Chapter 37 -
The strange sense of wrongness that had come over her a few moments ago had vanished without a trace. Natasha squeezed her son even closer. Her arms were wrapped around him tightly. There had been a second when she had felt as if she had been pulled away from him yet she was still at his side. A strange ripple passed along her skin as she came to the realization that she hadn't moved at all. She knelt there holding onto him with all of her strength. The dark feeling was gone but she was still afraid.
"I'm here again?" Sacha whispered into her shoulder. "Was I gone very long?"
"You never went anywhere, Sweetheart," Natasha murmured soothingly as she placed a series of kisses along the back of his head.
"Of course I did, Mommy," the little boy reiterated as he pulled away slightly so that he could look into her eyes. "He did it… He destroyed it… She can't use it anymore."
"You mean the Moebius stone? Loki destroyed it? But you said only a few moments ago... I don't understand. What changed?" Natasha probed as she held his hands along her lap. A sigh of relief came over her body. "How do you know this?"
"I'm here aren't I, silly?" he grinned widely, showing off his dimples and the happiness in his dark blue eyes. "And the serum will work. I have seen that, too." His expression suddenly changed as his little eyebrows furrowed in concentration. "There is still the matter of the blonde one, the man. Wait... He searches for you." His smile deepened once more when he finished his sentence.
"Thor is looking for me?" the black widow inquired. Had something happened to Loki or Rowan? Thor knew that she was in Midgard. Why would he be looking for her? "Do you know why? What's happening?"
"Thor? Is that the blonde man's name?" Sacha mused as Natasha nodded. "I didn't mean him, Mommy. It is Loki. He will be here soon. He is just trying to find his way. Can't you feel it the way that I do? Don't you normally know when he comes?"
"You mean here in my dreams?" she smiled. Just the thought of seeing Loki even in a dream made her heartbeat quicken. If he came to her now he could meet their son. How strange but how wonderful, she thought happily. The stone was destroyed which meant that Rowan would live and she had the serum. Everything was going to be alright. The fear she had felt earlier was finally dissipating. "I don't know. He just appears or sometimes he is already there when I fall asleep. I never understood it very much. I suppose it depends on whose dreaming first." Then her sapphire eyes caught sight of him in the doorway of their bedroom chamber. His dark green gaze was glassy and bloodshot as if he had been crying for weeks and had not even begun to graze the surface of the tears that were held within him. His expression was so heartbreaking that she was afraid to speak. The panic and dread returning to her tenfold. She was scared to death of what he had sought her out to tell her. She stood up slowly still holding her son's hand enclosed in her own.
"Are you asleep?" he asked nervously not making the slightest move to come any closer than the entranceway. It was an odd question. How else would she be here? She nodded her head but words seemed lost to her. Did something happen to Rowan? No, Sacha had told her that she would be fine if they got rid of the stone. Why was her husband in such a state of despair? Was it Thor? "Do you remember what you were doing before you fell asleep? Are you… are you alright wherever you are? I can't imagine why I would be sleeping. Perhaps, I am injured. I don't know. This… this feels real to me, Natasha, but… my mind is so messed up. I'm... afraid to touch you. I'm scared to death to move." He admitted. He brushed his hand through his long black hair, his hand visibly shaking as he did so. His gaze dropped to the floor. "I'm afraid you'll disappear if I do. That I was too late… that I can't fix it… that you really are gone." He looked up at her then. His dark emerald eyes fixed on hers. There was so much sadness held within them, so much regret and fear. What had happened? "That… I… I've lost you all and it's entirely my fault. I'm so sorry, my little spider." Natasha rushed into his embrace, pressing her head against his chest as she wrapped her arms around him tightly. He heaved a sigh of relief as he held onto her. "You are my whole world. You and our children, nothing else matters… nothing."
"I'm fine, Loki," she promised as she squeezed him tighter. She could feel his heartbeat thundering in his chest, his entire body was trembling. "Tobit is giving me the serum that is why I'm asleep. You weren't too late. You destroyed the stone and everything's alright." She felt his lips against the top of her head, his hand running through her hair until he settled on one curl. She could feel him gliding it back and forth through his fingers playfully. It was a habit that he had and one that she loved dearly.
"How do you know that I destroyed it?" Loki questioned. She could hear the tremor in his voice as he continued to twirl the soft curl while his other arm pressed tightly against the small of her back.
