A/N: I know, I know! My apologies, bbs. But happily, I wrote so much that I needed to split it into two chapters. So hopefully you'll get another update some time this weekend!
Go forth and read!
XOXO,
LaLa 3
"Ba-abe…," Tony called to Loki as he entered the master bedroom, keeping his footfalls quiet still, as he walked to his husband's side of the bed, kneeling by his sleeping form, trying to draw him from his deep slumber. "Baby…?"
Loki groaned softly but made no effort to move or even open his eyes. Tony whispered his name, but the only movement he made was to bury his face into his fluffy pillow. "Hmm…?" he hummed softly, and the rest of his body curled into itself.
Tony smiled and reached out, lightly brushing raven strands from a peaceful, resting face, pushing them over a pale bare shoulder. "Wake up…" He leaned in close, his fingertips gliding across Loki's forehead, willing those long-lashed eyelids to lift. "Babe…" Loki hummed in question and sleepily swatted at the fingers touching his face.
"Why?" he croaked out. He hummed again, happily this time, when he felt soft lips press to his forehead then his cheek, and finally, to the tip of his nose. "Mmm…?" He smacked his lips, asking for one more peck. Tony was only too willing to indulge his husband.
"I made breakfast for you."
Loki inhaled deeply and rubbed the back of his hand over his eyes, causing his hair to fall over his face again, and then shoved it back. "What time is it?"
Tony turned his head to glance at the clock on Loki's bedside table. When he looked back at Loki to answer, he had to pause, watching his husband stretch his long body in the bed, arching his back, causing the sheet covering him to fall from his torso, to pool at his waist. His mouth went completely dry. "It's…uh, just past nine."
Loki shot up in the bed, causing Tony to fall down on his butt. "Nine? The children—"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa…!" Tony sat up and ushered Loki back into the bed when he tried to get up, sitting beside him to keep him under the blankets, taking his hands in his. "Don't worry about it, babe. I got them up earlier and out of the house half an hour ago. Natasha and Clint are going to take care of them today." He lifted Loki's hands to his mouth, brushing his lips over the knuckles on both, paying special attention to the silver ring, outlined by two black strips, on his ring finger. Loki never took it off. "Happy birthday, Loki Stark." He smiled softly, looked directly into his husband's soft green eyes.
Loki's lips curved slightly at the corners, but he didn't look all that happy. His eyes drifted closed after Tony lowered his mouth to his again then peppered his face with kisses, making him laugh. "Nnh, you're very affectionate this morning, aren't you?"
Tony grinned and drew Loki up, into his arms, pressing his face into the crook of his neck, inhaling, filling his nostrils with the signature scent of his husband. "It's the anniversary of the birth of the best man I know. And he just happens to be the love of my life, too. It's my favorite day of the year."
Loki let out a soft laugh as Tony kissed his way up the side of his neck, nibbling playfully at his ear, and placed a loud smacking kiss to his cheek. He grew a little more serious when Tony drew back. His eyes dropped to their joined hands, flicking up every few words or so as he spoke. "I waited up for you after hearing you leave last night."
Tony's lips parted but Loki spoke again before he could explain.
"Where were you?"
"At work," he answered apologetically. "There was an issue with the system. No one could get out of the building. I had to go down there and manually reset the entire thing. Even Jarvis was down. It took longer than I expected it to—some bug or some shit. IT is still working on it. But I felt bad for all the security guards and janitorial staff that had to stay late, so I took them to the nearest open place and bought them all a coffee."
Loki smirked. "That sounds almost ridiculous enough to be true."
"It is!" he defended with a laugh and big smile.
It wasn't entirely true. There had been a security issue, and his people were still working on what happened, but there hadn't been a need for him to go down there and leave Sif's apartment. He had gone to her place after dinner to help her finish up the food for the surprise party later that day.
"I'm sorry you waited." Tony draped himself over Loki again, slipping his fingers through his silky black hair.
Loki seemed to relent at his touch, covering Tony's hand with his own, and turning his face into his palm. "It's fine. I spent the evening talking with Sebastian." Tony smiled and brushed his thumb over a sharp-boned cheek.
"Nice to have him home, isn't it?"
"Mmm," he nodded and nuzzled into Tony's palm. "Thank you, by the way, for telling him about my torrid past with women."
"Uh, I…" Tony stuttered, thrown off by the contrast between Loki's soft purring and the underlying accusation in his statement. "I didn't tell him everything."
Loki grinned. "You told him enough, Anthony." He took the rough hand from one side of his face, holding it between his own at his mouth. He pressed his lips to Tony's fingers than rested his cheek upon their joined hands. "At least to get his curiosity piqued. It worked out, in the end; we had a long talk about what he's been dealing with. He's a very nosy boy. He asks very probing questions. And he's entirely too intelligent for his own good. I never realized it before," he murmured with a soft frown, distracted enough that Tony could pull his hand from Loki's fingers and brush the backs of his fingers along his cheek and down the side of his neck, cupping a hand around the long, pale column.
"He's you."
Loki smiled, genuinely, and green eyes fluttered up to meet his. "I was more discreet about it. Oh, and I'd also like to thank you for leaving it to me to have the…the sex talk with him." A soft moan escaped him when Tony leaned over and pressed his mouth to his throat and flicked his tongue up the skin.
"And I'm sure you did a much better job than I would have," he said into Loki's dampened skin, adding small bites and nibbles. "What else did you talk about?"
"W-we…um…did you know he d-dropped out of Romeo and Juliet last fall?"
"Really? He didn't tell me that. Did he say why?" Tony shifted again, this time moving over Loki's legs to stretch out next to him on the bed, to bring him closer to his mouth, now nipping at his jaw.
"N-no…nnnhh…" Loki made a soft sound, encouraging Tony, tilting his head back to give his husband further access to the neglected side of his throat, and turned the upper part of his body toward him. "But…he-he's decided to…to audition for the spring…nnhh…play."
Tony's lips curved against Loki's shoulder. With the excitement of Sebastian coming home, and Loki still a little grumpy about and avoiding Natasha, the two of them hadn't been alone together like this for more than a week. He relished in the fact that, after all this time together, he could still get Loki to whine with need like he was now. And he hadn't even slipped a hand down his pants yet. Tony hadn't exactly planned to put this on the agenda for the day, but who was he to deny his husband or himself?
He continued to lap at Loki's skin, marking it with not just his lips and tongue, but with his bristly beard, drawing moans and grunts from the body starting to press firmly against him. "What play is it?" he asked huskily against Loki's ear, his lips curving because he knew Loki was too far gone to have this conversation.
As if to prove his point, fingers clenched in Tony's hair and in his t-shirt at his back. "Unnh…I…what…?"
"What play?"
