"Wow, so beautiful!" I told Amelia, as we walked out onto the beach from their vacation home in Cairns. The first few days we'd spent visiting with them in Sydney, seeing some of the tourist sites and getting to know Thor's family. 

Amelia and I had hit it off immediately, and I knew why Thor had fallen in love with her. Funny and warm, she was no pushover. When she scolded Thor for getting their kids all riled up before bed or for giving them junk food, it had me smiling. Amelia didn't hesitate to tell him her mind. And it was all kinds of cute the way he turned into a mushy teddy bear around her. I had blackmail material for years.

"Definitely," Amelia said, grinning. "Coming up here this time of year is the best. It's perfectly tropical and warm, but not too hot. Why deal with chilly winter nights in Sydney when I can be here instead?"

"Yeah, I would be too!" 

The golden sand was warm under my feet, with a light breeze coming in from offshore, lifting strands of hair off my neck in a fluttering caress. 

"Should we be keeping an eye on them?" I asked, gesturing to the twins, as they took off splashing along the shore and into the green-blue water.

"Growing up around water, we've made sure they are strong swimmers, nevertheless the kids know the rules. They aren't allowed to go deeper than their knees without one of us swimming with them."

"The water looks fantastic. I'm looking forward to jumping in myself." The breeze was helping, but my skin felt sweaty and sticky. I was avoiding using my powers in front of Amelia and the kids.

"You want me to cook the steak tonight, right?" Thor called out to her. The guys were bringing in the groceries from the SUV to stock the house for our weekend, while we let the kids burn off pent-up energy from the flight and car ride.

"Yes, babe!" Amelia yelled back. "Put the beer, cider, and whiskey in the fridge too!"

"Already done!" Loki shouted back.

I laughed. "Of course, they took care of the alcohol before the food!"

Amelia shook her head in amusement. "They have everything under control. Why don't we join the kids in the water?"

"Now that sounds like the best idea I've heard all day!"

We walked back to the deck and shed our layers. Quickly tugging off jean shorts and a t-shirt, I had a black bikini on underneath. It was weird to look down and have my abdomen appear flat when I was actually twenty-eight weeks pregnant. There would be no hiding this belly without Loki's illusions. A whistle pierced the air, and I turned to see Loki smiling, eyes roving over my body in a heated caress.

"Checking me out, love?" I teased.

"Always, darling. Don't worry about the illusion. It will hold in the water as well. Just don't go forgetting and flop on your sexy round belly!"

"As if I would. Despite not seeing our son with this illusion in place, I feel him regardless. My balance and centre of gravity keep changing."

Amelia and I headed into the water with the kids. The first touch of the warm water felt heavenly, and I waded through the surf and short crashing waves to submerge myself. We dove, played, swam, and splashed until arms reached around me, tugging me back into a hard chest.

"Why Tempest, I believe you have the wrong woman," I said, trying not to laugh.

Loki snorted in amusement. "Nice try, darling." With effortless strength, he lifted me out of the water and tossed me.

As the water closed over me, I let myself sink. I swam further out and sat down on the bottom, looking back at the shore. The kids were swimming and running, with their legs visible in the clear depths. It was peaceful under the water.

"You are freaking Amelia and Thor out. They think I've drowned you." Loki chuckled."Come up, Shannon or—"

He didn't even get the words out before Thor was there, pulling me up out of the water. "Are you okay, Shannon? What did that idiot brother of mine do to you?" He was clearly panicking, thinking I was hurt.

"I take it you haven't told Thor I can breathe underwater?"

"Now, where would be the fun in that? It's not my fault he hasn't had time to spend in Asgard lately, to see the range of your powers." Loki's tone was completely unrepentant, as he smirked at Thor's reaction.

A laugh burst out of me. "I'm sorry. I'm fine! I'm sorry, Tempest. Honest, I'm fine. I can hold my breath for a really long time. The water was just so peaceful." Thor put me back on my feet as I reassured him, patting his arms.

Amelia grinned. "You had us worried, but I should have known Tod would be the first to freak out if there was something to worry about."

Thor scowled down at me. "Okay, time for dinner. That's enough scares for now. You'll give me grey hair, Shannon!"

"Well, you are so much older than me, old man," I teased, and then started to swim away, giggling.

