The group made it back to the palace later than expected, but without further incident. The palace was starting to quiet down for the evening and it was mainly maids they passed by as they returned.

"Can I see the tunic you picked out?" Desi asked Thor as they entered the palace, excited to see it on him.

Thor looked over at Desi with a raised eyebrow, then realized she was talking about the package he'd bought. "Actually... it's not a tunic. I got you a gift."

Desi blushed softly. "Please tell me you didn't get that super expensive dress..." she said, worried he did.

"I did not," he assured, "but I got something you may enjoy sleeping in." Thor turned down the next hallway and nodded to Loki and Laney as they continued walking towards their chambers. "I hope I picked out something good."

"I do love pajamas." Desi said truthfully. "I will wear them tonight!" She said happily, excited to see what he picked for her.

Thor chuckled as they got to their chambers and walked inside and to the sitting room. He placed the wrapped package on the coffee table, then sat on the sofa. "Go ahead and open it."

Desi picked up the package and held it tight. "I will just go change and you can see how it looks." She smiled. "I just need to say this though... you don't have to buy me things."

"I want to buy you things Desi. I know I don't need to," he said softly. Did I do something wrong?

"I just wanted to make sure you knew I don't expect it." Desi said truthfully. "I'm going to go change now!" She said excitedly. When she turned to walk away, a note fell out of the package. She picked it up and handed it to Thor. "This is addressed to you." She said, then went into the bedroom to change.

Thor furrowed his brow, but quickly opened the note and recognized the elegant writing from his brother.

Brother, don't be alarmed but I made your gift a tad more tasteful. - Loki

"Loki..." he grumbled, then sat back in his spot on the sofa. "Hopefully you don't scare her," he thought aloud.

"Um... Thor? Are you sure this is to sleep in?" Desi called out from the bedroom a few minutes later, her voice a little higher from embarrassment.

"What's the matter Dess?" Thor asked, using her nickname for the first time.

"N-nothing... there just isn't much to wear." Desi replied. She took a deep breath to gain the courage to step out, showing the very revealing red lace she was wearing. Thinking it was what Thor had picked, she tried her best to look confident for him.

Loki, remind me to thank you. Thor stood up and slowly walked up to her as he looked at her from head to toe. "You look stunning."

Desi blushed deeply, knowing the lace was doing little to actually cover her. "Thank you." She said softly, curious as to what he had really planned for the evening now.

Thor gently took her hand in his and caressed the back of it. "I'll admit, this isn't what I bought," he said quietly. "Loki seemed it would be necessary to alter what I did buy, but I honestly do like you in this."

"That doesn't surprise me, this seems like the sort of thing he would do." She admitted. Though I suppose it's kind of pointless to cover myself at this point.

"I hope you are not angry," Thor said sincerely. "My brother means well. He just wants us to loosen up I think."

Desi nodded. "I'm not upset, just a little embarrassed... Laney thinks we need to loosen up as well." She admitted.

Thor gently led her to the sofa and sat down with her. "If you're uncomfortable, you can change," he said softly while he caressed the back of her hand, then up her forearm.

Desi smiled and moved closer to Thor. "It's alright. If you like it, I will keep it on for now." She said, wanting to relax around him.

He smiled. "I do like it, a lot." Thor found himself glancing at her lips as he spoke, which only made him smile wider.

"I'm glad you do. I've never dressed like this before, but I can do it more often if it's what you like." She offered. It should be a rule that you have to wear the same amount of clothing... she thought, which made her blush.

"As long as you're comfortable," Thor replied, then leaned forward to gently kiss her. Desi blushed again but returned his kiss and curled up closer to him. Thor slowly pulled away and met her eyes. "You're beautiful Desi," he whispered.

"So are you... well, handsome I mean." Good job Desi...

He chuckled as he leaned back in his seat and gently pulled Desi onto his lap. "Is this okay?"

"Y-yes." she answered, finding it a bit awkward at first to straddle his lap. Trying to be more bold, she leaned in to kiss him softly.

