At tea with Frigga, we brainstormed my career ideas. As I'd suspected, she was far more willing to discuss my concerns than Loki had been. That he'd refused to even listen infuriated me, whereas talking with Frigga made me feel understood and appreciated. After I'd spent the first part of our visit venting about her bone-headed son, she'd known just what to say to calm me down. No doubt because she'd had hundreds of years of dealing with domineering, overprotective males. With a solid plan of action, I got changed and met up with Kara and Mist to leave for Earth.

Stopping by the suite of rooms Loki and I shared, I picked up my cell phone and checked its messages. How Loki made it work didn't matter, just that it did. As Earth technology advanced, he'd found ways of taking advantage of it. Now, keeping my phone and computer charged was a simple matter of willing some of my personal energy into the battery. A skill Loki had taught me in a few minutes.

Emails in my inbox were from the last of my graduate students who hadn't yet defended their degrees. I'd had four, two masters and two doctoral students, when I'd gone on sabbatical leave last summer. The two masters students had defended during the fall while I'd been with Isis and I'd asked a colleague to take over primary supervision of my two doctoral students. Although I remained on their committees, touching base with them once every month or two, I wasn't willing to devote as much time as they needed with all the changes in my life. With a quick message, I let them know I'd be on campus today to meet with them.

Hesitating for a few minutes while I debated with myself, I sent a message to Lynda, inviting her over to my place for pizza after I was done at the university. Maybe she'd be appeased meeting Mist and Kara, even if she hadn't yet met Loki. Plus, it would give me a social buffer when she realized I hadn't told her about my pregnancy.

I winced. How was I going to explain that when just under two weeks ago on Earth, I'd appeared in photos with Loki on Thor's red carpet with no pregnancy in sight? The complications had my headache worsening, and I rubbed at my temples.

After checking today's weather in Vancouver, I shifted my fighting leathers into sandals, jeans, an emerald green, scoop-necked tank top long enough to cover my pregnant belly down to my hips, and a short black leather jacket. The only part of my armour I kept out were the wrist cuffs, allowing the rest to retreat into my torc. I tied my long hair back into a high ponytail and set out to meet Mist and Kara.

They were waiting near the palace entrance closest to the rainbow bridge. Admittedly, I was curious to see what they'd chosen for earthly attire. Mist was in a blue, short-sleeved t-shirt, jean shorts, and sandals, her distinctive blue hair also tied up in a ponytail. Kara had her red curls piled up on the top of her head, a white flowing blouse, dark green capris, and sandals. Both fit into the current fashions perfectly. No one would ever guess they were immortal Valkyrie.

"So where do your armour and weapons hide? There's no way you'd leave Asgard without them," I asked.

Mist tapped her silver belt decorated with Asgardian scrollwork that must be spells, from what Loki had been teaching me. It was beautiful, but didn't look out of place woven through the loops of her jean shorts.

Kara grinned as she brought her wrists together, clinking her bracelets, similar to the ones I wore. When I extended one of mine, she nodded.

"One more thing. Since we don't have the telepathic connection you and Loki can use, we're going to use the Valkyrie ear cuff," Kara explained, as she handed me a small, delicate-looking silver clip. They both turned their heads and showed me theirs, already in place.

"Show me how to put it on correctly?" I asked, tilting my head towards her. Kara clipped it onto my ear, halfway up.

"It will stay in place, and even if you whisper, we will hear you and you will hear us. The range is at least ten kilometres, although I'd prefer it if you weren't out of sight," Kara said.

"There are a few meetings you can't come to, but you can be just down the hall from me."

"We'll take the compromise," Mist agreed, and Kara nodded.

We set out from the palace, through the gates, and onto the bridge. As we walked its length, I rubbed my abdomen and told Mist and Kara about my plans for the day.

"Is the baby giving you trouble?" Mist asked, noticing my discomfort.

"No. He's just really active when I walk across the bridge. Something about the bridge's energy makes him excited."

Greeting Heimdall, I asked him to set us down at my house in Deep Cove. When the bifrost's swirl of lights dissipated, I led them to my RAV4. After backing out of the driveway, we headed onto the busy streets, over the Second Narrows bridge to East Hastings street, then up Burnaby mountain to the faculty parking lot, near the science and technology wing of Samuel Foster University.

As we walked the familiar path from the parking lot to my department, the School of Environmental Management, I pointed out quirky landscaping features that were remnants of the university's start during the height of the hippie movement in the nineteen sixties. After leaving the two Valkyrie at my office, I headed down the hall to the Dean's office.

With a nod from her secretary, I knocked on Mary's door.

"Come on in," she called.

I opened the door and poked my head in. "Got a few minutes for a chat?" I asked.

"Absolutely, Shannon. How has your sabbatical been?" she asked, as I came in and she swung around to look at me. Her mouth dropped open in surprise. "I take it you are going to need maternity leave shortly. Congratulations! When are you due?"