Loki pushed and kicked at the sheet covering his legs, moaning softly when Tony slipped his leg between them. He moved against the denim-clad thigh, finding a satisfying friction to rub his growing erection against, which was trapped behind his thin cotton pants. He moved his hips faster, grinding harder, practically humping Tony's leg. "M-might we talk about this later?" he begged through heavy pants.
Tony's hand dropped down to Loki's ass, clamping onto it tightly and groaning roughly into his dark hair as they rutted against each other. "You want something else, birthday boy?"
Loki muffled his own cry when his ass was grabbed, his hands curling into Tony's shirt again, now at his chest. "You, mnh…I want you, Anthony. Darling…" Tony's hand slid around Loki's hip, his fingers dancing teasingly along the hard ridge of his cock before moving back to his ass.
"What? What do you want me to do to you, Loki?"
A soft breathless laugh sounded in the room as Loki threw his head back. Bringing blazing green eyes back to heated chocolate brown, Loki bit into his bottom lip, and smirked up at Tony. "Fuck me, Anthony."
Instantaneously, Tony reached between their bodies, rushing to get his jeans undone and as far down his hips as he could manage. The moment he had lifted up from Loki, the other man glanced down and followed suit, lifting his hips and shoving his pajama pants over them, managing only to release one leg. Loki gasped softly when, in his haste, Tony ripped apart the other leg of Loki's pants and tossed the pieces aside, before spitting into his hand and rubbing his wet fingers around Loki's hole, inserting one in and out a few times. With his jeans pooled around his knees, Tony positioned himself at Loki's entrance, and with a soft grunt, pushed himself into his husband, groaning with it, until he was completely sheathed inside him.
They moaned quietly in unison. Loki arched up, one hand moving to Tony's thigh beneath his instinctively, squeezing tightly, his body positively vibrating with need. "Don't…don't stop." His breath was coming fast, his short, manicured nails dug into Tony's skin, which only served to urge him on.
Tony huffed out a sharp breath, shifting to get himself in a comfortable position, and pausing only to rip off his shirt, then found his grip firmly on Loki's hips. He started to move, pumping his hips in a rhythm that had Loki's body trembling, his hands gripping the sheets so tightly his knuckles went white. Tony's pace made his knees and back ache dully, his muscles burned, but Loki's reaction, that sly smirk curving his lips; those green eyes, darkened from desire, glittering up at him with an almost mischievous glint, had the genius driving himself deeper and harder into his husband, nearly impaling him. It had been a long time since one of their unions had been this forceful.
He slid a hand up and down one long, pale thigh and calf, hooking it into the crook of knee, and lifted Loki's leg to rest over his shoulder. His tempo stuttered and broke for only a moment as he shuffled himself even closer to Loki's lifted hips, and leaned forward. His other hand clasped onto the edge of the headboard to give him some balance and he started to move again.
"Oh…! Gah…!" Loki's next words were lost amid sharp hisses and choked grunts. His head rolled aimlessly from side to side on the pillow, for he was unable to lift it, to look in his husband's eyes as he made their bodies become one, repeatedly. His other leg stretched out as far as it could go, trembling almost violently, as white-hot pleasure coursed through him.
"Babe…" Tony breathed out the endearment on an affectionate sigh, turning his face into the firm calf by his cheek, nipping with his teeth at the flesh. "No one can hear you. It's just you and me. Scream for me, baby."
"Ah! Ah…wait." Loki panted and pressed his fingers to Tony's lower abdomen.
"What?" Tony slowed to a stop and leaned back.
Loki didn't respond. He only increased the pressure to Tony's belly until he could move. He curled his legs up, removing the rag that was now his pajama pants, and twisted his body until he was on all fours. He reached behind him for Tony, finding his hip and brought him closer. "Now, Anthony. Take me now. Take me like this."
He smirked and did what was asked of him; taking himself in hand, stroking lightly, then lining himself up with Loki again. He leaned over the keening man, pulling his long raven hair out of the way, so he could latch his mouth onto the curve of neck and shoulder, and entered him. Loki hissed softly, turning his head, his face up, to meet Tony's mouth, and pressed back into him. "Mmm, like this, baby? This how you want it?" he growled against his lips.
Loki's breath was ragged, staccato, and hot against Tony's face. He couldn't speak, couldn't form any words; a short bobbing of his head his only way of communicating with his lover. All of his concentration was on the feeling of Tony inside him, moving in and out steadily, repeatedly brushing that sweet spot, sending sparks of heat shooting up his spine. But Tony's mouth, those full lips surrounded by dark graying hair, that thick pink tongue that could by itself bring him to orgasm, was right there. Teasing, taunting, tempting. He watched, his forehead pressed to his husband's sweat-damp temple and his vision beginning to go blurry, as that tongue slipped out to lick up Loki's parted lips, just touching the tip of his nose. He moaned, whined really, because his own tongue just missed making contact. Then Tony did it again, and this time, Loki was ready for it; he caught it between his teeth, careful not to chomp down on it, and drew it deeper into his mouth. His lips curved, and he brought his hand up to the back of Tony's head, when the man moaned obscenely into his mouth. Then he was being kissed roughly, as aggressively as he was being fucked, and it was all almost too much.
With two gruff cries, Loki tore his mouth from Tony's, and threw his head back, an arm flying out to find purchase on the headboard, to keep himself up. The clanging of the wood against the wall from their wild movements was just barely registering. His knees, legs, everything, was quivering, threatening to give out, as Tony pushed into him relentlessly. It had been so long since they had fucked like this, Loki wondered if his now forty-year old body could handle it.
"Fuck…babe! Babe, I'm gonna come," Tony managed through clenched teeth.
"No…not yet…"
Tony let out a short bark of a laugh and pushed up to his knees, sliding his hands down Loki's sides to rest at his hips, clenching his fingers in the soft flesh as he guided their bodies together and apart. "I can't go much long—oh, Loki…Loke…oh!"
Tony yelped when Loki shoved him, making him fall back awkwardly to the bed, and mounted him, picking up right where they left off. "I'm close, love…" he breathed out, circling his hips over Tony.
"Fuck, Loki." He gripped Loki's hips and laid back, watching as his husband moved over him, losing himself in the pleasure that flushed his entire pale body with a light pink hue and a thin sheen of sweat. Loki dropped a hand to Tony's on his hip, dragged their joined hands to his cock, moving them over his length.
"Ah, Anthony…!" Loki released Tony's hand, leaving him to stroke him to completion, and balanced himself, hands framing the arc reactor, as he moved faster and faster.
"Oh, yes…fuck yes; use me, babe," he groaned out, struggling to hold off his own release as best he could. "Scream it, baby. Yell for me!"
"Tony…! Oh…! Gods…! Yes…! Tony!"
