Thank you so much for the feedback to this story. You are all amazing! So, I hope you enjoy this Loki/Leera centred chapter. Please, tell me what you think!

Marvel owns Loki and all remnants of Asgard. Leera, Loofney, Theyna and … belong to me

….

Six months later.

Leera was now eight monthly, healthily pregnant. Her feelings of anxiety and depression had subsided with thanks to Loki's loving comfort. Loki had bonded closer with his son and his mother, and talking became ever so slightly improved with both Odin and Thor. Thor, well Thor was happier. Much to his father's discontent, the golden god had begun to court the sweet crafts maiden. Odin had hoped that at least one of his sons would marry someone of royal blood or at least a title, but he came to expect it. The moment Thor had fallen for the mortal Jane; Odin knew that his son would never fall in love with someone much higher in rank. He was at least thankful that he had son's not daughters, and at least him name will carry on through the throne, as never had it been known in all of Asgard of a goddess ruling all the realms. Theyna had been welcomed lovingly. It was all a shock to her, and sometimes she felt it went all too soon. From the night when she had brought the tunic to Thor's room until now, they had been at each other's side, during hunting, walks around the palace and morning meals; except of course the celebratory meals with the people of Asgard. When they were married, then and only then, would she be regarded as highly important, worthy to told the name of Lady Thor and respected enough to sit and dine with the royals. Loki had taken to Theyna. He found her intriguing and a lovable figure, and Loki, Leera and Theyna had become very good friends. She became the only woman, besides Leera and Frigga that Loki had actually spoken to at leisure and of importance. Sometimes even, Loki and Theyna would read together with Little Loofney while Leera would learn the art of archery with Thor, not being able to learn much more due to her pregnant state. It seemed that it was the women belonging to the two sons of Odin that kept everything together between them.

At this moment in time, Loki sat hunched over a pile of books in the darkness of the library, candles surrounding him and his homemade book given to him by Loofney, led open. A pot of ink rested next to the book as Loki dipped his quill into the ink and scribbled onto the golden pages, carefully writing around the words 'Love from Loofney'. He had sat alone for the majority of the afternoon and evening, looking over and over, spells used during pregnancy and such, for he knew that Leera bore him Loofney early, and Leera was now eight months pregnant and he wanted to be prepared. He had sent for servants to bring him nourishments and such so that he did not have to leave his spot. And now, he was the only soul left in the place of books and knowledge. The librarian had bade him a good night and left him to his thoughts.

Loki's eyes slightly drooped as his fingers trailed the words in the book he was currently reading. As his head lowered, giving into sleep, the latch on the library door opened and Loki shot up straight, eyes open wide. Loki could hear the scurry of feet and watched the silhouette of a female glide towards him. Loki smiled and breathed in deeply. Who was gracing his presence? Loki breathed in the scent of the approaching being and smiled. It was Theyna. "So kind of you to grace me with your presence dear Theyna" Loki spoke, his voice evidently tired and slurring.

"My lord, you are still here?" Theyna said, finally reaching Loki's side and frowned with concern at the black lines forming underneath the gods emerald green eyes.

"Please, Theyna, how many times must I say? Call me Loki. And yes, it would seem. I have not yet finished reading this book" Loki indicated to his open book and glanced at the candles, slowly dousing.

"I have come at a request of Lady Leera. Her words were 'this is not healthy, Loki. Come to bed, I want you here tonight'. She is overcome with sadness Loki, that this is the fifth night you have stayed away from her and have resided in his place, alone, and working yourself into exhaustion" Theyna replied, concerned, and sat on the bare chair next to the god of mischief.

"Ah…" Loki said, closing his writing book and placed his quill in the ink pot "…She worries unnecessarily. I am merely learning, not over exhausting myself. But I will acquiesce to her request and shall tidy up here and journey back to my chambers. Thank you, dear Theyna, for informing me thus."

"A pleasure as always Loki" Theyna nodded and rose to her feet. "I pray, have a good night's sleep. You are well deserved of one" The golden maiden said kindly, regarding his weary face and Loki chuckled.

