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

Chapter Seventy-Five

Valentine's Day fell on a Thursday and for Aislinn, who'd never celebrated it before, it was a shock to see just how Midgardians were pressured into celebrating the holiday dedicated to love. Diamonds. Roses. Candlelight dinners. Every time she flipped on the television, she was bombarded by ads created to convince men they couldn't possibly love their woman unless they bought her a ten-carat diamond ring and that women shouldn't feel loved unless their man did this. It was crazy to her. Absolutely mad.

"Where do you even wear a ring like that?" she asked herself, flipping the television off and rubbing her perfectly round belly with her free hand.

It was quiet. Steve was at school and afterwards, would be at wrestling practice. He'd tried to convince her that they simply had to have a romantic candlelight dinner out, but she'd managed to convince him that a night out was not exactly what she wanted or needed. She was so round these days, all she wanted to do was sleep. It was only too bad sleeping was an exercise in futility, as she had a devil of a time ever getting comfortable and when she did manage to find a sleeping position that suited her? She'd be up in ten minutes to pee.

She still hadn't told Steve what Kyra told her. Night after night, as they lay in bed, Steve would curve his hand over her perfectly round belly, lift her shirt up, press a kiss against her stomach, and whisper to his unborn child. She had no idea what he said, and she didn't ask. It was between father and daughter—or if Kyra was to be believed, father and son—and that was fine with her. There was something so sweet about watching him do this ritual every night, and she couldn't help herself as she'd reach down and stroke his hair with gentle fingers and fall in love with him all over again.

Just last night, she'd whispered, "What a lucky girl I am," as she brushed her fingers through the soft dark hair over his left ear.

He'd turned to gaze at her. "What?"

"I love watching you do this, Steve. I didn't think Midgardian men—or men in general—ever did things like this."

"I love this bump," he'd replied with a smile, turning to kiss said bump. "And I don't give a damn what other guys do. My daughter is going to know Daddy loves her."

"I don't think that will be a problem."

His eyes sparkled as he shifted, coming up to loom over her. "The best gift I can think to give our daughter is to make sure she sees how much I love her mother as well," he'd murmured, his lips brushing hers. "I want her to grow up with the highest of expectations for any man she meets."

"Really?"

"Oh, yeah. My little girl is going to be treated like a queen or else."

"Just like her mother is."

He grinned. "And he still won't be good enough for her."

"Well, that's a long way off. We can cross that bridge when we come to it."

"We're still going to set a good example and the bar high, baby. She's going to see that a real man loves his woman as passionately as possible and isn't the least bit afraid to show her just how much."

With that, he'd kissed her and as their lips met, it was like that first night together, like a match to dry kindling. He was playful and lusty, tugged her to him, wrapped her in his arms, and made love to her as if it was their first time with each other.

Now, she arched her back, rubbing an aching muscle over her right hip. Her back hurt more and more these days. As she straightened up, a dull cramp twisted her insides. Dull, but strong enough that she sucked in a sharp breath and sank onto the edge of the sofa.