"Shit!" A slew of curses tumbled from Tony's lips when Loki clenched around him like a vise and spilled himself over his fingers. Tony reached his climax just seconds later, pushing Loki's hips down and holding him there as he shot himself hard and fast up inside his husband.
Loki fell forward, mouth latching onto Tony's as his hips moved in circles over Tony's cock as he rode out his tear-inducing orgasm, his body spasming until he simply collapsed against the genius.
Equally spent, Tony's arms dropped down to the mattress, breath coming in loud, heavy pants. They laid there for some time; the only sound their eventual slowing breaths. Tony, spread-eagled, jeans crumpled and bunched around his calves; and Loki, in a heap of pale flesh and bones on top of him.
Weakly, and with a great deal of effort, Tony raised his hand, placing it on Loki's back, sliding it up and down the still damp skin. "Babe…?" His hand paused. He could feel Loki's heart still racing rapidly, his muscles twitching with each beat, and waited for a response.
"…Nnh?"
"You okay?"
Loki groaned and slowly unfolded himself, rolling onto his back, and continued to roll until he could bury his face in his arms. "No…," he mumbled, before turning his head just enough to be able to breathe. "I believe you have broken me."
Tony chuckled and did his best to kick off his jeans without having to actually sit up and remove them. Once his legs were free, he rolled onto his side, reaching out to clear Loki's dark hair from blocking his face. "Is that a bad thing?"
One side of Loki's pale red lips lifted and he just barely cracked open his eyes. "Not in the least, darling."
A smug smile curved Tony's mouth as he leaned in to rub his lips over Loki's. "…You hungry?" he asked before brushing his lips over his jaw.
Loki's eyes rolled close and he hummed softly. "Mnh…yes, but I cannot move right now."
"That's okay. I'll bring it to you." Tony moved to roll away again, pausing when his wrist was caught in long fingers. He looked back at the sleepy green eyes peeking up at him.
"Thank you."
Tony grinned and bent to press a light peck to the tip of Loki's nose. "What kind of husband would I be if I didn't spoil my man on his birthday?" Loki's gaze fell, and for a moment, Tony wondered if he had said something wrong.
"I'm sorry…"
He frowned, absently toying with Loki's fingers. "For what…?"
Loki remained quiet for a moment. "I know I've not been very pleasant to live with these last few weeks."
Tony made himself more comfortable again, taking Loki's hand firmly in his. "You haven't been so bad. Plus, I know it wasn't anything I did—well. At least, I hope it wasn't me. Or the kids, so…"
Loki's eyes flickered up to his, his lips pressed together. "It was something…something Natasha said." His eyes fell again, to their joined hands, where he tightened his grip. He went quiet for a beat, concentrating on Tony's hand like it was the most important thing in the world. "And I wasn't very kind to her. Yet, she still takes care of our children when asked."
Tony's brows drew together. He wasn't sure if he should interject with a question, or just let Loki continue to slightly ramble. Luckily, Loki decided for him.
"Something she said has been on my mind since she said it."
A spark of irritation made Tony's eyes narrow for a brief moment. Why had he waited so long to tell him? "What did she say?" he asked in a calm, almost soothing voice that belied his true feelings.
"She said…" Loki cut himself off and lifted his gaze once more. "Do you think Sebastian remembers that day?"
A chill crept over Tony's skin, his fingers tensed around Loki's. He didn't need any clarification as to what day Loki was speaking of. "No," he answered slowly. "Why?"
"I…" Loki lowered his lashes again, so Tony was unable to look into his eyes. Eventually, he simply shook his head. "It's nothing."
"It's not 'nothing,' Loki. Why would you ask me that?" He nudged Loki's cheek, pressed against his arm with his knuckles, forcing him to meet Tony's gaze. He grinned half-heartedly, his lashes fluttering as Tony rubbed the backs of his fingers against his soft skin.
"Let us talk later. I don't want to speak of it now."
"Loki."
"I promise; we will." He cupped Tony's cheek with his free hand. "But now is not the time for it." He smiled and reached for Tony, pulling him closer, and scratching his fingers along his bearded cheek. He made a disappointed sound when Tony grabbed his wrist and pulled his face from his grasp.
"Loki—"
"Anthony, please?" He pleaded, with both words and eyes. "I may not be very happy about the incredibly large number that is now my age, but it is still my birthday." Ignoring Tony's hard look, he snuggled into the man, sighing at his warmth. "What have you planned for me today?"
Tony knew it was pointless to argue. And he didn't want to end up pissing off either himself or Loki, or both of them, and ruin his surprise party later, so he reluctantly let the subject slide. His arms automatically went around Loki's slim frame when he burrowed into him, his lips curving at the connection. "Nothing," he answered softly.
"Nothing…?" Loki jerked back to look up at him and Tony nodded.
"We're picking up the kids at six and going to dinner, but other than that…" He tried to keep his smile from spreading too wide so as not to give anything away. It must have passed Loki's bullshit meter; the younger man smiled softly at him.
"Where are we having dinner?"
He chuckled because he hadn't thought of an answer. "Don't worry." He brushed his thumb over Loki's cheek, his eyes roaming over the face of the man with whom he had spent more than half of his life. There may have been a few more wrinkles around the bright green eyes and across the broad forehead, and maybe outlining those pale red lips; and yes, there were more than a few gray strands peeking out here and there amid the ebony of Loki's hair. But when Tony looked at Loki, he still saw that sexy, skinny nineteen year-old with a snarky attitude, with whom he fell in love so many years ago. "It'll be nice enough to celebrate your birthday, but casual enough that our little hoodlums won't embarrass us—much."
"Hmm…and what will be my meal choices?"
Tony snickered, tickled at the question. "You can have your choice of steak or pasta, or both." His brows bobbed up and down suggestively. "You're gonna need your strength for tonight."
Loki's tongue poked out to run across his upper lip and he glanced over his shoulder at the clock on his nightstand. "I've eight hours of freedom from our so-called hoodlums and you all to myself; so why should I wait for tonight?" Tony's smile was slow and seductive. Their lower halves brushed together as he pressed their bodies together and he felt Loki's half-hard cock twitch against his own hardening length. "Mmm…" Loki lifted his face, nuzzling his nose to Tony's chin, and puckered his lips, silently requesting a kiss. Tony happily obliged.
"Hey. I thought you were hungry," he murmured against Loki's wet lips, moaning brokenly when Loki's tongue glided along his, and his bottom lip was sucked on.
"I am." His hips bucked up and he started a slow, wet trail down Tony's throat, stopping and concentrating on one spot on his collarbone, leaving a darkened spot.
"Mmnnnhh…yeah, for what? Me?" Tony pushed himself up, allowing Loki to reach more of his neck, and subsequently, ground himself into his husband.
