So, this is it. Last chapter. Thanks to all those that reviewed and followed/favorited! They were much appreciated! :)
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Chapter Six
Loki's P. o. V:
Stark enters the room with a strange man who I assume is a doctor. I turn away from him, hiding my puffy eyes. Silent sobs wrack my body. Stark rushes over to the table, then desperately checks for a pulse. "It's no use, Stark. He's gone." I sob. Stark collapses in the chair next to Bruce's death bed.
"If I would have noticed that you needed help earlier, none of this would have happened!" the playboy sobs. Seeing him so distraught pushes me over the edge, and a wail escapes my body. Tears course down my cheeks, and sobs wrack my body. A coughing fit shakes my body further.
"Bruce!" My breathing quickens, until I am hyperventilating.
"Loki! You need to calm down!" Stark warns me. I look down at my stomach, only to gag. Emaralyn is growing, kicking, trying to force her way into the world. Pain rips through my body, and I fall to the floor, writhing in pain. Stark rushes over and tries to steady me, but I can't stay still. With the help of the doctor, Stark manages to get me strapped to a gurney. My back arches, straining against the bonds. I feel my ribs and back cracking. Wave after wave of pain washes over me. Tears spring to my eyes, and I grit my teeth. I can hear Stark cussing in the background. The doctor looks totally bewildered.
"What is happening?" the poor man wonders.
"He's a Frost Giant! He's going to have a baby, and he needs your help, NOW!" The doctor stares at me, but I am beyond caring. Emaralyn continues to grow, stretching and cracking. Em presses against my spine, putting too much pressure against it. At last, the inevitable happens. There's is a crack, a second of pain, then nothing. I try to wiggle my toes, but nothing happens.
"Stark, get her out of me now!" I scream. "She just broke my spine. I'm paralyzed, and I can't feel anything. Just get her out and keep her alive! I don't care about myself any more. Just get her out!" The doctor quickly searches through his bag, finally settling on a scalpel. Suddenly, the movement inside of me stills. The skin over my belly is stretched as taut as it can possibly go, and I can see a few ribs jutting of at awkward angles. For the moment, I am thankful for the broken back, since it means no pain. A thought crosses my mind, that certainly isn't my own.
"I'm sorry, mommy." My face goes slack in shock. I knew that Sleipnir and I shared a mental bond, but I didn't think Emaralyn would be gifted in such a way. "I'm trying to fight it, but it's so hard." This thought is laced with a feeling of regret.
"Don't worry, little Emaralyn. Everything is okay. Just relax. If you need to Hulk out, go ahead. It's too late for me now." Even as I think the words, I know that they're true. There's definitely internal bleeding, and without my magic, I have no hope of healing. "I love you, Em. I'm sorry that you will never know your father. He was a great man, and he cared for you very much. I won't be around much longer either. I'm sorry, Em. Stark and the rest of the Avengers will help take care of you. They were all fond of your dad." I can feel Emaralyn's heartbeat beginning to speed up, and my stomach swells even more.
"I love you, mommy. I'm sorry." I close my eyes as Emaralyn finishes her transformation. The skin covering my stomach splits open just as he doctor is about to touch the scalpel to my skin. Blood and gore flies out, splattering the poor doctor and Stark. Black starts to cover my vision, and I know the end is near. The doctor springs into action, cutting the umbilical cord and clearing Emaralyn's airways. He wraps her in some rags that were laying around, then sets her against my shoulder. She burrows into my warmth, and I marvel at her markings. Her skin is a beautiful aqua color, a perfect blend of my blue Frost Giant skin and Bruce's green Hulk skin. She has a Frost Giant's markings, but she has her father's neon green eyes. Her hair is a dark raven. At last, her body shrinks down to her human form. She is small, even by Midgardian standards. Her face is beet red.
"It's a girl," the doctor says.
"As I knew she would be. Her name is Emaralyn. Stark, you had better treat her like a princess," I manage to choke out. Emaralyn looks at me thoughtfully, intelligence shining in her emerald eyes. Her sandy brown hair sticks to her head. Stark rushes over.
"Loki! You have to hold on! Dammit, there's no way I can take care of a kid! Open your eyes! She has to have at least one parent!" Stark pleads. Despite my best efforts, my eyes flutter shut. I am aware of the doctor attempting to stitch together my torn stomach, but it is no use. My breathing slows, as does my heartbeat. I send one last thought Emaralyn's way.
"I'll always love you, sweetheart."
"And I'll always love you, mommy." My heart sputters, trying to pump blood that isn't there. I force my eyes to open one last time, so that I can see Emaralyn once more before I die. She stares back at me. I watch her and wait for the end.
Tony's P. o. V:
Loki pulls Em closer to him, forcing his eyes open. His breath comes in short gasps, gurgling at the end. I move towards him, but the doctor holds me back. "It's no use. He's almost gone." Suddenly, Emaralyn starts crying, the first time since her birth. I glance at Loki's face. His eyes are closed. Despite all the gore, he looks peaceful. The doctor checks his wrist for a pulse, but shakes his head after a minute. "He's gone, Mr. Stark. I'm so sorry for your loss."