"Our son told me." She kissed his chest through the fabric of his shirt. She could feel his heart slowly returning to a more natural rhythm as he seemed to finally get control over his emotions.
"You don't forget things when he is here." The little voice contemplated from behind them. "Is it by touch too or just his presence?" She loosened her hold on her husband slightly as she turned back toward their son. He raised his right eyebrow curiously. "Hello, Loki," Sacha chirped. The barest hint of a smile along his lips as he stared up at his father. Loki gazed at him in silence for a moment. His dark green eyes never blinking as he observed the tiny boy. Then he let go of her without warning and strutted towards the small child, picking him up in one fell swoop and hugging him fiercely.
"My little man," he pronounced as he held him tightly in one arm and turned back toward his wife, his other arm extended toward her. "May I hold you both, my darling?" She slid herself into the crook of his shoulder enjoying the feel of his body so close to hers once more and the view of the two of them together. 'My men,' she reflected happily to herself. He leaned forward brushing his lips softly against hers as he whispered. "I love you, Natasha." Loki turned his attention back to the child that he supported against his hip. "This is quite fantastical and hard to believe but how I've longed to meet you, Sacha. It is a strong name for a strong boy." He kissed his forehead causing the little boy to giggle. "I love you, my son." She breathed in her husband's musky scent and smiled as she leaned her head against his chest. She wanted to just lose herself in the happiness of the moment but the spy in her would not let her forget his earlier words and the fear and desperation in his eyes when he had arrived.
"Loki, you said you didn't know if you were injured? What has happened? Are you in Jotunnheim? Did you find Rowan?" The black widow inquired nervously. But before he could respond she felt the sharp pull at her consciousness as her eyes suddenly darted open. The first thing she noticed was the iv protruding from the back of her hand, the slight tape holding it in as the intravenous tubing trailed up to the metal pole at the side of the bed. Two bags hung from the stand, one a clear solution and the other a pale blue. She assumed one of them was the serum. She began to gaze around the room. She knew immediately where she was but she couldn't remember being brought here. Had she really been unconscious for that long? The last thing she remembered she was on the floor of an old ballet studio in California. So exactly when had Steve brought her to Stark Towers? And why here and not Shield? She tried to ease herself up into a sitting position being careful not to exert any pressure on her right arm. She wondered where everyone was and if JARVIS had informed them that she was awake. She had a lot of questions and she wanted some answers.
"I suppose this is what happens when you entrust a mortal to do the work intended for a god." Her shrilling voice came out of nowhere and it startled Natasha more than she would ever like to admit. "I see you have the medicine that you were so desperate for. It won't be much help to you once I snuff out your pathetic little life."
"You don't frighten me, LoreLei," Natasha remarked coolly. "I'm not nearly as weak as you would like to believe."
"You mortals are so full of bluster for such an inferior race of beings," Lorelei needled as she moved languidly about the room. "Is that what attracts him to you I wonder? Your false bravado even in the face of death."
"I see you are a lot like your sister," the black widow taunted as she glanced around the room for anything that she could possibly use for a weapon. "You love to hear yourself speak." The sorceress stormed toward the bed and grabbed the thin tubes dangling from the stand. With one strong tug she ripped them out of her arm. The assassin bit back a scream at the sharp pain that reverberated up her limb. Her dark blue eyes staring back at the goddess maliciously.
"There is no way I'm going to let you have another one of his brats," Lorelei slithered evilly as she loomed over her. "What a wretched being you've turned him into. Kneeling at your feet like a love sick puppy. You've made him a shell of what he once was but I'm going to fix that."
"Envious much?" Natasha gibed with a cocky tilt of her head. Her sapphire eyes caught sight of her boots on the floor leaning against the nightstand at the side of the bed. She slid her body barely a centimeter closer to the edge trying not to attract the sorceress' attention to her movements.
"Hardly," Lorelei cackled as she threw her head back in an exaggerated laugh. "There is nothing about you that I covet. You are far beneath me."
"Not to Loki," Natasha goaded as she moved a little bit more. "Did you come here to rid yourself of your supposed rival? Is that what this is? Because hurting me does nothing to help you free your sister?" She inched forward again. "Let me clear things up for you. There is no competition." She let her leg fall over the side of the mattress.
