Things have been a little dark for our heroes - banished from Asgard/on the lam/ attacks/ bad engagements/ trickery - so I figured it wouldn't hurt to give them a summer vacation day (: This chapter won't further the plot much, but it was nice to let everyone cut loose!

Loki pressed his thumbs into muscle knots in Chelsea's back. Her misery was wearing off on him. He almost pitied her. They had been on earth for six months, by Midgardian time. Chelsea's pregnancy had progressed without any complications, but more rapidly than either the women or the Asgardians had expected. It looked as if she carried a beach ball under her shirt.

Chelsea squirmed and rolled her neck as Loki worked the muscles. A serious of soft popping noises sounded through the room.

"Oh, gods," Loki groaned. "Chels, I'm sorry." He grimaced. "Your body is a mess."

"You're sorry my body is a mess or you're sorry for doing this to me?" Chelsea asked, bitterness in her voice.

Loki paused. "No, I didn't mean," he stammered. "You're very beautiful, I only meant, well, I'm glad for the baby, but,"

Chelsea was making a face at Thor, letting him in on the joke. He roared. "Silver tongue a little heavy in your mouth, brother?"

Chelsea giggled. "I'm only kidding. Lighten up, Loki."

Loki frowned. "This is unfair. How am I to tell when you're truly upset, and when you're making a fool of me?" He bent and bit her neck softly. "You've gotten sassier while on your birth planet, lady."

"Lady Chelsea," Thor suddenly said in excitement, "you should partake in this activity with me!"

"What is it?" Chelsea asked doubtfully. Her entire body ached, making it hard for her to truly enjoy any activities besides sitting. Shooting pains ran up and down her legs. She was truly irritable and exhausted, though she tried to make the best of it. Jane had told her it was because mortal babies didn't grow as fast as hers was. It had only been six months, but her belly was almost unbearably heavy. Loki had been sulking about, feeling guilty about being excited that the baby was progressing so quickly.

"A video game," Thor said. "It's most enjoyable."

"I think I could handle that," Chelsea said, reaching and struggling for a controller from the coffee table. Loki grabbed it for her and she scowled. "I cannot wait until I don't require assistance for the most trivial of tasks."

"Come, dear sister by law, you should enjoy being waited upon!" Thor shrugged. "Sometimes it is nice."

The door opened and the girls entered. The apartment felt as though it shrunk as they walked through the living room.

"I see we're all working hard," Darcy said, glancing at the Asgardians. Their tall forms stretched across all the furniture and took up most of the living room.

"Oh, come, close the door. I've never been somewhere so hot," Chelsea groaned. "How people live here all the time, I can't fathom."

"Thor," Jane said, "would you and Loki mind taking some equipment to Erik's? I would, but I have some things that I need to do around here today."

"Erik lives nearly two hours from here," Loki said hesitantly. "Are you certain it cannot wait? Perhaps Thor can go by himself."

Jane nodded. "I'm sorry. I hate pushing it off onto you guys, but it needs to go today so he can, uh, repair it. It's all pretty heavy, too. I don't think Darce and I could have managed, anyway, and it's a long drive. Thor will want the company. Besides - two heads are better than one."

"Certainly, Lady Jane," Thor exclaimed, jumping to his feet. "Show us this equipment and we will transport it to Dr. Selvig."

The corner of Loki's lips tugged downward. "I shall help, but after today, I don't think I should leave Chelsea for such an extended amount of time."

"Go," Chelsea said, swatting at him. "One of us should get a break."

When the men had loaded Jane's truck and taken off for Erik's, Jane tossed Chelsea a shopping bag. "Here! We got you something. It's summer in New Mexico. You're gigantic."

"No offense. In the baby way," Darcy added.

"So," Jane continued, "we're going to play hooky and hang out by the pool and do girl things all day!" She giggled. "I can't believe we lied to them."

"I can't believe they fell for it," Darcy added. "They're like gods and junk, right? I thought they were supposed to know everything and read minds and stuff." She shuddered. "What a relief to know they can't. I've gotta admit – I've had some thoughts about your man. He's delicious."

