Punishable by... Drowning!

LokiXOC

Disclaimer: I do not own marvel or Avengers

Everything

Chapter 4:

Arabelle sat in her room, hands trembling as she looked to the vanity. Bare and striking, she was cold to the breeze that passed through the room, but it was fear that rose bumps on her skin. She had just spent an hour in the healer's room. Loki in shackles, his ever present smirk on his lips, but his eyes would always turn to her and take in her look of uncertainty. The healer would tell her if she was ill or if she really was pregnant. A burning in her stomach struck her as she knew Loki's plan would crumble. He should have known.

And he did know.

Because after being laid down on a table, warm golden hands ran over her stomach and down inbetween her legs. Never intrusive, but always providing heat, the hands showed an image above her like a mortal X-ray. But better, because in the glitter of the image, she saw something. A lump, it was light and barely there, but it was a definite lump. The lump of life.

"She is pregnant."

Pregnant.

But… there was no way. They hadn't… she didn't… but they…

Words swirled in her ears as she thought back to the healer.

"It is the child of Loki."

Child of Loki.

Annabell was pregnant. It had to be magic, she never slept with Loki. Wanting to, oh there were many lonely nights when she wanted to. She could just imagine him on her skin, but that never ACTUALLY happened. So how come the healer checked and checked, but she was pregnant, no matter who checked. They even made Loki leave and forced him practically out of the castle. The results still the same.

Steam from her scalding bath still came off her flesh as she stared into the vanity. So many told her she was pregnant, she was actually starting to believe it.

"Staring in the mirror to gain answers, or shut out the voices?" A silky, snake like voice slipped against her ear as Loki appeared beside her. His lips against her ear first, then he was there. Harsh heat hit her cheeks as she jumped and wrapped her arms against her chest as Loki stood there. His face never fell as he stood proudly in her room.

How long had he been there?

"Now, Annabell, don't you think you're over-reacting?" his perfectly black eyebrow arched over his eyes. His almost black as night orbs stared right at her, trapping her before him. Annabell didn't move, only watched like a scared doe in headlights as Loki encroached on her. Arms and hands softly, he slid his arms around her and pulled her close.

"Am I pregnant." She hissed into his chest.

"Now, if you really were, would you be this confused?" he soothed into her ear.

"How?" She questioned as calmly as she could, trying not to grit her teeth.

"I do believe, you once said, a magician never reveals his secret." Loki teased lightly, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple. Annabell shivered, the heat of her shower suddenly cooled by his touch. Not that it was unwanted, but at the moment, she didn't want anything from him but clarity. A buzzing bees work in her head, Annabell pulled her head back and looked up to him.

"Your illusion can fool them for now, but… what happens when they begin to look for actual signs of pregnancy." She whispered, her voice hoarse in her throat. That's when she saw his lips stretch into a smirk that she'd never seen before. Her whole body trembled as his hands that had once been around her back slipped to her own biceps. Weak from the days events, and weak to the tingle between her thighs, she let him push her arms down as he pressed a kiss to her temple.

"Well, I can change this illusion to an actual thing." His breath on her face. Her shivering continued and tears actually came to her face. She didn't want them, but they actually appeared as she shook her head vigorously. His smirk fell and his face clouded over as his hands clenched her bicep.

"No…" She gasped for air, shaking her head one more time. "No… Not like this. I don't… I don't want this to just be about my silly heritage or a fight to find out your enemies." She ripped from his grip, her chest bouncing uncomfortably as she crossed her arms across her chest again. Loki didn't stop her as she grabbed her robe and pulled it on her.

"What do you want from me?" He spoke between ground teeth.

"Nothing." She breathed, turning to look at him. "If it's not what you want."

Loki furrowed his brows.

"I don't want your child, if you don't want a child with me." Annabell stated more firmly.

He turned, his face shrouded again, like he was shutting her out of his thoughts.

"I don't want you to touch me again." She growled, her fists shaking, "unless it's me you want and not revenge." She snapped. His distance from her was now grinding under her skin. He turned to leave and she snapped further. Lunging, she grasped his hand and yanked him back to face her.

"DON'T YOU IGNORE ME-"

There it was, his cold stare, it was calculating and harsh. She'd seen that look in his eyes before, and she didn't like it focused on her.

"Don't assume that because I am quiet that I can not hear you, Annabell." He spoke between ground teeth. "You should get some sleep, Thor is requiring me to finish vows to Oden before I am released into your and his custody for the wedding and birth of our child" His words almost cut into her veins as she watched him slip from her grasp. Annabell watched him leave her shattered for a second time.

She knew he cared for her, how could he not. The passion they shared, it had be true. She trusted him.

But the question was truly, did he love her? Or did their passion fade away in that jail cell. Annabell let him walk away before collapsing to the ground. Heart fallen to the floor, her metaphorical bleeding heart flopped and beat until it ended its final beat in front of her. He just walked away.

He showed a want to make love to her, but it had been for the wrong reasons.

Did Annabell loose Loki for the second time, and this time, was he lost to her completely. The man she loved, the dark haired monster whom she believed with all her heart to be her true love… had she followed the wrong monster home?

~!~!~

"Loki!" A low hiss came to his left and before the storming man could stop to look who it was, a golden light pinned him against a pillar. Here, in the golden palace he grew up in, he found he was once again, not safe. But it wasn't an enemy, but in fact a familiar, loving face. A soft look came upon his face as his mother stepped from the shadows.

"It is… good to see you mother, you look well." Loki breathed as the beauty of a maiden stepped up to him and let him slide down the pillar.

"I know what you've done Loki." The raven haired god of mischief smirked and cocked his head.

"I know not of what you…" He stopped when Frigga gave him that look. A look he had been raised on. The look that spoke of her knowledge, her expertise, and more importantly, her disbelief of his fluid silver tongue.

"She's not with child, not truthfully at least." Frigga whispered softly as she stepped closer to Loki.

"Mother I-"

"Look, I know not the reasons you cast that spell on her, but it will fade and your lie will taste sour on your tongue when they drag you back to that cell." Frigga warned. Loki rolled his eyes and shrugged off the charm she put on his body, releasing himself from the hold of her golden power. Settling against the pillar comfortably, he looked around. He knew they were alone, but his eyes proved him correct.

"Mother, it's not about me this time." Loki breathed in deeply. That's when Frigga's face softened and he hardened his when she gasped. Her hands to her lips as a smile broke her lips. She looked so young when she smiled, like a woman just kissed by her true love as she looked to Loki.

"You are trying to save her." She breathed.

"Don't read into it mother, I just-"

"And just when I had given up hope," She grinned and cupped his cheeks. "Loki, I will support you in your efforts, but remember…that sometimes you look cold to others. Try smiling. It'll help." Without a chance to argue, his mother had his arm in her hands and would not say another word. "Come, your father demands your presence." Loki went to scowl and protest, AGAIN, that Odin was not, and would never be his father. But his mother didn't allow another word in.

Author's notes: There is nothing I can say to apologize enough for my absence,