Loki Stark was sleeping peacefully, dreaming that he was walking down a hallway he didn't quite recognize. It wasn't their house near Malibu. It wasn't Stark Tower in New York. Idly, he wondered where he was, but at the same time, he didn't seem too bothered not knowing. He was wrapped in a soft, fluffy robe as he padded barefoot toward a pair of closed French-style doors. When he reached them, they opened on their own to reveal a large and empty, but fully functioning, Jacuzzi. Behind the bubbling tub, an opened window displayed an ocean-side scene that looked remarkably like the coast of Monte Carlo.

Loki felt his lips curve, recalling all the memories of his time spent in the French getaway, mostly with Anthony. Images of their wedding, their wedding night, and later, a more recent New Year's Eve trip for just the two of them, flitted over his dream self's eyes, projecting softly around him, as things do in dreams. Untying the belt of the robe, Loki was more than a little surprised to find himself already nude. He didn't often wander around in the buff anymore. Perhaps that meant the children weren't around. His dream self froze suddenly, stress making his sleeping form tense under the sheets, as he wondered just where their children were and who was minding them. As quickly as the feeling rose, it ebbed away; somehow, he knew that they were fine and being cared for.

Needing the relaxation the Jacuzzi offered, Loki stepped toward the tub, and seconds later, sunk into the hot water, a long sigh emitting from him as he settled in with the bubbles coming up to his shoulders.

Letting his eyes close, he felt his cheeks and forehead, and the hair at his temples and crown, dampen. He started to reach up to push at his hair, but a weight that wasn't there before prevented his arm from moving. His lips parted, ready to question, but something, or rather someone, nuzzled at his cheek and throat. He chuckled softly, his mouth curving into a smirk, knowing exactly who it was.

Loki…

"Mm, yes, darling…?" he murmured, his hand searching for Tony's beneath the water's surface.

Loki.

He could all but feel that hot, damp breath fan across his skin; the prickle of his husband's facial hair as he continued to nuzzle; and the thrilling scrape of teeth over the usual sensitive spots. He moved to shift his leg, but found it immobile like his arm. "Anthony…?"

The answer he received was a muffled grunt and then a weight suddenly landed on his stomach, forcing an expulsion of air to leave Loki's lungs as his green eyes flew open. He started to question what was going on when Tony's leg tightened around his torso, and he all but crawled over Loki.

"Anthony—"

"Shh!" Rough hands grabbed at his face, soft lips captured his own roughly. "It's still early," Tony muttered in hushed tones, his mouth just hovering over Loki's.

The sound he made was part chuckle, part scoff. "What are you doing—"

"If you have to ask…"

"Anthony, I wanted to sleep m—oh," he gasped as in a span of just a few seconds, the blur of dark, mussed hair above him disappeared beneath the sheets and a hot, damp, needy mouth was wrapped around his half-hard cock. "Oh…gods…"

"Mmm," Tony hummed around him, blunt nails scraping up his torso, then down and removing Loki's shorts, already hanging off his hips, spreading his legs, and pushing at his thighs to bend them back.

Loki's head rolled to the side, lashes fluttering as he pried open his still sleep-heavy eyes to look at the clock on his nightstand. He groaned, in both pleasure and irritation, as the LED display showed a time that told him he could have easily slept another half-hour—at least!—child-free.

Hips lifting to meet that eager mouth, Loki reached down, slipping his hand under the sheet, to slide through soft, thick strands. Just as he was finding a good rhythm, a wet slurp sounded, and Tony flung the sheet aside as he rose to his knees, and with the same fervor, flung himself at Loki.

The paler man's laugh was muffled as their mouths came together in a hard kiss. "What…has gotten…into you?" Loki managed to ask the question while Tony busied himself attacking Loki's neck, which he'd kindly stretched, offering more for his husband to bite and lick at. He heard a pop, caught the scent of sour apple, and hissed softly as Tony's lube-slicked fingers wrapped around his length.

Where the hell had that come from?

His hand working Loki to full hardness, Tony sought Loki's lips again, speaking against them. "Dreamt about you. Woke up wanting you. Been too long, baby."

"Mmm…yes." Fully awake and alert now, Loki placed his hands on Tony's chest, framing the reactor, and shoved at him, flipping their positions.

Tony let out a laugh when his back hit the mattress. "Ooh, there's my feisty little kitten."

