For the first time in a month, Sigyn and Loki ventured to the main dining hall to have breakfast with the Royal family. Sigyn couldn't resist wearing a green dress even though it made her and Loki look all matchy-matchy. Frigga and Odin were already in the hall when Loki and Sigyn entered, and the Queen rose from her seat to embrace the pair.

"Good morning!" She greeted as she hugged Loki and Sigyn in turn. "It is wonderful to see you both out and about again!"

Odin approached the pair as well and smiled down at them.

"The first month always goes by too fast doesn't it?" He remarked.

Sigyn smiled, but did not respond as Frigga grabbed her by the arm and led her to the table while asking about how their month of isolation had been. Sigyn smiled and conversed with the Queen happily, but did glance back to see Odin speaking with Loki. Though Loki kept his face impassive, Sigyn saw a flash of foreboding in his eyes. She sighed to herself inwardly. Not even a day after their honeymoon was over, and Odin was already assailing her husband with tasks to be completed. She scolded herself inwardly for her disappointment. Loki enjoyed the work he did for the War Council, even though it had scarred him. The two men soon joined Frigga and Sigyn at the breakfast table, and Thor strolled in a little later.

"Loki! Sigyn!" He greeted enthusiastically upon entering. "I had forgotten that you were to rejoin the Realm of the living today."

He took a seat next to Loki and began to fill his plate.

"So did you enjoy your month together?"

"We did." Loki affirmed.

"And what exactly did you do to keep yourself occupied?"

"Married people things, Thor. We did some reading, took a few strolls in the garden…"

"A bit of riding…" Sigyn added with a sly smile at Loki.

He returned a little grin of his own.

"Yes, you did do a fair bit of that, didn't you?"

Thor let out a deep baritone chuckle at her jest towards him, and then the conversation moved away from Sigyn and Loki's time together to cover what they had missed in their absence. There wasn't really anything that interesting or out of the ordinary in the way of news. Some battles here and there, another betrothal, a pregnancy, etc. The time passed agreeably, and Sigyn and Loki returned to their wing of the palace after the meal was complete.

"So what is it that the AllFather spoke to you about before breakfast?" she asked once they were in the privacy of their bedchamber.

"He, and the War Council, wishes to meet with me to discuss a few assignments."

"I thought as much… does this mean I will have the afternoon to myself?"

"A good deal of it, yes."

Sigyn nodded in understanding.

"Then will it be acceptable if I go visit my sister?"

"Of course, there is no need to ask my permission." Loki assured. "Will you return before dinner?"

"Of course."

"Then I shall see you then." He stated before placing a kiss on her forehead and striding out of the room.

Sigyn was out the door soon after Loki, and arrived at Frida's home before lunch. Frida threw her arms around Sigyn excitedly upon seeing her little sister.

"I had hoped you would come visit me today!" She proclaimed happily.

"I am sorry I didn't send you a note asking if it would be all right for me to drop by." Sigyn apologized.

"Nonsense, you are my sister, there is no need for you to announce your arrival!" Frida assured before pulling Sigyn inside. "Sigrún will be very happy to see you. She has missed getting to play with her Aunt."

Sigyn smiled.

"Well I have missed her as well."

Sigrún was playing with a stuffed toy when Frida and Sigyn entered, but immediately placed her attention on the women when they walked in. She stood from her spot on the floor and waddled over to Sigyn excitedly. She began to tug on Sigyn's dress when she reached her, and Sigyn picked her up.

"Well hello there Siggy! How are you today?"

Sigrún went to give Sigyn's hair a firm yank as her response, but discovered that Sigyn's hair was piled atop her head out of her reach. Instead, she pulled at the necklace around Sigyn's neck.

"Now be careful with that Siggy, it was a gift." Sigyn admonished while sitting down on the settee with Frida.

"From Loki?" Frida inquired.

"Yes, from Loki."

"It is gorgeous. Where did he get it?"

"He got it on one of his trips to Nidavellir." Sigyn explained in partial truthfulness.