Used to Darcy's off-the-wall remarks, Chelsea smiled and opened the shopping bag. "You want me to wear this?" Chelsea exclaimed, holding a bikini up. "There is hardly anything here!" The small swatches of fabric were held together by string. She looked at it this way and that, trying to determine what went where.

"Don't you go swimming in space?" Darcy asked, her jaw dropping.

"Well, yes," Chelsea said, "but in much more modest garments."

"Well, when in Rome, right?" Jane laughed sheepishly. "We just thought it would be fun to have a day to ourselves, I mean, we've never lived with so many men in the apartment,"

"No, of course. You Midgardians have so many idioms," Chelsea noted, heaving herself off of the couch to change. "But indeed, when in Rome, I guess." She would do anything, even wear this revealing swimming suit, to beat the heat and the weight of the baby.

***

The waist-deep water felt amazing as Chelsea marched through it. The resistance felt good on her muscles, which had been feeling both very stretched and cramped lately, depending on the area of her body. Her stomach became buoyant in the water. "I've never heard a better idea," Chelsea sang out. She could see why the mortal woman wore the skimpy suits. The cool water felt incredible.

Darcy was lying on an inflatable raft, a margarita melting in the glass in her hand. "Welcome to Earth. This is what we do." She took a noisy slurp and sighed in satisfaction.

Jane was sitting on the edge of the pool with her margarita. She hid under a large brimmed hat and a large pair of sunglasses, her nose stuck in a magazine. "What's that you're reading?" Chelsea asked as she power walked through the water past Jane.

"Cosmo," Jane replied. "It's hardly educational. It's mostly about sex and beauty."

"A publication about sex?" Chelsea giggled. "Isn't it self-explanatory?"

Darcy peered over the edge of the raft. "I feel like you've got some stories."

Chelsea feigned an innocent look. "Me?"

"Oh, yeah. That face. She's got stories. Those guys are so tall! Let's hear about god sex." Darcy waggled her eyebrows. "God sex, god sex, god sex," she chanted.

Instead of chiding her like usual, Jane lowered her glasses. "I'd be interested. You know, for science."

"Aha," Darcy said, "I wondered why you were reading up on those 40 ways to please your man." Darcy asked. "I knew you had your eye on Thor! Just make sure to keep it down. Some of us around here need the sleep. Geesh."

Jane blushed and slammed down her magazine. "Darcy!" she screeched, tossing her hat aside, jumping in, and splashing toward the raft. Chelsea jumped aside as Jane lunged toward the bright yellow floatable.

"The margarita," Darcy cried. "Jane, don't be a monster."

In one swift move, Jane upset the raft and Darcy and her cocktail tumbled into the water. Much screaming and giggling followed. Chelsea finally stepped in when the dunking became excessive.

"What is this debauchery?"

Jane gasped, sputtering water everywhere. "Thor! Oh! You weren't supposed to get back until five, six this evening!" She frantically grabbed at her bikini top, checking that she was covered. "How are you here?"

Thor and Loki stood poolside in their cargo shorts, their t-shirts drenched in sweat. They looked amused.

"Why are you so surprised? We made a few alterations to your vehicle, Jane. It shall travel much faster now. It's highly efficient!" Thor beamed, proud. "You shall save much time during travel."

"There are speed limits, Thor," Jane said, her eyes wide.

"Sure," Thor brushed her off, nodding in agreement.

"You ladies seem to be enjoying yourselves," Loki said. He smirked as he caught sight of Chelsea. She cocked her head and grinned at him. The way her full breasts looked in the water sent his mind wandering. "These Midgardian styles," he mumbled to Thor, a sinister grin spreading, "I must say I like them."

Thor didn't hear. He was staring at Jane, his jaw slack.

"Brother," Loki hissed, popping Thor in the ribs. "That's hardly the way to leer at a lady." The next words out of his mouth were a string of Asgardian curses. In a split second, Thor gave him a mighty shove and sent him flying toward the water. Darcy squealed as the god landed on top of her with a splash.

"I'm okay, fine. Fine," she sputtered as Loki pulled her back up. Glancing at Chelsea, she mused, "Damn, Chels! This boy is solid!" She jabbed Loki in the stomach as he peeled off his soaked shirt. "Nice."

