Frigga found Loki sitting on a bench in the garden, staring off lost in thought. "Loki?" She said, getting his attention.
Loki looked up. "What are you doing here?" He asked.
Frigga walked over and sat down beside him. "Why don't you tell me what's going on?"
"Father told me the truth last night." Loki answered.
"I know." Frigga replied. "I wanted to tell you from the beginning, but we never wanted you to feel any different, Loki. You are our son."
"But I'm not. I'm your nephew." Loki replied. "And a Frost Giant."
Frigga put a hand on his shoulder. "I may not have carried you or given birth to you, but I have raised you and I love you as my own. You are my son, Loki."
"I wish you would have told me sooner." Loki replied. "Before I married Ava and before she got pregnant with my child."
"Are you worried about Ava?" Frigga asked.
"Of course I am." Loki answered. "I saw what that Joten did to her arm last night. All I can think about is her being hurt from carrying my child or the Joten in me taking control and hurting her."
"Loki, Darling, that isn't going to happen." Frigga assured him. "Everything has been fine with her pregnancy so far and you've been married for three years and no harm has come to her."
"But that doesn't mean something won't happen."
"You can't be afraid of hurting her, Loki. You can't let that come between you two." Frigga told him. "She's worried about you and your marriage."
"What do you mean?" Loki asked.
"I went to check on her and redress her wound…she was in tears about the distance that has begun between the two of you. She said that you were there with her, but you were worlds away. You have to talk to her, Loki."
"What if once she finds out the truth…I lose her love?" Loki asked. "Every scenario that runs through my mind…I lose her, whether it's from her death or from her learning the truth."
"Loki, Ava loves you and nothing will change that. You have to talk to her. You have to tell her." Frigga encouraged him.
"I can't." Loki countered.
"You have to Loki." Frigga replied. "You have to stop this from coming between the two of you and the only way to do that is to get it out in the open. I know it's hard, Sweetheart, but Ava needs you and you need her."
"I'll let her rest for a bit longer." Loki replied, letting out a resigned sigh.
Frigga wrapped her arms around Loki and kissed his forehead. She then rose and left him alone, knowing that he needed to think.
Loki waited another hour and headed back to his chambers. He found Ava standing out on the terrace, leaning on the railing and looking out at the sky. "How is your arm?" He asked.
"It is healing." She answered, not turning to face him. Her voice sounded strained, as if she were trying to keep from crying.
Loki knew that it was because of the way he had been acting that she was crying and he instantly felt horrible for making her feel that way. "My love, are you alright?" He asked, already knowing the answer.
She turned to face him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "What happened last night?" She asked. "Before the party everything was fine, we were happy. Then after the attack…and this morning…you were so distant. Did I do something?"
Loki's heart ached for her. He walked over to her and cupped her face in his hands. He used his thumbs to wipe at the tears that escaped her eyes. "You didn't do anything, my love…I just…I have a lot on my mind."
"Then talk to me about it." Ava said. "You're always there for me when I need to talk because of something bothering me…let me do the same for you."
Loki looked into her eyes. He could see the concern and love she had for him. "I'm afraid that once I tell you, I will never see the light of love in your eyes again when you look at me."
"There is nothing you could ever say or do that would make me stop loving you, Loki."
Loki pulled Ava to him and pressed his lips to hers. He broke the kiss after a few moments. "I hope you still feel that way after I give you my news." Loki replied.
"Well, what is it?" Ava asked.
"The best way is for me to show you." Loki replied, removing his hands from her face. He took her hand. "Come with me." He then led her from their room and down to the weapons vault.
"What are we doing here?" Ava asked.
"You'll see." Loki answered, taking her to stand in front of the casket. He pulled her hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on the palm of her hand. Then he walked over to the other side of the casket. "I'm not...who I always thought I was." He then placed his hands on either side of the casket.
Ava watched as Loki's flesh turned blue. She wrinkled her brow in confusion. "Loki, what's going on?"
"Odin and Frigga aren't really my parents. I'm half Frost Giant." Loki answered.
Ava looked at her husband, his blue flesh. She couldn't think of anything to say. She looked into his eyes, his red eyes. As she gazed into his eyes, though they had changed color, they were still the same. She could see all of the pain, the sadness, and the uncertainty in his eyes. She wanted to take away all of his pain...and she knew how.
Ava walked up to stand beside him. She reached her hand out and grabbed one of his hands and removed it from the casket. She took and put his arm around her, his hand at the small of her back. She then reached a hand up and touched her fingertips to his face and traced her fingers along his flesh. She stretched up on her toes and pressed her lips to his.
Loki hesitated for a moment before letting himself give into the kiss. He broke the kiss after a few moments, pulling back to look into Ava's eyes. She was still looking at him the same way she always had.
"Is this what you thought could make me love you any less?" She asked.
"Yes." Loki answered. "I'm not who I thought I was."
"You are still you, Loki." Ava countered. "You're still the same man you always were. You are still the man that I fell in love with...you're still the boy that I grew up with and played with in these very halls."
"But...I was created when Laufey kidnapped Edda, Odin's sister, and...I was created from violence...rape." Loki protested.
"One of the things that I learned from being on Earth, is that it doesn't matter how you came into being, where you're from, your status in life...none of those things define you. What defines you, what matters is what you do with your life." Ava countered.
Loki released his hold on the casket and lifted his hand to stroke Ava's cheek. His skin slowly began to return to its normal color. "Ava...how can you say that?"
"Because Loki, I know you. You are the boy I played with. My first friend. My best friend. The boy who did his tricks just to make me smile. The man who came to Earth just to find me and bring me home. You are the man who has cared for me when I am ill. You have shown me affection and tenderness and love. You are still the man I married. The man I love. And the father of my child."
"That's another thing that concerns me." Loki replied.
"What?" Ava asked.
"What if you carrying my child hurts you?" Loki inquired. "And what if at some point, I hurt you because of the Joten in me?"
"I am two months away from delivering this child, Loki. I believe that if anything were to happen, that it would have by now. Besides, I'm being watched closely by your mother and the healers. As far as you harming me, I doubt that that will happen. I'm sure it would have by now."
"But what if it does? What if I lose control?"
"I can think of several instances that would have been the perfect time for you to lose control and you haven't." Ava replied, a suggestive smile on her face.
"I tell you I'm a Frost Giant and your mind still goes there?" Loki replied, feeling a bit more normal.
"I can't help it." Ava replied. "I have a very handsome husband, whom I love very much."
Loki's hand slid from Ava's cheek to the back of her head. He rested his forehead against hers. "I have never been happier to hear you say those words."
"I love you, Loki. Nothing can change that."
Loki pulled Ava to him and kissed her softly on the lips. After a few moments, Ava broke the kiss and giggled. "What?" Loki asked.
"The baby is moving." Ava answered with a smile. "I think he or she approves."
Loki returned her smile. "I am truly blessed to have you...both of you."
Ava wrapped her arms around Loki and rested her head on his shoulder. "And you will always have us. No matter what."
Loki wrapped his arms around Ava and stroked her hair. He kissed the top of her head. He felt reassured at having her there in his arms. Part of him still couldn't believe that she had accepted the truth about him so easily. Another part felt ridiculous for ever doubting her love. There was another part of him that still wasn't entirely sure he knew who he was, but he suppressed that part for the time being and just enjoyed the moment with his wife. He would worry about the rest later.