Authors Note: Hey darling readers do you remember when I said there would be thorki this chapter? Well I lied. Or overshot my writing ability/tendency to want to add in as much kidfluff as possible. I promise, I swear that the next chapter is all Thorki. Brief translation: Fox

If there is one day I dread, after visiting my ex and family of course, is the first day of school. While most sane mothers are happy for the chance of dumping the things they birthed after a long holiday break with them, I despise it. My attachment to my children is stronger than the urge to throw them to the sharks. When I think of school, I think of my experiences as the kid everyone exiled and poked fun at because I couldn't fight back. Though I'm far enough away from Oslo to be recognized by tormentors, my greatest fear is that somehow my children have inherited my burden and are teased endlessly by their peers, or the children of the people I was around grow up with mine (I wasn't the only teen mother, just the one everyone hated.)

However by some odd stroke of luck, neither has happened. Fenrir, my darling fiery haired ball of energy holds my hand. Though he has been in school for only a year prior, he easily makes friends with his peers. The more unfortunate thing is that when the school season returns, I never see him. He is busy with his little friends on weekends and after school. The summer is when I snatch him back up into my arms whenever I can.

As for his brother, he walks next to me in silence. For him, being involved in sports brings him admiration from his peers. Sleipnir is a quiet boy but he gains friends just like his father; through what he does. When sports season arrives, he is active with his little group. He already shows the signs of being a great athlete through his dedication and hard work. What's not to like about that?

The place we're heading to is not too far from the library where I work. It's another little brick building with levels to it, surrounded by apple trees almost barren from the seasons. The eccentric garden surrounding the courthouse seems to come from here or at least start here. A small amount of children run and play around the bushes of by the flower beds, avoiding class until the last second. I feel Fenrir itching to join them.

"Do you both know where you are going? Did you grab your lunches?" I dare question.

"Yep."

"Yes. Can I go now?" Sleipnir groans with the onset of teenage angst.

"I suppose. Have a good day." I sigh. My how times have changed. Before I can ask for a hug, he is off into the building. Fenrir tugs to follow him though he won't get away so quickly."

"Love you, little one."

"Love you too." He stops for a brief hug, though his mind is somewhere else. I hold him a long as I dare to restrain him.

"Have a good day."

"I will." I watch him run off from me yet again.

ooo

When Sleipnir toddled with me to his first day of school, I wasn't so sure if I would be able to hold back tears. Though if I had cried, he surely would have too. My baby was growing up and leaving me. His tiny gallops he developed after his beloved horses ceased for the moment as he wrapped his thin arms around my leg. He looked up at me with huge gray eyes riddled with anxiety and concern. Tears began to form at the corners and his upper lip quivered. I'd seen that look a million times before, the barriers about to break from the onslaught of emotion.

"M-Mama, I-I don't wanna go. D-Don't go." I picked him up with my fatigued arms and cradled him. My darling raven haired boy who wanted to be a horse, how could I ever let you leave my side. Kissing the tears away and giving him the love only a mother could provide, I calmed him.

"I will always be with you no matter where you go. You are a brave boy. I will be back before you can even miss me," And with a little bit of bribery I add, "And I hear your class room has books on horses with lots and lots of pictures." He perks up and the tears stop, his lip calms, and he looks more excited. He kisses my cheek in one of his rare showings of affection before I let him down.

"O-Okay. Love you."

"Love you more. Now go to class." He looks scared again but beings galloping off towards the door I directed him to. He looks so adorable with his new shoes and backpack (though I had to beg Laufey to pay for them.) The split doesn't feel so real until I walk away. He is no longer so dependent upon me. He is growing up faster than I would have liked. Though I have lost a babe, I have more freedoms that once belonged to me pre-motherhood.

In my brief madness over the shift in power, I became pregnant once again. Another brilliant move on my part.

ooo

Fenrir's depart from my arms wasn't as painful. Though sad in its own way, I had other worries at the time. I recall Svaðilfari standing beside me as I wept silently, his hand on my swollen belly. Hel... She was developing at the time. Fenrir ran around us in excitement and only stopped to occasionally press him tiny face into my navel and whisper excited little messages to his soon-to-be-sister about all the things he was going to learn.

"I'm going to learn what comes after fifty, and why the sky is blue, and addition! I'm going to be smart like Sleipnir than when you come out of Mama I'm going to teach you so you can be smart too." Hel give him little kicks in response as if to say, "Thanks big brother." Svaðilfari smiles the way he does when he is at peace and ruffles Fen's orange fluff of hair.

"Son, detach yourself from your mother and sister. The bell is going to ring soon." He chuckles and Fenrir obeys. Though his little face scrunches up with concern.

