"You are going to be King." Darcy's words betrayed her bewilderment even though her voice was calm, there was something just underneath it and her face said it all, eyebrows rose in wonder. "How?"

"Frigga." Loki answered, as if the name of Odin's spouse was the answer to all of Darcy's unasked questions. And in a way it was, but the vagueness didn't satisfy the petite brunette clinging to the front of his tunic. However, instead of indulging her, Loki kept quiet, waiting for her to make a move.

"Details, Loki. I need the specifics of this." Darcy challenged with a playfully defiant tone. Her lips curled in a lazy smile, "Please."

"According to the Queen, I'm to be given the throne of Jötunheim." he clarified, absently inspecting one of her hands that had been caught in his own without Darcy noticing.

"Okay." she replied cautiously, tightening her grip on his hand. "And how are we feeling about this certain development?" Just a hint of worry could be sensed in her enquiry.

Loki shrugged and placed an arm around her waist. "It's still news to me; I'm not sure how to feel about it." Darcy pursed her lips, waiting for him to say more. "It might not even work the way the Queen intended."

He was referring to the ill-fated, but fortunately failed, attempt of destroying Jötunheim. "You act like you don't care; I see that you do. Loki, what you did was wrong, but not unforgivable. You were not exactly in the best of conditions at that time. Give them a chance; make them your people by helping." Darcy paused to tilt her head at a batter angle and stared into his eyes. "Use your knowledge and skills to aid them and they will love you for it. The crowds are likely to forget you ever tried to destroy their realm."

"You seem so sure." he whispered down to her. "I almost believe you."

"You better, mister." she countered in a lively voice, tangling her fingers in the material of his top. "Because I'm right. It's happened before; public opinion is malleable, the masses are easy to appease and easy to enrage. "

"Of course. Your aid will be irreplaceable in this act." Bold, large hands gripped her shoulders softly to steady her as she got too fidgety during her speech.

"Oh, so you're saying, as I'm not helping yet-" Darcy started coyly, with a glint of mischief in her eyes, "-that right now, I'm replaceable?"

The god frowned and glared at her mockery. "You know that it is not the case." he answered coldly, a mask of indifference slipping on his face.

The woman in her arms responded with a frown of her own, blue eyes clouding like the sky before a heavy storm. "I know, Loki, you don't have to take it so seriously. It was a joke."

"Do not jest." He said cuttingly, broad hands shaking her slight frame. "Not about this. I've given you the only thing that was truly mine to give; my heart. Don't make it sound as if it lacks importance."

Reining in a whimper, she responded, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. You are important to me; you and Leif both. I love you!"

Her lover stroked her hair in comfort. "And I you. "

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Later, after a warm bath – which Loki had put an early end to with his affectionate, and rather graphic, behaviour – they had retreated to bed. So Darcy found herself lying close to the father of her child, running odd patterns on his chest and regulating her breathing to his own. One strong arm circled her waist and her head tested on his shoulder comfortably.

A small whimper brought her out of the dream-like state. Slowly she moved out of Loki's grip to go over to Leif's crib. Silent steps brought her to the baby who had his eyes wide open, the green sparkling in the dark. The sight of his mother agitated him further as he flailed and kicked his small limbs around, demanding every bit of her attention.

With the ease of a practiced mother, Darcy picked him up and slid her gown off one shoulder. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, she allowed Leif to latch onto her breast and feed. Something moved behind, but so faintly that she paid it no mind. Once again, an arm crossed against her waist. Darcy leaned back Into Loki's chest as he pulled them to the wall, adopting a comfortable position. He brushed his lips to her neck soothingly when Leif got too eager.

"Are you alright?" Loki asked against her shoulder.

"Fine." Darcy replied, brushing off his concern. "This kid really has an attitude. Very demanding little prince." She felt him smile against her skin. "I wonder who he resembles in regards to that." The smile widened. Leif let go with an audible pop.

"You should put him back in his crib."

"Thank you Captain Obvious." She rolled her eyes and started moving only to discover that Loki was holding her back. "You know, this could be a lot easier if you just let me move." She felt him murmur in agreement but the hand around her waist didn't budge. "Sometime soon would be lovely."

"Soon." Loki agreed once more. "I just want to stay like this some more. It won't be easy."

Leaning back into him, Darcy nodded slowly. "Nothing worthy is ever easy. Our relationship is a good example of that. But you know?" she paused making sure he was listening, "We'll get through whatever it is together."

"You are awfully wise this night, love." She chuckled at his remark and pulled to set Leif back in his place.

As she turned around to climb back into bed she told him with a serious look, "I'm always wise, you're just too caught up in your own thoughts to notice."

"Am I?" At her nod he added gently, "Maybe because I find it hard to face you."

