A/N: Wow, you guys are really loving this story! Muchos hugs and kisses to you all. I cannot believe how enthusiastic you are!

Also, to my American readers - I hope you enjoy The Avengers! :)

SuperFunkyGirl1: Thor/Bacon? ROFL OH MY GODS :'D

AzuraSoulReaver - Frigga's a babe. We love her!

Jabberwocky92 - Thank you! I have CP myself, so I know how it affects people. AND YES AVENGERS WAS AMAZING!

BeatnikFreak - FANK YOO. :P

CaptainWolfsbane - Darcy is spectacular. I love writing her character :D And ugh, if I could make a film, it'd be all LOKI LOKI LOKI ;)

Purple 'N' Blue Wings - thankies, my lovely!

ujemaima - Odin will get a grip... at some point. Probably when Loki's staring him down viciously, but who knows? :D

Larissa Lahn Ann - Can I just say, thank you so much for reviewing pretty much every chapter? You awesome girl you. Brownies and Loki coming your way ;)

NikkiStevens82 - Yeah he needed to go back sometime hehe...

Jane28 - Aw sweetie thank you! Ouch for your stomach though. Hopefully this update will help!

MissCaityGrace - Yes yes come :P

ThexWhitexPhoenix - Here you go! :)

Snowy702 - HAVE ALL THE LOKI/CAMILLE! AND HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY MY DEAR! :D

And now we resume. Be prepared, there's a fair bit of drama... heheheh.

Loki raised an eyebrow as Oscar swiped one of his knights from the board. Clearly he'd underestimated the boy's skill. Hmm. And he was only nineteen. Impressive.

"I hope you don't abandon her later on," Oscar said casually, though there was no mistaking the warning undertones. "Especially since you got her pregnant."

"I assure you, I have no intention of doing so," Loki replied evenly, moving a pawn. "Lawless as I am, I have no ill wishes regarding your sister."

"Excellent. Then at least I know she'll be looked after when I'm gone."

Loki looked at him, surprised. "Meaning?"

"Don't look at me like that. I know you want to make her immortal, Loki. I just want to make sure you won't leave her afterwards."

A wry smile tilted Loki's lips. Shrewd little boy.

"Have I given you cause to doubt me, Oscar?"

"You're the god of lies, mischief and chaos. I'm naturally suspicious."

Loki laughed softly. "Quite right too. After all, I did try to enslave your realm."

"Yeah, that was never going to work. I would have thought you'd have realised that, insightful as you are. The bad guy never wins. Ever. Didn't you ever read fantasy books when you were little?"

"I was more interested in reading about magic and knowledge rather than dwelling in the worlds of fiction."

"That's horrific. Though I know Camille's got you hooked on Harry Potter. Even you can't escape the pull of Hogwarts."

Loki acknowledged that with an inclination of his head. "Indeed."

"So: look after her. Or I will escape Valhalla or Helheim or wherever I end up – and personally make your life a living hell."

Loki grinned. "Is that so?"

"Yes." Oscar slid his bishop across the board. "It is."

Loki couldn't fault the boy; he would have been concerned if Oscar wasn't wary. But clearly the mortal was somewhat prejudiced. What's in a name, as Shakespeare once said…

He was sorely tempted to skim Oscar's mind to determine the source of the prejudice, but before he could even attempt it, a soft laugh sounded.

"I wouldn't try, Loki. You think I don't know about Camille's skill? I've learnt how to shield myself." His eyes locked on Loki's. "And it wouldn't make me like you any more, would it?"

Loki chuckled. "Touché."

Oscar smiled drolly.

"I can tell you want to mess with me. It's in your nature. But in doing so you'd irritate Camille. Frustrating, isn't it?"

He would come to regret that statement two hours later, when the bathroom door handle came off in his hand and he was trapped in there until Camille came home.

Bloody god of mischief.

Camille pressed a kiss to Oscar's forehead, and her gaze was warm.

