Chapter 9

"J-jane," Thor stammered shocked by his lover's words. "What are you saying? I cannot leave my brother, especially not when there is some monster searching for him."

"I'm not saying don't come back," Jane exclaimed suddenly realizing how callous her words must have sounded to everyone. "Thor, your parents need to know you found Loki."

Thor thought about it and wasn't sure whether he should go and inform his parents of Loki's return personally or call Heimdall and have the Bifrost Guardian relay the message. In either scenario one of or both of them would surely make their way to Midgard and who knows how they would react to Loki knowing the truth about his origins or how Loki would react to seeing Odin.

"She's right Thor," Coulson said putting his hand on the thunder gods shoulder. "And meanwhile we can watch Loki, I mean he's practically Clint and Natasha's shadow already."

"And if they're too busy I can always watch the little cutie." Darcy said wondering how many of her favourite food trucks she could score free meals from with Loki before anyone figured it out what they were doing.

Jane frowned reading Darcy's mind, or rather that hungry glint in her eye. "We both will."

"Personally, I'd love to kick both your asses back to Asgard so that I don't have to worry about your parents tearing apart the city looking for their two lost kids," Fury added in not wanting his first meeting with the rulers of Asgard to be in the middle of a war zone. "But since we might need Loki in the future so SHIELD can provide protection … for now."

Tony gasped dramatically and placed a hand over his arc reactor. "Why Fury don't look now but it almost seems like your worried about Loki."

Fury rolled his eye well everyone chuckled as the mood lightened between the pair, even Thor smiled knowing that Loki would be well protected during his absence.

"I suppose I could pick up some clothes for my brother well I am in Asgard." Thor said wondering just how many of Loki's old outfits from this age Frigga had saved in her, not so secret treasure trove of their childhood mementos.

"Yes. Defiantly. Absolutely," Tony agreed. "Otherwise I'll have to part with my credit cards and who knows if we'll even be able to find Loki underneath all the clothes Natasha would buy him."

"How can you be so sure its Natasha that would take Loki shopping?" Pepper asked raising one perfectly manicured eyebrow.

Tony tipped an imagining hat. "Elementary my dear Pepper. Natasha would take Loki to the shops, you would bring the shops to Loki."

"Maybe we should have Pepper look into earth clothes also just so we don't have to worry about Loki getting bored well shopping." Coulson suggested knowing that it might not be a bad idea to have something for Loki to wear that would help him blend in if they had to hide him quickly somewhere else.

Thor coughed nervously as he thought about what Loki was like when bored. "Yes, some books and maybe a few games will defiantly be my next stop after clothing."

"Your kidding, right?" Tony said looking at Thor and remembering what he said in the park. "It's not just tantrums, we have to worry about boredom to?"

"Loki's childhood tantrums were nothing compared to his exploits when boredom hit," Thor said remembering how the elves of Alfheim were even today still finding enchanted gingerbread creatures around their realm. "Mayhaps Darcy would show Loki some of her favourite cartoons."

Darcy lit up as she thought of her top ten favourite cartoons letting out a tune from her current favourite. "But I know we'll meet again, some sunny day."

Steve frowned thinking that everyone was missing the most important part of this plan. "And how do you think Loki's going to handle Thor leaving? In case you've all forgotten something just tried to grab him."

"But now we know somethings coming," Bruce said as he and Betty looked up from the energy readings they had been studying. "If we can build a scrambler then it shouldn't happen again … hopefully. The only problem is that the towers systems might get screwy as a result."

Clint raised an eyebrow. "Wait, the tower? I thought we were all staying at the mansion?"

Natasha and Loki

"Do you not like hot chocolate?" Natasha asked watching her young charge as he swirled the drink around.

The spy had brought Loki to the living quarters just below the penthouse and made him her special after mission drink before they stepped out onto the balcony for some fresh air. Honestly, she had hoped the Loki would tell her more about the creature from his dream with it just being the two of them but trickster was lost in his thoughts.

"What?" Loki said heading snapping up as he looked at the woman and blushed. "No, no it's fine … delicious actually I've never had a drink quite like it before."

"The secret ingredient is a dash of mint," Natasha said taking a sip of her own drink and tasting the added flavour hidden underneath all the chocolate. "You know Darcy saw this video that says by 2050 chocolate will no longer exist."

