It was a crappy birthday week, Peter decided.

His mother hadn't been doing so good. He knew that being in the hospital the last half of the month didn't mean good things but he had hope. He had wished on every star and prayed every night that a miracle would happen. Meredith Quill would spring back to better health and then the two of them would share a piece of pie together.

It was like he was being ignored by all fronts and his mother was just getting worse and worse.

He feared visiting her. What if…

He gripped his backpack straps as he banished the thought away. No. He couldn't think like that. He couldn't think about how pale and weak she was. He couldn't think about her difficulty staying focused while they spoke. He refused to think about his mother dying.

She's going to get better.

That's all he wanted for his birthday and if he could have that he wouldn't ask for anything ever again.

Peter exhaled and decided to just think about school. He had homework to do. No big deal. He was sure his grandpa could help him since it was history. Maybe he lived during that time? That would make things super easy if that was the case! The thought kind of cheered him up and maybe his grandpa would like talking about the past and stuff.

He continued his walk home only to pause. A few feet away from him were two boys he knew from school. They were much bigger than him and were very occupied by something on the ground. They poked at it with a stick. Peter normally would just ignore them and keep walking but his curiosity got the better of him. He approached and found they were poking a little frog with the stick. The poor thing looked so distressed! Then one of the boys picked up a big piece of rock, then raised it high as if to aim. Quickly, Peter moved to get between the bullies and the frog.

"Leave 'im alone!" he yelled holding his arms out.

The boys looked annoyed with his interruption. "Get out of the way, kid."

"Yeah, it's just a frog."

Peter shook his head and before the other boys could argue or move he had scooped the little thing and bolted.

He was sure they made chase but it didn't last long as he ran into a forested area. He didn't stop until he was sure he was alone. Panting slightly, he gently looked at the frog in his hands. Poor thing. "It's alright, buddy...you're safe now."

He looked around and frowned, they weren't near any water. "I'll take you home."

Peter didn't expect a reply of course. Frogs didn't talk.

"That won't be necessary."

He almost squeezed the thing in fear when he heard the voice but thankfully he didn't instead he just stared.

"Set me down, please?"

Nodding dumbly Peter did as the frog asked. Once on the ground the frog squeezed its eyes shut then before him was a young boy in its place instead. Like magic.

"Whoa."

The boy stood up and let out a sigh. "Thank you for saving me."

"You're welcome," Peter managed to stammer in return only to blurt out, "are you a magical prince?" afterwards.

The boy nodded. "I am," he bowed his head slightly, "I am Loki Odinson, prince of Asgard."

"My name's Peter Quill of um Missouri," he decided it was only polite to introduce himself in return. "Sometimes my mom calls me Starlord." He hoped that would impress the other boy. The kids in his class just made fun of him. Maybe the magical prince would be interested?

Loki smiled slightly. "Lord of the stars?"

Peter shrugged. "My momma says my daddy was from the stars," he couldn't help but look up at the sky before continuing, "says he was an angel made of pure light."

The boy had looked up too as if expecting some sort of light show before shrugging. "Gods do visit mortals from time to time so I'm sure it could be true."

"Gods?"

Loki grinned. "Well, my father says we're not gods but we look like it to midgardians."

Midgardians? Huh. If it weren't for the fact that he saw the boy was a frog not too long ago he'd have laughed and continued his walk home. Loki explained to him that there were nine realms which Peter equated to planets. "So, like, you're some kind of magical alien prince!"

Loki considered this. "I suppose that would be correct."

"Why were you a frog and how'd you get here? Do you have a spaceship?" He knew he was probably getting a little too excited so he took a breath and apologized. "I just never met a magical alien prince before I don't mean to be rude or nothin'."

The other boy didn't seem fazed. "It's alright! It's only natural you would be so amazed by all this." He puffed up his chest a little and Peter stifled a giggle. Loki explained that he got to Earth by stumbling upon a hidden passage while playing hide and seek with his brother and his friends. "I took the shape of a frog to hide better."

"Ain't that cheating?"

Loki shrugged. "Thor didn't say I couldn't."

