12.

Loki stood completely still by the window, his hands clasped behind his back as he stared out with a gaze that could challenge Clint's. He didn't say anything. He hardly moved. Behind him, Olivia sighed.

"You should've gone with them," she said wearily. Loki gave her a scathing look over his shoulder and Olivia made a face back at him. "At least do that weird splitting yourself in two thing that you do."

"I'd prefer it if all my attention was focused here," he murmured, still looking out the window.

"And I'd prefer it if I was on a beach in Spain but we don't always get what we want, do we?"

Loki looked at Olivia again, but she was distracted by Tyra stirring in her sleep. When their daughter remained fast asleep, she let out a sigh of relief.

"The one night our daughter decides to sleep all night has to be the one I become an insomniac," she muttered.

"Can you not sleep?"

"I probably could if I really put my mind to it."

"Why don't you, then?"

Olivia shrugged, screwing her nose up. "Don't want to, I guess," she mumbled nonchalantly.

"Why don't you see if Jane and Darcy need your help?"

Olivia shrugged again. "They're fine on their own."

Neither of them spoke for a while, and Olivia lay back on her bed, staring up at the bedroom ceiling. She was too awake, too ready, like she was waiting for something. Though she didn't say so, she had a feeling.

"Why are you even here?" she finally asked, breaking the silence. "You could be out there kicking ass, but you're just . . . here."

Loki looked amused and Olivia propped herself up on her elbows, looking at him quizzically.

"I can totally kick Death's butt if she comes anywhere near me," she added, a few curls falling over her shoulder and resting on her front. She was wearing a very thin, tight tank top. It was also very distracting.

"On any other occasion I would like to see that," Loki drawled. "But I'd prefer it if our daughter was not put in danger because you have a point to prove."

Olivia snorted indignantly, sitting up and pushing her hair back over her shoulder.

"Like you've never put someone in danger because you have a point to prove."

"I would never be so foolish."

"I don't believe you."

Loki quirked an eyebrow, smirking, and Olivia looked back at him with a challenging gleam in her eyes. She slid off the bed, leaning against the windowsill.

"I mean," she continued, her gaze never wavering from his. "Everyone makes mistakes, don't they?"

"Some more than others, it would seem," Loki said, still smirking as he loomed over Olivia. She grinned back at him.

"I can think of a few that you've made."

Olivia looked innocent as she tilted her head back, her pale skin shining in the moonlight and her eyes staring up at him with a challenge shining in them. Loki's smirk grew slightly as he gazed down at her.

As if sensing the moment between her parents, Tyra woke up and promptly started to cry. Olivia sighed.

"Alas," she murmured. "Parenthood calls."

Loki watched with appreciation the way that Olivia's hips swayed ever so slightly when she walked across the room to pick Tyra up. She looked over her shoulder.

"You're my baby daddy," she said. "That doesn't give the right to ogle me."

He laughed softly, turning away again.

Smiling to herself, Olivia turned her back on Loki and picked Tyra up, gently soothing her daughter. She'd forgotten how much fun it was to tease Loki.

She sat down on her bed and cradled Tyra on her lap while Loki continued to keep watch by the window, though for what Olivia wasn't sure. She looked up at him.

"It's rude to stare."

She blushed. "I'm not staring," she muttered, looking away again. "Wanna swap?"

"What?"

"You take Tyra, I stand by the window and brood," she explained. "I think my butt has gone to sleep."

"Your eloquence never ceases to amaze me."

"Do you want to hold your daughter or not?"

Smirking, Loki took Tyra from Olivia, cradling her in his arms. He would never cease to be amazed every time he held her in his arms at just how beautiful she was. Almost instinctively, he kissed his daughter's forehead.

"It's weird, isn't it?" Olivia asked softly. "How we just . . . become parents."

"Yes," Loki agreed, smiling at his sleeping daughter.

"She's half me and half you. That's even weirder."

"I must admit that having a blood relative isn't something that I am used to," Loki said. Olivia's expression softened as she looked at him.

"Odin does love you," she said. "I mean, I know that I don't know him but he did raise you from a baby and any guy can be a father but it really takes a lot to be a dad."

Loki looked as if he was going to say something, but the burst of light in the sky prevented him; Olivia spun around.

"They're back," she said, looking over her shoulder at Loki. She didn't take Tyra from him, but rather picked up a jumper and left the room. Still holding their daughter, Loki followed.

"Well?" Jane asked as she strode into the living room, quickly followed by Olivia.

"Nothing," Steve said with slight regret in his voice, leaning against the counter. Darcy was immediately by his side, ready to be a sympathetic ear to moan in. Olivia shook her head.

"Nothing at all?"

"There was one thing," Natasha began. Behind Olivia's back, Tony was making wild gestures. "Stop it, Stark, I'm going to tell her anyway."

Olivia looked over her shoulder and Tony ceased the gestures, trying to look as if he hadn't been doing anything.

"Tell me what?"

"What did you find?" Loki demanded, still holding Tyra. There was nothing funnier than Loki, the God of Mischief, stalking through the halls of the tower with a sleeping baby in his arms. It somehow made him less intimidating.

Reaching into his pocket, Clint held something out to Olivia, who took it with shaking hands.

It was a photo, ripped in half. Olivia carefully held the pieces together, feeling her heart miss a beat when she realised that it was a photo of her.

But it wasn't just her. It was a photo of her cradling Tyra in her arms.

Loki stood behind her, looking at the photo over her shoulder, and his arms tightened around Tyra. He could feel Olivia's fear flood her and wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms, to comfort her.

"It's me," Olivia whispered, looking up. "She's coming after me."

Thank you TheDoctor'sAmazingCompanion, IvyLinkin, MissPadawan, Junglecat9 and Britt for reviewing!

I had my first exam today . . . I think I may have possibly messed up but it's alright because it was history and I'm dropping history in my second year of college anyway. Just four more to go!

Also, would anyone be interested if I were to start a Sherlock fic? A possible Sherlock/OC fic? Thoughts and opinions would be very much appreciated!