Unforgotten

Chapter 14

"Take it easy, darling," I swung my legs over the side of the table in the healing ward as Loki held my hand tightly.  I winced a little, though I knew I should be grateful that I only felt a little bruised where the two bullets had gone into my body rather than healing from major surgery. 

I had woken four days after Loki brought me to the Asgardian healers, and today, two days after that, I was attempting to take a few steps around the healing ward for the first time. "Are you alright?" Loki asked as I rose, putting my full weight on my feet.  His arm was around my waist, and I felt good, as if my balance was where it should be. 

"Mmhmm." I nodded, and shuffled my right foot forward, followed by my left.  I shuffled in a circle around my table, then sat down, huffing a little when I was done.

"Well done, elskan," Loki smiled up at me as he kneeled next to the table.  I smiled at him. 

"Probably not what you had planned to be doing on your next trip to Asgard," I said, and he laughed. 

"No," he admitted.  "But as soon as Eir allows, I will have you transferred to my chambers.  You should be much more comfortable there."  I smiled at him thankfully, and he kissed me gently.  "But, Paige, I do have something to discuss with you," I looked at him quizzically.

"What's that?"  I asked. 

"How are you feeling?" He asked me.  "How is your nausea?  Your headaches?" He asked sincerely.  I thought for a moment. 

"I haven't thought about it.  The gunshots were a little more pressing." I admitted.  Loki looked down, and my heart began to pound.  "Loki, what are you not telling me?"  He didn't answer right away, and his solemn expression was beginning to frighten me.  "Loki?"

"Well, kaersta, Eir found something while you were being healed," He was choosing his words carefully.  "It seems that you . . . And I . . . Well, we are going to be parents."  My eyes widened and I felt my heart jump to my throat.

"What?"  Loki smiled at me.  "You're joking, right?"  He shook his head. "In about seven months."

"I . . . I need to lie down." I felt as if I were going to faint, and Loki put his hand behind my head as I laid back on the table.  "Okay, this is a good thing, isn't it?  Are you okay with this?" I asked, looking at him, searching his eyes afraid of what I would find there.  He smiled back at me.

"Darling, of course it is." He leaned forward and kissed me, and put a hand on my still-flat stomach.  "I thought I was going to lose you, and now I know you are carrying my child.  I didn't know I could love you any more," I felt my stomach flip, and I smiled happily at him.

"Then I guess it will be the three of us."

Two weeks of walks in the palace gardens, and I finally felt as if I was getting my strength back.  Loki walked with me twice a day, and Frigga would often come and find me to take me around the palace as well during the day. 

This morning was warm, and the breeze played with my hair as I held Loki's arm, walking toward the stables. 

"Your color is better every day," he commented, and I smiled. 

"I hardly feel the pain anymore," I admitted, and looked ahead at the paddocks to see Jarl whinnying at us.  I grinned. "What a gorgeous boy he is," I leaned against a fence, watching the black stallion prance around the green grass, showing off his long mane and tail.  Loki whistled quietly, and Jarl came right to the fence.  Loki murmured quietly in old Norse, and the horse huffed in his hand.  I trailed my fingertips along his nose.