A/N: Wow, so I didn't realize I would get such a reaction from the Tony/Loki/Sebastian scene! There was some SnarkFamily feels (as I call them; idk what everyone else would call it) and it was all fluffy and warm. I'm glad you all enjoyed it!

So enjoy this chapter...some Tony/Thor interaction, Thane's past, a fun-filled family week, and angsty/silly Sif & Loki with a dash of Bash. Cuz it might just suck after this...

XOXO, LL


First thing Monday morning Tony received a message that Thor, Jane and their kids would be arriving sometime later that afternoon. He hadn't been given any specifics, like if they needed transportation from the airport, if they wanted their kids in the same room, or if he was expected to entertain them in some way. He was still uneasy about seeing Thor again after all these years—considering their last encounter wasn't very long after Tony and Loki had broken up and chock-full of awkward tension and general uneasiness—and the genius decided to make himself as unavailable as possible.

Pepper, for her part, decided to still not show up for work, and Tony couldn't very well assume she would appear magically the next day or week, for that matter. He hated to admit that he was completely lost without her—regarding work, at least. Thankfully, Pepper was an over-organizer, probably had a generous case of OCD, and everything she did Jarvis was able to access, so he could still check his schedule and check his email. If the need arose, that is.

Then, he went into hiding. He locked himself away in his lab and had Jarvis send a message to Happy to greet the Odinson family when they arrived. Silently, in the privacy of his lab, Tony watched them arrive at the tower sans Thor. After some digging—okay, hacking—Tony discovered that Thor had apparently headed straight to meet with Fury, wherever Fury's secret batcave, or whatever, was. Jarvis informed him that Jane had asked for him and had him pass it on that he was in meetings all day and couldn't be disturbed. He only felt a little guilty for that tiny lie. He wasn't in meetings, but he was working.

It was already dark when Tony decided to head upstairs and get himself a much needed drink—never mind that he had only eaten a Snickers bar and a small bag of BBQ chips all day. He took one step out of the elevator and froze.

Sitting at Tony's bar, in Tony's lounge, with his back to the rest of the room, was the blond mountain himself. He should have had Jarvis alert him when he arrived at the tower, or lock down his levels. Tony's eyes had grown wide and, as quietly as he could, he pivoted on his toes and attempted to sneak back into the elevator. But he wasn't fast enough.

"Stark?"

Fuck. Tony spun back around and waved a hand stiffly. "Hey, Thor…" Thor grinned softly at him and Tony hesitated a little before he started to walk over to the bar. "I didn't think anyone would be up here."

Thor spun around on the stool at the bar, following Tony as he moved behind it. "I've only just returned to the Tower of Stark."

Tony plucked a short glass from under the bar and a decanter of Irish whiskey from one of the shelves, for a slight change of pace. He was too used to Thor—even after all this time—to be put off by his way of speaking. "You barely got back? What time is it?"

"It is one thirty-eight am, sir."

Thor jerked up straight and stared at the ceiling.

Tony lifted a brow. "Did no one tell you about Jarvis?"

"No. No, I was informed," he answered, still looking up. "I just…have not yet…interacted with him—it—him…yet."

Tony chuckled, but it sounded off and he brought the glass of whiskey to his lips, noticing that Thor only had a bottle of water. "You want something to drink?" he asked before sipping.

Thor grinned broadly again and shook the plastic bottle in his large hand at Tony. "I'm fine, thank you. I rarely indulge in the alcohol these days."

Tony nodded, still feeling a little weird. As he continued to drink, his eyes roamed around the room, avoiding looking directly at Thor.

"How have you been, Tony Stark?" Thor inquired quietly.

He caught Tony in mid-sip, and Tony paused as if surprised by the question. He took a beat to swallow the whiskey in his mouth. Oh, I've been awesome since I've started fucking your little brother regularly again. "Good." He cleared his throat because the word came out hoarsely and repeated, "Good. How-how about you? How're Jane and…the kids?"

Thor frowned at him.

"I've been in the lab all day," he said by way of explanation at Thor's unasked question. The blond man—who looked bigger than Tony remembered, or maybe it was just the shirt that was too small for him, stretching across his massive chest and shoulders, buttons threatening to pop and possibly take out one of Tony's eyeballs with it—nodded and smiled again. Thor was still way too cheerful for his taste.

