Chapter Seven: The Five Year Jump! Twelve Months of Care, Pregnant Again!
Magnus watched his father jet through the obstacle course, flipping and jumping with grace and speed. His run time was five minutes exact. Magnus clapped as his father stood from his perfect landing. Loki turned and faced his teenage son, he was already so tall for his age and soon he would be taller than him, at thirteen.
"Thank you." Loki bowed. "Now Magnus it is your turn."
Magnus inhaled and stood up from the bench. He knew he wouldn't be able to match his father's time, but that didn't mean he wouldn't try. He was determined to be the strongest and fastest warrior in the guard and the only way he would get there was if he trained hard. He started off down the course, as his father watched with pride. His goals in life had changed now, he focused on working on his physical strength as well as his mind. Eugene ran into the practice arena and crawled onto the bench, he was busy six-year-old now, always giving Loki and Saksi a run for their money. He sat and watched his brother nail the course turn by turn and finished in eleven minutes flat.
"Good job Magnus!" Loki clapped enthusiastically. He could tell that Magnus was a little upset about his finishing time, but it was unfair to compare times, as Loki had been practicing on this course for hundreds of years, but Magnus was doing great and he was very proud of him.
Magnus smiled at his father and brother and walked back up to the start of the course and ran it again.
"Oh my Eugene did you draw this?" Loki looked at his son's picture of a colorful bird.
Eugene nodded.
"It's lovely." Loki admired the picture. "May I hang it?"
Eugene nodded. He was happy to see that his father liked it.
"I'm sorry I can't understand you." Loki looked down at his son, encouraging him to use his sign language.
"Yos papa you can hanger it." Eugene sloppily formed.
"Yes, papa would love to hang it." Loki repeated the signs for his son.
"Hang!" Eugene beamed as he formed the word correctly.
"Yes! Perfect." Loki smiled and tickled his son.
Their laughter drew in Magnus, who had just finished running the course.
"Father, may I take a break?" Magnus sighed out of breath.
"Of course." Loki nodded. "You did very well today."
Magnus smiled and thanked his father as he went away to wash off. Eugene followed him, eager to get back to his coloring. Loki smiled as he watched his children walk away. His life was pretty consistent now. With Eugene old enough to be taught lessons and Magnus old enough to start training for the junior guard, everything was falling into place. Loki turned and walked towards a clearing in the center of the room. He had lost so much weight over the years and admired his slender form in the mirrors on the walls. He still had some fatty tissue in his breast, but the cup size was much smaller and more manageable now. It was important to him that he stayed in shape, if for nothing else but to keep up with his sons, who were going up faster than Loki would have ever imagined.
Loki stood in the mirror checking his form, before turning and practicing his hand to hand combat. He kicked high and kicked low. His roundhouse kicks and punches were fast and unstoppable. He roundhouse kicked into the air, landing perfectly on his feet, repeating it until he felt he'd it mastered. He took a quick breather and grabbed a sip of water before continuing his workout with a speared staff. He twirled it in his hands, waving it through the air like an expert swordsmen. He gripped the middle and base and began to pick up the pace, combining kicks and spear movements into his routine. It was spectacular to see, as Saksi peeked from the doorway.
"Are you going to stare over there in silence or come over and greet me?" Loki turned to his lover, spear in hand.
Saksi smiled. "Well not with you armed like that." He joked.
Loki laughed and stuck the spear in the ground. "And you think you'd fair any better hand to hand?" Loki teased.
"I'll take my chances." Saksi met Loki in the middle and stole a kiss.
Loki smirked and deepened the kiss, passionately using his tongue to part Saksi's soft lips. Saksi moaned suddenly realizing that this would turn into something else if he did not stop him now, but part of him wanted to let whatever was going to happen happen. Saksi moaned into the kiss as Loki worked him with his tongue. Loki was very good at finding the right buttons to push, but Saksi really did have a message for him and it was important.
"Loki." Saksi tried to pull away.
"Hmmm?" Loki captured his mouth again, grinding his leg against him, driving Saksi crazy.
