Heat. Sweat. Panting. The steady beat of each footfall. Farther. Harder. A flash of light. Shouts. A laugh...
Nia's eyes slowly opened. The room was comfortably cool. The morning was not bright, but instead veiled in dawn's gray haze. There was no movement or sound, save the shifting of her head and the slow rise and fall of Loki's chest. Loki... Nia sighed, accepting that she had awoken from a perplexingly pleasant dream, and wrapped her arm around her husband's waist. Surprisingly, he rolled over and opened his sapphire blue-emerald green eyes. His rather long raven hair stuck to his neck, like the spiral adornment painted around the edges of a tapestry.
"You're awake early, darling."
Nia smiled. Loki's soft, silky voice always sent a comfortable feeling through her. "I was dreaming."
Loki brushed some of Nia's dark brown hair from her face. "Was it a bad dream?"
"Not at all." She glanced down as Loki slipped his cool hands under her shirt. "I think I'm pregnant."
"I think so too."
Nia closed her eyes and snuggled into Loki's chest. They already had three children. It was a struggle just to manage them. Four might make it impossible. Almost certainly sensing Nia's thoughts, Loki kissed her head and pulled a fur over them.
"We'll find a way."
"I know."
As the dawn began to lull them back to sleep three small pairs of feet pattered into the room.
