Disclaimer: No I do not own the sexiness that is Thor and Loki. Not mine. Please don't remind me that I am playing with borrowed material and I'll never get paid for it.

It was the second time that week that Karina had woken in the infirmary with a pounding headache, and she was less than thrilled about it. Groaning, she rubbed at her eyes and cracked them open.

The first thing she saw was a grinning face with a mane of blond hair leaning over her. A finger reached out and poked her in the face. "Did you die?" Anastasia questioned loudly, leaning in closer and poking her again.

Karina groaned and swatted at her friend until she got out of her face, fingers and all. "I'm alive aren't I?"

"I dunno. You could be a zombie or something."

Her eyebrows furrowed as she stared at the girl in disbelief. "Really, Anastasia? Do I look like a zombie to you?"

The blonde shrugged. "You could be in disguise." She said, poking her face again.

"Anastasia I didn't die." Karina grumbled. She was quiet for a moment before glowering up at her friend. "Oi! Aren't you supposed to be the one laying on the hospital bed?!" she grouched.

Thor, standing next to the cot, smirked. "Do all Midgardians fight like Bilgesnipe?"

Karina barely spared him a glance, "Piss off, Blondie."

Anastasia grinned, ignoring the banter as Thor turned and left the chamber. "Apparently Asgard is backwards."

The green man from earlier snorted, his face reading 'if only'. "If that were true perhaps there would not be a permanent bruise on my forehead and several grey hairs that most decidedly were not there before I met you."

Anastasia stuck her tongue out at him, earning an eye roll from both of them.

"WAIT. Did you just say 'ASGARD'?!"

"Yep," the blonde replied, popping the 'P'.

"And let me guess. That's Loki?" Karina said sarcastically, pointing to the male.

"Yep," Anastasia said again.

Karina nodded quietly, staring down at her lap for a moment as if wrapping her head around the new information. Her eyes suddenly widened. "That was Thor as in The Thor, wasn't it?"

"Yep."

"SHIT!"

"WHAT?!"

"I just told the fucking God of fucking Thunder to piss off, that's what! SHIT!"

Loki and Anastasia glanced at each other before both burst out laughing.

"Don't worry about it, Honey. I do it all the time!" the blonde giggled.

Loki laughed even harder, bending over and clutching at his stomach. "Yes…but…Darling….Sister-in-Law!"

Karina blinked before turning to her friend, who was grinning innocently. "That's the 'he'?"

"Yep."

"Damn it Anastasia I told you no Loki!"

Anastasia's eyes widened, pointing sideways at her husband. "Loki's Loki?"

The god in question's eyebrows furrowed in confusion at this, utterly lost, while Karina facepalmed. "No, Anastasia, he's Loki of fucking Bangladesh."

"Ohhh…" she turned to her husband. "HOW COULD YOU NOT HAVE TOLD ME YOU DICK?!"

Loki put his hands up in surrender, eyes wide. "What'd I DO?!"

Karina rolled her eyes, "Yes, Anastasia. Loki is Loki. His being a prince of Asgard didn't tell you that?"

Anastasia smiled sheepishly, shrugging. "Whoops."

Loki facepalmed before simply burying his head in his hands and muttering something about 'And….that's the female I married.'.

She turned to Anastasia, "You actually married Loki and didn't even invite me? You bitch." She slugged her friend's arm in a familiar way that only a friend or sibling could, "I can't believe you!"

Loki began backing away slowly. He recognized those tones, or thought he did, and as much as he loved his wife he wasn't going to stick around for this. Karina reminded him more and more of Sif every time she spoke and he'd really rather not be on the receiving end of her wrath. The girl cared for his wife, so Anastasia would be safe, but he didn't have that luxury.

As it turned out, after only a few minutes of banter, the girls settled back into a carefree chatter. With a sigh of relief, Loki returned to his spot leaning against the wall near Anastasia.

"I wish I could show Josh this now. And he said they weren't real. Idiot."

"Right?"

Loki shook his head, zoning out of the conversation until he heard something about this 'Josh' no longer being with them. Then, eyes wide, he tuned back in.

"What?!"

Karina looked up at him as if he were discussing something as mundane as the weather. "What?"

"No longer with us?"

Anastasia snorted, ignoring him completely. "So where is he anyway? Idaho? Kentucky? The Land of Fruits and Nuts? OH I KNOW! He went to the land of Hobbits, didn't he?"

Karina pretended not to notice Loki's look of utter confusion. "Nope."

"OOH! OOH! Tell me he went to Antarctica, Please?!"

"Why Antarctica? Seriously, Anastasia? Why is it always Antarctica?!"

"Penguins." Anastasia grinned. "They're cool. Like fezzes and bowties and Stetsons and stuff."

"Glad to see the Doctor Who obsession hasn't faded in the least." Karina said dryly.