Loki looked confused. "Is chocolate that important?"

"I'll get Steve to make you one of his double chocolate cakes, then you tell me if chocolates important." Natasha offered knowing that if Loki was asking then her boyfriend would defiantly break down and make the delectable treat.

"What's this about chocolate?" Darcy's voice came from the balcony door before she noticed what they were drinking. "No fair having some Black Widows famous post-mission pick me up without me."

Natasha smirked having already anticipated this. "There's another mug for you on the counter."

"If Steve didn't already have dibs I would marry you, Natasha." Darcy smiled brightly.

"Now Darcy, what would Clint say if he heard you handing out proposal's like that?" Natasha teased enjoying how Darcy's face turned an impressive shade of red that almost matched the spy's hair.

It was clear to see, at least for Natasha, that her partner had a small crush on the taser-wielding brunette and that the same was true for Darcy. The only thing the spy couldn't figure out was whether or not these two were unaware of their own feelings or were too afraid to act on them. For Clint that might be true given how his relationship with Agent Morse ended but Darcy had that 'live life with no regrets' vibe that made Natasha wonder if there was some ghost of exes past that was haunting her also.

In the end, it didn't matter, if the two weren't going to admit their feeling by the time the situation with Loki was over with she would lock them in a room together until one of them cracked and confessed.

"Y-yeah well," Darcy stammered feeling her cheeks grow hotter with every second. "Loki your brother needs to talk to you."

Loki frowned and looked down at his mug taking a giant sip of the sweet liquid much like how he had seen warriors do with their own drinks before heading into battle. Walking into the room the trickster saw that Fury and Coulson were no longer with everyone before he could ask where they had gone Thor cleared his throat.

"Loki," the thunderer began looking nervous. "It has come to my attention that mother and father must be informed of your return, this is why I am returning to Asgard."

Thor's use of the word 'I' instead of 'we' was the first thing that caught Loki's attention. "I take it I will be staying here on Midgard then."

"Yes," Thor nodded. "My friends here have already offered their protection and when they are unable to be with you the all-seeing JARVIS will just me a word away."

"What is a JARVIS?" Loki asked.

"That would be me Mr. Laufeyson."

Loki jumped an looked around for the source of the voice when he saw none Loki heard Tony laugh and turned towards him.

"Sorry kid," the inventor chuckled. "JARVIS is a computer program, he's basically a mind without a body."

Loki looked intrigued now. "Is he intelligent?"

"According to Mr. Stark, I am just a really very intelligent system that is smarter then most humans." JARVIS responded sounding proud.

"Then …" Loki said looking nervous. "Then would you please not call me that."

"I'm sorry Mr. Laufeyson, call you what?"

"That, Laufeyson," Loki answered looking at Thor. "I'm not a Laufey's son."

"Perhaps young Mr. Odinson then?" The AI inquired.

Loki shook his head feeling bad when he saw Thor grimace. "I wish to be called Friggason."

"Understood Mr. Friggason."

Loki felt relief at the name but Thor couldn't help but ask. "You wish to take mothers name, I don't understand."

Loki clenched his fists nervously, a habit he had been trying hard to break before all this happened. "I do not know where Odin and I stand at the moment Thor, but mother … mother will always be my mother."

Thor nodded understanding his brothers' feelings, of the three siblings Loki had always been the most attached to the queen. It was no surprise since Loki had learned magic, politics, fighting and anything he could from either watching Frigga or under her tutelage.

"Is there anything I can bring you back?" Thor asked.

A blush suddenly rose to Loki's cheeks. "Sir Sly … if I still have him that is."

"Sir Sly?" Clint asked enjoying the bashful look on Loki's face.

"He's a small fox toy mother gifted me when I was small." Loki said going a little redder, it might sound childish but whenever he had the small toy he remembered his mother and felt safe.

"A fox huh?" Natasha said seeing the similarities between the creature and the trickster, Loki just blushed deeper at the words.

"Maybe now would be the best time to move this party to the mansion," Tony suggested looking at his patented STARK watch. "Let's divide up and meet there in say an hour?"