"We are all well."

"How was the flight up?"

"Short, thank Valhalla. Young Erik is not fond of flying, we have learned."

Tony had no idea who Erik was, but he figured it was one of his kids, so he just nodded awkwardly again and refilled his glass. Thor must have sensed his unease. His cheeks tinged pink when Thor spoke up again.

"There is no need for you to feel anxious in my presence, Tony Stark."

"I don't!" he denied a little too strongly, meeting Thor's blue-eyed gaze. "I mean…I…I'm not."

One side of Thor's mouth lifted. "I have spoken to Loki."

What does that mean? Tony didn't move.

"I am happy to hear that you have reconciled."

Tony stared, still unmoving, for a few silent beats. Then his brows twitched before drawing together. "Really…?"

Thor grinned widely again, like the big goof he was. "Yes! Why would I not be? You are the only one who has truly made him happy in this life, Tony. You bring him a certain…peace."

Tony finally relaxed a little, smiled lopsidedly. "He does that for me, too, you know."

"I do," Thor answered with a nod.

Tony reached up and scratched at the back of his head. "I have to confess…I thought you might still hate me…y'know, because of…Loki and me—and the break up—it was so…"

"I do not hate you." The blond chuckled softly and shook his head. "Tony, no one in this world knows better than I that things are never so black and white when it comes to my brother."

Tony nodded agreeably, cocking a brow briefly in sarcastic amusement, and drank more.

"I was hurting for you both." Their eyes met and Thor smiled almost remorsefully before lowering his gaze again. "I had sensed things between you two were not going well for awhile. I had hoped you would be able to work out your differences. But after Loki confided in me about going to Berkeley on his own, it was clear to me that that was not a possibility."

Tony held his half-full glass to his chest, cradling it, staring blankly at the bar counter. Remembering that time had his heart aching dully and a vague sadness washing over him; he had to remind himself that Loki was here now, close to him.

"I did not like that."

Tony's eyes flicked up to Thor's frowning face, but he kept quiet because Thor had never spoken to him so freely about his and Loki's relationship.

"I didn't like the idea of him going out to California alone—which he wanted to do when he left Switzerland, but father had forbidden it. He was so unhappy," he said gruffly, as if he blamed himself. "I knew it was difficult for him to make the decision to walk away from you, but the night he had returned from gathering the last of his belongings…"

Because he hated thinking about that night himself, Tony felt a hot flush rise up from his neck to his hairline.

"He looked absolutely wrecked." He took a moment to drink from his bottle. "To give my own confession," he began, lifting his head to look at Tony, "I thought he would come back after a month or two. Or that you would follow him regardless of what had happened."

Tony dropped his chin, looking down at his hands. He didn't want me to…

Thor must have noticed the look on his face. "I'm sorry, Tony." Tony gave a shake of his head, a stunted jerky movement. "I did not intend to upset you."

He forced a smile and a chuckle. "I know that, big fella." Thor grinned at the familiar nickname. Tony stared into the auburn liquid in his glass before swallowing it all down and adding more. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course," he motioned for Tony to continue with a grand sweep of his large hand.

"Why did you set Loki up with Thane?"

Thor managed to look embarrassed and ashamed at the same time. "He-he asked about Loki when he saw him just after Loki had returned from England. Tony, had I known that you and he would—"

Tony waved him off. "No, don't—I'm not concerned about that."

Thor lifted his brows. "But you are concerned…?"

Tony lowered the glass to the counter after taking another swig and eyed Thor. "How well do you know this guy?"

"Thanos—uh, Thane…" He shrugged. "We were in the same study group in law school our first year, and our paths crossed here and there the next two, but we were more acquaintances than friends. Why?"

Tony inhaled deeply and held the breath. He hadn't shared with anyone—except Jarvis, of course—the results of the quick research he had done on the rising attorney. He didn't like what he found at all. It was worse than that crazy bitch Amy who tried to break him and Loki up in college—thanks to Odin. He slowly let out his held breath through his nose. "I did some digging on him."

"Why?" Thor realized what he just asked and, closing his eyes, brushed it off. "What did you find?" Tony made no move but to work his jaw. Thor's eyes darkened. "What did you find, Tony?"

