Loki rubbed his eyes and yawned. He felt as though he would never sleep a full night again.

'Get some sleep darling, I will look after…'

'No, they are my sons, I will look after them, you have raised your child already.' He insisted.

'I am aware of that, but you need some sleep.' His mother insisted.

'How do mothers do this?'

'They have no choice. Well, most do not.' There was a slight bitterness in her tone.

'Mother, I know I say this often, but please, you were not there with Sigyn, she never wanted this, I know it.'

'She is not here though, is she?'

'Do you think after the last time he gave her free rein and she rushed off realm that she would be allowed risk doing so again? No, he has her forced not to be allowed near us, I know it.'

Loki's mother looked at him sadly. His use of the word "us" telling her that even after six months, Loki was still completely in love with the woman. 'They only wake once at night now, allow me to take them tonight, that way you can assist your father tomorrow, I heard him say he has work you can assist do.'

Loki nodded, knowing that as well as juggling the two boys, he had to assist his father. The jewelry that Sigyn had given them on their fleeing had assisted them, it was true, to the extent they were still living on it and were able to acquire two of everything required for the babies, but he needed to get his name known if they were to make it more viable for them to build on the business. 'Sure.' He watched as she took Narfi into his parents' room. In his arms, Vali gurgled and looked up at him. His purple eyes, a mixture of Jotunn red and his mother's blue, focused on him and he smiled. Loki felt tears in his eyes as he looked at his young son, both of exhaustion and heartache as he saw Sigyn's smile in his features.

'Loki?' He turned to look at his father. 'Son?'

'They look like her.'

'I can only see you.'

'She's there.' he brought Vali up closer to his face and kissed his forehead.

'Get some sleep, son.' Tomás took Vali from him and left the room.

'Is he settled?'

'He's still awake, but he is fed.' Tomás informed his wife.

'I was talking about Loki.'

'He is still focused on her.'

'She gave her children away, abandoned them.'

'I spoke with the Allfather, at length, I do not think that girl gave them willingly.'

'Well, they are here now.' His wife looked adoringly at her grandchildren. 'I just don't know how she could do it. Is it because they are different?'

'I do not think the Princess gave them willingly.' Tomás repeated.

'How is Loki supposed to find someone to love if he is still focused on her?'

'I don't know.' Was all Tomás could respond with.

Loki rubbed the sweat from his brow and continued to work, he tried to keep his tunic on, but it was impossible. The forge was smaller than the one in Asgard, so he was forced closer the fire, something that he now realised was a notable reason for his dislike of. He realised soon enough that there were young elvish women that seemed to smile a lot at him, often they cooed over his clearly mixed heritage sons, but he could not look at them, all he saw when he closed his eyes was Sigyn.

Loki worked tirelessly assisting his father with the work that was now accumulating for them with more and more elves seeing their work. The two men worked to fill orders, so much so, Tomás had to talk to his son about considering taking on an apprentice.

'Father, I…'

'I'll train him, you continue as you are doing. Considering your reason for not being fond of heat, this would mean we would have someone to assist me with that and allow you do your workmanship.' Tomás explained. Loki could not fault his reasoning. 'It also means you can help your mother more with the boys. You can work when they are napping and be a father to them.' Loki nodded, having voiced his concern as to how little time he had spent with Narfi and Vali. 'So….will we?'

'How can I say no?' Loki chuckled.

That is how they came to take on a young elf by the name of Dafydd. He was strong and well-built, allowing him to be a great aid in helping Loki move around heavy loads his father was no longer able to assist with. He also had a keen eye, which aided greatly with their work. Dafydd could tell from the day he met the twins of their heritage, their markings, peculiar eyes and skin tone saying everything of their parentage, but as with all elves, he had never seen issue with the Jotnar, they were allied with them, and according to him, there were indeed a few Light Elf-Jotnar mixed children on realm.

In many ways, speaking with Dafydd assisted Loki in settling in himself. He was another young man, not much younger than Loki, and he was able to tell Loki a lot of the realm. Tomás encouraged the friendship, seeing it as a manner for Loki to get rid of some of his stresses and to have someone his own age to confide in. He also encouraged him to join Dafydd to an inn for an evening sometime, insisting that he needed to remember he was still just a young man under it all.

At first, Loki was reluctant, citing the twins and his workload as reasons to not do so, but after a time, his parents' persistent badgering caused him to give in, if just once so that he would not have to do so again.

The experience itself was pleasant, the inn was not overcrowded, yet lively enough to allow the two men interact with others. Dafydd, as all younger men did, used it as a means to scope out potential suitors, Loki had no such interest. It was there that Dafydd's curiosity got the better of him.

'So you are not interested in anyone?'

'No.' Loki answered simply, taking another drink of his ale.

'I gotta ask….' Loki knew before Dafydd ever said anything the topic, if not the particular question, the elf would go for. 'Do you ever plan to have another wife?'

Loki contemplated the question for a moment. It was clear that his father had given Dafydd a story regarding Sigyn that involved her no longer being part of his or the twin's lives. 'No.'

'But you have what, another four thousand years or so, surely you could change your mind in that time?'

'You never loved a woman, have you?' Loki smiled to show he was not ridiculing the young man. Dafydd shook his head. 'I cannot give my heart again. She...To do so feels wrong.' He explained.

'You still love her?'

'With all of my being.'

'I am sorry.' Dafydd looked at his drink in guilt.

'It's natural to be curious.' Loki dismissed.