"Ahhn…yes, perhaps…" Loki widened his legs, rubbing a soft thigh along Tony's firmer one, and slid both hands down to grip onto a pert bottom.
Tony grinned. "Am I your present?"
Loki hummed a soft laugh. "Will you let me unwrap you, husband?"
"Mnf…" Tony moaned, his lower half moving against Loki, shivering at the friction they were creating again. "You've had me unwrapped for years, Loki." He lowered his mouth to Loki's again, cutting off the triumph laugh, kissing him lazily and wetly. His slid an arm beneath Loki, rolling them until Loki was laying over him.
Loki chuckled, planting his hands on the mattress on either side of Tony's head. "You enjoy me atop you, don't you, Anthony?" He bit into his bottom lip and ground himself into Tony.
Tony gasped softly, hardening almost instantly, gripping Loki's hips. "Oh…yes. But that's not why I put you on top." His hands slid up Loki's back, dragging his nails back down, making Loki arch and purr, like a cat being scratched. The genius' capable hands continued down, pushing Loki's thighs together and spreading his own to accommodate him. He got the reaction he wanted.
Loki cocked a brow and pushed into him again, with a soft, growling grunt. "Ooh…does my love feel like being on the receiving end this time around?" He leaned down, kissing Tony softly before he could respond, coaxing his lips apart slowly. By the time he pulled away, Tony was putty in his hands.
He tried to speak, to say Loki's name as the man ducked out of his view, but all words, all thoughts; everything was lost in a dizzying haze when Loki rubbed a thumb over the sensitive tip of his cock, applying pressure to the slit. Tony's whole body twitched, and the noise he made was incredibly embarrassing, when he felt Loki's tongue drag infuriatingly slow from between his cheeks and up to his perineum.
"Loki…" he whined through his teeth. He would totally berate himself later for actually whining, like a bitch in heat.
"Patience, my love," Loki breathed against the back of Tony's thigh. Tony began to pant, loudly, as Loki's finger penetrated him, his hands clenching into the mussed sheets.
"I…Loki. I want you inside me. Now."
Loki rose above him again, his fingers still working to prepare him, his lips hovering over his. "You are my birthday present, Anthony. And I plan to unwrap you very slowly."
The first thing Loki noticed when they pulled up to Natasha and Clint's house was that both of their cars were in the driveway. It was odd because the driveway was usually kept clear for the kids to play their various activities in, since they lived on a fairly quiet street that rarely had a lot of cars passing through. The second thing he noticed was how quiet it was. And he said as much to Tony when his husband joined him on the sidewalk.
"What do you mean it's too quiet?"
Loki cocked a brow. "They have a houseful of kids, ages twelve to six months. It is never this tranquil, even when our kids are not there."
Tony just shook his head and laced his fingers with Loki's. "You're crazy. They're probably in the backyard or something. Come on." Loki followed Tony up the winding concrete path to the stone porch, and tugged on his husband's hand before he could reach for the knob of the screen door. "What?"
"Nothing..." Loki bit into his lip, pulling Tony closer so he could slide his arms around his neck. "I just wanted to thank you for today."
Loki leaned into Tony when he let his hands rest at Loki's waistline, inside the new black leather jacket that he had gifted him with—after they had eventually untangled themselves from each other. It was probably a mistake; Tony said the jacket reminded him of the one Loki was wearing the first time they met at that Student Mixer, and therefore, turned him on beyond control. But, sadly, that was for later. Loki placed a soft kiss on his lips, feeling his husband's lips curve as he did.
"You're welcome, babe. It's not like I didn't have fun too."
"I know." He leaned in for another, longer kiss. "Let's make dinner short, hmm? I am anxious to get you home and in bed again."
"Babe," he started in a playfully warning tone. "Be fair. Don't get me wrong; I'll totally pound you into the mattress later if you want—or let you pound me. Whatever; it's your birthday. But the kids will want to spend their evening with you, too."
Loki pouted his lips, only half unhappy. "All right," he relented. "Just don't expect to sleep much tonight." He smiled and stole another kiss.
"Mm…I was hoping you'd say that," he responded huskily, bringing Loki down for yet another kiss.
"Anthony." He laughed against Tony's lips. "Do you want your children to find us this way; making out like a pair of hormonal teenagers on their aunt and uncle's front porch?"
"Considering I feel like a hormonal teenager…?"
Loki laughed again, as Tony pulled away to ring the doorbell. He paused, frowned, and chuckled. "Since when do we ring the doorbell?" He moved past his husband and pulled open the screen door before pushing open the heavier inside door. He heard Tony's quiet laugh, ignoring him, and stepped inside, frowning more at the quiet and darkness of the house. "Hello?"
Loki had barely reached the staircase at the end of the entryway when he got the fright of his life.
Suddenly, and from out of nowhere, people jumped up and out, shouting "Surprise!" in unison. And three bodies barreled into him at once. Lights came up and noisemakers were blown into. He laughed and realized it was his children who had run to him, the three of them wrapped around him, Audrey clinging tightly to his right leg. He turned to look at Tony, who was smiling with the smugness of a mission accomplished.
"Happy birthday, babe."
Loki could feel his face growing warm, his eyes stinging a little, especially when he glanced around the room and spotted his brother, his mother, and even Steve and Peggy. He cupped each of his children's faces, Audrey the only one that still allowed him to kiss her cheeks, and braced himself for the people lining up to greet him and give them their wishes. He heard Tony behind him, joking with kids before chasing them away, and greeting their friends after they had finished with Loki. Tony, not surprisingly, disappeared from the receiving line after his old mentor Dr. Bruce Banner passed through.
Steve gave him a hearty handshake and Peggy, beautiful as always, a tight embrace. Jane had barely placed a kiss on his cheek before she was running off after Erik, to make sure he ate or didn't break anything valuable. Loki smiled softly, fondly, as Thor stepped up to him then groaned when the blond grabbed him up in a tight hug.
"Thor! Stop it!" He wobbled a little after Thor set him down. "You know, you didn't have to come all this way."
"And miss my little brother turning forty? Oh, that right there!" He aimed a thick finger at Loki's dark face. "That little pout is exactly what I wanted to see." He chuckled and clapped a hand over Loki's shoulder. "I would not have missed your fortieth birthday for anything in the world, brother."
"Thank you," he responded begrudgingly. "But you can leave out the number. You're still older than me."
Thor, in his usual way, simply laughed. "'Tis just a number, brother! You're just catching up to Tony and me. And, look at you!" He cupped Loki's face between his hands, purposely squeezing his cheeks together. "You don't look a day over twenty..." He dipped his head. "…Plus twenty."
"Knulle deg." His words were jumbled between his squished lips. Thor dropped his hands and spun around at a soft gasp.