"Jarvis," Tony spat the command and walked around the bar. He laid a hand on Thor's back when the bigger man jumped back in his seat as three sets of images popped up in front of him. "Relax, Point Break. It won't hurt you."

Thor shoved Tony in what he thought was a light, playful manner but it had Tony nearly losing his balance. He shifted his muscular frame on the barstool and turned to look at the images. One was a projected copy of Thane's New York driver's license, the other two, very official-looking documents. "Tony…what is this?"

"He has a record, Thor." Tony reached up, pressed three fingers to the image of the driver's license, and tossed it aside, focusing instead on one of the two official documents. "He got into some petty theft and vandalism stuff as a kid; no biggie. His dad was pretty important in Parliament, so he got him out of a lot of it and had a bunch of it erased from his record even."

"Then how did you find it?"

"I'm Tony Stark, Thor." He twisted his upper body to glance at Thor over his shoulder. "There's not much I can't find." Thor rolled his eyes in jest, but turned serious again when he returned his attention to the images. Tony moved one aside and called for Jarvis to pull up more official records. "He had a few disciplinary incidents in what would be high school here. It was an all boys' academy so most of it was just a few fights and scraps here and there."

He flicked so quickly through the records Thor was having trouble reading anything.

"But, occasionally," he paused to blow up one of the documents up. "He got a little rough with the boys he took a liking to."

Thor's face dropped as he read the print. A second-year student had filed a complaint on the third-year student Thane, for leaving bruises on his arms and painful twisting of his ear—he skipped over the brief sentences describing how he received that particular injury. When the superiors of the academy discovered this happened during a school-sanctioned event, and that the two boys had attended this and other such events as a couple, the matter was dismissed with Thane only receiving a stern warning to be kinder to his chosen dates.

"What happened to the boy?"

Tony fixed him with a hard glare. "He mysteriously broke his wrist, the one on his dominant hand, and had to be sent home."

Thor's brows came together and his expression turned to worry. Tony simply turned away again.

"The thing is he got away with all this because he's good-looking—to some people—charming, and smart. As much trouble as he got in, he still got really good grades—not even just good, he was in the top of his class. He's a brilliant sociopath. And…Columbia wasn't the first law school he attended."

"What?"

Tony continued to sort through the images until he pulled up what he wanted. "He did a couple of short stints at Oxford and Cambridge." He looked over his shoulder again. "Talk about playing for both teams."

It was at this point that Thor got to his feet and moved next to the genius. Short next to Loki, Thor positively dwarfed Tony and he took two steps to the side so he wasn't so close to the monstrosity. "How is that possible, Stark? And how could he go on to such a prestigious law firm with that kind of record?"

"Well…" Tony pulled up a picture of a distinguished looking gray-haired, blue-eyed man and pointed at it. "Daddy came to the rescue again. He paid off the schools to keep the records sealed. In fact, he made sure even Columbia didn't know about it. As far as they were concerned, he was just another rich kid who took a few years off to fuck his way around Europe until he was ready to get serious about his education."

Thor sent him a sideways glance. "I would have you mind your language when my children are in your presence, Stark."

Tony laughed breathlessly. "…Yeah, will do." He was already getting practice on that with Sebastian anyway—not that Sif paid any attention to that rule herself.

"Why did he leave Oxford and Cambridge?"

"Harassment and assault charges at both," he answered as he pulled up more transcripts and copies of reports. "All of the charges were either dismissed or secretly settled by Daddy Dearest. He pretty much got expelled from Oxford for assaulting some guy for…" He folded his lips in and peeked at Thor when the other faced him fully.

"For what…?"

He sighed. "They word it differently here, but…basically, because this guy said 'no.'"

Thor's jaw clenched and Tony took another step back because he looked so menacing. "Have you shown any of this to Loki?"

"N-no…" He shrugged at Thor's glare. "I get the feeling he wants to end this—respectfully, I guess is the term. Thor…" He called when Loki's big brother huffed and puffed and spun away. "You have only yourself to blame."

Thor's head whipped around at that, his hands fisted on his narrow hips, and Tony had to forcefully remind himself that Thor wouldn't hurt him. Because under all those intimidating muscles was really just a big old teddy bear who was concerned about his baby brother. And said baby brother would have his hide if he laid one finger on Tony.

