Leah stood ready for whoever else was coming through the door after her brother. There was a horrible sinking feeling in her stomach, her heart began to hammered painfully in her chest as the worry came. Had her brother betrayed her trust, was he actually going to hand her into SHIELD, allow her to be locked up and separated from her daughter. She could see Steve standing up to full height also tensing up not knowing what was to come. Clint looked up a little surprised to see Steve there as his guard came up too, however Leah was more surprised when Mathew appeared through the door behind Clint carrying a large box. Clint just shut the door before turning to look at Leah and Steve suspiciously. Leah just let a sigh of relief that it wasn't Fury or an armed squad from SHIELD barging their way in.
"Right." Clint stared looking from Steve and Leah, crossing his arms as he asked staring at Steve. "What are you doing here?"
"I met Leah before she headed here, she said what she was doing so thought I would tag along." Steve said very cooly, Leah was quite pleased that Steve didn't tell Clint the whole truth. She knew that Clint wouldn't take it well if he knew she was worried about whose side he was actually on.
The Silence was stupidly awkward, all of them just looked at each other till Leah heard a sigh from Astrid who rolled over still fast asleep. She sat down beside her little girl tucking the blanket around her knowing that it was just her dreaming. She began to wonder if it was the right thing to bring Astrid here, considering that her and Clint still had a lot to sort.
"Is that her?" Clint asked a small smile appearing on his face.
"Yeah." Leah smiled looking up at her brother, hoping that he was going to be okay with Astrid being here. Especially considering her brothers reluctance for her to even mention Loki, Astrid was definitely his daughter, so she wondered how he would cope a part of Loki being here. "This is your niece Astrid, she has had a busy day so will be sleeping for a bit but will probably wake up in time for you to meet her." Leah explained glancing down at her sleeping daughter. "So why is Mathew here Clint?"
Leah glanced at Clint seeing him look a little awkward all of a sudden as he looked up from Astrid. She knew she had obviously caught him up to something or planning something he was unwilling to talk about. So she then turned her gaze to Mathew who just stared at Leah and her daughter before answering the question.
"Clint just wanted me to check on both your general health and explained your pregnant again so to check the baby was okay. As long as you're happy for me to do that, I am not going to force you." Mathew glanced at Clint who just nodded.
"Oh." Leah seemed a little surprised by the reply thinking about it for a moment. "Hand on my heart I am fine Mathew, Clint didn't need to worry you at all." She turned her gaze to her brother. "I really don't understand what this is about?" She frowned.
"Please Leah." Clint interrupted as he stared at her with desperation. "Just for my peace of mind do this for me sis?"
"Clint don't you think your being a little unreasonable, can't you just take your sisters word?" Steve argued obviously seeing how ridiculous Clint was being about it. She could see a look of worry still on Steve's face which worried her. "Leah is fine if she says so."
"What is this about?" Leah repeated looking back at Clint seriously.
"I just want to make sure you're alright, that what you say is true. You read about those wives and woman who are beaten by their husbands or partners." Clint hissed becoming very defensive about his actions. "None of them ever tell the truth about their husbands doing it, too scared to do so. I know what that bastard is capable of."
"Clint." Leah sighed trying to keep calm knowing that his opinion about Loki would not change any time soon. "He has never laid a finger on me and I am the least likely woman apart from Natasha to be beaten by some man even if he is a god. He always asked permission at the beginning to touch me, simple things like just touching my hand. He has never used his magic on me except to get me to remember memories and things that had happened to me that I had forgotten. Look I will do this if it makes you happy okay but as long as you consider changing what you think about my future husband."
Clint reluctantly nodded Leah picked the sleeping Astrid up as Clint showed her into a bedroom followed by Mathew. Mathew did a full medical on Astrid without waking her before starting on Leah, once he was happy with her general health he checked over Leah who also got a perfect bill of health. He got a portable ultrasound machine out as Leah got undressed in a bathroom placing some jogging bottoms and top of her brothers on to keep her dignity. She then asked if Clint and Steve wanted to come in to see the next little baby she was having. Mathew started scanning her stomach before her found her child who also seemed to be sleeping, it was only a small child but it was there.
"I would say your around 10 weeks pregnant and just about to show."
"Brilliant, as long as I can fit into my wedding dress tomorrow." Leah laughed glancing at her brother who was staring at the small child looking absolutely amazed by the child in her, she stretched slightly getting a cramp in her back from the position she was in. This set the little baby off in her stomach, she could almost feel the familiar fluttering feeling of early pregnancy. "It's only been a week or two since I conceived so I guess it won't be long till this one pops out."
"Really." Mathew looked up at her intrigued. "It's amazing that pregnancies seemed to develop so quickly in Asgard."
"So how is it?" Leah asked seeing Clint look at her.
"Yeah healthy as it can be, all of you, no signs of abuse or any changes which would make me concerned." Mathew smiled at her then looking to Clint who just nodded. "So family life is suiting you?" Mathew asked Leah as he printed out an image from the scanner.
"It's better than I could have ever dreamed, Thanks for being there during my break down, Penny too." Leah rolled her top down and then checked on Astrid who was still sound asleep. "Astrid is the best thing to ever happen to me. How are the twins doing?"
"They are just about to learn to crawl." Mathew smiled as he thought about it. "Both very active. Astrid looks a lot older than she is?"
"Yeah on Asgard, children develop really quickly." Leah shrugged. "Don't ask."
"I am glad you're happy Leah, you deserve it." Mathew passed her the picture before packing the scanner away. "I better go penny is waiting for me." He stood up heading to the door. "Look after yourself Leah and congratulations."
"Send her my love." Leah told him as he left. Leah stood up looking at Clint before he just gave her a hug, she knew he was relieved that she was fine. "Happy now?"