"So did you enjoy your first month of married bliss?"

"I did, though both Loki and I did feel a little restless after a time. We practically couldn't leave our wing of the palace."

"Yes, the first month can feel a little restrictive. So what is Loki doing this afternoon?"

"Spending it with Odin and the War Council."

"So soon? Could they not give him one day back in society before sending him off to do their dirty work?"

"It would appear not. Frida, may I be honest with you?"

"I expect you to be."

"I worry about Loki, and what he does for the War Council."

"Its only natural you should." Frida assured.

"I just don't think they realize what they are asking him to do. The work is dangerous not just physically, but mentally."

"Have you spoken to Loki about your concern?"

"Not really. I did mention that it could potentially put me in danger as well, which is why he is now training me in self-defense."

Frida looked from Sigyn to Sigrún.

"And what about once you have children? What will he do then?"

Sigyn looked down at Sigrún with a new sense of worry. She hadn't even considered what it would be like when children entered the picture. In a way, they would make an even easier target than she would.

"We haven't even discussed children yet." Sigyn admitted.

"You haven't?"

"Well no, isn't it a bit soon to be discussing that? We've only been married a month after all."

"I don't think there is really a 'too soon' or 'too late' when it comes to discussing children. The right time to talk about it is when you feel it is right. Markus and I discussed how long we wanted to wait to have children before we were even married."

"Did you and Markus agree on how long you should wait before attempting to have children?"

"At first? No, but once we talked it over we were able to come up with a length of time we could both agree on."

Sigyn returned her niece to the floor so that she could release some of her boundless energy. As she watched her play, Sigyn couldn't help but feel a tug at her heart. Was it wrong of her to want to start a family as soon as possible? It wasn't that she didn't love it just being Loki and herself, but they had been together for so long that it wasn't like they hadn't shared plenty of time together. She unconsciously ran her hand over her abdomen as she watched Siggy. Even if they started trying for a child now, it wasn't likely that they would beget one any time soon. It could take years; decades even, for Loki to successfully impregnate her. Just the thought of carrying Loki's child, and possible heir, brought a warmth to her heart.

"Do you think I would make a good mother, Frida?"

"I don't see why you wouldn't. You have always been good with children, Sigyn. Not to say you won't mess up here or there, every parent does, but that is what learning to be a parent is about."

Sigyn had lunch with Frida and Markus, and though the topic of conversation changed, Sigyn couldn't shake the thought of children from her mind. On her way back to the palace she decided that she would broach the topic with Loki that evening after dinner. She spent the remainder of her afternoon sitting in the gardens journaling, a hobby that she was shamefully behind on. She dropped her journal off in the bedroom before suppertime, and waited there a couple of minutes to see if Loki would come to wash up before the meal. He didn't make an appearance so she stopped by his study, their sitting room, and the library before giving up her search and heading to the dining hall alone.

"He must have gone to train with Thor after his meeting with the AllFather…" She told herself.

She was surprised to find that she was the first one to arrive for dinner, so she took the opportunity to stand out on the balcony and look over the kingdom. Asgard shone golden as the sun began to set, and she mindlessly fingered the green gem at her neck.

"That necklace is beautiful. Did Loki get it for you?" Frigga's voice inquired.

Sigyn looked over her shoulder to see the Queen approaching her.

"He did, My Queen." She acknowledged with a small smile.

Frigga came to stand next to Sigyn on the balcony.

"We will have to break you of the habit of calling me that. I am your mother by law now Sigyn, and I can't have my only daughter referring to me as 'My Queen' and 'Your Majesty' all the time."

"What would you prefer me to call you then?"

"I would say mother, but you already have one of those. Frigga, is perfectly satisfactory. Now tell me, your jewel is not of Asgard, so did Loki purchase it from the dwarves?"

"He did."

"And did you pick it out, or did my son?"

"Loki did, considering I have never been to Nidavellir I could hardly have chosen it."

Frigga gave Sigyn a small knowing smile.

"Of course you haven't, so how was your sister?"

