Ch.11: For a moment we were able to be still
*~ 15 years later ~*
The snow crunched softly under her feet as she made her way through the busy streets of London. It barely a couple of inches, but it was enough to make the londoners grumbly. Their thoughts amused her all the way to her destination. After a short detour on her favorite tea spot, she arrived to the Sanctum.
"Good afternoon, Stephen." Sigyn greeted the gray haired man at the door. He simply smiled and let her in. "How are you doing?"
Stephen took a deep breath. "Very polite of you to ask."
"As you can see, my magic is preoccupied somewhere else." She said with a smile and a hand wave as they sat by the coffee table. "The mind reading doesn't come as easy."
"Right." He responded with a sad smile.
She studied him. His tired eyes, his crouched body. The lines in his face and the wrinkles in his hands. Stephen was tired. With good reason. Reverting the effects of the snap had crippled his life span significantly, even with her and Loki's help. Losing 50 years was nothing for two gods, but for a human… No matter how much energy he had reluctantly borrowed from the dark dimension, age was catching up with Stephen.
"I know this is not a courtesy visit, Stephen." Sigyn sipped her tea, trying to find a comfortable position on the arm chair. "What do you need?"
"Is not something I need, is more of a proposition." He explained, leaning back on his chair. "I'm - dying." He stated with finality.
Sigyn kept silent and waited for him to continue.
"I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this." Stephen looked down while he spoke. "Even the most simple spells take such a toll on me… Magic always comes with a price. We did something that was deemed impossible, and now I'm suffering the consequences." Another moment of silence, as Sigyn didn't want to interrupt. Stephen had to find his own words. "I'm tired, and I cannot longer protect Earth."
Sigyn knew this was a hard choice to make for Stephen. He wasn't that old yet by human standards, but she could see his wounds weren't physical. His mind was tired. His heart was tired. He had given up too much. He needed the break.
"I was - I am still - honored of being appointed Sorcerer Supreme. But I cannot longer perform my duties to the best of my abilities." Stephen took a deep breath, and swallowed hard. "I'm retiring. I would like very much to have you take my place."
"I had the feeling you'd ask me that." Sigyn said, sipping the last of her tea. "I have a feeling you also know my answer."
Stephen laughed softly. "Yes, but I had hopes. Besides, my other option is not that removed from you."
"Now, he would probably say yes." Sigyn smiled knowingly. "But, as you can see, there's something we need to take care of before."
"Yes, I was counting on it." Stephen poured tea for himself. "I just wanted you to talk to him, secure his agreement and your involvement. What the position implies."
"We already guard one Infinity Stone." Sigyn said. "We know what the position implies."
"The Time Stone will stay here, guarded by the sanctum sorcerers." Stephen was visibly more relaxed now. "I will continue to train new people with Wanda, but I will take it slow from now on."
"I know you're not very fond of borrowing from the Dark Dimension…" She suggested.
"I am aware that, in order to wait for you both to take over, I will have to do it." Stephen sighed with resignation and drank the last of his tea. "How long until you are due? It's been a long time already."
Sigyn smiled. "Well, when you have nearly a 5000 years life span, pregnancy takes a bit longer than 9 months." She explained. "But soon. I'm guessing a couple of weeks, tops."
"Then back to Asgard."
"Then back to Asgard for a while, which is funny cause I'm still an exile." Sigyn rolled her eyes and stood up slowly. "Loki should be reachable by the end of the week. I'll let you know what we decide." With a small hand move she made the empty cups disappear from the table. "Now, I need to borrow a portal."
"New York?" Stephen said with a smile. Sigyn nodded.
.-
New York streets were also covered in snow, but the city inhabitants weren't as bitter about it. They just complained about the traffic, which, snow or not, in New York was awful. Sigyn took the subway all the way to Brooklyn and slowly walked the busy streets to the building complex. She groaned at seeing the "Out of Work" sign on the elevator.
"Fuck this shit…" She muttered, and teleported to the fifth floor. Feeling dizzy was better than to use the stairs in her current state, but it made her lose her balance and slam against a door.
"What-" Bucky opened the door to see her leaning on the wall, eyes slightly out of focus. "Sigyn! What happened?"
"I teleported." She shook her head to gain some focus back. "Elevator is out of service."
"I absolutely forgot about that, I'm sorry." Bucky grabbed her arm and helped her in the apartment. "Anyway… want some tea? Soda? Water?"
"Actually, I can't stay for too long. I wasn't planning on coming, but I saw your very urgent message this morning." She said, sitting by the table. "What's the matter?"
Bucky blushed. "It's not - an emergency. It's more of a-" He sighed. "It's better if I show you."
Bucky took her arm, helping her up and leading her to the back room. Inside, there were a large handcrafted cradle and matching toy chest.