"Where do you think you're going?" the goddess bit off as she glowered at her. Natasha rose slightly from the bed, pretending to falter as she slid to her knees while she continued to hold the gaze of the sorceress. Hoping to keep her attention focused on her face as she reached cautiously next to her along the floor. "Look at you so feeble. You can't even stand. It isn't even a challenge."
"I'm just telling you like it is," the Black Widow divulged, her lips upturned in a sideways smile. "Loki is mine. And no matter what you do. He will always belong to me. Kill me if you want but you'll never have him." Her fingers reached gingerly into her boot as she felt the tip of the handle of her husband's dagger.
"I'm going to enjoy watching you die," Lorelei raged as she reached out and grabbed the assassin by the neck and hauled her off the floor. "He will finally know what it means to cross me. And I'll have earned his respect albeit grudgingly. In a millennia he won't even remember your name." Natasha could feel the pressure of her fingers along her windpipe as she struggled for breath but she held her focus, keeping her mind blank of emotion. There was no panic, no fear just the calm center that she had mastered since her youth as she swung her arm from behind her and shoved the blade deep into the goddess' stomach. She twisted the dagger and dug in deeper as the sorceress writhed in pain. Lorelei released her as her hands fell to her belly and the wound that was bleeding profusely. "You sneaky little harlot. You think you can kill me with your puny little weapon." But her eyes held a hint of worry as she noticed that the wound did not seal up immediately. She relaxed somewhat as she observed the blood flow begin to slow if ever so slightly but the bleeding didn't stop.
"It's an Asgardian dagger," Natasha grinned as she stood from the floor slowly. Holding the blade firmly in front of her as she took a fighting stance. If this woman thought she was going to go down without a fight she was sadly mistaken. "Much stronger metal than one of our puny Earthly knives. It was a gift from my husband." Lorelei extended her hand out in front of her. The sorceress' entire body was shaking with umbrage. Natasha watched as an eerie light began to form in the palm of her hand. Before she had a chance to react a rapid yellow beam of energy flew past her and crashed into the sorceress, knocking her a few feet away.
"Sorry for the delay, Nat," Tony quipped from his place at the doorway. He was dressed in his Iron Man suit but the face plate was lifted up so she could see his playful smirk. "When Jarvis said our visitor appeared out of thin air I figured suiting up was a good idea."
"No problem," Natasha answered stoically as she sauntered toward where he stood. Her leg muscles felt a little weak. She wondered how long she had been lying in that bed.
Lorelei reared up in a fury but Tony swiftly directed another pulse in her direction. She lifted her hands forming a force field around herself as the beam bounced back toward them. They both dashed out of the way. "You can't protect her forever," she spouted in her shrill voice. "I will have my victory."
"You're going to need a map for that," Tony prodded mockingly.
"What?" She gaped, clearly confused by his words.
"To Hell, you know… a map to hell," Iron Man ribbed as he winked at the Black Widow. "Cause' you need to go there. That's my fancy way of saying 'go to hell'." He raised both of his hands in her direction, the pulsars on his palms clearly charging for an extra potent round of fire. "And this is my fancy way of saying 'get the hell out of my house'." Lorelei narrowed her eyes as she seemed to contemplate her options.
"I'm a patient woman. Until next time, dear," She grinned wickedly before she disappeared.
"Charming lady," Tony remarked. His voice filled with sarcasm as he lifted his helmet off his head. "So exactly how many women are looking to kill you, Nat? Shield's got that other one we brought in from LA under lock and key."
"What am I doing here, Stark?" Natasha inquired without emotion. She took a few step towards the door but he placed his hand against her shoulder.
"Yeah, you're welcome," he smirked. "Listen go ahead and lie down. I'll get your little Viking doctor in here to check on you, alright. We should probably get that medicine pumping into you again. You got to think of the little muchacho, okay?" She sighed audibly as she moved back to the bed. She hated it but she knew he was right. She had to make sure that she took the exact dose that was needed to protect her son.
"Fine, but I still want answers," the black widow insisted as she lied down on the mattress. "How did I get here and why?"
"Jarvis, send in the little hobbit," Tony called out to the thin air before moving closer to the bed.
"It's Tobit," Natasha corrected, crossing her legs as she settled herself against the pillows.
