Hello my lovely lot. So, I am greatly pleased that you have enjoyed this story so far. So, here is the next chapter. Be warned this may be a bit sad as it has some upsetting references to Leera's past. Please review and tell me what you think. I love, love, love all your comments. Thanks to the new anonymous person whom has been reviewing. I'm glad you're enjoying it! My love to all my regular fans. Your dedication to this is amazing. Please forgive any spelling mistakes.

Marvel owns Loki and All Remnants of Asgard. Leera, Loofney and Merena are mine

…

"Have you really read every book in the library?" Leera asked Loki quietly, leaving the golden hall with her husband and son, Loofney running on ahead. Loki chuckled and put an arm around Leera's shoulder.

"Yes my love, I have indeed. Some on several occasions" Loki replied and peer raised an eyebrow.

"There must be thousands of books in there Loki!" Leera gasped.

"Tens of thousands to be precise. I am a fast reader" Loki said, grinning and dropping his arm from his wires shoulder.

"That's impressive I must say. I took me almost a year to read Harry potter and the order of the phoenix. Mind you, I was not that interested in it" Leera said, sighing and shot a glance to the confused god.

"I am afraid I am unfamiliar with this 'Harry potter'" Loki confessed, shrugging his shoulders.

"Oh you might like it, Loki. It's about magic and the arts and good versus evil" the dark haired woman explained.

"And I suppose good wins?" Loki asked, rolling his eyes.

"As always, Loki. As always" Leera grinned "that's how I've got you under control" Loki scoffed and stopped, facing his wife.

"You have me under control? I think not" Loki said, crossing his arms.

"I love how you picked up on that, but not that fact I called you evil" Leera spoke playfully, placing her hands on her hips.

"You think me evil?" the emerald prince replied, almost hurt, his eyes puppy like as he looked at his wife.

"No..." Leera began and carried on walking down the corridor "... But I do have you under my control"

"I highly doubt that my lady" Loki said, jogging to meet his wife.

"Would you please check on Loofney, make sure he hasn't gone too far?" Leera asked a glint in her eye.

"Of course my love" Loki replied and rushed off on ahead. Leera giggled and whispered to her self

"See, under my control" as if hearing her words, Leera spotted Loki coming back into view, an annoyed expression and his face. As he approached her, he grasped her face in his hands and kissed her head.

"Ok, fair enough, I will give you that" Loki chuckled, pulling away, realising what his wife had done. "You are quite the trickster yourself my love" Leera smiled and pushed Loki's chest playfully, and again, carried on walking.

"Yes, well, I have a good teacher. No, wait, scratch that. I have two good teachers. Loofney is so like you, it's unbelievable" Loki grinned as he watched his wife disappear in the distance and sighed contently. He truly loved her. He never loved anything or anyone with such passion, not even his mother. She was his life. And know, she was expecting, and that made him all the more irresistible.

. . . .

Loki had, as he normally did straight after breakfast, took his son to the library to study. He was offered on many occasions to let the scholars teach the young prince, but Loki denied each time, saying that he wanted to be in charge of his sons education, making sure he had good enough knowledge of everything, not just fitness and armoury like he and Thor were taught when they were younger, to encourage them to become fighters. Magic was always seen as a feminine possession, and war and sparring, and man's position. But Loki proved them wrong. He was much the man as his brother, and because of his persistence in the arts, it made him more intelligent and powerful, something Thor would also be wise in if he also persisted with the education along with Loki. So of course, Loki wanted his son to not only be wise in the arts of war, strategies and tactics, but in knowledge of the worlds around him and of the arts. Loki thought that if Loofney flickers whole heartfelt for the rest of his learning years on such subjects, and mastered the arts, and then he would indeed be even more powerful than Loki.

The emerald prince placed several books on the table on the history of Jotunheim, Asgard and Midgard, knowing that these three realms where the easiest to start with. Loofney gazed over the covers of the books then giggled, looking up to his father. Loki took a seat next to his son and raised an eyebrow. Loofney pulled the blue book labelled "history - Jotunheim" towards his father and looked up. "You were born here!" the Loofney reached for the mint covered book labelled "history - Midgard" and again pushed it to his father. "Mother was born here" and finally, Loofney reached for the crimson covered book with elegant golden swirls down the spine and brought it to his chest, hugging it tightly. "I was born here!" Loki smiled at his son and nodded. Looking at the covers of the books Loki spoke

"Which book do you wish to begin with my son?"