"Thank you, Theyna, I shall. You too, sleep well" Loki grinned, looking over his shoulder at the departing woman, and then the thought came to him, something he was wanting to ask her for some many days. "Theyna?" the golden woman turned on the stop and looked back at the outline of the dark haired god in the distance.

"Loki?"

"Has my-, has Thor asked for your hand in marriage yet?" Loki crossed his arms, waiting for the reply. Theyna lowered her head and shook it.

"He has not. Not yet anyway. Perhaps it is too soon for him. I recently learned of the mortal called Jane. I think perhaps, although he has feelings for me, there still resides feelings of love and guilt for her in his heart. Not that it deters me; for I know what he did was brave, and even heart-breaking. Something I do not think I could have done if I were in his position. But I wait eagerly, Loki, for the day that he does ask, for I know without a doubt, what my answer will be" Theyna spoke, loved for Thor evident in her eyes, even in the darkness.

"You speak with such love for Thor, dear lady. I pray he asks you soon. It will be a pleasure to call you my sister-in-law" Loki answered, facing his back to her and he began to pile up the books on the table.

"Thank you Loki. I already regard you as my family, and I always will, even if all does not work out" Theyna said, curtsying and left the room, leaving Loki with a smile on his face.

…..

Leera sat up in her bed; arm's crossed across her chest slightly awkwardly as her stomach stood out in the way. She sat in darkness, looking out towards the balcony at the starry Asgardian sky, waiting for her beloved to join her in bed this night. It felt like a millennia since she saw her husband, but she knew it was only days. But, whenever she woke up and by the time she went to sleep, he was not there. During the day, she was with her son, Theyna, Sif or Thor. Loki had kept himself cooped up and away from socialising, determined to master the arts of his craft so that when the time came, he could aid Leera in the birthing. But still, she wanted him there. Sighing aloud, finding herself tired of waiting for him to arrive, Leera let out a whimper of sadness and slowly shuffled down towards the centre of the bed. As she had done so, the chamber doors had opened and a dark outline of a man entered the room. Leera frowned. She was happy that he had arrived, but found herself feeling annoyed that it took so long and she turned in the bed and led on her side away from him. Loki walked quietly to the washroom to clean up and dispose of his daytime clothing, dressing himself in something loose and soft for bed. Brushing his hair once over, Loki left the washroom and crept up towards the bed, lifting the silk sheet and slipped in. Shuffling forward on his side, Loki wrapped his arms around Leera's stomach and pulled her flush against his chest, both bodies now stuck like glue. "Are you sleeping my love?" Loki said with a sultry voice into Leera's ear. Leera exhaled loudly and replied

"No Loki, I am not" Loki's brow creased and he traced curls and swirls over Leera's swollen stomach, placing small kisses on the back of Leera's head. Leera softened under his gentle caresses and smiled. "I am so glad that you are here with me tonight Loki"

"I am so sorry that I have stayed so long from you" Loki regretted, moving over slightly and trailed kissed on the back of Leera's neck.

"I had some pain today…" Leera said quietly, placing her hands on top of her husbands, and Loki stopped his touched, placing his mouth by Leera's ear.

"Where was the pain?"

"It was in my stomach and my lower back. It was a familiar pain, Loki. I panicked, I thought it was going to happen all over again, and you wouldn't even know about it, because you were in the library" Leera feared, moving back even more, if possible, against Loki. She could now feel his chest rising and falling with every breath against her back.

"Do you have the pain now?" Loki whispered lovingly into his wife's ear. Leera sighed at her husband's affectionate actions.

"No, not at the moment"

"That is a shame, I was looking forward to soothing away the pain" Loki chuckled darkly, his sultry voice returning.

"Well nothing is stopping you now" Leera answered playfully and Loki chuckled, placing a kiss on Leera's ear.

"Indeed, nothing is. So what shall I do to you, my love?" Loki purred.

"As much as I would say anything right now, my love…" Leera began, feeling flustered, but tired "…Just lie besides me. I want us to sleep together tonight, so that when I wake up, you will still be here" Leera finished and leaned down, kissing one of Loki's hands.

