Well this was a situation he didn't think he'd find himself in anytime soon, Loki pondered.
He was on Earth. Sure, he'd been to Earth several times now. But the dessert section of an American supermarket? Not something Loki was versed in at all.
His Lynnéa was four months along with their first child. Loki was beyond thrilled, too thankful for words that the woman who held his very heart was carrying his child. Lynnéa was happy as well. But with the growing babe inside of her came many changes.
Mainly an increase in her appetites.
Firstly, her sexual appetite. Loki's ego of course didn't mind that he had always pleased his lover and she responded eagerly to him with open arms and welcoming legs always. But now due the changes in her hormones, her desire had nearly doubled. Every part of her body was twice as sensitive as before. Sometimes it was challenge, but for the most part Loki was having a grand time of pleasing his princess in whole new ways. And the fact that Lynnéa could literally not get enough of him? Well, he was aware he had a smug smile plastered on his face at all hours of the day. He just didn't care.
And then there was her actual appetite. When she wasn't trying to tear off his clothes, she was hunting for food anywhere she could find it. But now her specific cravings had started. Which led him here.
It was late where he was on Earth, so the store was fairly quiet. He could focus on completing his quest and then getting home to his waiting princess.
Since marrying Lynnéa Loki had an unspoken rule that anyone who displeased the princess would have to answer to him. She didn't ask for much, but what she did want Loki would do everything in his power to see to. He was out of his area of knowledge in this supermarket, but he would hold himself to his own standards and get Lynnéa what she wanted or answer to himself.
"Do you need help looking for a certain flavor, sir?"
Loki looked up and about, and found that the question came from a kindly looking older woman who was putting away some product nearby.
"Um," Loki peered at the products in front of him. "I think I can manage. But thank you, madam," He smiled.
"Are you sure?" She walked up to him, looking at him skeptically. "Because honey you've been staring at all that ice cream for about five minutes now."
Loki opened his mouth to utter a friendly protest, to tell her that he was indeed alright. He could handle this. He could see to this very simple need that his precious wife was depending on him for.
Right?
He closed his eyes, sighing.
"Now that you mention it, I could use some help. Thank you," He looked at her nametag. "Brenda."
She smiled, waving her hand.
"Not a problem, honey. What are you looking for?"
"My wife is desperate for some cheesecake," Loki explained, the last word unfamiliar to him. "So, I need a generous helping of...that."
"Well, you're sort of in the right spot. The closest thing we have in this specific spot though is strawberry cheesecake flavored ice cream."
"Do you think she'll like that?" Loki's brow came together.
"Well, if she likes strawberries and ice cream, then that's a definite yes," Brenda assured him.
"Fantastic," Loki opened the freezer door and grabbed a carton of the ice cream. "Now, where's the cheesecake."
"This way," Brenda laughed as she started toward the end of the aisle. "Did she say what flavor she wanted?"
"I'm afraid not," Loki confessed as they came up to a different frozen section. "My mission is cheesecake that is all I know."
Brenda eyes then became sharp with knowing.
"This is far too specific for any late night grocery run, honey," Brenda said confidently. "I'm gonna go out on a short limb here and guess that you have an expecting wife at home. And that it's your first."
Loki was shocked. This mortal was far more perceptive than most.
"How did you know that?"
She chuckled, grabbing what looked like a single large cheesecake that had a variety of different flavors. She put it in his small cart.
"Because I have a few grown children of my own. I sent my husband on many 'missions' similar to the one you're on. By the end of all my pregnancies I'm sure every employee in the supermarket we lived by knew him by name," She chuckled at the memory.
"The end?" Loki prodded. "My wife is only four months along. Will she experience this the whole time? She's hungry all the time." He smiled.
"Honey, there's at least a fifty percent chance she'll have a craving while she's in labor," Her tone was absolute. Loki's eyes widened. The things this woman could prepare him for. Brenda just patted his arm comfortingly. She was enjoying this. "Come on, honey. Let's go get you some more cheesecake flavored things and then I'm gonna take you to our book and magazine section. There will be some books there that you'll find really useful."
