TheDoctor'sAmazingCompanion: Yay, it's good to hear from you! I'm glad everything's okay :) I haven't started the prank story yet, so your idea will be in the first chapter! :D I'm glad you're liking the story :) Thanks for the review!
Terra3434: I would have made Jen do that, but I don't want Odin to be too angry with her. Glad you're enjoying the story! Thanks for the review!
ThunderPups1: You betcha! No story is complete without some family drama ;) Thanks for the review!
Whitelion69: Heh, I like to give my characters some spunk, and it was the perfect opportunity. Glad you liked it! Thanks for the review! :D
MissPadawan: I'm not really going to go into too much detail, just to save the sake of boring everyone. Good to know that you liked the idea! Thanks for the review! :)
HonestHatter: I'll go back and read it again, but I'm probably not going to change too much. I dislike making huge changes after I complete a story, especially if they change the ending. It's not really about the other characters, mostly around Loki and Jen, so I guess I didn't include as much of their character as I should have. I appreciate the feedback though! Thanks for the review.
Disclaimer: Nix, Nada, Nothin.
Chapter Twenty Eight
Jen's P. o. V:
Over the next month, Loki and I move our makeshift shelter four times, once a week. Towards the end, we don't move very far. I am huge, and moving long distances is difficult. I barely get any sleep, because our daughter keeps moving around, stretching and kicking. Loki hunts for me, bringing me food when I am too tired to leave our shelter. I find myself looking forward to the day she is born.
Loki and I sit on our bed, just listening to each other breathe. Loki rubs my belly gently, feeling our daughter moving. At last, he speaks, breaking the silence. "We should probably decide what we are are going to call our daughter. I know we decided on either Akayla or Wryn, but we need to decide on one now." I nod.
"I know. They're both so pretty, though. Which do you prefer?" Loki shrugs.
"Personally, I'm more partial to Akayla, but that's just my opinion. What about you? Which do you like better?"
"I like them both, but I do like Akayla better. Perhaps Wryn could be her middle name?" I suggest hopefully.
"Akayla Wryn Laufeyson. It's pretty, just as I'm sure our daughter will be. I like it," Loki grins. I giggle at the expression on his face. I always knew Loki would be a softie when it came to children. Suddenly, a loud crack and a flash of light split the still air. The smell of ozone permeates the makeshift shelter. I press myself against Loki, holding my breath. At that moment, I am very thankful for the invisibility spells we cast on the cabin.
"Do you think it's Odin?" I whisper, barely audible, although my lips are pressed up against Loki's ear. He shakes his head.
"We've been on the move constantly, and Heimdall promised that he wouldn't tell Odin where we were. More than likely, it's Thor." As if in answer to Loki's statement, a very familiar voice booms across the landscape, shattering the peace and quiet.
"Brother, I know you are here somewhere. Heimdall told me you were. Reveal yourself immediately!" Thor demands, shivering. I forgot how cold it was in Jotunheim. To me, it's comfortable. I wave my hand, revealing our makeshift home. I can hear Thor's heavy footsteps crunching the ice and snow on his way to our door.
The door swings open, letting in a blast of cool air. Thor rushes in, then closes the door quickly behind him. I wave my hand and cast the invisibility enchantment again. Thor comes over to Loki's side of the bed and grabs him in a giant bear hug. "I've missed you, brother!" Thor proclaims, squeezing Loki until Loki turns red from lack of air.
"Can't-breathe!" Loki gasps. Thor finally releases him, turning and walking over to my side of the bed. He kneels down and takes my hand in his own. After he raises it gently to his lips, he kisses it, then squeezes my hand. I smile, amused with the formal gesture.
"It's good to see you again, Thor. How are the rest of the Avengers doing?"
"My S. H. I. E. L. D. Brothers and Sister are doing just fine. They all miss you, especially Tony. Now that you and my brother are gone, he doesn't really have anyone to pick on." I laugh.
"Typical Tony. How are you, Thor? What brought you here?"
"I am doing well, Lady Jen. I am here because my mother is worried about both you and Loki. She hasn't seen either of you in a very long time, and she wishes you to come back to Asgard, especially since you are so far along in your pregnancy, Lady Jen." I sigh.
"Believe me, Thor, if I could have gone to Midgard I would have. I cannot, however, because Akayla will not let me. She needs the cold. We don't know if it's because she's half wolf, or because she's Frost Giant, but every time I tried to leave, she put up a fuss. However, I cannot go back to Asgard, even if Akayla would let me leave. I managed to tick the Allfather off when he visited us. We did not part on good terms." Thor looks bewildered.
"The Allfather seemed most pleased when he learned of your pregnancy, Lady Jen." I shake my head.
"Then he's even more two faced than I thought. When he visited us here on Jotunheim, and he discovered that Akayla will not always be humanoid in form, he was disgusted and angry. I cannot imagine that he was happy to hear about his impending grandchild."
"Is this true?" Thor asks, looking as if his world is crumbling around him. In a way, it is. He has always looked up to the Allfather, both as a father figure and a leader. To learn that Odin is nothing more than an intolerant, two-faced snake is hitting him hard. Thor sinks onto the bed, his head in his hands. My stomach clenches painfully as I take in the pitiful sight before me. Thor's usually happy face is now desolate, as if he lost his best friend. He turns to Loki.
"It this true?" he whimpers again. Loki nods.
"I'm afraid it is. I tried to tell you that Odin wasn't the fair ruler that everyone thought him to be, but nobody believed me. Now, you've been forced to see the truth first-hand. I'm sorry that you had to find out like this, but it's better that you didn't find out from personal experience." Thor nods unhappily.
"I can see the truth to your words, brother. Thank you for informing me of this unfortunate information. Mother still wishes to see you, so I will go home and inform her of what you told me. I will then bring her back with me when she is ready. Until then, please take care," Thor says, bowing to us both. He then lets himself out of the makeshift shelter. I can see the bright flash of light that confirms Thor's departure. Loki sinks into the pillows behind him. I curl up next to him, as well as my pregnant belly will allow. I feel a tugging in my lower abdomen and absently pat it.
"That was your Uncle Thor," I inform Akayla. She kicks, hard, causing me to let out a little gasp. I feel something give inside me, and warm liquid blossoms between my legs. As calmly as I can, I turn to Loki. "Your mother has medical knowledge, does she not?" Loki nods.
"She always helped my brother and I through our injuries when we were children, and she has been known to be a substitute midwife on occasions. Why?"
"I think I'm going to need her services. My water just broke. Lo', ready or not, Akayla is coming!"
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