Bearing the Trickster's Heirs
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Chapter 9: Of bets and books
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"I bet on two boys," Tony said from the doorway. Banner was still running some tests and so he had decided pay Natasha a visit this morning.
"A real bet?" Natasha asked, arching an eyebrow.
Stark only grinned and added. "Thor is very confident, when it comes to Loki's virility. He said that all of them are going to be boys."
"What are the stakes?" Natasha wondered.
"I will give the winner a free ride all over this planet for two weeks. Thor insisted on it. When he wins, he wants to use it as a wedding gift for Jane. Thor promised a huge party in Asgard, a feast like in the old times, he said. We have some more people too. The winner is going to have a whole lot of fun." Tony had a proud smile on his lips. "Oh, and Pepper offered Baby sitting as a stake when Loki wins. He already talked to me about it before. One daughter, he said."
"These are sentiment beings. I don't like the thought of reducing them to their sex," Natasha muttered as she put a hand on her belly.
"It's already been done, mommy. We keep our promises." Tony remarked with a grin.
"Whatever suits you..." Natasha was clearly annoyed but also had a plan to use this male arrogance to her advantage. "Would I need to stake something? I mean, I'm the one who will do the hard stuff."
Tony looked at her with a smile as he sat down to discuss the bet.
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"How are you today?" Banner asked as he entered the room.
"I'm fine," Natasha said without hesitation, but anyone would have seen the concern in her features.
"I cannot help you when you don't tell me what's wrong. We can fix it, I promise." Banner told her with a reassuring smile as he sat next to her on the bed, checking her and the children's vitals.
"I am... feeling cold. But not so much that it bothers me. I think that is only because I can do nothing else than lie in this bed. I miss my training..." The annoyance was more than audible in her words. "Don't inform Loki."
Bruce ventured to the closets and took out a hot-water bag. "I think this might help a bit." Only the word 'Frost giant' told him, that the problem might get worse when the days passed. He prepared it and gave it to her. "There you go."
"Thanks." Natasha said as he tugged it under the blanket to warm her body up.
As Banner changed her IV and took a blood sample, he noticed how cold her skin was and furrowed his brows. "You're sure we should not tell Loki about it? Maybe he can help you."
"No, I think we should not scare him any further. I am alright. If he could see me, he would also say..." she stopped as someone entered.
"Hi, mommy." Pepper greeted her with a smile. "I thought you might need some female support with all that men picking you with needles and telling you to stay in bed."
Natasha instantly trusted her former boss, although their relationship had been built on lies. Pepper was a very honest woman, and strong. And oh, how she needed another female, for all the men not understanding her 'condition' properly. "Hey," was her only answer.
"I went to see Loki this morning." She started to say, as she sat on the other side of the bed next to her.
"I will leave for a few minutes to check on your results." Banner said with a smile as he left the room.
Pepper laid a hand on Natasha's, noticing with a grim expression that she was still in chains. Tony had told her about what had happened, but somehow she didn't feel terrified of that other... personality of her. "We had a nice talk. Never thought he could be so polite and fragile. He misses you terribly."
Natasha closed her eyes in the hope that the woman wouldn't see her teary expression. "I miss him, too. And yes... I believe - with all the knowledge you have from him through the last months, well... But he has changed. Not really a change... A better formulation would be..." she couldn't finish her sentence as Pepper interrupted her.
"There's also a loving, caring side in him, right? I see now that he had a difficult past. But I believe both of you can set that right. He needs this chance. And Loki fights for it. Yeah, I know." Pepper told her. "The moment I saw him, I knew."
"So you trust him?" Natasha said in surprise. Loki had tried to kill her lover, almost succeeded.
"Let's just say, I can see through that wall of arrogance and lies he has put around him. That is only a way to protect his inner core. A self that you are able to reach. You and your children." Pepper looked at Natasha's belly. "Wow, I never thought you would be the mother type, no offense. I think it suits you in some way. But during the time we worked together..."
"I didn't plan that either, never really thought I had the chance anyway. But I love them already." She felt the need to touch her stomach, stroking it, feeling the children from the outside too. But the chains wouldn't let her.
"Wait a minute." Pepper said as she started to release her, knowing what was going on in her mind.
"No, don't. I might hurt you." Black Widow protested, but it was already done.
"You will need your hands anyway." Pepper told her with a smile. "Loki has a request, well, more like a wish, but I have made preparations and it became a request from me now too."
"What do you mean?" Natasha was more than confused.
"Here," Pepper said as she handed her a book and a pen. "Loki wants to know everything that you experience with the children. He doesn't want to miss any kick or movement, he told me."
Natasha looked at Virginia, her mouth opened in surprise. Her hands took the blue book and looked at the empty pages, only waiting to be filled. "Thanks, I will." That would be a safe way of talking to Loki.
"I will give him one too. So you can exchange. Like writing letters. And I am sure the children will like to read it when they come of age." She eyed Natasha's belly again. "You know... I'm starting to want one, too. One, just one." She added.
The assassin laughed slightly and grinned at her. "Hey, no one ever thought it would turn out like this."
"I do believe that it was a shock."
Natasha smiled. "Yes, but one that I hold dear now. Loki will be a wonderful father. I am sure of it. With all that he had to deal with in his past. He doesn't want them to suffer like he did. Although I must say that I might not be ready yet. Especially with the quick growth. Only a few weeks to go if it continues like that."
"You think a lot about it, but I am sure it will all be easier than you imagine, like planning a mission, staying in a role. I believe that from all women you are the one who can handle your additions."
Natasha laid her head back on to the pillow. "I hope so." Then she turned to Pepper again. "You really want to... have one, too?"
