A/N: So this is the beginning of my new Loki and Ava fanfic. As I mentioned in the summary, Loki is raised on the Jotunheim and Ava is raised as a princess of Asgard. Their friendship will start when they are very young children and as they grow up, their relationship will change and grow. I really hope you guys like this as much as you have my others. Please read and review :)
Frigga stood in the healing room, holding the hand of her best friend, as she pushed through another contraction. "You're doing great, Gail." Frigga encouraged her friend.
The contraction ended and Gail fell back against the soft pillows. Frigga dabbed her face with a cool rag. Gail was breathing heavy. "Thank you." Gail spoke to her friend. "While…I wish…my husband were…here…I am glad you are here…for me."
Frigga smiled. "I wouldn't miss this for anything…besides once Hagar returns with Odin and the others, I know that he will be excited and happy to see his child."
Another contraction wracked Gail's body and she leaned forward and pushed. She gripped tightly to Frigga's hand and then fell back once the contraction was over. Frigga was wiping her brow once again. Three more pushes and Gail's cried were joined with those of her new born child. "It's a girl!" The healer announced as she cut the cord and cleaned up the baby.
Another of the healers took the baby and wrapped her in a blanket. "Oh dear." The head healer said.
"What is it? Is my baby alright?" Gail asked.
"She is fine." The healer answered. "You're just bleeding. We have to stop it."
The healers then worked quickly, trying to stop the bleeding, however, they could not. Frigga knew that her friend was fading fast and that there was nothing that could be done about it. "Give her the baby." Frigga ordered the healers.
One of them handed Gail her daughter. Gail looked down at the tiny infant in her arms and smiled. "My sweet little girl…my Ava." She spoke to the child. She knew that this was the first and last time she would ever see her daughter. "I want you to always… know that… I love you."
The infant made little noises and flailed her arms and legs in her mother's arms. A tear escaped Gail's eye as she thought about her daughter growing up without her. She then turned to Frigga. "Look after her…I know…she'll have…her father…but she will…need a mother…will you…be the…mother figure…in her…life? Please?"
Frigga felt tears stinging her own eyes. "Of course. I will love her like my own and help Hagar with everything he will not understand."
Gail smiled. "Thank you." She said. She then turned her attention back to her tiny daughter. She placed a kiss on her forehead. "I…love you…Ava." She then breathed her last breath.
Hours later, Frigga stood in the palace, holding Ava. "Your father should be here before much longer. I don't think that the war with the Jotuns will be lasting much longer." She then looked out of the window and saw the bi-frost lighting up. She went to the entrance of the palace to greet her husband and the other warriors.
Odin entered, followed by his warriors. "Where is Hagar?" Frigga asked her husband.
Odin sighed. "He did not make it."
Frigga gasped. She then looked down at the tiny infant girl in her arms. "Gail had their baby, this beautiful little girl…she died shortly after her birth."
Odin walked to his wife and held his arms out for the little girl. Frigga handed her over. "Her name is Ava." Frigga explained. "I told Gail I would look after her."
Odin looked at the tiny girl and instantly fell in love. "We shall look after her and raise her as our own…Thor has been saying that he wants a younger sibling after all."
Back in the Jotunheim...
Laufey entered his palace. He had just suffered a terrible defeat at the hands of the Asgardian army. Of course, the Asgardians had suffered their own losses, but nothing to amount to what Laufey had just lost. A female servant approached him.
"My King?" She asked, hesitantly, knowing his temper especially after having suffered such a staggering loss.
"What is it?" Laufey spat at the woman.
"You have a son."
Laufey then followed the servant to the room where his queen and newborn child awaited. She lay there, holding the tiny child in her arms. She handed him the child and Laufey looked at his son. "He...he is so small." Laufey observed.
"It...it is because of my heritage." Farbauti, his queen, answered him.
Laufey was aware of what his queen meant. Her mother had been stolen from Asgard many years ago. The Frost Giant half of her had been more dominant, but it appeared that there was enough Asgardian in her to carry over to their son. Laufey looked back down at the child in his arms and watched him change and look more like an Asgardian than a Frost Giant and then go back.
"My son...Loki." Laufey said, naming the infant. "One day, you will help me bring Asgard to its knees and we will retrieve our casket and restore this kingdom to its glory. You will avenge this defeat we have suffered this day."