I smiled. I'd really liked our Dean when she was appointed to the position, and her response just now reaffirmed my opinion.

"To answer your first question, my sabbatical has been quite interesting. There are new avenues of research I'd like to pursue, and I've gained skills and contacts that will help me in those endeavours. But I've also met my life partner and started our family. My baby is due shortly after my sabbatical leave ends."

"Well, I am thrilled for you, Shannon. It seems this has been a very productive leave. File the paperwork with Nancy, and she'll get your year of maternity leave processed, so it kicks in right after your sabbatical."

"Thank you, Mary. What are my options if I want to work primarily from the field after I return from maternity leave? The research sites I've developed with partner funding from outside Canada will take considerable on-the-ground time." 

Yeah, calling Asgard outside Canada was like NASA saying the moon landing was a trip outside Texas. 

"My options are to either start my own consulting company, or to remain as a professor, but primarily remotely, if the university will be flexible." With Frigga's support, I could accomplish either option.

Mary's eyes widened, and she shook her head. "Well, we certainly do not want to lose you, given your reputation and publication record. You are quite a draw for our undergraduates, and bring in too many research dollars to let you go easily. I'll fight for you to remain. There is no impediment to teaching remotely, or offering your courses as field destination classes."

Somehow, I didn't think she meant off-planet, but the idea of it had my lips quirking.

"In fact," she continued, "the university is trying to have an increased presence in other countries to aid in international student recruitment. Trying to convince faculty to offer field courses has been difficult. If you are willing, it fits our new mandate. You can always buy out part of your teaching commitment, although the faculty contract stipulates you teach at least one course per year."

"That's better than I was anticipating. What about grad students?"

"That's always up to you depending on your grant funding, and whether you want them primarily in the field. Do keep in mind they have to be on campus at least four months out of twelve for the residency requirements."

Bring grad students to Asgard? I bit back a laugh. Yeah, that's not happening. On the other hand, with the resources I had available now and powers to keep them safe from weather and human dangers, I could take them to numerous forested environments around Earth to expand my research on human-driven impacts. 

"That's completely manageable. Thanks, Mary." 

Relieved at how well the meeting had gone, I stood to leave. Because I hadn't heard about the new field course initiatives that were making them so willing to accommodate me, I'd expected to be disappointed. Yet, I was getting everything I'd hoped for. After the attitude I'd gotten from Loki, it almost seemed too easy. It had me waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"Make sure you stay in touch for teaching assignments before the end of your maternity leave, so your Department Head can do his planning. Let me know if you run into any issues with Bill. I'm aware he's not always the most collegial with female faculty."

Right. There's the shoe. I tried not to scowl at the mention of my Department Head. To call him a misogynistic ass was a gross understatement. 

Great. I get to deal with his shit on top of Loki's today. Fucking wonderful.

Mary smiled, understanding on her face as she stood, holding her hand out, and I shook it.

"Thanks for your support, Mary."

"Well, you are one of our star faculty, so of course I'm going to support you. You increase the reputation of our faculty and university. And again, congratulations."

Grinning as I left her office, I stopped to fill out the required paperwork with Nancy. In the hall, I put my phone to my ear to cover my discussion with Mist and Kara. They offered to come with me to my meeting with Bill. 

I took my time, walking slowly and admitting to myself that I was stalling.

Although I was dreading the coming conflict, taking Kara and Mist with me wouldn't make it any better. In fact, it was likely to make it significantly worse, as bringing three strong women into Bill's office would be like waving a red flag in front of a bull. After reassuring them I'd be fine alone, I entered the main office for my department.

"Is he in?"

"Yes, he's available," Christine said after congratulating me on the baby.

To calm my nerves, I stopped and took a few deep breaths.

I will keep my patience.

I will keep my patience.

I will keep my patience.

With the mantra running through my head, I lifted my hand to knock. Upon hearing a grunted acknowledgment, I walked through the door and around the corner into Bill's office.

He took one look at me and sneered, "So, I take it you won't be doing your goddamn fucking job anytime soon."

Great. He's in his usual mood. Stay calm. 

"Nice to see you as well, Bill. I'm well, thanks for asking."

Bill rolled his eyes, curling his lip at me. "What the hell do you want? I don't have time for your fucking bullshit."

The tension built, creeping up my back and into my neck, adding pressure to my already pounding headache. Unfortunately, being an immortal goddess hadn't given me any new asshole harassment coping skills. Not unless I wanted to squash him like the bug he was.

It was tempting.

A bit too tempting.

I entertained myself by briefly imagining soaking him, or frying his computer and phone, or perhaps making him bald. It made me thankful Loki hadn't come with me as I'd initially planned. I didn't want to be in the position of having to defend the evil little shit from my protective consort. It was bad enough I had to protect him from myself.