Loki, who didn't know what any of those things were in the slightest or who or what a 'Doctor Who' was, cut into the conversation. "I am assuming this is the friend that kept you alive before we met?"

"Pretty much."

Loki bent down and gripped Karina's hand, kissing the back of it. "You have my sincerest gratitude." He murmured.

Karina blinked, her eyebrows furrowing slightly. "Uhm…You're welcome?" Leaning over closer to her friend she whispered, "What's he grateful for?"

"You kept Anastasia alive long enough for me to meet her and for that, I am deeply thankful."

Karina squeaked, swatting at the air. "Ahcreepygodhow'dyouhear?!"

Anastasia giggled, "Yes sir, he has skills."

All three of them looked up as the physician walked back in. "Karina, how are you feeling?"

"Alive but going out of my bloody skull. No offense, but I really hate hospitals."

Gaius chuckled, "I understand, dear. I believe you are fit to be released now, I shall send for the Prince immediately and we shall get you settled in your new chambers-"

She nodded, "Thank you, Physician." She turned to Anastasia, "I fully expect you to show me around later. Thor only showed me the basics. Somehow I think he expected me to allow him to escort me everywhere."

Anastasia snorted, "That's cute."

"Isn't it?"

"-however, I am still assigning you to a week of bed rest, just to make sure there was no additional damage when you passed out."

Karina groaned but didn't protest otherwise, putting her head in her hands. "Fine." She huffed.

Thor returned a few minutes later than Karina expected, but she passed it off as a petty 'I shall show up late to show them that I have better things to do than babysit a Midgardian' display since she told him to 'piss off' earlier. She didn't particularly care, but it was rather annoying having to remain in the cot longer because His Royal Highness wanted to throw a princely temper tantrum. Anastasia and Loki had taken their leave then, wishing Karina well and warning Thor to behave before they did so.

They were both silent during the walk there, Thor speaking once they arrived at what were to be her chambers. "I would ask that you follow the Physician's orders and remain in your bed resting, Karina. My mother however wishes to enjoy your company at the feast tonight, so you may leave your chambers for that. Other than that, if you require anything, just call for a servant."

She gritted her teeth, glaring balefully at him as she bit her tongue. "And if I don't?"

He took a step forward, getting so close that she could feel his breath blowing across her face. "You have fire, little Midgardian. I like it. However, you would be well advised to quench it in the presence of Royals."

And with that, the man turned and walked away. She glared at his back, mentally flipping him off. "Overbearing oaf of an asshole…" she spat, throwing her hands up as she stormed into the chamber and slammed the door behind her. She climbed up on the ridiculously tall bed and lay there, shooting lasers at the fancy ceiling with her eyes.

Of course that only lasted about half an hour before she was on her feet and out the door with the intention of exploring a bit.

She had been at this for well over an hour and still hadn't found Anastasia. The palace was stunning, but in her current state of irritation that fact was completely lost on her.

Interestingly enough, it ended up being Loki that found her. "Karina?"

She smiled sheepishly, relieved at the sight of a familiar face that wasn't the brat prince. "Hi Loki."

"Aren't you supposed to by lying down?"

She huffed, crossing her arms without answering.

However, that seemed to be answer enough for the god because he sighed. "Look, Karina-"

She waved him off. "I'm fine. Ok? Look at me. Healthy as a horse."

He shook his head but gave up on fighting with her. If there is one thing that he'd learned while Anastasia was filling him in on virtually everything to do with her friend, it was that she was stubborn. Possibly even more so than his brother at times from what he'd gathered. He rubbed his forehead. "Fine. But if you end up getting yourself injured, I never saw you and did absolutely nothing to aid or abed your escape. Dealt?"

She grinned. "Dealt."

Loki then preceded to give her an extended tour, all the while filling her in on what she'd missed in her best friend's life. They had a son, he said. He was around three years old, looked and acted just like his mother. His name?

Gandalf.

Of course. Karina had thought, until Loki admitted to having suggested the name himself.

This went on for about an hour and a half before Thor finally found them, Loki making himself invisible so all Thor saw was her. For a split second, she was nervous. Then, he opened his mouth.

"Karina, I must speak to you immediately. Come, follow me."

And up bubbles the anger.

Karina's brows rose as she rested her hand on her hip. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me, Karina Peterson. I wish to have words with you immediately, therefore you will follow me because I am the Crown Prince of Asgard and you are little more than a Midgardian who strayed too far from home."

She opened her mouth to protest but Thor grabbed her by the forearm and began dragging her towards his chambers, cutting her off before she could tell him what for. After about ten minutes she gave up on pulling out of his iron grip and angrily trudged along behind him- making sure to slow their progress as much as humanly possible.

It took a while, much to Karina's pleasure and Thor's frustration, but they made it to his chambers eventually. Thor shut the door behind them and began talking immediately.