"Do you kiss my grandchildren with that mouth?"
Loki glared at Thor, working his jaw, before opening his arms to Frigga for a hug. "Yes. But not when I'm saying those words."
Frigga chuckled. "Happy birthday, my love."
Thor laughed at Loki's face and patted his back, inadvertently shoving him into Frigga. "We shall speak later, brother. I must find Tony."
Loki watched him wander off with a faint smile that brightened when he looked down at his mother. He squeezed her shoulders, still a little surprised at the wrinkles that fanned out around her eyes. She was still beautiful; one of the most beautiful women he had ever known, but something in him ached knowing she was in her twilight years and he didn't know how many years he had left with her. "You didn't have to leave the store, you know."
"And miss this?" She cupped his face between soft, slightly wrinkled hands. "I cannot believe that beautiful little green-eyed boy I took home over thirty years ago has turned forty today."
Loki blushed at the "beautiful little green-eyed boy" and gritted his teeth at yet another mention of his age. "Mother…"
Frigga dropped her hands to his, holding onto them tightly. "You let me fuss. You're still my baby."
Loki grinned softly, his heart melting at that, and perked up at a thought. "Has Sif spoken to you?"
She lifted her brows. "Well, we have spoken since I arrived, but was there something specific she was to tell me?"
His green eyes flicked up as Frigga spoke, searching for Sif. When he spotted her, he aimed a finger at Frigga and mouthed a silent, "Did you tell her?" Sif shook her head and motioned for him to do it. Loki took both of Frigga's hand again. "You're going to be a grandmother again."
Frigga's jaw dropped and she let out a short, delighted laugh. "Really?" Loki nodded and Frigga spun around, keeping a hold on one of Loki's hands, to look for Sif and beckoned her over. "Darling, that's wonderful to hear! Is it you or Tony?"
"Anthony." Loki's eyes grew wide when Frigga squealed and clasped a hand around her necklace, a gold chain with the birthstones of her six grandchildren dangling in order of birth from it, that Thor and Loki had given her for Mother's Day after Audrey was born.
Sif came sliding up to Loki, slipping an arm around his waist. "Happy birthday, love."
"Thank you, darling," he said, kissing her temple.
"You, come here!" Frigga held open her arms for Sif, pressing a light kiss to each of her cheeks and giving her shoulders quick squeeze. "Oh, bless you, darling, for doing this again. Have you gone in already?"
Sif nodded. "Yes. Just waiting now, but I'm already feeling some symptoms." They all looked toward the backyard when a shout of "Gamma!" was heard. Loki grinned because the only one who called Frigga that was Audrey.
"Let us talk more later, my dears. I made my little Audrey promise to tell me all about school." She absently blew them a kiss and made her way to Audrey.
Sif promptly turned to Loki. "So, birthday boy, how do you feel? Do you feel like an old man? Because you are an old man now?"
Loki fixed her with a very blank stare. "Be quiet, Siflena. Ow," he jerked away when she pinched his side. "Stop it." She laughed and dropped her hands from him.
"Is the Stark household back to order now that Bash is back?"
"Yes," he nodded and smiled. "It's been very nice to have him close again. Thank you for being so helpful and backing us up."
"It takes a village, Loki."
He laughed softly then settled an arm around her shoulders. "How are you feeling, really?"
She groaned, placing her hands over her abdomen. "Bloated and fat and swollen. So, good, yes?" she said with another laugh. Loki laid a sympathetic hand against her cheek.
"If I could ease your aches, you know I would."
Sif patted his hand then removed it. "I know. I felt awful last night, but thankfully, Tony was a good sport about helping me." Loki went still then angled his head toward her.
"Helping you with…?"
"The food," she answered as if he knew. Loki felt a mixture of embarrassment and indignation at the realization of Tony's lie, but smiled down at Sif anyway.
"Right. Of course, the food," he mumbled.
Sif glanced around. "Hey, where is he? I need to talk to him."
Loki was lost in thought, concerned now about what other lies Tony may have told him, and slightly distracted, answered, "He's in the other room, probably talking shop with Dr. Banner. Thor wanted to speak to him as well, I think."
"Okay." She leaned up to kiss his cheek. "Happy birthday again, darling. Enjoy yourself. And…go talk to Natasha," she said, nudging him with her elbow. He eyed her intently. "She didn't tell me everything, but she gave me the gist of it. For the record, I think you both owe each other an apology."
"Sif…"
"Gotta run, bye!"
Loki watched her, contemplating what to do first: confront Tony about his lies or find Natasha and fix things between them. He spotted Clint, handing out a few beers to some friends from one hand, and holding baby Xander on his hip. Another thought came to him, and he smirked to himself as he headed straight for his former roommate.
"Tony!" Thor bellowed, as he left his brother and mother, and joined Tony and Bash in the living room, just as Bruce was leaving to find a drink. Tony winced, turning from the video game he was playing with Bash to make a face at Thor.
"Thor, I'm right here, man. You don't have to yell."
"Dad...!" Bash shrieked, nudging him with his hand and knee to get his attention back on the game.
"I'm sorry!" Tony shouted, overly excited, as he returned his attention to the video game. Thor chuckled, lowered himself to sit on the armrest next to Tony, eyeing the television, displaying a Super Mario game Tony and Bash were teamed together against Matty and Rowan.
"Bah!" Matty shouted throwing up his arms, mimicking his father almost to a T. "No fair! Uncle Tony probably played this game in its beta version!"
"Hey!" Tony shouted back in protest as Thor laughed loudly and aimed a 'thumbs up' sign at his son. "Shut it, Odinson. Go, Bash, there! There—!"
"I got it! I got it!"
Thor watched them play for a bit, allowing them to nearly complete their match. "Tony, I have need to speak with you."
"Gimme a sec. Oh, shh…sugar!" All the boys were shouting to each other, moving with the characters on the screen, and nearly causing a ruckus.
"Tony," Thor said again. Tony's head whipped around to glance at his brother-in-law, causing his player to crash and die. He groaned loudly, along with Sebastian, and he looked up at Thor, holding out his arms, in a clear What the fuck? gesture. "Apologies, my friend," he said with a sweet smile. They both turned their heads when Matty and Rowan cheered loudly, high-fiving each other.
"Sorry, Bash." Matt smiled at his cousin, with a smug grin. Sebastian scowled at tossed his controller to the table before him.
"I hate this game."
"Hey." Tony bumped his elbow to Sebastian's arm. "Show some respect; that's not your stuff." Sebastian rolled his eyes and nodded. "Anyway, how come you're not with Anna?" he asked in a low tone, but apparently not low enough. Sebastian's soft green eyes travelled to Matty and Rowan, staring up at him with interest, then up to Thor before he finally looked at Tony.