"He's under the assumption, as are other people, that you two are friends. He probably doesn't want to make things weird for you. Look," he cautiously stepped forward, throwing out his hand to swipe the projected images away, and they disappeared. "Sif and I have both talked to him about this. We've both asked him to end it, as soon as possible. Don't say anything more about it to him."

Thor bristled at that and said indignantly, "Why should I not, Stark? I am his brother; Sif and you are—"

"His former and current lovers," he finished. Tony kept his eyes on Thor's, even as the blond's bearded cheeks reddened and he looked physically uncomfortable. "From us the motive is selfish because, in my case, I want him all to myself. For Sif, she doesn't want the guy around her kid. But if you start pressing him, you know what it's gonna do." His lips curved just thinking about it. "He'll think you're bossing him around and put it off even longer just to piss us all off. And then he'll say that stupid shit he just loves to say: I do what I want."

Thor seemed to be mulling that over and ran a hand over his blond locks, tied back in a sleek tail at the nape of his neck. "You speak the truth, Stark, but I do not like it."

He lifted his shoulders, spreading his hands. "None of us do. I mean, short of calling Natasha out here…" He trailed off but met Thor's bright eyes again.

Thor grinned. "I will make the call first thing in the morning." Tony nodded firmly. Thor's head bobbed as well, but he quickly sobered again. "I am uneasy about his association with Thane now."

"Join the club." Tony walked to the bar and snatched up his forgotten glass of whiskey.

Thor crossed his arms and leaned back against the bar. "If he hurts Loki…"

"You're gonna have to get in line behind me to kick his ass."

The seriousness of Tony's tone made Thor laugh and he slapped a hand to Tony's back, making him stumble forward and choke on the whiskey a bit. "I enjoy having you close again, Tony."

Tony smiled uneasily, still coughing. "Thanks. I missed you, too, Shakespeare in the Park." Thor laughed loudly and Tony turned to move around the bar when he was suddenly enveloped in two thick arms and crushed against a brick wall. "Thor!"

"What are you two doing?"

Thor turned toward the elevator, with a struggling Tony still in his arms. Jane stood by the opened doors in a baby pink terry cloth robe, her arms crossed threateningly. Thor set Tony down, clamping a hand on his shoulder. "Tony and I were just catching up, dearest."

"Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"It is two-oh-three am, ma'am." Jane blinked and glared at the ceiling.

"Shut up, Jarvis," Tony muttered. "Hi, Jane."

Those deadly brown eyes fixated on him. Should have stayed quiet, Tony. "It's two in the morning, Tony. I'll say hello to you tomorrow. You." She shot that glare at her husband. "Get your ass in here. Your daughter needs you."

That's when Tony noticed the brown head of hair peeking out from behind Jane's leg. She had Jane's hair color, but Tony could also see she had her father's bright blue eyes.

"Well. That is my cue, Tony. My little Katie hasn't adapted to traveling just yet." Tony nodded sympathetically and they both looked toward the elevator when Jane lifted the three year-old in her arms and walked back onto it. "Thank you for sharing this information with me. I only hope Loki understands the urgency of ending his relationship with Thane."

"Don't call it a relationship. That gives it a significance it doesn't deserve. They only went out for barely two months and they never even slept together."

Thor cocked a brow. "You know this for a fact?"

"Yeah," Tony answered cockily.

"How, may I ask?"

Tony gave him his favorite shit-eating grin. "He couldn't get me out of his head. Put a damper on things, if you know what I mean."

Thor rolled his eyes again. "I surely do not miss your suggestive remarks and innuendos, Tony."

"Let's go, Odinson!" Jane yelled from the elevator followed by a soft, "Why are you yelling, Mommy?"

"Coming, my love," Thor called back calmly as he started toward them. "I wish to discuss Director Fury's proposal with you on the morrow, Tony." Tony pursed his lips, but made no response. "Until then, I bid you good night." He stepped in and must have taken Katie in his arms because Tony could hear him murmur a Norwegian word that he had heard Sif use on Sebastian before.

He waited until the doors closed on the family before picking up his glass, rinsing it in the bar's sink, and replacing it to its spot under the bar. He felt much more at ease now that he and Thor had spoken, and that Thor was aware of Thane. Things were definitely falling into place, he thought to himself as he stretched out on his bed, curling onto his side. He grabbed the pillow he wasn't using and clutched it to his chest, hugging it to him, as he closed his eyes.