Thor met her lips eagerly and wrapped his arms around her wait, holding her in a comforting embrace. After a few moments he took one of her hands and placed it on his chest. "You can touch me," he whispered against her lips, then dared to barely lick her bottom lip.

Desi gripped the fabric of his tunic when he licked her lip. Unable to help it, she kissed him again and brought her other hand up to his chest as well. Trying to be subtle, she placed her hand by the neckline of his top, lightly brushing her fingers against his skin.

He kissed her deeply, letting his tongue run across her lips. "Do you want me to take it off?" He asked.

She parted her lips for him, feeling slightly breathless when the kiss ended. "Is it alright? To take it off?" Desi asked, not wanting to do anything wrong.

"Of course," Thor murmured as he put her hands at the hem of his tunic, silently urging her to do what she wanted.

Desi hesitated for a moment, then opened the front of Thor's tunic. Pushing the fabric to the sides, she ended up sliding it partially off his shoulders. "Work out much?" She asked softly with a little smile before pressing a kiss to his collarbone.

Thor sighed at the sensation and sat up to completely remove the tunic, then tossed it to the floor. "Maybe a little," he chuckled, then pressed a kiss to her shoulder as his hands rested on her hips.

"It shows." Desi complimented, then pressed another kiss to his chest. She let her fingers wander down along his abs as she relaxed more.

He felt his body tense at her touch, though his eyes never looked away from her. "Your lips feel divine," he murmured.

"I... I've never done any of this before... but I will do whatever you want." She said truthfully. Shifting slightly on his lap, she pressed a little line of kisses down his chest.

Thor lifted one hand to run it through her hair. "Only do what you're comfortable with, dear. I'm not making you do anything." His other hand tightened on her hip as his body responded to her touches.

"I know you aren't making me... I just don't know what you like." I can't be doing that bad though... she thought with relief, feeling how he responded to her. "I trust you." Desi said softly, then kissed his neck.

A rumble came from Thor's chest. "You've found my weak spot," he whispered, then grasped her chin and captured her lips in a deep kiss. Desi felt a shiver run through her body in response to the sound he had made. She parted her lips for him and let her hands fall lower, closer to the waistband of his trousers. Thor delved his tongue into her mouth and slowly began to explore, enjoying the taste of the tea she had drank. His hand laid atop her wandering one, pausing her movements as he pulled away. "You don't need to do that Desi," he breathed.

She looked at Thor, feeling the sting of the rejection. "Did I do something wrong?" Desi asked, not sure if she should fully move off of him.

"No, gods no. I want you to, believe me," Thor replied. "I just don't want you to feel like you have to." He reached up to caress her cheek, then brought her lips to his.

Desi returned his kiss tenderly. "I don't feel like I have to. I want to... I like your touch too." She said truthfully, placing her hand over his on her cheek.

Thor smiled at her. "Then you do what's comfortable to you," he said softly.

"What if I want you to do the same?" Desi asked softly.

He grasped her hips and pulled her to where she was flush against his chest, knowing she would feel his growing arousal. "Then I shall," Thor said with a wry smile.

Desi gave a soft gasp, then smiled. When she pressed her lips against his neck again, she also started to move her hips against him.

Thor groaned, low in his throat as he leaned his head to the side, letting her do as she wanted. "That feels wonderful."

"You can tell me what you want, I won't take it as you making me do anything." Desi said truthfully then returned her lips to his neck and jawline. She finally managed to set a decent rhythm with her hips.

"I like what you're doing now," Thor admitted as he held onto her hips, helping her keep a rhythm. He knew she had to be feeling pleasure too, since she was now rubbing herself against his erection.

Desi brought her lips to his and kissed him softly. When she pulled back, she lightly tugged his bottom lip. "I can feel how excited you are... I just don't know how you want to handle it." She admitted, trying to focus on him more than what she was feeling.