"You made these?" Sigyn smiled widely at Bucky. He nodded. "Bucky, they are beautiful!"
"Yeah, well, what do you exactly gift a princess, you know?" He said looking sheepish and scratching the back of his head. "After much debating, we decided to make something ourselves."
The wood work had a rustic feeling, but the colors were light and painted with amazing bright designs. The toy chest was open, and filled with vintage dolls and stuffed animals. The mental image of Steve and Bucky going to a store and buying every single doll and teddy bear made Sigyn's heart warm up.
"Thank you!" She crouched by the toy chest, admiring the flashing patterns of flowers, animals, trees, leaves and sparks. It didn't go unnoticed that some of it was meant to represent magic. "Steve painted these, right?"
"Yes."
Sigyn stood up again, still admiring their work. "Where is he, by the way?"
"Visiting Tony at the hospital. You'd think after two heart attacks the guy would slow down, but no. He got himself a third one." Bucky explained. "Pepper asked Steve to talk some sense into him."
"Yeah, that's not going to work." Sigyn giggled.
Bucky shrugged his shoulders and sighed. "How are you planning to take these with you?"
"Oh…" She waved her hand, and both the cradle and the toy chest disappeared in a golden flash.
Bucky shook his head. "Right. Magic."
Sigyn patted his arm. "I really have to get going, it's probably dark in London. Please, tell Steve that I am very grateful for the gifts, they are absolutely stunning!"
"I am so happy you liked it!" He said somewhat relieved. "I mean - they're not a match for the golder cradles you have in Asgard…"
"Everyone has a golden cradle in Asgard." She rolled her eyes at the thought. "Katla will have one handmade especially for her." Sigyn hugged Bucky tightly. "I'll send you some pics as soon as she's making use of it."
Bucky led her to the door and hugged her again, kissing both her cheeks and making sure she was well covered from the cold, before she made her way back to the Sanctum.
.-
How's the visit going?
Terrible.
Loki was currently in Jotunheim, in his Jotun form, leading a party of Asgardian diplomats, and carrying the Casket of Ancient Winters as part of a peace offering to the Frost Giants. Negotiations were slow. Helbindi, Laufey's oldest and only living son, was reluctant to believe Asgard would hold up to their word. With good reason. Thor, who had been appointed as the new King and Allfather, after Odin decided to stay in Valhalla when Asgard was rebuilt, had tried to wage war on them. And Loki, jotun or not, had tried to destroy the planet and had killed Laufey himself. Though he kept that little detail from Helbindi.
Are you home yet? This council is about to end.
Sigyn had just made herself some dinner when Loki's illusion sat across her on the table.
"I hate Thor."
Sigyn had to laugh. "I'm guessing you're not advancing that much?"
"Not as much as I'd like to. But I can't really blame Helbindi. All in all, he has been a very accommodating host."
"Did you give them the casket?"
"Not yet. It was heavily implied that I would only do that once we were well on our way back home." Loki rubbed his face, and looked at his hands. "I have to give Thor credit though. Being here as an Asgardian and a Jotun has facilitated things a bit. I resigned all claims to the Jotnar throne too. Helbindi was visibly more open to conversation after I did."
Illusion or not, Sigyn could tell Loki was tired. Scooting as close to the table as she could, she put her hand on top of Loki's.
"I miss you." She said.
Loki's face relaxed. "Me too." He put his other hand on top of hers. The static tickled her skin.
"Only a couple more weeks…"
"And then back to Asgard." He said, deflated.
Going back to Asgard wasn't something Loki, nor Sigyn, wanted.
Sigyn had built a life on Midgard, and was content with working at the sanctum, training new sorcerers and helping out the new Avengers. Loki had been dragged to it, somewhat resistant at first, but he had also settled into midgardian life quite okay after Steve and Tony helped clear his name.
Meanwhile, Thor was slowly adjusting to the Allfather and King titles, but ruling a kingdom wasn't something that came naturally to him, and he seeked Loki's help more often than not. Loki had been begrudgingly helping him out, advising him on how to deal with diplomacy and economics and trading and an endless list of things Thor never took interest in. But Loki knew that, ultimately, Thor wanted him to stay, and that was something he would refuse to do.
He couldn't go back and be second best, or be in the shadow of his brother. He wasn't going to be whatever Thor needed him to be, or do whatever Thor needed him to do anymore. Least of all now, when he had been offered a chance to stay on Midgard for much longer, in a position of power, even above his brother. Loki had taken Stephen's offer with caution, but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't excited by the prospect.
He could finally be free.
But for now, staying close to Asgard was necessary. Sigyn didn't trust anyone else to take care of baby Katla's delivery but the palace healers, neither did Loki for that matter.