Loki couldn't help but grin a lopsided smile. "Thank you. I apologize for nearly crushing you to a watery death."

"It's all good."

"Why don't you join us?" Jane piped to Thor. "The gig's up. We're playing hooky. We needed a girl's day but it's not going as planned. Darcy made me dunk her."

Thor studied the water reluctantly. "I think I shall stay here." He sat in a patio chair. It squealed in protest of his weight.

Jane crawled out of the pool and headed toward Thor. "Come on. It's over a hundred out today. You must be hot. Space doesn't get this hot, does it? Do you have a sun that's closer in proximity than ours? I don't think so. I've seen your normal outfits. So are you afraid of water?"

Shaking his head, Thor replied, "No, but I'm fine here! Perfectly comfortable." A bead of sweat rolled down his cheek, betraying him completely.

"Everyone's got a weakness," Loki called. Any chance he could have at humiliating his brother, he would take.

"Do not," Thor shot.

"Oh, okay then," Jane said, shrugging and continuing her walk around the pool behind him. With a sudden, "Ha!" she threw herself at the prince, arms extended in an ambush push. Much to her surprise, Thor was largely unaffected and she crashed face first into his sinewy back.

Darcy and Chelsea cackled as Jane blushed and tried to decide what to do next.

"You tried to throw me in?" Thor turned and grabbed Jane by the wrists.

"Watch out," Loki directed Chelsea and Darcy. "You'll want to move."

"Yes. No." Jane looked unsure. "Just for fun. Are you mad?" She bit her lip and looked to Darcy and Chelsea for help.

"No!" Thor exclaimed before jumping high into the air and back-flipping into the pool with her in his clutches. She screamed up until the moment they crashed into the water. Loki laughed, but scolded, "Thor, be gentle with the mortals. Gentle. Do not break them."

Chelsea smiled to herself. It was nice to see the princes cut loose. Without royal matters weighing heavily upon them, they could almost pass for Midgardian young men; carefree and jovial. She touched her baby bump under the water and wondered what realm her baby would grow up knowing and what burdens he or she would have to bear.

"Thor!" Jane was shrieking, her tiny frame hanging from his shoulders. "I'll have revenge!"

"Give it up. You can't dunk a god." Darcy had reclaimed her raft and was enjoying the spectacle.

Thor laughed. "Nonsense!" He glanced at Loki. "I can prove it." He stripped his shirt and Jane's eyebrow quirked.

"You've already thrown me in," Loki groaned. "No." He held his arms in front of him defensively. "I will end you."

"Brother!" Thor sang out, wading toward him.

Darcy shot an uneasy look at Chelsea. "So they're not gonna, like, blow up the planet, are they?" She nestled down behind the raft's armrests as the brothers circled each other.

Chelsea shrugged. "Likely not."

Thor winked at Jane before lunging at Loki. Loki dodged the charge and used the leverage to dunk his brother in a swift move. Water flew everywhere and the girls blinked it out of their eyes. Thor burst forth from the water and gave a battle cry.

Loki finally grinned. "You see, Jane Foster, it takes a god to take this one down."

She blushed. "I see that. Don't hurt each other!" she cried as Thor put Loki in a headlock and pulled them both under. "Oh, my god!" She waded closer and peered under the water. "Chelsea, shouldn't we do something?"

The girls' concern amused Chelsea. "No, believe me, you should have seen them during puberty."

The men exploded upward, laughing and struggling against each other. Their shorts were water logged and hanging low on their hips. Jane licked her bottom lip, before quickly swimming over to Darcy's raft and pulling herself up. It sagged under the additional weight. "Oh, look at them!" She watched the men spar with her mouth hanging open. "They don't make men like that here."

"Geeze, get laid or something." Darcy squirmed away from her friend. "You're crazy."

"What is this expression?" Thor asked as he pulled himself onto the pool ledge and sat. "If it is something you need assistance with, please allow me!"

The girls tittered in disbelief. Loki nodded, assuming what the saying meant. "I am certain you would."