Thor let out another low rumble. "I'm up for anything you're willing to do," he said huskily.

Desi bit her lip, trying to make up her own mind. "We will need those trousers off." She told him softly. Thor raised an eyebrow at her before he gently lifted her by her hips so she could stand between his legs. Then he slowly untied his trousers before he pushed them down to his knees, his eyes never leaving hers. You better figure this out quick... Desi thought to herself as she started to untie the little bit of lace that was covering her. I hope I didn't do something wrong to make him not want to touch me... she thought as she straddled his lap again.

Thor grinned mischievously as he ran his hands up her back, then back down to her hips while he leaned up to capture her lips. "You're stunning my girl," he whispered.

Desi bit her lip as another shiver ran down her spine. "I will always be yours." She replied and started moving her hips again. The lack of fabric between them increased the pleasure she felt.

He hissed in pleasure while he pushed downward on her hips. "I can feel how wet you are," Thor breathed as he rolled his own hips.

"And I can feel how hard you are." Desi whispered in his ear right before she nibbled his earlobe. "I... I think I'm ready." She told him softly.

Thor kissed her longingly before he scooped her up and flipped them so she laid on her back on the sofa. He never broke this kiss while he kicked off his pants and shoes before he climbed over her. "Are you sure?" He asked softly.

Desi nodded and tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled him closer for a soft kiss. "For you... I'm sure." She answered.

He leaned up and removed his underwear, tossing them to the floor, before he resumed his position hovering above Desi. "Are you protected?" He asked.

"Yes, all of our spells are done at our post." Desi answered and wrapped her legs around his hips.

Thor leaned down and met her lips while he ran one hand down her side. "Are you ready for me?"

"Yes... but please be easy at first." She told him as she knew the first time could be painful.

He nodded and moved his lips to her neck as he lined himself up with his free hand, then slowly eased himself inside her heat. Thor squeezed his eyes shut and held back a groan as best as he could, only sinking himself half way for the moment.

Desi whimpered at the discomfort she felt, but tightened her legs around him, not wanting him to back off too soon. The few seconds that passed felt like an eternity until she adjusted to his size. "I'm... I'm alright now." She told him softly.

Thor kissed her slowly as he let himself sink into her to the hilt, moaning into her mouth. "Gods, you feel amazing."

Desi dug her fingers into his back and moaned loudly when he filled her. "You are so big." She said breathlessly.

"Am I hurting you?" Thor asked. He propped himself up on his elbows and looked down at her.

"No... you feel incredible." Desi admitted and used her legs to pull his hips closer, encouraging him to continue.

Thor couldn't hold back the moan Desi caused. He nipped her neck as he began to thrust. "Oh... Dess."

She held his hips tight with her legs and tried to move her hips along with him. "I... I think I'm close..." she panted, overwhelmed by all of the sensations she was feeling.

He chuckled and licked the hickey he'd left on her neck. "I've just... started," he gasped as he increased his speed, making him grunt in pleasure.

Desi blushed at his comment. "First... time... sorry..." she said, but the embarrassment only lasted a moment and was lost when he increased his pace. "Gods Thor..." she moaned, digging her fingers deeper into his back.

"Ugh... I love hearing my name on your lips," he moaned. Thor held onto her tightly as he continued to thrust.

"Gods Thor... I really am close." She moaned and scratched down his arm as she reached her climax.

"Oh... fuck," Thor groaned as Desi's quick climax caused his own. His thrusts were erratic as he rode it out, then dropped his head on her shoulder, gasping for air. That's never happened before.

Desi wrapped her arms around Thor and held him in a loving embrace. "That was... mind blowing." She said, then pressed soft kisses to his jawline to help him relax.

Thor returned her kiss by kissing her shoulder with open mouthed kisses. "I agree," he breathed, then lifted his head and kissed her lips gently.

She returned his kiss then tried to shift to make room for them to lay together. "Working tomorrow feels impossible now." She chuckled and used her fingers to comb his hair back.

