TC Stark: Hi, guys! So, this chapter is a bit of a wrap up chapter. I just wanted to address some issues and tie up some loose ends before I get cracking on the end of this story. You guys are great! Thank you so much for all your reviews! Really quickly I've started this other story called "The Ritual of Life", it's about Egyptian mythology if you're interested check it out and lemme know what you think =] RuinNine- I don't want this story to end either! But, I don't want to drag the story out and make it weak =( Noel Ardnek- Thank you for reviewing! ^^ Um, I wasn't planning on having anymore Frost Giants popping up, I just wanted to add onto the chapter where Loki and Helblindi had their first standoff. LoverandaFighter- I love Scarlet as well, she's really become one of my favorite OC's. Willow- It was a little random, but I thought it would be interesting to write =P and stay tuned to see what happens with the immortality thing! Nine2rose- I'm having him being the only one who knew =P Hunnybee16- Thank you for pointing that out! I fixed it!

Disclaimer: I only own Scarlet!

Chapter Twenty One

"I thought I'd find you here."

Sif turned around to see Fandral coming towards her. She was located in a secluded area in the garden where she often went to meditate or train. Before her fellow warrior interrupted her she had been meditating after a long work out. She had heard briefly about the incident in the weapons vault, not knowing if he was the only Frost Giant to have known about the pregnancy. Just in case the monsters found another way into Asgard she would be prepared.

Fandral couldn't help but eye the woman hungrily up and down, her tight abs exposed and glistened lightly from a previous intense work out. Tearing his eyes away, the blonde watched the female stand up hesitantly. She was avoiding his gaze, "How come you're avoiding me, Sif?"

"I am not."

If there was one thing he hated it was being lied to, "I know you are. I haven't seen you in the past two weeks. You train by yourself and don't even come out with the boys anymore."

"You don't need me to go out with the boys. I am a woman after all."

Fandral frowned, "That never stopped you before. Why don't you tell me what's actually bothering you?"

She shook her head, "It's nothing."

At this the male warrior sighed and ran his fingers through his blonde hair. She was being so difficult. He had thought things were fine between them. In the beginning they seemed to have fun while maintaining the same friendship around others. Then suddenly in the past two weeks she seemed like a ghost to him. He could never find her in her room or anywhere else. The places they usually met were now always empty, leaving Fandral to be by himself.

Her body was turned to the side away from him, her eyes shifting away. The silence between them grew, making him very uncomfortable. Never before had the air between them been so uncomfortable, clenching at his heart. To be friends for so long and not have Sif be honest with him truly hurt him, "What have I done wrong?"

"No," Sif bit her lower lip and ran her hands along her elbows, "It's me. I can't do this."

Eyes widening, he stepped closer to her, "Why not?"

The Goddess of War looked up into the eyes of the man she had been having a secret affair with. Since that first kiss the two longtime friends had been having an affair under everyone's noses. She thought their secret was safe until she saw the look in Loki's eyes. Somehow his gaze bore into her soul, knowing all of her secrets. After that she felt exposed, knowing it was only a matter of time before everyone would be able to read her like a book.

"Because, Fandral, everyone is going to find out."

Fandral snorted, "Who cares?"

"I do," She expressed, "W-We're not romantically involved. We're sleeping together, Fandral. Now, what happens when everyone finds out? I have fought hard to prove that I am worthy to fight amongst you men. What happens when everyone finds out then? Then I'm just a harlot that associates with all of you because we're sleeping together."

Furrowing his eyebrows, the swashbuckler retorted, "No one will think that way. Everyone knows and respects you, Sif. And how dare you make this out to be just sex when very well know it's not."

Her walls were obviously up, "Yes, it is, Fandral!"

Clenching his fists together, the man could feel his blood boiling, "Then you really are a harlot."

Sif's mouth hung open as she watched the man she had called a friend for years march away from her. A part of her wanted to scream out for him to come back. To tell him he had been the only man that had showed her real affection; the type that she felt like reciprocating. She wanted to cry to him that it wasn't just sex that it was much more. Every fiber of her being wanted to let him know that even though she didn't love him now she could in the future.

"My king, Loki is here to see you."

Odin stood staring outside his bedroom window when a guard had let the king know his son had arrived. The older man turned to see Loki enter his bedroom, wearing typical Asgardian clothing. He was in the middle of caring for his pregnant lover when a guard had informed him that his father had requested him. It had been a little over two weeks since Helblindi had infiltrated Asgard, the son wondering when his father would want to talk to him.

Thor hadn't said a word about the incident to him, knowing that it was a personal issue between the king and the younger prince. Loki had seen an improvement in his brother's relationship, seeing a happier look on Jane's face. It was good to see Thor getting out of his head for once and considering how his woman felt.

"Good evening, father." The God of Mischief greeted while standing close to the entrance of the king's room.

Slowly turning with his hands behind his back, Odin approached his son, "Hello, Loki. How's Scarlet doing?"

At the mention of his future son Loki smiled, "Beautifully. I…." He then took in a deep breath, "Can't wait until he's born."

"Good. Good. I am so proud of you, Loki."

"I know what you want to talk about, father."

Odin stared at his son. The sorcerer had always been able to read people so well, knowing by a simple glance what they were feeling and thinking. It would almost be an insult to dance around the subject, "How long have you had the Casket?"

