Odin did not awaken, he remained in a constant sleep, Loki had not returned from Vanaheim and soon it was the day before Thor's names day. Kari had been feeling ill nigh on constantly for nearly a month. Eir's elixirs did little against the seidr protected child. She lay still as Eir checked her breasts, which had become tender as they prepared to fill with milk to sustain the child, then she had Kari remove her dress, her stomach had not began to round yet, but the healer was able to press in slightly to feel where her uterus was placed.

"It is going to be a strong child, it is growing well." The healer smiled. "Your body is adapting well for it also."

"I have been as sick as Hel!" Kari argued.

"Yes, meaning it is powerful enough to withstand one of my potions. If it is a son, it will be a terrifyingly strong ruler for the realm, and if it is a daughter, she will have no man mess with her."

"Is that not what every mother would want?" Kari smiled, affectionately placing her hand on her lower abdomen.

There was a knock on the door, but before Eir could even tell the knocker to wait; it opened, revealing a slightly panting Thor. "Eir, father has awoken, I… Kari?" Kari watched as Thor looked at her stomach, where she still had her hand. "What is going on?" He looked between the healer and his wife.

"I think it best if you go deal with Odin Eir, I need to speak with my husband." Kari sat back up. Eir looked between the pair and nodded, and with that she walked out the door to Odin's chambers.

"Kari, are you…?" Kari looked at him and nodded. "But the elixir?"

"Only lasts fifty years apparently. I had not been made aware of that nugget of information."

"So on Vanaheim when we…" Kari closed her eyes for a moment before nodding. "And you wish to…."

"Wish to what?"

"Keep it?"

Kari stared at him. "I went through the turmoil of fearing that I could not have children, I now have proof to the contrary. I am sicker than I ever thought possible, but according to Eir, that will only last a few more weeks."

"So you, I mean we are, to be parents?" Thor's tone was cautious.

Kari nodded. "I'm sorry, this is less than ideal."

"It's not that. I… Never mind."

"You're happy?" Kari found herself frowning; she knew Thor's emotions almost as well as he did.

"I am actually." Thor started to chuckle. "A child Kari, I was beginning to think it not possible, but a child, after all this time." His grin grew.

"I had planned on telling you tomorrow, I was with Eir today to ensure it was alright."

"And is it? Is the child…Norn's a child." He shook his head. "I am getting sidetracked. Is it alright?"

"According to Eir, it is strong, and it possesses some seidr, so anything I take to try and alleviate illness is not working, and it is growing well."

Thor smiled happily. "Can we tell what it is yet?"

"No, it is still too small."

"Do you have an inkling, some say a mother can sense it?"

"I think it's a baby." Thor tried to give her a bemused look. "Sorry, no I don't. I just am in disbelief that it happened so easily."

"Perhaps it is true what Eir stated, our stresses were impeding it happening." Thor looked at her. "Kari, I know we are distant, but a child."

"I think it best if we go see your father." Kari rose to her feet. "If we land this piece of information on him it will cause him to spring out of the bed with joy."

Knowing that Kari was avoiding his statement, Thor allowed it though it hurt slightly. "I doubt it, Kari; I think this might actually be it."

"But you said he has awoken."

"And he has, but he cannot use his legs, he is weak."

"Can Eir not fix it?"

"Mother thinks not."

Kari remained silent. She had nothing good to say, so she elected to say nothing. In truth, the idea of him suffering, waiting to die as his body failed him make her want to giggle in delight. "Then we best go to his chambers. This will be something he and indeed your mother will want to hear."

Nodding, Thor looked her up and down. "Perhaps you had best get dressed." He suggested. Kari looked down at her undressed state, she had only her underwear on and her bra pulled down from Eir checking her breasts. "They have grown." Thor noted studying her.

"They tend to do that when they are required for their true purpose." She smiled, as Thor looked at her apologetically. "They look ridiculous on me."

"I had not thought it possible for a woman to not be pleased with larger breasts, I thought that a universal wish of your gender. Even Sif has wished for such."

Kari gave a small smile. "I think her perfectly proportioned, don't you?"

Thor gave her an odd look. "We best go to my father."

Kari laughed to herself at Thor's discomfort. Taking after Thor's acceptance at her change of topic, she nodded. "Yes, let's."

"May I…" Thor asked excitedly as they reached the doors.

"Tell them?" Kari guessed. "Yes, it will be something they will want to hear at a time like this. But please, don't tell anyone else yet."

"Not even the warriors?" Thor was a slight bit crestfallen.

"Not yet, please."

"Fine, not yet."

Odin was sitting up in the bed, his face revealing his anger and frustration as Frigga sat next to the bed, her hand barely away from his, as though offering her comfort, but allowing him to decide whether he wished to go the last step to accepting it. They looked at Kari and Thor when they entered.

