Eva and Loki are so happy in their new life together. One of things discovered they loved to do together early on in their relationship was to cook. Eva loved trying new recipes and experimenting with different ingredients, while Loki was always eager to learn new techniques in the kitchen since cooking was not a skill he was taught when he was growing up on Asgard. At the same time, it was also a learning curve for Eva as she learned how to prepare food with the cooking methods they used on her new world.
Today, Eva decided to teach Loki how to cook one of her favorite dishes from Earth (or Midgard as they called her home on Asgard). She began by filling a pot with water and placing it over the fire to start to boil. "The first step in cooking this dish is to boil the pasta," she explained to Loki. "Once the water is boiling, we'll add the pasta and cook it until it's al dente."
"Oh, I do love it when you speak like that, minkjære," he murmured into her ear before he started kissing the nape of her neck.
Eva closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying her husband's kisses then said, "Loki!"
"Yes, minkjære?"
"Loki, we shall never get dinner prepared if you don't stop doing that!"
"Would that be so terrible, minkjære?"
"Loki!" she said again, getting flustered.
He gave her a mischievous smile, and gestured towards the unprepared food, "Go on, minkjære. I will try to pay attention."
Eva added the pasta to the water when it boiled, much aware of her husband's watchful gaze on her. She had actually made pasta before, just bot this dish, so she didn't feel the need to explain stirring the pot to keep the pasta from sticking. She put him on keeping the pasta clump free stirring duty while she started making the sauce.
She chopped up some garlic and onions and sautéed them in a pan with some olive oil. Then she added some diced tomatoes, oregano, salt, and pepper, and let the sauce simmer on low heat.
"Next, we'll cook some chicken to jazz up the sauce," Eva said, as she season the chicken. "This will give the dish some extra flavor and protein." She then cooked the chicken by browning it in a pan. "Gotta make sure the chicken is cooked all the way through so we won't get food poisoning."
Loki nodded and watched as Eva turned the chicken over in the pan. She let it go for a few minutes, and in the meantime, she reserved some water from the pot, then drained the rest of the pasta. The last step was to put the chicken in the sauce, and then let it simmer for a little while in the sauce.
Finally they were ready to eat, Eva hesitated in taking her first bite so she could watch her husband and see what his reaction was to the dish. "So uh... how is it?
While he chewed there was no expression or anything to give away what he thought of the food. Only after he swallowed his mouthful did Loki look at his wife, and gave her a huge grin. "It's wonderful, minkjære."
"Really?" she asked, taking a bite herself.
He nodded, "Yes!"
Eva thought the food tasted good but she wouldn't go as far as to call it wonderful. She would not call it wonderful even though it was one of her favorite Italian dishes and her grandmother's own recipe.
"Thank you for saying that, but please be honest. Do you really like it?"
Loki gave her a nod, "Yes, I do. This meal rivals those of those I've eaten in Odin's own halls!"
Upon hearing this, Eva dropped her fork, "You know if you don't really like it, you don't have to go on so about it being wonderful. I mean I understand food from Earth is different than what you grew up eating here on Asgard!"
"But it is wonderful!" he insisted.
She shook her head, "You're... exaggerating again! Really, if you don't like it, you don't have to eat it!" She stood up, grabbed her plate then his, "In fact, why don't I just go get us some of the bread and cheese we have here and we can have that instead!" She put their plate down with much force, and then with a huff, she exited through the front door of their home.
"Odin's beard," Loki muttered, staring after his wife, puzzled.
He did not move for a few seconds, he was so stunned by what just happened that he couldn't. He thought about all the years he had known Eva, and never once had she come close to having such a reaction with him.She had never lost her cool as the humans say with him so completely, and it was all over something so trivial! It was all because of misinterpretation!
Should he go after her, or give her some time to cool off? No, he finally decided, waiting was not the best option. He needed to find out what was bothering her, and make amends before any more time went by. So he got up, and stepped outside of their home, pausing to look around for her.
Eva was sitting on the bench underneath the trees, not doing anything but looking at the ground, and clutching her stomach. He started walking towards her, and stopped. Wait, she's clutching her stomach? Was something wrong with her? Was she ill? Was that the reason why she had acted the way she had? She wasn't feeling well.
Loki picked up his steps, and he seated himself beside her on the bench. He had not said a word when Eva wrapped her arms around him, and laid her head on his chest.
"I'm sorry," she muttered, still crying.
Wrapping his own arms around her, he kissed her hair, and told her, "There's no need to apologize, minkjære. I should not have went on so, although I do find the dish you have prepared to be very good, and truly unlike anything I've ever eaten on Asgard."
