Chapter 16: Gift

Cephera was sat with the queen on one of her free days. Together they were enjoying the midday sun. Cephera was enjoying watching others do the same in the grand expanse of the gardens. Her eyes however stopped their roaming when they fell on a very familiar person. Cephera jumped to her feet and ran for the approaching figure. Her sister welcomed her with open arms setting down her bag before Cephera had threw herself into them.

"Seraphina! I've missed you so much. What are you doing here?" Cephera said. She had been exchanging letters with her sister since the wedding but it just wasn't the same as seeing her in person.

"I have something for you and I wanted a hug." Seraphina said grinning.

"Something for me?" Cephera said detaching herself from around her twins neck. Cephera loved surprises.

"Father insisted they are only made for special reasons and used for the owners protection not as pets but..." Seraphina pulled from her bag a small cat like animal. It's fur was black and it's eyes a beautiful blue. He didn't move but inside his technological insides hummed almost like a purr. Upon seeing Cephera the animal began to squirm and Cephera took the animal. "I convinced him to have one constructed for you all the same. A companion for you." Seraphina smiled.

Cephera had seen such animals around in Mechanova but they were rare and difficult to make. She was honoured to have one. Cephera cradled the cat on its back and tickled his slightly glowing tummy. "Does he have a name?" Cephera asked excitedly.

"Not yet." Seraphina told her as they moved back toward the queen. The queen stood and Seraphina gave her a stiff bow. Manners were not really her things.

"Princess Seraphina, it's good to see you." Queen Frigga said.

"It's nice to visit. I won't be here long. My father is having a meeting with some high up delegates and he insists I be there." Seraphina made a dissatisfied face. "I just wanted to drop the gift off to my sister maybe grab some food, you guys have the best food, and then I have to go again." Seraphina grinned and shrugged.

"Let's go back inside then and get you something to eat." Frigga said leading them all away.

XxX

"How goes your battle with your idiot husband?" Seraphina asked as Cephera escorted her back to the Byfrost for some sister time.

"I wouldn't know. I don't talk to him any more. I figure if he wants me he'll come to be. Until then I've been keeping busy." Cephera said shrugging.

"Well you're smiling so that's a good sign. I swear if he hurts you I'll make him wish he never met you." Seraphina threatened. Cephera just laughed and shook her head. "Cephera you know if you want to come home you can at anytime. I won't let father force you back to this man." Seraphina told her.

"I know but I agreed to this. I might not have realized what I was truly getting into. And I might not have a clue what I'm doing now but I'm ok." Cephera assured her sister. As of right now she was doing fine with her life but right now it also didn't involve loki. There might come a time she would retreat to Mechanova but for now she had that small amount of hope that the tides would turn in her favour.

"Well just don't forget what I said. Be yourself. I'll never like him for the things he's already done but if he finally accepts you I'll be happy for you." Seraphina added. Cephera smiled a grateful smile.

"Thank father for me. I love Shiaji." She said nuzzling the cats fur with her face and kissing his ears. The name was one she just made up out of the blue enjoying the way it moulded the tongue to pronounce.

"I will. Good luck with everything." Seraphina accepted her sisters embrace before disappearing into the Byfrosts magic.

(Loki)

Loki knew he shouldn't but since he had followed his wife into town he was now keeping tabs on her daily movement. It had become a strange obsession that he was having trouble shaking. He knew that today her sister had come to Asgard. She didn't stay long but Loki was concerned for what her sister might have said to his wife. He shouldn't have been concerned. What did it matter to him? He didn't want the girl. Loki had moved to their room early in frustration. He knew he was in danger of failing at keeping her away and his own emotions at bay. The more the days went on that she no longer gave him any hint of attention the more he craved it.

His mind would randomly flash back to her on her knees in the bathroom. Her warm mouth sucking him in an attempt to impress him. Loki hadn't been able to touch himself without thinking of it since then. She infested his mind despite his best efforts to eradicate her from them. The talk he had with her four nights ago about her daily city visits had been a small breaking point for him. He found himself wishing she had said more. For him to have been able to hear her voice. To get a hint even that she still wanted him. When he didn't get that he felt empty and hallow. He'd done this to himself by allowing her to get to him. By allowing her to infest his mind and tug at his emotions.

Loki was the one who was the manipulator yet he was being manipulated without her even trying. It fascinated and infuriated him all in one. He forever wanted to remain vigilant in his endeavour to not accept her but in that he was beginning to see his failure becoming imminent. But Loki was forever stubborn and he still held his determination to not give in.

He went to bed somewhat early that night. He had decided he would not seek to talk to her and therefore he would not feel disappointed when she barely answered. When he entered their room he stopped after closing the door. Cephera was already there.

"What is that?" Loki asked immediately upon spotting Cephera's new companion. So much for not talking to her.

"He's a gift from my father. His name is Shiaji." Cephera said looking at the cat she was stroking as she lay in bed.

"That is not sleeping in our bed." Loki said narrowing his eyes at the animal. He didn't care really what it was he didn't like it.

"Don't be silly. He's not a real cat. He's powered by magic." She said with a giggle. "Mechanical actually." She added smiling down at the furry kitten and it's big bright blue eyes.

"I don't care. No animal will be sleeping with us. If you want to keep it, it sleeps on the floor." Loki moved toward the bed, picked up Shiaji from under her loving touch and deposited him on the floor. Cephera gave a cute pout.

"You're no fun at all." She said. Loki didn't reply. He changed for bed and joined her. They lay in silence until they both drifted off to sleep.

