Leah had been up for a few hours playing with Astrid, Loki had disappeared first thing, once the morning light started to shine through the windows. Leah knew that he would have things to do for his father on his return, as well as his own errands. Leah just played with Astrid blowing raspberries on her daughters growing belly making her squeal before tickling her making her giggle. Leah was just in the process of slowly chasing Astrid around the room when Helena entered.

"Morning." Helena smiled at the pair of them.

"You have a large smile upon your face." Leah glanced up at her friend noticing how she was glowing and seemed rather happy about something.

Helena just blushed a little, Leah knew exactly what it was about then, considering her husband a guard in the king's army had returned recently too. Leah understood from her own experience how it was to have a loved one at war and how good it was to have them finally home. Leah just shook her head laughing, standing up while Astrid hid behind on of the arm chairs though half her body was on show.

"So having your husband back is a good thing." Leah continued sitting down at the table looking at her friend with a mischievous grin on her face.

"And your betrothed?" Helena added raising an eyebrow.

Both woman just laughed as Helena laid down the tray of food before find Astrid behind the same chair. Astrid let out a squeak of excitement seeming very pleased to see her. Helena sat Astrid down on a well cushioned chair before assisting her in feeding herself a porridge like meal.

"Have you seen Loki this morning?" Leah frowned looking up from her breakfast before sipping on some morning wine. Helena's source of knowledge what was going on within the palace was amazing, Leah relied on it a lot. "He left early this morning and I don't really know where."

"I believe many of the higher ranking guards within the King's guard as well as Prince Thor and Prince Loki had an audience with the king this morning. It was to discuss the alliances and battle in further detail I believe, but I do not know much about what happens within the throne room. However I do know that it finished hours ago, everyone has gone their separate ways now."

"Oh." Leah sat back taking a mouthful of bread frowning slightly, it was strange that Loki did not return after the meeting.

"I am sure he just had errands to run." Helena sighed seeing Leah obviously thinking about it as she helped putting the spoon into Astrid's mouth rather than how Astrid had been smearing the porridge around her own face.

"Mmmm." Leah nodded knowing that her friend was right.

Helena helped Astrid finish off the rest of her breakfast before dressing her and taking Astrid off Leah's hands for a few hours. Leah appreciated the time to be able to do things without having to worry about what Astrid was doing. It was a time she could sort a few of her own errands out and have some time to herself. Leah just went to bathe, sitting in the warm water her eyes closed and body relaxing as she enjoyed herself for a moment. She felt so rested since Loki's return, she knew it was something she needed to ask him, considering how bad the dreams were when he left it was something that baffled her now. She had slept two nights in a row without a hint of a nightmare appearing in her dreams.

She heard the door open and slam shut making her jump out of her thoughts, she sat up looking to the entrance to the bathroom. She knew that Helena would not be back till at least lunch time which meant that it could only be one person. Within seconds she saw Loki storm in to the room, she could see the rage and anger in his eyes which made her shrink back into the water. He stared directly at her, she knew that she must have done something to piss him off like this.

"Care to explain what I have heard from a number of different sources that you have visited Midgard since I have been away?" Loki hissed through gritted teeth. "Alone." He added.

Leah's heart jumped into her chest, she just pulled herself out of the water pulling on her robe. She hadn't expected Loki to find out from other people. This took her completely off guard, it was something she planned to mention to him when the time was right. She knew that he wasn't going to very impressed by her actions, she never expected him to be this angry with her though. She just moved into the bedroom looking for the right words to explain her actions.

"Leah." He shouted following her into the bedroom. "You need to give me an explanation why you risked yourself for those…those." Loki glared seeming to search for the exact word he wanted.

"My family." Leah turned around staring at him knowing that was not the words he was going to use but she needed to get her point across before he went off on one.

"Risking our own." Loki snapped back at her, his stance growing taller and more domineering.

Leah let out a sigh knowing he was not listening to her while he was in this humour. Loki just continued to scowl at her still staring angrily as Leah pulled on her dress knowing this was not going to be an argument that Loki would let go easily. Leah moved around him keeping her distance as he seemed the fume over the matter silently.

Leah went into the living area trying to pick up all of Astrid's toys off the floor while she was not under foot. Leah heard Loki follow her so he stood in the middle of the room getting in her way. Leah however ignored that just moving around him and ignoring him while she cleaned.

"Do you have nothing to say for yourself?" Loki growled obviously not calming down with the silent treatment she was giving him.

