This is just a short, fluffy little one-shot I have had bouncing around in my head for a while. It does involve my OC, Haley, so it might not make sense if you haven't read my other fanfic about her called Who Am I? It's not required to read my other fanfic for this story, but it will make more sense if you have. Enjoy, and please leave a review!

My Little Sister

Loki and Thor were waiting impatiently in the royal family's sitting room. Thor was tossing his hammer up and down, and Loki stared into the fire intently, as if he could read what the flames were saying.

Frigga had said they she had someone for the two of them to meet, and they were supposed to meet this mystery person tonight. Loki didn't really care one way or another who he was meeting. He was still annoyed at being ripped away from his books for a whole entire night just to meet someone.

He looked over at Thor. At least he had seemed excited. But then again, Thor was always really enthusiastic about everything.

Loki turned around when the door opened and Odin entered, his armor on and his dark yellow cape billowing as he strode in, his boots clunking on the ground. Thor scrambled to stand up and meet his father, while Loki just rolled his eyes and pushed himself to his feet. Odin moved aside to reveal Frigga, who was holding something in her arms. Loki frowned when he recognized the little girl he had found that night several days ago when he was going to investigate a strange fire outside of the palace and city.

"Thor, Loki, this is Haley," Frigga said quietly. The little girl turned around to reveal wide, soft green eyes and long, dark brown hair. She shrunk back against Frigga as Thor took a couple steps forward. She stared at him, probably frightened at such a large man.

"Why is she here?" Loki asked sharply. He had thought that Frigga would have healed the little girl then sent her back to her parents.

"Because she has nowhere else to go," Frigga answered. "Her mother died in that fire, and she never knew her father."

"So what are you saying?" Thor asked, setting down his hammer on the floor with a dull thud.

"She is going to stay with us," Frigga said. The girl- Haley- struggled until Frigga set her down. She was tall for a three-year-old, and had inquisitive eyes that took everything in. She stayed pressed against Frigga's legs, still seemingly nervous around the strange men.

Thor crossed his arms. "But why? Can't you send her to live with a peasant family that will take her?"

"Thor, be welcoming. She's lost her family at a young age. She needs a strong one to take care of her," Frigga admonished her oldest son. Loki sighed and folded his arms crossly. "I bet a peasant family would be strong enough to take care of her."

"I thought I raised you two better than this," Frigga said. "You two will grow to love her. You'll see. In the meantime, please be welcoming to her. This is all strange and new to her."

Thor watched as Haley walked over and tugged on his tunic.

"What's your hammer called?" said the tiny, timid voice. Thor hesitated a moment before answering, "Mjolnir."

Haley considered the name for a moment before pulling on the handle of the hammer. Thor chuckled. "Only the worthy can lift it."

"Are you saying I'm not worthy?" The small girl said, her tiny hands on her hips. Loki had to hold back a laugh. She certainly was smart for her age. Thor frowned and followed Haley's movement as she latched herself onto Loki's leg. Loki tried to pull his leg away, but she held on.

"Why won't she let go?" Loki asked. Frigga only watched as Haley looked up at the black-haired man with wide eyes. "What's your name?"

"Loki," Loki answered shortly. He finally succeeded in pulling his leg away and saw Haley fall over, her face surprised then hurt. Loki felt a slight bit of remorse before stepping away and going back into his disgruntled state. He wanted to get back to his reading as soon as possible.

"May I go now?" Loki asked Frigga. Frigga sighed as she picked Haley up again.

"If you want. You two can spend some time together later," Frigga dismissed him. Thor followed his brother out, his hammer back in his hand.

"I don't understand why Mother must take in a complete stranger," said Thor. Loki shrugged. "She is young. She probably won't even remember her former life."

"But how would Frigga announce it to the public? It's a little strange, her and Father taking in an orphan like that."

"Maybe she won't. Please leave me alone, Thor," said Loki irritably. Thor stopped walking and let his brother draw ahead of him and slide into his chambers for the night.

The next morning, Loki got up early and went to visit the library. There was a book that had caught his attention yesterday, and he really wanted to read it. Loki stepped into the library and let out a breath of relief to be amongst his books again. The familiar smell of leather and wood filled the air. He was prepared for a whole day of reading with no interruptions.

Loki found the book he was looking for and settled down in a chair to read it. He opened it up to the first page, the spine creaking as he bent the cover. He leafed past the title page and the table of contents before coming to the first page. He began to read, becoming in a deep trance as the book enthralled him.

"What are you reading?" a voice asked. Loki looked up to see Haley in a little blue dress and her hair done up nicely to keep it out of her face.