"Lo-Loki, I have, something."
"Hmmmmm?" Loki went for his neck, this time, Saksi's weak spot.
"Loki, oh Odin have mercy." Saksi moaned.
Loki backed off. "Now why did you have to bring him into it?" Loki glared.
Saksi smirked. "Well, it got you to stop didn't it?"
"Watch it now, or they'll be an edging in your future."
Saksi smiled and laughed. "I accept any and all punishment, but I really do have a message to deliver."
"Go on." Loki walked over to the bench and grabbed a towel.
"The Queen and Jane would like to take the children on a camping trip in Emerald Forest this weekend."
Loki turned and raised an eyebrow, he used to go camping with his mother there all the time when he was young. "Oh? For the meteor shower?"
Saksi nodded. "It's sure to be a sight to see." Saksi followed Loki to his rooms.
"Alright, that's fine with me." Loki began to underdress.
"Okay then, I'll let the Queen know at once." Saksi stood at the door and watched Loki underdress, his body looked amazing and Loki knew it. Loki took his time peeling away layer after layer until he was left with nothing but his loin.
"What?" Loki turned around seductively.
"Why do you do this to me Loki?" Saksi walked to his side and held him.
"Do what?" Loki stole a kiss.
Saksi thought he would surprise Loki with a little vacation of his own now that the kids would be away for the weekend. Loki worked so hard, he deserved it. Saksi planned to camp at the old lookout in the old abandoned bell tower on the far side of the palace. While Loki cleaned and washed clothes Saksi worked hard cleaning and moving things around so that the two could enjoy the Saturday night meteor shower in the best place in Asgard. He snuck around all Friday gathering blankets and pillows for their night alone. He prepared sandwiches and picked out the best wine. Loki would be so surprised.
Saturday evening Loki walked down to the kitchen to cook dinner. He missed his children but knew they were having a wonderful time with their grandmother and aunt. It would be good for them to get any from the palace and hang out with their cousin Tola. Loki turned on the lights and looked around the kitchen, which he claimed for himself. Maids and cooks rarely came down here now, since Thor, Jane, and Tola had all their meals with Freya and Odin. Loki opened the fridge, he really didn't feel like cooking tonight and settled on fixing some cheese baked on bread instead.
"Loki!" Saksi appeared at the door. "There you are."
Loki turned and smiled at Saksi as he walked over for a kiss.
"Hmmm, cheese bread." Saksi looked at the simple meal.
"Don't judge." Loki turned and started to pull out a knife to cut the cheese.
"How about I cook tonight?" Saksi placed his hand over Loki's.
Loki sighed. He really wanted the cheese bread now, but he didn't mind letting Saksi take over just for tonight.
"Follow me, I have something very special to show you." Saksi took Loki's hand.
"Hmm," Loki smiled and happily followed.
Saksi led Loki through the old passageways, down the stone and vine covered stairs to the entrance to the old lookout tower. Loki had been here many times before as a kid. He used to sit up there and star gaze and read books by candlelight. Saksi turned and smiled as he opened the old wooden door.
"This way." Saksi grabbed Loki's hand.
The stairs were lit by candlelight on the walls, spiraling in a perfect circle through the tower. When they reached the top, Saksi pushed open the door revealing a room lit by candles surrounded by giant arched windows. There were rose petals scattered all around the floor leading to a bed made of plush silks and furs.
"Oh, my." Loki couldn't believe his eyes. All this for him and he couldn't even remember the occasion. "I-I don't know what to say." Loki blushed. "Am I missing an anniversary?" Loki was almost too embarrassed to ask.
Saksi shook his head. "This is all for you because I love you." Saksi held Loki in his arms.
"Saksi." Loki hugged him tight, as Saksi showered him with kisses. He was getting in the mood, but he was also hungry.
Saksi heard Loki's stomach growl and he pulled away. "Oh, I forgot!" Saksi led Loki to the bed. "I made dinner!"
Loki clapped in excitement.
"Wine and sandwiches?" Saksi offered.
