A GODS WEAKNESS [l.laufeyson]

TWENTY FIVE

     Loki and Astrid enter their room and before Astrid could get a word in, Loki pushes her against the wall unexpectedly and crashes his lips against hers. Both of his arms are either side of her on the wall with no way of her to escape. But she doesn't care. She holds his face enjoying every moment of it before running her hands through his hair. He bends down to pick her up as she jumps to wrap her legs round his waist. They head over to the bed as he gently puts her down on it, their lips never separating. He then starts kissing down her neck. Little note to self... Don't separate Loki and Astrid for more than a week... it gets wild. Even though she's truly enjoying every moment with Loki, she still needs to tell him about their baby.

"Loki we need to talk." But Loki doesn't pay much attention. He only groans as he continues ravishing her neck.

"Loki, please?" Loki finally looks up to look into her eyes. He sighs before they both sit up.

"Okay my darling. What is it you wish to talk about?" Astrid looks down at Loki's hand before picking it up and intertwining her fingers with his.

"I know you said that it was the wrong time and all to even think about a family..." Loki realises where she might be going with this and takes his hand back to stand up. Astrid waits a moment thinking Loki is going to say something but he walks to the window without saying a word.

"Loki, please just hear me out."

"Astrid, I told you it's just not a good time. Especially now."

"I know but-"

"Astrid-"

"What are you so afraid of Loki?!"

"I don't know how to be a father!" He quickly turns to her, raising his voice startling her. Astrid could only sit there feeling guilty. She didn't realise that was how he really felt, but she still didn't appreciate him shouting at her.

He had never raised his voice like that before. She gets up from the bed and heads over to the couch the other side of the room facing away from Loki. He stands there for a moment, regretting what he had just done before slowly walking over to her. He goes to place a hand on her shoulder but stops to see that she is crying. He felt guilty. No matter what he always seems to hurt her.

"I'm sorry... it's just that-"

"I'm carrying your child." She figured if she couldn't get him to listen, she needed to just spit it out.

"You're... what?..."

"I found out before we travelled to Midgard." Loki walked to the front of the couch to kneel in front of where Astrid was sat. "The reason I took so long to get to the Bifrost, was because Eir had informed me that I... I was-"

"Pregnant." Astrid couldn't seem to get her words out so Loki finished the sentence for her.

"Yes... and I tried telling you sooner. But every time I wanted to tell you, you didn't seem interested and... I was scared." Loki pulled her into a hug and her heart felt whole again. She was scared he would run off and freak out, but instead, he stayed by her side.

"I'm so sorry Astrid. If I had known I wouldn't have-"

"No. Loki, you don't have to apologise. You can't help how you feel about these sort of things." Loki smiled lovingly at her. She truly was the one for him. She understood him like no one else ever will.

"Just know, that I will be there with you every step of the way. I will learn how to be a good father. I will raise our child the correct way. Just because my father couldn't, doesn't mean it's too late for me to learn." Astrid looked at Loki sympathetically.

"Is that why you kept putting off the subject?" Loki got up and sat next to her taking her hand in his again.

"Laufey abandoned me as an infant leaving me to die. Odin took me in but I was always second best to Thor... I then found out that Odin wasn't my real father and ever since that day, he had never looked at me the same, that was until his death." Astrid rested her head on his arm to comfort his as she continued to listen. "I've always known a mother's love but never a fathers. And because of that, I turned out to be the most wanted man on Midgard and more. I don't want our child to turn out like me." Astrid lifted her head back up to look at Loki who only kept looking down at his hand in hers.

"Listen to me." She placed her hand on his cheek making him look at her. "You don't give yourself enough credit. You are always risking your life for your family. You have saved my life which I am eternally grateful for. Even though other people don't see it or understand you, doesn't mean you're not a good person. The way I see it, you're a hero."

"I love you." Loki kisses her gently. That was what he needed to feel better about himself.

"I love you too."