"Take care, Trouble. I'll let you know what happens pregnancy-wise, okay?"

Oscar nodded, and gently pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her head.

"I love you. Be safe, alright? Call me if you need me. Screw that, call me whenever you feel like it."

She smiled, and stepped back.

Loki, disguised so as not to arouse any fear in the crowds (though how he would have loved to have done so, and had playfully argued with Camille over it), inclined his head at Oscar. The boy's mouth twitched, and he extended his hand.

"Good to meet you, sir. Remember what I said."

A smirk edged Loki's lips, and he took Oscar's hand in his, firmly shaking it.

"As if I could forget."

Oscar chuckled, and with a touch to Camille's shoulder, he picked up his bags and walked towards the departure gate. The woman at the desk quickly verified his boarding pass and identity, and let him pass. He turned and waved, smiling, and then he was gone.

Camille sighed, and Loki stroked her cheek, his green eyes framed by flame-red hair, his body clothed in a charcoal-grey suit. And damn, he looked good. She vowed to make him turn his hair that colour as often as she could.

"What a charming boy."

She laughed. "Liar. You two were on knife edge the entire time. Though I still think it was terrible of you to lock him in the bathroom."

"You have no proof. How dare you accuse me."

She grinned and stretched up on tiptoes to kiss him.

"Let's go home."

"My pleasure," he purred, and before she could even move he had shifted both of them back to their apartment.

"Wait," Camille said as Loki's mouth descended upon her. Barely suppressing a growl, Loki withdrew.

"What is it?"

"It's been two months and I haven't seen a doctor."

He rolled his eyes. "I hardly think that is necessary. I am keeping track of the child's welfare –"

"No."

His brow raised. "Excuse me?"

"My mother nearly died giving birth to me. The condition she had is possibly hereditary. There is no way I'm not going full-term without being monitored. Jesus Christ, why did I not do this earlier?"

She turned away. "I need discreet doctors. Ones that won't talk about our not-exactly-ordinary baby."

Loki, sensing this was more than simply ensuring the child's safety, merely waited.

She bit her lip.

"Loki, we need to tell Tony."

He nodded. "Fine. Tell him. And if he cannot keep his mouth shut…"

Her eyes narrowed. "Don't act like you don't care. You can't stand there and say extra precautions – no, actually, the normal precautions – wouldn't make you feel better. Tony will be able to get the best doctors, and they won't blab."

He sighed. "Go to him. Ask him."

She looked at him incredulously. "Are you bored?"

"No. I simply think you are being overcautious –"

"My mother almost died in childbirth! I had a stroke at birth, got cerebral palsy and the condition my mother contracted, pre-eclampsia, meant she almost killed us both!" she yelled, losing it. "And you stand there completely cold telling me check-ups are unnecessary?"

She glared at him, livid, before marching past him.

"Where are you going?"

"Out," came her biting reply. "Don't come after me."

Loki winced as the front door slammed shut.

Camille was so angry she could barely think straight, and her hands were shaking as she hailed a cab.

"Stark Tower," she managed to utter, and, seeing the look on her face, the driver took off without a word.

It was less than five minutes before the cab reached its destination, and, plastering a smile on her face, she thanked the driver, paid him and stepped out.

"Good afternoon, Miss Langley," came JARVIS's voice as she entered the penthouse. "I trust your brother is safely on his way home?"

"He is, thanks," she replied. "Tony in?"

"Right here," said the man himself, coming into view with a glass of scotch in his hand. "What's up, sweetheart?"

"I… I need to talk to you."

"Sounds serious. Sit down. Let me get you a drink, alright?"

She bit her lip as he walked to the bar and poured her some of her favourite ginger beer, and she sat down on the half-step. She had a sense of déjà vu then – it seemed like scotch and ginger beer was their way of hanging out.

"So, what's troubling you?" he asked, sitting beside her and handing her the cool glass. She took it gratefully, wrapping her fingers around it.

