Sif awoke with red and swollen eyes, groggily trying to focus her vision on what was before her. The warm scent of cinnamon greeted her, and she knew she was still in her own bed, but not alone. Wiping the sleep out of her eyes, Sif propped herself up on her elbows. In front of her was Loki, with his back to her, standing and preparing something on her vanity. A sick feeling settled in her gut as she remembered the events of the morning before. It was an unfamiliar feeling; Never had she been particularly afraid of Loki, but now carrying his child, she was bound to him, unable to act on every whim that came to her for fear of the consequences.

In the back of her mind was always a desire for a small family. However, given her devotion as a warrior to the Realm, it was never something she dreamed was actually feasible. And it was certainly never something she dreamed would happen with Loki, a now-stranger in front of her.

Once, a lifetime ago, Sif had known Loki. Spent her days with him, told him the innermost thinkings of her mind, and he did the same. He had even grown to love her. But as her dream of fighting and defending grew, so did the amount of time she spent with Thor, and the time passed with Loki was pushed to the back of her memories. She was not there to see the lanky teen with mischief in his eyes grow into a bitter, resentful man with edges she could cut herself on. The god standing before her was not one she knew, but a shell.

Catching Sif's reflection in the mirror before him, he knew she was awake, but gave no other signs. Silently, he continued to measure and mix whatever was before him. Sif took the opportunity to examine her betrothed. Black hair was neatly combed to the nape of his neck, flicking up slightly at the ends, although it was obvious efforts were made to prevent the flick. A cream tunic draped over his lean torso, and his signature shade of green colored his pants. He was strikingly handsome, and she wouldn't deny she was attracted to him- physically.

Finally, he was done mixing, and turned around with a glass jar filled with a pink cream. Sif gave a light gasp as she remember the salve's use- her skin. Looking down, most of the red had disappeared, her skin only remaining slightly tender. The injury was not bad to begin with. Glancing up at Loki's unmarred face, Sif was relieved to see she had done no harm with her tea stunt. The dark shadows in his eyes, however, told her the incident was not nearly forgotten. Dread filled her as he climbed onto the bed beside her uninvited with the salve, expression unreadable.

"Untie the robe."

Raising an eyebrow, Sif turned her face to his, only to see him wearing the same stern expression as she.

"Why would I do that?"

Wordlessly, Loki simply nodded suggestively to the salve in his hands. With a defeated sigh Sif swung her legs over the side of the bed just as he, before undoing the knots that held together her thin silk garment. Letting it fall to the bed around her, Sif was bare naked, shamelessly. Dipping two long fingers in the salve, Loki began to rub the cold salve into her skin, perhaps a little more rough than necessary. As he massaged it in, Sif wrinkled her nose at the smell. It was flowery.

"Lavender?"

"Lavender oil, yes." The reply came softer than expected, though his roughness with her body told her he felt otherwise. Closing her eyes, Sif simply stilled and let him treat her. His cold hands felt good on her skin.

After he was all done, Sif quickly reached for her robe, only to have a Loki's long hands wrap around her wrist. "No."

Fire shone in her eyes as she turned back to look at him. Just like that, his mood pulled a switch, and the cold Loki was replaced with one of a calculating demeanor. Smiling, with a flick of his wrist, there was a flash of green and the robe was gone.

"I like you like this."

Sif raised her eyebrows in surprise, feeling a heat rising to her cheeks. Bravely, Sif quipped back, "You like me naked?"

"Nay." With a smirk on his face, Loki turned her back around, leaning into her back with one arm on her pregnant belly.

"Vulnerable."

The words sent an almost tangible chill down her spine, and she realized the arm around her was not endearing at all- it was a possessive gesture. Biting the inside of her cheek, Sif tensed her muscles.

"You think me vulnerable, but I'll have you know I'm just as dangerous in this state as I am with sword and shield in hand."

With simply a dark chuckle in reply, Loki rested his head on Sif's shoulder, delicately sinking his teeth into her flesh and leaving pink marks behind.

Possessive.

Curling up her lip in defiance, Sif shrugged Loki's head from her shoulder and threw his arm off of her. As she was reaching forward for her clothing, a flash of green burst in front of her and threw her on her back onto the bed.

