Authors Note: (( Special guest appearing in this chapter, and more secrets revealed, Rated for the usual swearing, romance and what not, may be uncomfortable moments you have been warned, Enjoy!))

Ch.16

A few days had turned into a few weeks and Khaleesi could still not bring herself to mention the All-Mothers gift to Clint. She had never kept anything from him before and it brought an uncomfortable tightness to her chest. They had decided the wedding would happen at the estate, on the first clear day. Thor had managed to send word that he would be visiting soon and bringing a surprise with him. Khaleesi had found that particular piece of news interesting. Clint however had given the hand written letter an irritated frown and exclaimed he did not like surprises.

Khaleesi had not been certain before, but as she neared the kitchen the following evening and came close enough to smell the rabbit simmering in the pot she felt her stomach lurch. She stopped dead in her tracks and held the back of her hand against her mouth. Taking slow steady breaths she made to continue on her way. Another breath and she was turning on her heel grabbing her skirts in one hand and covering her mouth with the other.

She barely was able to turn on the water of the tub fast enough to drown out the sound of her retching. When she was certain she could empty her stomach no more she flushed her mouth with water from the running facet. Patting a clean towel against her mouth she looked at herself in the mirror. She did not look so different she thought though she was quite certain now. She leaned up against the sink and she gathered her thoughts. Out of nowhere it seemed she could hear Thor's booming voice calling out to her and Clint from somewhere near the Den. Panic gripped her and all she could think was. Now, Now you come? She wanted nothing more than to crawl beneath the covers of their bed and hide.

Knowing that was not the proper thing to do she forced herself to find some sense of composure. Picking up her comb she gave a few forceful brush strokes to her long hair working out the rebellious curls. Her hands nervously fretting over her dress calming her features she exited the bath and walked briskly towards the den. What met her there was quite the surprise indeed. Thor stood in the den a smile reaching his eyes and he threw open his arms in greeting. "Lady Khaleesi! Congratulations are in order I dare say. I was most pleased when Clint expressed his desire to wed you." Khaleesi had thought she could keep her features cool and steady but she heard little of what Thor had to say. Her gaze was set on the guest he had brought with him.

A petit woman stood beside Thor she wore strange clothing, it had the same air about it as the ones Clint had arrived in. She could only assume the woman came from his world. She wore tight fitting dark washed jeans with leather boots and a bright red top with a black winter jacket. Gloves still on her hands, the woman removed her hat exposing her curls that were color of mulberries a dark rich burgundy it was cut in a fashionable style Khaleesi was unfamiliar with, short and close to her face. She was very beautiful.

The other thing that struck her was the bag the other woman was holding; clearly she meant to stay for quite some time. Khaleesi wasn't sure how she felt about that. She made herself smile though as she did not wish to be rude. This woman had traveled a very long way to see Clint. Khaleesi gave a proper greeting of a short bow to Thor and then balanced awkwardly on one her toes as she became confused on how to greet the mortal woman. She didn't need to worry too long because the woman seemed to sense her nervousness and she smiled in a friendly way. "Oh no don't worry, you don't have to bow or anything…It's nice to meet you I'm Natasha Romanoff a friend of Clint's we're team mates actually." Natasha figured that was as good of an introduction as it was going to get.

When Thor had visited Jane awhile ago he had happily relayed his most recent interaction with Clint. He had gladly explained in detail as to what was taking place. To say the others had been surprised was an understatement. They thought he was crazy to have left in the first place though Natasha could see the offers appeal, and better than anyone she had known his reasons for accepting. Clint had been through enough to last a lifetime and if given the same opportunity she was not so sure she wouldn't accept herself.

Stark had instantly exploded in a tirade of reasons this was a terrible idea, and how she herself must be ready to burst with jealousy. Natasha had given him a quiet glare before explaining in a crystal clear tone that there had never been nor would there ever be a "thing" with Clint. They were team mates and that was it. She could never understand how men always assumed a woman was jealous when her male friend found love. She cared more about the type of ammunition she used than the type of woman her friend was engaged to.

