Author's Note: LOOK! I'M NOT DEAD! It's a Thanksgiving Miracle!

Okay, now read the chapter, further notes afterwards.
(also the misspelling during the subtitle thing is supposed to be that way. OK!)

Tony grinned widely at the reporters who were craning their necks trying to grab his attention. He tucked his sunglasses into the inside pocket of his sports jacket as he arranged the mic on the podium. "Testing, one two three," he smirked into the microphone.

The reporters broke into laughter while Tony could hear Howard grinding his teeth behind him. Good. Merry Fucking Christmas to you, old man.

"I'll be taking questions now," Tony told his audience. And immediately the room erupted with questions:

"How soon will you be assuming a directorial role with Stark Industries?"

"Rumor is you'll be attending MIT next year. Does this mean you will be rescinding your application?"

"Do you think the job should have gone to someone older? More qualified?"

"What did you get for Christmas?"

The room was filled with laughter once again at the last reporter's question. Tony held up his hand and the room silenced. Hmmm. He could get used to this. "As explained earlier by my father, and Mr. Stane, I'm going to be put under their wing, to get a taste of the business. I'm not VP or an exec or anything important. If anything, I'm a glorified intern. An intern that's gonna be telling you to buy Stark phones.

"As the new face of Stark Industries, I will be navigating the company towards the 22nd century. Stark Industries prides itself on being the future of technology and weapons. I'm just bringing a younger perspective," Tony continued. "That doesn't mean I'm dropping out of school. If MIT will have me, I will happily join them. No one qualified lost an opportunity for a career at Stark Industries, and no one has lost their job because I've joined the team. Just an intern that happens to know the bosses."

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Laufey watched Tony Stark charm his way through the press conference from his television screen. The kid had charisma, that much was true. God, he was like a cookie cutout of his father. Laufey grimaced. Great. Just what he wanted.

"Dad," Helblindi said, as he stepped into his father's den, knocking on the door. "Mom wants to know if you're done brooding in here."

"Not brooding," Laufey replied absently, muting the television.

Byleistr knocked into his brother at full speed, causing Helblindi to "Oomph!" loudly. He shoved the other boy, scowling all the while. Byleistr huffed at Helblindi before smiling, draping himself over Helblindi. "Hot chocolate," Byleistr announced. "Get it while it's hot."

Laufey didn't reply, his eyes solely focused on the television screen. The closed captions scrolled past on the bottom.

I got the best Xmas presnt of them all. I got to spend the day with you guys.

(luaghter) We haven't had time at the Stark houselhodl to open up presnts. Here's to hoping I geta new tool kit.

Tony crossed his fingers in an exaggerated motion.

Helblindi and Byleistr looked at each other, raising eyebrows and twitching noses, communicating to each other as quietly as possible. "I'll be right there," Laufey told them, turning the sound back on the TV.

The boys closed the door to their father's den, making their way back to the living room where their mother, Nal, was sipping at her coffee and nibbling on a piece of chocolate. She looked up at her boys, and her smile fell upon noticing their father wasn't with them.

"He said he'd be right there," Helblindi told her, sitting cross legged on the floor and separating the presents that were under the tree.

"What's he doing now?" Nal asked.

Byleistr shrugged. "Watching some business conference or something. Stark Industries, I think."

Nal sighed, rising from her seat and making her way to Laufey's office. She knocked before stepping in, hands on her hips and a deep scowl set on her face.

"Yeah?" Laufey asked, eyes glued to the television.

"There are two boys waiting for you so they can open presents, you know," she told him. He didn't respond and she reached over him, grabbing the remote and turning off the TV.

Laufey blinked, turning round and scowling at his wife. "What?"

Nal rolled her eyes. "Hot chocolate. Presents. Living room. Now, if you please."

"Darling – "

"Don't start," she chastised, a finger raised and wagging. "It's Christmas. What's our rule?"

Laufey grumbled, "No working on Christmas."

"Exactly." Nal pulled Laufey out of his chair and shoved him into the hall. "Family time."

The scowl remained, but Nal didn't comment. It was normal for Laufey to get caught up in his work. And she was willing to let him at it, except on major holidays. Major holidays were her days. Hers and the boys.

"They're adults, you know," Laufey interrupted the silence. "Not boys."

"You wouldn't say that if you had been with me to buy that new train set for Billy," Nal snorted, wrapping her hand around Laufey's elbow.

He sighed, patting her hand lightly. She stopped walking, holding Laufey back. "What's wrong?" She knew what he'd say. He'd say nothing. He always said nothing, but sometimes, she wished he'd tell her. "You usually just pretend to be excited," she teased.

"Howard Stark's kid's already making headlines," Laufey told her. "The new face."

"Why are you always so concerned with Stark?" Nal asked. "You're not even each other's competition. He makes weapons for the military, for crying out loud."

"But his son – "

"What about your sons," Nal interrupted. "Billy went to see Odin, like you told him."

Laufey's interest was piqued. Byleistr had actually seen the old man. "Why didn't he tell me?" Laufey asked.

"Because you've been cooped away for the past week or so," Nal snorted.

He had actually gone and seen Odin. Had he seen… It was possible. It's not like Odin or Frigga were hiding him. If he hadn't seen Loki in the flesh than perhaps he saw pictures of him. And wouldn't that cause trouble in paradise.

Laufey glanced at his wife as they strolled into the living room, their sons throwing marshmallows into each other's mouths. At least trying to. They stopped their game upon seeing him.

They took after their mother. Always had. They were wider built, more prone to smiles and laughter. Byleistr had grey eyes, Helblindi had blue. Their hair was straight as an arrow and round faces. But they were just as pale, had the same black hair, and as immune to bullshit as he was.

No one could deny his paternal contribution to their genetic code.

And what if Billy had seen Loki? Could he deny the similarities?

Laufey had kept tabs on Loki. Why shouldn't he? He was his son, after all. And the older got the more Laufey knew he had to worry. Pawning his son off to the Odinsons was, perhaps, not his brightest idea, but it had gotten rid of the boy.

But if Tony Stark was going to be the new face, there would be increased interest. It would only be a matter of time before they take notice of the kid's boyfriend, and then they'd research him, only to discover: Oh, he's Odin's son, and what's that? He looks oddly like Laufey, don't you think?

No. He couldn't let that happen.

"Dad," Helblindi said, handing Laufey a small, neatly wrapped box. "Open mine first." Laufey took it and smiled.

"Thanks."

Author's Note: I'm back! Hiatus over! *happy dance*

For those who follow me on Tumblr, I said I'd be back a couple of weeks ago but then life snuck up on me and locked me in a closet. Not cool. But there are no more film shoots I need to be on. Hopefully, by the end of this weekend, my thesis will be caught up, and so will all my other fan fics. Because while on hiatus I decided to do more things. And none of the things I said I was going to do.

DO YOU SEE MY PROBLEM? I AM A LIAR MCLIAR PANTS.

But thanks for understanding and still sticking by this fic. It's not the greatest, but it entertains ;) And really that's all that matters. You, my readers, are the best! So this chapter is dedicated to you all. Go forth and do lovely things.

New chapter will be up either this weekend or a week from now.

Woot woot! Aardvark!