So I am totally glad with how you responded to the last bit of the previous chapter. I really hope you like this next instalment. Please read and review with love. I love everything you say and it really encourages me to write more so don't feel shy to comment away!

Marvel owns Loki and all remnants of Asgard. Loofney and Leera are mine

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It was safe to say that Loofney was definitely his father's child; no doubt about it. Five years of age and he already mastered a well spoken language for a young child. He revelled in his father's magic and took to reading beginners books, as his first sort of literature, on magic and the arts, and yes, he was full of adorable mischief. Loki prided himself on his offspring, on how he took after him and looked up to him in so many ways. And yes, he was now content. His child and wife had filled the whole Loki so longed to fill, just as Leera had promised. Loofney, however much to Loki's annoyance had taken well to Thor. In respect of his son, Loki had improved his relationship with his brother and now spoke to his father with his words dripping with venom and hatred. The pain that he had previously received from his body growing into fully formed jotun had eventually subsided, though he did, several times after that night of discovery, collapse and fall sick because of the pain, and through it all Odin had showed him love and compassion.

Loki was, for once in his life, was happy with life. He loved his wife, his son, his mother, and well, as for Odin and Thor... He was trying. Loki felt however, in recent days that another member to his family would be well welcomed, but still, to Leera, the tonight of going through what she went through with Loofney all over again put her right off. Loki tried numerous times to reassure her that his magic would assist with the pregnancy and birth, but no. Conceiving another child was a touchy subject between the two lovers.

. . . .

It was morning. A peaceful one at that. The sun was shining as per usual in the realm of Asgard. The birds sang their beautiful songs, the beasts of the ground roamed wild and free and all was content. This morning was the annual breakfast and evening feast with the people of Asgard in the golden palace and Loki, prince of Odin was, for the first time, nervous. On previous meals it was either Leera or Loki absent, tending to and I'll Loofney. Today was Loofney's first big appearance to the people of the realm, and Loki, although he loved and cherished his son and was proud of his ever growing similarities to him, he dreaded the thought of his son playing a prank on the people.

Straightening his emerald and black tunic in the mirror of the washroom, Loki eyed his recently cut hair. It now danced just alongside his neck, slightly shorter than what it was when he ventured to Midgard. It all seemed quiet until the expected shriek came from the bedroom and Loki rolled his eyes. At this moment, he hated that fact that he was just like his father, because he always tried to get what he wanted and right now, he didn't want to wear his 'best clothes'. "Loofney, stop wriggling" Leera's annoyed voice sounded in the room and Loki smirked, looking to the closed door. Giving himself once last look over, the trickster opened the door and left the washroom. The sight was amusing. Loofney led across Leera's lap, his head dangling over one end, his legs the other and his tunic was wrapped around his face as he struggled to pull it off as Leera tried to pull it on. "Behave! Put it on properly. It's only for one day!" Loofney wriggled and kicked his legs. The emerald prince stormed over to the scene and picked Loofney up, throwing him over his shoulder, walked to the corner of the room where his cot once resided and a chair now stood proudly and he placed him down. Loofney sat wide eyed as Loki held his legs on the chair and knelt in front of him, moving his face forward so it was near to his sons.

"You will do as your mother says Loofney. Today is important for the realm. They are going to meet you properly for the first time in five years and you must look your best. Once the day is over, you need not wear this again for a while." Loki assured, smiling at his son. Loofney crossed his arms in defiance and poked out his bottom lip, pouting. Loki chuckled as it reminded him of himself and turned to face Leera whom was looking at her hands, rather solemnly. Loki stopped chuckling and his smiled faded as he looked back to his son.

"Ok father" Loofney huffed and shuffled from the chair, walking back to his mother, head low and defeated. Leera glanced at her approaching son and grinned. Reaching out her hands, Leera scooped Loofney up and sat him on her lap, adjusting the tunic around his neck and pulled his arms through the arm holes. Once done, Leera reached for a comb on her bedside table and combed Loofney's raven black hair slick and straight, just like Loki's. Smiling proudly at the miniature version of himself, Loki held out his hand for Loofney to take. Holding his father's hand, Loofney grinned at his mother, as she nodded in approval at his appearance. "Are we going now?" Lokison spoke.

