A/N: Hello, my lovely readers! I hope you're all enjoying these quick updates. I start summer session on Monday, going from 8:30-3:50 MTW and 8:30-11:05 on Thursdays, so who knows what my time will be like. Until then I'm writing as much as I can and posting when I think it's ready. :)
I guess I should apologize for all the feels and drama with the kids, but, hey, that's real life. How realistic would it be if everything is always hunky dory? And I do apologize. Because it's not going to get better anytime soon. Sorry. :(
XOXO, LaLa
The Family Stark arrived at the Barton's home and found the party was well underway. Getting the kids together proved difficult for both Loki and Tony. It was the last time Loki would let Tony get Audrey ready. Her hair was in knots, a bow or three randomly placed here and there, and he wouldn't even think about the clothes he had put her in.
Loki had been dealing with a very hyper Jazz, who wouldn't stay still long enough to get dressed, and arguing with Sebastian about his punishment while he did. Tony finally got tired of hearing the yelling, marched into the room, and yanked Loki out. They were able to finally calm everyone down, but were running nearly forty minutes late.
On the short drive, Tony struggled to focus on the road, respond to the flood of messages he was getting from work on both coasts and across the pond, and keep Sebastian and Jazz from killing each other, and not kill Audrey in the process, while Loki bitched about him worrying about work on the weekend and Natasha's incessant text messages.
Once they arrived and were let out of the car, Jazz and Audrey bolted toward the house, eager to greet their friends. Loki spotted a little redhead in the front windows of the house, who had likely been sitting there for awhile, awaiting Sebastian's arrival. He let the younger two run ahead, and Sebastian walked up alone. He waited for Tony as he lagged behind, glued to his phone.
"Anthony."
"Hmm…?" He didn't look up until he bumped lightly into his husband. "Oh. Sorry." He glanced up and caught the look on Loki's face. "What?"
Loki breathed out slowly, his patience already wearing thin. "Could you please put aside work for one evening?"
Tony spread his hands, his phone still buzzing in one of them. "I'm here, aren't I?"
"That is not the same thing."
"Loki, I told you we have some issues with the London office, didn't I? I'm here, I'm looking forward to seeing our friends, but I can't stop people from sending me updates, okay? So get off my back."
Loki stiffened, his face hardened, even as Tony realized what he had said and apologized. Without a word, or an acknowledgement of the apology, Loki turned and walked into the house, leaving his husband rushing to follow. He put a smile on his face as neighbors and parents of his children's friends greeted him.
"Loki."
He turned his head to look at Tony and caught sight of Ana leading Sebastian toward her bedroom. He laid a hand against Tony's chest and jerked his chin in their direction. Tony followed and half-frowned, half-smiled.
"Bash!" Sebastian jolted and spun around. Loki frowned when sent an irritated glare his way. "Keep it in the living room, huh?" Tony said, flicking a hand in that direction.
"Why?" he challenged, speaking more loudly than he usually did. "They don't have the same rules you guys do."
"I don't care what you think their rules are, kiddo." He beckoned them both over, waiting at the end of the hall with Loki beside him. "Natasha would skin you and us alive if she saw you going into Ana's room. Stick to the public areas, okay?" He gave his son's shoulder a nudge as the two wandered back toward them.
"Hello, Anastasia," Loki greeted as she followed Sebastian and leaned up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek then Tony's.
"Hi," she said softly. "Come on, Bash. Let's get a soda. The coolers are outside in the backyard. Mama's in the kitchen," she said to Loki before tugging on Sebastian's sleeve and pulling him away.
"Thank you," he murmured to Tony once they were far enough away.
"For what…?" Tony mumbled back, lifting his phone again. "You would have done the same."
"Yes. But he would be made a much bigger scene if it was I who had said something. As it is, he likely thinks I made you do it." He lowered his head, frowning hard, and felt Tony's eyes on him.
"He'll get past this phase, Loki. Eventually," he added with a lazy shrug.
"Loki! You're here. Give me a hand?" Clint popped his head out from the kitchen and quickly disappeared again.
"I'll be right there." He smiled at his old friend, but when he looked back at his husband again, it was gone. "You're here physically, Anthony. Try to enjoy yourself mentally…please?"
Before Tony got the chance to respond, Loki walked away.