"Oh, shut it." Loki silenced his husband himself—much to the genius' pleasure—and settled himself over Tony, pressing into him, grinning wickedly. He reached down, hooking his hands in the crooks of Tony's knees, and hitched his legs up high around him.

"Fuck. Hurry," Tony demanded through clenched teeth, shifting until he could feel Loki prodding at his entrance.

"Mm, someone had time to prepare himself, I see," he mused, his tone teasing as he spread Tony's cheeks apart.

"Someone wouldn't wake the fuck up," he growled back, hips twitching up to meet Loki's. Strained whines and low, guttural moans sounded between them as Loki continued to tease Tony. "Loki," he nearly begged.

"Hmm?" His lips remained curved, even as he dipped his head to nip and lick at Tony's throat. "You're sexy when you beg, do you know that?"

"Oh, fuck you!"

"Shh." Loki placed a finger over his parted lips, dodging his snapping teeth with a deep chuckle. "You'll wake the children."

"Mm-mm. C'mon. I'm ready. Fucking do it."

"Well, that's romantic, Anthony," Loki deadpanned, moving his hips so Tony was sliding along his length. He laughed, desperately, reaching up to plant his lips on Loki's.

"Baby…" he drew out the word, his hands gliding up into Loki's silky hair, pulling him down for more kisses. "You know, I love you. But I need this. You need this. And we need to do this before one of the monsters wakes up."

"Anthony…"

"What?"

"Shut up."

With that soft-spoken order, Loki eased himself into his husband, meeting little resistance, until he was fully sheathed inside him. Pushing up onto his fists, Loki waited for Tony to relax around him before he pulled back, almost completely, and slid back in. He did this twice more before his own desires and urges—and Tony's nails digging into his shoulders—had his hips snapping until he was driving himself deeper, harder into Tony.

It had been months since they had been together like this. Even after Loki's leg healed, something always came up, or someone got in the way; a game, a rehearsal, a performance, a play date; and in one case, a broken wrist—"Klutzy Jameson strikes again," Tony had joked at the time. Between the kids needing rides and attention, Tony busy fielding calls and emails with the Realtor helping them find the right house, Loki preparing and planning for the packing and the move itself—all while keeping an eye on Sif, waiting for the end of her pregnancy to come—they simply hadn't had the time. Or energy. Not even in the shower, or the wee hours of the morning or night, like they used to.

So as much as their bodies were screaming for the release, neither man was going to rush it. Every time Loki felt Tony or himself just teetering on the edge of orgasm, he pulled back, drawing out the sensation until they were both sweaty, writhing messes, panting and gasping for air, sprawled among wrinkled piles of dark linens that was once their nicely made bed.

Until Tony was physically clawing at him, dark red scratches marking his pale back, begging for release, pleading to finally come.

The genius was on all fours now, face pressed to the mattress to keep his cries muffled, twisting and crinkling the sheet beneath him in his closed fists. A weakened heap of taut muscle, still he moved his hips, pushing back onto Loki. He tried to rise up to his knees, but Loki was there, all of his weight pressing Tony back down to the bed. A hand slid over his hip, between him and the mattress and took hold of his aching, leaking cock, stroking slower than the genius would have preferred.

Tony threw his head back, bumping into Loki's, who was busy dragging his tongue along his spine and nosing up into his hair, as his hand moved lazily, up and down, a twist here, a pinch there.

"Mnh, Loki."

"Now, Anthony?" he breathed into his ear, making him shiver and goosebumps rise where his breath touched his skin.

"Yes, please. Let me come. Make me come." The muscles of his legs trembled until finally giving out, and Tony laid out, sprawled on his belly, as Loki relentlessly fucked into him, holding his hips in a bruising grip. Bottom lip caught between his teeth, Tony struggled to hold back his moans as Loki repeatedly hit his prostate, their sharp movements of their bodies over the sheets causing just the right amount of friction on his cock.

Just as his orgasm overtook him, and he was about to shout his release, a hand slid over his mouth, muffling the cries that left him as he emptied himself onto the sheets.

Not a second later, Loki went still behind him, face buried in his neck and shoulder, and grunted as he rode out the waves of his own climax. He remained there for a few moments, softening inside Tony, before he slid out of and away from his lover, rolling onto his back beside him, breathing like he'd just run a marathon.