"Thank you," she said.
Neither of them speak for moments, just sitting together holding one another, enjoying the cool breeze fluttering through the trees. Finally, Loki could no longer take it, he broke the silence, asking her gently, "Eva, minkjære, what is troubling you? Is there something the matter?"
Eva did not speak for a moment, and then she blurted, "I think... I think I'm pregnant!"
It was Loki's turn not to speak for a moment, and then he said, "You think you're what, minkjære?"
She sat up, and looked at him, "I think I'm pregnant. You know as in with child, as in I think I'm carrying your child inside of me!"
"Yes, minkjære, I am familiar with the meaning of what pregnant means in this use of the word. But are you sure, minkjære?"
Eva nodded and looked away from him,"Y-y-yes, I've had some... signs."
Loki gently turned her face back towards him, "Oh minkjære, why has this realization upset you so? If you are carrying our child, I will go into the city, and shout it for everyone to hear that we are going to have a child!"
With a teary smile, she explained herself, "I'm upset... well not really upset because we've only been married a year, and I know we decided to wait at least three years before we'd try to have a baby. And now I've become pregnant when it's only been one year instead of three and—"
He silenced her with a gentle finger on her lips, "Minkjære, I know that we said we would wait three years before we would try to have a child together, but the truth is, I am ready any time to have a child with you. I agreed to the three years because of you."
"Because of me?"
"Yes, because of you. You told me that you were not really ready to be a mother, and while I am looking forward to being a father to our child, I would have gladly wait until you were ready."
"But?" she prompted.
Loki touched her stomach, "But minkjære, since you are perhaps already with child, I will not deny that I am excited and I'm already anticipating the arrival of our little one!"
"That's assuming that I am actually pregnant. I'm not 100 percent sure that I am. But I am having symptoms of being pregnant."
"Perhaps we should go into the city to see the healers to see if you are indeed pregnant."
Eva nodded, "I actually wanted to see a doctor on Earth for this, but I suppose travel by Bifrost might not be good for the baby."
"I do not know, minkjære. Perhaps it would be harmless, but all the same, I believe we should visit the healers here."
"Okay, let's go next week."
"Very well. Next week then."
The remainder of the week passed slowly for them both, but finally the new week came, and they traveled into the great city. They did not seek the services of one of the healers who served in Odin's court, but instead one who served the ordinary citizens of Asgard.
The healer, a woman Magnhild first asked Eva all sorts of questions about the symptoms she was experiencing before she examined her. At first she had insisted Loki leave them in private but stopped when Eva insisted that he stay.
He held his wife's hand as the healer performed her examination, and when she finished, he was the first to speak, "Well? Is she with child?"
They both held her breath as they waited for the woman to answer.
Magnhild looked at them both, and shook her head, "No, you are not with child."
"What? But what about all the symptoms I've been having?" Eva questioned, laying a hand on her stomach.
"I believe all of your symptoms, my Lady, have been caused by a false pregnancy."
"False pregnancy? Oh, you must be joking!" Loki said. "Is there truly such a thing?"
The healer nodded, "Aye, my Lord, there indeed is such a thing, and mayhap this happened for you, my Lady, is that you have a desire to have a child more than you realized."
"Mayhap," Eva muttered, her eyes filling with tears.
"I am sorry I was not able to you the news that you desired," Magnhild said sincerely.
"Thank you."
"Yes, thank you."
"Now I shall leave you to redress. You may speak to my apprentice to settle my fee. Good days to you both."
They had planned to go visit the Palace after seeing the healer and sharing the news, but after what Magnhild had told them, they elected to return home instead. As neither of them felt like preparing a meal, they ate bread, cheese, and some fruit.
"Would you like for me to prepare you a bath?" Loki asked. "Minkjære?"
"Hmm, what?" she asked, taking her eyes off of the fire.
"I asked if you would like for me to prepare you a bath?"
"No, no thank you. I think I want to just go to bed," Eva said, getting up.
"Very well, we'll both go to bed."
He followed her into their bedchamber, and helped her to undress by unfastening the back of her dress. Eva then pulled her nightdress over her head, and slipped into bed. Loki stripped down to his leggings, and then slipped in behind her.
"We'll have a child one day, minkjære. I promise you that we will."
"I know we will, I'm just a little sad because I'd actually begun to let myself get a little excited at the idea."
"I love you, minkjære. More than I have ever loved anyone in my entire life," Loki murmured as he began kissing her neck.
They were not going to have a child now, but Eva knew he would keep his promise to her, and for now she lost herself in the love she shared with her husband.