"What did Eir say?" Thor asked immediately.

"It is permanent, and it will worsen." Frigga stated, her eyes beginning to water.

"Father…"

"I do not want to hear it and don't ready my funeral raft just yet." He barked.

"I had no intentions of it, honest." Thor swore. "I actually have some news you will wish to hear."

Odin eyed his son suspiciously. "Where is Loki?"

"He is on Vanaheim, and has been for some time. He has taken a liking to King Gaufrid's younger sister it would seem."

"Hmph. His father is ill and he stays on another realm trying to fill some maiden's bed." Odin scoffed. "Well that is some news I am actually glad to hear."

"That is not the news father." Thor stated dryly, irritated by his father's attitude. Odin looked at Thor suspiciously. "Kari is with child."

"Finally." Odin declared in elation while Frigga gave a knowing smile.

"You knew?" Thor stared at his mother.

"A seidr wielder will sense another nearby, I have sensed such from Kari recently and she does not possess it herself." She explained as she rose to her feet and walked to Kari, cupping her face. "You have given this family a great gift." Kari smiled back at her. Frigga looked to her stomach and smiled, and then she went to her son, embracing him and kissing his forehead. "You will be a fantastic father."

"I hope so." His eyes were filled with tears.

"You only found out yourself haven't you?"

"Kari thought to keep it for my name's day tomorrow. I walked in on Eir giving her a check up."

"So when is it to be born?" Odin's mood lifted drastically.

"I am not sure." Thor looked to Kari to answer.

"Early Summer." Was the reply.

"You have kept this to yourself for some time so. I may not see it born, but I can die now knowing that the family line lives on."

"Father do not say such things."

"For goodness sake boy, I am dying; there is nothing more to it." Odin snapped, making Frigga look to the floor in heartache.

Kari walked over to her to comfort her but the Dowager looked back with a genuine smile. "Its seidr is strong already. I feel utterly unprepared for that. You taught Loki so well, I was hoping…"

"Of course." Frigga beamed.

"Any excuse for extra time with your grandchild right?"

"Oh I warn you now; you will curse us being under the one roof with this little one."

X

Kari readied for bed, thinking of the events of the day. She looked at her stomach, feeling nauseous again. She rushed to the bathroom and was immediately violently ill. When she finished retching she thought again of Thor's joy, she felt a shudder go through her. Rising to her feet, she looked at the mirror, before turning away again. Of late her reflection was not someone she could face. Her actions with Loki had caused her to lie, only for her attempts to rectify the results of it safely to drive him away. Now Thor, the sweet, gullible fool accepted a child without question. She placed her head in her hands and wept, unable to cease cursing herself for the predicaments she was in and hating herself for causing it.

Thor's names day went by more solemnly than was previously planned. Odin's less than healthy reawakening had put a dampener on things and since Kari had requested they not tell anyone of the child, it would have been seen as being in bad taste.

It was not long after her stomach began to protrude slightly at the bottom, before the swelling became more rounded. She had tried to loathe what was happening her. Loki still had not returned, and she had kept Thor at arms length, but she was not able to. Looking at it, poking it gently, she adored it. She never knew she wanted to have a child so greatly until she had actually come to carry it. All too soon, her clothes would not conceal it, and the realm would have to be told. She wondered what would occur when Loki would find out, would he rush back and demand to know what was going on as she prayed, so that way she could explain to him what had actually happened, or would that finally put an end to their affair.

The day came that the palace seamstress was called. Upon her arrival, only Helena was in the room with them. The seamstress was sworn to silence also, and Kari explained that she needed dresses that would allow for her now growing bump. Joyfully, the seamstress began to take the Queen's new measurements around her stomach and chest.

"I will have two sorts of dresses made your Majesty. One to continue hiding it until you decide to alert the realm, then the other for after as it grows more." The woman beamed.

"I will need one specifically for the day we tell the realm, it will have to be worthy of the occasion." She smiled.

"Of course. Leave it with me your Majesty. Colours?"

"The usual, plenty of blues, one or two reds, and…maybe a silver." She ceased speaking, placing her hand over her rounding stomach.

"No greens?" The woman queried curiously. "You always have one or two."

"No." Kari bit her lip.

The other women looked at her for a moment but said no more. The seamstress bowed before congratulating her once again. Kari gave a nod and the seamstress left.

"Your Majesty?"

"Helena?"

"Does this mean you and King Thor will be joining your quarters once more?"

"No. things shall remain as they are." Kari stated factually, putting her dress back on and turning to her maid to tie it again.

"You cannot push him away forever your Majesty, not now there is a child."

"I have no choice Helena, I chose a path, and I must stick with it."