"Was that…worth the wait…darling?" He questioned through his heavy panting. Finding Tony's limp hand between their sweat-slicked bodies, Loki laced their fingers together. Tony only groaned, gave Loki's fingers a weak squeeze. Loki chuckled and let his heavy eyes close, about ready to let sleep overtake him again.

But someone else had other ideas.

Just as he started to drift off, soft cries came from the monitor on Loki's bedside table, and gradually grew more insistent. Loki brought a hand to his face, rubbed at his eyes. "I'll see to that."

"Th'nks."

Chuckles melting into groans, Loki rolled until he could set his feet on the floor and padded into the bathroom, where he splashed some water on his face and quickly cleaned himself up. He dampened a fresh washcloth and tossed it to Tony as he headed back into the bedroom. It made a wet splat as it landed on his back. Not up to searching for his own shorts and shirt, and rushed by the increasingly stressed cries from the monitor, Loki snatched up Tony's discarded pajama pants and t-shirt from the night before.

"Anthony?" A mumbled grunt came from the boneless lump that was his husband and he yanked the shirt over his head before leaning over Tony's form. "Darling. Can you at least clean yourself up?"

"Mm-hmm…"

"Thank you for leaving your mark all over my back, my love." He said the words against Tony's ear before pressing a kiss to his cheek.

Tying the strings on his pants tightly, Loki slipped from their master bedroom, tucked into the corner of the second floor of their new home. He passed a storage closet separating their room and the nursery, and paused in the doorway. Audrey had beaten him to the room to tend to the baby, but unable to reach into the crib, she could only stick her hand through the bars to pet at her baby brother.

"Good morning, my sweet girl."

She jolted around, pulling her hands behind her, and smiled sheepishly at him. "Hi, Pappa."

He grinned, stepping in, and patted her cheek when he reached her. "I didn't mean to startle you. Has he been crying long?" he asked as he lifted the fussy baby boy into his arms, pressing his lips to his soft cheek before settling him against his chest. "Hello, baby."

"No," Audrey answered. "But he was kicking his legs a lot." She followed Loki as he carried the baby to the changing table on the other side of the room, patting his bottom.

"Oh, it's a wet diaper, that's all." He laid the baby down, making soothing noises as he unbuttoned his onesie.

Audrey grabbed a clean diaper from the spot Loki kept them in—at a low level, because Audrey often liked to help him—and a bag of wipes, then set them on the changing table by the baby's head. "Here you go." She giggled when her brother's eyes, more hazel than brown now, wandered toward her.

"Thank you, little one," Loki murmured as he pulled chubby little legs from the onesie.

"I'm not the little one anymore, Pappa. He is."

Loki chuckled and quickly disposed of the dirty diaper. "That he is. But you are still my sweet girl, yes?"

Audrey nodded, and as had become her habit, watched Loki clean the baby and put on a fresh diaper. She was still learning how to do it, and Loki discovered her one day practicing with one of the diapers and a teddy bear.

"There we are. All clean." Loki lifted the now quieted baby from the table, nuzzling his cheek, and removing the onesie completely.

"No more pjs?"

"No, darling. Do you want to pick out an outfit for him?"

"Yeah!" Audrey went to the dresser and began to search through the tiny shirts and pants. Loki watched as the baby's eyes followed her then wandered aimlessly around the room, turning toward the door when Jameson poked his head into the room, dark hair spiked at odd angles.

"What's wrong with Dad?" he asked rubbing at one eye. Loki couldn't resist and kissed his baby son's cheek again.

"Good morning to you, too, Jameson."

"Hi," he said softly.

"Got it," Audrey stated as she returned to the changing table. "I like this and these." She placed a navy onesie that read If You Think I'm Cute You Should See My Dads and a pair of tiny jeans.

Loki felt a pang of embarrassment at Jameson's question, but showed nothing on his face as he turned his eyes to the baby. "Your father was fine when I left him. Why?" He set the baby down again, picking up the onesie and undoing the buttons. "The jeans are a bit heavy for a warm day, darling. We'll just keep him in this."

"Okay." Audrey took the jeans to return them to the drawer.

Jameson moved further into the room, closer to the changing table, slipping his finger into the baby's tiny hand, and shrugged. "I went to see if you were up so I could tell you my tooth is loose and I heard him, like, making noises like he was in pain. Or he just turned into a zombie. In which case, it's a good thing he didn't know I was in there."

