Doctor Loki love: I'd like to imagine a little of her adoptive father plus Loki rubbed off on her over the years, even if she hasn't realized it.

Kat Snowstorm: when I began writing this fic I didn't get many reviews. I stuck with it because I predicted one more Loki showed up I would get at least a few people hooked. It seemed I was right. As long as I have one person following with reviews or not I will never cease to end what I am writing. Though reviews are always welcome :p

Poodle warriors: Cephera didn't catch Fury all on her own. Don't forget about Heimdell who can see things he focuses on :p she has help.

Max is Chick name: you guys can't wait for this next chapter and Im looking forward to the one after it. Hehe

Sorceress of the trees: I would hope every chapter makes you feel that way :p

Sydney loves fiction: I try my best to build the O/C to a place people can relate or understand. I also think its important to show the growth of the characters people are already familiar with (Loki).

Chapter 68: Missing Cephera

"You are not trying hard enough." Loki hissed.

"I am trying as hard as I can!" Kat growled back.

"My children could do better then that effort." Loki pulled Kat up off the ground by her upper arm and tossed her back to her side of the grassy hill. "Again!" He ordered her harshly.

Kat narrowed her eyes at him. It had been hours of the same thing today. Today he was trying to get her to manipulate the ground around her to crack and move beneath their feet. Kat had been a fine choice for a protégé. She was powerful beyond his original knowledge though she sometimes lacked concentration.

Her ability to learn quickly was admirable. He watched her now as she concentrated hard on the ground. Her hands into fists at her sides. Her entire body trembling with the effort. She was having difficulty today. She was distracted and he was unsure why.

"Get your mind off what ever it is that is bothering you. Nothing matters right now but my teaching." He said sternly. Her eyes flicked up at him a moment. They were glossy with unspilt tears. Loki had to look away. He hated seeing women cry. The fact that Kat was a close friend to his wife made it that much more difficult.

He growled loudly, ran a hand through his hair and spun back to look at her. "What is it that ails you?" He finally asked. He knew there was no moving onward today without allowing her to vent. This was usually his wife's job. He missed Cephera already for a multitude of reasons.

"It's not fair." She said. "He's gone. I'm alone." Loki sighed exasperated. The damn girl was lamenting another broken relationship. He should have known better. "He won't be back." She sniffled and dropped to her knees in the grass.

Loki stood there feeling awkward, annoyed and dumbfounded. What would Cephera say right now? "He wasn't worth your time anyhow." He knew it was not what his wife would say but he hadn't the sentimentality to say anything else.

Kat let out a crazed laugh. Her head thrown back. "You always think you know everything!" She screamed suddenly. Loki was stunned at the sudden outburst. He had seen Kat get emotionally untangled before but over time it seemed it got a little worse with each one. Kat was one of those girls who acted like nothing bothered them but deep down lots of things did. For Kat boys were usually her trigger. Loki silently cursed the one who caused this today.

"Do not speak to me in such a tone. Remember your place." He warned her. Her face suddenly changed to a wide eyed, child like look. She reminded him of a child who was just punished.

"I'm sorry sir." She said quickly bowing her head down in shame. "I forgot myself." Sighing Loki knelt before her and put a hand on her shoulder.

"I am not good with these tantrums like my wife. Take the rest of the day off. When she returns vent your emotional turmoil and be ready for a long day tomorrow." Kat nodded solemnly. She stood and walked off down the beach. Loki watched the blond and rubbed his temple. Loki hoped her next blow up would not be for a long time.

Loki had taken both children from his mother early. After helping her fix the mess they had made he brought them to his tower. He had gotten used to doing small spells in front of them to see if they would one day repeat any of them.

Nothing dangerous; making bubbles, turning tissues into birds. Small children spells really. Ones Loki had been creating since the children were born.

Already he had four birds on the go and the children were running around after them along with the bubbles. With a snap of his fingers he ended the game and they both stared at him waiting for him to start again. He was sitting cross legged on the floor and picked up another tissue. He threw it into the air and said the words loud enough for the children to hear and the tissue became a bird.

Diana giggled and hopped lightly to attempt to catch it. She missed but that didn't stop her trying again. Devian was watching Loki. Waiting. Loki moved closer to his son and took two tissues and repeated the spell as before. Devian looked up at the birds and then back to Loki.

Loki felt he was on to something. He held a tissue out to Devian and his son took it and tore in two. Loki ruffled the boys hair. Devian tore it again and again. Loki looked back to Diana. She had caught one bird and was watching it struggle in her tiny hands.

And then Loki flicked his hand across his face as at least a dozen tiny birds passed him. He looked up first. The birds were small. He then looked to Devian who was smiling wide back at him. "Birdie!" He said pointing all around.

Loki felt a swell of pride. He picked up his son and stood among the flying white birds. His son reached out to touch them as they flew by. Loki laughed. It wasn't often he laughed so happily but today he did. And then he coughed.

His mouth suddenly tasted of soapy bubbles. He retched as another bubble landed on his lips and soon he realized he was actually surrounded. Loki swished his arm in front of him to rid the bubbles from his face. He placed Devian on the floor beside his laughing sister. As happy as he now was to know they both had the ability to learn other spells he was annoyed that they exceeded the test.

While he wasn't watching, Devian grabbed more tissue and made more birds and Diana summoned more bubbles. Loki swiftly realized he was being ganged up on. Both kids knowing full well they were bothering daddy. And both found it hilarious.

It took Loki several attempts to make the magic stop and to catch Diana who was constantly teleporting around the room to avoid capture. Devian he placed in a magical field were he could not reach anything else.

Loki wondered how Cephera managed to keep them so behaved. "Enough." He said sternly. He was unable to find it in himself to yell at them. Both found him funny still and neither gave up. Devian was moving about the invisible barrier trying to find a way out and Diana was still out of his reach. Calling her to him no longer worked only because once he had her she was gone again.

He grabbed for her once more and she was gone. When he turned Devian was gone too. It wasn't the first time Diana took her brother with her. "Diana return." He mentally summoned. She appeared alone. "Where is your brother?" He asked her leaving her alone.

She pointed toward the door. Loki walked toward the door and Diana followed. He made sure she was behind him all the way down as she teleported down the stairs two by two. She really had the hang of that magic. She brought him all the way to his room.

Loki opened the door and the room was already a disaster. Clothes spewed everywhere, the vanity and table moving about. The bed undressing itself. Loki had only one fleeting thought as he watched the scene unfold before him. 'Why couldn't they be more like their mother.'