"Why an hour Tony?" Steve asked wondering why the delay. Normally it only took thirty minutes to get the house, and that was in heavy New York traffic during a blizzard traffic.

"So that we can get a certain hungry god here something to eat," Tony said as if on cue Loki's stomach let out a loud growl causing the small trickster to go red again and Tony to laugh. "I'll introduce you to Burger King."

"Tony fast food is not healthy." Pepper scolded the billionaire.

"I was unaware Midgard still had kings," Loki said wondering if perhaps Odin knew the man Tony was talking about. "What kingdom does he rule over?"

"My taste buds mostly," Tony said ignoring Pepper's scolding before looking at the three people who had been picked up by his limo earlier in the day. "Thor, are you, Jane and Darcy gonna join us in the limo?"

Pepper had picked the trio up from the airport earlier that day for the party, it had been Thor's first time flying in a commercial jet and judging by Darcy's constant Instagram pictures probably his last. Steve had driven his motorcycle well Bruce and Betty followed behind him in a car. Clint and Natasha, however, had come by quinjet having just finished a debriefing about a past mission the day before.

"Thanks for the offer Tony but I was hoping to check out the quinjet, it looks like such a cool ride." Darcy said giving the assassin's a pair of large puppy eyes hoping they would let her fly in their plane.

Natasha knew better than to argue with the look, it was the same one that would lead to begging and bribery attempts. "One ride and you stay buckled in your seat."

"Yes," Darcy exclaimed jumping for joy and giving Natasha a huge hug. "Thank you, Tasha. I so love you right now."

"Where's my hug?" Clint asked giving a fake pout.

Darcy gave the archer a wink. "Take me out to dinner and we'll see Robin Hood."

Loki looked up at the Natasha with confusion. "What are Clint and Lady Darcy doing?"

"Ask Thor." The spy answered not wanting to be the one to give 'the talk' to Loki.

Avengers Mansion

After much debate between the Pepper had finally relented to taking Loki through Burger King, under the condition that Tony didn't eat only burgers and Thor didn't order enough to feed a hungry football team. Loki was confused when the strange food was given to him but seeing his older brother eat some without any problem he also began to eat the food, though less enthusiastically then Thor and Tony.

Pulling into Avengers Mansion Loki looked out the window marvelling at the house from his position between Jane and Pepper asking if this was where he would be staying well Thor was away.

"You bet," Tony said giving the boy a grin pleased that the trickster liked the mansion so much. "Only Steve and Bruce live here full time. Everyone else will be staying over to help keep you safe well Thor's away."

"I can take care of myself," Loki insisted sitting up straighter in his seat. "I am a warrior of Asgard."

"Brother, we know you can take care of yourself." Thor said trying to assure his brother that they did not think him weak.

"Believe me Loki I know for a fact just how strong you are." Tony said to Loki remembering his own post-invasion nightmares of the man. "We just want to make sure that no creepy creature comes for you again."

Jane noticed the small shudder that Loki gave and pulled him into a hug. "Everyone needs help sometimes."

"Ok." Loki said simply leaning into the hug thinking of how similar Jane was to his own mother.

They all go out of the limo and made their way inside where everyone had been waiting for them. When Darcy saw Jane, she ran over to her boss and began talking about how awesome the plane ride was well giving Loki another suffocating hug.

"Ok, so what's the plan?" Tony asked leaving Loki with the four women well the Avengers snuck off to one side to talk about what to do next.

"Clint and I will be staying here for the time being." Natasha confirmed as Clint nodded next to her. Fury had sent the message over during the flight that the pair would be the agents assigned to Loki for now. The Director also let them know that a handful of other agents would be taking up key spots around the mansion to do around the clock surveillance

"We should have someone different watch Loki every day." Steve suggested.

"Teams of two would be best." Bruce nodded agreeing with the idea.

"Well Steve and Tasha already make a team," Tony said looking at the couple. "Bruce and I can be another and Clint you can be the alternate until Goldilocks here gets back."

"Why do I have to be the alternative?" Clint protested not liking the idea, he had kinda been hoping to muscle in on Darcy's cartoon-a-thon with Loki just to get to know the brunette better.

"Since Loki likes you and Tasha best it makes sense that one of you be with him at all times." Tony explained.