As he got the onesie over the baby's head, Loki's lips curved in a smirk, even as he struggled with a wiggly baby for a moment. "He's fine, love. Probably was just startled by your brother's cries. And stop watching those zombie movies. Your imagination is wild enough." He reached over to cup Jameson's chin, tilting his face up. "Which tooth?"

"Here." Jameson touched a finger to the loosened tooth on the bottom row of his teeth. Loki bent to look closer, holding the baby still, even as he wriggled around, with one hand.

"Oh, I see! Well, I suppose the Tooth Fairy will be visiting us soon, then." He glanced at Audrey then turned back to the baby. "Are either of you hungry?" Jameson nodded and Audrey said yes, as Loki snapped the buttons closed on the onesie. "What would you like?"

"Pancakes!" Audrey said.

"French toast," Jameson suggested, before sticking his tongue out at the baby, and dodging his grabby hand.

"That sounds better. I want french toast instead."

Loki smiled at Audrey. "All right. Jameson, go ahead and get everything out. The bread, the eggs, the milk. And wash your hands, both of you."

"'Kay. Come on, Audi."

"Is your brother awake?"

"Don't know!" He answered as he started out, Audrey following behind him, pushing past him. "Hey!"

"Last one downstairs is a rotten egg!"

"Hei! Don't run in the house!" Loki sighed and stood the baby on his feet. "Why do I bother, little one? They don't listen to me. But you will, won't you, my precious?" His answer was a giggle accompanied by spit bubbles and a crooked smile. Loki immediately melted because the smile was so much of Tony. "Oh, you cute little bugger. Let's go get your father."

Settling the baby on his hip, Loki returned to their bedroom where he found Tony, lying on his back now, eyes closed, and still groaning softly. He moved quietly to the bed, and shifted the baby, holding him over Tony, biting his lip as the baby kicked out a foot and just brushed Tony's torso.

"Babe, is that you?" he asked through a mumble.

Loki stifled his laughter when the baby slapped a saliva-covered hand to Tony's chest and babbled incoherently.

"What the—" Tony opened his eyes and lifted his head, his face softening when he saw his youngest giggling over him. "Hey…"

When he started to rise up, Loki lifted the baby away and waited for Tony to sit up against the headboard.

"Gimme." Tony wriggled his fingers and Loki placed the baby in his arms before sitting beside his outstretched legs "Hey, Squirt." Tony brought him close and pressed a loud kiss to his cheek.

Loki grinned, amused by his husband's chosen nickname for their youngest son. "What were you doing in here? Jameson came in and thought you were in pain."

Tony was busy making faces at and blowing raspberries on the baby's neck and face, but paused long enough to throw a smirk Loki's way. "I was in pain. You practically broke me, babe."

Loki only grinned back, fluttering black lashes playfully. "You asked for it."

Tony eyed him, even as he dodged a tiny fist. "Told you. Had a good dream. Then it became a better reality." He bobbed his brows for an added affect, only making Loki roll his eyes.

"Not in front of the boy, darling. Would you like some french toast?"

"You makin' it?" Grabbing the baby by his sides, Tony began to lift him, like a human barbell.

"Unless you've hired a chef recently…"

He snickered and muttered under his breath, "Smart ass. Three slices, please. Extra powdered sugar."

Loki shot him an exasperated look and reached out to run his hand over the baby's soft, dark hair. "Your sugar intake rivals that of Jameson's, do you know that?"

"Yup." Ignoring Loki's next stern expression, Tony tossed the baby up a little, successfully turning his husband's focus to him.

"Anthony." Loki held out his hands under the baby, ready to catch him.

"What? Relax. I'm not gonna drop him." At that moment, the baby's arms flailed and he cried briefly, and Tony cuddled him to his chest. "Oops. It's okay, baby."

Loki clucked his tongue and took him back even as he clutched onto Tony's shirt. "It's all right, darling. I think he's just hungry," he said sitting the baby on Tony's legs.

"Well?" When Loki glanced up, Tony motioned to his chest. "Whip it out. Give him a taste."

Despite himself, Loki snickered and looked down at the baby. "Daddy thinks he's funny, doesn't he, Axel?" He kissed Axel's fingers when the baby boy reached up to touch him.