Sif wandered around the party like a lost child searching for her parents in a crowd. She recognized a few faces here and there from some of the school events she had been to for Sebastian. But she wasn't confident enough to approach them, afraid she would get someone's name wrong. She could make a hundred entrees from scratch in one busy night without once looking at instructions, yet she was terrible at remembering a person's name.
Added to that, it was exhausting sometimes talking to people who were more familiar with Tony and Loki than her and Loki. To have to explain to the uninitiated that while she birthed Jazz and Audrey, they did not know her as their mother, was a difficult thing and at times awkward. To them she was just Aunt Siffy. And there was always an uncomfortable moment that followed. Most people, other mothers in particular, didn't understand how not being a mother to Jazz and Audrey didn't bother her. No matter how she explained it, she always came off cold and heartless, when really it was the most selfless thing she had ever done.
And people also seemed to forget that she was still a mother. It wasn't an easy decision to let Sebastian go and live full-time with his fathers. She just really wanted him to grow up with his siblings. And, she knew very well, living in a small apartment in North Hollywood wasn't ideal. Nor was the amount of time he would have spent alone as Sif mostly worked evenings and often on Saturdays.
And anyway, it all seemed to be working out wonderfully. Sif got to spend nearly every weekend with her son and was at Loki and Tony's for every holiday and birthday, and the couple was vigilant about including her in everything, so there wasn't very much she missed out on.
Coming to the house late meant by the time Sif got there, people were sitting with whom they wanted to talk with. After grabbing herself a beer, Sif settled by herself on the steps leading to the second floor bonus room that Natasha and Clint let the kids use as a toy room. She was in relative darkness, so most who passed by didn't even take notice of her. But when she spotted a gangly, dark-haired boy pass by, she pounced.
"Hey, you!"
A rarely seen smile curved Sebastian's lips when he recognized who had called to him. "Mama…?"
Standing on the bottom step, making her a few inches taller, Sebastian was still almost as tall as her, as she held open her arms to give him a hug. "Baby, stop growing." She pulled back and cupped his lean face. "Were you this tall the last time I saw you?" She pressed a kiss to his cheek when he just laughed shyly. "Come sit with me for a bit so we can catch up."
Sif stepped up a few steps and Sebastian climbed up to settle next to her. "How long have you been here?"
"Oh, for awhile now. I saw you outside with Ana on the swings, but I didn't want to interrupt. You looked like you were in a deep conversation. What's going on there?"
He lowered his head, his face hidden by the sweep of black hair falling over it, but not before Sif saw his cheeks go pink. "Nothin'…" he muttered, barely parting his lips.
"Nothing? Please. You two have been inseparable since you were in diapers. It only got worse—or should I say easier—when we moved closer. So?" She bumped her shoulder to his. "Have you kissed her yet?"
"Mama!" He hunched into himself, trying to hide his reddened face. "Stop it."
Sif laughed deeply, trying to catch her breath, and wrapped her arm around him, hugging him close. "Okay, okay, elskling. You know you can talk to me about it, right? I'm an excellent resource on the subject of girlfriends."
The young boy scoffed lightly and the color started to slowly fade from his cheeks. "Yeah, I know."
"But I will understand if you're more comfortable going to your father." She brushed the hair hanging over his face away with her fingers, not noticing the unhappy face he made. "Either one of them, actually. They have both wooed many in their day. Though, I'd steer clear of Tony's methods," she said with a small laugh. "His way was more for short-term involvements than Loki's."
Sebastian said nothing for a moment then lifted his green eyes to hers. "Am I coming over next weekend?"
She pouted softly. "I'm afraid not, love. I've got to work all day next Saturday. The restaurant is hosting some reality star's baby shower." She gave a roll of her eyes.
"Can I come and help, like last time? I can cut stuff up. You know I'm good with a knife." She smiled, a little sadly, at Sebastian's excitement.
"Sorry, baby. Not this time. But I've got you the weekend after that and I will see you on Halloween. Have you got your costume yet?" Disappointment apparent, Sebastian only shook his head. "Hey…" Sif curled a finger under his chin, lifting his face. "Why so down? I've got big plans for us when you come," she said excitedly, a big smile on her face.
He frowned a little. "Did you tell Pop?"
"No, I've not had a chance yet. Why do you ask?"
He jerked a shoulder. "I don't know if he'll let me do anything fun."
She laughed again. "Why wouldn't he let you have fun?"
"Because he's grounded."
