Ava woke in the middle of the night to find that Loki was not beside her. She kicked the covers off and pushed herself up into a sitting position. She climbed out of bed and walked out onto the terrace, not surprised to find Loki there. "Is something wrong?" She asked, coming to stand beside him.
"What are you doing awake?" Loki asked. "Did I wake you?"
"No." She answered. "I just had a weird dream and woke up. What's wrong?"
"I just had a dream where our baby came out looking like a Frost Giant." Loki answered.
"So?" Ava asked. "My weird dream I just had we had a litter of kittens."
Loki let out a small chuckle. "Yes, but mine could become a reality."
Ava looped her arm through Loki's and hugged herself to him. "You don't look like a Frost Giant, unless you're touching the casket."
"Or if another touches me and tries to burn me." Loki added.
"And you're half. This child has even less Frost Giant." Ava replied. "Everything is going to be just fine."
"I suppose you're right." Loki replied.
"What else?" Ava asked.
"What else what?"
"What else is bothering you?" Ava clarified.
"Nothing." Loki answered. "You should get some rest."
"You're not getting rid of me that easy." She replied. "And we are not doing this whole, you not talking to me thing again. Because when you don't talk to me, in my very hormonal, emotional, pregnant state, I assume the worst and start crying. So you had better talk to me."
Loki looked at Ava. "It's hard to talk about."
"That's usually when you need to talk about it the most." She replied. "It helps."
Loki sighed. "There's this part of me...that still isn't sure of who I am. I just found out that my entire life has been a lie. My parents lied to me...they aren't even my parents."
"You're life hasn't been a lie, Loki." Ava told him. "You are still the same person you've always been. Odin and Frigga are still your parents. They raised you, Loki. They love you... and you love them."
"But Frigga didn't carry me or give birth to me...they aren't my parents. They're my aunt and uncle."
"I am going to share with you another of the lessons I learned on Earth." Ava replied. "Gail and Hagar are my parents. Gail gave birth to me. She and Hagar love me and I love them. They raised me...until that day that I fell into the portal and landed on Earth. Then when I landed on Earth...I didn't remember who I was. I was found by a woman, Emma. She and her husband Jacob took me into their home and raised me as their child. They loved me and I loved them as my parents. I still love them as my parents...even though they died long ago and I am reunited with my real parents."
"What are you trying to say?"
"Just because Emma and Jacob weren't my biological parents doesn't mean that they weren't my parents. Just because they weren't responsible for my existence, that doesn't take away from the love that they gave me or the time I spent with them. The same goes for you with Odin and Frigga."
"Why is it that you always know exactly what to say?" Loki asked.
Ava smiled at him. "You married a genius. You didn't know that?"
Loki lifted his hand and cupped the side of Ava's face. "What did I ever do to deserve you?"
She stretched up and kissed him gently on the lips. "You're just as wonderful as you claim me to be."
Loki smiled. "I am glad that I have you. I don't think that I could get through this without you."
"I believe that this is what marriage is all about." Ava replied. "You were there for me when I needed you, and now I am here for you. That's how it works."
"I love you."
"I love you." Ava replied. "Now, why don't we go back to bed?"
"Alright." Loki agreed, kissing her forehead.
A/N: I'm not revealing the baby's gender until it's born. I still haven't decided yet on the gender or if I might make it twins and be one of each...but it will be happening soon. I have another little story arc that I'm thinking of putting in here, where Thor, feels a bit sad and envious of Loki's happiness and makes a wish and he and Loki end up switching bodies for a little while. What do you guys think?