eyes looking up at me expectantly.

"Mm... I'm just thinking about all the things that have happened in the past three-well nearly three months." She nods and I can tell that she's tired despite it only being 3 o'clock in the afternoon. "Do you want to go to bed? We do have work tomorrow and by my guess, it's going to be a very long day." She chuckles slightly at my tone before sitting up and successfully managing to teleport into the bedroom. I follow her into the bedroom and help her undress. She doesn't like me helping, due to thinking that it's a burden for me when it's not she just doesn't seem to understand that.

"Thanks Loki." She whispers as I tuck the blanket around her. I smile and kiss her forehead then sit down next to her and grab our book that I'm reading to her. I don't know when it was that I decided I would read to her, but it seems to help her sleep and feel better so that's always better than nothing. We're reading Pride and Prejudice for the second time as it is one of Toni's favourites. Currently we're at the part where Mr. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth for the first time so consequently Toni's now excited as she likes the argument that goes on between them which I can understand as it is hilarious later on when Lady Catherine de Berg comes to refuse consent to the marriage. I smile to myself before starting to read out loud.


Avengers-1 Day later

"Has anyone heard from Toni and Loki lately?" Cap asks suddenly, causing the others to look towards him and away from the comedian show that they're watching.

"No, why?" Bruce asks as the others turn half of their attention to the TV and to Cap who's staring at something on his phone.

"Someone switch the channel to the News now!" Cap orders, a frightened look on his face causing them all to become suddenly nervous. Bruce does as he asks and they all freeze at what they see. Part of the Stark Industries building in Malibu, California has completely collapsed in on itself and from further study that only those with training can spot, they realise that a bomb has caused the collapse.

"Just under an hour ago, a bomb went off in the Stark Industries R&D department where it is said that Toni Stark was in a meeting with other scientists when the bomb went off. Mr. Loki Stark was outside the building due to receiving an inside voice that a bombing was planned and so there is no news as to whether Toni Stark or anyone else in the R&D department has survived. Police and Firemen are currently working to unearth most of the rubble in search of survivors, but many are beginning to wonder if there is any hope at all due to the extensive damage caused from the bombing. Stay in tune for more as–"

They turn off the TV and immediately all run to grab their gear before meeting in the Quinjet that stayed at the tower and fly at full speed towards California.


I know I'm being cruel leaving you all on a cliff hanger like that but I haven't had time to do any writing, though I'll try and do some tonight and it's holidays next week! So I should be able to get some more done. PLease review and tell me what you think, I would really love the feedback!