They both looked up to see Loki, arms crossed and leaning against the wall the stairs were set next o. Sebastian's face fell into a pout and Sif dropped her arm from him, smiling at Loki. "Oh? What'd you do?" she asked her son. His eyes traveled to her before focusing on Loki.
"Tell her," he encouraged with a nod to Sif. Sebastian remained tight-lipped.
"Talk to you later, mama," he murmured before reaching over to place a light kiss to his mother's cheek and quickly made his escape.
Sif chuckled softly. "What was that about?"
Loki sighed and moved to take Sebastian's spot next to Sif. "That…is what we have been dealing with lately. Well, mostly just me."
"You mean he's been behaving like that at home?"
"Home, school, everywhere…" he sighed. "I cannot seem to get him to have a normal conversation with me without us both getting angry and frustrated. He does not want to spend any time with me and he gets very moody with me, very quickly."
Sif's brows drew together. "And Tony? Is he like this with him?" She frowned further thinking this was so unlike the bubbly little boy he used to be, who was once so attached to his father.
"No," Loki answered quietly with a shake of his head.
In that single word, Sif heard a million things. She reached out and took Loki's hand, lacing their fingers together. "I'm sure it is just a phase, darling."
He grinned, weakly, and kissed her fingers. "That's what Anthony keeps telling me."
"And think! He's only twelve. We still have the teen years to look forward to." Loki chuckled, groaned, and then dropped his head to her shoulder, letting her pet him. "What did he do?"
"Hmm…?"
"To get grounded," she clarified.
"Oh." Loki straightened and released her hand, pushing his hands through his hair. "It wasn't just one thing, really. He was rude to Audrey, sassed me, and swore at me—which I blame you for." He leaned back and aimed a long finger at her.
Sif laughed and pressed a hand to her chest. "Me?"
"Yes. I told you over and over to watch what you said around him in Norwegian."
"What did he say?"
"Faen dette." He laughed harder than he should have when her mouth fell open and her eyes went wide.
"Oh, he is so grounded." She shook her head in disbelief as Loki's laughter slowly died. "So is that what's going on with you and Tony?"
Loki blinked but didn't look at her. "What?"
She grinned softly. "I'm not blind, Loki. I've been here for a bit. I've watched you avoid each other all night. And while you busy yourself in the kitchen, he wanders around, barely talking to anyone, and watching you like a hawk. Is it Sebastian? Or something else?"
Loki was quiet for a beat before turning to her with a brilliant smile. "There's nothing going on, darling. Thankfully, we're on the same page with Sebastian."
Sif eyed him closely, but Loki had always been skilled at hiding the truth, and she couldn't see anything in his eyes to give him away. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, but I thank you for your concern."
She let it go, but suspected there was something else going on. Tony and Loki had always been publicly affectionate, no matter who was around or where they were; Loki's hand was on Tony's knee or in his hand, and similarly, Tony's fingers were always toying with Loki's hair or hung loosely from one of his belt loops. They were like magnets, finding and fusing to each other in any crowd. She didn't believe Loki for one hot minute, but she knew when not to push.
"Loki. Take him."
Sif chuckled as Loki jumped when Natasha shoved a baby in his face. He calmed, smiled, and took him, resting the tiny bundle against his knees as his dark aquamarine eyes wandered toward Sif and a chubby little hand reached for her.
"What's wrong?" he asked distractedly, making cooing noises at the baby.
"Clint's just about burning the damn hamburger patties. I need to go rescue them. Here, feed him for me, yeah?" She shoved a bottle and a blanket into Sif's hands and ran off before either of them could ask any more questions.
"All right…" Loki lowered the two-month old, who looked much bigger than that, so he rested comfortably on his legs and took the items from Sif, shaking the bottle a little.
"Is this the new baby?"
Loki made a face. "Of course it is, you ninny. Siflena, meet Alexander Dane Barton. They call him Xander."
"Do you have a death wish?" she asked with a sweet smile, poking the baby's cheek and tummy to make him laugh. "I told you to stop calling me that."
"But it's such a pretty name." He laughed at the look aimed his way and shifted to move Xander to cradle him in his arm, grunting with the effort. "This isn't working. I need to move. Sitting on a step is not very conducive to feeding a baby." He stood carefully, and climbed down before holding out his hand for the blanket.
"Loki…I'll talk to Sebastian, okay? I don't like what I'm hearing."
Loki shrugged, rocking Xander lightly when he fussed. "Do what you feel is necessary, darling. He will inevitably think I put you up to it, but he is your son, too. I'll see you later." He rushed off, blowing her a kiss, when the baby fussed even more.
