Signe's smile when reuniting with her family was forced. Her temples throbbed and her stomach had been clenched ever since she left Loki on the roadside. Genuinely, she was glad to see her parents and sisters; of that there was no doubt. But to have such an extreme reconciliation with her prince, only to have it shattered into shards of what were once love and trust was agonizing.

After tearful hugs and kisses, Signe begged forgiveness from her family but explained that she had to lay down, that traveling had taken everything out of her. In reality, she couldn't tear her mind away from what had happened a mile away, and her thoughts were so loud she couldn't concentrate with her sisters laughing and joking everyone wanting to know how Prince Loki was.

After they drew her a bath, Signe shooed her maids out the door and bathed and dressed herself to the best of her ability. She knew none of the women would intentionally jeopardize her secret, but she couldn't risk someone opening their mouth. Once she was dry, she had selected a rich gold gown with open sleeves and a deep neckline that she was able to put on herself. She prayed her extra cleavage was enough to distract from her minimally swollen tummy. She left her long, flaxen hair down, allowing it to dry properly as she relaxed in her sitting room.

Signe was happily lost in her book when a servant rapped on her door. Begrudgingly she marked the page on which she left off, smoothed her palms over her skirts and checked her hair in the mirror before opening the door.

"Your presence has been requested for dinner, my lady."

Signe thanked the maid and dismissed her, slipping back into her shoes and straightening the emerald collar that remained snug on her neck. She couldn't bear to take it off. Not yet.

As she strolled to the Great Hall, she apathetically ran her hand along the cool stone wall of her parents' home as she thought, dipping her fingers into each narrow crevice between bricks. So much had passed over the last few days. She had run away from him, been caught by him, terrified by him, and then seduced by him. Signe couldn't remember a time she'd been happier than that morning, and her eyes stung with tears as she thought about the opportunity lost.

Absentmindedly she rubbed her belly. Her baby and her necklace were the last two reminders of Loki she had. She wanted the baby to have something of his or her father's, and she'd treasure the collar until it was time to pass it on to her child, even if they didn't realize how special it was.

It hurt her heart that her baby would never meet its real father. She knew intrinsically that Loki would've been wonderful. She knew he doubted himself, but she had complete and utter faith in him. Parenting with him wouldn't have been easy, she mused sadly, but she knew they would've been successful… If they'd had the chance.

Signe cleared her throat and shook her head, trying to shake herself out of such a depressing train of thought. When she finally arrived at the dining room, her stomach fluttered with excitement. Upon her announcement of her journey home, her parents invited her betrothed to celebrate their engagement. Lord Neergaard sent his acceptance immediately and was due to eat the evening meal with Signe and her family.

Signe hadn't seen the man in years, but she remembered him being handsome enough. Tall, fair, with dark but greying hair and an expressive face. Passing through the set of tall, ornately carved double doors, Signe entered the dining room. Her eyes immediately searched out her betrothed, and she was rewarded with a kind smile. She returned the friendly gesture and made her way to the table, taking a seat next to him. Though slightly awkward at first, conversation eventually began to flow throughout the table and Signe was able to relax.

Dinner was interrupted by one of her father's men bursting suddenly into the hall and clearing his throat. His eyes flicked back and forth between the noble family sitting at the table and whomever stood beside him in the corridor. The poor man appeared pale and there was a sheen of sweat on his brow. Signe craned her neck, curious as to who could cause such such a typically unflappable man to quake.

"His highness, Prince Loki," the man announced, bowing deeply as Loki strode into the room.

Signe's mother gasped and immediately stood and curtsied, the rest of the table following in suit, with the exception of Signe herself, who stood there with her mouth hanging wide open.

"My lord, what an honor!" Signe's father was genuine, but perplexed when he spoke. His booming voice thankfully snapped Signe out of her confusion and she curtsied daintily while simultaneously glaring the prince.

Loki smiled. His expression wasn't exactly devious, but there was something in his eyes that put Signe on edge. That familiar

"My friends, it has been too long," Loki declared, his eyes locked on Signe.

Immediately her family invited him to their table, calling servants to set a place for him at once. It just so happened that the place setting was assembled across the table from Signe.

Signe warily watched Loki approach as he greeted each of her family members by name, commenting on memories from years prior and asking them engaging questions.

Finally, he greeted Signe.

"Hello, Little Peach," he crooned.

Much to Signe's dismay, she felt her cheeks blooming with color. After a large gulp of wine, she bowed her head respectfully.

"It's good to see you again so soon, my prince."

"Indeed it is," Loki agreed.

In front of her family, in front of her betrothed, Loki blatantly raked his eyes down Signe's body, spending longest openly admiring her breasts and tummy. When his gaze finally returned to her eyes, there was a glint of mischief.

"My, what a dazzling necklace you're wearing, my lady! Wherever did you find it?"

Signe choked on her wine, her hand reflexively flying to her neck.

"Thank you, my prince," Signe managed to gasp between coughs.

Wrought with concern, Lord Neergaard sympathetically patted her back.

"And I'm not sure where it's from, my lord. It was a gift," she explained, though he already knew the answer.

When Lord Neegraard put his hand on her, Loki's eyes immediately narrowed menacingly. She could see the insult forming in his mouth, and she knew she had to act before his words poisoned their engagement. So, she kicked him from under the table.

Loki's eyes widened and for a moment he was too shocked to react, but then he couldn't help but snicker into his hand.

Signe sighed. This meal already felt eternal.

After his initial greeting, Loki all but ignored the rest of her family, save for snippets of polite conversation. Most of his evening was spent staring at Signe.