"I have asked you to remain in your chambers and rest, Karina. The Physician says that you are still weak after you lost consciousness. Father has assigned me to be your Guardian for the rest of your stay and I intend to see you return to Midgard alive."

Karina, who had been leaning against the wall and glaring at the floor with her arms crossed until this point, stepped forward. "I am perfectly fine, Thor! The only danger I face is the possibility of losing my goddamned mind if I am forced to spend one more moment in a bed! I am more than capable of taking care of myself and I certainly do not need you riding my ass!"

Thor walked over to the woman until he was only a few inches away from her face. "You dare defy me, the Son of Odin?!"

She could see the shock on his face as she didn't shrink away from him like most other people. No, instead she leaned in even closer. "I owe you no allegiance, O' Mighty Prince of Asgard!"

For a moment, Karina sincerely thought he was going to hit her as fury flashed in his eyes. He looked like he was about to. He wanted to, she could tell.

He didn't.

Completely catching the poor girl off guard, the Thunder God searched her eyes for a moment, and only a moment, before crashing his lips to hers.

The fuck…?

Thor had lost the ability to think the moment the girl had showed her strength and refused to back down from him. Had been hypnotized as eyes the color of oak leaves with a fire as fierce as the one in himself had met his boldly, challengingly. She intoxicated him, made him lose control completely in such a way that he couldn't even find the will to begrudge her for it.

It only took a second for her to respond, and then they were off. Fire raced through his veins- inexorable, refusing to be ignored. She tasted of spice and the sweetest wine- the sort that only those who had ascended to Valhalla could hope to sip.

There was no thought, only the taste of her and the feel of her in his arms with their lips fused together.

Karina didn't know what was happening to her. Never had a kiss swept her away like this. Never had the simple feel of another's lips on hers caused all of her good sense to go out the window or cause her to lose any ability to think that she had ever prided herself on. Her mind was utterly blank.

Perhaps that's why the warning bells never went off as the god reached out and tugged sharply at the laces on the back of her dress. Or, perhaps, she just didn't want him to stop- maybe she wanted this. Wanted to feel his hands on her, wanted him to take her all the way to Valhalla and back. Yeah.

Maybe, just maybe, this is all she'd wanted all along.

Thor had quite a rude awakening three hours later when the back of an ivory feminine hand smacked him directly on the nose. The God rolled over indignantly to tell off the offending individual for assaulting him- a Prince- but the words died on his lips.

Next to him in the bed lay a naked woman, and not just any naked woman. Nope- it was Karina.

The woman he'd been charged with the duty of looking after.

Sweet Odin's Eye….he'd slept with the Midgardian?!

These thoughts were confirmed as the memories of the night before came rushing back to him. Thor groaned quietly before returning to the current situation.

Fact one: He'd fought with the mortal and somehow it had turned into a tussle.

Fact two: He'd actually allowed her to remain in his bed after. He'd never done that before. The only person allowed to slumber in Thor's bed was Thor himself. Except for, well, now apparently not really.

Fact three: He couldn't bring himself to honestly regret his actions even though they were probably wrong and honestly not the best course of action.

Fact four: As much as he enjoyed aforementioned tussle, there was no way under Valhalla that he was ever taking an arrow to the knee for the Midgardian who was now beginning to awaken herself.

Had the situation been less serious, he would have laughed at the look on the Mortal's face when she realized that she was, in fact, wearing absolutely nothing and sharing a large, luxurious bed with an equally bare Thunder God.

"Oh my Gods…we didn't…" she whispered, holding the blanket up to her chest (Thor didn't understand why, he'd seen everything anyway) and staring at him with wide eyes.

"I believe we did." Thor stated simply, unsure of how else to respond.

"I cannot believe I slept with you!"

The god blinked. Was it really that bad a thing to have happened?

"I do not understand, Karina." He observed, "What is so difficult to believe?"

"I just met you!"

"We had a tussle, that is all."

"That's not who I am, Thor! I don't do meaningless sex; I don't just 'tussle' with people I've just met! I'm not a two-bit slag!"

Thor certainly didn't know what a 'two-bit slag' was, but he'd caught the general gist of the rest of the statement regardless. 'I am not a Harlot to be used at your discretion' she'd basically said.

The Thunder God found himself taken aback. He'd never had such a reaction from anybody he'd ever slept with. Most of them were of ill repute, to be fair, but he was the Crown Prince. None had ever regretted being with him and he wasn't sure how to handle it.

"I meant no offense, my Lady. I do not regret what we did and I would rather you did not either. Nor do I think any less of you, Karina."

"You don't?" She asked quietly, cursing herself for the quiver that entered her voice. Why the hell did she care what he thought, anyway?

Thor leaned in, hesitating just a hairsbreadth away from her face and searching her eyes for a moment before he leaned in and kissed her.