He knew confusion shone in her eyes before she even opened her mouth. "Why? Are you afraid? Of me?" There was something about the way she said it; it compelled him to answer honestly. "What scares you?"

"Getting hurt." he replied curtly, taking her in his arms. "You know I despise pain and more often than not, I'll do everything in my power to avoid it. You scare me. You have the capability of bringing me pain, the way you wield emotions so easily could destroy me. It doesn't take much, really. One more disappointment and it could all be over."

Darcy seemed to consider her answer, weighing her options silently. Slender, feminine fingers toyed with his hair, curling it around her digits affectionately. "Afraid you'll get your heart broken?" She wasn't teasing.

"Yes." That one word was all the answer she'd get, Darcy knew. Still, his arms tightened around her, slowly increasing the pressure.

"What made you pursue it then?" she asked cautiously. Shifting her body even closer to his, the woman prayed she wasn't pushing the subject too hard. "Why take the risk?"

"Because, the possibility of it working was worth the risk." The response earned him a kiss. "And I'm too selfish to deprive myself of the pleasure of your company."

"I'm glad." Darcy whispered as she placed her head on his shoulder. "I'm glad I fell in love with a smart guy like you." He brought her knuckle up for a kiss.

"You make it sound like I'm the best this world has to offer. As if being with me makes you the happiest."

"That's because I am." she murmured in his shoulder. "I am happiest with you because I love you and you love me."

"I could hurt you." Loki said, pressing his lips to her hairline. "So easily."

Agreeing silently, she nodded slowly. "You could if you wanted to. But I don't think you do, not now. And as you said before, I too can inflict pain upon you."

"But you won't."

"I won't."

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Leif opened his eyes to bright surroundings. His small hand lunged upwards. Tiny fingers curled in a round fist and Leif giggled softly as he exercised control over his limbs making them move. A beam caught his attention and all the boy's efforts were concentrated on catching the strand of light playing in front of him. Reaching out he clamped his fist around it only to see that the glow escaped his clenched fingers. A bewildered look appeared on his face, eyes widening. Pouting, the child tried again, this time with more force than before. And again. It didn't work.

Bright green eyes filled with tears and a sob caught in his throat. He was utterly confused. Why didn't the shine stay in his hands when he caught it? He wanted the light. Knowing it was the surest way to gain attention, Leif let out a piercing cry, a call for his mother. She would surely know how to help. Mother always knew.

True to character, Darcy was over the crib a moment later, sleepy blue eyes peering down at her child. "What is it, Leif, baby?" Her soothing voice washed over him and the sobs turned into quiet sniffles. The boy kicked his hand to the ray of light and crushed his fingers around it. Darcy watched in confusion as her son tried to catch the light pouring in from outside. She saw his face set in concentration and then disappointment when he failed. Leif turned his eyes to her, pouting cutely. "Loki. Come here. I need your help with this" she called.

"What's wrong?" Leif's father asked in a deep, rough form sleep voice. The tiny boy watched as the gigantic form of his father approached his mother's smaller shape. Her voice pooled around him as she spoke words he didn't understand but the constant stream relaxed him. His father nodded every now and then, an amused look on his features. "So you want to catch the light?" Loki asked, leaning his hand over Leif who instantly caught one of his large, long fingers and pulled with whatever little force he had. "Let's see what we can do about that, my boy."

Something warm tickled his palm and Leif let go of his father's fingers. When he brought his hands down he noticed it had curled around something. Leif opened it slowly only to find little sparkling pebbles the size of needle's tip. A delighted giggle left his lips and he threw them little light around, watching them float in the air. Unbeknownst to him, Darcy had pulled the curtains and the tiny spheres were the only source of light. He gathered some in his hand again to let them fly.

His mother watched from her spot next to Loki, a small smile playing on her face. "He's so happy." she noted perkily as she leaned into the trickster's side. A strong arm wrapped around her in silent agreement. "How did you do that?"

"Magic." he stated simply not wanting to give anything away despite her insistence. "I'll teach you too sometime." That was the only promise she managed to get him to make regarding his amazing act.

"I'll hold you to that promise." Darcy warned playfully, squeezing his upper arm, just below his shoulder . She kissed his cheek and turned her attention back to Leif who was still enraptured by his father's magical number, chasing lights with his tiny fingers and giggling whenever he caught one. "He's sure enjoying himself."

Loki nodded and watched his son play. This was something novel to him as he didn't remember much of his childhood besides getting in trouble with Thor and his companions. Whatever entertainment he had liked as a toddler his mind had no knowledge of it now. Perhaps he too had enjoyed catching the light between his fingers. A fond smile touched his lips.