Not long after, two young elves, about the same age as the two men came over, smiling playfully at them. 'You're the Aesir blacksmith, aren't you?' The older asked.

'I am.' Loki confirmed politely.

'So, is there a mother for those cute little boys of yours?'

'Well, they did not get delivered by the Valkyries.' Dafydd jested. Loki gave a small huff of a laugh as the women giggled, taking that as their cue to join the men.

Loki assisted Dafydd in getting their attention, but he did not want to further any interest in himself. After another two drinks, the younger woman was clearly interested in Dafydd, asking him about his apprenticeship and other such things while he politely tried to make clear to the older that he was not seeking a partner. She seemed disappointed but polite about it, so he excused himself and went to the restrooms. Inside, he inhaled deeply and thought of Eliza. She was pretty, for an elf, but she was not Sigyn. Trying to fight with himself regarding the matter, he splashed water on his face before leaving again, adamant that he would make his excuses and go home. When he got back to the table, he gave a polite smile and made a comment regarding having to get back to Narfi and Vali, which was met with pleas to remain, as well as disappointed looks, but with a promise to see Dafydd in the morning, he bade farewell and left.

He decided to walk back to the forge slowly. He was not in the mood to go home and stare at the ceiling to try and fall asleep. He sauntered, weaving the smaller roadways to make the small journey before coming to the town square and deciding to rest for a minute with his thoughts.

The square was void of life at that hour, dark but for four lights which made the four corners of it, and in the centre, a monument to Fjorg the Brave, the king of the Elves who assisted The Allfather and King of Asgard Bor against the Dark Elves millennia before. He looked at the statue and thought of what he had learnt of the war growing up, which then led to him thinking again of Sigyn.

He had worried more than once since the twins were born as to her wellbeing. He feared so often of the concern that she had not been able to birth them without complication. Eir had said her seidr was integral for their safe delivery, had her father given her it back for the task at hand? Had she passed because of it? He fished for information, but as on Asgard, the female child of Odin was of little interest, she did not warrant caring about. Then he felt himself getting angered, she had not tried to find them, she had not asked after their sons, fought to get to them, had Odin's words been the truth? Did she honestly not care for her children as she claimed she had, or him...he bit the inside of his cheeks as he thought of their amorous nights, of their bodies intertwined as they watched their children grow in her, preparing for their birth. Had she only wanted someone to sate a hunger in her, were her words of affection merely lies to ensnare his affections, he could not prevent the cruel thoughts he so desperately did not want to think, yet they festered.

'So, he's not interested?'

'No, according to Dafydd, he is still mourning his wife.'

Loki could hear Eliza speaking with another elf. He said nothing and listened.

'I heard he took those babies and fled with them, that she is looking for them.' The other elf gossiped.

'I heard she dumped them when they looked like a that, not all Frost Giant.'

'They are weird looking. I saw his mother with them. There is no telling what is in them.' Loki felt anger and bile rise in his throat.

'I think they are adorable.' Eliza defended. 'They are so cute.'

'Would you want that, to play "Mommy"?'

'No, not really. But he is gorgeous and clearly, he knows what to do.'

Loki felt as though he had been struck with a blow to the gut. He rose from his seat and glared at the pair causing them to look at him. The friend looked fearful, Eliza had the decency to look ashamed. Loki, for his part, gave them a scathing look and turned and walked away. He made it to the forge before the tears started to fall, not long after, the strong facade he put on for the sake of his family fell, and he slid down the wall of the building, to the ground, sobbing.

'Loki?' He barely heard his father coming over to him. 'Son?' Seeing how distraught he was, Tomás got him into the forge and placed his near the still warm fire. 'Son, talk to me.'

'She...'

Tomás said nothing more, knowing what was upsetting his son, but not knowing how to deal with it. Instead, he sat beside him and embraced him as he son dealt with the heartache for the woman he clearly loved.

Loki said nothing of his anguished actions after they occurred, but there was no denying there was a significant decrease in his amicable moods. Tomás asked Dafydd what occurred on their evening out, but according to the younger elf, nothing of note, Loki left them early and went home, citing the twins as an excuse.

Tomás wanted to delve further into the issue, but was called away to deal with a horse, he ordered Dafydd to tidy and see if he could get Loki to speak to him, but Loki said little to the elf other than to ask him to pass him something.

Dafydd, all but badgered Loki to speak to him, asking him who he thought would win a local election, what he thought of things and finally, he decided to mention their night out, which had occurred a week previous at this point. That was met with little enthusiasm, when he mentioned Eliza, that was met with hostility.

'Well, let us see, after you and Charlene clearly went your own way, I was unfortunate enough to meet Eliza again with another friend, only they did not know I was there, I was privy to their thoughts on me, one of which was that I stole my sons from their mother, that was particularly hurtful, that and them being called peculiar looking, that angered me the most, for the obvious reasons, but Eliza and her interest, though she did say she found me appealing to look at, which no creature can ever see something to fault in that, was solely interested in my company for a bed partner, my sons being proof that I knew how things functioned if nothing else, how do you think that makes me feel? Elated? Lucky?'

'I am sorry, Loki.'

'Sorry. Well, sorry does not make it hurt less since you did not say it to begin with.' Loki growled.

'You really still love her, their mother.'

'Of course, I do. You don't understand, none of you do.'

'I do.' The pair looked towards the door, not realising they were no longer alone. 'Hello, Duckie, how about you and I have a little chat and you introduce me to those beautiful little boys of yours.'