Sorcha's Secret World, Part one.

Chapter 30, Loki makes himself at home.

It was late by the time Loki parked his car in the driveway. The lights in the house were off, Jessie must have already gone to bed.

Loki was about to activate the fob on his car keys to shrink down the car, but I asked him not to.

"The neighbours can't see your car shrink and grow, we are still bound by the rules of the Secret World, remember?"

"Actually, I am not," Loki grinned. "I never signed a contract nor swore any vow."

"Wel I did. Please, be good for me then?"

Loki shrugged and left the car where it was. It stood out like a sore thumb on the driveway of my little cottage. I could just imagine the talk in the village tomorrow:

"Did ye see that new flashy car Sorcha's new flashy fella's got?"

"Sorcha's got a new fella?"

"Ye haven't seen him? Posh git, walking with his nose in the air like he owns the place. Pale sort of feller, wears really expensive suits but can't seem to afford a haircut."

I grinned to myself. Let them gossip, I didn't care.

I opened the door quietly in the hope I wouldn't wake up Jessie, but she came running down the stairs the moment she heard the key in the door.

"Mom?" I held out my arms to give her a hug, but she barreled right past me and hugged Loki instead. "Loki! You are back!"

Loki looked at me over Jessie's head and patted Jess awkwardly on her back.

"Hello Jessie," he said. I grinned at him. We are a family of huggers, he'd better get used to it.

"I was so worried about you!" Jessie admitted.

"I'm fine, nothing I couldn't handle, really," Loki muttered.

I rolled my eyes at him and stuck out my tongue. Liar.

"Are you going to stay with us now?" Jessie asked.

"Eh, I'm not certain. Ask your mother."

"Can he stay with us now, mom?" Jessie turned and looked at me.

"Yes, can he?" Loki asked too, giving me his biggest puppy dog eyes. He truly is impossible sometimes.

I hid a grin.

"Fine, but if he makes a mess it will be your responsibility!"

Loki and Jessie beamed at each other, they were both familiar enough with my particular brand of humour to know the answer was 'yes'.

"I'll go and make us all hot chocolate," I smiled as I walked into the kitchen.

And that is how Loki moved in with us.

Most of his clothes were already here anyway, and I had managed to rescue the few belongings he had left behind at the apartment as well, including his Loki mug (or as he once called it; his most treasured possession). His clothes were a bit of a problem, as Loki found the next day.

"I can only fit half of my clothes in your wardrobe, it is impossibly small!"

"Then put the rest in the guest room," I thought it was a reasonable suggestion. It is what I had done in the first place.

"How did you manage to afford so many clothes on the pittance that the Templars paid you?" I had the sneaking suspicion Loki wasn't exactly a bargain hunter.

Loki frowned. "Better that you don't know, my dear. Don't ask questions you don't truly want an answer to."

"Loki!"