Leah was just relaxing in the bath tub allowing her aching muscles to relax. She hadn't realized that she had been so tense. She was glad that the responsibility of telling her brother was off her now, she knew that Thor would do a good job in delivering the message and answering any questions. She was tempted to go and see him, but knew that he would try to stop her from returning. She knew it was not to be hurtful but just out of concern and lack of understanding what had actually happened between her and Loki. She only wanted all of her family together for the baby, so it had a large loving family, even the adopted members to be involved but she knew that she had to make sacrifices for her child. She could feel herself drift into a doze enjoying the feeling the effect warm water had on her body. She heard the door open and shut into the room making her sit up to see Loki coming in looking a little disheveled but pleased with himself. There was a large grin on his face, he looked younger than he had done in a while, his boyish side was on show. She just grinned at him loving seeing him this way as she knew that he was happy, which only made her happier.
"How did the hunt go?" Leah looked at him from the tub as he continued to smirk.
"Our child is going to be blessed for sure." Loki grinned at her as he stripped his clothing to join her in the warm water. "Two large boars and a couple of birds, this will be a feast to remember."
"Perfect." She sighed as she watched him ease himself into water. She loved how happy he was about this, she knew how much this actually meant to him and that meant something to to her. She knew that his relationship with Thor was getting better than it had been for years. She guessed as there was no competition for the throne now that was a huge weight of the relationship between them.
"Indeed." He smirked going over to her and pulling her up against him before sitting down and having her straddle his lap. "How is my love and Child?"
"We are both feeling rested and happy that your back." Leah kissed his softly on the lips grinning.
She just giggled against him feeling so loved and adored. She ran her hands against his muscular chest as Loki stared kissing her neck. His hands ran over her body as he looked down at the bump before he froze. Leah just looked at him as she felt him tense up and saw his face pale as his eyes widen.
"What is it?" She pulled back from him staring, she felt her heart rate become rapid as her stomach rose to her throat. She didn't like how he had become, it actually worried her to see him like this, he looked terrified about something which sent a chill to her bones.
"Your covered in bruises." He continued to stare at her abdomen. She looked down and he was right, she hadn't even noticed as they were so small, faint and already healing. They looked only to be a few hours old, they made no real sense at all to how he was behaving.
"It's probably nothing." Leah shook her head smiling at him as she wrapped her arms around his neck, rubbing the nape of his neck trying to relax him. She just though about how she could have gotten these bruises but nothing made sense on why her whole abdomen was only bruised. "I am fine, our child is fine and everything is good."
"Nothing." Loki exclaimed looking at her horrified taking hold of her arms and pulling them away from him so he could stare at her seriously. She was trapped by his hold just looking back at him, knowing this was a bigger deal to him than she originally thought. She could tell by the way he was acting that this was not going to be as simple as she had hoped. "Our child is obviously doing that to you, it is causing your body damage and you do not seem to be concerned."
"But I am fine." Leah reassured him touching his arm, gently rubbing it, looking at him trying to keep and sound calm. "They have pretty much already healed, they will be gone in an hour. It's probably not even the child, I have been clumsy I mean with this protruding from me, I am not use to it." She pointed down to her stomach smiling slightly. "Please Loki don't make this a big deal."
"No little one." Loki took hold of her shoulders holding them tightly, she just gasp at the sudden action and just looked at him suddenly feeling scared. "I have been concerned that this would happen." She just stared at him not sure what the hell he was going on about. She didn't like how he was acting at the moment though. "The child you carry will be stronger than you, with my genetic make up, I knew it was a possibility." Loki looked up at her his eyes full of fear. "It could kill you if you continue to carry this and I will not let that happen." He suddenly sounded bitter about their child. "We need to take you to the healing room so they can take this child out of you."
Leah pulled out of his grip moving away from him and getting out of the water. She wrapped herself in a gown and move out of the bathroom running her hands through her hair. She couldn't believe that he would even suggest such a thing. She knew the risks if they were to do that to their own child, she couldn't do that to it, she already loved it too much for that treatment. Her hands ran across her stomach and she looked down at it.
"I am sorry." Loki said from behind her sounding a little calmer but she could tell he meant what he was telling her. "But its the truth my love. I have been concerned about this for a while but I didn't want to worry you."
"What are you suggesting then?" Leah muttered not looking at him her voice shaking. She knew she needed to understand everything he was telling her right now. So she knew what he was thinking, even though it was probably not what she wanted to hear.
"You give the child up? If it survives the gods would have blessed us. If not we will know for the future." He sounded firm in his decision. "I know this will be hard for you." He added sounding more caring. "I will stay with you every step of the way."
Leah thought about it, she was only 26 weeks now. She didn't know how long the child needed till it was going to be born. She just rubbed her eyes trying to stop herself from thinking what he was saying. She would willingly give her life for this child, she wanted it so badly now but she was terrified now. Slowly Leah turned around to looked at Loki.
