The sun had set hours ago. Loki followed the trail of weak light emanating from the wall sconces to the bedchamber he shared with Cassandra. He eased the door open carefully and strode into the dark room. A small figure curled in a fetal position beneath a thick wool blanket.

Loki pressed his fingertips to the mirror wall as she released a small moan. Cassandra's nose scrunched up and she clutched her stomach. He wondered what Master Li had done to her now.

Turning away, he entered the bathroom and switched on the light. He turned on the shower and went to grab a towel off the rack. An open box of tampons lay beside the sink, some of the wrapped cylinders spilling across the counter.

Ah. So it was that time again. Loki felt a twinge of sympathy as he stuffed the tampons back in the box. Cassandra always had painfully heavy bleeding cycles each month. He had been on the receiving end of her violent mood swings more than once.

While the water warmed, Loki exited the bathroom slipping silently from the mirror dimension. He placed his palm firmly across her stomach and whispered a pain-relieving spell. Immediately, her face relaxed and she slowly stretched out her limbs.

Her eyes opened a fraction. "Loki?"

Loki smiled ruefully. He was supposed to be keeping his distance. Well, he rarely followed rules. "Go back to sleep, darling. Its late and you have to submit yourself to the tender mercies of Master Li in a few hours."

"Don't remind me." She muttered, rolling onto her back. "Thank you for getting rid of my cramps."

"You're welcome, little vixen."

Cassandra smiled softly but did not beg him to stay. "Good night."

"Sweet dreams, Sweet Cassandra." Loki whispered sliding back into the mirror dimension.

On the other side he clamped a hand over his mouth. He hated being separated from her. In less time than he expected, Cassandra had become very important to him.

As a rule Loki avoided becoming attached to others. Emotion was an illusion, an elaborate trick to control people. But Cassandra had been different from the beginning.

In the bathroom Loki stripped off his clothes and stood beneath the hot water letting it pound his sore muscles and stiff neck. Too bad the water couldn't also pound some sense back into him.

*************************************************************************************

Master Li's staff collided with her shoulder jolting Cassandra back to reality. "You are unfocused today, novice."

Cassandra rubbed her shoulder, grimacing. "I'm not in top form." She agreed as another spasm wracked her lower abdomen.

Loki's spell had helped her sleep, but the cramps started back up a few minutes ago right in the middle of another ass-kicking session with Master Li. She needed ibuprofen stat. "Can we take a break?"

Master Li made her pay for the question with another two-hit combo from his staff. Cassandra barely got hers up in time to block the attacks. "There are no breaks in battle, novice. You are going to simply have to suffer through whatever ails you."

If Satan ever had a period, Cassandra bet he'd be singing a different tune. She shouldn't be surprised. Men were often insensitive about women's health.

Cassandra decided to spell it out for him. "I'm having cramps. I need some medicine."

The monk flushed an embarrassed red and he ducked his head. He waved her off. "Very well. Find your medicine and return here immediately."

Cassandra regarded Master Li speculatively. Who knew all it took to get the man's cooperation was to mention female problems? She sought out the infirmary and the doctor on duty gave her the ibuprofen.

On the way back to the training yard a commotion at the temple entrance drew her attention. A crowd of monks and novices filled the main foyer blocking her view. Cassandra spotted Loki hovering at the edge of the crowd beside Master Wong. She wove through the chaos to reach them. "What's going on?"

"A dead monk was dropped on the doorstep." Loki replied indifferently staring at the body lying on the floor.

Cassandra gasped, her hand flying up to her mouth. The body was a desiccated husk in monk's robes. Empty eye sockets leered up at her the teeth bared in a rictus grin. "Do you think Morgan le Fey had something to do with this?"

"I imagine these wizards have many enemies. Its best not to draw conclusions." Loki said.

Wong knelt to inspect the monk's remains. "Their powers have been drained away."

Shocked murmurs rippled through the crowd. A group of monks whisked the body away. Wong ordered the crowd to disperse. Soon the foyer was empty except for Cassandra and Loki.

Suddenly the walls of the temple felt too close. Cassandra felt confined. "Want to get out of here?"

The god frowned. "Where are we going, may I ask?"

"Into the city. I need some fresh air after seeing that."

Unlike Loki, corpses were not a common occurrence in Cassandra's life. She couldn't just brush it off with a shrug.

Loki swept his arm out in a grand gesture. "Lead the way, my dear."

Cassandra eased the heavy double doors open. A flood of sounds and smells hit her as she stepped into the dusty street. People moved around her carrying baskets overflowing with food or laundry. A small boy chased after a goat that had snapped its tether.

A scooter honked at her as she crossed the street. Loki waggled his fingers tauntingly at the driver earning a crude gesture in return.

Cassandra looped her arm through his tugging him to her side. "Don't make trouble with the locals please."

Loki seemed amused. "As you wish."

Loki and Cassandra spent the day exploring the beautiful grandeur of Kathmandu. The narrow roads looped around ancient castles and temples leading into a bustling market full of activity. Heaps of spices sat in mounds at a spice merchant's stall the fragrant scent creating a tantalizing soup of smells.

A cook roasted a leg of lamb over a spit, customers chatting comfortably while they waited for their meal to finish cooking.

