Hi everyone! Ok, so this is basically a one-shot. I am venturing into unknown territory. So I'm kind of not quite sure if this is worth a shot at all. I would be delighted to know your thoughts on it. Please, please, please review! Thank you and love you…

I would also like to thank Alydia Rackham for inspiring me to write this tiny tale.

Disclaimer: All the original characters of 'Thor' are the express property of Marvel comics.

-oOxOo-

Because I feel that in Heavens above

The angels, whispering to one another,

Can find, among their burning terms of love

None so devotional as that of 'Mother'

— Edgar Allan Poe

-oOxOo-

A Mother Knows Best

'Mother!'

Frigga paused in her needlework, her ears alert. That sounded like her older son. And he seemed upset. Something must have happened. And judging by the fact that it was her older son, it was not uncommon. He was always getting into terrible scrapes. She waited some time before resuming her sewing.

'Mother!'

The door to her private chambers burst open and in walked a golden haired, disgruntled child of eight.

'What is it, Thor?'

'Mother, Loki has been at it again!'

Frigga put a careful stitch on the flower she was embroidering. Then she stuck the needle on the cloth before laying it aside.

'What do you mean?' she said, folding her hands in her lap and turning her whole attention to the boy.

Thor stomped to her plush chaise lounge and thumped down, then proceeded to scowl at the carpet.

'He has been reading all day.'

Frigga smiled tenderly at that. Her second son was extremely fond of reading. Just like her.

'And it bothers you,' she stated, noting Thor's crunched brows and crossed arms.

'Yes,' he complained. 'He refused to play with me!'

Ah! So that was the crux of the matter. She got up from the window seat she was occupying and sat down beside her son. The branches outside her window cast dappled shadows across the sun-drenched floor as they bobbed to the gentle breeze outside. A nightingale sang somewhere.

Frigga cocked her head to look at the scowling boy.

'Did you ask him?'

'Yes! But he just waved me away!'

'Did you ask nicely?'

Thor looked slightly uneasy. 'I tried,' he said, letting the words trail into silence.

'Hmm,' said Frigga, pretending to think. 'Why don't you ask someone else? Fandral would play with you.'

'But I don't want to play with him!'

'Then Asger perhaps?'

Thor shook his head.

'Or you could play with Sif,' suggested Frigga. 'She's always following you around.'

'But I want to play with Loki!' whined the child.

'Why?'

'B-Because,' he struggled to find a reason, 'because he is funny and makes me laugh. And he has better aim than the rest of the boys.'

Frigga smiled again. She drew him closer to her and kissed the top of his golden head. Then she got up to arrange the flowers in the vase on her dresser.

'But your brother is reading and he doesn't want to be disturbed. So you need to find someone else to play with,' she said.

'Why can't you ask him to play with me? He listens to you,' wheedled the child. 'He's always hidden behind a stupid book.'

Frigga turned sharply. 'Books are not stupid, young man,' she said, giving him a stern look. 'Just because you do not find them interesting does not mean everyone else would too.'

Little Thor cowered at her sharp rebuke.

'Sorry,' he said in a small voice, 'I meant no disrespect.'

Frigga sighed, watching Thor's lips starting to tremble. He was yet a child. She walked back to the sofa, drew him to her arms and hugged him tightly.

'It's alright, alskling,' she whispered. 'But you must learn to respect others' wishes.'

'Yes, Mother.'

She fondly tousled his gold locks.

'Mother, don't!' said the boy, batting away her hands. 'You're upsetting my hair!'

'Is that so?' she gave him an impish grin. 'How about I do this then?' she teased before proceeding to tickle him all over.

'No no, stop – can't take anymore – cease – Mother,' Thor giggled and shrieked and squirmed, trying hard to escape. She only cackled and tickled him more. She stopped eventually, out of breath after the long-drawn battle and laughed as they collapsed on the sofa. They lay there catching up their breath for some time. Thor snuggled closer to her and sighed deeply.

'Who do I play with now?' he asked finally.

'How about Sif?'

'But she's a girl,' he said, with all the disdain of an eight year old.

Frigga cocked an eyebrow. 'What does that have to do with anything?'

'She can't throw a ball past her own nose!'

'Have you tried teaching her?'

Thor pulled away to look at her. She smiled down at his upturned face, rubbing circles on his back. It was a hard habit to drop. She remembered all those nights when Thor was a little baby and would have difficulty sleeping. She would pace her chambers, baby Thor in her arms, soothing his sniffles and hiccups with slow circular rubs on his back. It always managed to lull him into a peaceful slumber.

'Can she learn?' Thor asked, a crease forming between his brows.

'Why don't you give it a try?' she said, taking one of his tiny, callused hands and squeezing it. 'She might prove even better than the boys!'

Thor's face broke into a sunny smile. 'You think so?' he asked eagerly.

'You never know what we girls can do,' Frigga whispered, sending him a conspiring wink.

He grinned again. 'Great! I'll go find Sif!'

He jumped down from the sofa, already restless and eager to escape. Frigga pressed her lips together in amusement. He had forgotten about being upset with Loki.

'Thank you, Mother,' he pecked her on the cheek before tearing out of the chamber, upsetting her basket of threads on his way out.

'Treat her well, darling!' she called after him. 'And please try not to break anything this time.'

'Yes, Mother!' he yelled back.

Frigga watched her older son disappear with something akin to sadness. He had grown a head taller since the last time she checked. Soon he would stop needing her. He would no longer run to her when he was hurt or upset or eager to show her something he had done.

As she picked up the scattered bobbins and yarns from the floor, one by one, and placed them back in her basket, she recalled him and Loki as infants. They would lie in their cribs, gurgling and cooing all day long, making her heart sing with their baby noises. Thor would often start crying whenever his eyes fell on her, wailing loud enough to wake the dead, till she picked him up. Then he would promptly quieten down and snuggle into the crook of her neck. He had always been an attention seeker, she chuckled quietly.

Frigga reached for her abandoned needlework and put a new thread into the needle. Her thoughts turned to her younger son. He had been quiet even as a baby, never raising his voice past a whimper even when he was hungry. Frigga would often wake up in the middle of the night, panicking she had slept through his small wail of distress. And sometimes when she rushed to check the nursery, she would find him staring at her with those big, expressive, emerald green eyes and wiggling his baby fingers to reach out. The memories brought tears to her eyes.

Frigga closed them, her hand stilling on the embroidery. A deep sigh escaped her lips. They were all growing up. And there was nothing she could do to keep them near her forever. Loki had always been closer to her than Thor, following her everywhere she went ever since he could walk. But would he stay, when he was grown? Or would he leave her to follow in his brother's footsteps, seeking out adventure and glory?

She couldn't tell. She didn't know.

'Oh my alskling,' she whispered to the gentle breeze, her eyes focused on the distant horizon of stars, as if trying to look into the future. 'If only you wouldn't grow up so fast…'

-oOxOo-

Oookkkk…so what do you guys think? Or should I just stop here? Should I go on? Let me know. Please review!