This Time Around (Sequel to All Over Again)

Chapter Four

CHAPTER FOUR

The next morning, Loki awoke to the sight of McKenna snuggled against him, her glorious blonde hair spilled across his chest, her arm draped over his hips. It was one of the nicer ways to shake off sleep, holding a beautiful, naked woman in his arms.

He kissed the top of her head and gently untangled himself from her. She sighed in her sleep, rolling over and tugged the covers with her. He tried to be as quiet as possible as he made his way into the bathing chambers and filled the tub. He bathed and dressed in black leather leggings and a loose dark green tunic, and when he emerged, it was to find McKenna still sound asleep.

He leaned against the doorjamb, arms folded over his chest as he took in the sight. The sheets only came up to her mid-back, her skin smooth and ivory in the early morning sunlight. That light glinted off her hair, off the curve of her cheek. Damn, she was beautiful. The most beautiful woman in all of the nine realms, as far as he was concerned.

Then she snorted in her sleep and he chuckled, pushing up from the doorjamb. He paused to brush her cheek with a quick kiss, then left, closing the door by behind him.

As he suspected, Selig was already awake, playing quietly in his room, and he looked up as Loki pushed the door open. "Good morning, Daddy."

"What're you doing up already?"

Selig shrugged. "I just woke up."

"Are you hungry?"

"A little."

"Well, come along and we'll go find you some breakfast." Loki held out his hand, smiling as Selig took it. His son's hand was so small in his and yet, it still fit so perfectly just the same.

"Daddy?"

"What?"

"Are we going to live here, in Asgard?" Selig peered up at him with blue eyes that were so much like his own. Only where Loki was sure his eyes were weary with the things he'd seen and done, Selig's were filled with all of the innocence and wonder of childhood. A normal childhood, that was all McKenna wanted for both him and Aislinn.

"I think we might for a while. You're getting old enough now, it's time you learned about your history."

"What history?"

They paused outside the nursery and Loki crouched down to meet Selig's eyes. "My history, Sel. Bestefar's history. The history of your family."

"What about Mommy's history?"

"That, too, of course."

Selig held his gaze, his eyes wide. "Is Mommy's history not as important?"

"I didn't say that, Selig. Of course it is. But, hers is one you can learn over time. Ours is one you may need sooner."

"But, Daddy, why do we have to live here for that?"

"Because you won't learn these things on Midgard."

"But what about school? And Celia and my other friends?"

"We will go back to Midgard, Selig. But for now, we need to stay here."

Selig sighed. "I miss home, Daddy. I don't have any friends here."

Loki bit back his own sigh, remembering what it was like, growing up in Asgard. True, he and Thor wanted for nothing, and Odin and Frigga were attentive parents, but as far as friendships went, that was a different story. He and Thor had each other, and the Warriors Three, and eventually Sif, but that was it. And they really were more Thor's friends than his, as he preferred his solitude and his books.