This is not the last chapter, there is an epilogue after this I will be working on.

Chapter 7

The occasional tricks and pranks had managed to get Loki's mind off the pressing matter of his child or possible discovery by Odin. Heimdal being honor bound to Odin, he likely already knew. The very thought brought shivers to his spine. Every night he dreaded to find the All-father at his door when he awoke.

As the months passed he progressively felt more secure, but occasionally a panic attach would shake him. Usually he was alone at those times, but on the one occasion he was not, the person with him took him back to his room, trying to comfort him. He could not remember who it was, but he remembers the concern their actions showed. In his eighth month now, Loki took care to prevent such episodes for fear of inducing labor.

Used to his quiet mornings at this point he was surprised when a woman rushed in with breakfast and left in just the same hurry. Assuming that the issue must not be that urgent if they could spare someone like that Loki settled down to eat without another thought. It wasn't until the Black Widow came in, slamming the door behind her, that he started to worry. "What's going on?"

"Please do not panic, but Thor has arrived bearing specific orders to bring you back. He looks the worse for wear, we think we can hold him off long enough..." Loki stopped hearing what she was saying after the mention of Thor. At first his mind blanked, but quickly panic overtook him. His heart started racing and he lost all control as he fell to the floor in his panic.

The Black Widow stopped talking and dropped to his side, urging him to calm down. But Loki could no longer listen to reason, his worst nightmares were coming true. Even if they were to hold off Thor, Odin would come and take him back. He clutched at his swollen abdomen, sweating and shaking uncontrollably. Images of his torture at the All-father's hands, which he had forced from his memory until now, resurfaced and flashed before his eyes.

His eyes showed pure terror which the Black Widow was at a loss with how to solve, just placing a comforting hand on Loki's shoulder until he grunted with pain, clutching tightly at his abdomen.

He didn't remember anything else until he awoke on his bed not long after to another searing pain going through him. He felt a hand clenching onto his own as he opened his eyes to find Black Widow leaning over him. "Are you okay?" She asked as the situation flashed back into his memory, but that train of thought was again interrupted by another bolt of pain. He grunted in response to the Black Widow's question. She opened a com link and said, "It looks like his panic sent him into labor."

"Keep him there. We won't let Thor get to him if we can help it." Tony's voice came over the com link. Loki took a deep breath trying to calm himself. Realizing what was happening, he knew panicking would not help him either stop the labor pains or give birth to his child. He could leave himself in the Avenger's hands for the current moment.

The Black Widow held his had as he suffered through the contractions. She obviously felt out of place and at a loss of what to do. Even the calm composure she had as a spy broke as Loki's water broke, but he quickly instructed her to bring towels, laughing at the prospect of destroying the sheets and Tony's reaction. He could not stop the labor now, and being confined to this room he was restricted to his previous experience in giving birth, even if that was as a horse.

As he waited for the opening to expand enough for the child to be pushed out he talked to Natasha, as he learned her name to be, calming them both between the contractions.

"You know, normally the situation would be reversed."

"Yes, but you're dealing with me. Haven't you brushed up on your mythology at this point?"

"Yes, I have, but I couldn't help commenting on the irony of the situation." Natasha smiled briefly at the shared joke before Loki continued.

"What I find more ironic is that the mighty Avengers are actually fighting one of their own for the sake of an escaped villan." Her smile faded as she responded.

"You know well enough it's not for you we fight, but the child you carry."

"Does that mean you will fight them every time this happens?" Loki's smile fades to a stern stare he turns upon Natasha. "This is my punishment, to bear these monster children to combat Ragnarok. He won't stop with just this one. There will be countless others subjugated by Odin's will, even if this single one escapes." She wraps her arms around his shoulders in a hug.

"Well at least find joy that at least one of all your children will not be crushed under Odin's will." Loki almost smiled before another contraction hit him. They remained silent after that, respecting each other's thoughts. When Loki started to push the child out she stood by his side holding his hand, until she recieved a message from Tony saying Thor had broken away from them and was heading for the room.

"You're doing fine, Loki if nothing else I will keep him from taking your child." He responded with a grunt as she stepped between him and the door.

"We're catching up to him, but he will make it there first, Widow!" Tony's voice echoed over the com.

"I'll stand my ground. It'll at least give you enough time to get here. Don't let him thake the child no matter what." Loki was not able to pay attention to what was happening after that point. The child was starting to breach, he could feel the spines or claws tearing at him as it passed through him, but then all of a sudden it was out. Ar resounding crash startled him out of his concentration as he saw Thor smash his way through the door, the guards unconscious on the other side.

"Loki!" Thor shouted as the Black Widow stepped in his way. "Do not test me. I have come here for my treacherous brother. The man or iron and the captain were unable to contain me, do you think that you could, mortal?"

"Thor, stop. He has just given birth. We agreed to protect the child. You may take him with you when you are done, but the child stays with us."

"Have you seen his monstrous children? They have no place in this realm." Thor indicates the small bundle Loki was currently cleaning off. Ironman and Captain America chose that moment to arrive, holding Thor back.

"It's nothing more than the Avengers can handle." Thor acquiesces to their request, no longer fighting. They all approached the tired trickster who gently holds the newborn to his chest.

"So what is it this time, brother?" Loki smiles down at the bundle revealing the glittering scales and nubby horns of a small dragon.

"I'm amazed it wasn't an egg, but maybe my form prevented that." Steve, Tony, and Natasha were dumbstruck at the child's appearance.

"So we just agreed to keep a dragon in Avenger's tower?" Tony stuttered out.

"Looks like it." Natasha replied.

"Oh, he shouldn't be too much trouble. It will be quite a while before his is too big to handle and dragons can talk, meaning he should listen to you." Loki smiled down with delight at his new child. "But isn't he gorgeous? What do you think, Thor? Out of all the choices a child from Fafnir was likely the best." Loki held the newborn up to Thor who gazed upon the little dragon with sorrow.

"Aye, brother. He is quite the dragon." Loki saw the sorrow in his brother's gaze and remembered why this was not a time for celebration. He handed the dragon off to Natasha as he made to get up.

"Wait, you can't get up yet. Don't you need to recover?" Loki flashed his eyes in Steve's direction and waved magic around his body. His normal clothes appeared and the paleness from loss of blood fled from his cheeks.

"Thor, what did Odin have to say to get you running here after me?" Thor stuttered at Loki's sudden change of mood, but responded.

"He spoke of your treachery in manipulating me to help you to escape."

Loki threw his head back in laughter, "And you believed him? You are ever the fool Thor. You saw me that night I had seen anything else other than the inside of that arena where Odin played his games. Did you truly trust the All-father more than your own eyes?"

"I am sorry Loki, but even if I had refused to come he would have come, and with harsher consequences." Loki looks back at his child resting in Natasha's arms.

"This is for the best then." Thor took a hold of Loki's arm. They started to walk out of the building in silence, until Natasha comes running up behind them.

"Loki, before you go, you need to name him. So at least he has something to remember you by." Loki ponders Natash's words, then takes the baby dragon into his arms.

"I would not name you Hevn or Skadefryd, even if that is what you are, but I shall name you Haakon. For you of all my children, you shall be free." His words being said, Loki returned the dragon to Natasha's arms and followed his brother back to Asgard, back to his punishment.