"Coward," she spat, "Always using sorcery to cover your weakness and failure as a man-"

WHACK!

The back of Loki's hand made contact with Sif's face, effectively whipping her head to the side and giving Loki time to straddle her, confining each of her wrists with his cold grip. Shaking with rage, he leaned close until their noses practically touched.

"I am your Prince, I am the father of the child in your belly, and you will respect me." Snarling, Sif laid still underneath him.

"Than you will show me that same respect, as I am a Lady, and more importantly, a warrior capable of snapping your body in two."

At that, Loki gave a mocking laugh. "And what would happen if I don't? You will attempt to run, hide from me? Keep the Allfather away from his grandchild?"

With a cunning smile to rival Loki's, Sif calmly retorted "I do not think he would hunt me down as an animal, given that I have dedicated my life to defending him more fiercely than any of his other soldiers. Besides," her hazel eyes swam with rage and fire, "As you are not really Odin's child, my son will neither belong to him."

"But it does not matter, because what choice does he have? He is getting old, and soon he will require someone to tend the throne for him. Will it really matter, then, that I am adopted, if I can provide a healthy Aesir baby to follow my reign?" Loki's smile was wild and frankly, frightening, but Sif knew just how to work him.

"What other choice? Well," Sif licked her lips, "I could always marry your brother." Loki's eyebrows shot up with disbelief, but he let her continue. "He asked for my hand yesterday. I declined, but given the choice, who do you think Odin would choose to father my son? You, or the golden-son Thor?" Shaking his head wildly, Loki released Sif's wrist and instead wrapped around her throat, but Sif had the advantage, knowing that he would never fatally wound her, for the baby's sake. "And Thor would raise your child and love him and never would he know of the shameful union from which he came."

Desperation writ across Loki's features, upper lip twitching and frantic green eyes searching her face for signs of weakness. Finding none, he gave an loud grunt and released his hold on her neck, sliding off the bed and throwing Sif's garments in her direction. Clearly deep in thought, he ran his long sinewy fingers through his hair, mussing up the hold the product had on it, instead giving it a soft wave. Quickly Sif redonned her clothes while Loki paced. Shoving past him, Sif ignored the white hot glare shot her way as she made way to prepare herself a cup of tea, seemingly unphased by the altercation.

"You know you are not supposed to have tea while with child."

Frowning, Sif considered. "It is only chamomile. It contains no caffeine."

He huffed an annoyed breath, "I don't care. I will not risk it."

Setting the pot down, Sif slid into the large maroon chair next to her and laid her forehead in her hands. "Forgive me if I am not an expert, I have never dealt with something of his nature," she snapped. Loki sat on the edge of the bed and bore his eyes into Sif's, and for a moment, strangely, emotions calmed. The gravity of their situation weighed on the couple. Each knew what was going through the others mind - despite their arguing, their combative natures, they had produced another living thing. A being to care for, something neither was familiar with. For several moments they just sat, before Sif could stand no more and padded her way to sit beside Loki. Silently, she stared at her hands in her lap.

"I will give you the respect you desire, Lady. If it means the different between civility and chaos between us. But I will not stand for another one of yesterday mornings' stunts. If we are to do this, I will not stand to be humiliated in front of the guards or anyone else."

Sif nodded with compliance, "And you are to understand that even though I bear your son, even if we wed, I will not be your possession. I have earned my status, as you have yours." Loki sat in quiet agreement, leaving the air after feeling more resolved.

Happy that they had reached in agreement, Sif went about continuing her morning routine, as did Loki. Both did so in comfortable silence. True, he was not the object of her love, not Thor, but all realistic hopes of a future with him had long since faded.

As a last gesture, Sif handed Loki his dagger just as he stepping out the door. He gave her a questioning glance, and Sif shrugged her shoulder. "I swiped it from your waistband earlier." Giving half a smile and a short bow with his head before stepping out, Sif could tell he was in better humour than before.

There might be hope after all.

Thank you everyone for the reads and reviews! It means so much to know my work is being enjoyed :)