"Then why am I not the alternate Tony?" Natasha asked.

"Cause you and Steve might want practice for whenever you two have super ninja babies of your own." Tony smirked grinning causing Steve to go red and Natasha to give him a blank, but annoyed look.

"I should return to Asgard now then," Thor said miserably. "Best not delay to the news any longer."

"Don't you want to stay a little longer bond some more with Loki?" Bruce asked.

"No, our mother and the Allfather must be informed," Thor said looking at Loki, who was showing off his magic to amuse the women. "Though you might want to prepare yourselves, our mother might come with me. She has been inconsolable since Loki's disappearance."

"Cool," Tony hummed wondering what it would be like to be an alien queen. Considering she raised Thor and Loki Tony would put money on her similar to Pepper. Tough as nails beneath a beautiful face and brilliant mind. "We'll make sure to keep an eye out for mother goddess."

Walking back towards the women Thor gave Jane a small kiss on her forehead before kneeling down and informing Loki that he was leaving.

"I will return with items from your room and Sir Sly as soon as possible." Thor said trying to wipe the sad look off his brother's face.

"Promise not to forget him."

"I swear that I shall bring you your fox Loki." Thor promised.

"Ok," Loki said sadly. "Can I stay with you until you call Heimdall?"

"I would like that very much." Thor said taking a hold of his brother's hand well Jane took Loki's other hand giving him another beautiful smile, which he returned. Walking into the garden Thor let go of his brother's hand bending down to give him another hug.

"I will return soon Loki don't worry." Thor said to his brother ruffling his hair slightly.

"I'm not worried about you not coming back, I worry that you'll try to bring my chambers with you," Loki replied unhappily still holding onto Jane's hand. "Give mother and Odin my love."

"I will, you have fun with everyone try not to cause too much mischief." Thor said knowing his brother might be a little overwhelming for his friends.

"No promises." Loki grinned causing Jane to laugh a little beside him.

Getting up and giving Jane a long kiss Thor walked away a few feet calling for Heimdall to bring him back. Looking at his love and brother one last time Thor gave them a large smile before disappearing in a flash of light.

Asgard

Thor stood in Heimdall's observatory greeting the guardian as soon as the light faded. "Hello, Heimdall how are you today?"

"As well as any other day," Heimdall answered back to Thor. "Why have you returned to Asgard so early my prince?"

"There have been some discoveries well I was on Asgard, Loki has reappeared." Thor said getting straight to the point watching in interest as a flicker of shock pass over Heimdall's face before it was gone again.

"Then why have you not brought him with you, my prince?" Heimdall asked not seeing the missing prince.

"Loki has been changed into a child; he remembers nothing since Baldur's death." Thor answered as another look passed over Heimdall's face, this one of sadness.

"The youngest prince's death was a tragedy." Heimdall replied remembering the mourning all of Asgard had gone through when the youngest prince had passed. Though unlike many others Heimdall never blamed Loki, he knew the death of Baldur had hit the dark-haired prince the hardest of all.

"Loki told me that he asked you to send him to Midgard not long after that," Thor said wanting to know what had happened originally when his brother had left their realms. "That is where his memories stop."

"Yes, Loki came to me after hearing what many of the citizens were saying," Heimdall answered remembering the crying prince coming to him wanting to leave the realm for a while after overhearing one guard had called him a murderer. "I allowed him passage to any safe realm of his choosing so long as he did not shield himself from my eyes."

"Do you know what happened when he was there?" Thor asked curiously.

"Loki came across some and showed them his magic," Heimdall started as Thor remembered that this was also how they had found Loki. "Their parents saw this though and cast stones at him."

Thor felt rage rise within him. "Did no one try to stop this?"

"A traveller grabbed the prince and ran away with him," Heimdall said remembering the brave mortal woman who had grabbed the young prince not caring about her own safety. "Once they were alone she told Loki that if he wished to survive he would have to hide who he was behind a mask."

"So, she is to blame for Loki's change." Thor said looking furious at how this woman's careless words had affected his brother throughout much of his life.

"My prince, you must understand that she must have believed Loki a Midgardian like herself," Heimdall said to Thor trying to explain that the mortal's actions hadn't been to be anything but helpful advice. Perhaps to Thor, her words seemed cruel but the Gatekeeper had seen much of it throughout the centuries of watching, especially for those with powers. "Her words were advice would she hoped would help him survive."