"Wonderful… hang on, how did you know I went to visit Frida?"

"Loki told me before he left."

"Before he left? Where did he go?"

Frigga sighed.

"He didn't leave you a note or anything?"

"I didn't see one, but I admittedly wasn't looking for one. Where did Loki go?"

"Off on some errand for the War Council." Frigga confided. "I told him he should have at least left you a note telling you that he wouldn't be here this evening."

"Well he told me that he would be speaking with the Council this afternoon, but he didn't mention anything about being sent off!"

"He wouldn't have known he was being sent off till the meeting. Whatever is the matter, it must be important for him to see to it immediately. Especially when I know he would rather be here with his wife…"

"Would he rather be here with me? He just spent the last month enduring my company after all. Perhaps going on some silly mission for the War Council was his way of getting some enjoyment in."

"Oh Sigyn, there is nothing Loki enjoys more than spending time with you. I have never seen him so happy as I did this morning. Why after a solid month in your company he was practically glowing with happiness and pride. You have always given him confidence, and never has it been more evident then his appearance today."

Sigyn smiled and leaned on the railing of the balcony.

"Forgive me for being so negative. I know you are right; I am just a tad disappointed I suppose. Is it selfish of me that I don't wish to share him with anybody? I wish he had to spend every moment with me!" Sigyn stated with a laugh.

"Perhaps a tad selfish, but completely understandable. I certainly felt the same way when I married Odin. Just take comfort in the knowledge that Loki feels the same way. In fact, he probably feels even more covetous of you."

"Yet again, you are probably correct. Loki was always rather possessive, even at the beginning of our friendship, so I can only imagine how much more so he has become now that we are married."

"It is certainly one of Loki's stronger personality traits. When he keeps it in check it is rather endearing, but it certainly caused plenty of problems when he and Thor were young children."

An image of a toddler Loki and Thor arguing over playthings came to Sigyn's mind, and she giggled.

"Yes, I imagine that did cause some problems. I honestly don't know how you raised them without losing your mind."

"It wasn't as difficult as it could have been. Loki was always fairly calm, which offset Thor's rambunctiousness, and they generally got on well with one another. Loki always tagged along behind Thor, and Thor loved dragging Loki along with him. It wasn't really till they were older that I had to begin really keeping an eye out on them. Thor was nothing short of destructive as a young teenager, and Loki was always getting into some sort of mischief, but of course you already know that."

"Was two children a good number to have?"

"I believe that it was, but I am sure not every mother would agree with me on that."

Sigyn focused her eyes on the setting sun.

"I think two would be an agreeable number of children to have. What do you think Loki would say to that?"

"I am not sure, you would have to ask him." Frigga answered while studying Sigyn's serene expression.

"I had planned on discussing it with him this evening, but it looks like that conversation will have to wait till later…" Sigyn remarked with a little rueful smile.

The Queen gave Sigyn's hand a little comforting squeeze.

"There will be time enough to discuss it when he gets back." She assured before walking to the dining table.

Sigyn paused on the balcony a moment longer, and then followed the Queen to the table. She stayed rather quiet that evening as she ate with her in-laws. It was the first time she had ever eaten a meal with all of them without Loki, but she had a feeling that it wouldn't be the last time. She retired to her bedchambers after the meal, and lay on the bed alone. She stared at the empty space next to her and sighed. It felt wrong for Loki not to be there, and she stirred at every small noise expecting to see her husband walk through the door. She fell asleep feeling very alone, and she felt the same sense of loneliness when she awoke the next morning. Sigyn ate breakfast with the rest of the Royal Family, and then went to spend the day with her mother and father. Loki did not return that evening, but she did find a message from him sitting on her pillow before she left for dinner.

"Darling Sigyn,

I came to report in to the War Council, but found you to be gone when I came to check on you. Forgive me for my absence, but the matter I have at hand needed to be addressed immediately. I stopped in on Mother for a couple of minutes while I was back at the palace, and she mentioned that you had something you wished to discuss with me when I returned. I look forward to this mysterious discussion, for Mother would not breathe a word of what it was about to me, and to sharing your bed once more. Remember; trust no one while I am away.

