Heaven Sent (Loki/Asgard Fanfiction - Aislinn's Story)

Chapter Thirty-Four

Opening his eyes was a mistake.

Fuck. His head hurt. A lot.

Trying to sit up was an even greater mistake.

But not nearly as huge a mistake as flopping back down.

"Fucking shit," he groaned, squeezing his eyes shut as his skull threatened to split from all of the jackhammers pounding away inside it.

As he lay there, contemplating whether or not to die, the aroma of fresh coffee wafted into the room. He groaned again, but then his groan turned into a sigh. It smelled wonderful. And maybe, just maybe, he wasn't going to die after all.

The door opened. He opened his eyes just enough to see Aislinn come into the room carrying a tray. She made no sound as she set it on the low dresser and came over to sink gingerly onto the edge of his side of the bed.

Her fingers were gentle as they moved over his hair and it was all he could do to keep playing possum. Her touch was light. Tender. He acted like a total douche to her and yet, she was there stroking his hair and bringing him coffee.

He was a total dick.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, forcing his heavy eyelids to open and his bleary eyes to focus on her. Damn, she was a sight for a hungover man. Showered, her hair falling softly about her face, dressed in a pair of cutoff denim shorts and a pale green tank top--she was an angel to him. His angel.

"Where did you go last night?" Her voice was barely a whisper. Apparently, she had experience with hungover men.

"The Nest." He groaned softly as he rose onto one elbow and rubbed his eyes with his free hand. "I'm sorry, Aislinn. I was a total jerkoff last night."

"I could've handled it a little better, too," she said, still brushing his hair away from his forehead. "But honestly, the last thing I expected was for you to suggest we try to have a baby, Steve. To say you shocked me would be an understatement."

"I don't even know what possessed me to say it, honey." He lowered his hand from his eyes and squinted at her. "Except that I want kids. I never thought I would. Always thought I saw enough of them at school. But damn, Ash, I look at you and I just... I want us to have a family."

To his relief, she smiled. "I do, too, Steve. But, my mom had my brother before she married my dad. Celia was pregnant with Alex when she married Selig. I don't want to be pregnant at my wedding. I want to be able to dance and drink and make love with abandon when it's all over. I don't want to have heartburn, or feel my insides being used as a soccer ball, or have only water to drink."

"Fair enough." He caught her hand in his and tugged her down until she curved against him. Perfect. "How soon after our wedding?"

Her eyes sparkled like emeralds as she said, "Do your worst on our wedding night, Steve. All bets are off at that point."

He bent to kiss her. Her lips were soft and warm and she slid her hand along the back of his neck, up into his hair, as he pulled her down against him. As he wrapped his arms about her to hold her as close as possible.

"I love you, baby," he whispered when they parted.

Aislinn tucked her head against his chest. "I know. And I love you, too."

"Do I smell coffee?"

"I thought you could use some."

"You read my mind, baby."

"I've got two brothers. I know how to deal with men with hangovers." She smiled up at him before pulling away to retrieve the tray. "Nicky and Selig both look for food as well, but I didn't know if Midgardian men would as well, so I erred on the side of caution."