But in Natasha's opinion Clint had very refined taste, he wasn't a man of many words and they had seen their fair share of brutal warfare but he knew a nice thing when he saw it. She had quickly studied the young woman as she came in and she could see what Clint saw when he looked at her. She was very fae like in her appearance, a delicate sense of fragility about her. But she would stand by Clint, and that was what mattered most.

She had asked Thor if it was possible for her to return with him next time he came for a visit. She wanted to see Clint and maybe be there for the wedding. Thor had instantly found the idea a wonderful thing and eagerly consented to taking her. Now here she was, in another realm waiting to congratulate her team mate.

Khaleesi felt better at the woman's introduction and smiled in return. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you Natasha…Clint has told me many stories of your times together in Midgard." Natasha looked to Thor now slapping the Thunder gods arm playfully. "Ah ha! Stark owes me twenty bucks I knew Clint would tell her about the team." Khaleesi couldn't help but laugh at the red heads words. Clint had told her briefly about his other team mates and some of the more exciting missions he had been on. She had heard the name Stark before. Her only memory of it being Clint explaining to her the man was an ass. The air in the room instantly felt lighter now and she was about to explain she had no idea where Clint had gotten off to when the man himself rounded the corner.

Clint had thought he'd heard Khaleesi headed to the kitchen but when she failed to enter he grew worried. She'd been acting strangely lately and he'd been hesitant to question her. As he left the kitchen he could have sworn he heard Thor. So when he entered the den he stopped dead in his tracks. A grin broke out of his face before he could stop himself he had picked Natasha up off the ground and gave her a huge bear hug. The fellow assassin seemed less than thrilled with the tight hug but none the less happy to see the man. "Tasha! Oh shit I can't believe you came…Thor didn't say who he was bringing. It's good to see you…You throw up at the bridge?" He added the last part with a jab to the woman's shoulder as he set her down. Natasha narrowed her eyes as if to say Please don't mention that. It only made Clint laugh harder.

He hadn't realized how much he had missed a familiar face, or maybe it was just Natasha. He risked a glance in Khaleesi's direction and found the other woman was fine, she looked happy to see him with his friend. It eased any concern he may have had, it had never occurred to him to wonder if Khaleesi was a jealous woman. Soon enough everyone was sitting in the kitchen near the island, an informal setting for an unplanned dinner party both men drinking ale. Natasha couldn't help but notice Khaleesi had barely touched her food. She had sipped her own glass of wine and taken quiet mental notes on her demeanor. She found it interesting that she also ignored her own glass of wine.

It was long before Khaleesi could no longer hide her yawns and she excused herself from the table, giving Clint a kiss on his cheek placing a hand on his shoulder as she bid the others good night and told Natasha once again how happy she was to meet her. Clint had touched her hand on his shoulder and told her he wouldn't too much longer himself. He took a swig of ale as he watched her leave.

Turning back to the others he spoke frankly to Thor. "So what's that monster up to in his cage." Natasha noted the bitter anger in her friend's voice. Clearly more had happened in his time away then a mere engagement. The god who had his glass raised towards his lips took pause. "My brother has been receiving his punishments our father has seen fit to give him…He has also shown great promise in redemption for his wrong doings." Clint slammed his glass onto the table the china rattling. "Bullshit Thor! You told me he had been stripped of his powers that he couldn't hurt anyone anymore. So if this is true and he's getting what he deserves, why don't you tell me how he was able to pay us a little visit. How he was able to get his grimy hands around her throat." Natasha's eyes widened in shock, she had never seen Clint so angry about something.

Thor set his glass down with great care. "If you were the jesting type my friend I would think you were playing a cruel joke…You are sure it was Loki? You saw him yourself?" Clint took a second to answer him this time. "Well no, Khaleesi did." He told them exactly what had been happening. Natasha blinked in confusion interrupting Clint. "Wait, what do you mean Loki? What does he have to do with your girlfriend?" Clint rubbed his goatee with a tired sigh. "Khaleesi is Loki's ex fiancé the engagement was broken off when he was imprisoned for what happened here and on earth. That's who I was asked to be a body guard for…" Apparently Thor had failed to mention this juicy bit of information because if Natasha's brows raised any high they would be in her hairline.

