Bundled in bed after a nice hot bath, Cassandra stared out the window. Snow fell in thick sheets against the stark night sky, white powder already accumulating on the windowsill. She rubbed a thumb back and forth over Frigga's ring, utterly content.

Loki had delivered on his promise of a wonderful Christmas Day. After gifts Madeline, Cassandra, and Loki had watched a marathon of Christmas movies like Santa Claus and The Grinch.

Naturally, Loki favored the latter, enjoying the green creature's tricks. They capped the evening off with a light supper of vegetable soup and fresh baked bread from a bakery down the street.

Cassandra had water-proofed her cast with magic and with Loki's help sank into a hot bath. It was nice to be pampered. She'd had little pampering since reaching adulthood.

Picking up Wicked Lovely from the nightstand, Cassandra sank into the pile of pillows at her back and read. It felt good to immerse herself in something normal and familiar like reading. For fun instead of frantically scouring grimoires and other magical texts under Master Wong's critical eye.

After a few minutes of reading Cassandra gazed down at the ring again. Frigga's ring was precious to Loki. One of the few mementos he had left of his deceased mother. How could she give him a gift of equal measure?

Loki said she didn't need to give him anything for Christmas. Maybe she didn't. Yet she wanted to.

Knocking at the door, Loki entered with a tea tray and a beaming smile. "Its cold tonight. I thought you might enjoy a hot cup of tea."

Sliding a bookmark into place, Cassandra returned Wicked Lovely to the nightstand and patted her lap. "Thank you. I can definitely use a hot drink."

He handed her the mug from the tray and she cradled it carefully in her hands and inhaled the steam. She saw there was a small plate of cut-out Christmas cookies shaped like trees and wreathes. "A snack too? You're spoiling me, Loki Doki."

Loki grimaced good-naturedly at the nickname and stretched his long frame beside her, helping himself to a tree cookie. "As you deserve, my lady."

"Aw, I love it when you say stuff like that to me." She sipped what turned out to be chamomile tea. "Mmm. Good."

Capturing a damp curl from her shoulder, he brought the strand to his lips for a kiss. "So what were you reading?"

"Wicked Lovely. I borrowed it from your stash of YA novels." Cassandra didn't point out how adorable Loki was for enjoying teen books.

"A good choice. Beira and Irial are both wickedly entertaining." He said with a wicked smile of his own.

"Not as delightfully wicked as you." Cassandra teased, leaning in as his fingers caressed her jaw.

"Hmm. True." Loki pressed his lips to her ear. "How about I show you how wicked I can be?" He suggested huskily, nipping at her earlobe.

When his tongue flicked against the side of her neck, Cassandra's toes curled. Damn him.

"I can't have sex with my leg messed up." She reminded him regretfully.

Loki kissed her collarbone, the tips of his cold fingers slipping beneath the collar of her pajama top to gently cup her left breast. "That doesn't mean I can't see to your pleasure." He rolled her nipple between his fingers and damned if she didn't almost come right then.

Cassandra's breath quickened and her grip on her tea slackened. Loki magicked the mug away before it spilled and eased her gently onto her back. He kissed her hungrily, his tongue twining around hers in an erotic dance.

Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she drew him closer. His hand spasmed reflexively around her breast and she moaned into his mouth all resistance gone in the heat of her desire.

Loki broke off the kiss, his eyes darkened to a stormy blue. He held her gaze and peeled back the comforter.

"What about you?"

The hand cupping her breast, glided over ever dip and hollow of her stomach until it reached the waistband of her pants. "Don't concern yourself with such trifles." Loki said in a low sensuous voice and slid beneath the covers in one slow erotic movement, his body moving down hers.

Cassandra felt his breath against her bare skin and gasped when her pants were dragged slowly down her legs. He stroked her inner thigh and she trembled.

"I'm going to take care of you, Little Vixen." Loki promised carefully easing her legs apart, fitting his head between her thighs.

Her breathing grew unsteady as he sucked gently on her clitoris, flicking the sensitive flesh with his skillful tongue.

Her fingers bunched in the covers and her head arced back as she gave herself over to the pleasure of being worshipped by a god.

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Loki stared up at the ceiling, Cassandra's soft breathing a soothing sound in the quiet. He stroked the back of her head and she nestled closer in her sleep, her bare legs tangling with his. The taste of her still lingered on his tongue like the finest ambrosia.