Cassandra stopped at a cloth vendor's stall and picked up an emerald green silk scarf embroidered with gold symbols. Reaching up she draped the fabric around Loki's neck. She paused to examine the effect against his dark hair and pale skin. "Nice."

Loki rubbed the fabric between his fingers. "I think this is a woman's scarf." He removed the length of silk and settled it around Cassandra's shoulders instead. He smiled lazily and tugged the ends straight. "I've always thought you look good in my colors, little vixen."

Before Cassandra could form a response, Loki reached into a small pouch at his waist and paid the vendor with the local currency.

All novices were given small stipends they were encouraged to spend in the local markets to support the economy of the country that hosted their temple.

Cassandra restrained her protests. Loki was proud. To refuse the gift would be an insult. "Thank you. I appreciate it."

Loki waved off her thanks though his eyes twinkled with contentment. "My pleasure, darling."

Cassandra leaned in close. "There are many other kinds of pleasure to explore." She tugged at his sleeve playfully. "Right?"

A wicked grin spread across his face. "You have a very inventive imagination, Cassandra. I can only imagine what you're thinking." Loki tucked her arm into the crook of his elbow leading her further into the market. "However, the only pleasure we'll be sampling today is what the city has to offer."

Damn. Well, Cassandra had to try.

At the north side of the city they stepped into a restaurant and ordered thukpa and chatamari; a soup and a kind of pizza. Both were delicious and Cassandra departed the restaurant feeling extremely full and satisfied.

Loki, on the other hand, seemed to have trouble with the unfamiliar spices. He bought a beer at a drink vendor on the street and drained the bottle dry.

Cassandra returned the empty bottle to the vendor. "Are you okay?"

Loki nodded, though his cheeks were a bright red.

Cassandra took pity on him and bought him another beer. Taking his hand, Cassandra pulled him toward a grand Hindu temple.

The temples were everywhere in the city and Cassandra figured she could use some good karma. Visiting a temple was a good place to start.

Brightly painted columns decorated with gold tasseled ropes led up a sheer flight of stairs.

A priest in flowing orange robes greeted them at the temple entrance. His dark eyes were warm and friendly. He did not appear to speak English.

Smiling warmly, the priest indicated with a gesture they should remove their shoes before entering the temple.

"I'm a god. I do not worship other gods." Loki muttered glaring inside at the statue of a blue many-armed god perched on the altar.

Cassandra elbowed him in the side. "Don't be rude. Pretend if you have to."

Loki grudgingly removed his shoes and followed Cassandra and the priest inside.

The priest knelt facing them and motioned for them to do the same. Cassandra sank down on her haunches with a sheepish smile. "I've never been in a Hindu temple before. It's very beautiful."

The priest smiled in return and began chanting in a musical voice. He placed a hand on top of Cassandra's head then dipped a thin stick into a container of red waxy paint. Raising the stick, he drew a mark between her brows.

Cassandra held out her hands and he took a tiny ladle and dribbled holy water into her palms.

When it was his turn Loki narrowed his eyes at the priest but allowed the man to mark his forehead. The ceremony ended when the priest gave them each a handful of hard white candy.

In thanks for the blessing, Cassandra deposited a tithe in the priest's tray. Loki did the same.

"That wasn't so bad was it?" Cassandra tugged her boots into place and winced as the cramps returned. "Do you mind doing your goodbye-cramp spell again?"

Loki unfurled his fingers over her stomach and spoke the spell.

Cassandra relaxed under his touch. "Thanks."

He smiled faintly, his eyes warming with affection. "Of course, little vixen."

An elderly woman came up to them grinning. She spoke to Loki in Nepali gesturing at Cassandra's stomach. She patted the god on the arm and without another word bustled into the temple.

Loki watched her go with an odd look on his face.

"Uh, did you understand her?"

The god had a knack for languages.

"Yes." He said in a strained voice.

Okay. Now Cassandra was suspicious. "What did she say?"

"She congratulated us on our good fortune and wished for you to have a healthy birth."

"What?" She shrieked.

Loki pinched the bridge of his nose. "The elder saw me cast the spell and misinterpreted what she saw. She thinks you're pregnant."

Cassandra stared at him flabbergasted then glanced down at her flat stomach. "I guess that makes sense."

Of course, to be pregnant Cassandra would have to have sex with Loki first. The god enjoyed playing hard to get too much for that to happen. But she still hoped he'd give in in the future.

"Does it bother you?" Loki asked out of the blue.

"No. I want to be a mom someday." Cassandra glanced at him askance. "How do you feel about being a dad?"

Loki appeared thoughtful. "I've never given it much thought. The idea does seem a pleasant one."

Her breath caught in her throat. Could he really be implying what she thought he was?

They stared at each other. The air suddenly filled with awkward tension. Cassandra was at a loss of what to say to Loki.

No. She decided. He was just being literal. There's no way he implied they had a future together. Loki hadn't even kissed her yet.

He was the god of mischief. Cassandra reminded herself. His motives were always dubious.

Loki cleared his throat. "We should return to Kamar Taj."

"Uh, right. Yeah."

A/N: Some sweet moments with Loki and Cassandra. I managed to get this done early. Hope you enjoyed it. As always, comment, vote, and have a great day.