"Oh, you know me so well." Loki beamed.
The two sat in each other's arms until the darkness completely took over the sky. They left a few candles lit, which casted shadows on their bare bodies. It was nice and cool, the perfect night to stargaze. It warmed Loki's heart knowing this was the very same sky his children were looking at right now. It was like he was there, right beside them. He sighed and cuddled his lover.
"Is something the matter Loki?" Saksi looked down at him.
"No," Loki said as he stared at the sky in the most longing way.
Saksi smiled and kissed Loki on the forehand. "You miss them don't you?"
Loki mustered a smile. "You know me too well." His smiled ebbed away, under the starry sky.
Saksi smiled. "Yeah." and wrapped his arms around Loki's shoulders.
"Saksi." Loki paused. "Saksi, I want another baby."
The news didn't shock Saksi, he'd known for a while the way Loki looked at other children. Loki was the mothering type, he longed to be surround by the smiling faces of children and it was hard for him to let go. It was obvious by the way he watched Magnus from afar. Saksi knew, but he also knew how painful it was when Loki lost their last child. Saksi did not blame him one bit, but Loki beat himself up pretty bad. The combination was just wrong, there was nothing they could do about it and he never wanted to put Loki through that again.
Saksi didn't know what to say and he could feel Loki going cold. "Loki, if this is something you want, I will be there to support you."
Loki sat up and looked Saksi in the eyes. "But is this something you want as well?"
When Saksi looked into Loki's eyes he saw that this was not a decision Loki could make on his own. This next step was not just about Loki, it was about them. Loki wanted to bring a new child into the world with the man he loved, but only if he wanted it too.
Saksi could not lie to him, he was scared, but he loved Loki so much. "Loki, I."
"If you don't I understand." Loki started to turn away.
"No, I want too." He turned Loki's face towards his. "I would love to have another child with you. I would want nothing more."
Loki smiled softly, still trying to decide in his mind if this was the right thing to do. In the background, the meteor shower started. Loki looked over his shoulder. It was a beautiful sight to see. Loki didn't know for sure how this would turn out, but he knew he wanted it more than anything. The two held each other tight under the cover of the falling sky.
Loki waited patiently on the examination table. He was nervous and grasping tightly onto Saksi's hand as the healers checked for any signs of life in his stomach. They'd been trying ever since the children came back from their star gazing trip. It was hard at first for Saksi to make Loki comfortable enough to allow him to go through with it, but they finally did. Now Loki was laying on his back waiting for an answer from the healers.
"We're almost done Loki." The senior healer smiled at him. She checked once and check twice and one more time for safe measure. "Loki, congratulations." She smiled big. "You're pregnant."
Loki exhaled, as the tears fell from his eyes. He was scared, but he was happy.
"What about the compatibility?" Loki worried. "Is the egg and sperm combining correctly?"
The healer nodded. "For the moment, but we can not say for certain what complications will arise in the future. That is why I am ordering you to bed rest, for your full term."
All the air left his lungs when Loki heard the news, he would be bed ridden for an entire year. He felt selfish now, thinking about his other children, he wanted to cry.
"It's okay Loki, you're not alone." Saksi kissed him softly on the forehand.
Loki looked up at him and smiled. Words could not express how thankful he was for having Saksi by his side. He turned and looked at the healer. "Very well."
The first two months were very hard for Loki. He was torn between carrying for the child he had in his stomach and carrying for the children he already had. He was wracked with stress as the two-month mark inched closer and closer. There was nothing he could do but wait, the healers came every day to check up on him, but no one was sure if this baby would survive. It was tricky business carrying a child that was a different species than you. So many things could go wrong. The worry and stress gave him nightmares, waking him from his sleep. Drenched in sweat Loki would cry in the night, Saksi was there but Loki was still very afraid. He dread the slow drawl of the warm summer days because he knew there was no guarantee his unborn child would make it with him.