As was customary when hosting royalty—expected or not—, Signe's father invited Loki to spend the night. Loki, of course, accepted his most gracious offer. When Signe saw Loki and her father talking, she used the opportunity to flee. Coyly she took Lord Neergaard's hand and led him to the drawing room. The older lord was completely smitten with her and followed without protest. Signe and her lord spoke quietly to each other for an hour, simply getting to know one another. It was overall an innocent affair, though as they parted for the night, her betrothed placed a chaste kiss against her lips. Signe's blush deepened as she wished him goodnight before returning to her rooms.

As was his fashion, Loki was skulking around her chambers when Signe returned, as he had been on her first night at the castle.

Just looking at him made her wilt; she was so tired. Tired of whatever game he was playing that he could be verbally assaulting her one moment, when not one minute before he was holding her in his arms.

"Loki," she sighed, her eyes downcast.

There was a long, dramatic pause. Curiously, she looked up, only to see the silver tongued prince's jaw moving, but with no verbal payoff. He struggled to speak.

"I…," he cleared his throat and shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

I'm sorry."

Signe smiled sadly.

"I know, Loki."

Loki's body language changed completely. He stood tall, chin lifted triumphantly.

"So you'll return to the palace with me?"

"Loki, you need to leave. It's no longer appropriate for you to be alone with me," she spoke softly, unable to meet his eyes.

In her periphery, she could see Loki's shoulders slump, which made her bite her lip in an effort not to cry.

"You should leave in the morning, my lord. I'll summon a servant to show you to your rooms." She had hoped using a more formal title with him would make her feel less vulnerable. It didn't.

Loki encroached upon her space quickly and quietly.

"Why won't you look me in the eye?"

"Please Loki," she whimpered, unable to stop the tears from trickling down her cheeks.

In two strides Loki was before her, cupping her face and tilting her chin so her eyes met his.

"Why are you crying, my peach?"

Signe could only manage to shake her head, though she was unwilling to wrench herself form his grasp. Instead, she lay her hand over his, holding his palm against her cheek as tears continued to spill, hotly rolling over their fingers.

"I love you, Loki," she said with a watery smile. "Now, get out."

Signe forced herself to open her eyes, which had slipped closed when Loki had held her face. She pulled herself form his grasp and wiped her eyes with her sleeve. She could no longer look Loki in the eye; if she did she knew she wouldn't be able to make him leave. Quickly Signe treaded to the door and held it open for him. Loki watched her for a moment before slowly striding to the girl. She could feel the weight of his gaze on her.

Loki stood much too close, with his feet spread on either side of hers, pressing her against the wall with a thrust of his hips. She could see his jaw clenching.

"I'm not leaving here without you, Signe."

Signe turned her face to the side, refusing to meet his eyes.

Loki used the opportunity to invade her space even further; he pressed teasing, feather-light kisses along her cheek and jaw, then wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her flush against him

"You're both still mine," he growled.

Signe shuddered and closed her eyes, biting her tongue in an attempt to remain composed. She couldn't respond. Loki thrived on attention, and if she spoke he'd never leave. So, she ignored him, despite the conflicting tears in her eyes and throbbing between her legs.

Signe exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding as the prince left her room. She leaned back against the cool stone of the wall behind her and scrubbed her face with her hands. Why did he have to make this harder?

x

Loki stood outside Lord Neergaard's door, rolling and flipping a coin between his four fingers nervously. Very few things made him nervous. He loathed being nervous. Ignoring the knot in his stomach, he pocketed the coin and rapped on the door.

He could hear the lord stumbling about, and when he pulled the door open his eyes were bleary with sleep. Loki had woken him. This made the prince grin internally. Heh. Sorry, not sorry.

"Lord Neergaard, perhaps could you spare a moment of your time? I have a matter I'd like to discuss."

The older man blinked slowly as his brain whirred awake, self-consciously smoothing his sleep-mussed hair. One doesn't really say no to a prince of Asgard, regardless of the obscenity of the hour.

"Uh.. of course, your highness, er, please, come in." Neergaard's normal eloquence seemed to have taken a small vacation, which wasn't unfair considering the circumstances.

"Um, please, sit." The lord motioned to two chairs next to a dying fire.

The prince chose a chair and seated himself silently. It gave him pleasure to know he was making the other man squirm.

"What can I do for you, my prince?"

Loki smiled and crossed his ankles.

"You will not marry Lady Signe."

"Oh, but your highness, we're already engaged, I'm afraid. A day has been set," explained the confused lord.

This time the prince turned to face Neergaard and delicately folded his hands in his lap.

"My lord, tomorrow, you shall leave and return home. The lady is mine, as is the child that grows inside her."

The expression on Loki's face was one that implied its owner would not hesitate to commit murder if it meant defending and claiming his family.

Now that he was more awake, Neergaard was able to process the prince's words. The older man's eyes widened and his brows rose before his mouth twitched into a smile. All of a sudden, the sadness Neergaard noticed in Signe's eyes, though she tried to hide it well, made sense; she was in love with Loki.

The lord's expression and reaction were genuine. Truthfully, he would've preferred not to have been involved in the situation at all, but he had been fond of Signe for many years and though he was disappointed that she wouldn't be his, it appeared as if the prince sincerely treasured her.

"I understand, my prince. I wish you two all the happiness in the world."

In a rare instance, Loki smiled in relief.

"Thank you, my lord."

Loki stood and began walking for the door, but turned, swiveling on the ball of his foot.

"Ah, I have one more request, my lord." And by request, he meant order.

"Yes, your highness?"

"You will hold no ill will against the lady's family, nor will you speak of her condition to anyone."

"Very well," replied the lord.

With that, Loki left, and despite the ungodly hour, went in search of Signe once more.