He chuckled and very gently removed himself from her body. "I could carry you to bed?" He suggested sweetly.

"Only if you want to. You need time to relax too." Desi said softly, worried he would overwork himself.

"I relax all the time." Thor stood and scooped Desi into his arms bridal style and walked into the bedroom. He walked over to the large bed and laid Desi upon it with a kiss to her lips, then climbed in bed beside her.

"You won't forget to visit during my lunch break, right? I can't go all day without seeing you." She said sweetly, then kissed him again. Trying to stifle a yawn, she curled up to Thor, wanting to be as close as possible.

Thor chuckled. "I won't forget. It drove me insane for you to be gone for a week." He ran his fingers through her hair. "Let's get some sleep," he whispered.

"It drove me insane to be gone." She said truthfully. She gave him another soft kiss, then laid her head on his chest to sleep.

He smiled down at her as the torches in the room extinguished on their own. "Goodnight my sweet girl," he murmured, then fell asleep along with her.

Loki woke early the next morning and left the bed. He took a quick shower then went out onto the balcony to sort through the many thoughts on his mind.

Meanwhile Laney woke later in the morning after she reached to the opposite side of the bed and found it to be cold. She sat up and looked around the bedroom, then noticed Loki stood outside. Laney climbed out of bed then grabbed a robe before she walked out onto the balcony. "Are you okay?" She asked softly as she wrapped her arms around his waist from behind.

Loki turned around and hugged Laney tight. "I don't know... I almost went back to prison yesterday... you know that right?"

She kissed his bare chest and rubbed his back. "I do not think your mother would have seen it that way. You were protecting me."

"In that moment, I think I was protecting our little star most of all." Loki admitted, hoping she wouldn't be upset.

Laney looked up at him and grinned. "Our little star has the best daddy in the world."

"And the best mother in the realms. When can we find out the gender and everything?" He asked, eager to know.

She chuckled, happy that he was so interested in the baby. "Not for a few months I'm afraid," she replied. "I will have to talk with Desi to be sure."

"A few months? That feels like torture..." Loki sighed. "Before we head to the village later, you should know that the baby is now publicly known... after what happened."

"Has anyone said anything?" Laney asked. "I mean... I know it would be known eventually, but it's so early."

"Darling, there was an entire crowd that witnessed what happened and what I said... I didn't mean for it to come out like that, but waiting for people to know was the last thing on my mind." He said truthfully.

A small smirk lit up her face. "I'm not mad about that, you know. But when did we get married my love?"

Loki gave her a curious look. "What are you talking about?"

Laney smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Yesterday you addressed me as your wife, in front of my father."

Loki quickly thought back and nodded. "I can actually explain that..."

"Oh really?" She asked playfully.

"Yes... see, the important business we had to tend to was picking this up..." He pulled the ring from his pocket. "I guess my mind just jumped ahead of itself and assumed you had already said yes." He explained as he knelt down in front of her.

Laney's eyes went wide as she stared down at him as tears welled in her eyes. "Loki..."

"Laney, will you marry me?" He asked her, trying to hide any nervousness. Until this exact moment, he had never considered the fact that she could decline.

"Hel yes!" She exclaimed happily, as tears ran down her cheeks.

Loki took her hand and gently slipped the ring onto her finger. When he stood up again, he pulled her into a loving kiss. "I love you so much."

"I love you too Loki," she replied sweetly, then quickly kissed him again.

"I hope you aren't mad that we lied about the nature of the business... I just didn't want to ruin the surprise." He said truthfully. "That was also why I made up the excuses for you to not go inside the blacksmith shop."

Laney shook her head. "No, this was worth it." She wrapped her arms back around his neck and hugged him tightly.

Loki kept his arms tight around Laney, holding them together. "You know mother is likely already planning the wedding, right?" He chuckled softly.

"Does she know?" Laney asked with a raised eyebrow. "Or do you think she eavesdropped?"

"I don't know if she knows yet. I never told her I was having the ring made, but she has her way of just knowing things." he reminded her.