"Of course. As you wish my beautiful one" Loki replied and buried his face in the crook of Leera's neck, listening to his wife's breath slowing down steadily. He knew she was falling asleep and he held her closely to him. "I love you so much" He whispered, and breathed in his wife's scent, closing his eyes

…

"Loki, can you let me go please?" Leera's voice came weakly in the bedroom, the morning sunlight sparkling into the open expanse of the chamber. Leera tried to pull free from Loki's embrace, but in his slumber he held on tighter. "Loki, please, I have to get up" Leera begged, shaking Loki's arms and tried to pride them from her, the pressure on the bladder increasing, sending painful shooting sensations across her tumescent stomach. "Loki please, wake up!" Leera thought a moment, then realised the only way she would probably wake him up, was her least favourite. Prying one hand as far as she could from her body, Leera leant down and placed her mouth on the hand. Bearing her teeth, Leera waited a moment before sinking her teeth into the alabaster flesh of her husband. The emerald prince woke with a start, pulling his hand towards his chest, the pain throbbing. Scrambling to a sitting position, Loki cradled his hand and looked down at the reddened bite mark, already bruising. A look of sheer shock covered his face and he looked up to his wife with tears in his eyes, feeling a slight trickle of blood slide down his fingers.

"Leera? Why would you… why did you?" Loki said dismayed as he looked at his wife. Leera gave an apologetic glance at Loki and rushed to the washroom. The emerald prince looked back down at his hand and he felt suddenly wounded, physically and mentally. Why had his wife bitten him with such intensity to leave a mark and cause him to bleed? Leera had never shown this much violence towards him. Loki allowed a grieved tear to trickle down his cheek, and a lump began to form in his throat. Leera had finished and cleaned up, then entered the room. She stood still, filled with the deepest regret as she beheld the once proud, emotionless god, sit, cradling his hand with a hurt expression of his face and red eyes from his silent tears.

"Loki, my love, I am so sorry" Leera whispered, but loud enough to be heard and began to walk towards the bed. Climbing on, Leera sat closely by her husband and stroked his head. Loki looked up, confused at his wife's concerned actions after what she had done.

"Why did you do that?" Loki choked, looking back at his hand; no longer red, but becoming black.

"You wouldn't wake up Loki, no matter how many times I shook you or called out. I needed to get out of bed. You know how much I have to relieve myself when I am pregnant. I couldn't get out of your embrace. I am so sorry, I couldn't think of anything else to do except that" Leera reached out her hand and cupped Loki's face, turning it to face her. "I did not mean to hurt you Loki. I would never; you know that; I should not have bit you so hard" Leera spoke, eyeing the drying blood. Loki looked into his wife's eyes and allowed one more tear to fall.

"It's ok… now that I know your reason for it…" Loki replied, smiling weakly at his wife.

"Oh Loki, I feel dreadful!" Leera choked and reached out for Loki. Holding his neck softly, Leera lowered him down and rested his head on her lap, and began to stroke his head. "Do you forgive me? I can't believe I hurt you that much. I didn't mean to, Loki, I didn't" Loki sniffled and kissed his wife's thigh through the fabric.

"It is fine. I can clean it up with my magic. Fret no more. I should have woken up to your calls. I must have been exhausted…" Loki spoke and lifted his head and body. Turning to face Leera, Loki straddled her legs, his stomach flush with her swollen one. Loki cupped her face and leaned in, kissing her lips with such passion. "I know you would never intend to hurt me, sweet love" Loki said breathlessly, pulling away. Leera smiled and looked back down to his hand. Loki lifted her chin to face him and shook his head "Do not do this to yourself. It was an accident. You needed to break from my embrace; you did what you had to. I do not think any differently of you now. Forget it. It will heal" Loki removed his hands from Leera's face and hovered his unharmed one over the bitten one and closed his eyes, and began to mutter his words of healing. The same bright light that enveloped his shoulder, on the day the beast attacked him, embraced his hand. Within seconds, Loki's hand was back to new, not even a scar left behind, and the trickster grinned at his own performance. Leera took his now healed hand and kissed it gently. Loki beamed as he sat on Leera's legs and watched her kiss his hand, her eyes closed. Loki shuffled a little closer and leaned over his wife, removing his hand from her grip and wrapped his arms around her neck, having to arch his back ever so slightly to accommodate the bump against his stomach. Leera placed her head on Loki's shoulder and wrapped her arms around his back; both of them in a tight embrace.