"Losses," I say bitterly. First Bruce, now Loki. Emaralyn will never know her parents. Suddenly, the rest of the Avengers appear, all sporting various injuries of their own.
"Where's Bruce?" Natasha asks. I shake my head, my eyes welling up with tears. Thor pushes his way into the room. When he sees the carnage, he rushes forward.
"No, brother! You can't leave me! I need you!" Thor wails. Everyone looks over at the table.
"Is that...?" Steve asks, looking sick. I nod grimly.
"The one and only. Emaralyn is okay, despite the fact that she's almost five months early. It must have something to do with her magic," I ramble, trying to hide the pain. Everyone nods numbly. I glance over at the gurney where Bruce lays covered. I wheel him over beside Loki, allowing them to be together one last time. Thor is rocking Emaralyn, gently cooing to her.
"She has my brother's eyes, yet she has Bannerson's hair and gentle disposition," Thor muses. "She will be a princess on Asgard."
"Are you sure? It seems as if half breeds aren't accepted on your planet," I growl. Thor looks taken aback.
"I never treated my brother with anything but respect, even after I learned his true heritage. My father shall retire soon, and I will take his place. Emaralyn will be the royalty that my brother could not be," Thor promises, getting choked up at the end. All of the Avengers look at the bodies, eyes shining with unshed tears. I find two clean sheets and cover the bodies.
"We will hold the funeral services on Sunday, which is in two days. It's what Bruce would have wanted, at least." I finish. All of the Avengers nod, and we begin cleaning up the mess of what was once Loki and Bruce.
The day of the funeral service dawns crisp and clear. Loki and Bruce are laid side by side in the viewing area. I step up to give the eulogy. "Friends, we are all gathered here to mourn the loss of two legends, Bruce and Loki. Both were amazing men, although they were often misunderstood. Bruce was a quiet man, dedicated to helping others, despite his alter ego, the Hulk. He spent most of his life trying to help those less fortunate than him. Truly, he was a very gentle man, loved by all. He cared deeply for his partner, as well as for their unborn child. Bruce will always live on in the memory of those close to him, as well as his likeness in his daughter.
"Loki was the God of Mischief, most well known for his attack on New York all those years ago. I used to hate him, but as he was held captive, I realized something. He was not that bad of a man! He cared deeply for his partner and his daughter. It's a shame that he will always be remembered for his biggest mistake. I just want you to know, he was a good man, and he will be sorely missed." I step down. Another person takes my place, but I don't bother to listen. All that matters is that Loki's name doesn't go down in history tarnished, and that both men will be remembered as the heroes they were. At last, the ceremony concludes, and the coffins are moved to the hearse. Pepper walks over to me.
"You did well up there, Tony. I'm proud of you. I'm sure if Bruce and Loki could have heard you, they would be proud as well." I nod.
"Thanks, Pep. I needed that," I admit. We both walk to the car, then begin the processional to the cemetery.
By the time we get there, a parade of cars over five miles long has joined us. Police turn people away, trying to keep as much of the cemetery clear as possible. The hearse pulls up to the two pre-dug graves. Both coffins are lifted gently out of the car, then placed in their respective holes. There isn't a dry eye in sight. I hug Pepper close to me, glad that I still have her. When the dirt is thrown on the grave, everyone starts sobbing, myself included, knowing that they will never see the two men again. The sky darkens, and thunder rumbles in the distance. I shoot a look at the blonde headed God, but he shrugs. The smell of ozone permeates the cemetery, and a figure on an eight-legged horse appears. Thor kneels down. A scowl forms on my face. Odin. I can see that the rest of the Avengers are similarly displeased. "So what Heimdall said was true," Odin muses. "Loki did truly sacrificed himself for his heir, Emaralyn Lokisdottir." He turns to the rest of the crowd. "Do you all here mourn this man and his partner?" There is a collective yes. Odin sighs. "I suppose that Loki has proved himself worthy." Odin point his staff at the newly filled graves. A burst of energy flies out of the tip, and both coffins shoot out of the earth. They land on the ground softly. Odin goes over and carefully unlatches each one. "Arise, my son and his partner. You have proved yourselves worthy!" Odin commands. We all stare hopefully at the open coffins. Suddenly, Loki sits up. Bruce follows his example a few seconds later. They see each other, scramble out of the coffins, then hug. Loki starts searching for Emaralyn. Natasha hands Loki his daughter. He beams at her.
"Thank you, Lady Natasha, for taking care of her when I was unable to." He turns to Odin. "I owe many thanks to you as well, Allfather. Thank you for bringing my partner and I back from Helheim. I will always be in your debt." Loki and Bruce link hands, then walk over and join the rest of the Avengers. Natasha's baby will be born in a matter of months, and Em will have someone to play with. At last, our family is whole again.
Well, that's it! Hope you enjoyed the ride! Be on the lookout for my new story, Unknown! If you want, go ahead and drop a final review. They are much appreciated!