Loki lay in bed, his blankets wrapped tightly around his body as he watched the snow storm past his window.

It was Christmas morning. Well, considering it was three in the morning, it was more like night, but technically, it was morning. Loki hugged his pillow close as he turned on his radio, God Bless Ye Merry Gentlemen playing quietly.

Loki loved Christmas. He loved the sights and sounds. The songs, the traditions, the presents. He loved it all.

And even though he should still be upset, Loki found the holiday making the pain dissipate. He closed his eyes, humming along with the song.

o0o0o0o0o0o

Odin had sought permission to enter Loki's room. He tried three times, but Loki had ignored him each time. But by the fourth attempt, Loki relented and actually spoke to him, telling him in simplest terms to go away.

But Odin was just as stubborn as Loki, and when Loki did let him enter, they merely stared at each other, each wishing that they could say all that was in their hearts.

"You were a little thing. The smallest baby I'd ever seen. And I couldn't look at you – No. Let me finish. I… I felt terrible. I saw you and I couldn't bring myself to think about anything but what I had caused.

"I knew what Laufey was doing. I knew how he was mistreating Farbauti. Your mother, your grandmother, they were all looking for her and I knew where she was. Where she had been for years. Locked away and set loose whenever Laufey had use of her.

"I tried talking him out of it. We were friends. Right from the beginning. Just two businessmen, ready and willing to take over the world.

"And then there was you.

"Your mother loved you. We all loved you. I – well I suppose it was my pride. But when I did hold you, you looked at me and I suppose I thought to myself 'I can be his father,' and I loved you too.

"I wanted so much to make you love me. Trust me. Depend on me. I didn't want you to see me and think, 'I want my real father.' I was frightened, Loki. So very frightened.

"Did you think I could be? I can see you do not believe me.

"I have never stopped being frightened, Loki. I am afraid that you will find a different family. One that you love and want and need. That you will abandon us. That Laufey will come and take you from us. It would kill your mother. It'd kill me."

o0o0o0o0o0o

Laufey.

Loki had looked him up after his father had left. Laufey Löfgren, President and Founder of Löfgren Corp, the clean energy powerhouse that monopolized the entire field. If anyone wanted anything done when it came to clean energy, they came to Laufey Löfgren. The leader in technology and scientific advancements, with a headquarters in nearly every large city in the world.

Laufey Löfgren was a billionaire; married, two sons, each attending prestigious universities. He founded a charity in 2008, whose sole goal was to make clean water available for poor countries. He was a member of Sierra Club, on the board of directors for Make-a-Wish Foundation, and was an active supporter of cancer awareness and research, as his mother had died of lung cancer when he was fifteen.

He was as good a guy as anyone could possibly get. And yet Odin, Frigga, everyone had told him that he was a horrid man. That he would hurt Loki. That he was nasty and spiteful, when the whole world saw him as a saint.

Loki didn't know what the truth was.

o0o0o0o0o

"What of Tony?"

Odin's jaw clenched slightly and Loki wondered if he had overstepped a line. But it had to be said. Odin couldn't think that he could escape every bad deed due to his overprotective nature. Just because he was insecure.

"What of your treatment of our relationship?"

o0o0o0o0o0o0o

He had called Tony just before going to bed, but he hadn't answered. He'd call him again when the sun was high in the sky and give him the good news.

His father was willing to let them date. Not secretly, but out in the open so the whole world could see. And wasn't that fantastic?

They could be together.

o0o0o0o0o

"I do not trust Stark. Not yours, but rather his father. I may have one eye, but I can still see the way he looks at Frigga. Like he wishes to devour her whole.

Why should not his son be like his father? To take and use and abuse, for the sake of it. For the thrill. The power."

"Tony isn't like that."

"I can't believe that. Not without doubt creeping forth."

"Do you doubt me?"

"No."

"Then believe me when I say Tony is not like his father."

"Truly?"

Loki nodded. "He is kind, and patient, and wants nothing more than to make me happy. And I him."

"You're only sixteen."

"I did not say I was in love with him, father."

"You didn't have to."

o0o0o0o0o0o

Did he love Tony?

He barely knew him. How long had they been involved romantically? It couldn't be more than a month. And yet his dad seemed to realize what Loki could not name. Love.

It couldn't be.

Loki let out a breath as All I Want for Christmas is You began playing.

It was true that Loki thought of Tony constantly. But it didn't plague his mind. He'd see something and think, 'Tony would like that,' Or, 'Tony would find that funny.' He could hear his voice when Loki was thinking rude things. He could feel him reassure him when things went bad and wrong.

But also, Loki would think of Tony's smile. How bright it was and how when Tony turned it towards Loki, it was like he was all Tony saw. No one ever looked at Loki like that.

He was no one. Unimportant. It was something Loki knew like he knew the names of each dwarf in The Hobbit, how many Star Trek films and shows were created, the exact hat size of Buster Keaton, and every word uttered in all three Back to the Future films. Until Tony came along.

Suddenly he was wanted and needed and adored and maybe Loki wasn't in love now, but he very well could be, given enough time.

Author's Note: And I rise from the dead to bring you this chapter. It's been a while. I apologize. But I have been replying to reviews. Mainly from last chapter and chapter 34. I really need to get back on that. I'm at school now, and though I have a bazillion writing projects (including my thesis. Oh god guys, I'm actually starting to write my feature. Mahal, take the wheel), I will try to update weekly.

Hope this chapter was worth the super long wait. I more or less know how Christmas day will pan out and I'm excited. On another note, even though I have a million writing projects, my brain wants me to start another frostiron fic. So if you guys and gals have anything in particular you want me to write, feel free to prompt me. Either message me, leave a review, or find me on tumblr. And I'll start on it as soon as I finish with my Frostiron Bang story.

Okey doke. I think that's all... Aardvark!