XxX...night 2

When Loki arrived in their room the next night he stopped in his tracks again. Cephera was asleep but the cat was once again on the bed but it was no longer a small kitten but an extremely large animal. It's eyes glowed toward Loki as it watched him. Loki growled and made toward the beast.

"Down." He demanded it as it's size was to large for him to easily grab and remove himself. The cat made a sound something like a snort and lay its head down on its outstretched paws. Loki scowled. "Cephera." He said his voice heavy with irritance. She stirred but barely. "Wife." He said a little more forcibly.

"What?" She asked groggily half rolling.

"Get this thing off the bed." He told her.

"You're an almighty god surely a cat isn't to much for you to handle." She said and rolled back to her original position. Loki stared at her somewhat incredulously. Since she'd been completely omitting him from her life the way she spoke to him had also changed.

"Do not tempt my patience woman. I warned you that this beast is not allowed on the bed. If this continues..."

"What? You'll kill him, hit him, spew nasty words at him? Good luck." She pulled the sheets up higher over her shoulder and Loki glared hard. "There is still plenty of room on the bed Loki. Stop sulking like a child and get in. With the room you always put between us there is no reason to kick Shiaji off." Loki let off an irritated growl and attempted to physically remove the animal. The cat growled at him low in its throat but didn't budge.

"Why is he this big?" Loki asked out loud.

"I was cold when I first got into bed. He was keeping me warm." Cephera answered lazily.

"If I offer to keep you warm will you make this beast get off the damn bed?" Loki asked without thinking it over. There was silence.

"Just go to bed husband." She finally replied ignoring his offer all together and that bugged him much more than her tone of voice did. Loki glared from the back of her head to the animal and after a second he huffed loudly before finally slipping in the bed. She was right of course. There was lots of room.

XxX...night 3

Arriving in the bedroom once more with the hopes of sleeping soundly Loki found the cat once more in its large size but this time he was laying on Cephera's side of the bed and Cephera was more toward the middle. Both her arms were wrapped around the large furry cat and one of her legs were bent up along its side. Her face was nuzzled into the back of its head and Loki couldn't find it in him to complain. Something about her position cuddled up with the animal, she seemed to adore, made him almost wish it was him, almost.

With every passing day that he no longer held her attention he wanted it. It had taken him quite some time for him to admit it to himself but now in this moment he did. In that moment he realized why he so adamantly wanted the cat to stay out of the bed and that was because it was his bed that he shared only with her. Even though it was a simple animal the attention she showed it caused a stirring of emotion in him that Loki didn't like to admit to.

When Loki got in bed that night she was much closer to him than usual. Loki would normally turn to face his back to her back but tonight he found the scent of her hair wafting to his nose. The silkiness of her lockes touching his fingers when he moved his hand close enough. He did so trying not to alert her to his curious touches. In the cover of darkness loki eyed the way her nightdress was hiked up to reveal a small amount of her calf as that leg was slung up over the cat. In the dim moonlight her skin looked smooth to touch but he didn't touch her. Her position had tightened the nightgown to the small curve of her hip and outlining her rump. Loki was once again reminded of how she looked and how it felt to have her touch him that one time he'd stupidly allowed it.

The thought made him immediately remember why he should not be touching her now. He retracted the hand touching her hair and rolled over to his usual sleeping position. He would not feel for this girl. She meant nothing to him...Loki closed his eyes and repeated those thoughts to himself. He had to get a grip on his own mind and actions.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. All of you have been a great support!

Keep the reviews flowing in no matter his small. :)

- Twifan 1987: I'm feeling much better today thanks. :) an yes some overdue wall crumbling is commencing.

- Loki's Dreamer: the ice is cracking indeed. I'm flattered you like Cephera that much!

- Female Wraith: Loki will at some point cave. If he didn't I couldn't possible make a love story out of this. Lol

- Poodle Warriors: I was a little worried the story was a little to annoying with all of the stubbornness. It's seems to be going over well all the same. And is there such a things as 'too cute' :P

- Miss Padawan: Tony spoke a volume of truth. She was doing to much to try and impress of be with him when she needed to also learn to keep herself happy. It would be funny but I'm not waiting that long to put this couple together. Haha

- Missing A Muse: she's learning and growing. :)

- Kate Skates 24: haha. Good to know that I cause you to yearn for more.

- Shattered Soul 37: he is changing internally. Slowly changing but a change nonetheless.

- Hello (guest): I'm glad I write Loki in a manner that helps you enjoy my fic. As for Cephera I'm flattered and honoured you think she's the best. Writing OC's are risky but I have fallen in love with her the more I write her and the more I developed her.

- Benfan 1: I promised myself if I began writing Fanfiction I would never not finish a fic (unless if course something drastic happens in my life). So have no fear I have no plans to abandon this or any fic.

- Reneemm: he did compliment her! Though he's still being stubborn at least she got a little something out of him.

- Akera Writer of the Night: haha. You're always so excited! I love it!

- Katarina Lillis: no worries about short reviews. Any review is always loved and welcomed! I'm glad my fic helps with dealing with day to day real life.

- Doctor Loki love: it's not so much her strategy. She doesn't want people to hate Loki but in the end it's the kind of impression it will create if he continues like he is whether she wants it to or not. You're right though. Cephera is setting herself up in the eyes of the people in a way that they would stand behind her. She's fixing the bad reputation she was getting for being a failure as a wife. A reputation Loki caused her by acting his he's acting so in a way it's kind of like revenge without the malice.

- Xerra Solemn: even though you're only on chapter four when you get here I hope you see this! I happy you're enjoying this new tale and I hope you continue to enjoy it.