On the other hand, given the attitude Loki had given me this morning, maybe I should arrange to have the two meet. They could bond over their fucked up views of feminine roles in the workforce.

I blew out a breath, shifting my shoulders.

I will keep my patience. 

Gods, it was hard not to respond to his confrontational tone. With another deep breath to keep my voice calm and even, I replied, "I've met with the Dean and filled for my maternity leave. I'll be on leave until November first, twenty twenty-three."

"You do know that completely fucks with our course offerings, right? Bad enough you went on sabbatical with little notice. Now you're busy popping out a damn crotch goblin. What the hell am I supposed to do in the meantime?" Bill snarled in a nasty, belittling tone.

Blood red washed over my vision in a haze of fury, and I clenched my fists.

Crotch goblin? Crotch Goblin? How dare he! 

Papers stirred, rustling in the breeze that started circling in the room as I fought for control of my temper. The coffee in his cup bubbled over and spilled across the desk in a brown wave, distracting Bill from seeing the sparks shooting out of his cell phone as it fried. He jumped up from his chair to grab paper towels and wiped up the mess, swearing.

Damn, but it was hard to rein it back in. The desire to destroy his entire office, and him along with it, was incredibly strong. 

I am so done with dealing with his shit, Loki's shit. All this shit!

But I couldn't expose the immortal world, especially not to an asshole like Bill.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

By the time he'd cleaned up the worst of the coffee I'd boiled out of his cup, I'd gotten myself under control.

I took the time to breathe deeply and ensured my voice stayed calm, despite the tension singing up my spine, as I answered, "You should discuss those course offerings with the Dean. My leaves are protected by the faculty union contract."

"I know what the goddamn contract says. That doesn't mean I have to fucking agree with it," he yelled.

Such a petulant bully. Bill had no fucking idea what I could do to him.

At my limit of dealing with him, a burst of exasperated temper fried his computer, sending too much energy through the hard drive and battery, so it exploded inside. Since he wouldn't be able to trace it to me, it wouldn't put my grad students at risk of retribution. Because yeah, he was petty like that. If I confronted him directly, it wouldn't be me that paid the price. I was tenured and protected by a union contract, just as he was. 

Instead, I satisfied myself with destroying his phone and computer, knowing it would cause him all kinds of grief. Hopefully, he lost data he didn't have backed up. Anything actually important to the department was on Christine's computer, not his, so my loss of control wouldn't affect other faculty or students.

Deliberately, I lowered my shoulders and straightened my spine. It pissed me off that I'd started to hunch with the stress of talking to him. 

Just breathe and stay in control. 

"As I've developed some new research partnerships and funding, I'll be buying out all but one of my courses when I return, and offering my forest ecosystem & climate change management course as a field destination class."

Bill grunted, sounding slightly less aggressive. "Very well. Do you have anyone in mind to teach the classes you are buying out? We'll need sessional instructors."

Deep breath in, deep breath out. 

"Yes, several of my former doctoral students would be excellent sessional instructors. They have the skills and know the material. I'll give them a heads-up when it's time."

"Actually, if you could shoot me their names now, we'd like to offer some of those courses in the meantime. I'll see if the Dean will spring some money to hire them." His tone was slightly more conciliatory, now that he wanted my cooperation with something. 

Fucking asshole. 

It was the only time he was nice, and it always gave away his motivations.

I took another calming breath. "I'll get those to you today."

Bill grunted again, waving at me dismissively. "Great. I'm busy. Go away."

Without another word, I left, relieved to escape his office before I lost my restraint completely and exposed my powers. It had been a very close call. 

A big part of me really wanted to squash him. Gods, did I want to squash him like the evil spider he was.

I circled my shoulders and arms a few times to relax the muscles, as I forced myself to walk away from his office and head to mine, before I gave in to the urge to do more to him.

The fury on Kara and Mist's faces when I opened my office door made me laugh, further releasing my stress, even with the thumping drums pounding in my temple.

"Tell me we can go kill that repulsive male!" Mist demanded. Her eyes snapped with rage, as wind whipped through my office, scattering papers.

"Why did he get away with talking like that to you!" Kara snarled, her words pouring out right on top of Mist's.

"Thank you, both of you. I appreciate your anger on my behalf." I grinned. "Trust me when I say I dealt with him. Bill is now discovering his computer and phone are fried, and he's lost everything."

Kara crossed her arms. "Paltry. I'd like to break every bone in his body."

"Disgusting toad deserves to be pinned to the ground by his testicles. See if he'd talk that way to you when—"

I hugged Mist, interrupting her flow of threats. "Thank you. Really." After releasing her, I turned to Kara to hug her tightly as well.

"You are ours, Shannon. We don't let anyone get away with talking to us that way," she said into my hair as she hugged me back.