~ Chapter 13 ~

When the morning light streamed into their room, it took Loki a moment to open his eyes. His back hurt and his right hip felt uncomfortable from sleeping on it for a longer period of time. He also became aware that nature was also calling.

But when he saw Thor's sleeping face beside him and the golden light from his upper arm, his face broke out in a smile and he didn't want to move.

He and Thor was bonded. No one could say anything anymore about their relationship, and it was also a proof that they would be eternally faithful to each other. Of all the exchanged jewelry customs Asgard had, this was the most sacred and ancient of them all. Loki just wanted to lay there and bask in the morning glory.

But that still didn't stop the urge in his body.

As if to make a point, one of the girl decided that this was a good time to kick his bladder.

With as much grace and ease he could muster, Loki pushed aside the cover and did his best to get on his feet. It was an even battle where he almost fell back onto the bed, but he prevailed. He then rushed to the bathroom before he embarrassed himself.

His escape had not gone unnoticed by Thor who pushed his head up on a hand and waited for the other to return. It was a time of the day he had learned his service wasn't needed unless he was called. He had learned that the hard way.

When he heard the faint flush in the bathroom he counted the seconds until the daily routine began once more.

"I swear, every single morning." Loki grumbled as he entered the room.

Thor couldn't contain his laughter and rolled onto his back while Loki gave him a dirty look.

"You've got something to say?" he said in a dark tone of voice.

The thunder God chortled before he forced himself to swallow his bubbling laughter. He dried one eye as he tried to gather his wits.

"No, my dear." He pulled back the cover to make an inviting space next to him. "Come here."

Loki was grumbling as he walked over to the bed and crawled into the offered space. His nightgown crumbling uncomfortable around his legs and he tried to adjust it. Thor reached over to help but it only tangled even more and stretched across Loki's body so it felt like a straight-jacket.

"To Hel with it." Loki cursed before pulling the offensive garment over his head and threw it across the room. He reached for the cover and pulled it up over his breasts, and proceeded then to smoothed out any wrinkles over his stomach until he was happy.

Thor placed one hand on the round belly and looked blissfully happy. He leaned forward and took a kiss before his own lips were stolen and they settled down against the bed. Thor's arm around Loki as they cuddled together.

After a hearty breakfast, Loki said good bye to Thor who was being called away for something. The trickster stood watching after the black vehicle until it disappeared from view. His red dress clung to his stomach while falling softly around his legs. The edges decorated with black lace, and long sleeves with wide finish for his hands.

With a sigh, he walked back into the mansion with a hand pressed against his back. The back pains were becoming annoying and he longed to sit down and finish reading the book he picked out in Tony Starks' private collection.

"Miss Loki, you have a call waiting." The A.I. said when he entered.

"Thank you Jarvis." he said, heading toward the closest phone. "Hello?" when the voice on the other end spoke his whole face grew hard.

"What do you want?" he resisted the impulse to throw the phone when his attention was caught. "All right. Where?" he memorized the details. "I'll be there." and he ended the call.

He stared at the phone for a moment as if he were reconsidering his decision.

"Jarvis?"

"Yes, miss Loki."

"I'm going out. If I'm not back in one hour will you let the others know. You heard the details on the phone right?"

"Yes, miss Loki. Have a nice day."

It was a busy day at the HQ of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Nic Fury met the superheroes at their gate.

"What do you have for us today?" Tony asked as soon as he entered.

"Visitors." the dark skinned man said. "Five of them and they seem to look for Thor. They said they had important news."

Natalia looked at the God. "Any idea?"

Thor shook his head. "Did they state their names?"

Fury looked down at a report. "They named themselves as warriors of Asgard. They were found wandering around town, searching for you. Our agents brought them here. There is four men and one woman. From the agents report they looked like three warriors, a female warrior and one unconscious man."

"Three warriors and a woman warrior?" Thor asked as he halted his steps. His eyes narrowed. "Where are they being held?"

Fury gave Thor a searching look before giving in. "In the conference room."

Knowing full well where that room was, Thor walked with big steps in that direction. For the trained heroes it was an easy task to keep up with the God, but for the humans it was harder.

He didn't even stop to let the automatic doors to the conference room open fully before he squeezed through.

"Thor." said an all too familiar voice.

Before him stood Fandral, Volstagg, Hogun, and Sif.

"What in Hel are you doing here?" he asked with barely contained anger. His fist clenching.

"Thor." Sif said sharply to get his attention before his temper blew. "You and Loki have been fooled."

"I know." the thunderer said with a growl. "I'm staring at the criminals."

"It's not us, Thor. Someone else is pulling the strings." Fandral cut in.

"What makes you think I will believe you? Loki has suffered so much from your actions and now you blame someone else. You-"

"Wait, big guy." Tony said as he came up beside the God. "Let's hear them out before we start exchanging punches."

"Stay out of this, Stark." Thor's blue eyes narrowed in on the human.

Volstagg pulled forth the unconscious man and dropped him in a chair.

"Who's that?" Thor growled.

Sif stared right into Thor's eyes.

"One of the men who assaulted Loki."

Loki looked around the public park. There were people everywhere and made it harder to spot the one he was waiting for. Since he had always had held a resistance to the cold, he had only taken along a shawl to put around his shoulders before heading out. The chauffeur that had been designated him was waiting by the car at the reserved parking plot not far away.

"I've been waiting for you."

The voice froze Loki as memories pulled him back to the past he wanted to forget.

Slowly he turned around and came face to face with Sif.

"Long time no seen." the dark haired woman said with a wicked smile.

TBC