"I want to learn about the blue people father" Loofney replied, placing the crimson book down and pushed it up the table away from him. Loki nodded and placed the blue book in front of him, opening the front cover.

"Are you sure my son?" Loki questioned before he turned the page.

"Yes, father" Loofney replied and watched his father turn the page.

"Then let's begin. Jotunheim..."

...

Leera decided to spend the morning with the queen and lady Sif, thinking that a woman bonding time was well needed. Asking the cooks to make a packed lunch and place it in a basket, Leera walked up towards the gardens, basket on arm, knowing the queen and the lady would be there waiting. On reaching the seating area in-between the flower gardens, Leera smiled warmly at the queen and Sif sitting on the grass beside a tree on a royal golden blanket. "Ah, my dear, I feared you decided not to show" Frigga said warmly with open arms. Leera walked forward and bent down to embrace her mother in law before taking a seat beside her, placing the basket between the three of them.

"My apologies. I asked the cooks to make something for us for lunch later on" Leera said, smiling.

"So, Leera, I was speaking with our queen before you turned up about your conception. What do you hope it will be?" Sif said eagerly. Leera sighed inwardly knowing that this whole afternoon would evolve around her and her unborn child. It was not the fact that she was not excited, because she was, highly excited, but she knew that, from past experiences with Loofney, the next nine months of conversation between these women would be about the child and her health.

"I would be pleased with either gender" Leera replied and Frigga chuckled.

"Of course my dear, but surely you have visions of what you would like it to be?" the queen said. Leera thought for a moment then sighed.

"I would say a girl at first, but, I know Loofney wishes for a brother. I can imagine he would not be too pleased with a sister. But, as I said, I would be pleased beyond imagining by whatever gender I have" Frigga nodded in agreement lovingly and smiled.

"What does Loki want?" Sif inquired.

"I'm not sure. I think he has the same opinion as me" Leera confessed and reached to open the basket, pulling out a glass bottle containing some sort of fruit juice, and three goblets. "Do you wish for a drink?" Frigga and Sif nodded and Leera poured an equal amount of liquid into each goblet and handed one to each of the women.

"Leera, you know so much about us and this realm, yet we know so little about you and yours. Please, would you tell us about yourself?" Sif asked, gleefully and Frigga smiled in agreement, wishing to know more of her daughter in law.

"Yes, certainly. I don't know where to start though. I can answer questions if you like?" Leera replied, leaning against the tree.

"Can we ask anything?" Sif began.

"Yes, I have nothing to hide" Leera said playfully.

"... Oh, good. Leera, what happened to your parents?" Leera instantly felt shocked. She did not expect a question like that straight away. Leera felt a surge of pain and grief flush over her and she lowered her eyes.

"Oh forgive me, please do not feel the need to reply" Sif spoke, noticing the look caressing Leera's face. Frigga placed a hand on the Lady Loki's arm in comfort, a worried expression on her face.