Thor thought about this for a moment, in many of the nine realms magic was a gift but there were still those who thought it something vile and unnatural. "What happened to her?"

Heimdall shook his head recalling the woman's fate. "When they parted company, she was found by the mob killed."

"Did Loki know?" Thor asked wondering if his brother knew of his saviours' fate.

"The prince asked about her when he returned," Heimdall said as another flash of emotion crossed his face Thor thought it looked something like regret. "Upon hearing of her death, I believe the prince took her advice to heart."

"Thank you Heimdall for telling me this," Thor said sincerely. "May I ask a favour from you?"

"Of course, my prince." Heimdall said standing slightly straighter.

"Could you keep an eye on Loki," Thor said to the Bifrost guardian seriously. "Something attempted to take him before I returned."

"Of course, my prince," Heimdall nodded gripping his sword a little tighter. "If I am unable to see Loki then I will watch your friends, I assume they are with him."

"Yes, they watch my brother well I inform our parents." Thor nodded looking at the golden palace in the distance.

"If you don't mind me asking my prince, what does Loki believe happened to him?" Heimdall inquired wondering how the young prince reacted to his brother being much older then he remembered.

"I have told him the truth." Thor replied honestly.

"How did he take it?"

"He wishes to be called Loki Friggason." Thor said giving a small smile and walking out of the observatory. Heimdall also gave a small smile at the news turning his gaze towards the Avenger's Mansion on Midgard.

Throne Room

Frigga rose from her chair as soon as her son entered the room. "Thor your back early, has something happened?"

The future king kissed his mother's cheek looking at her and Odin. "I have wonderful news of, I have located Loki."

"He's alive." Frigga whispered shocked at the news as hope bubbled in her chest.

"Yes, but he has been turned into a child," Thor explained to his parents. "He remembers nothing after Baldur's death."

"He's alive," Frigga whispered again letting tears fall from her eyes. "My sweet boy is alive."

Odin frowned as he looked at his eldest. "Why has Loki not returned with you then Thor?"

"My friends and I believe that something continues pursues Loki." Thor explained looking into Odin's eye.

"The would he not be safer here on Asgard?" Odin asked.

Thor shook his head and took a deep breath. "Father, I have told Loki about Laufey and his adoption I did not think –"

"How could you do that?!" Odin bellowed interrupting Thor.

"Father, with all due respect what would you have done had I brought him?" Thor asked his father seriously.

"We would have protected him, Thor." Frigga answered looking up at her eldest son not understanding why Loki was not safer in Asgard, with her.

"Perhaps, but what would the people of our realm done?" Thor inquired looking at his mother then back at Odin. "There cruelty after Baldurs death was worse then I think any of us knew."

Odin said nothing knowing that his eldest was correct, even as a small child with no memory of what had happened the people of Asgard would have rebelled demanding Loki's blood as payment for all that he had done.

Still, knowing this truth and accepting it were two different matters.

"Thor, when you told him," Odin said worried about what Loki would do if they saw each other now. "Does he hate us?"

"No," Thor responded. "Although he does not yet know how he feels about you Loki assures me that Laufey is not his father."

"And what of me," Frigga asked scared to know the truth. "Am I not his mother still?"

Thor just brought his mother into a reassuring hug. "Loki wishes to be called Friggason for now, he claims that well his feelings for father are unclear you are his mother no matter what."

Frigga just started to cry again, though not tears of sadness but of joy. Her greatest fear was always being rejected by her son for not telling him the truth of his origins but now she knew that Loki still loved her even after learning the truth.

"I have told the Avengers to keep an eye out for you should either of you wish to visit." Thor said causing his mother to smile.

"Does Loki not wish to come back?"

"For now, Loki feels that space will give him time to think process the knowledge of his adoption. He has asked me to give you and mother one of our enchanted mirrors so that you both can talk to him." Thor said. Odin just nodded seeing the wisdom in his young son's words. Frigga though got this knowing look upon her face.

"That's how you talked to each other when I separated you two wasn't it?" Frigga asked slightly cross never having figured out how her sons had been able to get around her punishment.