"Yes, as long as your mother is ready"

"I Am." came Leera's short reply, neglecting to look at her husband. Walking to the door, opening it, Leera existed the room and waited in the corridor for her loved ones. Loki walked forward, holding his sons hand and left also, using his gifts of the art to close the door behind them.

"Go on ahead my son, but not too far. Stay in sight until we reach the hall" Loki said, letting his sons hand fall from his and Loofney squeaked in glee as he mounted his invisible horse and galloped down the hallway, making noises similar to a horse as he pretended to jump over rocks and tree stumps. The trickster smiled and turned his head to his wife, who still did not look at him. "I cannot seem to notice that there is some hostility between us. If I have angered you in any way to make you silent and oblivious to my presence, I would have you tell me Leera"

"Not now Loki, don't spoil this morning. We shall speak tonight" Leera whispered, looking at her husband warningly, nodding her head sideways to her son, for Loki to hold his Tongue so his son would not hear.

"Ah! You do not deny that I have upset you. Well then, until we speak of such matters that I am not privy to yet, I would ask you that you act normally towards me during these meals today. I do not wish to sit amongst the peoples looks of suspicion when they see the young prince and his wife not on speaking terms" Loki sighed looking on ahead, passing anew guards here and there.

"As you wish" Leera replied and both walked in silence towards the grand hall. "Loofney! Stop there and wait for us" Leera called after her son and straightened her gown. Taking hold of his hand and gazing over to Loki, all three walked into the grand hall. The people of Asgard smiling with true, unfaltering happiness as their eyes beheld the youngest member of the royal family, and many, many people complimented at how much he looked like his father. Reaching the head table, Loki bowed to Odin and Leera curtsied, and then moved behind to take their seats beside Frigga.

"How good to see Loofney well for this day" Frigga whispered in Loki's ear as Odin stood and made his speech. Loki smiled and both looked down the table at Loofney in between his parents, holding a small hand over his mouth to suppress his giggling. "I can remember your first meal with the people of Asgard. I had never seen so many maids and cooks scream and panic as the choice meats were covered with snakes." Frigga grinned, placing a hand over Loki's. The prince felt the love of his mother, true, genuine love. Once Odin finished speaking, Loki leant his forehead against his mothers and playfully replied

"Well, as I recall, I had a great teacher" Frigga laughed and pulled away, turning her gaze to the bowl of fruit in front of him. Loki looked to his son and placed a bowl also in front of him. Loofney greedily eyed the food and grabbed a slice of apple in one hand and a strawberry in the other, looking excitedly between one hand and the other, deciding which piece of food to each first. Shoving practically his whole left fist containing the apple into his mouth, Loofney bounced on his seat, smiling proudly at his father. Loki grinned and looked behind him to his wife. Leera' face was pointed downwards to her bowl, her eyes vacant. "Leera, are you alright?"

"I am fine Loki" Leera replied, looking up to her love then trailed her focus downward to her son who was eagerly eating the fruit.

"I like!" Loofney said with a mouthful of strawberry and rubbed his sticky hands down his leggings. Loki rolled his eyes and leant down to his son's ear.

"Clean your hands on the napkins my son, not your clothes"

"You said I had to wear them, but you didn't say they had to be clean" Loofney replied, a sparkle of mischievousness in his eyes.

"Indeed you are right, but I ask you now. Keep your clothes clean, Loofney"

"I'm bored father. Can we go to the library? Or the gardens?"

"No. I'm afraid you have to stay here until everyone has finished"

"How long father?"

"Sometime yet"

"Now?"

"No Loofney"

"Now?"

