Author's Note: Ok, I hadn't planned on updating this soon, but this chapter was finished (as are the next two) so I figured why not? Anyhow, there is a time jump in this scene but don't worry, Loki will fill us in on the details we need to know :) I suppose it could be rated 'M' but I think it is more 'PG13'ish. Either way, you have been warned! Ohhhh Sigyn also made up a word in this scene… don't hate me. Snow White Queen never fear, I am simply happy to receive reviews at all so there is no disappointment on my end! I found yours to be very encouraging despite it not being "decent" :P As for the scene between Loki and Fandral, I am glad that it seemed original. Loki is smart enough to know that he is not going to be able to deceive Fandral on this topic. Knowledge is power, and he knows Fandral has a lot more knowledge on this subject than he does. Loki is the 'god of lies and deceit,' but that does not mean he is lying and deceiving all the time, and i think that is a fact people tend to miss. Loki is such a believable liar because he also knows how to balance his lies with truth. If he lied all the time no one would believe a word he says, but because he has proven that he does tell the truth at times he remains unpredictable. He could go either way, and I think that is what he gets such a kick out of. Reteka Hyuuga I am very glad to hear from you again :) You are correct to assume that you aren't going to discover who our mysterious stalker is yet, but never fear you will find out someday. I am very glad that the love scene seemed tasteful, it was quite a difficult thing for me to write. MithrilEvanesco Awwww thank you so much! I was actually blushing from happiness when I read your comment, granted I probably blush more than the average person anyways... regardless of that fact, it made me very feel very confident in a chapter that I had been extremely worried about posting! Well thank you Megsy0 :) I am very glad to hear that it stayed classy. Hopefully I can keep my future chapters from becoming trashy!


Loki leaned on the rail of his balcony. There were a few people meandering about the gardens despite the early hour, but he had fortunately had the sense to put his trousers back on before greeting the rising sun. He threw a glance over his shoulder to where his lover lay covered only by the sheets of his bed. He and Sigyn's relationship had stayed hidden longer than anyone would have thought possible with the scrutiny that he faced as a Prince, but the romantic nature of it had come out years ago. How long had they been lovers anyway? Loki had lost count of the years that had passed since their first night together. Goodness, that first night still haunted him, but Sigyn never held it over him. It hadn't been the last time he reached his climax before her during their earlier rendezvous, but he had never failed to finish her one way or another after her initial frustration. All of those failures lay clear in the past however. It had taken time, but he liked to think that he and Sigyn were fairly skillful lovers now. As for the reaction to the relationship… well that was fairly mixed. He knew Sigyn's brother was not happy about it, but Frida didn't seem to mind. Sigyn's parents had never forbidden her from seeing him, but he knew that they didn't really have that option. He was a Prince; if he wanted Sigyn to warm his bed all he had to do was command her to do so and they couldn't really command her to do otherwise. His mother never mentioned their intimate dealings, but he knew that Frigga was fond of Sigyn all the same. The AllFather didn't seem to care one way or another, typical, though he got the feeling that Odin was relieved that he was not sleeping with every girl he saw like his brother. Thor and the others gave him endless grief over Sigyn, but he was always able to retort that Sigyn's desire to stay with him was a mark of how good a lover he was unlike Thor and Fandral, who could never get the same girl to sleep with them twice. He and the others were well aware that both Thor and Fandral could get the same girl twice if they wanted to, but that remark was always enough to stop the teasing. As much as Loki loved that particular retort though, he had to give the credit to Sigyn since she had been the one to come up with it.

Speaking of Sigyn… Loki heard soft footsteps behind him and he smiled as he turned to see her making her way quietly over to him wrapped in a green blanket… except Loki wasn't entirely sure that it was a blanket…

"Is… is that my cape?" He asked in an amused tone.

"I don't know. Was your cape tossed carelessly over the chair by your desk?"

"Yes..."

"Then yes, it is your cape." Sigyn replied with a soft laugh. "Should I remove it, My Prince?"

Loki pulled her in and rested his chin atop her head.

"As much as I prefer to see you without it, I have no intention of sharing the sight of your body with anyone. Not even the beams of the morning sun."

"So I take it you are still preparing that magical tower?" Sigyn teased.

Loki stroked her tangled hair.

"Most assuredly. I can't risk anyone stealing you away from me."

"You don't need a magical tower to assure that." Sigyn replied before placing a chaste kiss on his chest.

"What did I do to deserve you?" Loki mused aloud.

Sigyn looked contemplative for a moment and then shrugged.

"I don't know, that is a good question."

Loki let out an offended 'ah' and gave Sigyn a scolding squeeze around the shoulders, to which Sigyn replied with a giggle.