"Mama don't cry. I'm just going to school."

"I know," I croak out and wipe my eyes. "You're just so grown up now."

"Love you, Mama."

"Love you more."

ooo

Though I had orginally planned on meeting the Principle of the school, duty calls. I will be better next week when I don't feel so empty and Astrid is more lenient on my work hours. I keep glancing at the watch some admirer gave me years ago, it keeps ticking and I see no reason not to use it. It currently says 15:30, they should be out by now. Work has been noticeably slow since school has gotten back in, the only important customer being Fandral who brought me lunch and spent his lunch hour trying to cheer me up. Though it made me feel the same about him, it surely brightened my day.

"MAMA!" And here comes the welcome wagon. Astrid looks like she is about to have a heart attack as my wild child screeches and runs around the library trying to find me. Once he catches me, he pounces in an ecstatic hug. Sleipnir calmly follows, though he wears a grin upon his face.

"How was school? Tell me everything." Fen does what he does best; talk your ear off.

"It was so cool! My teacher is Mrs. Odinson but we have to call her Frigga. She's Thor's mama and so I told her I lived next door and Thor is like my second daddy and she was so happy. She says we can work in the schools gardens this year! Oh and I met this kid named Phil and he gave me his fruit snacks. Phil's my best friend! Well best friend that isn't you or my pony!" Oh god... The first half of his little speech... I don't want to meet the woman who birthed the man I live next door to. Even more so with this second father nonsense.

"Oh wow. I will have to meet Phil some time. Sleipnir?"

"It was good. Ms. Voss* gave us apples. She seems really nice and she handed us track team papers." Oh the track team. Those thin legs his inherited from me carry him swiftly and gracefully through the season.

"Are you going to join?" As if I need to ask

"Yeah. I should train. I heard other kids talking about training all summer." He says with a deflated sigh.

"We'll get you back into shape. There's a school field you can practice on and if you ask Mr. Odinson, I'm sure he will take you jogging." He perks up just a little bit. A shy smile appears only for a second.

"Thanks Mama."

ooo

Days pass as I fall into a pattern of waking up early, showering, eating, running to school, running to work, meeting Fandral at lunch, working, going home to a smiling Odinson, retrieve my children, dinner, homework checking, cleaning, and bed. Now if Fandral hadn't mentioned at our most recent lunch together that we had a date tonight, I would have slept it off.

"Oh I'm so excited for tonight. You mentioned you live by Thor so I will pick you up around lets say 19:30." He fixes me a perfect smile. Shit. My first first date in six years and I almost forget about it.

Anyways when I arrived at my humble yellow and gray abode, Odinson trapped me before I could go inside. He pulled me into a tight hug which did not feel comfortable nor friendly. He picks me up off the ground for a moment before letting go to clasp my shoulder in a strangle hold known as his oafish affections. He smiles down at me with perfect teeth that I want to break if he ever does this again.

"The big night has finally arrived! I'm so happy for you. Go prep, I'll watch the kids." He booms with enthusiasm.

"What are you doing, Mama?" Fenrir is near us, laying on his belly while he prods a fuzzy caterpillar. Choosing my words carefully, I reply.

"I have a date tonight. And Mr. Odinson is going to watch you." Softening the blow just a little bit. Sleipnir has told me on several occasions (or should I say melt downs,) that I only belong to Svaðilfari. Fenrir believes that not only are we still together but married and just taking an "adult vacation" from each other.

"Oh... Won't daddy be mad...?"

"Fenrir, he doesn't care. Remember our talks?" We've had several, even brought them both to therapy for awhile. The delusion will not leave. Oh no. Odinson has that look on his face again. The one of he'll smash the next thing that mentions my ex.

"I'll get ready." I push past him to finally reach my house.

ooo

I have a ritual I participate in every time I go on a major date. The first step is to bathe in rose water for a good period of time or for those days when I'm lazy, rose scented bubble bath.

Next is to dress in the outfit that sets the mood for the evening. I figure tonight is an official meeting which usually calls for flirtation. But this is the romantic Robin Hood, so something past that. Nothing too nice but to say I put some effort in my appearance. Magenta failed miserably, so I go with a emerald green shirt, black jeans, and a black vest.

The final step is to spend a good five to ten minutes laying in a nice space and engaging in a self hate session. Picking out every flaw he might pick up on. Your hair is too long. You look and act like a woman. That's the only reason he likes you. Kids? Ha! He'll run for sure. He's older but he won't want to get tied down. When was the last time you got laid? A year and a half of pitiful masturbation. Wooooow what a catch. You prefer his friend anyways. Why bother? The buzzing of your phone is just him calling it off because he found himself a Jane Foster. Don't even bother looking.