Sif sighed, cupped her cheek in her hand, and people watched for a moment. She decided to get another beer, since the one she had had gone warm, and descended the steps. She took one from one of the many coolers lined up outside in the backyard and upon reentering the house, spotted Tony standing near the staircase she had just abandoned. And, again, his eyes were locked on Loki.
She watched him, amused at the sight, for a moment, and then saw the blonde sidle up to him. She quickly glanced at Loki and bit her lip trying not to laugh at the dark look came over his face. Amazing how that villainous glare made him even more handsome. She saw the blonde lay a hand on Tony, and with a roll of her eyes, a smile across her lips, Sif set out to rescue him.
Tony crept around the house, doing his best to avoid having to actually have a conversation with anyone. He wasn't being antisocial—that was usually Loki's territory. His mind was just occupied with the whole London situation.
Like most business matters, he left the hiring of management for the company to Pepper, and she usually did a phenomenal job, hiring the best of the best. Not that he was blaming her for the mistreatment of the London employees; you can't always tell who can be bought and will become corrupt. He was working with Pepper to find replacements as quickly as possible and to get the employees what they wanted before anyone mentioned the word "strike."
That was what Loki didn't seem to understand, he thought, watching as his husband chatted with Clint and Natasha in the kitchen. If it did come to the employees going on strike, it was Tony who had to fly over and settle everything in person. Leaving right now, so soon after just returning from Tokyo? Not so awesome. Especially with tensions between him and Loki only being exacerbated by the tight race Loki and Sebastian were in to see who could drive him crazy first.
Tony's chocolate brown eyes did a quick search, locating his oldest out in the backyard, swinging lazily on the swing set beside Ana and kicking a soccer ball at Jazz as he ran around with Rowan, Audi, and the other kids. He wished he knew what was going on with that kid. He used to laugh and smile so much; infectiously so. He tried to think if there was something that had happened to bring on the change, but admittedly, Tony wasn't around enough to know everything.
Keeping on the move, and one eye on Loki, Tony moved outside to grab a Coke. He told himself he wouldn't drink any alcohol. He had honestly hoped to have a good time with Loki tonight, out with friends, free of work and cleaning the house and homework. But, as seemed to be the case as of late, every time he tried to get a moment with Loki, there was always an interruption. He couldn't catch a break.
He made his way back to the door and glanced back at the kids one more time. He caught the dark look on Sebastian's face as one of the boys around his and Ana's age approached her. Hmm… Maybe that was a clue to the problem.
Inside, Tony looked for Loki, but couldn't find him. He stopped and chatted with Clint for awhile, asking about the baby and work. He didn't know how long they had been talking, but he had clearly, unintentionally, distracted the man when he realized the hamburger patties on their indoor grill were burning. Once Tony spotted Natasha, he made himself disappear, not wanting to be in the path of her notorious wrath.
He made his way through the family room and back around to the front of the house, near the entryway and the stairs. That was when he finally saw Loki. He was sitting on one of the sofas, his back to the backyard, cradling Xander, the new baby, and bottle-feeding him.
There was something about watching his husband with the baby that made a comforting warmth fill his chest. A part of him wished they could go back to when Jazz was that age and start over, fix what went wrong before it did. Then there was the other part, full of so much love for that stubborn man, who wanted to cross the room and simply kiss their problems away.
The baby grabbed at Loki's hair, making the man chuckle and he turned his head to kiss his little fingers instead. And Tony nearly swooned.
"Tony?"
He jolted a little at the soft voice, and from being pulled from his thoughts, and said, "What?" a little too loudly. He caught Loki's gaze briefly before facing the blonde woman in a form-fitting red dress who had spoken to him. "I mean, yes. Yes, I'm Tony. Hi. I don't think we've met."
The woman smiled, her teeth too white to be real, and held out her hand. Not for a shake, but fingers down like a pope waiting for his ring to be kissed. "Sherry."
Tony just shook her fingers anyway. "Hello, Sherry."
"You're Jazz's father, yes?"
He crossed his arms and leaned against the doorjamb again. "One of them, yes. And you…?"
Sherry chuckled, tilting her head. "I'm Noah's mother."
