Frigga slowly rocked her young son, glancing toward the door as if waiting for someone. She brushed the golden hair of her only child, lulling him to back to sleep. She bent over to lay him in the cradle, and as she straightened up, she heard a noise behind her. She turned as her husband slipped quietly through the door carrying a small bundle in his arms.
"Your safe." Frigga had to stop herself from crying out with joy, "I was so worri-"
Suddenly, the small bundle in Odin's arms stirred and shifted; letting out a small whimper.
"Odin," Frigga gasped "Is that a—"
In response, Odin held out the bundle, shifting the wrappings so she could view the small baby nestled inside.
"He was alone." Odin started, "Could you—"
"Of course."
Frigga reached over and gently took the baby from Odin. The baby blinked up at Frigga, revealing brilliantly green eyes. Frigga cradled the small baby in her arms, just as she had done to her child minutes before. Odin watched as she held it to her breast, whispering lullabies and soft words to soothe the child back to sleep.
"Frigga," Odin whispered, "This is Laufey's son."
Without looking up from the baby, Frigga answered, "It does not matter."
"So you will care for it, just as you would for Thor?"
"Of course."
"I could always let someone else take it,"
Frigga looked up at Odin, "Do you have a problem with me caring for the child?"
"No, it's just—"
"This is an innocent child, and you are already comparing it to the father it never knew; I can see it in your eyes."
Odin said nothing.
Frigga stood up and slowly placed the baby into Odin's arms. He stiffened at first, the baby turned slightly and snuggled up to Odin. With uncharacteristic gentleness, he slowly rocked the small child in his arms, sitting back down next to Frigga. Odin tenderly down at the sleeping child, once again amazed at how small it was.
"I thought, once he got older, he would be the key in a peace treaty with the frost giants." He said sofltly.
Frigga looked at him, "When are you going to tell him?"
"When the time is right. For now he must never know where he came from, it would destroy him."
Odin laid the baby next to his son in the cradle. Thor shifted slightly in his sleep, moving closer to the new baby. Frigga and Odin watched quietly as they snuggled together in the cradle.
Frigga whispered, "He seems to already have been accepted."
Odin took Frigga's hand and led her out of the nursery. He lingered in the doorway and whispered into the dark. "Hush little Loki, this is where you belong; you're safe."
His words echoed into the darkness, like a like a promise; "You're safe."