All he needed to do now was get Loki in the tower, in his bed…in his arms.


Loki couldn't remember ever being happier in his life.

Aside from those first few days after he and Tony had finally said "I love you" to each other for the first time, he had never spent so many consecutive days with a silly smile on his face. What wasn't there to be happy about?

Every single person that meant the most to him was in one place at one time. Sif and Sebastian extended their stay when Tony told them Thor, and his family, were in town. Thor surprised Loki by calling Natasha and Clint to fly out east for a visit. Natasha and Ana came in on Wednesday, but Clint couldn't make it until Thursday night. Loki had his love, his son, his brother, and his best friend all together at once—something he never thought he would ever have.

The most satisfying part of it all to him was, in that short span of time, how close Tony and Sebastian had grown. For all he went on to Loki in private about being anxious around and impatient with kids, Tony went to great lengths to impress the little boy any chance he got and to win him over. And, boy, did he ever.

Sebastian fell in love with Stark Tower the second he stepped foot in it. And why shouldn't he? His father's boyfriend had the best and biggest toys anyone could possess. Loki wondered if the "Rec Room," as Tony had dubbed it—filled with every game console known to man that were all connected to big screen HD TVs, a vintage Spaced Invaders arcade game, an AC/DC pinball machine, a two-lane bowling alley, a pool table, and an area stuffed with possibly the largest coloring book collection he had ever seen, something Loki knew Tony had added specifically for Sebastian—had even existed before everyone came to stay at the Tower.

But, knowing Tony, it was probably where he himself blew off steam when the need arose. Tony even took Sebastian into his sacred lab and showed off more of his inventions and toys. He even let the wide-eyed tot play with Dummy and test out a Starkpad. Sebastian had been demanding a Starkpad of his own every day since.

Loki was in awe of Tony. Not only was he making an effort with Sebastian, but he took time off of running Stark Industries and spent every day with Loki's family, even when Loki couldn't be there himself—because, unlike everyone else, he still had a job to go to. And he finally got to meet Happy and Tony's friend James, though Tony referred to him as Rhodey.

Things got back to normal a little for Tony, when one day Pepper walked into the tower, dressed and prepared to work. Tony hadn't even known she was there until the end of the day, when she was on her way out and ran into him and Tony, on their way in. To be polite, and not embarrass her anymore than she already seemed to be, Loki made his way to the elevator to wait.

He heard Tony ask, "You're back?"

And Pepper's quiet, tight response: "I'm back."

He couldn't hear the rest of the conversation, but, as he discreetly watched them, he noticed Pepper's already stiff stance, tense even more at something Tony said before she huffed, "Don't push it, Tony," and walked out. Tony later revealed that he had asked her have a drink with them. It put Tony in a better mood, but Loki observed that he was actively avoiding Thor, and wondered if the whole purpose for Thor being in New York, this secret project, was the reason. The one time he was about to question Tony about it, Clint decided it was the perfect moment to announce Natasha's pregnancy, and during the celebration it completely slipped his mind.

The week also brought a reprieve from having to deal with Thane. Loki got lucky, in that Thane had suddenly been called away on important business in Los Angeles. A "high-priority" client, Thane had told him through a quick text, had suddenly needed to meet with him in person ASAP. So Thane headed out to an undisclosed location for an undetermined amount of time. Loki felt uneasy about ending it all through a text message, so he figured he would just wait for his return.

Until then, he was enjoying the freedom of being able to spend what free time he could with Tony. They didn't have much of it alone, but he noticed that Sif did her best to keep Sebastian occupied with his cousins—or Ana, since it was clear she was very attached to him—so he and Tony could steal a few moments together.

But, eventually, all good things had to come to an end. Natasha and Clint headed back to LA, with a promise from Loki that he, Sebastian, and maybe Tony, would head west for Halloween. And Tony had business to attend to, with a much better behaving Pepper behind him.

She and Loki had come across each other a few times when he had been visiting the tower, and while she still refused to say a word to him, he had to give her credit for not snarling at him or hurling anything at his head. And he should definitely be rewarded for not tossing any insults her way either.