"Um, she's…she's mad at me," he muttered under his breath, jerking his head to shift his hair from his face. It didn't move very far.
"Why? What'd you do?"
The young boy nibbled on his bottom lip. "I told her about that thing that happened…" Tony frowned. "At school…" Sebastian scoffed when Tony only shook his head. "With that boy," he said between his teeth.
"Oh! Wait, why is she mad?" Sebastian folded his lips in.
"Because she wasn't his first kiss," Matt answered for him on a teasing laugh. Sebastian's face darkened as he glared at his older cousin.
"Matthew," Thor said in warning. The boy flushed red and went quiet.
"Shut up, Matty. At least I've kissed somebody!" Tony tried to interject but was drowned out.
"I never said I haven't kissed anybody!"
"Oh?" Thor decided to play devil's advocate, and hopefully, bring the tension in the room down. "And just who have you been kissing, my boy?"
Matty's blue eyes went wide and his cheeks grew even redder. "N…uh…" He looked at Sebastian then back to his father. "Nobody," he mumbled, lowering his head.
"See? I told you!"
"Hey, knock it off, both of you! This is not a competition. Jazz! Get over here!" Tony shouted out as he stood and moved from his spot on the sofa next to Bash. "And even if it was, I would have all of you beat." Sebastian scoffed loudly, but smiled up at his dad.
"What about my dad?"
Tony snickered at Matty's question and aimed a thumb at Thor. "Who? Him? Please. He was whipped before he knew what hit him."
"And gladly so, I'll have you know," Thor replied genially. "There were no other girls once I met your mother, son."
"Whipped," Tony muttered from behind his hand. He stumbled forward when Jazz came zooming into the room and straight into him.
"Dad, did you call me?" Tony handed him the controller he still held then ruffle his spiky brown hair. Poor kid was stuck with his height and his hair, Tony thought, but at least he had his intellect.
"Here, take my place."
"Aw, dad, come on," Sebastian protested, sitting up straighter. "He can't play!"
"Hey," Jazz said back before sticking his tongue out at Sebastian, who simply rolled his eyes and turned away.
"Blame your uncle!" Tony lead Thor outside to the front porch, leaving behind the boys as they started to argue amongst themselves. "So, what's up, man?"
Thor crossed his arms over his chest and Tony was glad he was no longer intimidated by the giant blond. "I had a meeting with Agent Coulson this past week."
"I'm sorry." He laughed harder than he meant to at the un-amused look on Thor's face. "Okay, okay. Aside from my opinions about the company you keep, what about your meeting? Is he itching to come out here and raid my lab?"
Thor sighed through his nose, seemingly trying to hold on to his temper. "Tony, are you aware that, despite your moving to California some years ago, S.H.I.E.L.D. still keeps light tabs on you?"
"Light," he scoffed quietly. "Yeah, of course I knew that. I am still a consultant with them, you know. Why?"
The former senator shifted a little, sighing softly. "I have been tasked with asking you what it is you are working on."
Tony's smile vanished, his head cocked to the side. He didn't think about that during all this stupid business with this stupid woman. He was so busy trying to keep it from Loki, he hadn't even thought about S.H.I.E.L.D. tracking his stuff. All he could think to say was, "What?"
Thor's lips curved in a faint smile as his brows lifted. "Director Fury has requested a full report from you." Tony noted how apologetic he sounded and sighed, reminding himself that Thor was only the messenger.
"There's nothing to report on." Thor started to speak, but Tony waved a hand to cut him off. "I will call Fury myself and explain. It's just some extra security precautions on the house and kids. I'm just testing out some new prototypes, that's it."
Thor, who had leaned back against the house as they spoke, straightened immediately. "For what are security precautions needed? Has something happened? Is everything all right with the children?"
Tony pushed his hands at him, gesturing for him to calm down. "Relax, big guy. Everyone's fine. It's just, just some stuff I'm testing out before I send it off to S.H.I.E.L.D." Shit, he thought. Now he had to draw up schematics and come up with more security-type items to fool the top-secret government agency. This lying thing was getting away from him.
"Are you sure?" Thor asked, concern written all over his face. Tony glanced toward the door when his name was called, but quickly returned his attention to his overly worried brother-in-law, laying a hand on his massive arm.
"Positive." He grinned. "We're fine."
"Tony." He spun around as Sif popped out from inside the house. "Oh. Sorry. Looks like I'm interrupting something important."
Tony looked to Thor. "I don't know. Are there any other messages?" The blond sighed again, clearly not all that appeased with Tony's answers.
"No. But you would tell me, yes, Tony; if anything was wrong?"
No. "Absolutely, Thor, but, seriously, everything is peachy keen, okay? Relax. It's a party. Go bug Loki about turning forty. And grab a beer." He chuckled, listening to Tony and letting the tension in his shoulders ease a little.
"Aye, that does sound like a good plan. Would you care for one?"
"Nah, I want to be sober for later." He rolled his eyes when Sif and Thor both sent him questioning looks. "Tonight, when I'm alone with my husband," he explained. Sif scoffed and Thor laughed uncomfortably.
"And you, dear Sif? Would you care for a cold beer?"
"Oh. Um…" Sif's smile spread as she looked at Tony. He grinned back and motioned for her to continue. She turned that wide smile on Thor. "I can't partake." She patted her belly with both hands. Thor's bright blue eyes dropped to her hands and he gasped as he looked between the two of them.
"Am I to be an uncle again?"
Tony slid his arm around Sif's waist—because, damn it, she was wearing heels and he couldn't reach her shoulders—and she shrugged, leaning into him. "It seems likely."
"Wonderful! I'm happy for you both. I must congratulate my brother." He reached for Sif, grabbing her up in a tight hug, lifting her off of her feet before doing the same to Tony, planting a loud kiss to his cheek.
"Aw, god—Thor! Get off me!" Tony kicked and struggled against the brick wall of a man, shoving him back when he was on solid ground again. Thor's laughed echoed as he headed back into the house. Tony swiped a hand over his cheek, making a disgusted noise, but smiling as he leaned against a beam, and faced Sif. "How are you feeling, hon?"
"Like your evil spawn is eating my insides for dinner," she deadpanned.
Tony laughed heartily and they spoke briefly of when Sif's next appointment was. They were interrupted when Ana came tearing out of the house, the wrought iron screen door making a loud clang as she threw it open. Sebastian was close behind.
"Ana! Wait!"
The tiny redhead whirled around, yelling into Sebastian's face, "I did!" She spotted Tony and Sif and turned a bright shade of purple. Confused, Sebastian turned to follow her gaze and he turned a dark red.
"Dad! Mama! Can we get some privacy please?"