"Hey." Tony nudged him with his foot. "I'm hilarious. And you love me for it."

"Yes. Seems I love you enough to let you name my son after a figure skating jump." He made a face at Axel, who simply giggled.

Tony scoffed, throwing up his hands. "Babe, I told you; it's not after a figure skating jump. It's symbolic. You got the Shakespeare kid, I got my car kid, and we got the mixed one," he explained. "Axel represents my favorite genre of music.

Enjoying Tony's frustration, Loki cocked a brow, grinning sweetly. "Axel is not a genre of music, my love."

"The name represents it!"

At his shout, Axel jolted and started crying, turning his face into Loki's chest. He chuckled and lifted him to hold him against his chest, rubbing a soothing hand over his back. "Oh, now, now, darling. It's all right. Daddy didn't mean to frighten you. Did you…?"

"No. Sorry, Squirt." Tony shuffled around the bed, moving behind Loki to make faces at Axel, holding the sheet at his waist to cover himself.

"Hey, Pap—oh, god, Dad!" Sebastian jerked to a stop in the doorway, shielding his eyes. "Nobody wants to see that!"

"What? Me making your brother laugh?"

Loki glanced down at Tony's body. "I believe he's referring to your bare ass, darling." Rolling his eyes, Tony shoved the sheet around him to cover himself. "I don't mind seeing it."

"Eww!" They both turned to look at their eldest with matching grins. "When did I get old enough to hear that?"

"You've been hearing it since you were four, kiddo," Tony pointed out, blowing a raspberry at Axel, who had stopped crying and returned to his giggling self, pawing at Tony's face.

"Okay, yeah, but do you have to corrupt my baby brother, too?"

"Zip it, Bash."

Sebastian crossed his arms, making a displeased face that only made him look more like Loki. "Fine. But then I won't get to tell you that your kids are making a mess in the kitchen."

"What? Damn it." Loki handed Axel off to Tony and rose from the bed. "I should get down there."

"Don't worry." Loki paused by the bed, lifting a brow in question at his oldest, as Tony laid Axel down, keeping a hand on his belly. "I took care of it already. I just came to ask if you were eating, too. So I can get started and calm those two down."

For a moment, Loki just stared, surprised. But knowing Sebastian would be irritated if he made a fuss, he just nodded. "I'll have two slices, please."

"Three, extra pow—"

"Powdered sugar. Yeah, I know," the teen mumbled as he turned around to leave. "I hope you plan to put pants on, Dad."

"If you insist!" he called after him. He chuckled to himself and looked up at Loki. "What's with him?"

A small sense of pride filled Loki's chest, and he lowered to the bed again. "Nothing. He's trying to step up and do more things on his own." Ignoring the feeling that his son was slowly not needing him anymore, Loki looked to Axel, brushing a finger down his cheek. "He's just declaring his independence, that's all."

Axel cooed, eyes darting between his fathers, and a rougher, more calloused hand covered Loki's by his cheek, pulling it away. "You know, when they're all grown up and out of the house and on their own…"

His chest constricting slightly at the thought, Loki turned his glistening eyes up to Tony's, leaning into his hand when he cupped his cheek.

"I'm still gonna need you."

There was a twinge of embarrassment, a hint of color to Loki's cheeks. He was so transparent at times. He covered Tony's hand, pressed his lips to his palm, and lowered them both to the bed. "Good. You'll need it the most."

Tony snorted and surged forward to plant his mouth on Loki's, even as his husband laughed against his lips. "You shit," he muttered between kisses.

Laughing more, Loki pushed him back. "Go, get dressed. Your children are waiting."

"You took my pants."

"You have a dozen more pairs in your closet, Anthony."

He leaned forward, nuzzling at Loki's neck. "I like the ones that you've been in." Loki snickered because Tony didn't even bother to whisper the sentiment.

"Behave yourself, husband. Your son is watching." Still nestled in Loki's neck and hair, Tony turned his head to see a pair of dark hazel eyes on him and Loki. A toothless grin followed.

"You little pervert." He tapped a finger to Axel's chin.

"Just like his father." Loki mimicked the move to Tony's chin.

