Thor woke to find himself with a dry mouth and a sore head. He could not recall drinking more than usual the night before, but clearly he had drunk more than he thought he had. To his shame, he could not recall how he made his way back to his rooms either, he only recalled laughter, food, drink and dance. Shifting slightly to get out of the bed and make his way to the bath chambers, he froze as he came to a realisation.

He was in bed, naked. Which in itself was not noteworthy, when possible, he chose not to wear anything in bed, but against him, as naked as him, was another, her legs intertwined in his, her body against his, and his arm around her. The quiet muffled sighed against his chest above his heart caused him to frown. He knew it well.

"Kari?" His voice croaked slightly. Kari frowned in her sleep, but only curled up closer to him. He rubbed his eyes with his free hand and cursed how his head ached, but also his lack of memory as to the happenings of the previous evening.

Thor scoffed as he came to the realisation that he was asking himself how he ended up naked in bed with his young beautiful wife, there would be very few men that would ever question such a thing. With her naked thigh was over his own, it told him that they must have fallen asleep soon after they had completed, otherwise there was no explainable reason for their current state.

Feeling Kari's fingers gently graze his chest as she twitched told him that she was stirring. He wondered how she would react. It was her idea to cease trying for a child, and with her taking Eir's elixir and moving out of their shared chambers, she sent a very clear message of not wanting him to touch her. This would surely only cause issues with her.

Thor looked down at his wife to see her looking directly back at him as though gauging for his reaction to their situation. "I'm sorry." He found himself saying the words he repeated more often in his marriage than morning salutes.

"Actually, I am the one who should be issuing the apologies, this was my doing." Kari informed him as she began to draw back from him, taking a sheet with her so to keep herself covered, Thor cocked his head slightly, still not recalling what happened, or why Kari would have instigated something, especially after so long of showing no interest in such with him. "I got you undressed when we returned here, then rather than choosing to sleep in another spot, I got into bed with you."

"And things naturally led on from there?" Thor assumed, Kari nodded, choosing not to correct him. "Well I suppose after so long, and the alcohol consumed."

"There is no excuse, you were far drunker than I, and I should have taken better control of things."

"You are only Aesir Kari." Thor shrugged. "I need a drink." He groaned his mouth still dry.

"Is that not why you are in this state?"

"Of water I mean." He moaned, bemused by her little joke. Sighing, he looked at Kari for a moment before getting out of the bed. "I think that I enjoyed last night."

"You think?"

"From what I recall, we had quite a pleasant time in one another's close company, more so than we have done in years, joking and laughing. I have missed that; we should do it more often."

"Kari took a deep breathe. "Thor, I…" Her tone was saddened.

"Why are you always so cold to me?" He asked. "I understand that I have wronged you, and I know that you will never forgive me for what I did, but…"

"I did forgive you." Kari interrupted.

"What?"

"I forgave you long ago."

"When?"

"About forty nine years and nine months ago. I was upset for a short while but I understood after the initial insult why it happened, and I most certainly saw your remorse so I got over it."

"But you stated you never would."

"At the time I stated such, yes, but I was angry."

"So why have you continued to remain so distant?"

Kari was saved from answering Thor's question when Loki walked into his brothers chambers. "Have you any plans to rise today, it's just…" He paused staring between Thor and Kari. Thor stood next to the bed as naked as then day he came into the world, while Kari wore only a sheet around her that was nigh on transparent, telling him that she was wearing nothing beneath. "I think I will leave you to it. I shall speak with you later." He stated plainly, walking out the door again.

Kari's heart had almost ceased working when Thor began to ask why she was so cold to him since her forgiving him. She had begged the Norn's that they would get off the topic, but she regretted her prayers when Loki entered and his eye fell on her. He looked equal parts infuriated and heartbroken. His comment, she knew was not meant for Thor, but for her. It took every ounce of willpower she possessed not to chase after him and explain what was happening, of how it was only a guise to explain away everything, how she had not actually done anything but gotten undressed and simply lay next to her snoring husband.

"Clearly it is later than I assumed, we had best get dressed." Thor had obviously become sidetracked by Loki's interruption and walked to the bathroom, blissfully unaware of Kari's inner turmoil.

Loki was nowhere to be seen for much of the afternoon. The princess's Ailbhe and Mina had remained close to Kari all day, not leaving her much space to think or even sit. She was constantly on the lookout for Loki, but he did not appear. After a while she, the princess's and Queen Clara were joined by Thor, Frederick and the Vanir princes. She laughed and played with the younger ones, along side Thor, who too cherished the interactions with the youths. Kari laughed proudly as Ailbhe declared her preference to her over Thor, while Thor feigned hurt.

"If it is any consolation little one, I think most any would prefer Kari to I." Thor chuckled, looking at Kari with a large smile. She gave a small one back on response.

"I think Queen Kari is a little sad." Ailbhe looked up at Kari in concern. "King Thor, you should give her a hug, because that will make her feel better." The child instructed.

Thor gave an apologetic smile to Kari but did as the child demanded and embraced his wife. Kari gripped him close to her for a moment before letting go again, in need of some comfort, earning her a very concerned look from Thor.

"As much better as that made me feel, oh great little healer that you are Ailbhe, I must excuse myself for a short time, I am not feeling too well." Kari gave a nod to all present and made her way back to the chambers, feeling odd.

She opened the chambers door and dismissed the staff, telling them all to return in an hour to wake her. They complied and left.

She then made her way to the bedchamber and collapsed on the bed, an unsettled feeling in her stomach making her groan. It was still far too early for her to feel nauseous from the child, so she knew it had to be something else.

"You look sickly sweet together, both clothes and unclothed."

Kari turned her head to see Loki standing by the door, his tone and face telling her of his inner rage.

"It is not what you think." She began.

"Really, because I think I came in here today to see you in all your glory, him too I might add and since I doubt there is such a thing as strip chess..."

"Loki."

"And then in the garden, your adorable display as a happy husband and wife, playing around with children." He was almost shaking.

"Please Loki, I need to tell you something."

"I don't want to hear it. I got divorced from Lena because of my love for you, to prove it, to not even lie with her, and you spit that back in my face, and for what? Are you that desperate for him? Am I not good enough for you, that him drunk out of his mind means more to you than me, than the love I thought we shared."

"Loki…" Kari found herself on he verge of tears.

"What, it's your duty? Are you going to state you were drunk, you and I know the latter is not true, because I watched your little wine goblet stunt, I know that throughout the night, you did not drink a drop. I thought it was because you wished to get him so drunk he did not notice you missing as you spent the night with me, but instead, you sober, got into bed with him inebriated."

"I had to."

"You…" Loki looked at her in anger and disgust. "I cannot listen to this, I am done. I can do the same you know, I get that I am not seen to be as good looking as Thor, but I too can get ample attentions and women into my bed." Loki glared hatefully at her as he turned and stormed out the door.

"What, no. I didn't…" But he was gone. "I did it for the baby, our baby." She whimpered to the empty room.