"Ah, transfer, right?" He recalled Jazz going on and on the other night at dinner about the new kid, Noah, and how he had the coolest video games and clothes and most high-tech cell phone. He remembered sharing a look with Loki on that one. Initially, he was insulted by the comment because it wasn't a StarkPhone. But then the thought occurred to him: what the hell does an eight year old need with a cell phone?
Sherry smiled, let out a trill of a laugh, and placed a hand to her chest—something else Tony could tell right away was fake. "Yes, we just moved out here from upstate New York."
"Oh." Tony's eyes darted toward the living room. "What brought you out here?" He tensed at the way Sherry eyed him.
"Divorce," she answered in a hushed whisper, like it was a dirty word.
"…Oh. Sorry to hear that."
Sherry shrugged a shoulder and grinned. "We're better off; he was cheating. Anyway, Noah came home the other day jabbering about Jazz this and Jazz that and then he mentioned that he was the son of Tony Stark." She smiled flirtatiously at him. "When I heard you would be here tonight, I just had to come and talk to you. And tell you that I believe our fathers knew each other. Or their paths crossed at one point."
He nodded like he was interested in hearing the story; he wasn't. "Is that so? Well, I'm not all that familiar my dad's acquaintances. He was practically an acquaintance to me," he said with a chuckle.
Sherry belatedly shared the chuckle. "My mother always used to tell me stories about you."
Tony's smile faded and he frowned at her. "Excuse me?"
Sherry was oblivious. "She wanted me to go to the same university that you went to—even though I was a few years behind. She wanted me to find you and marry you," she added with what he recognized as a seductive chuckle. It made him wince a little.
He cocked a brow and narrowed his eyes when she daringly laid a hand on his arm. He laughed politely and moved just so, so her hand fell away from him. "Well…I hope you went. It's a great school. And I will always cherish the time I spent there. Especially since it's where I met my husband."
He tried not to laugh at the awkward smile that froze on her face. "I'm sorry? I could've sworn you just said 'husband.'"
Tony smiled smugly. "I did. And if you take a gander off to your right at the gorgeous black-haired man burping an infant, you would see him."
Sherry frowned in confusion and did as he said, her face dropping at the sight of Loki, looking right at her, his green eyes blazing. "The-the tall one?"
"Mm-hmm." Tony looked at him and grinned. "Cute, isn't he?"
Sherry chuckled nervously. "Um…ha. I thought you were—"
"Tony, may I borrow you for a moment?"
Relief flooded through Tony when Sif popped up by his side. He recognized that look on Loki's face; they were both jealous men and didn't like when anyone—male or female—tried to make a play for what they considered theirs. If he was honest, he kind of basked in the knowledge that Loki cared enough to still get jealous. "Sif!" He wrapped an arm around her, purposely pulled her close, and pressed a kiss to her hair. "Hello, beautiful. Have you met…? Sorry, sweetie, remind me again."
Sherry blinked big, brown eyes at him. "Sherry."
"Sherry! She just moved here from upstate New York," Tony explained.
"Oh, did you? It's such a lovely city, though I only lived there a few years before moving out here with the boys." She smiled and gave Tony a squeeze.
Sherry chuckled again, but it was the kind of chuckle women gave in the presence of another woman they felt threatened by. "I'm sorry, and you are?"
"Sif Mortensen," she said, simultaneously offering her hand. Sherry barely shook it. "If you've seen the tall, skinny, broody boy, he belongs to me."
"Oh, where are my manners?" Tony playfully chastised himself and held out a hand toward the blonde woman. "Sherry here is Noah's mom; he's in Jazz's grade." Sif nodded, playing along, knowing Tony very well. "And Sif here, well, this amazing thing is the mother of my children."
Sherry's eyes darted between them. Sif bit back a laugh and she and Tony smiled brightly at the blonde's confusion. She aimed a finger in Loki's direction. "I thought you said you were married to—"
"Oh, I am."
Sif gave him another squeeze. "See, Tony and Loki dated in college. But they broke up for…how long was that, darling?" She turned her face to his.
"Nine, almost ten years," he answered.
"Right. And during the time they were apart, Loki and I had a brief relationship, and that produced Bash."
"Yeah, and then they broke up and around the time Bash was…four?" he looked to Sif for the answer. She nodded and confirmed he was four. "Four, Loki and I got back together and got ourselves hitched. And Mother Theresa over here, she offered to be the oven for our other buns. She and I had Jazz together and—"
"Loki and I had Audrey," she finished.
"It's a little confusing, but…we're a modern family." He smiled widely again.