"Oh, ha-ha." He laid a smacking kiss to Loki's cheek then jumped up, tossing the sheet aside—and it landed on Axel's face. He squealed and Loki pulled it away to find him laughing, until he saw Tony had gone. To distract him, Loki bent over the baby, smiling and letting tiny hands and fingers grab at his face and hair.

Like his brother before him, Axel Edward Stark had arrived earlier than expected. Fortunately, he hadn't had any health issues, as Jameson had. He was perfectly healthy, and even a little bigger than Tony's first biological child had been. Happily, both Tony and Loki felt as if their family was now complete.

They had moved into the new house—this one also not far from the Bartons' new home—not a week before Axel's arrival. So while Tony and Loki were coaching Sif through the birth, Natasha and Clint were rushing to set up the nursery.

Nearly a year had passed since the incident at the Beverly Hills Hotel. And they had all put it behind them—at least, Loki hoped.

Sebastian's nightmares had once again gradually disappeared on their own. And it was just a few months ago that he decided, on his own, to stop seeing his psychologist. He was back to his old self again—with the occasional minor teenage outbursts here and there—but, much to Loki and Tony's surprise, he had taken up a more responsible role in the house with Axel's arrival. He helped with the baby when needed, offered to babysit his two younger siblings, and even helped Loki with preparing dinner for the family of six.

On the business front, Stark Industries was thriving once again. The threat from a takeover long gone, Tony and Pepper were preparing for another Stark Expo to be held near the end of the third quarter in it's usual spot in New York. Though, with a new baby in the house, Tony was distracted and sleep-deprived, so Pepper was doing the majority of the planning.

Tony had changed, Loki noticed. Understandably. They all had. He was more attentive to the kids; as attentive as a genius who's mind worked light speeds ahead of everyone else could be. But it was a vast improvement. He still drove Bash to school every day. He finally gave in and welcomed the conversation to discuss Jazz skipping a grade. He was working hard not to spoil Audi, or give in to her whims so easily.

And he was completely smitten with Axel.

The youngest, newest Stark was only five months old, but already they could see his personality emerging. He was a giggly, happy baby, who smiled and laughed more than the others had. And he was, surprisingly, already very attached to Tony—who never let a chance to rub that in Loki's face pass by, since all the older kids had been more attached to Loki in their first year.

As for the stay-at-home dad himself, after several long discussions with everyone from Tony to Sif, from Natasha to Thor, and even with each of the children, the one-time creative writing professor had decided to author a memoir. The risk of scrutiny and unwanted attention it would bring to the family was heavily taken into consideration. Tony promised to do his best to wield his influence with the media; and Loki made the choice early on to focus on himself and his life as a senator's adopted son, before one Tony Stark entered his life. He would save his life with Tony for another memoir, depending on how the first one did. And he would take his time with it. At this point, he had only drafted an outline and began mapping out the major points of his childhood and his time in Swiss boarding schools. Reminded of his time in the orphanage and those first rough years with Odin, Loki was much more appreciative of Tony and the kind of father he was.

It was still difficult for him to accept that Sebastian was increasingly becoming his own person. Having an infant and two younger children to focus on—and now a book—made it that much easier to not dwell on his melancholy feelings.

All in all, Loki couldn't complain about his life at the moment. Which, for a person used to always having something to complain about, was only slightly annoying.

Axel began to fuss again, and shouts and laughter from downstairs pulled Loki from his thoughts. He grinned, relishing the sound of his older children getting along—for the moment—and lifted the baby into his arms. Rising, he moved around the bed to find his slippers.

"All right, Gorgeous," Tony called, stepping out from their new bigger, walk-in closet, dressed in sweat pants and a black tank, and joined Loki as he moved near the foot of the bed, handing Axel over to Tony when he clapped and started leaning toward him. "Ready to head down?"

Loki nodded, smiling softly when Axel gnawed at Tony's bearded cheek with his toothless gums.

"Hey, knock that off, you little weirdo," he laughed, dodging Axel's toothless gums. He looked up at Loki and his laughter faded. "What's wrong?"

A startled look crossed Loki's face. "Nothing."

"Babe…" he drew out the word, adjusting Axel in his arms. "You got that look on your face."

"What look?"

"That thinking look. Why are you thinking? It's Sunday. It's universally known to be a lazy day. What are you thinking?"

"I'm not…" Loki laughed then huffed softly. "I don't want to tell you now. You'll just think I'm being silly. And overly sentimental."