So he played his part, went on every visit and helped with every treaty. After finally succeeding at making peace with Jotunheim, and returning the Casket of Ancient Winters to its rightful owners, Thor sent Loki to Vanaheim and Alfheim. Asgard had promised to help rebuild what Thanos had destroyed, and their politics needed to be rebuilt too.
Sigyn had been helping Loki whenever she could, and traveling with him, until she was getting too big and drained to do so. Their bond was as useful as ever, and Sigyn was able to keep helping and advising him, or simply keeping him calm, getting him through the day. And missing him so much, knowing there was not much they could do, but wait for their daughter to be born.
Each day was long, and the night grew restless, as Sigyn knew they were getting close. She could feel it. It wasn't exactly a surprise when she woke up in the middle of the night.
Loki.
"What?" His illusion was there in a blink.
"Are you on Asgard?" Sigyn sat on the bed, holding the bottom of her belly.
"Yes, I just got back a couple of hours ago-" Loki stopped talking as he saw Sigyn's face flinch in pain. Pain he also felt half a universe a way. "Sweet Valhalla… is it?"
Sigyn nodded. "It's time."
Loki's illusion disappeared, and Sigyn knew he was making his way to the Bifrost chambers. Using most of her strength and moving slowly between contractions, she made it to the backyard of their little home in London and waited. It wasn't long before the multicolored light sucked her into space, and she landed on Loki's arm a few seconds later in the middle of another contraction.
"Holy shit, I had forgotten how much this hurts!" She whimpered.
"Thor, now!" Was all Loki said through clenched teeth.
Sigyn looked up and watched Thor wield Gungnir in her direction. She felt as if Thor was pouring cold water on the top of her head, and she knew he had removed her banishment.
"Thank you." She muttered, still panting.
"Take her to the Healer ward." Thor said with concern.
"Think you can teleport?" Loki asked, standing behind her and wrapping his arms on the underside of her belly.
Sigyn took a deep breath and nodded. In a blink, they were in the ward, and the healers took over, busying around her. Loki refused to leave her side, helping her as much as he could: with magic, sharing her pain, helping her breathe… Just as he had done all those years ago.
At least it's only one this time.
I would've killed you if I had to go through two all over again!
After what it felt like hours, the tension was broken by the sharp cries of the newborn princess. Loki kissed Sigyn's sweaty forehead as the healers put the baby on her chest. He watched in awe and with tears in his eyes how Sigyn fed their tiny little Katla, while playing with her hand wrapped around his finger. His chest hurt remembering the first time he had seen his boys, exactly like this: small, defenseless, and so full of life. He thought he'd never love anything or anyone as much as he loved Narfi and Vàli. His heart was bursting now that Katla was proving him wrong.
"You are the most beautiful and amazing woman ever." Loki said, cupping Sigyn's face.
"Yeah, especially now. All sweaty and blotched and exhausted." She chuckled.
"Especially now." Loki stressed.
A few hours later, Sigyn was in their chambers, fast asleep after a relaxing and very much needed bath. The palace nurses had tried to get Princess Katla from his father's arms, but it was impossible. Loki had taken it on himself to care for her, clean her up, calm her down, and lull her to sleep after feeding time.
Right now, he was pacing near the window, little Katla secure in his arms, and sucking on his pinky finger. She was getting all fussy and agitated, and he knew she needed to be fed again.
"Sigyn, my love." He said softly, sitting by her on the bed. "I am so sorry."
"What?" She groaned sleepily, opening one eye to see the squirming baby in Loki's hold. "Oh, right…"
Both managed to find a comfortable position, with Sigyn on her side and Loki behind her. Baby Katla latched to her mother's breast.
"Have you thought about Stephen's offer?" Sigyn asked after a moment.
"I have." Loki said. "I think is good idea."
She smiled. "Really?"
"Yes. You don't want to be here on Asgard any more than I do." Loki explained. "It gives me the perfect excuse to get away, while still helping Thor if I feel like it." Sigyn had to laugh at his statement. "Besides, it won't be forever. What's a couple hundred years to us?"
"More than enough time to find someone else, train them and then move on." Sigyn nodded. "What do you know? You might end up liking it and we stay for even longer."
"Maybe." He smiled. "As long as we're together…"
Sigyn turned her head to look at him. "When did you get so mushy?"
Loki laughed with his face buried on her neck. "Your fault."
"You're an idiot." She rolled her eyes.
"You're the one married to an idiot."
Loki kissed her softly, then helped her to switch sides. He silently watched his daughter fall asleep, sated and happy. Finally, they were a family again. Finally, Loki found where he truly belonged. For some people home is not a place: it is a person. In Loki's case, two. No matter where they were in the universe, he was home.
.~ The End ~*