"Yes," Thor said bashfully before offering his mother his arm. "I am on my way to Loki's room now to get him some items would you both care to join me?"

"Unfortunately, I have a meeting with the council," Odin said looking annoyed at the concept of meeting with the council. "I shall join you both when it is over."

"I would love to help you, Thor," Frigga said taking her son's offered arm. "I know a few shrinking spells we can cast on Loki's clothes so that we don't have to dig around for something."

The family separated Odin towards the council's room and Frigga and Thor down the familiar route to Loki's chambers unaware of what they were about to discover.

Loki's Chambers

Thor and his mother had made a slight detour to pick up a small chest on their way to Loki's chamber. Like most Asgardian chests this one was enchanted to store many items making it easier to carry them when in battle or on a quest.

Currently, Thor and Frigga were searching for Sir Sly, when Thor had told his mother about Loki's desire for the small fox she had laughed slightly at her young sons desire to have the toy. Unfortunately, neither of them was having much luck finding the toy.

"Perhaps Loki placed it in his closet." Thor said closing one of the desks draws.

"Yes, your brother always did like hiding special items away at the back of it to keep them safe." Frigga confessed remembering her son's unusual habit of hiding items he treasured in the strangest of places.

Grabbing a stool Thor stood upon it and started rummaging through Loki's upper shelf when he came across a small chest hidden near the back he pulled it down showing it to his mother asking if she knew what it was.

"No, but it must be very special it has a lock." Frigga pointing at the heavy lock on the front of the chest as she and Thor sat down on Loki's bed to get a better look at the chest.

"Perhaps Loki locked Sir Sly away." Thor said knowing that it might be possible.

A sharp click was heard as the lock came undone and the chest opened, inside lay the fox plush they had been searching for and some other curious items. There was a beautifully crafted gold necklace with an emerald, a large journal and what appeared to be a small collection of paintings.

Picking up necklace Thor noticed a small card attached to it and read it out loud.

"To my beautiful Hela,

Love your father, Loki."

"Thor you should look at these paintings." Frigga said passing the paintings to her son looking shocked.

Thor looked at the paintings, there were nine in total. The first was a handsome man with short brown hair and matching eyes. Following the man was a striking woman with sharp features and blonde, no Thor shook his head, white hair and an unusual pair of wine-coloured eyes. A familiar face greeted them next with her golden hair and cornflower blue eyes giving a warm radiance to her lovely face.

After them came another set of portraits but this time the subjects all appeared to be children. A young boy how looked very similar to the man was first but his eyes were green instead of brown. Two boys shared the next frame, one boy had dark blonde hair and turquoise coloured eyes well the other had black hair and golden eyes; each was giving the royal family a mischievous look. Then came another set of boys, this time twins who looked shockingly like Loki, but their features were softer and they had fair blonde hair rather then black framing their green eyes. The final painting was of a pretty young girl who looked like a female version of Loki complete with black hair and green eyes.

'They all look so happy whoever painted these must have loved them all very much.' Thor realized suddenly that if Loki had been the one to paint these he must have loved all of them very much. Each subject was wearing an expression of pure joy. Curious about who the were Thor turned the paintings over and nearly dropped them from shock.

Svaðilfari

Angrboða

Sigyn

Sleipnir, year 10

Jormungand and Fenrir year 8

Narvi and Vali, year 13

Hela, year 8

Both mother and son were shocked by the pictures, these were not the faces of the children and lovers they had come to now. Picking up the journal Thor started to read the first page out loud.

Dear Thor

If you're reading this then I am now dead. I have been expecting this for a long-time brother so I ask you for one final favour, please help me save my children.

Author's Note

Frigga, Odin and Heimdall have now been brought up to speed on the situation with Loki and bonus everyone finds out what happened to Loki when he went to Midgard originally at this age, it was sad but I figured it would work with my story. Just so everyone knows Frigga …. well, she's going to be a bit scary coming up so if you have a fear of angry mothers hide now.

And thoughts on Loki's lovers and kids, how did everyone like the paintings? Figuring out how everyone besides Hela and Sigyn was going to look was hard I had no comic book or Norse pictures to work from.

Don't forget to leave me a review telling me what you thought and I'll see you all again next week.