"No." She shook her head trying to sound stronger than she currently felt. She stared into his green eyes which were full of worry, only hoping that he would understand her logic. "We have both killed people before this Loki. I am not going to have our child on my conscience, I can't."
"My love." Loki began pulling her against his body as he began to beg, she could see the panic beginning to form in his eyes. She felt herself begin to fall apart as she knew that they weren't going to agree on this. "Please."
"No." Leah shook her head feeling a tear fall from eyes and over her cheek. "We can't do this." She said firmly looking into his emerald eyes. "I won't let you have this burden too, I am sorry."
She felt Loki let go of her and leave her alone in the bedroom. She knew that he needed time to think about what had been said, he wasn't being rational about this. There was no point chasing after him either as it was only him who could work this out. She wiped her tears away knowing that she needed to be strong about this. She didn't know what to say, she climbed into bed and lay there falling eventually to sleep.
She felt her body being torn to shreds, the pain was unbearable. She could hear herself let out an ear piercing scream before sobbing for it to stop. She could feel the need to push come to her body as her face scrunched up as she used up all her strength. It was like she was floating, watching herself go through all this pain and suffering. Leah could see the blood covering her hands, face and chest. The cold sweat that covered her body making her look pale and unwell. There was another long scream which was getting weaker. There was a then a babies cry but Leah never saw the child only the last breath which passed through her lips as her heart slowed and stopped.
Leah sat up breathing heavily as she looked around the dimly lit room, there was no sign of Loki. Leah let out a sob, her hand flying to her mouth, the dream was so vivid and real. She didn't know what to think, was this a warning or part of her mind worrying about what Loki had said. She slowly got up and wrapped a blanket around her, slowly heading out knowing the one place to find Loki at this time of night. She kept the blanket wrapped tightly around herself feeling the cold night air hitting her body. She found him at the back of the library head in the book, he looked troubled and distracted from his book. She went over to him sitting down beside him, at least the library was empty at this time of night. It meant they could at least talk openly to each other here now. She watched him as he avoided looking at her, she gently placed her hand on top of his.
"I am sorry." Leah began looking at him leaning against his arm and rubbing his hand looking down at it. She felt herself relax as she found his presence enough to calm her. "I had a dream, well nightmare." She rubbed her stomach feeling herself shake slightly.
Loki finally looked up at her seeing her stare down at her stomach as tears fell from her eyes. He pulled her against him onto his lap as he held onto her. She just buried her head under his as she began to cry, she felt safer here with him now.
"What was it about?" He asked rubbing her back gently and trying to soothe her.
"Me dying." Leah glanced up at him still rubbing her stomach hoping he understood where she was going. "And giving birth."
She just saw Loki's eyes close as he pressed his forehead against hers. He now looked seriously troubled as his face paled, she knew this was something he wouldn't want to hear. She could feel him take a long breath in which he held for a moment. She closed her eyes joining him trying to get her mind to stop racing and think logically for a moment. They stayed there silently together for some time before Loki finally said.
"I do not know what to suggest little one." He began rubbing her side his hand grazing her pregnancy bump.
"Come to bed." Leah suggested not moving "I don't have these bad dreams while your around, you protect me from everything bad."
Loki just nodded getting up as she continued to hold onto his hand. They walked back to their quarters before climbing into their bed together. Leah just wrapped herself around Loki resting her head on his chest as Loki gently rubbed her back. They were both quiet and full of worry. She knew that Loki would be thinking about all the options they had available to them. She just closed her eyes trying to find peace somewhere within her head.
"I am sorry that I upset you." Loki began sounding very quiet and wary. "I just don't want to lose you ever, if I had to choose I would choose you."
"I am sure there are ways." Leah muttered thinking, knowing how scared he must be and she was, but knowing there was a chance that she would be fine and that they would be a family. That was all the hope she needed to carry on.
"We don't tend to treat pregnancies here on Asgard, they are normally very simple but in our case it is not." Loki explained still sounding cautious in picking the right words. "I don't want it to hurt you any further but I still want both of you."
"Its only bruises my love." Leah retorted glancing up at him as he looked up at the ceiling while talking to her. She could tell he was now trying to hide his emotions from her. She knew she needed to reassure him and make a compromise. "I am in no pain. Perhaps we will only discuss this if it continues or gets any worse."
"You would promise to tell me, if it did." Loki finally looked down at her looking very serious about the matter.
"I can't lie to the god of lies now can I." Leah smiled trying to sound more confident about the matter than she felt. "But yes I would, If it would make you happy?"
"We will give our child the benefit of our doubt then." Loki kissed her head nodding and agreeing to her terms. "For you and us we will give our child a chance."