Lying in his bed in the brightness of morning, coming out of a peaceful slumber, he smiled to himself, remembering exactly the reward Tony had given him for his good behavior. Thinking about it only added to the already impressive morning wood he was sporting. And had he not heard the tickled giggle of his son outside his closed door, he might've taken care of it, but as it was, remembering his houseguests had him deflating fast. He sighed out loud, and not for the first time, wished he was sharing a bed with Tony.


Sif smiled wide at her baby boy, sitting on the counter behind her, his legs dangling over the edge, hitting the lower cabinets with each excited kick. She was entertaining him, showing off by flipping one pancake at a time in a skillet. Every time she flipped one, he squealed in delight and begged her to do it again.

"That's impressive."

"Pappa!" Sebastian raised his arms toward Loki as he entered the kitchen freshly showered and dressed smartly in light blue jeans and a gray sweater over a white collared shirt. "Hug me!" Loki obliged and hooked his hands under his arms and swung him around once, hugged him to his chest then rested him on his hip.

"Not impressive enough. Nobody wants to hire a chef that can flip pancakes, do they?" Sif muttered before turning back to the stove and placing the flapjack on a plate with two others. She held out the plate to Loki. "Here. Sit him down, would you?"

Loki narrowed an eye at her and she shooed him away with one hand and added more batter to the skillet. She felt rather than saw him come back a few minutes later and lean back against the counter next to the stove.

"What?" she muttered when he didn't say anything.

"Is that why you came to visit? Because you can't find work?" Loki asked in a soft voice.

Sif quietly poured another circle of batter onto the skillet. "Did my sour mood give me away?"

"What's going on?"

"Nothing, darling," she said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She set aside the batter and picked up a spatula.

He cocked a brow at her. "Really…?"

She rolled her eyes from him and sighed. "My mum called. I applied for a head chef position at…well, it doesn't matter. I didn't get it."

"I'm sorry," Loki murmured sympathetically. She answered with an indifferent shrug. "Are you…um, struggling? I can raise the amount I send you every month."

Sif bent her legs to check the underside of a pancake. "Don't concern yourself. I knew my chosen profession wasn't in high demand. And I've yet to stumble on that bundle of cash that would allow me to open my own restaurant."

"Sif—"

"We're fine, Loki, really. We'll just move in with my mum for a stretch until I can catch up again." She cleared her throat and flipped the pancakes, hoping Loki couldn't hear the catch in her voice from the tears that had clogged her throat. "How many do you want?"

Loki watched her quietly for a moment, knowing better than to try to comfort her any further. "Two will be fine." He moved around her to pull down a plate for himself. There was already a hot kettle of water ready, so Loki prepared himself a mug of tea. He checked on Sebastian, grinning at the little boy when he flashed him a toothy cheesy smile, his mouth already slathered with syrup. He leaned against the counter, contemplating Sif again. "You could always move here, you know."

"What, to America?" she said on a chuckle.

"I could help with expenses for Sebastian more, watch him while you search for work."

"Loki, stop." Sif spun around to face him. "I cannot do that. I can barely afford to live in London; how would I fare any better in New York? I know you would love to have Bash closer, but…" She sighed again and checked the pancakes, adding two more circles of batter.

"Anthony wants me to move into the tower." Sif turned her head and set her hazel eyes on Loki. "With him," he added with a smile. "You could take over the apartment."

Her eyes still on him, she started to smile slowly. "You two don't waste any time, do you?"

Loki lifted his mug to his lips, smirked. "Remind me who it was that asked me to move to London with them after eight days in the Riviera."

"Touché." Sif laughed and returned to the pancakes, flipping them. Her smile softened as she thought about Tony and Loki together the past couple of weeks.

They were truly a very adorable couple. She enjoyed Tony's company with or without Loki present, and the two of them did enjoy needling Loki about his eccentricities and odd pet peeves. It pleased her to see Loki with someone, finally. She had gone through two long-term boyfriends and one girlfriend since they had separated. And she idly wondered if he knew how happy he was. She watched them sometimes, when they thought no one was looking. Even in a large group, they always found their way to each other, drawn to each other like magnets.

"I never stood a chance, did I?" she said softly, her back still to him.

Loki noticed it wasn't really phrased as a question. "Don't compare yourself to him, sweetheart."

Sif plated the pancakes and twisted the knob, turning off the fire. She handed him a plate then leaned back again the cooler part of the stove. "I'm not. I don't compare, not in your eyes."