"Loki and I just fought."

"Not the worst thing in the world."

She smacked his arm. "That makes me feel so much better."

"Well, given his tendencies to go all psycho, I guess we should expect the Empire State Building to explode in a minute, huh?"

"Funny."

"C'mon, I'm trying to be all sympathetic here. Gimme a break."

She was quiet, staring at the rim of the glass. Tony frowned.

"Not even a smile. Damn, it must have been bad. What happened?"

Camille did not speak for a moment. It was so silent that it began to weird Stark out. But he knew that if he pushed her, she wouldn't open up. She'd be all defensive and moody and hell, he hated grumpy women – "I'm pregnant."

Stark's eyes widened, and he froze.

"Please tell me you're joking. Because I'm not liking this situation right now. You're only what, eighteen?"

"Twenty one, you dick, and it's not the concept of being pregnant that we fought about. We both want this baby."

Stark digested that information with a gulp of scotch. Frankly, the idea of Loki being a father was both bizarre and horrifying. Somehow he doubted the god would wear a papoose. The idea was just… weird. So not right.

And the concept of a mini Loki wreaking small-scale destruction…

Shit.

Stark swallowed. "So, what's the problem?"

Her expression darkened yet filled with a sadness that made him want to pull her close and kiss her forehead – a very un-Stark-ish feeling.

"He doesn't want any mortal doctors treating me. But he doesn't understand… I almost lost my mother due to complications. Complications that could be hereditary. He thinks I'm being 'overcautious'. It's almost as if he doesn't care." Her voice cracked then, and Stark gave into his urge and put his arm around her.

"Camille, he loves you. And I'm sure he'll come around. I think… I think he's worried because that kid isn't going to look anything like a human on the scanners."

"Yeah. That's the thing. You… you don't know any really good but really freaking discreet doctors, do you?"

"I can get you a couple," he reassured her. "With you being you, you kinda need them right now. How far along are you?"

"Over a month and a half."

"Normal pregnancy span?"

"Yes. Nine months."

"Okay." Tony exhaled. "First things first – are you alright?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. Baby's doing well, I'm healthy as can be."

"Good." He gently squeezed her shoulder. "You should go talk to him. He's the brother who's good with words. Go. Have a civil if not agreeable conversation. And then have wild make-up sex. No holds barred. Take a video of it, because I want proof all is right in your world. I also want to make sure he doesn't go all psycho and annihilate half the human race, but that's secondary. Kinky visuals come first."

Camille snorted. "You are no way in hell getting a sex tape."

He lifted up his hands in a carefree gesture. "A guy can dream."

"I doubt Pepper would appreciate it," she reminded him wryly.

"Spoilsport."

"Every time." She clapped his shoulder and sighed. "Alright. I'll go talk to him. Can't put it off forever."

"That's my girl."

She smiled as she got to her feet. "Thanks, Tony. Seriously."

"No problem. I'm holding you to that tape though. I want it and I won't take no for an answer."

Camille laughed, and walked out of the penthouse.

She took the lift down, and, still smiling, left the building.

As she headed down the streets, she wondered carelessly if Stark would ever stop being cocky.

The most stupid question her pretty intelligent brain had ever come up with. She chuckled, and shook her head.

She didn't notice the men who came up behind her.

Not until one grabbed her by the shoulder, and terror instantly spiked.

But she couldn't say a thing.

Her memories of that night had incapacitated her.

"It's alright, sweetheart," he crooned, as if speaking to a lover. That was the intention; nobody suspected a thing, even around here. "We've got you."

A sharp stab, and before she could even try to cry out, the world went black.

Loki's head jerked. His eyes narrowed, and his jaw tensed.

"Loki? What is it?" Thor asked. The others frowned, confused, their meeting coming to an abrupt halt.

"Camille," came the quiet reply. "I cannot sense her. At all. She does not answer my call."