"No." Leah shook her head glancing up at him. "I do not need to explain all my actions to you Loki."

"Yes you do, I will be your husband." Loki replied looking at her surprised by her words. "I am going to be your husband and you need to learn to treat me as such."

"Really." Leah raised an eyebrow standing up looking at him as she placed her hands on her hips. "Your going to use that to win the argument." She shook her head at him, rolling her eyes. She knew it was more the anger making him use such a stupid excuse. She was never going to be a wife that he would be able to command easily and he should know that too.

"You will be bound to me, mine." Loki's voice rose as she could see the tension in his jaw increase as he became more irritated by her.

"As equals." Leah added looking at him horrified as he continued the petty excuse he had given her. "Not as master and slave Loki, as I am not agreeing to that."

"Really." He drawled now looking a little dangerous.

Leah just shook her head ignoring him again before putting Astrid's toys down in a corner not in the mood to have a discussion about how their unison going to turn her into the belonging he wanted. She could seriously understand why he had two wives already if this was how he was going to behave. She just continued to put away Astrid's bits while she was out of the way not bothering to even look at him now.

"Mother also mentioned you met up with a male friend?" Loki continued still sounding really bitter.

"Yes." Leah exclaimed now throwing Astrid's stuff to the floor as she began to get irritated with his behaviour. "Steve, you have met him actually Captain America ring any bells, managed to help knock you to your arse that time." Leah winced as the words came out of her mouth before she could stop them. She regretted them immediately as Loki glared back at her his cold expression staring at her. Leah just looked down taking a deep breath in trying to calm her own nerves knowing that having two heated people in this argument would not help. She just turned away from him, running her hand through her hair as she tried to find strength to be more understanding.

"The captain?" Loki drawled looking at her his eyes widened slightly with shock.

"Yes." Leah nodded turning back at him trying not to sound as angry as she felt. "He helped me escape from SHIELD with Thor remember. He is a good friend, I thought that perhaps with his help that I would get Clint back. You know the brother I lost because I chose you over my own family."

"I remembered how that man, the Captain looked at you on Midgard." Loki's eyes narrowed again still obviously not letting go that she had been meeting another man while he was away. Not understanding that there was never any form of romance between her and Steve, they were just good friends.

"Really." Leah laughed at Loki, she could see his jaw tightened as he seemed to get more annoyed with her. "Seriously that is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. Steve and I are just friends. God he is probably still a virgin for all I know, not that I do. Look Steve does not have any intentions towards me that you need to worry or become jealous over. He is just a good friend that is all." She stepped closer to him placing her arms around his waist rest her head on his chest. "I love you, you idiot and only you."

"It's not me who is being the reckless one." Loki retorted not holding her but standing there still being just as angry. "I do not want you doing it again."

"I don't want you speaking to me like this again." Leah sighed pulling back and looking up at him. "I want to be happily married to you, be a formidable partnership together, not to be just yours like a prized possession." She paused trying to get him to understand. "I only did what I did so I could see my brother, let Astrid have a large family we always wanted. He is my brother Loki, I love him so much. I was alone with our infant daughter for weeks, alone. You weren't about and it drove me crazy. I just wanted someone who understood me, someone to talk too. I am sorry if that has made you angry and worried but I am here and nothing happened. Heimdall kept a close eye on me at all times. Just ask him about my visits please anything for you to understand, it was only to see if I can get my brother back, like you got Thor."

"You are a prized possession to me though, don't you understand that." Loki finally said after some consideration sounding calmer than he had done earlier. "You have made me who I am today and I would be lost without you."

"I love you." Leah sighed glancing up at Loki trying to assess whether he understood what she was trying to tell him.

"And I you." Loki replied letting out a long sigh before wrapping his arms around her, holding her close against his body. She knew that he was finally beginning to understand how she felt at last.

"I am sorry, I did not understand how it must have been for you recently. Do you accept my apology?"

"Yes but don't command me again please." Leah looked up at him smiling.

"I will try." Loki finally gave in smirking back down at her. "But don't return to Midgard alone, I am not happy for you to be alone on another planet who banished you."

"I promise." Leah nodded before leaning up and kissing him.

Loki just pulled her further against him obviously looking to develop the kiss further. Leah's hands just slipped around her neck letting him know that she was not going to object to that at all. Loki gently lifted her into his arms as he began to carry her bridal style into the bedroom.