*Pronunciations: - Caoimhe = 'kee'+'va' - Aine = 'awn'+'ye'*
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I woke up to a sated, lightweight feeling. Sadly, not long after we made love, Loki had to go, saying he couldn't stay long. Apparently, whenever you dream-walked, your physical body was left weak. Since his mind was gone, he couldn't protect his true body.
I sighed and tried to ignore the crushing loneliness that came over me as I rolled over on the empty bed.
Before meeting Loki, waking up to an empty bed meant nothing, I had done it every morning. Now, it somehow seemed wrong. I shouldn't wake up in the middle of the night without someone next to me. Someone who, more often than not, had his body wrapped around mine.
In an attempt to duplicate this sensation, I wrapped the covers tightly around myself, cocooning myself in their warmth. I inhaled deeply. They still smelled slightly of Loki. I fell asleep with a slight smile on my face.
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Loki woke with a jolt, thrilled with himself. He could do it! He could dream-walk! Loki smiled, feeling stated and lightweight, hoping Jaxon felt the same. Suddenly, spending time on Earth, away from his wife, didn't seem so bad.
A knock came from the door. "Come in." Loki invited, sitting up. He already knew who it was.
As predicted, Thor walked through the door, closing it behind him and making his way to the large chair by the fireplace.
Loki watched him, waiting for him to start talking.
"How are we going to do this?" Thor asked.
"What do you mean? Do what?"
"All of this..." Thor added, waving his hand.
"The room?"
"Loki, don't be dense. I mean this whole situation. How are we going to do this? Fury is already suspicious, and he told Stark. Stark, the most paranoid person I've ever known. If he tries to figure out what is the true story behind this, there's not much we can do to prevent that."
Loki sighed, "I know. But what do you suggest we do? Tell him the truth?"
Thor just looked at him.
"No." Loki stated, "We already discussed this. You know what will happen if SHIELD knows the truth. They'll use Jaxon as leverage or they'll think I forced her to come to Asgard with me and try to take her away in an attempt to 'save' her. Either way, we are separated, and that is something I cannot stand for."
"Loki, I know..."
"I can barely take it now! I haven't been apart from her for a day, and it's horrible."
Now it was Thor who sighed, "Loki, it's not something I want to do either, but we need to think of something. The more secrets we make up, the more suspicious Stark will become."
"We'll just have to brave it out and hope Stark isn't interested enough in Jaxon to research her."
"So we're sticking to the original plan? Pass her off as my sister?"
"Yes."
Thor sighed again, and stood up. "Well, I hope it works."
"Me too." Loki breathed out as Thor left.
Flopping back down on the bed, he groaned. In his opinion, Thor worried too much. Even if SHIELD found out about Jaxon and how much she meant to him, he would fight them tooth and nail. He might have lost to the 'heroic avengers' once, but if they came after his family, they'd have hell to pay. He would not lose that battle.