Leah woke the following morning, she lifted her head to see Loki still laying on his back and fast asleep. He looked very peaceful and calm in his sleep. It was wonderful just to see that part of him, it was a part that she presumed very few people actually got to see. Leah just rolled onto her side and watched him sleep for a while, it was fascinating to see. She then felt the sudden urge as the baby obviously was pressing on her bladder. She let out a long sigh not really wanting to get up, she threw her legs out of the bed, getting up and going to the bathroom, she took her time prepping for the day ahead when she heard her name cried.

She wrapped a towel around herself and stepped out of the bathroom to see Loki standing there looking frantic. She just stared at him unsure what really to say or do.

"I thought you had gone." Loki stared at her wide-eyed his breathing was rapid and his complexion had gone an ashy color. She could tell that he was obviously panicking.

"I am here." Leah went over to him and stepped into his arms. "I am not going anywhere." She tried her best to reassure him.

She wrapped her arms around him, pressing her cheek against his chest. She never expected Loki to be like this so broken and almost like he had abandonment issues. She had never seen this side of him, she looked up at him to see that he had calmed down and now seemed a little shameful of his reaction.

"I promise you." Leah sighed as she felt his arms wrap around her holding her in place. "I am not going to leave you ever again okay."

"I am sorry." Loki began he said very quietly and she felt him tighten up as he began to tense. "Its just."

"I know." Leah nodded "I felt the same way too."

Loki just picked her up and carried her back to bed making her laugh slightly as the atmosphere lifted. They lay there together as Loki ran his large hand over the bump where there child lay within her. He was obviously deep in thought about something, she was just cherishing every moment they had together, She missed this precious time together when they were apart, the time where he was very open and loving. Loki gently placed his head on the bump like he was listening to their child. His expression on his face was priceless, like their baby was telling him secrets.

"Hear anything interesting?" Leah rose an eyebrow at him.

"Just bonding." He smiled at her before that thinking face came back again.

She just watched him as he continued to seem to be considering something. She placed a hand through his long hair, she was just enjoying this special time together. She felt the baby give out a few strong kicks, making her laugh. Loki obviously felt them too as a huge grin appeared on his face. He just looked at her seriously before saying.

"Will you reconsider marrying me?"

"Pardon?" Leah frowned not really expecting him to bring this subject back up again.

"I would very much like it if you would be my wife before our child is born, little one." Loki stared at her seriously she could see that this was something he really wanted. She looked at him her mouth slightly open, she didn't want to reject him as she didn't know what response that would bring. It wasn't that she didn't want to get married, it was more that she wanted it to be for the right reasons. "Just consider it please." He begged.

"Its not a no Loki, I just want it to be about us not because I am having your child." Leah sighed staring at him hoping that he would understand what she actually meant. "I love you, its just I saw the repercussions it had on my parents relationship first hand."

"Just consider it." Loki repeated kissing her softly on the lips. She just nodded against his lips knowing he was not going to let the situation go. "I will get us some food, you stay here." He told her getting up and pulling on his trousers and tunic.

Leah did as she was told, she just rubbed her hand over her bump, she didn't want to just get married because she was having his baby. She however wanted to make Loki happy, it was all a little confusing, considering a few days ago he was avoiding her. However this was all she wanted and needed from him.

She just pulled her knees as close as she could to her body hugging them. Loki entered the room with a lot of pastries, fruit and cheese. Leah just smiled at him as he came over to the bed placing the tray down. She watched him pick at the food, she wasn't that hungry.

"What's the matter?" He frowned glancing at her obviously noticing her lack of appetite.

"I...I, this is all a little confusing." She stared at him trying to be as gentle as possible with her wording. "This last week or so has been just all a little much."

"Pardon?" He frowned looking at her a little baffled about what she was trying to say.

"It's just been a little quick considering you hated me last week." Leah began stopping a moment and gathering her thoughts. "I know it wasn't really hate but it felt that way to me."

"I didn't hate you, I was just trying to push you away. I didn't want you to leave again when you found out more about me." He muttered looking a little saddened at the thought of what he was saying "I thought staying away from you would help but. But you proved stronger than I thought."

"And now your asking me to marry you." Leah muttered glancing at him smiling slightly. "Don't you think it's a little quick?"

"Perhaps maybe I have been hasty." He sighed obviously taking on what she was trying to say. He just looked at her seriously before taking her hand and rubbing it. "I just want to give you everything that you want and our child will need."

"It won't know or understand for a few years why were weren't married when it's born. I just don't want to rush us yet." Leah shrugged before picking at some sweet pastry with her spare hand and taking a bite grinning at him. "I want to get to know you better, start again almost. Spend all the free time we have together before the baby is born and see where that takes us. I don't want to be like my parents. I don't want to rush us."

Loki just placed a kiss on her forehead before taking her hand, she just watched him as he slowly nodded and smiled.

"Agreed." He actually seemed calmer than she thought he would about the situation. "However you know my parents will not be pleased about this but I will speak to them."

"Thank you."

They sat in silence eating the food that he had bought before Leah got up and dressed into the only dress which fitted her that the Queen had made for her. She looked in the mirror to see that she definitely looked pregnant now. Loki was fully dressed in a matter of minutes, he stepped up behind her looking at her reflection in the mirror. She watched as the dress turned to an emerald green with golden embroidery. Leah just laughed looking at Loki who seemed pleased with her appearance.