"It's fine. When I was nineteen, my parents and I went on a camping trip down to our cabin in the forest greens about a few hours away from our home. It was beautiful there. Flowers, magnificent trees, and a stunning lake. We went every summer since I was seven years old. The last time we went was when I was nineteen. My father began a new job that would overlap with our holiday time in the summer; so instead, we went during his five days off in February. It was horrid weather to go, but still, my parents wanted to go nevertheless. As we were approaching the camp, the whole area was like a swamp. The dirt and mud had gotten so wet and sludgy; it was so difficult to drive through. My father tried to steer so that he avoided the deepest puddles of mud. He did not see the large rock ahead because his attention was on his steering. I yelled for my father to watch out for the rock. He panicked when he saw it approaching and turned the steering wheel of the car harshly to get as far away from the rock as possible. In doing so, we hit a pile of mud that was running straight into the lake. The gush of dirty water was so strong, the rain just would not let up. Our car drifted towards the lake and my father couldn't control it. We sped straight into the water. I was so terrified. The car sank deeper into the lake because of the force of the water gushing behind us. It was hot in the car and my parents had their windows open ever so slightly, but now as we began to sink, the water gushed in and the car was practically underneath, only a little of the back end bobbed in the water. I could hear my mother screaming. My father told me to pick up the hammer on the back seat beside me and smash the window. We couldn't open the doors and the water was up to our lower stomach. He told me to get out as soon as the window opens and he would get my mum out. I broke he window and the force of the water sucked me out. I swam to the river bank and watched the car sink down completely..." Leera broke off and allowed a tear to trickle down her face. Wiping it away with her sleeve, Leera continued. "My dad surfaced not long after. He saw that my mum wasn't with me. He told me it would be ok and dived back in to get my mum out of the car and up to the surface..." Leera paused once more and sniffled "... My dad never surfaced again. Nor my mother. I just sat on the bank while my dad drowned trying to save my mother. When the medics came with a crane after a few hours, and pulled the car up, my mum was still trapped in the front seat of the car. The medics scaled the river bed when the rain died down and found my father's body. They were both so pale, so cold... I didn't... I was..." Leera cut off and looked up. Frigga and Sif both held a solemn expression, their faces both damp with tears. Leera felt a lump in her throat and shook, standing to her feet. "... I'm sorry, I can't..." Leera cried and rushed off, leaving the women alone. That was the first time she had spoken of that since it had happened all those years ago, not even her husband did she tell, and never until now had she realised that she had kept all the hurt and pain in, and now, as she rushed to the library to seek her husband's embrace, did she let the tears fall so.

Sif wiped her eyes and looked to the queen. "I believe I have upset your daughter in law. I am sorry"

"You did not upset her my dear Sif. I believe Leera has held that in for far too long. She needed release from all that hurt but telling someone. I believe she has done so. Come; let us return to the palace. We shall speak with Leera this evening. Right now, she needs her husband"

...

Loofney had studied the history of all three realms successfully and found himself imagining all the adventures he could have in Midgard, all the fights he could have in Jotunheim, and of course, all the scrumcious food and drink in Asgard he was yet to discover. Loki had watched with a satisfied grin at his son's enthusiasm at learning, and allowed his son to have a break. Reclining his a chair and crossing his legs, elevating them on the table, Loki folded his arms behind his head, completely relaxed. Closing his eyes, Loki focused on his breathing and began to block out the sounds of his son making merry. He enjoyed silence sometimes. Although he did enjoy company, he also found himself feeling at home in silence. That was perhaps the reasons for his enthusiasm in reading. It was an activity that required no sound, and no conversations with anyone. Loki found himself yearning to read once more to pick up a book and read. Since he had married Leera, Loki had not picked up a single book. Although he taught his son, he did not read, he allowed his son to do such and helped him build up his words. Reclining of his chair, Loki remembered every book he had read and thought back to the most gripping, deciding that tonight, he would take a book to bed, either read it while Leera was asleep or even read it too her.

Finally deciding on the novel he wished to read, Loki opened his eyes and stood. Looking down each isle, with shelves upon shelves, Loki tried to remember which one the book was in. Crossing his arms, and cupping his chin in thought, the prince did not hear the library doors open, or her the sniffling of his wife. Loofney however noticed his upset mother. Running to his mother, Loofney grabbed Leera's hands and looked up to her.

"Mother, what's wrong?" Loofney asked his face saddening. Loki heard his son's voice, breaking his train of thought and turned on his heels. Stopping still, Loki saw his wife, pale in the face and her eyes red from crying. Using her free hand she wiped away the tears than trickled down her face. "Father, mother is upset" Loofney said, looking to Loki.

"Go and play my son, I'll see to your mother" Loofney reluctantly let go of Leera's hand and returned to his imaginary adventures. Loki quickly strode to his teary wife and brought her into his arms. Placing his mouth by her ear, Loki whispered. "Tell me my love, what has upset you so, that you are trembling and tearful? Has my mother or Lady Sif upset you?" Leera shook her head and buried her face in the crook of Loki's neck, her tears wetting his alabaster skin. "Leera, please, tell me what ails you" Loki said worriedly, looking down to the top of his wife's head.

"It's been so long…" Leera gasped in between sobs. Loki shushed her tears away and stroked her head, leading her slowly over to a chair and sat her down. Sitting against the back of the chair, Loki knelt in front of Leera and placed his hands on her knees.

"What has? Please my love, tell me. I hate seeing you so. Do not hide it from me. Tell me what has hurt you" Loki pleaded, rubbing his thumbs on Leera's knees comfortingly. Leera looked down at her husband and calmed her breathing.

