The Goddess of Victory [Book 3]

Chapter 7

Astrid and Freyr had been exchanging letters for a few years now and had met a few more times since you had last hosted them all here. You had no idea who was more excited that this matchmaking was working Loki or Njörðr, but you knew this would happen between them and just let Loki take the credit. It wasn't worth the argument.

Loki had refused to allow Freyr to stay in your apartment, so he used one of the spare rooms on the Avengers floor when he visited. You had just rolled your eyes and told Loki all that meant was Astrid would learn to sneak around better and his response was that she wouldn't dare. You had to remind him that the whole reason Rían was even here was because you were both sneaking around, but he had refused to listen, apparently that was different.

It was your weekly night where you and Loki joined Nat and Steve for dinner. Thankfully Nat was cooking this time so you wouldn't have to listen to Loki complain about the fact Steve ordered pizza again. He loved the local one near where you guys were so always took the opportunity to convince Loki he would like it as well.

Helping Nat carry the plates over to the table you shook your head as she told you she had caught Astrid coming out of the lift last night at 2am.

"I don't know why you bother telling Freyr to stay on the common floor, Astrid will only sneak up later," you told Loki as you handed him his dinner, while Nat gave Steve his and tried to ignore your conversation.

"She wouldn't dare!"

"She is our daughter," you just said as you took a seat at the table.

"What is that supposed to mean?!" Loki questioned.

"You remember that time when you were engaged and it snowed for the first time since I arrived in Asgard?" You smirked at Loki while he just looked at you with narrowed eyes. "I think your words were 'no one is interrupting us'? And a little boy turned up 8 months later." A cheeky grin making its way onto your face.

"You've never told me Ry was an accident?!" Nat looked between you both with a stunned expression. Her and Steve believed the story about where you came from, or if they didn't they at least acted like so. "How did Mr 'I am a god' forget to take any precautions? Loki, you know where kids come from, right?"

"The cabbage patch," Loki told her bluntly as he muttered to you, "You're infuriating," as he started eating, refusing to continue the line of conversation. Yes, Rían was an accident but he never once regretted it.

"So you've told me." You smiled at Loki before turning back to Nat. "I told him if Ry had been a girl we should have called her Daisy."

Nat and Steve burst into laughter while Loki groaned and put his head in his hands at your joke. "You are hilarious," Loki stated dryly.

"Can we go back to the 'engaged' part?" Steve asked.

"No," you both answered in unison.

- - - -

Loki stood in front of you as you yet again tried without success to change. The fact you had done so twice without being pregnant told him the ability was there, it was just harnessing it that was the trouble.

"Anything?" you asked after a brief silence.

Loki lightly gripped your chin and tilted your head up as he studied your face. "Your eyes are red."

He watched as your brow started to furrow and your lips formed into a pout as a little huff of annoyance escaped. He could not stop the smile that slowly made its way onto his face as his eyes slowly roamed over your features, gods you were beautiful.