"No"

"How about-"

"Loofney, just, be patient. It will end when it ends" Loki said exasperated and placed his head in his hand. The young god pouted and reached in his bowl for another slice of apple and crunched on it whilst swinging his legs on the end of the chair. Leera conversed with lady Sif the whole time, so she did not need to speak with Loki and made sure of it that whenever the conversation died down, she would think of something to say, leaving Loki with his grumbling son and his persistent mother. The breakfast had dragged, and Loofney had grown bored. He did, after Loki had stopped him, conjured a few beetles and watched as they crawled form the table towards the people of the realm. Luckily, Loki had noticed and wiped them away with a flick of his hand, giving his son a warning.

The emerald prince however, too became bored at the reoccurring questions and conversations of a repetitive nature, but thank the heavens; the people began to get up and leave to attend to their day to day lives, one by one, emptying the room. Finally all that was left was the royal family. Sif and the warriors three had intended to go out hunting without Thor as he seemed not himself lately. Noticing all the people leave, Loofney instantly jumped from his chair and ran to the space in front of the royal table, mounting once more his imaginary horse and used the tables as obstacles. Lady Loki joined the others, and for a few moments, all sat still and watched with happiness at the child playing in front of them.

"He is growing very fast. You must both be so proud" Frigga complimented as she eyed Loofney, images of a young Loki danced in her eyes.

"Indeed, he is growing into a fine young boy" Leera smiled proudly and gave a small rub of the hand on Loki's then pulled away.

"I know you have probably heard this many a time, but he is a vision of you Loki" Odin said, looking across to his son.

"I know, and that is what makes me excited about his years to come" Loki replied.

"Uncle Thor! Come play with me. I want a real horse to ride!" Loofney called out as he stood in front of the table. Thor's laugh boomed and he rushed down to his nephew's side and bent down on his hands and knees, imitating a horse. Loofney held onto Thor's shoulders and hoisted himself up, sitting comfortably in the middle of his back. Odin laughed at the sight in front of him, as did his wife, and Loki found the opportunity to speak to his wife.

"I will not wait 'til this evening. Come; let us leave this room to speak. Loofney is fine with Thor for now" Loki whispered and Leera nodded. "Mother, Father, I would ask, if you could possibly watch over our son a moment, Leera and I are going outside for a moment" After receiving 'yes' and 'of course', the pair left the room. Once at a safe distance from the hall, in a wide and bright corridor, Loki stopped Leera and looked into her face. "Now, what is it that I have done to make you so distant?"

"Oh Loki, you make me livid sometimes!" Leera replied, leaning against a golden wall, crossing her arms.

"Oh? And why would that be?" Loki replied, raising an eyebrow.

"I heard you and your mother speak Loki!"

"We speak all the time" Loki stated, seeming rather confused.

"Do not act stupid Loki, because I know you are not. I heard you both speaking about another child. Did I not tell you that I do not wish for another? I have happy with Loofney. How dare you, after all I told you, after all I confided in you, speak behind my back about having another" Leera spat, her nostrils flaring.

"You made that decision without considering what I felt Leera. I was merely talking with my mother about what it WOULD be like to have another. Yes, I know your reasons, your concerns, but did I not also say, explain even, that I can aid you to make it less painful, to make it easy?" Loki said abashed.

"Loki, please, I respect you in all your decisions, so for once, respect me in mine" Leera said, looking away. Loki shook his head in disappointment and tutted.

"Respect your decision? So I just have to live with the fact that I cannot have any more children because my wife has said that to be so?" Loki said, clenching his hands.

"If you so wish another, take a maid. Is not one enough for you? Do I not matter at all?" Leera asked, looking back at Loki, whose face displayed a mixture of shock and disbelief.

"I cannot believe you would even tell me to take a maid! Of course Loofney is enough! He is my son! But do you not ever think about another child? And I cannot even believe you would ask that. Of course you matter! If this means so much to you, if this is how you will act when the situation is even mentioned, then I shall respect your wishes. But just, please, consider it. Do not rule it out straight away, and then change your mind when it is too late." Loki replied and walked away to return to his son. Leera sighed and placed a hand on her stomach, looking down at it. She did miss the feeling of life in her womb, but when she decided to possibly have another, she was instantly reminded of the pain, the blood and it turned her stomach.