"I believe the real question is what did I do to deserve you?" She returned.

"Well let me think… you left me standing all alone on a dance floor, you disrespected my station, you acted like a stubborn mule, you fell out of a tree and landed on me, you stole from me, you had the court gossiping about my cheating ways, you slapped me… shall I go on?"

"I have been a busy girl haven't I?" Sigyn observed with a smile.

"You seem very proud of that." Loki noted.

"I am. Not many can say they have out-chaosed the 'god of chaos'."

"I am the 'god of lies and deceit' not chaos." Loki pointed out.

"Lies and deceit tend to end in chaos, I am just taking the next logical step."

"Always taking the next logical step aren't we?"

"I have to if I want to stay ahead of you." Sigyn noted.

"Very true… Shall we play a game then?"

"A game?"

"Yes, to test your abilities at keeping a step ahead of me."

"Fine, what is the game."

"I will describe a situation to you, and you must tell me what the next logical step is."

"It sounds amusing enough..."

"Very well, here is your scenario. A Prince holds his lover on the balcony of his chambers in plain sight of anyone awake in time to see the sunrise. What does he do?"

"He most certainly sweeps her off her feet and carries her into the safety of his chambers."

"Quite right." Loki replied before doing just that.

"Now that she is safe from prying eyes what is his next move?"

"He takes her to his bed."

"Mmm I think you skipped a step."

"Did I?"

"Yes, before he can take her to his bed he must kiss her."

Loki kissed her quickly and then placed her on the bed.

"The Prince has now returned his lover to his bed, and has taken the time to admire how perfect she looks there. What should he do now?"

"He should join her there since no lover is happy to merely look at the object of their desires from a distance."

"Too true." Loki replied before mounting on top of her. "So now the lovers find themselves in a familiar position, and the Prince discovers that he wishes to explore his Lady's body. Where does he start?"

"Her eyes."

"Her eyes? Why her eyes?" Loki asked curiously.

"Because her eyes will act as a guide to where she desires him to explore, and the Prince is an attentive lover who always seeks to please his Lady."

"Fair enough. So let us say that he has read the desire of her eyes, and now knows where to explore first. Does he use his fingers or his lips?"

"His fingers. While the Prince is known to be unpredictable in some things, in others he is quite the creature of habit."

"He is, is he?" Loki queried while tracing her clavicle bone with his long fingers. "And if he is such a creature of habit, what will he do next?" He whispered while ghosting his lips along the same trail his fingers had just explored.

"He will be interrupted by the maid who has come to bring his breakfast." Sigyn whispered in his ear.

"What?" Loki asked in surprise.

Sigyn nodded her head towards the door and Loki looked behind him. There, standing in the doorway, was a maid with his breakfast on a tray.

"Damn." He muttered under his breath.

"I know, and I was just beginning to really like this game." Sigyn cooed.

Loki gave her an annoyed look, but Sigyn just smiled.

"You can leave it on the table." Loki directed while rolling off of Sigyn.

The maid nodded and did as she was bid without showing any signs of surprise at what she had just witnessed. Chances were she had walked in on Thor in much more compromising acts before. No one had ever walked in on he and Sigyn in the past, but he normally had the sense to seal his door shut with magic. The maid closed the door, and Loki sauntered over to the table.

"Are you going to stay and have breakfast with me?" He asked as Sigyn redressed.

"Unfortunately, no. I should return home. Frida is due any day now, and I need to be there with mother when the word comes."

"How has Frida handled the pregnancy?" Loki inquired.

"As well as can be expected for her first child, but I know mother is still worried. Arnora didn't show any signs of trouble during her pregnancy, and we lost both her and the baby." Sigyn pointed out.

"So is it safe to assume I won't be seeing you for the next few days?"

"Yes. To be honest, if everything goes well, it could be a week or so before you see me again. Once the baby comes Frida will need help, and if things don't go well…"

"Don't even think it, Sigyn." Loki warned.

"I have to face the fact that something could go wrong, Loki. It happened once, and it could happen again. If something is to happen I am not sure when I will get to see you next."

"Then let us assume everything is going to be all right." Loki replied before taking Sigyn into an embrace. "I don't deserve you." He stated before planting a kiss on her forehead.

"Nor I, you." She replied.

A twinge of guilt pulsated through Loki as he looked into Sigyn's trusting eyes. No one could possibly be worthy of her affections, least of all him, yet she stood by him despite his many flaws. She truly was a remarkable woman. He kissed her deeply before releasing her from his embrace and watching her leave his chambers with a final smile in his direction. He truly hoped for Sigyn's sake that everything would be all right. That was a family that couldn't handle yet another loss.