"I know she does. Either way, I am very happy," Laney said sweetly, then pulled him down for a kiss.

"Should we wait a while or be wed soon? I am only asking as that is the first question mother will have." He said with a little smile once the kiss ended.

Laney shrugged. "What would you like to do? It's your wedding too."

"I'm not sure... part of me wants us to be wed right away, but that would go against tradition." Loki explained.

"What is tradition then?" Laney asked while she played with his hair.

"The first born always weds first unless there is a different heir to the throne. Then the heir weds first. Technically speaking, it goes against tradition for us to court first and have a child first as well." He answered.

"Well, we are different," she replied softly. "Should we ask your mother for advice?"

"Yes, I think we should. Do you want to do that during breakfast? Or another time?" He asked her. Provided Thor doesn't kick my ass when he sees me.

"I think she'll be too excited not to mention it if she already knows."

"Fair point. I'm a little surprised she hasn't shown up here in the room yet." He chuckled. "Come on, let's get ready... I think you should dress up today."

Laney turned and walked back into the bedroom. "What should I wear?" She asked.

"I would love to see you in my colors if you don't mind." Loki answered truthfully then looked through the closet. He pulled out a nicer green dress with gold accents. "Maybe like this?"

She grinned and walked up to him. "It's perfect. Should I... wear something underneath?" She teased.

"Hmmm... let's not wear anything underneath." He replied with a mischievous grin.

Laney ran her hand up his chest, then kissed him. "If I do that, how would you act today?"

"I would act like a perfect gentleman, of course. That is until we could sneak off into the back of the clinic for some quick fun." He replied with a smirk.

Laney giggled. "I'm curious now." Laney took the dress from his hand and laid it on the bed so she could change.

"Does that mean you agree with the plan?" Loki asked her, intrigued by her reaction. "There's always the risk someone could walk in on us in the clinic." He took out clean trousers and a nice tunic, then began to change.

Laney removed her night shirt and shorts before she slipped the dress over her head and tied the tie around her waist. "I am eager to see what you have up your sleeve. You know I've always liked your mischievous side." She turned her back to him, then looked over her shoulder. "Could you tie the neck of this love?"

Loki stepped closer and tied the neck of the dress for her, then pressed a soft kiss to her shoulder. "I will see what I can work out then, for a little fun while we're out." He promised, eager as well.

She turned to face him and straightened his tunic. "Don't tell Thor and Desi of our engagement. I want to see Desi's reaction when she notices the ring."

"Yeah, about that... Thor might kick my ass when he sees me." Loki said with a nervous chuckle. He shifted their shoes on then took her hand to walk out with her.

"Why would Thor be angry with you? What did you do?" She asked.

"I might have switched out the lingerie he bought for something more... fun." Loki grinned, proud of himself. "They needed to loosen up." He said in his own defense as they walked out into the hall.

"Loki!" She scolded playfully. "I don't know if they'll be mad or happy about it."

"That all depends on how their night went... and I'm not really sure what to expect." He said truthfully. "I feel like you would have heard from Desi by now if it went horribly bad though."

Laney nodded as they turned the corner in the hallway. "I think I would have too. It could have helped them," she agreed.

"I hope it helped them, that was my intention after all." When they arrived at the family dining hall, he opened the door for her.

She walked in with her left hand resting on her belly, which was already becoming a habit even if she wasn't showing yet. Inside the room, everyone looked up and smiled at their guests. "Morning everyone," Laney said softly.

"Good morning dear. I bet you have a lot to get us caught up on." Frigga said, smiling brightly at her.

Laney waited until she felt Loki's hand on her lower back and let him lead her to their usual seats. "I might," she replied with a small smirk as she sat down.

Loki grinned and sat down next to Laney. "We would love to hear all about it." Frigga encouraged.

"There's not much to say really," she replied as she made sure to grab her tea with her left hand, showing off the emerald ring on her third finger.