I look anyway

I'm here ;)

The breaking of my self hate session is always a relief. I am my worst critic after all. I go downstairs to see my boys wrapped around a pile of flesh, gawking at the large lap top screen while sharing a large bowl of popcorn. It appears they're watching some action movie with a superhero in a metal suit, fighting evil and getting women. Typical guy movie.

"I'm leaving. I don't know when I'll be home but bed time is 21:30." Odinson tilts his massive head and looks a little shocked.

"You look sexy. I wish I was your date. Go knock him dead." He winks. Damn it. Don't you dare blush.

"Thanks, I guess. Behave boys." I bend down to slip on my shoes, effectively hiding my face. I turn and run before he can say anything more. Fandral is perched by the steps, smiling and with half lidded eyes. He's wearing a simple button down shirt and jeans. He looks as gorgeous as ever.

"Loki. Wow. You look... Great. Really great." He takes my hand once more for a kissing session. I'm surprised that he isn't quoting Shakespeare or flopping around like he loves to do.

"Thank you. So do you," He lowers my arm but still grips my palm. "No poetry today I see."

"Not yet. I have to admire your beauty first. May I kiss you?" Always the gentlemen.

"If you want to, though typically it's a parting display of affection." He smiles and leans in enough so his facial hair tickles my chin. He smells of mint and expensive cologne. He wets his lips before going in for the kill. Pressing them softly against my own and oh how they feel nice. Is that a tiny flutter? Oh of course not. He pulls away to smile again in his sly way.

"You kiss by the book."

"I knew you had it in you." He laughs and pulls me along to his impressive blue sports car. Identical to Odinson's parked next door. He holds the door open for me. He is either a gentlemen or he plays the chivalrous part to get me to spread my legs. I've seen it done by men before as a little ploy so I will keep an eye on him this evening. I slide in to the nice leather seat and get comfortable. It's a nice car. He must take care of it. No noticeable damage, no stains, not even a little bit of dirt. You can pick up on someones personality based on how they treat their car.

"We're going to this little place about a mile or two out of town." He hums as he climbs in and starts the engine. That's comforting, oh and not vague. For all I know he could keep his car clean to seduce and strangle me in the back seat.

"Is it a bar or a place to ear?" I wipe the nervousness away by fidgeting with my phone. A new text from oddly enough Thor (Oaf)

"Both." Hmm. Still vague. He turns some light music on, something light and in English. Unfortunately I skipped most of my language classes, so I had no idea what was being said. As we go in silence I open up the text message.

If u need me 2 watch the boys all night I can ;D Don't want 2 ruin all of ur fun by comin home 2 early

Oh my... Fuck you, you giant Oaf of a man you writes like a thirteen year old girl. I am not going to bed your friend. Not tonight. Not ever.

"I-Is something wrong?" Fandral voices. Apparently I've been trying to break my phone out of rage.

"It's nothing. Keep your eyes on the road please." This drive better go by fast

ooo

We drove in silence to this little shit bar in the middle of nowhere. To be honest, for a first date this place is shitty. It's small and dark, in all corners there is nothing but feeble lighting. The only other people around us is an overweight and heavily scarred bartender, a biker with his paid female consort of the evening, and a man in the farthest corner looking like he wants to drown in his beer mug. The place smells of desperation and depravity. I'm pretty sure if I go into the bathroom alone I will be raped or worse, dragged into the backroom for ritualistic torture.

Things are not looking good for Fandral already. Did I mention I have a system to navigate through first dates? Well I developed it after Sleipnir was born and I was desperate from companionship. There are a couple things I look for when I spend an evening with a man (as dirty as that sounds, I used to have evenings like that but back to what I mentioned;) intelligence, humility, kindness, compatibility, and a positive view towards children. So far from prior meetings he fits the intelligence bit, though this place does not make me feel attracted to him at all.

I stay close (as in cling) to him as he leads me to a private booth worn with age and what looks like a tiger clawed its way through it and the table. I want to go home. I have made a huge mistake.

"I know it's a little scary but this place has the best pub food in all of Norway. I would take you somewhere in town but there is nowhere to go but work."

"Well if the hepatitis and the removal of kidneys is worth fish and chips, I suppose I'm okay with staying." He laughs in his arrogant fashion. I still keep a strong grip on his hand as he sits across from me.

"You're always quick with your tongue. Very sharp, your humor. I love it," He signals over the massive bartender, who in turn hobbles over. "I'll order us the good stuff. What would you like to drink?" Oh here comes the moral decision, do I want to give in and have a drink, let the wild one out or be kind enough to decline his offer of alcoholic beverages. Decide now before the walrus huffing over our table gets angry, Loki!

