Epilogue
"Mother, when is Father coming home?" Asked a voice behind her and Jane looked over her shoulder. She smiled as soft blue eyes looked up into hers and reaching out she brushed the raven locks from his pale brow.
"I told you, Erin, he'll be home soon with your Uncle. Now," she straightened and moved towards the window, "come help me with the Star Gazer." The boy sighed but followed after his mother.
"Lady Jane," sounded a voice from behind them and Jane looked over her shoulder as a young man, perhaps in his twenties shuffled over to them.
"Yes, Asvulndr?" She asked and the man brushed his unruly blonde locks from his forehead.
"A new constellation was spotted off to the south," his intelligent brown eyes shined with excitement and Jane nodded.
"Thank you for informing me, come on Erin, let's see if we can find it!" Jane grasped the boy's hand and tugged him along towards the large golden telescope situated underneath the large, clear dome.
"But Mother—" Erin started but Jane grinned back at him.
"Oh come on, it won't harm you to spend a little quality time with your mother," Jane laughed and the boy rolled his eyes, but a smile played around his soft mouth.
Jane's heart warmed...
He looked so much like his father...
His hair was black, his face kind and elegant but though he was only ten he carried himself with dignity...
Like a true prince of Asgard...
Jane halted before the telescope and adjusting it peered through it. After a moment she gasped and pulled away, gesturing at Erin.
"I found it, here look!" Jane said and stepped back, ushering him forward and Erin looked into it. A broad smile touched his lips and he nodded.
"I see it!" he cried with glee and Jane laughed, running her fingers through Erin's feather soft hair.
It'd been eleven years since she'd taken her vows with Loki...
And in those eleven years she'd been blessed with two beautiful gifts...
"Mother!" Cried a voice as the doors opened and a little girl who had not yet reached her sixth birthday stood in the doorway, rubbing her eyes with her hands.
"Over here Alexia!" Jane cried and the girl lowered her hands, brushing the brown locks from her heart-shaped face and smiled at her, her green eyes flashing with glee.
"Auntie Sif said you were here," Alexia said as she padded over to them and Jane nodded, grasping her about her waist.
"Look at what we found!" Jane whispered excitedly and Alexia peered through the telescope and gasped when she found the new constellation.
"Can we name it Alexia?" she asked and Jane chuckled.
"No, we have to name it something good!" Erin piped in and Alexia gave her older brother a dirty look as Jane lowered her to the floor.
"Alexia is a good name! Erin is the bad one!" Alexia flung back as she stuck her bottom lip out and Jane shook her head.
"Now, children behave," she warned and didn't miss how they stuck their tongues out at one another as she turned around to gaze through the telescope once more.
She resisted the urge to smile...
They were so much like their father...
Her heart warmed as she thought of him...
After their marriage, she'd become head of the Astrology ward and had loved every moment of it, especially with Loki at her side. Together they had unwoven so many mysteries of the universe but there were still so many left.
Just then the horizon flashed...
"Father's home!" Erin shouted and Jane smiled as she pulled away from the telescope. Grasping their hands she squeezed them.
"Let's go greet him then!" She replied and Alexia giggled with glee as they quickly left the Observatory, heading for the main hall. Though it was quite late servants milled about and at the end of the hall stood a woman, her black hair long and loose about her shoulders held a small babe in her arms.
"Ah, Jane," Sif said and Jane smiled at her as she halted in front of her.
"Hello Sif, how is Prudr?" Jane asked and Sif smiled while gently rocking the little girl in her arms.
"She gains strength every day," Sif murmured and Jane chuckled.
"Just like her mother," Jane whispered while smiling down at the babe with sparkling sapphire eyes. The baby giggled, wiggling a clenched fist up at her and Jane's smile grew.
"Mother, has Father returned?" Shouted a loud voice and Sif looked over her shoulder as a long, muscular boy ran towards them, his golden hair flying behind him.
"Yes, Magni, he should be arriving soon," as the words left her mouth trumpets blared and Jane grinned as Erin and Alexia tugged on her hands.
"Let's hurry," Jane started but yelped as her children tugged her down the hall. Sif's laughter followed her as they entered the greeting hall and Jane halted, her eyes falling on the doors as they opened.
Two figures stood there...
One broad and strong...
The other lithe and nimble...
Thor laughed and patted Loki on the back, the moonlight highlighting their forms as they strode in, their boots thudding softly against the golden stones. The servants bowed their heads while their comrades congratulated them.
"Father!" Erin and Alexia shouted as one and they let go of Jane's hands as they sprinted down the aisle. Jane heard Loki's joyous laugh as he knelt, the dark emerald cape he wore parting as his toned body bent, and wrapping his arms around his children he lifted them into the air, twirling them about as they did.
Magni followed, clumsily bowling into his father and Thor wrapped him in a tight hug. Sif chuckled and Jane smiled at her as they strode down the aisle towards their awaiting family.
"What have you two been eating?" Loki asked as he set them down, his handsome face showing warmth and love as he gazed down at them, "If you two don't watch what you eat, you'll look like your uncle," he teased and Thor grunted while slapping Loki on the shoulder.
"Then they should eat more, so they do not look like you, brother," Thor retorted and Loki chuckled. As his emerald eyes fell on Jane they warmed and a delightful shiver raced up her spine.
"Jane," he murmured while stepping forward and wrapping his arms around her waist, she smiled at him, kissing him lightly, but tenderly on the lips. He pulled away and smiled lovingly down at her.