"Dear, you will have to be far more direct for these two." Frigga said, meaning Odin and Thor as neither one was paying much attention.

Laney chuckled and looked at Loki, then back at the table. "Loki and I are betrothed."

"Congratulations." Odin told them and lifted his glass to them.

It took a minute to sink in for Thor, then he got up, walked over, and pulled them both into a huge hug. "I'm so happy for you both!" He chuckled happily.

Laney hugged him back tightly, and giggled at the sound of Loki's grunt. "Thank you Thor." She looked around after he'd let them go. "Where is Desi?"

"She is at her post today. You can join me this afternoon though, I am going to visit during her lunch break." He told Laney.

"I would love to. I told her I would visit after all," Laney replied.

"She sent word this morning that she has someone for us to meet." Thor told both Laney and Loki.

She furrowed her brow as she sipped on her morning tea, not feeling up to eating. "I wonder who that could be."

"She did not say anything more than that, I hoped you might know." Thor admitted, then returned to his seat.

"I haven't heard anything. Actually neither of us have heard from you since we went to our chambers yesterday," she replied.

"Sorry, we just ended up... kind of busy and did not realize the time and Dess had to be up early to go to her post." Thor explained apologetically.

"It's okay Thor, no harm done." Laney looked down at her plate of food as the smell hit her nose. She gulped and gently pushed it away from her.

"Darling, are you alright?" Loki asked, concerned when she pushed the food away.

She shook her head. "Normally I'd be thrilled for eggs and ham, but my stomach is turned."

"Put a few drops of this into your tea, it will help." Frigga told Laney as she handed her a small vial. "I had Desi make it so it would be ready when the morning sickness hit."

Laney nodded and did as instructed before she took a tentative sip. "How long will it take to help?"

"If you take a good couple of drinks of the tea, it will help within a few minutes and will last most of the day." Frigga answered.

Laney nodded and took another long sip of the tea. "Thank you Frigga."

"Of course dear." She said sweetly. "Once that settles your stomach, we can talk about the upcoming ceremony."

It wasn't long before Laney began to feel better and tested her stomach by eating a few berries. "Me and Loki actually had questions about that. We know he's not the first born, nor is he the oldest. It's not exactly tradition."

Frigga nodded. "No it's not tradition, but there are always exceptions. I think in this case, it would be proper for Thor to decide as he is also courting." She replied, then took a bite of her food.

Laney nodded in understanding as she reached for a strawberry. "That makes sense."

"Speaking of... what are your thoughts on this?" Frigga asked, turning to Thor. "What do you see for your future with Desi?"

Thor's eyes widened. "Umm. I had not thought far into it, mother. We haven't really known each other that long."

"I know dear, but the time is coming when you will be named king, and that means a lot of pressure for your relationship. I have already received several notes on the matter from other kingdoms." Frigga explained, feeling bad for Thor.

Thor sighed and sat back in his seat. "I do not want to pressure Desi into anything. She walks on eggshells around me now as it is."

"Just as you do around her." Frigga pointed out. "She did not seem so nervous when we talked this morning though."

Thor smirked as he looked down at his plate. "We spent the night getting to know one another better. I think things will be more relaxed now."

"You will still need to talk about these things with her. After you two have decided a few things, then we can make a plan for Loki and Laney." She told Thor. "If it will not work out, there are several kingdoms ready to send suitors."

He resisted the urge to roll his eyes, and instead ran a hand through his hair. "I want to be with Desi, mother. It would be nice if we could have some time. Loki is well ahead of me in relationships."

Frigga gave Thor a soft smile. "I know he is, and this isn't what I hoped for you." She said truthfully. "I had to go through this same thing myself. Your father and I were together only a few weeks before our marriage was arranged."

"I don't want to push Desi into a marriage if it's not something she wants," Thor defended. "I care about her a lot."