Loki set the plate down. "Sif."

"It's not a bad thing, Loki," she said on a short laugh, smiling up at him as he moved closer. "I'm envious, really. I wish someone would devour me with their eyes when I walked into a room, the way he does with you."

Loki grinned, not remotely amused, and took her face in his hands. "I love you, Sif. Maybe not the way either of us hoped, but I do. And I am eternally grateful to you." He took her by the shoulders to push her forward as he moved behind her, and wrapped his arms around her. They watched Sebastian eat, using his fork and fingers on the pancakes, creating a mess neither of them looked forward to cleaning up. Loki set his chin on her shoulder, angled his mouth at her ear, and finished, "Because you gave me him."

Sif leaned back against him, smiling, and laid her hands on his arms. "You helped some." She hugged her arms to him when he kissed her temple. "Eat your breakfast," she said pulling away from him.

Loki reached for the syrup and poured some on his pancakes. "There are plenty of restaurants here, Sif. And hotels and rich people who don't like to cook for themselves."

Sif laughed and picked up a plain pancake to take a bite out of it. "If I say I'll think about it, will you shut your trap?" Loki audibly gasped and they both laughed again. "Answer your phone."

Loki fished his cell, blasting something loud and of the metal rock persuasion—damn it, he told Tony not to touch his phone—out of his pocket and put it to his ear. "Hello?" Sif poked him in the ribs as she passed by him to join Sebastian at the table. He swatter her and said into the phone, "Morning, Thor."

Sif chuckled at the mess on Sebastian's plate. "Bash! Stop playing with it. Eat it!"

"I am!" he protested. Scooting her chair closer, Sif took the fork from Sebastian's sticky hand, wiped with a napkin, and scooped up some soggy pancake.

"Åpne opp."

He whined and turned his head away from the forkful of pancakes aimed at his lips. "Mm, no! I don't want you to feed me."

"Well, look at the mess you've made, min sønn. If you're not going to eat properly then I'm going to feed you like a baby." Sif clamped a hand on top of his head to try to still it. She would normally cup his chin, but as it was currently covered in maple syrup she didn't want to touch it.

"No!"

"Hold on, Thor. What are you doing?" Loki pressed lowered his cell phone and grimaced at Sif.

"Trying to get him to eat," Sif answered, flustered, and her voice laced with impatience.

"Pappa, tell her to let me eat like a big boy." Loki moved his eyes from Sebastian, pushing his bottom lip out for full effect, to Sif and cocked a brow.

"Fine," she held out the fork for Sebastian and he took it with a big smile. "You clean him up then. I'm not touching him while he's all sticky."

"Whatever you say, mother. Finish up, sweetheart," he said to the little boy before bringing the phone back to his ear. "Thor? Is Anthony near you? Let me speak to him."

"Uncle Thor!"

"Shh, Bash!" Sif mildly scolded through chuckles. "Pappa's on the phone."

"Oh." He giggled and pushed a piece of pancake past his lips,making a loud pop! with his finger. Sif propped her elbow on the table, resting her chin in the palm of her hand and just watched her son as she finished off her food. Sebastian's green eyes lifted to Loki and followed him as he moved across the room. Sif could tell by the way Loki's voice had lowered and the way he toyed with a wayward strand of hair that Tony had come on to the line. "Mamma. Mamma, I'm done."

Sif glanced at his plate. "Are you sure? There's still a bit left there."

Sebastian nodded. "No more," he affirmed in Norwegian. Sif grinned and took his plate, carrying it with hers to the kitchen sink and quickly rinsing them both then dampening a paper towel. When she returned to Sebastian Loki had joined them at the table.

"What did Thor have to say? And Lover Boy?" She handed the paper towel to him when he held out his hand for it. She ignored the annoyed glare he was giving her.

"Look at me," he said to Sebastian and proceeded to wipe down his mouth, cheeks and chin, fighting Sebastian's whining and head-jerking. "He and Jane are taking the kids to the Bronx Zoo today. He asked if we'd like to join them."

"Can I see the T-Rex?" Sebastian asked as Loki moved on to his fingers and hands. Both Loki and Sif chuckled.

"No, babyen, dinosaurs aren't around anymore," Sif answered.

"But they probably have snakes and alligators," Loki supplied, folding his arms on the table, his pancakes long forgotten.

