I occasionally like to take a break from reality and look at things in a positive light, so here is a Midgardian spin on Sigyn and Loki's family. Without fate, without Ragnarok, unburdened by anything but perhaps quite a few illegitimate children.

I present to you- A Morning in the House of Loki

"Fenrir, leave Sleipnir alone. Don't you remember having braces?"

The younger sibling was in Sigyn's arms before she could tell, and the overburdened mother almost sent two bowls of cereal crashing to the ground as result.

"Mommy, he said I look like a horse!" Sleipnir looked up, teary-eyed, and Sigyn pet a hand through his hair, "I told you, we don't listen to everything everyone says, didn't I?" The boy nodded, and Sigyn hugged him firmly before letting him away, "Do me a favor, sweetheart, make sure- Jormungandr, there you are." The second eldest boy strode into the kitchen, sleep still in his eyes. He and Fenrir shared a look that Sigyn was sure meant trouble to come, and then he waved a hand in lazy greeting to their mother, snatching an apple from where he knew his father saved only for himself, and biting into it as Sigyn opened her mouth to protest.

"M'ning mom," Jormungandr finally spoke with a full mouth, and Sigyn smiled wearily, "Good morning, darling. Is Hel up?"

"She's been in the bathroom for hours!" Fenrir complained from across the room, after snatching his bowl of cereal and digging in.

"Right, I shall go get her. If the timer goes off- Sleipnir, sweetie, could you make sure your brothers take lunch out of the oven?" The younger boy nodded with a grin that only came from uncertain control over one's siblings, and Sigyn left the kitchen to knock on one of the bathroom doors.

"Hel, honey, it's just me." The door opened the slightest and Hel was fussing with her hair, pulled in front of half of her face as she tended to force it. Sigyn sighed at the effort and ran her fingers through the sleek, black tresses, pulling them back to reveal the scarred half of Hel's face.

"You look beautiful this morning, is that the new blouse?" Hel met her mother's expression with a look that was half irritation and half gratitude, as she moved forward to free her hair.

"Good morning, mom." She smiled and Sigyn admired how the expression displayed a bit more of her face.

"Good morning, honey. The boys need to brush their teeth."

"...I'll be out in a few minutes, okay?" And as every morning, Sigyn kissed the center of her forehead, lips touching both smooth and scarred skin, "I shall let them know, sweetheart."

Exiting the bathroom, Sigyn almost walked straight into one of her younger boys, Vali's eyes widening as her head bumped against her leg.

"Mm... Morning mommy!" He brightened at the sight and Sigyn swept him into her arms, kissing Vali's cheek, "Good morning, little love." She smiled when the kindergartener's head nuzzled into the crook of her neck, "Not awake yet, sweetie?"

"Nnnn." All the answer she received, and so Sigyn sat Vali down at the counter beside Jormungandr in the kitchen again. Fenrir had pulled the roast out of the oven and was eyeing it in a way that made Sigyn bat his shoulder playfully, smile when he huffed and walked away, "This is lunch, not breakfast, darling. And..." She reached over to smooth down his hair, tousled as a style but one that Sigyn was convinced made Fenrir look far too wolfish.

"Try to comb your hair in the morning, love."

"I did," He grumbled, and retreated to beside Jormungandr as Sigyn turned her back to slice the meat.

A tiny hand tugged on the back of her shirt, and Sigyn set down the knife to kneel at eye level with her youngest boy. Loki stood behind him, already immaculate to leave for work but with a hand on Narfi's shoulder.

"Did you sleep well, morningstar?"

Sigyn smiled wryly, lifting Narfi into her arms and tilting over him to kiss her husband on the lips, "Well enough, moon of my life."

Jormungandr snorted from the counter, and Hel knocked his side for it.

"And how are you, sweetie?" Narfi threw his arms around Sigyn and hid his head in her chest. She looked to Loki.

"He is 'sick'," Loki raised his eyebrows as he spoke, clearly disbelieving. Sigyn ran a hand through Narfi's golden hair and he tilted his head back to look up.

"Mommy, my head hurts..." It was the classic excuse and Sigyn leaned back against the counter, putting a hand against his forehead just in case.

No fever.

"Sweetheart, tell me the truth- Is Móði bothering you again?" Narfi seemed to consider protest, but in a moment nodded solidly and clung to his mother again. Sigyn sighed, "I shall stop by Thor's later..."

"No, leave to me the duty of chiding my brother."

"Loki, if you have another fight..."

"Worry not, my heart." Sigyn's expression softened as Loki smiled disarmingly.

"Well, if you are coming home early enough, would you pick up Fenrir and Jormungandr?"

"This wouldn't be a problem if I had a car," Sigyn and Loki studiously ignored Fenrir's call from across the room.

"I should be able to do that."

"And you will not forget?"

Loki kissed Sigyn again, and Narfi watched the two with a look of scandal that he certainly learned from his elder brothers, "You must learn to put more faith."

"I have had more faith with you than any woman could say to a man," Sigyn whispered to his ear, and Loki's brow raised in the slightest.

"...Yes... I must go- Do go to school, Narfi." He kissed his wife's cheek, patted Narfi on the head, lifted Vali into his seat as he struggled to reach it, clapped Fenrir and Jormungandr on opposite shoulders with a whispered word that made them smirk, ruffled Sleipnir's hair and kissed Hel on the cheek with a loving smile before making it out the door.

Did you spot the mythology references? First reviewer to get them all may request whatever Sigyn and Loki story they would like to see of me.