"I'm not saying to push her into anything. I think for right now, it is important to just make sure you both feel the same. Like, see if you both feel marriage is a possibility at some point, the same with children. If you have any differences in feelings, this would be the time to work on those compromises." Frigga clarified.

Thor rubbed the back of his neck and nodded. "I will speak with her this evening."

"I truly am sorry you can't have more time. None of us expected your father's health to decline like this." She said with sincerity. "Your father and I are both here to help you both through this."

"Thank you mother, father," he replied respectfully, then looked down at his half eaten meal, suddenly not up to eating any longer.

"Don't be discouraged son, it will be fine." Odin assured Thor. "Take a week to just think it through. Your brother might be able to help with relationship advice as well. As you said before, his relationship experience is more advanced than any of ours."

Thor looked over at his brother with a prideful smile. "I am happy he has found his love. He deserves it."

"Don't be so sure you haven't found your love yet. This is one factor of having the throne that I never envied. These traditions are terrible." Loki replied, then finished his last bite of food.

Thor chuckled. "Terrible at times, but I understand why they do what they do. I want to explore the relationship between Desi and I and I will speak to her today."

"Back to last night though, did you get my note?" Loki asked his brother with a little smirk.

"Yes," Thor answered with a widened smile. "Thank you for that."

"I take it, I picked the right outfit? I saw a couple more that she might like as well." Loki said, relieved he didn't mess anything up.

"I might take you up on that offer," he chuckled.

"Good, they are already in your dresser, top drawer on the left." Loki grinned. "You should also unpack for her, if you don't have any other plans after lunch."

Thor nodded as he rubbed his chin. "That sounds like a wonderful idea."

"Make sure you pick out something for them that might get me more grandchildren." Frigga told Loki with a little grin as she glanced at Thor.

"I will see what I can do." Loki agreed and tightened his arm around Laney. Laney blushed and shook her head. She felt better, but her stomach still felt uneasy. "How are you feeling now darling? Did that help you any?" Loki asked Laney.

She nodded. "It did, but I still feel uneasy," she replied.

"Uneasy? As in sick or like something is going to happen?" Loki asked with growing concern.

"My stomach Loki, that's all," she replied softly. "I don't think I could eat anymore."

"Do you want to go lay down? I will send word to Desi that you do not feel well, and see if she can bring something this evening that will better calm your stomach." Loki promised.

Laney nodded as she sat back in her seat with a hand on her belly. "I hope she won't be upset at me."

"I can't see her being upset darling." He assured Laney, then turned to his brother. "Could you let Desi know and ask her about something that might help Laney better?" He asked Thor.

Thor nodded, a look of concern on his face. "I will do that brother."

"Thank you. Also let her know she is welcome to stop by and visit when she returns. I know Laney still wants to hear about her first day." Loki added, then stood up. Instead of offering his hand, he picked Laney up bridal style to carry her.

"Loki! Love, I can walk..." she said softly.

"I know, but you don't feel well, so I don't want you to overdo it." Loki said sweetly as he carried her out of the dining hall.

Laney sighed, but snuggled against his chest. "You sure know how to spoil me."

"Of course I do, and I love spoiling you." Loki said with a smile. When he approached their chambers, a simple spell opened the door for them, and he carried her in to bed. "Is there anything I can get for you darling?" He asked as he tucked her in.

She shook her head. "I don't need anything sweetheart. Are you staying here or are you going to go with Thor?"

"I was going to stay with you... unless you feel I should go with him." Loki replied and sat on the edge of the bed.

"I don't want you to feel like you have to stay," Laney replied, "But if you want to... I'd love to cuddle."

"I will ask him. With all of this new pressure, if he feels he needs me to go, or wants me to, I will. If he doesn't, then I will stay and cuddle." Loki said with a little smile. "Will you be alright while I go ask him?"

Laney nodded, then yawned. "I'll be okay, go talk to your brother."

"Get some sleep darling." Loki leaned down and kissed her softly. After making sure she was tucked in, he got up and left. Since it was still fairly early, he decided to check Thor's chambers first.