Satisfaction was not in his nature. Loki would never have his fill of Cassandra even if he were to live forever. Bringing her joy, taking care of her when she so badly needed it.

Loki had never been so unselfish in his life. She was the only one he would ever bend the knee for.

He turned his head to gaze down at Cassandra. All the pain and suffering of the past was worth everything to have her in his arms.

A faint line appeared between her brows and her eyelids flickered. She moaned in distress rolling onto her back.

"Darling?" Loki shook her awake gently.

Cassandra bolted up in bed, gasping deeply. Dark curls spilled over her shoulders as she fisted the blankets in her hands. "Loki?"

"What's wrong?" He slid closer, drawing her into the protective circle of his arms. She remained silent.

Loki rubbed her back in rhythmic circles. When a minute passed listening to her ragged breathing, he broached the subject again. "Darling, please tell me."

"I had a nightmare about...Woman Beater. He held my head under a bathtub filled with water. I struggled but his grip was too strong to break. I was helpless. Each time he forced me under I wondered if I would drown. Arthur wanted to know where his damned sword was. As if I had any idea where Excalibur was!" Shivering, Cassandra gripped the collar of his t-shirt. "Where did you find it?"

Anger crackled in Loki's veins. "Excalibur was under a powerful illusion disguised as your staff."

"So I did have it after all." She said hollowly.

They hadn't talked much of her captivity at Arthur Kensington's hands. A burden carried alone often turned into an insidious poison that seeped into the soul.

Loki would know. He became a villain because he allowed his emotions to run wild in a destructive frenzy. Villains did not deserve happy endings.

Even if it were true, Loki did not care. Fuck the world and its pretensions. He rested his cheek on top of her head as she leaned into him. "It will not always be like this. Eventually the pain will fade."

"Doesn't feel like it." Cassandra sniffled; eyes now wet.

He wiped her tears away with his thumb. "I know. I wish the man was still alive so I could kill him in a painful and horrible way."

"You're so bloodthirsty." She laughed softly, the tip of her nose red from crying.

"It's in my nature." Loki said glibly.

"That's not all you are."

"Never with you, my love." He kissed her temple and drew the covers around them. "Never with you."

"I think I know what to give you for Christmas." Cassandra murmured, her eyelids drooping.

Then Cassandra's mind brushed against his, a warm loving presence. A crystal-clear vision filled his head of another time and place.

In a cliffside meadow overlooking the sea, two small girls darted through the flowers, glossy raven curls bouncing along their shoulders as they played. Their backs were to Loki. He could not see their faces.

Frowning, he strode in their direction. His long-legged stride should have closed the distance in moments, but they remained out of his reach.

Confused by what he was seeing, Loki waited for Cassandra to explain.

She didn't keep him waiting long. 'I've had this vision twice. It was not until I visited Avalon and spoke with Nimue that I understood.'

The girls crouched to pick flowers, their sweet laughter pinching Loki's heart.

'Understood what? Who are they?'

'They are our daughters, Loki.'

The vision faded. Loki found himself back in the bedroom, completely stunned.

Cassandra faced him on her pillow, her expression unusually shy.

He swallowed hard, gaze darting toward her belly. "Are you...pregnant?"

She shook her head, smile rueful. "Not yet. Not for a while I think."

"How do you know?"

Cassandra shrugged. "A feeling."

Pulling her to him, Loki kissed Cassandra deeply, trembling with fear and longing. His girls. His kitlings. He wanted to meet them more than anything.

Pressing her hand to his chest, Cassandra raised up to look at him, her beautiful lips swollen from his kiss. "Whoa, there Casanova! I'm not up for conceiving them tonight."

Embarrassed by his eagerness, Loki chuckled. "I know, my Sweet Cassandra. Thank you for sharing the vision. It's truly the best give I've ever received."

She brightened, the last trace of nightmare fading from her brown eyes. "I'm glad you think so." She wiggled close, throwing her arm around his waist. "Let's get some rest. Promise to wake me up if I have another nightmare?"

"I promise."

Loki held her until she fell asleep again. The vision of two little girls played repeatedly in his head throughout the night. A taste of the future that left him aching for more.

A/N: I made this chapter extra mushy. I can't help myself when it comes to fluff! I hope you liked it!