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Angrboða paced the frozen floor of the castle. Since the King had perished, at the hands of his own son, she had actively sought a way to stabilize the kingdom left with no ruler. Jötunheim needed someone to step on the throne. It matter not if he was a Frost Giant or an Elf. They would even accept Loki. Perhaps Loki was the most reasonable choice, he was the son of Laufey but he was also the son of Odin. That would strengthen the bond with Asgard, maybe even prove useful.

So, as the faithful servant of her realm the sorceress had contacted Odin's Queen and laid out the plan before her. The blonde goddess had been ecstatic. She had solemnly promised to talk her husband into letting her younger son ascend to the throne of his blood father. "I swear to you Angrboða, on my blood I swear, that Loki will take this responsibility as his."

Many hundreds of years ago, the Frost Giantesses had met Laufey's son, when he was still unaware of his parentage, and had aided him in giving life to three of his creations: Fenrir, Jörmungand and Hel. He had been young, she remembered, younger than her and hungry for knowledge. Angrboða remembered thinking that one day he might make a good ruler if he'd only stick to being who he was and not pretend to be like his older brother.

And now here she was, awaiting his arrival in a few short hours. Rumours had it that he had found himself a wife. A human woman was said to gave gifted him a son. For that she had been granted one of the apples of eternity after passing its test. A few Elves who had attended one of Odin's feasts said they had seen her. They spoke of her unusual beauty that seemed to shine from the inside out. She glowed unlike them; their radiance went from the outside in. Little was known about her progeny other than that he was a male. There had been some that said she almost died during childbirth. But obviously she was alright if she was to travel with her husband.

"Enough of this." the blue skinned female said as she looked at the King's throne. It had been polished and smoothed, just like the rest of the palace. The seat was a symbol of power, of better days when Laufey had been alive and Farbauti had graced the halls with her enchanting beauty and harmonious songs. The former Queen's mellifluous voice used to carry through the walls, every soul stopping to listen.

Her death in the war had been a strong blow to the King. Angrboða remembered it clearly; the blood and horrors flashed before her eyes as the memories flooded her. Farbauti had just given birth to their prince Loki and had been exhausted but didn't get the chance to rest. Laufey had stridden into her quarters, instructing the maids to help his wife out of bed. He didn't even get the chance to hug her; blood red eyes traced the small form of his son. "His name shall be Loki." he told the new mother. "Now go, my Queen, for they are close and I am unable to fight if I constantly worry about you." Farbauti had listened, gathering Loki in her arms and starting towards the temple.

She never made it. A clear shot of an Asgardian pierced her from behind and she fell. Angrboða had taken the child from her as another maid tried to stop the bleeding. Farbauti shook her head and ordered that they go to the temple. In the end they could only listen to their Queen. One single maid stayed behind to ease her sufferings.

The temple was not easy to reach. Many were killed on the way and by the time Angrboða made it, they were already loosing the fight. An Asgardian soldier came behind her, delivering a swift blow to her head. Loki had been cradled in her arms as she turned to protect him from the fall. After that everything went black. She couldn't even feel the cold temple floor underneath her. When she woke up she was alone, surrounded by bloodied bodies of warriors she knew, of loved ones.

Later the survivors had gathered together and then she found that the Queen had perished and the prince had vanished, lost to them forever. The pain on the King's face spoke volumes. His wife was gone, her songs would never cheer the halls of his palace again, she would never offer a smile when she was pleased and her eyes would never spark again in cold fury when she was angry. And his son, he would never see the boy grow, never put a sword in his hand and train him in the art of combat, never instruct him on how to use his magical gifts. Laufey was as good as dead, having lost everything dear to him. So with the fall of their King, the realm withered away.

Days blended into one another, week passed like seconds and eternities all at once, years flowed past them turning into hundreds of years, but the King's grief never lessened only his heart became stonier. At one point no one could pronounce the name of his wife or son without having their head chopped off. Sorrow became madness, and Angrboða lamented the lost lives of those times. Life hadn't been easy then, it wouldn't be easy now but maybe it would be better. The sorceress had hope and that was enough for her.

A growl behind her alerted the woman of Fenrir approaching. "Have you come to wait with me for your maker?" Her words were sweet and soft. Angrboða had a soft spot for the gigantic wolf, he was after all her first creation with Loki. "My pet, come sit by me." Her fingers travelled through warm fur. "Our King is coming, Fenrir, and he is bringing a new existence with him. He has a Queen, much like Farbauti had been in the old days, beautiful and wise." Fenrir almost purred at the attention being lavished on him and at the prospect of seeing Loki again.

Odin hadn't allowed his second son to bring the creature with him to Asgard and Fenrir had not seen him for too long a time. The wolf barely remembered what the young prince looked like beside the emerald depths that had the power to control him.

"Not long now, Fenrir." she assured him, tracing lines in his pelt, nails scratching the covered skin.