"I love you… I love you… I love you" Leera kept repeating quietly against Loki's neck and Loki hummed, rocking them both back and forth in a soothing action.

"I know, my love, I know" Loki hushed his wife and carried on rocking them both, Loki still straddling his wife, almost protectively.

"Never… I will never do that again… I love-" Loki pulled back when he rocked backwards and held Leera's head in his hands. Shaking his head, warning her not to carry on, Loki, leaned in and kissed her, moving them both up to the headboard for support for Leera's back. Leera sighed into the touch and kissed Loki back with the same eagerness. "Loofney will be awake soon…" Leera offered as Loki pulled his lips from his wife's.

"Well, he isn't awake now…" Loki suggested and Leera raised an eyebrow.

"Tempting, but I would rather not. I cannot bare to think of Loofney walking in and, well, you know" Leera blushed and Loki chuckled.

"As you wish, my dear heart" Loki agreed and lifted himself from his wife's legs and dropped lazily next to her.

"Maybe… another time?" Leera looked across and bit her lip.

"There is no maybe about it" Loki replied playfully.

"Confident are we?" Leera chuckled.

"You cannot resist me" Loki lifted his head high, mockingly.

"Loki, I do believe you head is getting larger by the minuet" Leera sassily.

"I only speak the truth, woman" Loki mocked, pretending to defend himself with a hurt expression.

"As do I" Leera grinned and used to hands to exaggerate the size of Loki's head, gradually widening the space between her hands, looking back and forth Loki's head to her hands, pretending to measure. "It's really quite large"

"I have a great mind that holds much, my brain, I can imagine, is large" Loki replied, priding himself.

"Does your head feel heavy on your shoulders?" Leera said playfully, and scurried off the bed before Loki could catch her in his arms.

"Be careful what you say, woman" Loki too slid from the bed and dropped to his hands and knees, crawling ever so slowly over to Leera, his eyes dark, pretending to be the alpha stalking its prey. Leera chuckled, then played along, placing her hand against her head she said

"Oh no, whatever am I going to do? The beast is coming to get me" Leera tried to hold a straight face as Loki carried on slowly approaching her and he let out a snarl. Leera's cheek's flustered at the familiar gleam in Loki's eyes and she bit her bottom lip. Readying himself to pounce on Leera, Loki chuckled lowly, but was silence by his chamber door opening. Leera composed herself, and stood tall; pulling the fabric that was tight over her stomach nervously. Loofney spotted his father on his hands and knees and immediately ran towards him. Loki felt suddenly embarrassed at the way his son had found him, and he cleared his throat, looking up at his wife. Leera gave a sigh of disappointment as the gleam in Loki's eyes had disappeared. Loofney steadied himself before he pounced on his father's back and cried out in glee.

"Father's my horse, mother, look!" Loofney replied, pretending to hold reins. Loki dropped his head, feeling highly embarrassed as that was not the reason why we was on the floor, but found that there was no other way to get out of this, so, holding his sons legs, Loki shot up to his feet, and lifted Loofney onto his shoulder. Loofney chuckled in glee and Loki spun around in circles, and Loofney lifted his arms in the air, showing his excitement. "I've missed you father" Loofney said, once Loki placed him back on the ground.

"I have missed you too" Loki replied, stroking his son's cheek affectionately.

"Are you staying with us today?" Loofney looked bright eyed up to his father, hopefully. Loki looked towards his wife and grinned, eyeing her reddened cheek, and then he looked back to his son.

"Of course, how could I say no to you" Loki replied. Loofney squealed with glee and jumped onto his parent's bed. Leera walked to the washroom and locked herself in, washing her face with cold water, feeling rather warm from the sudden intrusion of her son. Listening carefully, Leera could hear the excided squeals of her son and she imagined Loki was tickling his furiously on the bed. Smiling to herself, Leera place her hands on her stomach and looked down at it, the feeling she once experience with Loofney, returned to her. She knew this baby would arrive soon, and it scared her.