"I have never spoken about it to anyone, not even you, and then Sif asks and I tell her without a thought, forgetting how much it pains me to speak of it" Leera sniffed and placed her hands over loki's.

"What my love? Tell me, what did you say?" Loki leaned forward and cupped his wife's face with one hand.

"I told her… I told her about my parents… how they died…" Leera said, her breath catching from crying. Loki sighed and rose do his feet. Sitting on the opposite chair, Loki grabbed Leera with his godly strength and placed her on his lap. Wrapping her arms around the trickster's neck, Leera buried her face in Loki's chest.

"Oh my love, I'm so sorry."

"I wish they were still here Loki, I miss them so much it hurts." Leera whispered and began crying again. Loki kissed the forehead of his wife and looked across the library.

"Merena…" Loki addressed the librarian. Merena walked towards the prince and bowed his head, a fist covering his heart.

"My Lord?" Merena asked, standing up straight.

"Would you be so kind as to look after my son for the afternoon while I take my wife to our chambers to rest." Loki said, placing his arms underneath Leera's behind, and scooped her up, standing to his meet, the position like a married man carrying his wife over the threshold.

"Certainly My Lord" Merena bowed.

"See to it that He studies the books I have placed on the table, and that he is well supplied with nourishments to keep him happy" Loki said, looking over to his son whom was too absorbed in his games to even notice his father carrying his mother out of the room.

…..

The bedroom was glowing with the late afternoon sun, and silhouettes of the objects in the room danced across the pale white walls. Loki slowly approached the grand bed and leant over, placing Leera down in the centre. Climbing onto the bed, Loki snuggled up against his wife, and wrapped his arms around her stomach; Leera's back flat against Loki's chest. "I wish I could have helped them Loki" Leera whispered, and although he did not know how his wife's parents had died, Loki new that it hurt her so much and that it was not caused by natural deaths. Loki leaned his head forward and kissed his wife's ear.

"You did all that you could" Loki reassured, hoping that he was saying the right things.

"No Loki, I didn't do anything, I just sat and watched my parents drowning. I should have gone into the water and should have tried to save them" Leera said, crying again. Loki's eyes widened as it was revealed how her parents died and buried his face into Leera's neck, kissing it ever so slowly. "They would have gone back for me. I just sat there…" Loki finished kissing his wife's neck and shuffled forward slightly again.

"There is nothing you could have done. They wanted their daughter safe. No parent wants to see their child hurt, or even dead, Leera. You cannot go on blaming yourself. You will go into a downward spiral if you keep doing that to yourself, my love" Loki replied softly.

"Never leave me Loki" Leera said in response, sniffling and placed her hands over Loki's.

"I swear that I will never leave you, dear Leera" Loki vowed and leaned over his wife's shoulder, kissing her gently on the mouth. Pulling away after a few minutes, Loki kissed Leera's brow and untangled himself from her. Leaving the bed, Loki pulled down the bed sheets and slowly lifted them up, covering his wife's body with it. Walking to the opposite side of the bed, Loki leant over towards Leera's face and smiled. "Sleep my dear. The tears have made you weary…" Loki noticed Leera's eyes drooping "…I will be here when you wake, do not fear that. Now sleep my love, and dream of sweet things" Leera dropped into a quiet slumber and Loki kissed his wife's head and walked to the chamber door, opening it and called for a guard.

"My Lord, what can I do for you?" The guard asked, spear in hand.

"My son is in the Library with Merena. Please can you inform my brother of this and tell ask, if he would look after him for the remainder of the day, and see to it that he goes to bed at a reasonable hour. I doubt he will reject my request" Loki said nicely. The guard nodded and placed his fist over his chest.

"My Lord, do you wish to inform Prince Thor of a reason to this request?" The guard said.

"Just tell him that Lady Loki is not herself and needs my presence by her side" Loki replied. The guard nodded and left in the direction for Prince Thor's chambers. Loki sighed and returned inside the room, closing the door. Sitting back on the bed, Loki rested his head against the headboard. Breathing in quietly, Loki visualised the book he wished to take from the library, and with a wave of his hands, said book appeared. Smiling to himself, Loki exhaled and opened the front cover, and immediately delved into the knowledgeable pages while his wife slept her sorrows away beside him.