"Well if it isn't Romeo. I haven't seen you here in awhile. And you brought a date." He eyes me with blue and yellow eyes. He looks wild, someone I would never want to be around.

"Nice to see you too, Njord. This is the lovely Mr. Laufeyson, my date for this evening. May we have two of the usual and a pale ale for myself." He looks to me with a smile though his eyes read lust and pride.

"May I have a white russian please." I mutter dryly. I like my drinks not too sweet and definatly not girly. I spy a look of amusement on Njord's face though.

"He's cute, Fandral. Don't ruin him. I'll have those right up." And he scuffles away. Ruin? Oh this Fandral must be a heart breaker. Tsk, tsk.

"So Loki. Tell me a little about yourself." I will give him credit. He is kind enough to let me start off. I give him the same condensed squeal as always; I'm a librarian, I'm a son of a politician, I have two brothers, I grew up in Oslo, got pregnant at sixteen, raised a kid alone, had one more, and have an ex who floats around from time to time. Short, sweet, and simple. Something easy to keep him interested and not wondering how well I suck cock after a couple drinks in my system. He actually seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say.

Njord shuffled back over with our drinks when I was done with my short history. The glass of cream, vodka, and coffee flavoring looked like it had seen better days. Oddly enough the first think I thought off before taking a sip from the narrow black straws was of Odinson's smiling mug devouring coffee like the caffeine addict he is. Here's to you, Mr. Perfect, lovingly watching my children while I get to spend my Friday night with Robin Hood and his merry band of alcoholics. I sip a little to prepare my body for the whiplash of the cheap vodka. It burns and twists in my empty guts. Oh god. I have made a huge mistake.

"So tell me, Mister Mysterious, what's your background story?" He smiles in the cutesy way while sipping from the bottled ale he ordered.

"Well I was born and raised in Elverum. I'm an only child of a single mother. My parents split before I was born," Another sip and I feel woozy. I severely hope he doesn't have Oedipus fantasies. "When I was old enough I joined the military. That is where I met Thor, Volstagg, and Hogun, my darling friends. You've obviously met Thor."

"That I have. I can't seem to escape him." I snort and mix my drink. Oh the wonders of the drink.

"Yeah he's a great guy. Pretty over protective. The army wasn't really my thing. I'm more of a lover than a fighter, unless I need to fight for love," He winks, trying to sound seductive while I laugh at him. Oh lord. Hahaha! And he's serious. "So after that I joined my friends in a business partnership and it has paid of handsomely. I love my job, I love my friends, and I love courting beauties like you, especially you." Now he's serious. People think I'm beautiful. Eh what a shock, though Thor did call me sexy. Yes, oh yes he did.

"Well thank you. Besides being a real life Robin Hood what do you do for fun?" Another sip and I'm swimming in warmth. I like this place, I like this man. Everything is great and fun.

"Hmm. I certainly don't rob the rich and give to the poor. I do like reading, working out, and going on vacations. What about you, trickster?"

"Besides playing house maid and scrapping my boys out of the mud and dirt, which is a really fun time by the way, I like reading."

"Don't you ever get sick of books?" I feel his hand under the table rest upon my knee. I hope he doesn't think he's getting lucky. I may be a tad bit drunk but I don't put out on the first date unless I really just want the guy. Sex makes things complicated. I sound so self righteous, oh look at me I don't put out on the first date, blah, blah. But hey, Fandral, buddy, pal, not tonight.

"Never." And there does my drink. Oops. I should have waited for the mystery pub garbage being produced behind closed doors.

"Do you need another?"

"No. Please don't. If you can't tell I'm pretty lush as it is. I don't take kindly to spirits and this empty stomach was a mistake." NO REGRETS! But with my luck the most sawed up and thrown together piece of meat stuffed into bread and slathered in sauces I don't want to think about, with a side of oily potatoes arrives at our table. I don't want to try it. Nope. Ew. Not going down.

"I forgot to ask if you like meat." He smiles another one of those "Oh I play the guy you can take home to your folks but really I want to fuck you dry" smiles. A euphemism. I get it!

"I do. But I'm not sure what this is." I poke at the hamburger and it hisses juices at me.

"It's cow and it's delicious." He bites into it and doesn't die. Well I guess. I haven't eaten since noon right? Yeah. Right. I pick up the thing and take one bite.

Oh. My. God. It tastes like I'm getting blown by that cute Thor I had a dream about once on a fluffy cloud while a dude with a fucking harp plays in the background. This is the greatest thing ever. Fucking Fandral, I doubted your sketchy sketch-ness but I like you and I like this place. Nothing could possibly go wrong.