"Answer your call?" Steve said, bemused. Thor did not even glance at him as he responded.

"Loki and Camille are able to converse via their minds."

Loki's eyes were starting to widen in panic. His knuckles clenched.

"Something is wrong," he said softly. He rose, and his hand held a slim phone. He dialled a number, and lifted the device to his ear, waiting.

It ran to voicemail, and Loki looked at Thor.

"Could she not just be sleeping?" Clint asked. Loki shook his head.

"I am still able to sense her when she sleeps. But this… it is as if… she is cataleptic."

Absolute silence fell.

Until Stark spoke.

"Loki. You know her history, right? Medically?"

Loki's eyes widened further.

"I need to find her."

He vanished, and the table looked to Stark. His lips thinned.

"She has a history of stroke."

There was a second's pause, and then Natasha stood, Clint with her.

"We'll cover the usual. Steve, come with us."

The three left the room, and Stark turned his gaze to Bruce.

"Bruce, I'll need you back at Stark Tower to monitor signals and coordinate with JARVIS," Stark said. "I'll take the suit and cover as much as I can. Thor –"

"I will aid Loki," the god said, and took off without a word.

Stark glanced at Fury, who had remained silent throughout. The director raised an eyebrow.

"All this for one girl?"

"The one girl who keeps Loki from destroying half the planet?" Stark countered. "Then yeah, all this."

He headed out, leaving Fury to ponder.

The director's brow furrowed, and he pulled a device from his pocket. He brought it to his lips.

"They're on the move. I hope you got her."

"Wakey, wakey, sweetheart. Come on. Open your eyes."

She stirred, and a soft laugh sounded from somewhere in front of her. She tried to blink, and she mumbled, "Loki. Cut it out."

"Oh, honey, I'm not your Norse god," that voice crooned. "No, he's far away from where you are now, Camille."

Her eyes shot open, and she fought a cry of shock. She tried to move, but her wrists and ankles were bound to the chair, and she stared.

"What the hell is this?"

David smiled.

"How should I know? SHIELD wanted me to get hold of you, alone. Without your psycho lover. Who, by the way, will not be able to find you. He might be a god, but he's not all-powerful."

Camille laughed quietly.

"He's the most powerful one out there. He'll find me. Quicker than you think."

The slap made her wince and her head snap around.

"You really need all the men?" she gasped through the sharp pain, glancing at the four behind him. "I can't exactly run away here. So four men with guns aren't really needed."

David waved the men away, and he took her jaw in his hand, forcing her to look at him.

"You know, it's a shame I had to do this. I liked you. You were cute. Too bad Loki made you his whore."

"I'm not his whore," she ground out, glaring up at him. David raised an eyebrow.

"You're telling me he cares about you. That bastard has no heart, honey. He's using you. He won't come to rescue you. All you gave him was a good fuck, sweetheart." His expression turned into a mockery of pity. "You're broken and human; you could never stand beside him as an equal."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because SHIELD told me to," he said simply. Her eyes narrowed.

"Fury would never –"

"What, you think just because you're adored by the Avengers that you're untouchable?" David laughed, a cold, pitiless sound. "Naïve little girl."

"I have nothing SHIELD could want."

David tutted.

"Liar. They know you're a telepath."

She raised an eyebrow, and spoke.

"As is Loki. We have a mutual link. And I've just woken up. I reckon it'll take about, oh, I don't know, maybe a minute before he shows up?"

Instantly the men were back in the room, and she sighed.

"You know that isn't going to stop him –"

She inhaled as a blade cut her bonds, nicking her skin, and David wrenched her from the chair and on to her knees. The men surrounded her, and she swallowed as they unsheathed lethal-looking knives and pointed them directly at her.

"I also know you are pregnant," he said calmly. "I don't think Loki would be too happy if I slit your stomach now, would he?"

"How the fuck do you know about that?" she spat.

"SHIELD has eyes and ears everywhere, sweetheart."

