A/N: It's finally here! A new chapter I have been working on for forever. I'm sorry I haven't posted an update in over two weeks. I've really been busy with planning Back to School stuff. So, sit back and enjoy the show!
After their little chat, Steve went on his way. He had meant it when he said that he'd protect Loki and Thor's child from Odin. He didn't know why he would take it so seriously. Maybe it was because he believed that someone should always have a family. Or it could be the fact that Loki made Thor happy and a child will make him thrilled. He knows that feeling all too well.
"Oh, there you are, my friend! I have been looking for you for ages!" he heard a familiar voice boom from down the hall. Guess who it was? Yeah, it was Thor.
"Thor, buddy, I've only been gone for five minutes." Steve said to the God. Thro raised his eyebrow and gave Steve a look. Oh, the timeline in Asgard is different. Wait, how could it be so different if he was here. Unless….
"Thor, did you leave Midgard?" the supersoldier said, tapping his foot in a nervous rhythm. Thor got an uneasy look on his face and scratched the back of his head. He shrugged and looked like a nervous preteen going on their first date. Steve's mouth dropped open.
"You did go back! Thor, I thought you said that you hated Odin for what he did to Loki! What is the possible reason for you to go back? And how did you leave, go wherever you went, and then come back without JARVIS noticing?" Steve rambled and screeched. If only you could know why I'm worried, then you would understand why you could never go back.
"I had to see a healer. Loki's condition has worsened dramatically and in a short time frame. I had to know what he had. I was stressed! I had Bruce turn JARVIS off so he wouldn't alert Loki or anyone else." Thor explained frantically, leaning against the wall, making the frame creak from the pressure. Steve winced at the sound and thought to himself. So, that's why JARVIS didn't ask any questions after I talked to Pepper. Wait a second, Bruce covered for Thor? Well, that's new. He jumped out of his own head when he saw the look on Thor's stressed face.
"And what did they say, big guy?" Steve asked nervously, shuffling his feet slightly. Please don't say he's pregnant!
"She said it could be nothing more than the Midgardian ailment named "the flu." She said it won't hurt him since it really doesn't hurt you so much anymore." Thor explained. Steve sighed dramatically ad got a curious look from the God of Thunder.
"I mean, I thought it was going to be serious. Thank God, it's only the flu!" He said faking a smile and holding his hand over his heart in a gesture of relief. Thor smiled and nodded. He stood to his full weight and patted Steve's shoulder.
"Son of Rogers, would you like to spar?" Thor asked with that beaming smile that he always put on. Steve nodded, thankful for the fact that the earlier topic has since passed without incident. Way to go, Steve. Nice save. But I didn't think this was going to be that hard.
"How are you feeling, Loki?" Pepper aid, bringing some of Steve's soup, the kind that Loki was so fond of. Loki only nodded and sat up, supported by Natasha, who got some much needed sleep. Pepper just petted her hair teasingly, earning a playful scowl from the assassin. The chairman redhead just laughed at her.
"The stomach pain has stopped and the nausea has become somewhat bearable." Loki informed the pair as he sipped the hot broth. It was like heaven had gone down his throat. It soothed all the pain and discomfort. He moaned in satisfaction, earning him amused looks from the pair of redheads.
"Don't judge me." Loki said without having to look at them. They laughed and smiled at the God.
"Ms. Potts, Dr. Ryan is here to see Loki." JARVIS chimed in. Loki jumped a little, apparently not used to the AI yet. Pepper smiled just a little and the God's strong curiosity. She took his bowl of soup and sat it on the dresser.
"Thank you, JARVIS. Please send him up. And try to bypass Tony and the others." She said rubbing Loki's back. "Do you need me to stay?" When Loki nodded, he grabbed onto Natasha and leaned his head on her shoulder. A hint of a smile popped up on the Russian's face. When a knock came to the door, Pepper got it.
"Hello, Ms. Potts. It's lovely to see you again. And you must be Loki?" He said turning to the God still clinging to Tasha. He had a smooth, charming Southern accent. The doctor held out his hand. "I'm Dr. Erik Ryan, but call me Erik." Loki cautiously shook the man's hand and buried himself farther into the bed. He had a giant fear of doctors. It may seem irrational but it was completely justified.
The healers in Asgard were very strange women. Despite how fast time went in Asgard, modern medicine was not one of their best industries. For as long as Loki could remember, the people of the realm would exercise everyday and eat only the healthiest of food just to stave off the inevitable. It was a fear that would be realized eventually.
The healers were known for their practice of magic, something that was feared even before Loki was brought to Asgard. Magic was practiced by the enemy and could be put in the wrong hands. And when it came to a male god who was pregnant, no healer would back down from examining him. And he just didn't want to remember the pain.
"Loki, if you are fearful of me, I will allow Mrs. Potts and Romanov to stay here. But you have to trust me. I just want to know if the baby is healthy and to give you the vitamins. Will you be fine with that?" Dr. Ryan asked, taking the god's hand and pat it to reassure him. Loki slowly sat up and leaned against the two women that had shimmied behind him. He relaxed and nodded.
Erik smiled and started his examination. He took Loki's vitals so he can have them on hand in case there was something wrong with him later on in the pregnancy. He asked about the morning sickness and his sudden craving for Nutella smothered toast (and I can get behind that). He then pulled out a bottle of vitamins and handed them to the god, who examined the label.
"Okay, I will give you some instructions. I want you to cut back of alcohol and you only can have two glasses of red wine a day in your earlier months. Later on you can have one glass of white wine a day, but when you hit the sixth month, you need to stop. I will visit you every other month until you're ready to deliver." Dr. Ryan instructed, writing his prescription down. He looked at Loki to see if he was following. When he got the sign to continue, he kept going.
"I will keep you on these vitamins until your sixth month. You take one in the morning and one at night and you need to keep hydrated. It will help control the morning sickness. Now, I'm not saying you will not get some bad spells, but you will only have a few. Do you understand?" Erik said smiling at the man. He nodded eagerly. Pepper got up to get him some water to take a pill.
"And, I know this is not my place, so I won't tell. Pepper informed me that you rather not say anything until later in the pregnancy, which I respect. But when you're ready to tell your husband, I will be there. Plus, I will need to know later if you want to learn the gender." He continued, smiling rubbing a hand up and down Loki's back.
"Thank you, Erik. You are much better than any Asgardian healer. You give me a choice and you don't tell when I need you to stay quiet." Loki said pressing a kiss to his cheek. Dr. Ryan smiled and placed a little jar of Nutella that he was hiding in his bag.
"That is nice of you to say. I take what my patients want to heart. It's important to make the pregnancy the best experience ever. Now, if you excuse me, I need to get back to the office. I have another patient waiting. Have a nice day now!" He said leaving and everyone waved him off. Loki took his pill and went to sleep, but not before a spoonful of Nutella!
A/N: I have no idea about what pregnancies are like! I just went with what I thought was sensible. And about the Nutella thing. I am obsessed with that stuff! I put it on everything (waffles, muffins, bagels, etc.) I have a stash of it around my house!
And on that note, I want to thank you for reading and Reviews are always welcomed in my book :)
