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Stephen set the groceries on the kitchen counter with a sigh. The trips to the store were getting longer and longer these days.
He took the canned peaches Loki insisted on getting and methodically arranged them in the pantry by order of preparation: whole, halved, sliced, jellied.
For something that allegedly tasted like the mush of a rotten seaslug (Loki's words, not his), his lover could not get enough of the stone fruit this time around.
Then Stephen worked on the dishes. Normally he would use the dishwasher, but unfortunately it got caught in the crossfire of last night's argument and did not survive Loki's calamitous rage…all because their Doordasher had picked up more than one order and inevitably taken longer to deliver Loki’s dinner.
After all that trouble, Loki only took a few bites of his curry before declaring he didn’t want it. Stephen did not want to risk another meltdown so he refrained from saying anything.
Of course, Loki had misconstrued his silence as judgey disapproval and refused to talk to him all night. He could only hope the early morning trip to the store would finally placate the mercurial God of Mischief.
Speaking of his oversensitive lover, Loki was surely taking his time. The store was just around the corner; it shouldn’t have taken more than ten minutes to get home no matter which route he took.
What was Stephen thinking, letting Loki walk around the far side of the block while he walked the other way?
Why must drama always come at a cost?
Feeling more than a bit concerned now, Stephen quickly dried his hands and headed for the front door. Relief washed over him at the sight of his lover waddling up the street, with one hand on the small of his back and the other carrying more of his peaches.
"Need any help there, sweetheart?"
Loki pushed past him on the front door steps, looking every inch the regal Prince he once was.
“I’ll manage,” he said frostily.
“Loki.”
“Strange,” Loki mimicked. He trudged across the living room, heading straight for the couch where he would have fallen front-first from the weight of his belly, had Stephen not caught his elbow and righted his position.
Loki naturally resisted the help, but the effort was paltry and half-hearted at best.
Stephen threw caution to the wind and slid onto the couch. He gathered all he could of Loki and pulled his surly lover in for a tight embrace, as tight as Loki’s rigid limbs and burgeoning belly would allow.
“You okay?” He asked quietly.
“Yes,” Loki murmured, finally allowing his body to relax and melt completely in Stephen’s arms. “I’m just…crotchety.”
“Do you need anything? A glass of water?“
“No. I stole a pop from a lady’s trolley just now.”
“You did what?” Stephen exclaimed.
Loki shrugged. “It’s not like she hasn’t already paid for it.”
Stephen clicked his tongue but said nothing.
Loki gave him a sharp side-glance. “You don't approve."
"It's fine."
"I know where she lives. I can pay her a visit and reimburse her for her loss if you like."
Stephen shook his head. "I'm not judging you, babe. I mean, I don't condone stealing, but you know I'm right here for everything you need…you know that, right?"
For some inexplicable reason, tears sprang to Loki's eyes. He buried his face in Stephen's sweatshirt.
"I hate feeling like this," he whispered.
"Like what?"
Loki sniffed. "Crotchety."
"It will pass." A kiss brushed the top of his head. "You'll see."
Without thinking, Loki tried to lift his legs onto the couch but it turned out to be a huge mistake; a sudden cramp seized his calf and he gasped.
"Ow, ow, ow!"
With practiced hands, Stephen began massaging the tight knots in Loki's calf.
Loki could not help but moan when Stephen's thumb kneaded a particularly sore spot.
"Just focus on breathing," Stephen instructed. "In and out like we practiced."
"Why does everything hurt?" Loki mourned. "When you're pregnant you're supposed to be beautiful and magical and radiate sunlight out of your pores."
Stephen chuckled. "Where does it say that?"
"What do you mean where? Everywhere!" Loki waved his arms around in indignation. "The magazines, books, instant telegram - "
"Instagram," Stephen murmured.
"Lies," Loki seethed. "All lies. You should sue them all for false advertisement."
"Me?"
"Well I would do it, but I am pregnant and therefore not liable for my actions should my wrath be unleashed upon the world. Are you willing to take that risk?"
"While we're on that subject, maybe we should get fresh peaches next time? The canned ones have crazy high sugar content and aren't all that healthy for you."
"Fresh ones are nasty," Loki said flatly. "They aren't sweet like the fake ones."
"That's because they're drenched in syrup - "
"Yet another false advertisement," Loki said scathingly.
"You've not been taking your magnesium pills, have you?" Stephen asked, deciding to change the subject to one more in need of his attention. "Your legs are cramping every night now."
"No, they're not. This is from all the walking you made me do," Loki complained. "And how would you know anyway? You slept on the couch last night."
Stephen scoffed. "Right. Try again, Mister."
Loki looked away.
"These aches and pains are normal," Stephen soothed. "Suffering alone isn't."
"It is unbecoming," Loki muttered. "I am hardly a child."
"No, you're not a child," Stephen agreed. He ran a hand through the curls on the cushion Loki was resting on, untangling the knots gently. "But maybe I just want to baby you."
Loki managed a smirk. "Like I'd let you."
"Is that a challenge?" Stephen asked, raising an eyebrow. "Please say it is."
One look into Stephen's eager, seaglass eyes and Loki felt his insides turn to goo.
"Oh, what's the harm," Loki acquiesced, at last. "Go for it, Doctor."
Stephen must have taken that as a blanket consent for everything. Loki must, therefore, add a caveat.
"But only until the baby comes."
Stephen snorted lightly. "Spoilsport."
"I'm not so sure about the sunlight part but…" His gaze fell on Loki's lips, rosy with the glow of pregnancy. "You are beautiful."
A soft, chaste kiss.
"And magical."
Another kiss.
"And you're filled with our baby, and I love you so much."
Why were Loki's eyes misting again? Damn you, hormones. "You do?"
Stephen nodded serenely. "So much."
After a beat, "So where does the pop lady live?"
FIN