Yours affectionately,

Loki"

Sigyn took the note and tucked it away amidst the pages of her journal. At least she knew that Loki was all right. She ate dinner with the Royal Family, and retired to her room just as she had the evening before. Sigyn passed the next day by taking Roan out for a ride, and by the time she returned to wash up before dinner, Loki had returned from his mission. He was just leaving the washroom when Sigyn came in.

"Loki!" She exclaimed while bouncing over to throw her arms around him.

"Hello Darling." He replied while wrapping his arms around her.

"Are you merely here to report to the Council again?" She enquired.

"No, my task is complete, and I have already spoken to them."

"Wonderful!... I missed you."

"I wasn't even gone a full two days." Loki pointed out, obviously amused.

"Yes, but you left without any warning to me."

"I shall endeavour to warn you the next time I must go off then. Is that agreeable to you?"

"Very agreeable." Sigyn replied before letting Loki go and slipping into the wash chambers.

"So Mother said you had something you wished to discuss with me. What is it?" He asked from the other room.

"A conversation that I believe would best be had after dinner." She responded.

"Very well. Tell me, how did you spend your past couple of days? Is your sister well?"

Sigyn told Loki about how she spent her time in his absence while rinsing off, and when she reemerged he was ready to escort her to the dining hall. Sigyn was visibly happier now that Loki was back, and she participated in the conversation with vigour. After the meal was finished, Thor invited the couple to join he, Lady Sif, and the Warriors Three for a little evening relaxation. Loki and Sigyn agreed to join them, and the trio made their way to the usual sitting room. Sigyn let the brothers catch up as they walked to the room, and just held onto Loki's arm contentedly. They were the first to arrive, but Sif and the Warriors Three showed up not too long after Sigyn, Loki, and Thor did. The couple were greeted by their long time companions, and after asking a few questions about Sigyn and Loki's four weeks alone, conversation flowed to the usual topics. Sigyn stayed curled up on one of the settees while Loki took his normal spot against the balcony railing. Volastagg told his usual over-dramatized stories while Fandral inserted his usual teasing comments, Sif smiled and rolled her eyes, and Thor laughed at the retelling. Sigyn listened happily, while sneaking glances at Loki who was looking on with amused detachment. It felt nice to be in the company of their friends once more. The night passed pleasantly, but Sigyn knew it was far from done as she and Loki strolled back to their wing of the palace. The moonlight washed the corridors in a pale glow, and caused her husband's naturally… well magically pale skin to gleam white.

"So what was the discussion that you wished to have with me?" He asked as they sauntered along.

"Well, as you know, I went to visit Frida the other day, and she brought up a very interesting observation. Yes, you can teach me how to defend myself should someone try to harm me to get to you, but what will we do when we have children? How are we to protect them from your enemies?"

Loki stopped walking and looked down at Sigyn.

"Children?"

Sigyn felt her heart drop at the questioning in his tone. Perhaps he didn't want children after all…

"Yes, children. I had thought that perhaps you might like to start a family at some point, but if it doesn't interest you then there is no need to concern ourselves with how we will pro…"

Sigyn's statement was interrupted as Loki crashed his lips into hers.

"Is that a yes?" She asked breathlessly as Loki pulled away." Are you interested in discussing the possibility of hav…"

Loki kissed her fervidly again, and Sigyn began to think that Loki was very fond of the idea of children.

"Yes, that is a yes." He answered before kissing her again.

"So… should we…discuss… when we might… want… to… start attempting… for a child?" Sigyn asked in between Loki's kisses.

"Is… now too soon… to start for… you?" Loki responded huskily.

"Now is…perfect." She assured him.

That conversation had been much more simple than she had expected it to be, but she wasn't going to complain. Sigyn was swept off of her feet, and for the first time ever she and Loki coupled without any magic to stop his seed from taking root.