Saksi was tearing up inside watching Loki struggle. There wasn't much he could do but offer his support. He worked hard to teach the boys their lessons and was happy to teach combat training to Magnus, but there was so much more that Loki could do that he could not. Loki was a sponge of knowledge, his greatest strength was his sharp mind. Saksi couldn't match that, even if he studied a lifetime, but he had to try. For Loki, he needed to be the rock, the orb of knowledge, protector and caregiver. It was hard on him too, for he dreaded the reality of another miscarriage. He needed to find a way to inject more positivity into their lives, to keep everyone's mind off the baby.
When the two-month mark drew closer Saksi could tell that Loki was an emotional wreck. The future was so uncertain even if the child lived to the next month he could still lose him at any moment. Saksi raked his brain for a distraction. He paced the halls and stopped when his eyes caught sight of a beautiful tapestry. Hand woven, depicting the great battles of yesteryear. The detail and colors were amazing, right down to the little faces of heroic men to the vibrate shades of blue in the sky. It most of taken months to create this.
"Months?" Saksi said to himself, as a maid walked by, he turned to her. "Months! It takes months to make tapestries!" He said in a fit of excitement. She smiled nervously, not sure whether to respond or not. "I'm sorry." He laughed nervously, as he realized he was making a fool of himself. It took months to make beautiful tapestries like this and they had plenty of months to spare.
Saksi was good with his hands and didn't need help creating the things he needed to make a loom. He cut and shaped the wood himself, he wanted this to be a gift from everyone. So he told the kids about his plan and the loved it, especially Eugene, who was very much into the arts. Saksi smiled, he was happy his idea was well received. He would make Eugene one too when he got older if this one turned out okay. With the money he earned, he asked the children to raid the yarn shops and bring back every color they had and as many as they could find. In the meantime, Saksi collected and painted woven baskets for Loki to put his yarn in and designed a beautiful tapestry bobbin for Loki to use. When the loom was done and the yarn collected Saksi gathered everything and set it up in the bedroom while Loki was away in the private bath in his room.
"Hey, Eugene, can you go and get Loki and bring him here?" Saksi turned to Eugene as he finished setting up the loom.
Eugene saluted.
"Very good, be sure to get him to close his eyes." Saksi said before Eugene left. He turned to Magnus who helped sort the beautiful yarn. It cost him a fortune, but the colors the little ones selected were beautiful, nothing but the finest quality. "Thank you, Magnus."
Magnus nodded. He could not wait to show his father all the wonderful spools of yarn he and his brother collected. He was eager to watch his dad use it and perhaps while he wove he could play the pan flute for him.
"Okay okay, Eugene, but don't lead me into a wall." Loki had his eyes shut tight, he would not peek.
Eugene lead Loki into the bedroom, Saksi turned around, he was almost done. This was one time where sign language came in handy. The boys were able to talk to each other without making a sound. They positioned Loki in front of the loom, that was next to the window.
"Okay Loki, open your eyes!" Saki stepped aside.
Loki opened his eyes and was surprised to see a loom in his bedroom. He was both bemused and delighted. "Oh my! How beautiful." He clasped his hands together.
"Well don't just stand there, come and have a look." Saksi and the kids stepped aside.
Loki beamed, he walked right over. He was expecting it to be one that was bought from the shops in town, but it was personalized, with details and symbols that were very familiar to Loki . "Saksi? Did you make this?"
Saksi nodded. "Yes, it's a gift from the kids and me." Saksi hugged Eugene and Magnus. "Something to keep you busy for the months to come."
Loki nearly cried. What a wonderful and thoughtful gift. "Thank you." He hugged his family with such joy. He loved his beautiful handmade loom. "Thank you so very much."
Magnus stepped back and sighed. "And while you weave I can play my pan flute!"
"Oh yes, I would love that." Loki smiled at his oldest son.
Eugene pouted. "I want to play something too!"
Saksi turned and looked down at Eugene. "Very well, then I can teach you how to play the lyre."
Eugene beamed in happiness and beat his chest to show his excitement.
"Saksi, I had no idea you knew how to play the lyre." Loki flirted with his eyes, he was very impressed.
