Chapter Summary - Tony Stark finds out that neither he nor Loki are any match for a child determined to return to Earth to go Trick-or-treating. Asbrand Stark, the newest heir of Asgard experiences his first Halloween. Although getting permission to return to earth is a trick in its self, the littlest trickster might have another one up his sleeve. Queens Grace Verse AU, Comes after Palaces of Sand and Gold, but can be read alone. 13740 words
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Beta'd and CO-WRITTEN by the wonderful Stella. And then I changed stuff... And added things... So any mistakes are a my bad.
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Chapter 1 – What makes a great pumpkin?
It had started out innocently enough, with Ash being fixated on wearing only his favorite shirt. Err… Tunic. At any rate, having done much the same himself as a kid, Tony was at a loss as to why this was a problem. So one of the housemaids did a few extra loads of laundry that week, what of it? He certainly paid them enough. However, on the fifth day that Ash had insisted on wearing that same tunic, much to the irritation of Loki and his nurse, Tony had teased him that he wasn't Charlie Brown, and he could wear something different for a change.
Not that Charlie Brown had worn anything quite as stylish as Ash's Asymmetrical green and black tunic, being a simplified version of one of Loki's more casual looks. But his teasing of course led to the normal small child's round of twenty questions about who was Charlie Brown and why did 'he' always wear the same shirt. And with Ash's need to 'understand' everything adults said to him, it also led as sure as atoms decay, to several evenings being devoted to a Peanuts marathon for the whole family. That thankfully for Tony went over much better than when he'd tried to interest the kid in Sponge Bob. That time Loki had not been amused.
Of course, if Tony had known that letting Ash watch 'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' was going to lead to the kid having such a major meltdown, in addition to erasing it from Jarvis' servers, Tony would have bought up the franchise and banished the movie forever. Ash was enthralled by the entire idea of Halloween, badgering Jarvis for background information and watching Hocus Pocus and Halloween Town. A holiday where kids gathered together and dress up and were given gobs of candy?
Or apparently a rock if you were Charlie Brown and dressed like a ghost?
Which begat a litany of how was it that Ash had never known about it? Why had he never been allowed to go trick-or-treating? While his kid did not go so far as to accuse him and Loki of being abusive parents, Tony could see he thought they were at the very least A+ borderline.
And then it happened, Aśbrand turned into a Little Loki Mini-me. The kid might have had brown hair rather than raven, and liquid brown eyes rather than emerald green, but in every other way that counted, he was a true son of the Trickster. Including Loki's habit of solving problems by cutting out the middleman and going straight to the top.
Tony wasn't sure if he should be mad that the kid passed over them, or amused at the full court press that aimed at Grand Sire and Grand Dam. Efforts that resulted in Odin and Frigga being ushered into his living room several evenings later, not long after the family had finished up an excellent lasagna dinner.
Having their cook take classes every time they went to Earth was really paying off as far as Tony was concerned.
Brows slightly furled in puzzlement, Loki simply stood up gracefully to greet the older gods, over excited screams from Ash as he pelted towards them.
"Grand sire! Grand Dam! You came!" The boy cried delightedly as he danced from one to the other collecting hugs and kisses on the top of his head.
Paddling after him, Tony tried to keep a straight face while a hailstorm of curses raced in his brain. It was bad enough he had to put up with Odin when he went to the palace, it had to be against some law of nature for them to invade your home. And if it wasn't it should be.
Resigned, Tony made himself greet Odin, "Hi, er… What's the occasion?"
Odin who was still bending down to hug and pat Ash on his head, passed him off to Frigga. Straightening up and he said, "Greetings to you too, son in law, am I not welcome to drop by to talk to you, and say hello to my dear grandson now?" The sentence was so unlike the usual All-Father speech that Tony knew something was wrong. Very wrong.
"What? Yeah, sure! Any time." He glanced at Loki pointedly and coded a subtle help-me-out-here message with his natural smile, before adding, with only the merest trace of suspicion in his voice, "It's just they you usually call us to the palace when you want to talk."
"Unfortunately All Father, it's well past Ash's bedtime, let me put him to bed and then we can talk. Ash, no pouting, you know the rules. Perhaps Grand Dam would like to come with us and read you Epilogue to The Three Little Pigs."
"Of course I would," Frigga declared, gathering the child up in her arms and giving him another hug.
As Frigga and Ash followed Loki upstairs, Tony tried hard to decide if Loki fucked him over by retreating with his son and mother, or did he really thought that letting him talk with Odin alone was actually helping.
He suspected the former.