Clint explained everything in one go, so no one was confused any longer. He hated to repeat himself. Thor had listened intently and seemed disappointed in this news. He had wanted so much to believe Loki had chosen to change on his own. He then told Clint that the wedding should be moved closer to the end of the month that was only three weeks away. He would tell his parents the change in plans and Clint agreed. No sense in delaying things. With the plans set Thor took his leave of his friends, promising to return on the special day. He had many things to discuss with his family.

Now alone in the Kitchen Natasha rested her chin on her hands staring at her friend. "Hey Barton…you don't find it ironic at all…that you end up marrying Loki's ex?" Leave it to Natasha to get right to the point. He rolled his eyes. "She'd never met the lunatic until recently, it's not her fault." Natasha had raised her hands up in defense and smiled a silent chuckle on her normally serious face. "Hey no harm no foul I happen to like her. She's tiny but she puts you in your place Barton. Bout damn time someone did." This made Clint laugh out loud. Some of the tension that had built up earlier was allowed to fade away. Clint swallowed the last mouthful of ale in his glass and set it back in the sink pushing away from the counter. He showed Natasha to a room she could use and he found he was more exhausted then he'd let himself realize.

He'd intended on telling Khaleesi about the change in plans but when he entered their room the words died on his tongue. She was fast asleep still in her gown from earlier, holding her silk slipper in one hand as she lay on her side on the bed. He sat on the edge and pulled it from her hand slowly as to not wake her. Pulling off the slippers mate he tossed them blindly on the floor. Easing her up the bed and under the goose down comforter, as soon as he laid down beside her he felt sleep tugging on his mind. It wasn't long before he slipped into that cool darkness. He would tell her in the morning.

By the second week Natasha could see the appeal of this place, she wasn't much of an outdoorsy type of gal but it had its charms. She could also see Khaleesi was hiding something. Clint was a man and therefore not looking for the signs that were quite obvious to any other woman. She'd seen Khaleesi rush off towards the back of the house as Clint was down at the barn to check on the horses. Clint would be at least twenty, twenty five minutes. More than enough time for her to ask Khaleesi a few questions, she found the other woman leaned over the sink hands bracing the edge. Khaleesi nearly jumped ten feet high when she felt her long hair being pulled away from her face and out of the way. She didn't know whether she was horrified or relieved to see Natasha. She decided on relief, she had come to be very fond of her. She was extremely well spoken and held herself proudly and most of all she trusted her.

Natasha asked softly meeting her gaze in the mirror. "When are you going to tell Clint your pregnant, you can't possibly keep this a secret much longer…not if your this sick." Her tone was doing its best to sound concerned and friendly. Khaleesi rinsed her mouth before answering. "…I have been too afraid to say anything…I'm scared he will be angry, children aren't something he's spoken of before." Khaleesi allowed herself to rub her belly, a gesture she had been hard pressed to ignore.

Natasha took a wash cloth and ran it under the cold tap before ringing it out and held it to her temple. "You shouldn't let that stop you Clint would be an idiot not to be excited. If he isn't I'll kick his ass." This made Khaleesi laugh despite her weak stomach. "But what if he doesn't want a baby…things have been so crazy and Loki…" Natasha cut off the other woman now. "Don't even mention him. He has nothing to do with your life right now. Don't give him power he doesn't deserve…focus on this good news. Don't let him ruin it, now why don't you show me this wedding gown of yours. I might be an assassin but I'm still a girl." Khaleesi smiled. The tightness in her chest easing, she would tell Clint tonight then she decided. She reminded herself to go by the library before she went to bed tonight. She had an important gift to wrap.

She took her opportunity to go to the library when Clint and Natasha began a game of cards in the kitchen it was becoming a common nightly ritual for them to do. She had told Clint she had some sewing she wanted to work on perhaps make a veil for her dress. She hated to lie to him but she weighed that it was worth it to tell him the wonderful news later.