"A book. Now please leave me alone," Loki said. He turned back to his book. He stiffened when he heard the chair across from him creak when Haley climbed onto it, her face resting in her hands.

"What do you want?" Loki asked, meeting the small girl's eyes. She shrugged. "I just wanted to see what you were doing. I was bored."

"I'm reading a book."

"Obviously. But what book?"

Loki raised his eyebrows and and looked at Haley. Her eyes were wide and sincere.

"It's about the history of magic users," Loki relented. Maybe she would go away after he told her the title of his novel.

"Do you use magic?" Haley asked. Loki looked down at his book and back at her. "Yes."

"That's pretty rare. Or that's what my mother said," Haley rattled off. Loki sat back in his chair.

"It is. Did she have magic?"

"I don't think so." Haley screwed up her face in thought. "She talked about it a lot, though."

"It's an interesting subject," Loki said. He longed to return to his book. Haley sat back on her heels, which were propped up on the chair so she could see over the table better.

"What does that say?" Haley asked, pointing her finger at the first line of the third chapter.

"The famous wielders of the seidr," Loki read for her. Haley scrunched up her nose. "Really? How do you read?"

"Do you not know how to read?" Loki asked. Haley shook her head; her hair falling out of the pins that Frigga had probably stuck there. "I don't think Mama could read. Whenever I asked her to teach me, she said she couldn't."

"Would you like to learn how?" Loki offered after a moment's pause. Haley's face lit up, and she bobbed her head up and down vigorously. "Yes, I would!"

"Then I'll teach you," Loki decided. "Pull your chair around here so you can see my book better."

Haley eagerly got up and shoved her chair next to his with Loki's help. Loki pushed the book over so she can better see.

"There's several letters you need to know first, then you can begin to put them together to make words," Loki said. "Here…"

He managed to teach her well, and by the end of the week Haley was successfully reading full sentences. She was certainly a fast learner.

After watching Haley's face light up whenever he talked about magic, he decided to try to see if she had the seidr running through her. He took her out into a remote place of Frigga's garden where he could try to teach her without anyone interrupting.

"Try to move this apple," Loki instructed. He set the red, juicy fruit on the ground in front of Haley, who was sitting on a stone bench that was so tall her feet where hanging off the ground. She swung them around in deep thought.

"But how?" she asked. Loki had to stop to think for a moment. How had his own mother taught him? It was a long time ago, but Loki remembered a snippet of their first lesson together so many years ago. He sat down on the cobblestones right behind the apple.

"You need to feel its energy. All living things have it, including this apple."

"But you picked it. It's not alive anymore," Haley said sadly. Loki stood the apple up on its bumpy bottom.

"Its fresh. It's still partially alive," Loki explained. Haley seemed content for a moment before asking, "But if it's alive, then wouldn't it feel pain when you picked it? I don't want to hurt it."

Loki had to resist the urge to smack himself in the face. "It can't feel pain. I promise."

Haley, now satisfied, concentrated in the apple. Her brow was furrowed, and her hands were folded tightly in her lap. She leaned forward a bit in her seat.

Loki grinned widely when he saw the apple wobble then fall over.

"Did I do that?" Haley gasped. She sat up straight and tall, her windblown hair sticking up slightly.

"Yes, you did," Loki said, standing up. "It seems you have magic."

Haley squealed and ran over to pick up the apple in wonder. Loki watched with a smile on his face. Maybe Haley wasn't so bad after all.

Later that night, Loki was reading in his chambers. He had a candle lit and sitting on the table beside his chair, the fire in his fireplace flickering gently and crackling every time it consumed a bit of wet wood.

Loki looked up as the door to his chambers creaked open. He half expected to see Thor or Frigga, but he didn't expect to see the small form of Haley standing in the doorway, her hand still resting on the doorknob.

"Loki?" she said softly. Loki set his book in his lap. "Yes?"

"I had a nightmare. Can I stay with you?"

Loki hesitated. He hadn't known her for long. He was about to send her down to Frigga and Odin's chambers when he shrugged. "Why not?"

He was surprised when she shut the door and climbed onto his lap. Loki lifted the book up and allowed her to get comfortable. He put his book away and pulled out another one with short stories that he had sitting on the table in a stack of books. He flipped through the book before finding a short story he thought she would enjoy.

Loki began to read, and soon enough Haley nodded and fell asleep, curled in a tight ball. Loki set down the book, picked her up, and carried her to her chambers where he settled her in her bed. She curled into the blankets and breathed a sigh of relief. Loki thought for a moment before casting a spell to ward off all bad dreams for the rest of the night. When he left, he saw her tucked under the blankets safely.

"I will always protect you," Loki whispered. "My little sister."