"That's much better." He wrapped his arms around her where she marginally narrowed with the bump. "We better give people what they want then." he brushed a strand of her loose hair off her face. "Our ears will be burning by the end of the day with all the gossip about our little surprise."

"I can deal with it." Leah smirked resting her head back against his chest and looking up at him.

"I know you can little one." Loki kissed her forehead. "My mother will surely want to hold a celebration to bless the child with good health. I will leave you to help her organize that, those types of functions are tedious, full of gibberish women."

"I thought you could handle woman." Leah drawled chuckling at the scowl which Loki gave her.

He took hold of her hand as they walked out of her room. They walked in silence, Leah could already see members of the court were looking at the pair of them and bump. She could feel herself blush, she had never really liked being the center of attention. She looked at the floor, knowing their eyes followed them, Loki just gripped hold of her hand whispering into her ear.

"It will be fine Leah." He reassured her.

She looked up at him to see him just smiling at her his head held high, she suddenly felt reassured and feeling more secure. They finally found solitude within one of the gardens. Leah just lay in the soft grass resting her head on Loki's lap and her eyes closed. Loki was reading a book he had pulled out of his jacket, it was all too comfortable with them now. It was nice. Leah slowly opened her eyes watching him as he read. They suddenly heard a booming voice which made Loki and Leah look up. She saw Thor running over to them, he looked very pleased by what he was seeing in front of them.

"I see you two have rekindled your relationship." Thor boomed looking very happy.

"Indeed." Loki replied with a sarcastic tone as he raised his head from his book. "What can I do for you brother?"

"I was wondering if you were going to join me hunting tonight? We apparently need meat for a up coming feast which has yet to be announced. Mothers instructions." Thor looked down at Leah grinning."

"Right." Leah sighed rubbing her stomach knowing what Thor meant.

"I can't." Loki shook his head picking up the book and looking at the open pages ignoring his brother completely.

"Please brother?" Thor begged looking a little upset that Loki had rejected the idea of hunting.

"No." Loki repeated with a determined tone

"What's stopping you?" Leah glanced at Loki who shot daggers back at her. She knew he didn't want to leave her at this moment in time. Just in case that she was going to run from him again. Leah let out a long sigh, she slowly sat up and stretched slightly. "Go Loki, it will be good for you two to spend time together. Perhaps I will speak to your mother while your gone. It will mean that you don't have to be around gibberish women." She added smiling at him.

"I suppose a few hours won't hurt." Loki said still looking at Leah seriously his eyes narrowed, she wasn't sure if she had tread on dangerous territory but she wasn't going to have him cling to her forever. She knew they both would need their own space eventually.

"I will meet you at the gates in an hour brother." Thor smiled looking pleased.

Leah just laid back down resting her head on his lap looking up at him pleased with herself. His hand ran through her bronze locks, she just stared at him.

"You okay?" Leah asked looking up at him suspiciously.

"I just wanted to spend the evening with you." Loki replied his facial expression not changing.

"We have plenty of time together, spend some time with your brother." She sighed closing her eyes resting for a moment. "Plus you can come back to me after your done."

Loki just seemed to relax slightly by what she had said. She just smiled with her eyes closed knowing she had won that little battle. She was just dozing enjoying the feeling of being with him and the warm sun on her exposed skin.

"We better organize our sleeping quarters?" Loki muttered out of no where.

"Oh?" Leah opened one eye looking at him.

"There is no purpose of us having separate chambers now. As my quarters are bigger I would suggest you move your belongings in there." He sounded deadly serious.

Leah just thought about it for a moment, she knew this was kind of rushing things but if the child could arrive at any time it may be a sensible thing to do. She didn't want him missing any of their child's life plus it meant they would see more of each other. Leah suddenly felt excited at the thought of actually living with him.

"Right." Leah rolled onto her side and stared at him. "I guess we could do that, I mean it would be good."

"I better go." Loki lent down and kissed her. "I will see you this evening."

She just lay down and watched Loki walk off, she just smiled knowing how much he was trying for her. She never imagined him to be like this for her, she knew she must have hurt him by saying no to his marriage proposal. Part of her knew it was her own issues holding her back and it was stupid. She just let out a sigh and rubbed her stomach, she only hoped that Loki would understand that. She heard footsteps to see Jane coming towards her, Leah slowly sat up settling her hand on her rounding stomach.

"Thor said there was big news." Jane gasped looking at Leah with absolute shocked by what she saw.

"Yeah you could say that." Leah smirked rubbing her bump. "Sorry I haven't been around and I didn't say anything. It was all a little touch and go. I wanted the father Loki to know first."

"So its true that you and that murderer Loki are together." Jane looked absolutely horrified. "You were there when he did all shit in New York, you saw who he was."

"He is not that person any more." Leah shook his head. "I was there, I saw first hand who he was then and how he's changed now. I have been here for over a year and I got to know him."

"But still." Jane continued

"He is a person, who deserves forgiveness where it can be given and most of all love."

Jane just seemed to find the idea completely impossible. Leah however knew Loki better than she did, Jane obviously found it awkward being around her smiling at Leah before leaving. Leah knew that people had their opinions about Loki and they were welcome to them, none of it matter to her. She eventually got up and went to find the Queen as she promised Loki she would do.