Clearing his throat uneasily, Tony decided he couldn't delay the unavoidable anymore, no matter how much he wanted to. "So…"
"Yes." Odin put on his best kingly cold stare. "'So'. As you Midgardians like to eloquently start a sentence." Tony worked not to gulp audibly, wondering which part of hell, or Hellheim, broke loose. "The Queen of Asgard and I would like to find out the reason behind our grandson's recent obsession with this pagan worshipping of the dead and spirits. Do you think me so foolish, Anthony Starkson, that I do not notice your many attempts to minimize our influence to steer my grandson away from his Asgardian roots? Or how, you now, even dare to foster and plant the seeds of pagan Midgardian religion in his young mind?"
Tony's first thought was of course, what the fuck? Because seriously? Tony didn't believe in any religion himself, let alone want to plant it in anyone else's mind.
His second thought was a pretty sarcastic, very wise, thank you Brain. Because honestly? How was what the fuck, the best his genius brain could come up with as a first thought?
His third and most fervent thought was, Loki, you bastard. Where the hell are you when I need you?!
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I don't own the Avengers or Thor, they are the property of Marvel and Disney, and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.
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Other Fics by Renne Michaels
Palaces of Sand and Gold COMPLETE If Tony and Loki ever broke up, Tony and the SI lawyers wouldn't stand a chance against Odin and his Logmars in a custody struggle. After all third in line for the throne until Thor starts popping out kids surely beat being heir to Stark International. At least as far as Odin is concerned, and he is the guy with the army full of immortals. But what if it wasn't a case of them breaking up and having a full on custody battle? What if it was just a parental struggle against an overzealous grandparent? Already not a fan of Asgard, Tony has to put up with Odin interrupting the Stark family vacation. Queens Grace AU 4564 words
Queens Grace COMPLETE WITH SEQUEL - After the New York attack, Odin has taken Loki's magic, made him mortal and imprisoned him. But Asgard is not a safe place for the Trickster under these conditions. Recent events make Odin decide to take away one more thing from his second son, his memory going back for the last four years. This decision and events that lead to it cause Frigga to decide that Asgard is not safe for Loki's reduced station. From stories Thor had told, she decides that Tony Stark's tower would make an excellent secure location for amnesiac Loki to be under house arrest. 225,458 words.
Anthony of Asgard - COMPLETE - After several years of being housed in Stark Tower as a state prisoner of Asgard, Loki is recalled to Realm Eternal. Devastated Tony is now minus a lab partner, wingman and a snark buddy for movie night. Pepper has moved to the west coast and married, SHIELD is doing some crazy shit and with the exception of occasionally seeing Bruce, Tony doesn't have much interaction with his former team mates. He wonders how it is possible to feel so lonely in a city so full of people. However he's and engineer and a genius... he can fix this. All he has to do is convince Queen Frigga and Odin All Father to go along with his plan. - Sequel to Queens Grace but you do not have to have read it to follow this story. I wish you would, but it isn't necessary.
How Desperate are You? COMPLETE WITH SEQUEL – Loki has had a bad year and after leaving Midgard with Thor and challenging Odin isn't making it any better, but no matter how smart you are… Sometimes stubborn happens. It may not seem to be in your best interest, but how desperate are you for a resolution? Any resolution. Ask Tony, maybe he knows. Loki is returned to Asgard and nothing good happens, but Loki isn't the only one with issues, Odin has plenty of his own, especially in the realm of A+ Parenting. Loki is desperate to escape from Asgard, Odin and his past. 73,000 Words
Desperate for Change COMPLETE - Returning to Midgard after an absence of almost two years, Loki finds that as desperate for change as he has been, some changes will take time to get used to, especially when they concern his relationship with Tony and Pepper. Darcy lays down her taser, momentarily and decides to start wielding the internet to the dismay of both the fallen Prince of Asgard and S.H.I.E.L.D. Outing the trickster god to the general public is going to be difficult for Loki, but equally difficult will be Tony's acceptance that things between the three will change, and not always the way he wants them to. Sequel to How Desperate Are You? 77,000 Words
Lessons from Asgard – Courtesy of Loki 2 - The Dark World COMPLETE - A primer for anyone who has ever wondered what the heck is going on in the Eternal City. More humor than spoiler, but if you are a stickler please don't read. Asgard Secrets Exposed.
The Proper Care and Management of Cat-Gods - Art & Story Sniplette - Bruce takes LoKitty shopping, everything goes well until they leave the mall to go home. Someone... Has been trying to be funny. LoKitty is NOT amused. Neither is Bruce. 260 words & Picture