Peter supposed that was fair. Maybe.

"Anyway, I waited but something wasn't right so I left my hiding spot and found myself in an unfamiliar place." He looked a bit bashful admitting the rest of his story, "I'm still new at shapeshifting and when I'm nervous I find it difficult to change back."

"Well, shoot that's alright," Peter tried to console, "not everything has to be easy, at least that's what my momma says." He pursed his lips as he tried to remember what she had told him. "The first step to gettin' good at something is being bad at it! You changed back so you're getting better." Yeah that sounded right.

Loki smiled a little. "Your mother is very wise but I suppose that's just how mothers are. They know things."

Peter smiled. "Yeah, that sounds about right."

The two just continued to chat until Peter noticed it getting darker.

"Oh shoot! I better be goin' home." He looked worriedly at Loki when he remembered that the other boy was from another planet entirely. "How're you gettin' home?"

Loki waved away his worry. "I'll call for Heimdall. He'll fetch me I'm sure."

Peter bit his lip. "Y'sure? Maybe NASA could take you home on a ship or something…"

The prince shook his head. "That won't be necessary. I don't need to make other people aware of Asgard." He pouted. "My father would just punish me no doubt." He put a hand on Peter's shoulder. "If Heimdall doesn't hear me then I will just find the passage from before."

"Will I ever see you again?" He liked his new friend. His classmates were all jerks and avoided him like the plague or picked fights with him. Loki was nice and way cooler and a magic alien prince!

"Of course." Loki smiled looking sure. "I have a good memory so once I know where the passage is I'll use it to visit you."

Peter's eyes lit up, excited by that promise. "You mean it?"

The prince nodded and held his hand out to Peter. He took hold of the other boy's hand giving it a little shake. "We're bonded by fate, my friend."

Peter grinned he liked the sound of that!

The two parted ways and Peter swore he saw light in the distance. He smiled to himself as thoughts buzzed through his head. Magic and aliens and passages that defied space and time? It was like he was in one of those cool stories his grandmother told.

He hurried along home. He was probably going to hear a lot from his grandfather but it was alright. It was worth it. He had made a friend and a special one at that. For once things were looking up and maybe just maybe this birthday week wasn't as crappy as he thought!

Things had escalated since that day.

Adults, family members he didn't really know, seemed to frequent his home. They'd come and go speaking in hushed tones or outright going silent when he was anywhere nearby. They all looked at him with pitying eyes and he ignored them. Grandpa was the one looking after him and making sure he got to school and visiting his mother so he didn't care much for them.

He had been so excited to tell his mother all about Loki and she seemed to be lucid and listening which was good! This had to be a sign that she was getting better! As his retelling got to the fantastical bits he was met with disapproval from his grandfather.

"Pete, son, you shouldn't waste time you got telling stories like that. Be honest."

Peter had frowned. He didn't understand. He was honest! How was he wasting time?

"Daddy, I believe him," his mother had mustered in a soft tone, "it's just like how I met his daddy...magical and wonderful."

His grandfather was silent but Peter knew he wasn't happy. He left the room soon after. His mother just smiled at him looking tired. "Don't mind him, sweetie...he's just scared."

"What for?"

His mother didn't answer just closed her eyes, having fallen asleep.

The drive home that night was a quiet one and once parked in the driveway his grandfather didn't make any move to get out of the car.

"Pete," his grandfather started. "Your momma is very sick."

Peter waited, his guts feeling twisted.

"I don't think she has a lot of time left."

Peter didn't reply just got out of the car he wasn't going to have this conversation.

He didn't see sign of Loki again and Peter couldn't blame him. He was human and boring and not special. Why would a magical alien prince want to hang out with him? A part of him had thought maybe he just imagined it all. That wasn't the case though because the bullies from before certainly remembered him stealing their frog. They made sure to show how much they didn't appreciate it by giving him a black eye.

His grandfather just shook his head in disappointment.

"I can't believe you're doin' this to your mother," he muttered picking him up from school. "She's gonna have to hear about you fighting and see that eye."