The dark-haired boy clapped excitedly. "Oooh! Can we go? Please? Please, please?"

Loki laid a hand on Sebastian's dark head of hair, sliding it down to cup his cheek. "Of course, you can, love. Mamma will take you and all of your cousins will be with you."

"Oh, I will, will I? It's not like I had any plans today," Sif interjected.

"Did you?" Loki inquired, with an expression on her face that told her he didn't believe her.

"Yes! I was supposed to meet up with Sammy again."

Loki smirked. "What is that, the fourth or fifth date?" He lifted a hand to bat away the crumpled napkin that nearly hit him square in the face. "Tell him to come along."

"Pappa, pappa, pappa! Is Tony coming, too?" Sebastian was tugging on Loki's sleeve until his father would look at him. Loki grinned at the question.

"Well, that makes it official." Sif grinned when Loki lifted his eyes to hers. "We no longer matter. It's all about Tony now."

Loki rolled his eyes. "Yes, Anthony is going. Now hurry and go brush your teeth so we can put on your shoes." Sebastian climbed off the chair and cheered all the way into the bathroom. "I can't go," he said once the door to the bathroom closed.

Sif frowned. "Why can't you? You've no classes today."

Loki winced. "I know." The way he paused made Sif anxious. He was about to tell her something she wasn't going to like. "Thane's just gotten back into town."

Sif felt a cold chill run through her. "So what?"

"So, I need to go break it off with him."

She sighed, pressed a hand to her forehead. "Loki, I wish you would just end this over the phone."

Loki scoffed and rose, snatching up his plate and the used paper towel. "Please don't start this again," he groaned as he made his way into the kitchen, with Sif following close behind. "I've heard enough from you and Anthony and Natasha. And Thor." He irritably flipped on the water.

"Clearly,you haven't heard enough."

"Stop it," he said forcefully, turning his head to fix her with a hard emerald gaze. "He's asked me to lunch; I will end it then and you all can get off my back about it. Is that all right with you?"

Before Sif could give her answer, she saw Loki's eyes dart off somewhere behind her before he turned away ashamed.

"Why are you yelling at her, Pappa?" Sebastian's voice was small and frightened. Loki looked at him but struggled to answer.

"It's all right, babyen." Sif moved to kneel in front of Sebastian. "He wasn't yelling. I was just being a little pushy, that's all. Are you all ready for the zoo?" He nodded and Sif laughed to lighten the mood. "No shoes. Go put your shoes on." As soon as Sebastian was out of earshot, Sif turned back to Loki. "Promise me you'll be careful."

Loki slid his fingers through his hair, a little longer now, almost reaching his shoulders, and smiled tightly. "I always am, darling."

"I mean it."

"I…I know," he nearly shouted, remembered at the last second that Sebastian could hear him, so it came out like a growl. "You're making a much bigger deal of this than need be, Sif. I'll either meet you at the zoo or wherever you are when I'm done. Either way, this will be quick and painless. Sebastian!" He walked around her, his words doing nothing to comfort her.

Sebastian ran out with untied shoelaces and Sif sighed to herself, making a mental note to try teaching him again. Loki lowered to one knee and began tying them for him. "I can't make it to the zoo with you today, my darling, but I will see you later, all right?"

Sebastian pouted and Sif had to cover her mouth to hide her smile. He looked even more like Loki when he did that. "Where are you going?"

"I have to meet someone for lunch. But Mamma will be there, and Uncle Thor, Auntie Jane, all of your cousins—and Anthony, of course."

Sebastian's lips curved shyly. "Can he carry me on his shoulders again like he did that one day?"

Loki laughed and encircled his son's waist with his hands, shaking him from side to side. "If you ask nicely, I'm sure he will. Have fun and make sure you stay close, hold someone's hand, and do not run off. Do you hear?" Sebastian nodded and threw his arms around Loki's neck. "I love you."

"I love you!"

Loki pressed a kiss to his cheek then picked up his keys and phone from the table. He stopped by Sif on his way to the door. "Don't you run off either," he murmured before repeating the gesture to her cheek as well.

Sif wrapped her fingers around his arm. "Just come back in one piece, will you?" Loki laid a hand to her cheek.

"Stop worrying. I'll see you soon."

Sif clutched onto his hand and he gave one last squeeze before walking out the door.