Thor walked into his mother's chambers. Frigga was sitting on the couch and Ava was pacing. "Ava, worrying isn't going to do any good." Frigga said. "Just sit down."

"I can't." Ava replied.

Thor repressed a sigh. He hated that he was going to have to tell his sister that her husband was hurt. He cleared his throat causing his mother to look up and his sister to stop her pacing.

"Is the battle over?" Frigga asked.

Thor nodded and was about ready to say something when Ava interrupted him. "Where is Loki? Is he alright?"

"He is…in the healing room." Thor answered.

Ava's heart sank and her eyes glistened with tears. "Is he alright? What happened?"

"He was helping to save a family…he pushed a small boy out of the way of an attack and an enemy soldier impaled his side with a sword." Thor answered.

"Is he alright?" Ava asked.

"The healers are working on him. I am sure he will be alright. We have the best healers." Thor explained.

Ava stood there for a moment, in shock. She seemed to be debating with herself internally for a moment. She then ran past her brother and out the door. She was running down the hall and to the healing room. Thor and Frigga ran after her. Thor caught up to his little sister and gently grabbed her before she could burst through the doors of the healing room.

"Thor, put me down!" Ava shouted. "I have to get in there and see Loki!"

"Wait until the healers come out to get us." Thor calmly told his sister, holding her so that she could not escape.

Frigga stood in front of them. She placed her hand on her daughter's cheek. "Ava, sweetheart, calm down. This isn't good for you or the baby." She told her. "You have to stay out here and let the healers do their work. If you go in there now, you could make things worse."

Ava sighed she knew her mother was right. "Okay."

"Thor, put your sister down now." Frigga said.

Thor gently put Ava back down on her feet and let go of her. Ava practically ran into her mother's arms and rested her head on her shoulder and cried. "Mother, I don't know what I'll do if…" Ava trailed off, unable to finish her sentence.

"Shh…" Frigga said, stroking her daughter's hair. "Everything will be alright. You mustn't think like that. We have the best healers in the nine realms."

Thor watched his mother and his sister and felt his heart breaking for his little sister. She and Loki were finally together and happy. They were expecting their first child…and now Loki might be taken away from her. Dammit…I should have protected him better. Thor thought to himself, as he saw his sister cry in their mother's arms. He walked closer and placed a hand on Ava's shoulder. "I'm sure he will be alright." Thor replied. "It didn't look like he was hit in any vital spots."

Ava pulled away from their mother and turned to her big brother. "Are you sure?"

"I hope so." Thor answered. He then opened his arms and Ava threw herself into them and cried into his chest. Thor stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head.

A few moments later, one of the healers stepped out of the healing room. "Princess?"

Ava pulled away from her brother and looked at the older woman. "Is Loki alright?" She asked.

"He is going to be fine. It's going to take him a few weeks to recover, but he will be just fine." The woman answered.

"May I see him?" Ava asked.

"Of course. This way Princess." She then led Ava into the healing room and through the maze of beds filled with wounded soldiers and citizens. They soon arrived at Loki's bed.

Loki was lying back on a bed, passed out, and his skin paler than usual. His shirt had been removed and bandages covered his abdomen. "What happened?" Ava asked.

"The sword had pierced his side… we had to repair some of his internal organs…but everything should heal well."

"Thank you." Ava said, as she walked over and sat down beside Loki's bed.

The healer closed curtains around them to give them some privacy. Ava leaned over and kissed Loki's cheek. She then started running her fingers through his hair. She was relieved to see that he was breathing just fine. "Loki, I love you so much." She whispered to him. "You're not supposed to get hurt like this. You're supposed to be more careful." She then laid her head on his chest as a wave of fresh tears began to fall down her cheeks.

She sat there like that for a small eternity, when she felt a hand stroking her hair. She looked up to see Loki's green eyes . "Oh my Loki!" She said as she flung her arms around him and kissed his cheek.

"Owe." Loki groaned.

Ava let go and pulled back. "Oh, I am so sorry, my love."

Loki gave her a strained smile. "It's alright." He said weakly.

"How are you feeling? Is there anything I can do for you?" Ava asked.

Loki's pain had subsided slightly. It was now at a bearable level. "I am alright." He replied, reaching for her hand. "Just sit here with me."

Ava held Loki's hand. "You're not supposed to get hurt like this."

"I had to help the little boy." Loki replied. "There wasn't time to push him out of the way and fight off the attack."

Ava was about ready to say something, when the head healer came in. "Would you be up for another visitor? Someone would like to see you."

"Alright." Loki agreed, thinking it was his mother.

Loki and Ava were both surprised when the baker came in, his hat removed from his head and in his hands. He looked apologetic. "I…uh…wanted to thank you for saving my family and pushing my boy out of the way…I can't believe that you did that after the way I treated you. You didn't deserve that. I am sorry and thank you again…you are welcome in my bakery any time. I will even have pastries delivered to the palace everyday…no charge."

"That is not necessary." Loki replied. "I just did what anyone would do…but thank you for coming here."

The baker nodded and then looked at Ava. "I…owe you an apology as well Princess."

"Thank you." Ava replied.

The baker nodded and turned back to Loki. "I will go now, but I…I will tell everyone in Asgard what you did for my son. You are a hero, Prince Loki." He then bowed to Loki and Ava and exited the room.

Ava looked over at her husband. A soft smile spread across her face. "I told you everyone would come around eventually…it's just too bad that you had to get hurt for it to happen."

Loki returned his wife's smile. "I had to help. Asgard is my home now…I should help protect the citizens."

Ava leaned over and kissed him gently on the lips. "I love you, so very much, Loki."

Loki lifted a hand and cupped the side of Ava's face. "I love you, Ava."