Tony made a point of looking around the front yard, doing his best not to blatantly laugh in Sebastian's face. He placed a hand at Sif's back, urging her toward the door. "Fine, but try not to kill each other out here, okay? Take it to the backyard."
"What was that about?" Sif asked, once they were inside.
"Uh…apparently, she's mad because she wasn't Bash's first kiss."
"Yes, she was. When they were—oh, gods, three or four? Right before we left to go back to London, after Loki moved back to New York. She just walked right up to him and laid one on his lips. It was adorable."
He looked toward the door, hearing the two preteens yelling at each other, laughing because it looked like Loki and Natasha arguing. "Well. Let's not interrupt their lover's quarrel with that bit of information."
"Speaking of information…" Tony looked at Sif as her hazel eyes darted around the entryway. "Come with me for a moment." She crooked a finger at him then took his hand, dragging him into the hall before he could ask why. She pulled him into the nearest room, the one that was once Loki's room, then Rowan's, and now Natasha's home office.
"Whoa. Jeez, Sif, why didn't you just grab me by the hair and drag me in here? And why are you so freakishly strong?"
"Would you mind telling me what the hell this is?" Sif held a small item between her thumb and forefinger up to Tony's face. Tony jerked back, frowning at her hand before taking the object in his own hand.
"GPS chip. Why?"
Sif's hands fell to her waist and Tony had to fight back a smile. She was so cute when she turned on the mother look. "What the hell was that doing in my son's backpack?"
Getting sloppy, Stark. "Ah. Well. There is a perfectly good explanation for that." She snatched the chip back from him and cocked her brows. What did I tell Loki again? He shrugged, nonchalantly, before answering just as casually, "It's for S.H.I.E.L.D. I'm just testing some new stuff out."
She didn't seem to be buying it. Her arms crossed under her breasts and she shot him that quintessential 'Mom' look; the one that said, I know you're lying, but I'm going to let you think I don't, until it's convenient for me to throw it in your lying face. Not that Maria ever gave him that look. But Howie totally had it nailed. "On my child…?"
"Relax; Jazz and Audi have them, too. I needed to see how good it works on distance and movement. You know how clumsy those S.H.I.E.L.D. agents can be." She stared at him a little longer, unmoving, and a small part of him wondered if she was going to totally call bullshit.
"For S.H.I.E.L.D….?" He nodded. "Does Loki know about this?"
"Of course, yeah," he scoffed softly. "You think I could get that past him?"
Sif sighed and stuffed the chip back in her pocket. "Are you sure there isn't anything else going on?"
Shit, almost got away with it. "Positive." She eyed him shrewdly again. Damn, those hazel eyes were piercing. His daughter, who had the exact same colored eyes, was going to be a ball-buster when she grew up. Think, Stark, think. "Where's Sian?"
Mentally, he pumped a fist in victory when Sif's face softened at the mention of her girlfriend. "She'll be back in a bit. I can't drink any of the crap here, so she went to the store to get me some ginger ale."
"Are things cool now? Is she…okay with everything?"
Sif shrugged, the light dimming from her eyes a little. "I think she's accepted it. She's not angry anymore, really, but she's still struggling with understanding why, if I'm going to have a baby, it cannot be ours, hers and mine."
Tony's brows lowered. "I didn't know she wanted kids."
"Neither did I!" She laughed at her own outburst and Tony smiled. "I don't know. Maybe in a year, if we're still together…I'm still young enough, right?"
Tony cupped her cheek, pouting playfully, and drew her close to give her a quick hug. "Hey, women are having babies into their late forties these days. You're only thirty-five; you've got plenty of time. And you know Loki or I would be happy to help you out." He grinned and winked and she scoffed, shoving him back.
The door to the room pushed open and Clint ushered in a couple that Tony recognized from the few school events he had been able to attend, but for the life of him, couldn't remember their names.
"This is Tasha's office, but—oh. Hey, guys. Did we interrupt?"
"No, we were just talking," Tony answered. He waved and smiled at the couple, who smiled politely back, and immediately he remembered them as a couple Loki didn't like. They weren't very polite to him and they had a son that wasn't very nice to Jazz. Clint quickly explained how they had changed the room's décor several times then ushered them back toward the door.
"Talk it over, get back to us," he said before returning to Tony and Sif after the couple were gone. "Are we having a secret meeting or something?"
Tony rolled his eyes. "There you go thinking you're a super secret spy again. What's going on?" He jutted his chin toward the door.
"We might be selling the place," the avian mechanic explained, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Fourth kid on the way, we don't really have enough room, so we're looking for a bigger house."
"Ah, shit," Tony muttered, rubbing his hand over the back of his neck. "We might need to start looking for a bigger place, too."
"Why?"
Tony and Sif turned to each other at the same time. She smiled and looked back at Clint. "It's highly likely that I'm having another one of Tony's devils." She giggled when he smacked a hand to her bare arm.
"Really…? That's awesome! You and Natasha pregnant at the same time," he said, excited at first, before frowning. "Great; it'll be a repeat of Ana and Bash."
Sif laughed and Tony shook his head. "Natasha didn't tell you?"
Clint made a small face. "If Loki told her about it, no; she's been really tight-lipped about him recently. Do you even know what happened between them? She just came home in a rage that day. And any time any of us brought up Loki, she got that crazy, 'I'm going to kill you with my bare hands' look."
Tony snickered and shrugged. "He wouldn't talk about it either. And he got a pretty creepy villain-y look about him, too, when she was mentioned." They both looked at Sif, who innocently looked away. Tony flicked his eyes toward Clint, who narrowed his sharp blue eyes at the woman.
"You know, don't you?
"Nope."
"Liar," Tony accused.
"Yep," she replied, smiling charmingly at him. "Ask them both later tonight. Maybe they'll be more willing to talk."
Tony clucked his tongue. "No way, man; my mouth will be otherwise occupied."
"Je-sus," Sif moaned and headed for the door.
Clint covered his face with a soft groan. "Why do you always have to take it there? Like it wasn't enough for me to see all of it twenty years ago?"
Tony laughed and followed them both out of the room. "Do yo really expect anything less from me, Barton?"
"Yeah, decency," he answered, glowering at Tony.
"You're in for a heartbreak, kid." He reached out to clamp a hand on Clint's shoulder, but the one-time archer skittered away before he could.
"Don't touch me! I don't know where your hands have been."
Tony laughed again, a hard belly laugh, which he quickly cut off when Loki approached. "Hi, babe—hey. What the…Loki!"
Loki said nothing, only curled his fingers in the crook of Tony's elbow and began to haul him down the hallway, ignoring Tony's resistance. At the end of the hall, he pushed open a door and shoved Tony inside, following him in, and slammed the door behind him.
"May I hold my nephew?"