Sherry's eyes continued to move between them, but she was otherwise frozen, her mouth hanging open. Sif's laugh bubbled up and slipped through her lips.
"Come, darling. I must show you something."
Tony chuckled too. "Nice meeting you, Sherry. I'm sure we'll see you around." Keeping his arm around Sif, Tony turned them and they walked away laughing.
Loki watched Tony talking with the blonde woman, and quietly seethed. He knew flirting when he saw it. And Tony let her touch him. Xander began to paw at him, fussing as Loki burped him, so he stood to walk with him.
He had wandered toward the kitchen, setting Xander's very padded bottom on the counter just above the stove where Natasha was stirring rice pilaf. "Natasha. That woman in red. Who is she?"
Natasha glanced up, her mossy green eyes searching for red and spotted Sherry. "Oh. That's Sherry. She just moved here from…somewhere back east. Recently divorced and—"
"On the prowl?" he finished sarcastically. Natasha laughed drawing his attention.
"Is she hitting on Tony or something? She's a bit much, and I've seen her in action. She hasn't come after my man yet. But if she does, she's dead."
"And you laugh at me?" Natasha only cocked a brow.
"Baby, everything's done," Clint said as he rushed over. "We're just waiting for the rice."
"It's done." Natasha gave the rice one last stir and covered it with a clear lid. "Loki, hon, can you put him down? I'll save you a plate."
"Sure…" Loki hefted Xander into his arms again, mindful of his head, and wound his way through the people crowding the living room, smiling and stopping here and there so people could fawn over the baby. He finally made it to the boys' bedroom—what was once the room he used to stay in—and carried Xander to his crib, laying him down and settling his blanket around him. Xander cooed a little, flailing his arms and kicking out his legs, as he almost smiled, toothlessly, up at Loki.
Loki smiled back at him, resting his elbow on the railing of the crib and cradling his chin in his hand. He almost missed his babies being this young, this tiny, depending on him and Tony to do everything for them. He loved all three of them with every piece of his heart, but Sebastian's behavior was growing increasingly frustrating, Jameson didn't seem to be able to not get into trouble, and Audrey was on her way to being a bully, if the reports from her teacher meant anything.
Sometimes he toyed with the idea of approaching Sif for another child. He would enjoy having another baby in the house. And it wasn't as if they didn't have the room. But then his children remind him of what would inevitably happen. He wasn't good enough as a son and perhaps now he wasn't good enough as a father. And it would only be another child Tony wasn't around to see much of.
Thinking of Tony made Loki think of him and that woman again and he frowned, letting Xander play with his fingers. That woman clearly wanted to do more than talk to Tony. And Tony was his usual overly friendly self, he was sure, though he couldn't hear what was being said between them. Morbidly, Loki couldn't help but think of what Tony was like when he wasn't just a few feet away.
He would be lying if he didn't admit to wondering, on those nights Tony came home when everyone was already asleep and the trips he often took to New York and other far off places, if there was someone else. With the way things were going between them, no matter the moment they shared just two nights before, Loki couldn't exactly fault him. Their marriage was falling apart before his very eyes and he hadn't the slightest idea how to stop it.
Mostly, because he blamed himself.
"Hey." Loki jolted upright and Tony quickly apologized. "I was just coming to get you for dinner."
"Yes. Thank you." Loki breathed out slowly, pressing a hand to his racing heart, as Tony wandered over to the crib and looked down at Xander. Loki watched him draw a finger down Xander's cheek. "He's adorable, isn't he?"
"Yeah, he is." Tony smiled, chuckled softly. "God, when did Jazz stop being this small?"
Loki grinned, remembering the big-eyed, chubby-cheeked boy. "I don't think Jameson was ever this small." He continued to watch Tony as he played with Xander. "Do you ever think about…adding another limb to our family tree?"
Tony lifted his head. "Another baby? Hmm…not seriously, no. Isn't Sif…I mean, she's beautiful and healthy, but she's in her mid-thirties now and who knows if she can even get pregnant again. Do you think about it?"
Loki was suddenly unsure and just shrugged his shoulder. "Sometimes…" he answered softly. Tony was about to respond, but Audrey burst into the room, as was becoming her habit.
"Pappa, daddy, Auntie Natasha said…" she looked up, as if the words were written on the ceiling. "Get your butts out here!" She giggled at her words and bolted when Tony ran for her.
With a heavy sigh and long look back at the crib, Loki followed them out.