Lynnéa sat up in bed, munching on some pastries and fruit. Earlier she had had some nausea, but luckily the light snacks had helped greatly. Suddenly she sat up straighter as Loki walked into their rooms. He was carrying several totes from a grocery store. The sight was hilarious.
"Loki!" She set her food aside, getting up on her knees.
"Hello, darling," He set the items down on the bed. He smiled as he leaned towards her to kiss her, but there was suddenly an empty space. Confused, he opened his eyes.
She was digging through the bags. He laughed. But then she screamed, and he felt alarm. She flung herself onto him, her arms around his neck.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She squealed, then kissed his lips.
"You're welcome, sweetheart. Does everything look alright?" He was relived that her scream was one of delight.
"Alright?" Lynnéa took the lid off the cheesecake. She suddenly paused. "I need a fork."
Loki conjured one, handing it to his wife. He sighed good naturedly. He might as well get used to this.
"Oh thank you," Lynnéa said, snatching the fork. "This is amazing!" She paused, looking at her prince. "Thank you. This was so sweet of you." She leaned forward and kissed his lips.
"Well, go on," He gestured to the cheesecake.
She was already taking her first bite. She moaned.
"Mm, this is so good. It's perfect."
"Well, I'm glad you're enjoying it darling. I got you a couple of other things as well," He pulled out a couple of books and set them next to her. She gasped in delight. "Lynnéa, I never ever envisioned myself becoming a father. But now that it's happening, I want to know exactly what is happening inside of your body with our child," He looked lovingly towards her slightly rounded stomach. "You know, generally, Midgaurdians have always been seen as a bit beneath us Asgardians. But through several experiences of my own I've discovered that's not true at all. And I've just discovered that they indeed know that they're talking about when it comes to pregnancy," He gestured to the books. "So I thought it would be fun to read these together. In fact," His face lit up. "I read a snippet of one in the supermarket. Our child is just about to starting hearing and recognizing your voice – the voice of it's mother."
Lynnéa had no words. No words for the love she felt for Loki in this moment.
"And a little while after that, he will-" He swallowed. She brought her hand to his cheek. "He will hear and know my voice."
Lynnéa couldn't stop the tears in her eyes at her husbands emotion.
"Of course he will Loki," She kissed him again.
"Mm," Loki pulled back from the kiss. "I got one more thing."
Lynnéa brought a hand to her mouth as he pulled out a teddy bear. It was soft, about a foot long, and a light brown color – perfect for either a girl or a boy. She took the bear in her hands, once again speechless at her husband's gestures. She could no longer hold back the sobs.
But that only made Loki alarmed, as it usually did. He took her in his arms.
"My sweet, what's wrong? Do you not like it? I've never gotten anything for a child before…" He trailed off.
"No, no," Lynnéa continued to clutch the bear. "It's perfect, Loki. It's adorable, I love it."
"So, these are good tears?" He brushed his knuckles along her cheek to wipe the damp skin.
She only nodded as she continued to cry.
Lynnéa was happy, but Loki was still distressed. How could a woman be genuinely happy – yet look so sad and overcome with emotion? He hated feeling so powerless. He wanted to see her smile.
"Shh, sshhh," He held her to her chest. "Be calm, sweetheart," His hand went to her slightly rounded stomach, caressing it. With his other hand, he brought a finger under her chin to bring her eyes up to his. "Let's have a smile, hmm?" She tried to oblige, those pretty pink lips coming together and turning upwards slightly. "That's my girl," He kissed her forehead. "It's late my sweet, you need your rest."
He snapped his fingers, and suddenly two servants came in to retrieve the food he had brought from Earth to take the kitchens.
Soon, they were settled in their bed. Loki held Lynnéa securely against him, their tiny child safe in his mother's womb. His hand rested on her waist as she quickly succumbed to slumber.
"Sleep well, my princess," Loki whispered, kissing Lynnéa's silky hair.