"Oh, man," the genius groaned. "Are you about to get all mushy on me?"

Loki's face hardened. "Not now." He started to move to walk away, but Tony managed to slip an arm around his waist and snag him back. "Anthony."

"No, no. Tell me what you were gonna say. I want to know."

"No," he pouted. "You will only ridicule me. And I feel silly enough as it is."

"Loki. Stop being a baby. Axel's got it covered." He dipped the baby toward Loki making him laugh, and Loki's lips twitched.

"I was only going to say…that…" He lifted his eyes to meet Tony's, leaning into him. "I love you. And there isn't anything in this world that I would trade for the life I've had with you."

Concern filled those dark brown eyes for the briefest of seconds. "Jeez, babe," he muttered, shifting uncomfortably. "You make it sound like we don't have the rest of our lives to be together."

Loki raised a hand to Axel's soft dark hair, curling slightly as Audrey's had, and grinned when he turned his dark hazel eyes to him. "We do. I only want you to know how much I love and appreciate you. I know I'm not the easiest to love at times…"

Tony sighed, humming softly, and dipped his head back. "Okay, now you're just dragging me into this."

Loki started to pull back, but Tony simply tightened his arm around him. "I didn't…"

"Shut it. Look. Loki…if anyone should be grateful it's me." Already feeling the emotion welling up in his chest, the genius couldn't look into his husband's eyes, choosing instead to keep his gaze on Axel.

"Anthony…"

"No, it's true. If you hadn't come back into my life when you did…hell, I'd probably be dead by now." Brown eyes flicked up to green, a shoulder shrugged at the horrified look on his husband's face. "You gave me two damn good reasons to change."

Loki frowned, confused. "Two…?"

"Yeah. Being a father to Bash. And…mostly, being with you."

The raven-haired man inhaled sharply, breathing it out shakily as he leaned his head to Tony's, murmuring, "Min søte kjærlighet."

"I should be thanking you. For these little monsters that I can't…" he paused to clear his throat. "I can't live without," he finished with a weaker voice than he expected. "And for you putting up with me and my mistakes and errors of judgment."

"We both make them," he said softly, but firmly before pressing his lips to Tony's temple.

"Yours don't cost us millions of dollars and threaten our lives."

"Anthony." It was a soft, affectionate reprimand. He breathed in to speak but Tony beat him to it.

"Anyway," he said in a firmer voice now, cutting off whatever Loki was about to say. He shifted again, making sure not to squish Axel between them, and finally met Loki's gaze. "I might be a billionaire, babe, but none of it would be worth a penny it if I didn't have you and the monsters."

Loki grinned through his eyes filling and brushed his fingers over Tony's cheek. "Sentimental fools, the both of us," he managed through his constructed throat.

"And I should also thank you for something else."

"What's that?"

"This morning." Loki scoffed and gave him a half-hearted shove. Tony laughed, glad the emotional moment was over, keeping his arm around Loki, and bobbed his eyebrows. He cried out in pain when Axel's tiny fingers grabbed at one. "Oh, you little…damn that hurt."

"That's what you get for spoiling that beautiful moment by being so crude," Loki said with a smirk.

"Whatever. You love me crude, and you know it, kitten."

Loki groaned and slipped out of Tony's arms, heading for the stairs. "Ugh! There's that name again."

"What?" Tony laughed as he followed, coming down the stairs faster than Loki would have liked with the baby, had he seen. "You love that name."

"You love that name. I want to claw your eyes out when you call me that," he playfully growled, turning for the kitchen.

Tony laughed, jostling Axel in his arms. "Hear that, Squirt? He wants to claw my eyes out. Just like the feisty little kitten he is."

Loki laughed, tickled. "Be quiet, you fool."

"Spoken like a true lover," he quipped with his trademark grin.

"You are my true love," he pointed out as he turned to face his husband, and pressed a hard kiss to his mouth.

A chorus ewws echoed behind them, and they pulled apart.

"Jeez. Think you guys can keep your hands off each other long enough to let us eat breakfast without throwing up?" Sebastian stomped over and took Axel from Tony's arms, carrying him to his high chair at the table. "You guys are gross."

Still laughing, and taking each other's hand, the couple moved into the kitchen to enjoy breakfast with their family.

A/N: Epilogue coming soon! xoxo