"Thor," Sif said while kissing him lightly on the cheek and he smiled at her, gazing down at their daughter in Sif's arms.
"Sif, how does our little one fair?" He asked while stroking the baby's cheek with his finger. She giggled, wrapping her hand around his first finger and squeezing.
"She grows stronger," Sif replied as she looked warmly upon her husband and children. Jane wrapped her arm around Loki's waist as he draped one around her shoulders.
"How did the treaty go over?" Jane asked Thor and he sighed, raising his head, highlighting the golden metal that adorned his temple.
Afterall...
Thor was King now...
The All-Father had given up the throne nearly eight years ago and shortly after Thor had given Loki the role of the Royal Advisor...
And the Nine Realms prospered...
"Loki was able to convince them to our terms," Thor's blue eyes looked fondly at upon his younger brother and Jane eyed Loki out of the corner of her eye.
"Oh?" She asked and Loki shrugged.
"Father can convince anyone of anything," Erin said proudly and Loki chuckled.
"Not everyone," Loki teased as he gazed down at Jane and she chuckled. Thor did the same and draped an arm around his son's shoulders while wrapping the other around Sif's waist.
"Alas, despite my wishes to stay and talk, I am tired and will retire," his blue eyes flashed as he looked down at Sif, "for I have not seen my family in some time." He murmured and Sif flushed, causing both Jane and Loki to chuckle.
Thor laughed, avoiding the death glare Sif gave him and directed them towards the doors at the far left.
"Goodnight," Loki called after them and Thor nodded, disappearing through the doors as Magni filled him in on his latest adventures with Erin through the vast forests.
"Tell us about the trip, Father!" Alexia shouted while jumping up and down and Jane sighed as they walked up the hall towards their rooms.
"Perhaps in the morning," Loki said but that did not deter them.
"Guess what happened to me today Father?" Erin said happily and Loki raised a questioning brow.
"What?" He asked as they walked up the halls, the moonlight bathing them in pale light.
"I learned to make a book disappear!" He shouted happily and Jane eyed him.
"Yes, but tell him exactly which book you tried that trick on," her words made Erin flush from embarrassment but Loki grinned as his eyes shined with mirth.
"And what book was that, Erin?" He asked and Erin glanced up at him.
"Mother's log book," he murmured and Loki laughed. Jane rolled her eyes, slapping him playfully on the shoulder.
"It's not funny! It took Eir an hour of having to teach Erin how to make it come back!" Her words only made Loki's laughter increase but Jane shook her head, a grin touching her own lips.
"That's not as exciting as what happened to me!" Alexia said as she bounced in front of them and Loki tilted his head.
"Oh?" He asked and Alexia nodded, pulling her mouth open with her fingers.
"I lost my first tooth!" She said cheerfully while smiling, showing off the gap between her first and third tooth. Loki smiled while stroking the top of her head.
"I'm very proud of you, Alexia, and you as well Erin, I myself didn't learn to successfully use magic until I was much older." His words made them puff out their chests with pride and Jane smiled. They reached the doors and halted in front of them.
Inedibility they both turned to them and started to hound them with questions...
Jane shook her head...
They certainly were a handful...
"Kids, our deal was that you both of you could stay up until Father got home," Jane said sternly, interrupting their sporadic chatter, "Now say goodnight." She said and they both stuck their lips out in a pout.
"Oh can't we stay up Father?" Erin asked and Alexia nodded as their eyes widened and Loki cringed at their puppy dog eyes. He sighed and smiled at them.
"Oh sure you kids can stay up," Jane frowned but her eyes widened when his arm tightened around her as he brought her close, "your mother and I are just going to stay up and tell each other how much we love each other," he cupped her cheek and went to kiss her.
"Yuck!" Erin said and Alexia grimaced.
"Goodnight!" They said at once while dashing through the doors and Loki and Jane chuckled.
"They certainly have your stubbornness," Loki commented as they continued down the hall to their room and Jane gave a derisive snort.
"My stubbornness?" She asked and he nodded as he pushed open the door to their chambers, closing them with a thud.
"Yes, but also your loving heart," he murmured and she chuckled as he kissed her cheek, then her neck, nibbling her collarbone.
"Stop that," she said playfully while swatting at him, "you smell like a horse." She said with a smile and Loki straightened, lifting a brow at her as he crossed to the dressing screen in the corner.
"Then you'll have to join me in the bath," he replied as he shed his cape and green tunic. She crossed her arms.
"Oh, am I?" She asked and he nodded, crossing the room towards her as he shed the tunic, revealing his muscular chest and her breath caught in her throat at how beautiful he was.
The moonlight washed over him and highlighted his black hair, causing his emerald gaze to flash and heat pooled low in her belly.
"You are," he purred while grasping her arm, pulling her in close to him and she laughed as he tugged her into the bathroom, opening the door that separated the bath from the main part of the large, spacious room.
"I guess I don't have a choice, do I?" She asked teasingly and he shook his head no, snapping his fingers as the large bath filled in seconds.
"None what so ever," he growled while nipping her ear. She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck, entangling her fingers in his silky black hair as she kissed him passionately.
And kicked the door closed behind them...
AUTHOR NOTE: Magni means strong and Prudr means strength and they are two of the three children of Thor. As for Jane and Loki's children I just picked random names because I couldn't find any old Norse names that I liked and fit their personalities I wanted to give them. I hoped you liked reading this final chapter and I hope that you all continue to follow me, for I plan on writing more FanFiction stories. Thank you all for the reviews and support!