"Yes." Clint sighed nodding "I am sorry to put you through it, I just wanted to be sure. Do you want some tea or something to eat?"
"I am good on food but wouldn't say no to tea."
"I may go too." Steve cut in looking at the pair of them. "You two have a lot to sort out, call me before you go though."
Leah just nodded still in Clint's embrace smiling. After Steve left the pair of them just sat down having some tea and talking about the pass year. Clint seemed to be happier discussing her life now which made things less awkward, considering how Loki was a big part of her life.
"When did you know that you loved him?" Clint frowned leaning back into the sofa. "It wasn't in the New York attack was it?"
"No, it was definitely not love then but I can't put it down to a moment." Leah shrugged thinking about it for a moment or two. "We started talking, a lot I guess. He would come in to my chambers magically, he was only an image though he couldn't touch me and I couldn't touch him. So it was easy for us to talk about a lot of things which hurt us still. I understood his feelings and he understood mine, then he kissed me one night out of the blues." Leah paused seeing Clint scowl, she understood that this must be hard for him to hear but he did ask after all. "Then things changed between us, he was sweet, gentle and considerate, I just fell in love with him in that moment."
"And you do love him?" Clint continued his scowl still there but she could hear how he cared really.
"With all my heart Clint." Leah said smiling. "I never expected it to happen or to ever feel like this. I would give him everything if I could."
"I am happy for you Leah." Clint looked back down avoiding her stare.
She could hear the slight pain in his voice, she just got up, sitting down next to him and put an arm around him. She knew it was hard for him to hear how well she was doing without him, before all of this happened they only had each other.
"You have Nat now though and your happy?" Leah frowned
"Yeah." Clint glanced at her. "I love her Leah." He smiled.
"I have known that for a long long time." Leah laughed.
They just sat together for a moment, there was movement which made them look up. Leah could see a sleepy Astrid in the door way rubbing her eyes. Leah got up and slowly walked over to the barely awake little dark haired girl.
"Morning sweetie." Leah knelt down in front of her. "You okay?" Astrid just nodded smiling at Leah before holding her arms out. Leah picked Astrid up carrying her into the living room and sitting down next to Clint who just stared at the little girl. "Now Astrid are you listening to me." Astrid just stared up at Leah with her matching silver eyes. "You know Uncle Thor is your fathers brother. This is your uncle Clint my brother."
Astrid just turned to look at Clint suspiciously. Leah just gave her a moment to think what she had just told her. Leah knew that it would take a moment but Astrid would eventually understand. Clint held out his hand to Astrid smiling at her.
"Hi Astrid." He said looking at her. "Do you like toys?"
Leah just frowned knowing that Clint should not have any toys around his apartment. Astrid didn't move still just looking at Clint with a unsure expression on her face. Clint however had gotten up coming back with a plastic bag. It was a beautiful dolly too, Leah wondered how much Clint actually spent to get it. He had always given Leah what she wanted, she guessed it was going to be the same for Astrid now. Leah stared at her brother as he knelt in front of Astrid pulling out the little dolly fully out of the bag. Astrid eyes went wide in surprise she cautiously held her hands out taking hold of the dolly.
"What do you say?" Leah muttered brushing the little girls black hair off her face.
"Tha..hank you." Astrid said very quietly making Leah and Clint laugh at how shy she was being.
The morning light began to shine through the window. Leah and Clint sat on the floor playing with Astrid who seemed to be happily playing with her new dolly. Astrid had taken to Clint completely, she seemed to have him wrapped around her little finger already which made Leah smile. Astrid was one clever little girl to get what she wanted but she also helped to ease awkward situations.
Leah knew this was a big step for her and Clint, she was happy, overjoyed even to have him back in her life. Leah stared at Clint as he played with the dolly tea set that he had also bought for Astrid, there was a big question that Leah wanted to ask Clint. She knew it was something that was going to cause some talk back on Asgard at least, possibly even here.
"Will you come back with me?" Leah frowned turning to Clint staring at him hopefully.
"Leah." Clint looked up at her slightly shocked. "Fury will go nuts if he knew you were here, if I was to go to Asgard he would lose the plot."
"I need someone to give me away." Leah sighed trying to sound really disappointed. "I want it to be you."
Clint just let out a groan, Leah knew that she had put him on the spot and in an awkward position. He just smiled and looked up at her nodding.
"As long as no one misses me and I can come back by the end of the day." Leah just nodded to Clint's comment before throwing her arms around him giving him a big hug.
"Momma." Astrid looked up at Leah frowning which made Leah stop and pull away from the hug her and Clint were having. Leah just waited for a moment to see if Astrid was going to continue.
"What sweetie?" Leah asked after a couple of second's silence.
"I have brother." Astrid continued looking a little baffled. Leah understood completely what she was trying to ask. She knew that with Loki having Thor, her having Clint. Astrid was obviously wondering where her brother was. Leah placed a hand on her stomach wondering if this next child was a girl or a boy. Either way Astrid was going to adore being a big sister.
"No not yet sweetie, but maybe someday." Leah kissed the little girls head as she stood up. "I am going to call Steve if that's okay?"
Clint just nodded and continued to play with Astrid as Leah headed over to the phone picking it up and calling Steve's number.
"Rogers." Steve answered.
"Pack you suit and head over." Leah smirked feeling happy that some of her friends and family were going to be at one of the most important days in her life.
"What?" Steve sounded completely baffled.
"We have a wedding to get too." Leah replied before hanging up.
Sorry its been a while, with the festive period an all. Thanks for all the new reviews too. We are coming to the end of Loki and Leah's story (well this one as I may do others if wanted). Hope you enjoy and thanks for all the support.