This time they were somewhat prepared for the onslaught of sensation and he was able to pull back before it went too far. He kept his forehead against hers, breathing as hard as she was. They stayed like that for a few seconds, just staring at each other with wide eyes.

Then, suddenly, his lips came down hard on hers and they were off again. There was no control this time- just the raw sensation.

They probably would've went the rest of the way had there not been a sharp knock at the door as Thor went to roll on top of her. Karina stiffened but Thor decided to ignore the knock and continue, kissing down her neck.

She had just began to relax into his touch when they heard the voice of his mother. "Thor?"

The both of them froze this time, scarcely even blinking. Karina abruptly rolled out of his arms, off the bed, and under it- leaving Thor wondering how the Midgardian had managed it as he himself pulled on a pair of trousers and strode toward the door.

Karina watched from her spot under the bed, listening in.

"It is unlike you to remain in your chambers this long, Thor. Is everything alright?"

Thor offered his mother a small smile, putting a hand on her shoulder. "I am well, mother. Go ahead along to the Throne Room. I will join you and Father there soon and we can talk."

Thor's mother seemed all too understanding when he explained why they'd missed the feast the day before, leaving out the detail about them having slept together of course- even though he suspected his parents had figured it out on her own if the barely concealed grin on his mother's face was anything to go by.

Frigga liked Anastasia, she was good for her younger son, and was beginning to suspect that a Midgardian girl would be just what her elder son needed as well- especially from what she'd heard of Karina thus far.

Odin, however, didn't share those thoughts. He wanted well-to-do Asgardian girls of good bloodlines for his sons- they were princes after all. It was bad enough that Loki had settled with a commoner from Midgard, but there was no way he could allow Thor- his heir- to make the same mistake. A Midgardian as queen of Asgard? Never. He could care less if he tussled with the girl a time or two before she went home, but he'd seen how Loki came to fall for Anastasia. He couldn't let that happen again.

"When will she be going home?" the Allfather questioned, apparently too candidly from the look his wife was giving him.

"I cannot say," answered Thor. "I suppose when she has healed fully and remembers where her home is."

Odin grumbled something under his breath before dismissing Thor, returning back to his duties.

Frigga accompanied her son to the door. "Will you bring her tonight, Thor?"

"Yes mother."

She grinned before walking back into the throne room. Thor shook his head and walked to Karina's chambers to check on her.

Coincidently, it was Karina herself who he quite literally ran into on the way there.

Stepping back, he glared down at her. "I am beginning to wonder if you are going out of your way to make my life difficult or if you are simply a half-wit."

She smiled- but it wasn't a sweet smile, or even a sheepish one. It was her 'I'm-about-to-murder-you' smile. Thor would soon learn to fear it.

"You would be the half-wit to think I care to listen to a word you say, Thor Odinson."

He got up in her face again. "You insolent. Little. Wench."

She hauled her fist back and let it fly, smashing into his jaw. For a moment it was quiet, the two glaring at each other with their chests heaving. Suddenly the silence shattered as she let out a cry, holding her hand close to her body. "You broke my hand, you bloody asshole!"

"I broke your hand?! You punched me!"

"No shit!" she shouted.

"Thor?" They heard, followed by a more feminine "Karina?"

The two froze as Loki and Anastasia came around the corridor. Loki spoke first.

"What happened?"

Karina pointed at Thor with her free hand, cutting Thor off as he opened his mouth before he could speak. "He broke my hand!"

Loki and Anastasia turned to Thor, eyebrows raised. He put his hands up.

"She punched me! Not my fault!"

"He called me an insolent wench! He deserved it!"

Anastasia covered her mouth to hide a giggle, Loki's brows furrowing in something akin to confusion.

Loki suddenly smirked at his brother, "You may want to return her to the infirmary before Father finds out that she broke her hand on your face when you're meant to be watching her."

Thor glared at his brother, then at Karina. He eventually let out a sigh, rubbing his forehead before throwing Karina over his shoulder and doing just that. Loki and his wife turned to each other, sharing a smirk for a few moments before both of them burst out laughing.

"I think I like your friend," he told her, chuckling. "I have yet to see anyone speak to my brother in such a way. It is…good for him, I think."

Anastasia grinned, wrapping an arm (which was of course sporting a bright green wrist brace) around her husband's waist. "I concur."

I'm SO sorry for taking so long on this chapter! Please don't angry mob me with a swarm of tiny green flying dinosaurs I promise I have a good reason!

My computer has been down for a few weeks, so I was unable to work on this story (much less upload) until I got a new one for my birthday a few days ago. I might still be a little slow on this story, just because I have a few others going, but if you lovely little readers are patient and understanding with me, I might just let you have a glimpse on the other beauties I'm working on. ;)

Flames get their mouths stitched shut by Dwarves. Reviews get cake. Yay!