"Well as you say, you learn something new every day." They shared a brief kiss.
This loom would be the perfect way to pass the time, during the long months and magnificent tapestries Loki would make. He would line his walls with artwork. One for each of his children. He could not have asked for a better gift.
Loki was nearly five months, he was grateful that the time was going by quickly, but he worried because he barely showed. Unlike his first two pregnancies, where he was as big as a whale by now, Loki was still rather flat. He checked in with the healers every day just to make sure everything was alright, the baby was just smaller than the others.
He woke up everyday to breakfast in bed and since he was feeling better he was able to give Eugene and Magnus their lessons. For Eugene he focused on reading, which Eugene really loved. He enjoyed stories about travelers and ones about the nine realms. Thor even snuck down to Midgard for them and brought back books from the little blue planet. Eugene loved them, it was exciting to read, the humans of Midgard told marvelous stories.
Loki sighed as he looked in the mirror. It was not that he enjoyed the extra weight of pregnancy, but it was a sign that he was progressing. A sign he liked seeing. He pouted in front of his mirror, before deciding to give up and walk to his reading room. It was getting boring, being locked up all day. He missed being able to walk around and go outside, from his window he could watch the palace visitors come and go. He envied them. He sighed again when he heard a knock at the door. He turned and smiled as he saw his mother walking towards him.
"Lovely day." She stood next to her son and looked out the window.
"Aye." Loki smiled half-heartingly.
"You know Loki, if you're bored, you can always summon me." She turned and smiled at her son. "I will always make time for you." She kissed him on the forehead.
"I know mother." Loki stared the watched the people walk by.
"Hey, I've got an idea." She smiled.
Freya and Loki were alike in their magical abilities. Both were capable of casting powerful spells and tele-projection. So on days where they could not see each other physically they would communicate by projection. Freya decided today was the perfect day to get into a little mischief, for even Freya, the Queen of Asgard enjoyed a good prank.
The first place they popped into was on the king himself. He was reading the scrolls in his reading room. Freya brought her finger to her mouth as she snuck up on her king, with Loki not far behind. Odin yawned and rolled the scroll down more to continue reading. Freya and Loki were in place behind him.
"BOO!" They both shouted at the top of their lungs and disappeared to the safety of the back of the room.
"IN ALL THE NINE RELMS!" Odin jumped out of his skin, almost flipping the table over. "BREAST SHOW YOURSELF!" He withdrew a scroll and waved it around him.
"We beast are scared with fright of your mighty scroll." Freya chuckled.
Odin glared with his one eye. "Do you not have better things to do?"
"Aye, my lord." She smiled. "King of scrolls." Freya teased as Loki laughed by her side.
"Well, be gone, both of you." Odin waved them away in annoyance.
"As you wish." Freya and Loki disappeared back to his room.
"Oh mother, that was just divine, where do you get that mean streak?" Loki laughed.
"Hey, I'm capable of having a little fun too." She smiled at her son.
"Where to next?" Loki clasped his hands together.
"Let's check on Thor, see what he's up to, she grinned.
Thor was in his bathroom giving his son Tola a bath. He was a very attentive father and helped out Jane whenever he could. He enjoyed the mundane task of parenthood, including bathing, feeding, and changing the loin. It was more time for him to spend with his son and far more fun than the boring meetings he attended as future king.
"Alright Tola, no, no splashing." Thor wiped the soapy water from his face, as little Tola giggled and kicked about. "Tola." Thor cracked a smile.
"Bye-bye!" Tola tossed the sponge from the tube over Thor's head.
"Tola." Thor sighed as he turned and reached for the sponge. "SWEET MERCIFUL HEAVENS!" Thor shouted when he saw his mother and brother in the tub with his son. He nearly fainted as all three of them laughed.
"That is not funny Loki." Thor glared at his brother.
"Hey, it's all in good sport." Freya smiled. "Lighten up, right Tola?"
"YEAH!" Tola clapped his hands together and laughed, which did not bring a smile to Thor's annoyed face. This would be a long year indeed, if those two kept this up.