Peter scowled before pulling out the walkman from his backpack. He tuned out whatever else his grandpa had to say and ignored the looks. His mind instead drifted to the music. Trivia and other little facts turning in his head as he listened to the lyrics. The car stopping and parking brought Peter out of his little reverie and he felt numb realizing they were at the hospital.

The walk to the familiar wing was agonizing that day. Peter didn't feel any better when met with random family members waiting for them near his mother's room. He was told to wait outside and he was relieved to do so. He sat slumped in one of the waiting room chairs, thoughts drifting in and out as music continued to play. He eyed the door and part of him wondered what would happen if he got up and left? It was like that saying, 'if a tree fell in the woods and no one was there to hear would it make a sound?' and Peter knew the answer was yes. He wished he was wrong. He wished that leaving meant that whatever was going on would just wait and his mother would be okay.

Unbidden, Peter found himself in his mother's room.

His grandfather stuffed the birthday gift his mother had for him in his backpack along with his walkman. His mother was speaking to him and he refused to look. He was having a hard time even processing her words. Open the gift when she was gone? His dad was going to come back for him? His mother kept speaking. She was here. She was alive. Why were all these people gathered around as if she wasn't? Why was everyone crying? Why was his mother's voice barely a whisper?

"Take my hand, Peter."

He turned his head and tried to hide against his grandfather's side, squeezing his eyes shut.

"Peter, take my hand," she tried again.

"Pete, c'mon."

"...Peter."

He opened his eyes when heard the flatline.

It had all been a blur after that. He was removed from the room and was told to stay outside. Before he knew it Peter had run out of the hospital. He didn't stop. He had to get away from that place away from all of it. Once a good distance away he found himself a place to sit and break down to cry more than he already was. Why hadn't he taken her hand? Why?

He let out a scream.

"Starlord."

Peter looked up, hiccuping and gasped. "L-Loki!"

The boy had a hand out, a little ball of light glowing. His expression was of concern but he didn't ask at least not yet. "I was looking for you."

"How'd you find me?" His throat felt raw from screaming but Loki being here and the magic were good distractions from whatever the hell was going on right now.

Just don't think about it, Peter.

"Magic of course," he sighed still looking at him in worry, "I didn't think it would be night time here. In Asgard it's still the afternoon but I didn't want to turn around and go home."

Peter sniffled and tried to wipe away the tears and snot. "I thought you didn't wanna see me again."

Loki shook his head. "I was being reprimanded by my father so I had to wait to see you again."

"O-oh." Well, that explained things.

The prince just sighed again, he opened his mouth to speak only to pause at the sound of a twig snapping. He grabbed Peter's hand. "Let's go there's someone else here."

Peter was thinking maybe it was his grandfather until he heard strange voices in the distance. He squeezed the other boy's hand and the two ran. The voices were getting closer and they sounded angry. Loki looked back then looked at Peter. "Someone is after you."

"What?"

"You aren't safe here," Loki started to lead him down a specific path. "We're going to Asgard where you'll be safe. We must hurry."

He trusted Loki so he followed and eventually the two were standing near a cave. The two took a moment to catch their breath. "We lost them for now."

"What's goin' on, Loki?"

His friend looked at him and sighed. "Aliens are looking for you."

"You could understand them?"

"With magic yes but we have to get you away from them, Peter." Loki looked determined. "You saved my life now it's my turn to save yours."

Peter gripped his backpack and nodded. "Thank you." He sniffled. "Thank you, Loki."

The night had been just too much and now there was danger lurking, Peter wasn't too keen on meeting any of it. Why were aliens after him? He shuddered as his mind supplied images of old sci-fi movies where people are abducted to be experimented on or worse eaten like some kind of delicacy. Loki promised to protect him and well, how could he say no? The guy was a magical alien prince after all and what would be his next chance to visit another realm? He was sorry that he didn't tell his grandpa he left but maybe later when the aliens weren't looking for him he'd come back and apologize. That sounded good.

The other boy gave him a weak smile before offering his hand. "Let's go before they catch up to us."

A/N: sorry for any mistakes but I hope it was enjoyed! thanks for reading