"Yeah, whatever." Stark stated matter-of-factly. "Look, it's pretty simple, sweet-cheeks. Hawkeye told Steve that the reason you went to Asgard was because you were having problems with the baby and you didn't trust Shield doctors. So when you went belly up in LA, he called me and I brought you here in my private jet. You've been out of it for about eight hours."
"Thank you," she replied simply. The door opened as Tobit peered inside cautiously.
"Don't mention it," Iron Man winked. "Alright doc, get to it." The Royal healer walked toward the bed as he let his hand hover across her abdomen. A pale yellow light fanned out from his fingertips until her entire body was covered completely. "I'll never get used to that."
"It is over," the elderly doctor grinned down at her as he let the light from his enchantment fade away. "Your body is at peace, Your Royal Highness. It is like night and day from when I first saw you. Quite amazing actually. I don't believe you need any more medicine. It has done what it was made to do. And your son is very active. If you don't mind me saying, prepare yourself for quite a ruckus inside of you in a few months when he is big enough to make his presence known physically. Yes… yes… he is a world wind of energy now that he no longer has to hold back the storms."
"Thank you, Tobit," Natasha smiled softly as she laid her hand gently along his forearm. "Thank you for everything that you've done for us."
"Will we be going back home now, Your Royal Highness?" the healer requested eagerly. She understood the feeling. She wanted nothing more than to be back in Asgard with her husband helping him rescue their daughter.
"Unfortunately, no," she told him regrettably. "We have to wait for Loki to find a way to us. And with the war going on I don't know how long that will be."
"I've been working on something for Shield... a gateway," Tony cut in. "Fury doesn't like that the doorway between our worlds can only be opened from the other side. Especially, after two of his top agents went off without being heard from again for more than a week. I think I could finally get it to work if I had a big enough chunk of that Uru stone."
"I just told you," the black widow reiterated. "They can't open a way here. The tesseract isn't working, nothing's working. The dark elves have cast some sort of enchantment over the realm. So how do you expect them to send you that?"
"Your husband's supposed to be so clever isn't he? So maybe he can find a way? At any rate, I've left messages for Heimdall if he's listening. Fury doesn't like the fact that Hawkeye didn't come back with you," Stark continued to press. "He doesn't like the idea of abandoning one of his own in some foreign realm and neither do I."
Natasha dropped her gaze to her left hand that was resting against her lap. She rubbed the thumb of her other hand back and forth along the diamond and rubies adorning her finger. She prayed that Hawkeye and Rowan were okay. "He's taking care of my daughter." Barton had saved her life so many times, never hesitating to risk himself in the process. She hadn't been the least bit surprised when he had taken it upon himself to help Rowan. She hoped that Loki remembered that when he went to Jotunnheim. If he wasn't already there. Natasha thought back to his cryptic remarks. He didn't know if he was injured. What did he mean by that? And why had he been so frightened that he had lost them after destroying the stone? She twisted the white gold of her wedding band wistfully. She was powerless to do anything to help any of them. She hated this feeling. She was a woman of action not one to be sedentary and so utterly ineffective. But what could she do? Natasha stood up from the bed abruptly. "Enough sitting around here," she commanded. "Look, Stark, we might not have access to this uru stuff but who knows what other minerals or orbs Shield has collected over the years. I think it's time we took a look through their cargo hold. There might be something useful."
"Sheild hasn't exactly offered me carte blanche on this project even Fury has to answer to his higher ups," Tony advised. "And I don't recall either of us having security clearance for that particular section of the ship. The suits might not like it if we go snooping around."
"When has that ever stopped you?" the black widow probed. Her dark green eyes surveying him closely.
"Good point." Iron Man mused as he moved towards the door. Natasha followed behind him as she rested her hand along her stomach protectively. She tried to concentrate on all the positive things that she knew of and clear her mind of all her worries. The threat to her child from the Red Room's machinations was over and Sacha had assured her that if the stone was destroyed that Rowan would live. She just needed to find a way back into Asgard so that she could help in the search for Clint and her daughter. She wouldn't stop trying until she found a way to get home. She kept seeing the look on her husband's face when he had appeared in the doorway. Something happened, something very bad for him to have been so shaken. The more she thought about it the more desperate she was to leave earth. She had a feeling deep within her soul that Loki needed her.