This was the time to be honest with his father, "Since I fell from Asgard."

The king slowly nodded, Loki waiting in anticipation of what the older man was going to say. He didn't reply right away, considering what he had just heard. In a way he should have known his son had the Frost Giant's weapon in his possession this whole time. It just didn't seem to be a concern of his considering Loki hadn't used it for malicious reasons.

"Would you consider giving it back to me?"

"No."

Now the two men were eye to eye. Loki had never really asserted himself growing up, rather standing beside his father silently as Thor thrived. The younger one agreed with almost everything Odin had said growing up, trying desperately to be the center of his eyes. Now the sorcerer was asserting himself, letting his own opinions known. He was coming in to be his own man rather a better version of his older brother.

Lifting his chin, Loki explained, "You may have destroyed the portal to Jotunheim, but they could always find another way. The Casket was their prized weapon, they'd want it back. And in all due respect, father, I am…a Frost Giant. I can actually use the weapon."

Odin cleared his throat and lifted his chin. His hands gripped each other behind his back, looking his son up and down. So many times before the mischievous child had deceived everyone into thinking he was being sincere when he wasn't. The one eerie thing about him was that one never knew even to this day if his actions had devious undertones to it. Loki was a fantastic liar and a great actor. It would be so easy for him to convince his father that he wouldn't use the Casket maliciously.

"Soon, Loki, you will be a father. When that time comes all selfish acts must cease. Your life will be dedicated to that child. Every action of yours will concern your son. For with him you begin to build your legacy. A man is only as good as the son he has raised."

"Does that mean you've failed?"

Odin shook his head, "No. I have always been proud of both of my sons. Thor may have been the warrior, but I have always been proud of your abilities. There are many great fighters in Asgard, but no one has mastered sorcery like you have."

Like the finest tasting wine Loki drank his father's compliments. He felt like his soul had thirsted for that type of love and finally he was quenched. It seemed like the two men's small standoff had ended, the son asking, "Perhaps we can put this all behind us?"

"Of course."

Fandral sat in his room later on that day. Thor was getting together with Volstagg and Hogun that night; a night that was suppose to include himself. But, with the afternoon he had he simply didn't feel like going out. Thor and Volstagg's sunny disposition would prove to be too much for him that night, knowing they'd immediately be concerned if he didn't return the good energy.

All that was on his head was Sif. He had thought they were having a good time. Her body was certainly outstanding and the sex was hands down the best he had ever had. Still, throughout all their sexual adventures he had thought that there was at least something more than just friends with benefits there. He could honestly say he was looking at the woman in a different light, much more than a respected warrior he screwed every once and a while.

Apparently though she didn't feel the same way and that hurt him. He watched couples being formed all around him. From Thor and Jane to even Loki and Scarlet everyone seemed to be in a romantic mood. And finally after years and years of rejection it seemed like it was finally his turn. And who better than Lady Sif. So powerful was her aura that no one could deny it, even Loki going to the extent to make her his.

It was the attraction of her being a warrior. He loved that she wasn't just some meek maiden. Rather a friend, a companion to have his back during battle and hers his. He admired that she was strong and could hold her own, it was one of the many things he was attracted to her for. And certainly she couldn't think that the others would judge her for deciding to have a little fun with a man?

There then was a knock at the door as Fandral breathed in a sighed and went to open it. He had assumed it was one of his male companions coming to see why he hadn't gone out tonight. The last person he expected to see was Lady Sif in front of him. She looked ever so beautiful as her long raven hair hung down, framing her beautiful face. He wanted so badly to reach out and kiss her, but stood his ground knowing how she felt.

"I would have assumed you'd be out with the boys." The blonde commented.

Knowing how upset he must have been, Sif bit her lower lip, "Fandral, I'm sorry. I know I said a lot of hurtful things before."

His body was stiff and his expression bore no compassion, "Yes, you did. I would have thought as friends you have let me know you intended to just use me as your play toy."

"But, that's not it at all."

"Then what is it?"

Sif sighed, it was a really hard for her to admit things like what she was about to, "I'm scared, Fandral. I have never let myself be open to any man before. I have lived my life seeing Thor reject me with each woman he took on. You have been the only one who has sincerely liked me and whom I actually return feelings for. I'm pretty sure once I became a warrior everyone thought I was asexual or something. I just…am afraid of what others will think?"

"But, why? You are so strong. You proved to everyone that a woman can be much more than a maiden. People talked at that point and you never cared for anything they had to say. What's so different now?"

Sif let out a sigh, shrugging her shoulders as she looked up at him. It had become weird for her to be in front of him and them not making love and resting in each other's arms in bed. Surely she couldn't deny the feelings she had when her head rested upon his muscular chest. How stupid was she for denying herself true happiness.

"I…I don't love you, Fandral," She expressed, frightened by how he would react, "It's too soon for that. But, I think…with time I could."

Air was caught in her throat as his hand gently reached up to pull her chin up in his direction. He gave her that dashing smile she had grown so fond of, "That's all I ask for."

Letting out a weak smile, she nodded. She was scared approaching this new chapter of her life. But, in a way it was exciting. She interlocked her fingers with his and stepped into his bedroom as he closed the door. Tomorrow would be a new day, a day of a new Sif. It was the beginning of her walls coming down, opening herself up…for love.