Courtney could feel Loki's hand in hers. She could hear his voice. But the pain blurred out any other details. It felt like the world was melting like ice cream. Was this what it was like to die? If so she wanted it to hurry up. Being dead could not hurt this much.
Then the pain slid off of her like a snake sheds its skin. Courtney found herself not in the bed in Asgard. She was standing on a porch overlooking a large yard than ended in forests. It looked like Earth. The grass was green and there was a garden with vegetables that would be in other Earth gardens. Some children's bicycles had been left next to a dirt driveway that wound out of her sight. Even though Courtney didn't know where she was, she felt relaxed and happy like she would be at home.
"Momma."
Courtney turned, but it wasn't how she would have turned. She would have just turned in curiosity. But instead she had turned briskly like the voice was familiar to her. Courtney realized that she had no control of her body. What happened? She wondered, maybe . . . Maybe she was seeing a vision of some sort. She was able to look through the eyes of someone else. And this someone else was looking at a pretty four year old girl. The little girl gazed back up through black bangs with large violet eyes.
"What is it, Violi?"
It was her own voice. Courtney recognized. This could be her own future, she had a future. She was seeing into the future. How awesome was that? And the little girl, somehow Courtney felt like this was her daughter. She just knew.
"When is Daddy and bros come home?" She asked in a little toddler tones.
Courtney picked up the child and told her. "They should be back very soon."
"Where do they go?" Violi asked.
Courtney answered, "I've told you Violi. Daddy takes them to school at Asgard. They study and learn lots of new things. When school is over they come home."
"Why I don't go to school?" Violi asked with a pout.
"When you're older, you'll go too."
The child clapped her hands with delight and Courtney couldn't help feeling the joy as well. This little angel would be hers. Courtney hoped that this was truly a vision and not some dream or near death experience.
Then she felt s slit ripple, as if she could feel the wave of water that was disrupted. Courtney knew that a magical barrier had been crossed and her husband was home. It wasn't that she knew, instead it felt as though the information had been dropped in her mind.
Moments later, two boys, identical with their brown hair and eyes, came racing up the dirt driveway. The only difference was that one had mud streaked across his shirt and he was chasing his laughing brother. Courtney shook her head but she felt a grin push at her lips. Narfi was up to his old tricks. He had definitely inherited his father's mischievous ways. He sprinted towards Courtney, clearly hoping for sanctuary from his muddy brother Nari. But Courtney had learned not to take either twin's side. It would result in more pranks and messes.
Then Courtney remembered that this was just a vision. But she knew the names and behaviors about her future children. She just knew these things like she had slipped into being her future self. It was hard to believe that she wasn't here living in this moment.
Narfi darted behind her crying, "Mom! Nari's going to kill me!"
Nari tried to chase him resulting the boys dancing around Courtney, Narfi treating as a shield while Narfi finding her an obstacle.
Nari retorted, "He threw a mudball at me!"
"Hey, hey!" Courtney said to get her boys' attention.
The boys paused, both only briefly glancing at her. But their eyes turned back to each other. Courtney knelt between her nine year old boys and wiped the mud from Nari's hair. It flew off easily, she was using magic. In the future, she learned how to use magic.
Courtney was astonished, but the future her was calmly declaring, "There, it's all gone," like it was normal for her. "Now, Narfi apologize to your brother for throwing mud at him."
Narfi pouted but then said, "I'm sorry Nari. I didn't mean to make you mad."
Courtney looked at Nari, who frowned knowing that he would have to forgive his brother.
Nari sighed, "Alright, I forgive you."
"And?" Courtney asked.
"Mom!" Nari exclaimed, but she gave him a look, and Nari said, "And I'm sorry that I got mad at you and tried to attack you."
"It's alright. We'll laugh about this later." Narfi said proudly.
Courtney shook her head standing back up, careful to not drop her daughter. Looking out at her driveway, she saw the remainder of her precious family. There was Vali, standing tall looking like his father in miniature with his green eyes, black hair and lighter skin. He looked older than his rambunctious brothers, even though he had been conceived and born about the same time as they.
And next to her son was her husband, God of Chaos and Lies, Trickster God and forever her husband, Loki. He was smiling at her, glad as usual to be home. He greeted her with a kiss.
"Loki, what did you do?"
He put his hands up in innocence, "I didn't do anything."
"You know I don't like it when the boys quarrel." She scolded.
"I didn't encourage them." Loki defended.
Then Vali imputed, "But you didn't stop them either."
Courtney fixed Loki with a patronizing look.
He laughed sheepishly, "How about a nice family hug?"
Loki wrapped an arm around her and Violi. Then her twins crashed into the middle of the embrace.
"You too Vali." Loki said to his son who was trying to back away.
"Really father?" He asked.
Courtney laughed and said, "Yes Vali, you're in this family too."
Reluctantly, he joined the hug. Courtney felt so warm and happy at that moment, she couldn't see how anything could be more wonderful as that moment. But it began to darken and Courtney felt as though she was being pulled away from the scene. Even though that future darkened, she still felt the warmth and knew that it would be waiting for her.