"I'm not old!" he growled, affronted, sending a splash of water over my face when I turned back to look at him. Amelia and Loki laughed. Thor's eyes gleamed with humour, even as he grumbled and headed towards the shore.

Reluctant to get out, I continued to relax. The soothing caress of it over my skin was refreshing, and my body tingled with energy. Bobbing in the waves, I let myself float on my back. Amelia already had the kids out of the water and towelling off, with Thor firing up the barbeque. Loki swam out to join me in the deeper depths.

"Darling, I can sense how much you are enjoying the water. With the way you are glowing with vitality, I'd say you are a sea goddess as well."

Lazily, I wrapped my arms around his neck, fingers playing with the short hairs he was currently sporting as his Tod persona. "Mmm... It does feel fantastic to be in the water. Later, when Amelia and the kids are asleep and won't freak out about me being water for so long, let's swim out and explore the coral reef."

"You can put a bubble around me to take me with you, like you did for Isis? Or I can shift to a dolphin." Scooping me up into a bridal carry, Loki started walking us through the waves back to the shore.

"I'll take you. You can depend on my magic for once." I grinned.

Loki laughed, leaning his head down to kiss me lightly. "I trust you will keep me breathing."

We reached the shore, and Loki continued carrying me up the sand to the patio. After depositing me in a lounge chair, he snagged a couple of towels for us. Although, I also dried us with air, leaving our hair damp. It wouldn't do for Elise and the kids to wonder how we dried so completely, so fast.

"Cider?" Thor asked, handing me a bottle as he looked at Loki. Loki gave him a tiny nod, and I knew he'd already removed the alcohol from the bottle for me.

"Yes, please. Thanks, Tempest." I took a deep drink, enjoying the flavour of the crisp beverage.

Amelia put out a couple of trays of raw veggies and dip down beside us, and another by the kids, who dove into the food as if we'd been starving them. After grabbing a bottle of beer, she relaxed into a chair. We watched Thor and Loki debate the best way to grill the steak and shrimp.

After passing around plates of food the guys had cooked to perfection, we ate, relaxed, and talked until the sun set on the ocean. It was a brilliant display of fiery reds and oranges, bleeding into the deepest indigo, as it sank further below the horizon. When the twins started yawning shortly afterwards, Amelia and Thor took them inside to tuck into bed.

Loki lifted me from my chair, settling me between his thighs on a chaise lounger with his arms wrapped around me. The heat of his body was a welcome comfort as I relaxed into his strength. Lifting the illusion with his hands on my belly, he cradled both our son and me.

"How is our son behaving this evening?" he asked, kissing my neck and sending shivers up and down my spine. Even when he wasn't trying to, his touch tantalized with possibility.

"He was rambunctious earlier, but he's settled down for now. Although he's got a foot or elbow up near my ribs, and gives me a good shot every once in a while."

"Where? Maybe I can coax him into a new position."

Gladly, I took Loki's right hand and showed him the spot on my lower left ribs. As he talked to our son, he massaged. Between the love coming through our bond and my own feelings, I was cocooned in warmth, happiness, and love.

When we heard Thor and Amelia returning an hour later, Loki settled the illusion on me again, so we simply appeared to be cuddling on the lounger.

"Hey you two lovebirds, I'm kinda beat so we're heading to bed," Amelia told us, as Thor whispered in her ear. She laughed and gave him a push, making me grin. Somehow, I suspected sleep wasn't on Thor's mind.

"G'night. We'll see you in the morning. We're going to stay out here for a while longer. I'm in the mood for an evening swim."

Thor opened his mouth, and Loki beat him to it. "Don't worry. Of course, I'll make sure she doesn't get eaten by a shark or stung by jellyfish."

"Okay. G'night then," Thor said as he picked Amelia up to toss over his shoulder.

"Put me down, you giant oaf!" she said, laughing.

Thor smirked at us and smacked her on the ass with a sharp crack of sound. She yelped, and he carried her into the house. A moan echoed around the corner as they disappeared.

"I don't think Amelia's getting sleep anytime soon," Loki chuckled.

"Nope," I agreed. "Let's go explore the reef and give those two some privacy."

Eagerly, I got up and tugged Loki to his feet. With a bounce in my step, we held hands as we walked down the beach to the water.