Whatever Loki was expecting to happen or not happen, he was not expecting to be a bottomless pit during his final months of pregnancy. He was just a little over ten months pregnant and hungry all the time. He ate four to five meals a day and it was getting hard for Saksi to keep up with Loki's weird request.
"Saksi!" Loki shouted from his bedroom.
"Coming!" Saksi ran to his side.
"Awww, you didn't make stewed beef again did you?" Loki frowned.
Saksi sighed. "Well you said you wanted stewed beef Loki."
"I know, but now I just want to eat cherry tomatoes and cheese." Loki pouted, he felt bad for making Saksi run around like this, but he couldn't help it. The baby wanted to try new things.
"Alright, I'll save the stewed beef for tomorrow."
"No! I'll take that too." Loki said as he eagerly reached for the bowl. "The baby changed his mind."
Saksi sighed. He was going to collapse if he had to keep this up.
The twelve months went by faster than Loki and Saksi would have ever imagined. Loki was now twelve months pregnant and in his final month. The healers were not sure if the child would be mute like his brothers, as he looked fine for the moment, but there was still that fear that he would develop something later. Who knew what could happen now as Loki worried.
Loki was due any day now and was now entering is favorite part of the pregnancy. The binding hormones were taking over and he was grateful once again for the light heartedness it caused. He'd been so stressed out he forgot to come up with a proper baby name. He knew the sex, it was just his luck he only gave birth to boys, but he was still at a loss for a name. The names he'd chosen in the past were Midgard inspired, as he liked those names better than the typical Norse ones, but he was clueless now.
He got up and walked around his room, perhaps a short walk would help clear his mind. He left his room and walked down to the nursery Saksi had spent so much time building. It was beautiful and garden themed, with flowers and birds painted on the walls. He giggled at Saksi's attempt at drawing animals. He also loved how the beautiful tapestries he made hung from the walls. It was truly his favorite pastime now weaving tapestries into beautiful works of art. Loki thanked Saksi for his handy work in making the crib and furniture. Loki refused to use handmedowns. He had plenty of time on his hands to make his children new clothes and toys. It was important to him that each child knew they were special.
Loki smiled and left the nursey and headed down the hall to the main door of his rooms. Healers were posted there at all times to help Loki when the time was near. Their constant presence was reassuring but sometimes he just wanted to be alone. When he reached the mid-way point he turned and headed to his reading room. He made it about half way when he felt a sharp pain in his stomach and cried out. The healers heard and immediately ran to his side. Loki collapsed to the floor and as the healers struggled to get him into bed. In his bedroom, they were already ready to deliver the baby right then and there. One of the healers ran and got Saksi who was just down the hall. Loki cried and panted. He was terrified. The pain increased, as his body started releasing more and more hormones. Saksi arrived and rushed to Loki's side. He was shaking from nerves, he didn't want to lose this one, he worked too hard, waited so long for him to arrive. He cried out praying to the gods that his child make it.
"Alright Loki! He's in position! Push!" The senior healer shouted.
Loki pushed as hard as he could and with no effort at all, the infant slid right out. Everyone was shocked at how easily the little one was delivered. Loki was quick to scoop him up. The little one blinked, then started to cry loudly. Saksi wrapped his arms around Loki and kissed him, his son was here, his son was finally here. Weighing in at five pounds five ounces, it was the smallest child Loki had ever had. Loki looked down at his child, he was beautiful just like his father, with big brown eyes and curly blonde hair, he was truly an Asgardian child.
"Loki, what should we name him?" Saksi said after he cut the umbilical cord.
Loki stared into his newborn's big brown eyes. "Octavius, we'll name him Octavius." Loki kissed his child.
Chapter Seven End.
Loki giggled to himself. "That was the most tastiest afterbirth I've ever had too."
Thor made a face. "Ewww, Loki."
"Heehee, yeah you wish you could have had some." Loki teased, knowing his brother was squeamish about these things. "Octavius is here! And what I fine child he is!" Loki beamed. "Thank you for reading, do not fret, there is more to come!"