Jane didn't stay for long, and honestly, I was glad to see her go. The dinners in the dining hall with Thor, Jane, Loki and the warriors three were awkward enough with Jane sending figurative daggers in my direction. She never apologised for what she had said, although Thor had, I wanted to hear it from her. But the apology never came and I wasn't one for waiting around. I found that I was becoming very close to Sif, however. We would often find each other to talk and gossip. She would take me on trips into the city where we would shop and gossip some more. I had never normally got a long with other girls. They were always so... Annoying. But Sif was a strong woman, defiant against male dominance and I liked that about her. We were surprisingly similar. But as two more months passed involving saying goodbye to Thor who had decided to go back to Earth to be with Jane, and Loki going off world for more peace treaty meetings, I wasn't able to go out much, not without some sort of accompaniment. My belly had grown so much that it was almost impossible to get out of a chair or my bed without any sort of help. I couldn't walk far without getting intense back pain and if I did walk, I had to waddle slowly. Loki liked the way I waddled, an amused, adoring smile on his face whenever we would walk through the palace at a very slow pace. He always made sure I wasn't in pain, a slight wince on my face, and he would tell me to sit down immediately. He would always have one hand on my back, his body cautious and alert, ready to catch me if I fell for any reason. I began to get grouchy more than what had become normal while I was pregnant. My morning sickness had stopped, but I was constantly tired and the cravings were getting ridiculous. Cheese and bacon with ice-cream, chocolate mixed with potato mash... I was starting to scare myself a little, and boy did this kid have an appetite.

I was abruptly awoken when I slept soundly one night, my head resting on the pillow, lying on my side with my legs intertwined with Loki's. His hands were encased around my belly protectively and mine stretched across his bare chest, when I felt a sharp, intense pain that ripped through me. My eyes flew open and I gasped in pain. Loki shifted quickly, sitting up as I did. I clutched my belly, my face scrunching up in agony. Loki's face was stricken with fear and worry. He immediately rung the bell, telling the handmaiden who had entered at the sound to get the healers. My legs suddenly became very wet, soaking in fact. I pulled back the sheets, and found I had drenched the bed.

"My water just broke." I knew immediately what it was, and what would come next. But I couldn't prepare myself as the pain began, sending me screaming loudly. The sounds echoing through the room. The healers burst into the room, surrounding me and laying me back down on the bed. Loki sat up, leaning on his knees, taking my hand in his and squeezing it tight.

"Get some towels!" One of the healers yelled sending another running out of the room. "You are going into labour, however you are not be ready to give birth yet." The healer explained, and I nodded in pain. "We will get you something for the pain while we wait." Another healer brandished a small needle filled with a liquid. She lifted my arm and pierced my skin, injecting the fluid into my system. My handmaidens were on call, standing around and ready for anything the healers asked for.

"Inform the royal guards of the news." Loki ordered, and one of the handmaidens left the room quickly. I spent the next few hours gasping in pain. Although the injection had done some good to ease the pain, I was still stiffened in throbbing agony. Larger amounts of pain washed through me in waves and I squeezed Loki's hand each time. He didn't leave my side, stroking my sweaty hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear. He looked at me with complete adoration, not a sign of judgement present on his face. "Focus on me." His voice was soft as the healers had informed me that I was ready to start pushing. I nodded at Loki, his face was serene now, a controlled smile on his face.

"Start pushing." The healer commanded and I pushed with everything I had. I screamed out as I did each time, squeezing Loki's hand unnaturally. But Loki didn't show any sign of pain, and to be honest I didn't really care if he was in pain. I was the one going through pain right now. And man, did birth hurt like a bitch. I pushed again, squeezing Loki's hand once more. This time he pulled it back, shaking it vigorously. I looked at him shocked and panting.

"Give me that hand back right now. I need something to squeeze." I said, the agony and anger coursing through my words as I breathed hoarsely. He returned his hand and I made a point of squeezing with extra force. I saw him wince slightly, which gave me a strange sort of satisfaction. He leaned down then as the healer told me I needed to do one more push, he planted a tender kiss on my forehead and whispered into my ear.

"One more push, and then we have a newborn child." He stroked my hair, smiling at me. And as I mustered one more push, I watched him, his face egging me on. And suddenly, the pain was over, as quickly as it had come. I heard the soft wailing of a small child begin to echo, and as I looked up, a small being was placed in my arms.

"It's a boy." The healer said happily. I watched the little guy squirm in my arms, his eyes swollen and cries emanating from his tiny little mouth. His eye lids barely opened, and his skin was a reddened white from the birth. Loki stroked his head ever so carefully as he leaned in to look at his son. His tiny little hands and chubby little fingers wrapped around one of Loki's fingers, sending a smile streaming across Loki's face in a way I had never seen before.

"What should we call him?" I asked, my voice hoarse and sore. Loki looked at me and smiled. He kissed my lips with a strength that had only just become present.

"Vali."

"Why Vali?"

"It means powerful, strong. Just like his mother." His eyes showed an adoration and respect I had never witnessed in his green eyes before.

"Vali it is then." I kissed him before looking down at our little boy. He cooed in my arms, no longer crying. His small legs flailed around, as did his arms. His skin was no longer red from the birth, instead it had faded to it's white nature. As his eyes searched the world above him, I saw the colour of his eyes, blue, like mine. His hair was a deep brown, near black colour. There were only a few strands of it popping out of his head, but it was enough for me to know he had his father's hair.

We didn't sleep for the rest of the night. Instead, we stayed up, after the healers had left, after the announcement had been made to Asgard of the birth, we stayed awake, Vali lying in our arms, squirming and smiling. I still throbbed slightly from the pain, but it was completely worth it, as I looked down at the little man that Loki and I had created, his beautiful, perfect face staring up at us, a smile of love already present.