Slipping into the dark library she had simply intended to walk in and out, moving quickly to the desk she opened the top right drawer, delving her hand inside she was met with nothing. She patted the inside of the drawer with her palm panic rising in her throat. Where was it? Had she mistaken her placement of it? She pulled open all the drawers in the desk and by the seventh one she was practically ripping it out of the desk. A frustrated whimper left her lips and she willed herself to find calm. It had to be here, it simply must be here. She whispered the words to herself in a mantra. She scoured every inch of the desk again and even underneath finding nothing.

She leaned back against the edge of the desk and bit her lip thinking hard about where it could have gone. She didn't need to think long. How stupid could she have been…how careless could they have been to not think of this room. The rune markers were one thing but this room had been one that growing up had been strictly off limits to her. Emilia had not been strict about much but this was something she had drilled into Khaleesi apparently not hard enough. Her future husband's library was a great prize to him. She had said. Very valuable relics were in there and she was not to go snooping inside and touch anything.

She looked around herself now weary of the shadows; she wouldn't let fear rule her now she told herself to be brave. "I would very much like what belongs to me returned." She made her words as firm as she could. She jumped though when a cultured voice answered her back. "So would I Lady Khaleesi so would I." The voice seemed to come from all directions and she stood straighter. "I would have had to belong to you in the first place." Loki's voice laughed now it was not an amused laugh it sounded cruel. "Oh what bite what a feisty temperament Barton has filled you with. And according to this gift my mother has decided to humor you with it is not ALL he has managed to fill you with." Khaleesi grimaced now a hand lying protectively across her belly the barest whisper of a swell beneath her palm.

Khaleesi had quite enough of this and she turned to leave the library, but she was pinned to the desk before she could make a step in the direction of the door. Hands on either side of her she could feel Loki's hips against her stomach he was quite a tall man. He felt very real when he grabbed her jaw in his fingers. Gripping hard enough to bruise she could faintly see his face in the dark as her eyes adjusted. He looked a lot cleaner this time around. Wearing a simple dark green jade colored shirt that was form fitting, some type of dark pants completing his look. She couldn't decide if this was a guise or he was actually wearing the more polished appearance. Either way she was frightened. He had greater power here in this room he was able to do full teleportation it seemed. She ventured a guess that power would fade should he leave the room however. How unfortunate for her they were no be interrupted any time soon.

He tilted her face to one side and then the other as if he were admiring a piece of sculpture. "You know I have seen inside your lovers heart, and he is no more virtuous then his counterpart in the kitchen. He has committed horrific acts in the name of his world's government killed women even. And you would still marry him? Carry his bastard in your womb?" Khaleesi made herself meet Loki's gaze, her words strong. "I do not care what Clint has done, he loves me and I would happily carry his child. You would do well to watch your words, we have told Thor of your schemes." Loki clucked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "Ah ah so you have. But contemplate this darling; if Thor knows of my comings and goings how pray tell am I here now? So very close to you I might add. Does it seem as if my brother can stop me hmm? " She glared at Loki now hating that his words had truth to them.

She let out a small outcry when she felt his hand snake down her neck and draw along her bare collar bone with his fingertips. She pushed hard against him desperate to remove herself from his grasp and she did something Loki was not expecting. She punched him with her small closed fist right into the front of his neck, as her height difference didn't allow much leverage at this close distance. Shock etched on Loki's face for only a second before he glared down at her. He was so strong, so fast. He grabbed her by the waist and before she could blink he had her on the desktop. Her hands grasped at anything she could reach on the desk twisting her body around as things crashed to the floor. His next words brought chilling fear into her and she screamed. "All this fight he has put in you I will rip out like so much useless stuffing inside a doll. Scream all you like my dear, no one will hear you in this room." Tears were burning her eyes now and she screamed anyway louder this time. He leaned down whispering in her ear. "When all the fight has left you my dear sweet naïve wife…he will not want you. Not when I'm done with you." Khaleesi had long since given up being brave she found she could not even pretend.

Outside the library door there was no noise, the only sound came from the kitchen down the long corridor. Laughter and polite swearing over a friendly card game she had only meant to walk in and out…she would only be a moment. It was so much worse than that.