"Yes," Virginia nodded. "I think that is some sort of wave that comes over the acquaintances of a pregnant woman. The hormones I guess. As soon as I see one of your children, I am sure my hormones will get the better of me." She looked at her own flat stomach. "Loki told me that Tony has similar intentions."
"Stark is talking to Loki about stuff like that? Wow, you all really started to trust him."
Pepper smiled. "I think we started to see who he really is. You have chosen well, Nat. If there is anyone in the universe that would protect his children with all his heart and amazing powers, then it is Loki. You two somehow fit together. I wonder what your children will be like in the end."
"I wonder, too..." Natasha's eyes wandered to the distance. "I already have enhanced genes that make me stay young for a very long time, maybe even centuries. And Loki is not only a god, but also a Frost giant with magic anyone else only dreams of."
"Four little demi-gods. I never thought interbreeding would work out like that."
She smiled but the fear was still present on her face. "They feed off of daddy's magic and will be much larger in size. I hope that the birth will... I don't know..."
Pepper thought about this. "There are four children, so I think they will be born before they're due, anyway. But they are strong. So don't worry too much. All will be well. Even if they are preterm, they will survive. Loki will do everything in his powers to make sure they are healthy and well. And you should do the same too. Even if it bothers you. Eat whatever Banner gives you and do as he says."
"I know..." Just right then she felt a kick of her child. If was a strong one, but she had gotten used to it by now. A smile spread across her lips, as she grabbed Pepper's hand, putting it onto the slight bulge.
"Is that..." Pepper asked, entirely astonished.
"She always wakes up first." Natasha told her.
"You think it is a girl?" Pepper didn't know how to deal with the feelings that were overwhelming her right now. This was new life... And it was wonderful.
"Yes, I think so. She has a lot of her mother. And oh, she can kick hard."
Pepper chuckled and felt the bulge moving. "Okay, Tony definitely has something to do after I stop taking the pill."
"Will you tell him that you stopped? Or will you make it look like a coincidence?"
"I am so going to tell him later. But I also want him to stay quiet about it. And I am sure he will, for he doesn't want to be blamed by the others when it doesn't work at the first try."
"Stark failing in something, that is impossible." Natasha laughed as she felt a second kick, this time stronger, pressing the air out of her lungs.
"You alright?" Pepper asked, concern in her voice.
"Yeah, don't worry." She took hold of the book again, while she suppressed the tears. "I think I should start writing? I don't want to miss any kick."
Pepper nodded and got up. "You are very brave. And soon it will be over. Then the real work will start. So keep your head up. I will visit you again after I finished my paperwork. Tony always leaves a mess behind."
Natasha bid her goodbye and opened the book to start.
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Loki awaited Pepper's arrival with anticipation. He had written down all thoughts concerning his children and what he expected from their future. It was a promise to take care of her and their offspring.
The door opened and a grinning Virginia stepped inside. "I have a little present for you." The hungry look Loki was giving her startled her for a moment, before she realized what it really meant. Oh, it had been a good idea to start these diaries. It was exactly what the lonely god needed.
They didn't talk for long. Pepper knew that he was eager to start reading and so she left him a few minutes later with a smile on her lips.
Loki opened the book and couldn't help but marvel at her handwriting. Elegant, feminine and so entirely his Natasha, that he thought he might pass out as he read the first paragraph.
'Your children are kicking like hell. I am not sure if they got this from daddy or me. But they are strong, I can assure you. As Pepper came to me I let her feel the movements and that glassy look in her eyes... I know she now wants one, too. Hint that to Stark, if you like. I am sure we can play wonderful wedding planners. And that will also distract us a little. Oh my, one child just kicked at my thought about a wedding. I never really was the marrying type, but I want all my children to be as safe as possible. I am not sure what your culture would say about an unwedded mother, or the children born from that. But somehow I want to strengthen our relationship as much as possible for the children to be safe. Oh, what the hell am I writing here? The hormones, blame my hormones. It was not a joke, but that wasn't really the Black Widow either... Hell, I gained that title for a reason and now... The married Black Widow...'
Loki couldn't help but smile at the written thoughts of hers. Oh, and how he would ask her to marry him. He also needed this bond. It felt so right, so perfect.
'Banner just came and checked their heartbeats. It seems as if that's the only thing he can use to know how they are fairing. He said it was alright, although they are a little bit weaker than before. He told me to rest. Oh, how I hate that. I hate being a burden, something to take care of. But I will do what he wants, for our children. Loki, you have no idea how much I love them. They are moving. But I can feel that they miss you, just as I miss you.'
The god could not deny the tears that were forming inside his eyes and he felt no need to stop them from falling onto the paper. He wanted her to see how he felt, that he cared, that he also wanted nothing more.
As Loki finished reading, he was not sure how to answer her at first. But then suddenly, everything was so clear, as if he just needed to outline what was already written on the blank page.
'Yes, you are right. But I will wait for the perfect moment. I know about the Mid-'
He crossed out the last word.
'-traditions on earth and I want nothing more than to kneel before you with this question on my lips...'
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Shit, it was too much. Was it? Please tell me. Was it too ooc? Sorry for not updating for so long, but I am writing on the promise I like to keep. 40 pages *cough* birth scenes. I'm not sure if I can do it, but we'll see. I certainly want Loki to suffer with her by seeing her in agony. And he's helpless and this makes him angry...
Oh, and I have uploaded this story and my others on AO3 now. I'm a little pissed by the guidelines here... Yeah, of course, they have a reason...
But if you want to read my stories in full length (still adding the adult scenes, so it's not as far as here), use thelink my my profile for AO3 for the EXPLICIT version. Or search for the stories. Not so difficult there.