Clint cocked a brow at Loki and scoffed a little when Xander started leaning toward him, his little fingers curling at him. "Yeah, sure. And happy birthday, man."
Loki slipped his hands under Xander's arms, brushing his lips over the baby's chubby cheek as he settled him against his chest. He smelled of soap and baby powder and Loki's heart couldn't help but flutter at the thought of getting to experience a newborn all over again soon. "Thank you. And thank you also for offering your home for the party."
In his usual casual way, Clint simply shrugged. "Come on, Loke. It's you." Loki's eyes softened a little as he looked from Xander to Clint. He grinned at his old friend, pulling a clump of his hair from Xander's fingers before the six month old could put it in his mouth. Clint shrugged again. "She's not the only one who calls you best friend."
"Why, Barton, are you getting sentimental in your old age?"
Clint laughed, making Loki smile because he so rarely did so, and he reached up to cover Xander's ears. "Fuck you. I'm only a year older than you." He dropped his hands, stepping back when Xander began to fuss, flailing at his father's hands. Loki chuckled and let his gaze wander, searching for a head of dark red hair. Spotting her in the kitchen, he sighed.
"How long had you known about the party?"
Clint turned to look at what he was looking at. "Just after Christmas."
"Damn." He jolted a little when Clint grabbed his shoulders, turned him toward the kitchen, and gave him a light shove. He smiled his thanks and approached quietly. Natasha hadn't seen him yet, busy getting the plastic utensils ready for everyone to start eating soon. He lifted Xander from his side, holding the baby up in front of his face, waiting for Natasha to notice him. He heard her gasp when she did and smiled hopefully at her frown, peeking from behind the baby.
"Hello, friend."
"Hello," she said stiffly, turning away again.
"Natasha…"
"Sneaky, using my kid like that."
Loki chuckled, making a silly face at Xander as he turned him around again. "Not really. I was only hoping to keep you from ramming your fist into my jaw." She turned her head, setting those mossy green eyes on his.
"You think you holding him would stop me?" She shifted, facing him more, planting a hand at her hip. "I could deck you and grab my kid before you hit the ground."
Loki's lips parted in shock as she went back to separating the spoons, forks, and knives. He chuckled softly, relaxing a little. "Frankly, I don't doubt that for a moment. Must we go through the rigmarole of a heart to heart conversation and weepy apologies? Could we not skip to being friends again?"
Natasha stopped and faced him once more. "Loki, you've known me how long now? Have I ever done the weepy girl thing?"
"There is a first time for everything." A slim black brow cocked, pale red lips curved, and one long arm stretched out toward her. He saw those big, green eyes glisten just a touch before she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him. Loki cupped a hand in her hair and pressed his lips to the crown of her head. They only broke apart when Xander shrieked at being caught in the middle and tried to kick out his legs. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Alexander."
Natasha pulled back, sniffling a little. "Don't act like you don't like to snuggle, mister," she said, digging her fingers into her son's belly, making him giggle and squirm. Loki cupped her cheek, drawing her gaze up to his.
"How are you feeling, darling?" He glanced down at the small bump, peeking out from under her loose sweater.
"Not bad," she answered, stepping back so he had to drop his hand. "Morning sickness didn't last too long. I'm craving a lot of BBQ though, which is very weird." Loki nodded, rocking Xander a little when he started to fuss. "Sif says she thinks the insemination took."
"Yes, hopefully," he said with a smile and handed a noisemaker to Xander. "Another pair of children close in age, hmm?"
Natasha plucked the noisemaker from Xander's hand. He whined and looked to Loki with a trembling lip. "No. I don't need that headache."
"I was only aiming to keep him entertained while we spoke."
"Uh-huh. Driving me crazy is not the way to do it." She chuckled when Xander clamped a hand over Loki's bottom row of teeth. He laughed and slowly tore his hand away before kissing it lightly.
"You don't drive mama crazy, do you, Alexander?" He played with Xander for a moment, tickling him, and watching his eyes go wide when he looked up at Loki's face.
"Were you surprised?" Natasha asked after watching them for a moment.
"By the party…? Yes," he answered on a chuckle.
"Do you still think he's cheating?"
Loki paused. He should have known better than to think Natasha would forget that easily, or at all. He sighed and looked at her, almost pleading with his eyes for her to let the subject go. "Natasha…"
She threw up a hand and his teeth clamped together. "Let me just tell you something, because as big of an egotistical ass as Tony Stark is, he's not going to brag about this. Do you see this, all of this?" She swept her hand around, encompassing the kitchen and living room as one entity. "He did this for you. By himself," she emphasized.
Loki's brows lowered as she continued.
"He wouldn't let anybody else help—not me, not Sif; not even Pepper. Except for the food, which Sif made, Tony planned this whole thing alone. He called every single person here and invited them personally—well, almost everybody. Clint and I had to step in on some of the school parents. But still; he did the shopping for everything. He put all of this together for you, Loki. So, all those times you thought he might be out banging his secretary…?"
Loki rolled his eyes up to the ceiling, only slightly irked that someone might hear that.
"He was planning this. For you." She poked a finger to the center of his chest, just to drive the point home.
"You've made your point, darling." He stiffened a little, his hand tightening on Xander's rump, when she took a step forward, her eyes boring into his.
"Don't you ever ask me again if he's cheating on you, do you hear me?"
Loki wrapped a hand around her arm, squeezing lightly. "Natasha. You're right." He grinned when her chin jutted up.
"Say it again."
He smiled, laughed, and lifted Xander, adjusting him against his side when he started to slip. "You were right. I was…paranoid and he has clearly shown me that I was wrong to think that of him."
Natasha crossed her arms and nodded firmly once. "Good."
"And…?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly before she finally relented. "And. I'm sorry that I upset you, Loki. But I do not apologize for how I feel or what I said."
He watched her quietly for a moment, studying the stubborn set of her jaw and unrelenting stare. "I suppose that is as good an apology as I am going to get."
"Yep." She took one more step forward and drew Xander into her arms. Loki started to speak, but she was quick to cut him off. "Go find your husband and thank him."
"Ehehe…what?"
Like the skilled mother she was, Natasha easily moved a deep tray filled with the plastic utensils to the table, balancing Xander on one hip. "You heard me." She paused long enough to give him a pointed look. "Go find Tony. And thank him in the way that he likes best." Her lips curved in a very self-satisfied grin.
Loki's eyes flicked up, just as Sif, Clint, and Tony exited Natasha's office. "Perhaps you're right."
Natasha's smile grew a little wider. "My bathroom is the only room in the house with a working lock."
Loki's tongue poked out, gliding along his bottom lip, and he leaned forward to absently press a kiss to Natasha's forehead. "Thank you, darling." The words tumbled from his lips as he skirted the counter the stove was set into and made a beeline for Tony.