"Well, now that I know that SHIELD are after her, I will be sure to be more careful."

Camille's mouth quirked as her beloved came into view. His eyes flicked to her, and his gaze heated considerably.

"You're late," she said simply. He raised an eyebrow.

"I do apologise. I will endeavour to be punctual in the future."

David tested the blade, and Camille winced as she felt the point dig into her temple. Loki's eyes darkened.

"Let her go."

The knife shot to her stomach, and the mortal lazily dragged it across, though not deep enough to cut. Camille trembled as she looked up at Loki. His eyes raged, and David lifted an eyebrow.

"Not going to kill us all? Are your powers weaker than rumours would have me believe?"

Loki did not rise to the bait. He knew instinctively that David could slide that dagger into Camille's body in an instant – he was a trained soldier, he knew how to kill.

"Loki, please."

She stared at him with desperate eyes, and his heart fractured.

Please, my love. Please.

The men held the blades tight to her body, and his gaze cooled.

"Take your hands off her. Put those weapons down."

David smiled. "Can't do that, Silvertongue. We need her."

His eyes flashed.

"Then I am afraid I will have to ruin your plans."

The mortal laughed. "Ah, Loki. Loki, Loki, Loki. There are no tricks now."

An idea suddenly formed, but Loki kept his face neutral.

"Oh, there are always tricks," he said softly. "It is merely a case of whether you see them or not."

David yanked Camille's head back, making her cry out in pain, and the beast within Loki bellowed with wrath as blood trickled from her forehead.

She looked at him, and her eyes widened as she realised his plan.

Don't, she begged. Don't. You could –

Forgive me, he whispered. I'm so, so sorry.

He closed his eyes as she screamed.

The men fell back, shrieking, and David yelled as ice shot up the knife and over his hand. He swore, trying to clutch it tight but failing as the ice burned his flesh. He glanced up – and stared.

Camille was utterly frozen, ice coating every inch of her body.

And there was a tall blue creature standing over her, its red eyes remorseful.

But then it turned its head to the trembling mortal, the only one still alive, and its gaze hardened.

"I should kill you where you stand."

It clicked, and David stared.

"Loki?" he gasped. The creature tilted its head and smiled unsettlingly.

"Hello, David."

Loki held a phone to his ear.

"Stark? I have them both. I want you to hold the thief until I have resolved the problem."

He snapped the phone shut, and with that, he thrust a jagged shard of ice into David's shoulder, and the mortal screamed as the blood poured. Loki wasted no time in fashioning the ice into a hook which curved around the very top of the mortal's ribcage, and David yelled in agony as Loki yanked on it, pulling the mortal to the floor, tearing through nerves and flesh and sinew. Loki picked up Camille, cradling her as if she were made of glass, and the icy chain which had the human man crying disgustingly wrapped itself around the Norse god's wrist.

"Hold on tight," he said coolly, and vanished.

They reappeared in Stark's penthouse, and the mortals gathered there jumped at the scene before them.

"What the fuck?" Stark cried, staring at the three of them in horror.

With a wave of a slender hand, the icy chain tied itself around a pillar, and Loki eyed the mortal with distaste.

"No one is to touch him until I have taken care of Camille. I will deal with him afterwards." No-one could have missed the sinister promise in his tone, and more than one person felt a shiver travel up their spine.

"Loki, you are blue," Thor said, his eyes wide. Loki raised an eyebrow, incredulous that that detail could even matter to his brother.

"Your point? Stark, Banner, I need you both. Come with me."

Stark had gone pale at the sight of an ice-covered Camille.

"Loki, what did you do?"

"I saved her life. Now will you come or not?"

The two of them followed instantly, and Loki inwardly prayed his idea would work.

Because if it didn't…

He didn't even want to contemplate the consequences.

A/N: Mwahahaha... I do hope you liked this. Rest assured Loki's far from finished with David... or SHIELD. *rubs hands gleefully*

Lightning xoxo