GUYS IT'S THE MOMENT EVERYONE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR!

This is no doubt the most anticipated chapter of this whole fic. I hope I've done it justice and I hope everybody enjoys it.

Thank you for your patience, everybody ;)

Few things to note: I have never been pregnant or given birth, so everything I write here is from a result of me researching what I can via the internet, people's experiences and my friend's reliable knowledge of childbirth. So if you see anything that seems unrealistic, know that I tried to make this realistic, and that I wanted to avoid all the cliche stuff you see in media because half the time that stuff is not realistic in the slightest xD


Hydrangeas Say Our Family Will Flourish

Chapter Sixteen: Of All The Things My Hands Have Held

Loki had been hoping the two weeks remaining until Amelia's due date arrived would offer him time to build courage for the approaching day, but he had not accounted for the fact that sometimes, babies wanted to be born just a little bit earlier.

He did not want to admit that he was scared, that his nerves were shot, especially not while his wife was the one currently looking as pale as a sheet and heaving laboured breaths in an attempt to calm herself. He had to be strong and fearless in Amelia's presence for her sake, because he knew that any uncertainty on his part would mean ten times the anxiety for Amelia.

He and Amelia had been taken to a special branch of the infirmary - a royal suite of sorts that included the softest bed, and floral decor that was meant as a calming aid - and the latter was now lying on the bed after having changed into an infirmary gown, her hands resting on her bump and her eyes resting on the ceiling. Loki thought perhaps she was trying to distract herself from the occasional pains by counting the many golden painted swirls above.

Inga had rushed to examine Amelia as soon as she heard of the commotion and had concluded that she had entered established labour, meaning it was no false alarm - it was really happening and there was no time for Loki to process this.

Amelia wasn't in a talkative mood, as every time Loki tried to comfort her, she would cut him off swiftly with a snappy 'yes, I know, I know' but Loki supposed he couldn't blame her for not being a chatterbox while she was dealing with the currently infrequent contraction pains. From what he had read, they could be quite painful, and would only get worse as the labour progressed.

He was dreading what was to come. The average labour time was eight hours. Eight. It was awful to see Amelia in pain, and he couldn't think of anything he could say to soothe her. He'd known the birth wasn't going to be a breeze, but there was a difference between believing everything would be fine and that Amelia would go through it like a champ, and actually being there in front of her and witnessing her pained flinches and moans as her body prepared itself for the imminent event.

At the very least, Inga's team of nurses were doing everything to make Amelia as comfortable as possible, from fluffing up her pillows to coaching her through breathing exercises. Loki had imagined he would be very useful when it came to soothing Amelia's anxiety during labour, but here he was, completely and utterly useless.

He sat in the chair beside the bed, stewing in his own worries. It felt like there was a weight on his chest making it difficult for him to breathe; it was a very real possibility that this time tomorrow, his two children would be born and he'd be able to hold them in his arms, and that was if they were lucky. Some labours went on for days. He couldn't imagine Amelia pushing through that, he didn't want Amelia to have to endure for that long. She'd carried the babies for nine months as they grew, and it hadn't been easy. The least fate could afford them was an easy birth.

Beyond that, Loki couldn't stop the burrowing thought in his head that his children would be blue-skinned and red-eyed. He didn't know what he would do or how he would react if that were to happen. Amelia said she would love them no matter what, but what if- what if?

Loki hated to think about the 'what ifs', because whenever he did, he pictured the worst case scenario. His thoughts of doubt led to thoughts of guilt. He shouldn't have been questioning Amelia's unconditional love for her children. Did it make him a bad person to think that Amelia could possibly reject her babies?

"You're four centimetres dilated, Amelia. You'll need to be ten centimetres dilated before the birthing process can begin, and that could take anywhere from hours to days. At the moment, your contractions seem to be around thirty minutes apart and lasting about half a minute each time. How is the pain?" Inga inquired, resting her hand on Amelia's arm, "I'd prefer not to give you a pain relief concoction until a little later into labour, as you may end up needing more, and too much can interfere with the birthing process, but if the pain is unbearable, we can still use it sparingly."

Amelia blinked, taking a deep breath before nodding, "I'm okay at the moment. I can handle it."

Inga nodded her head, offering a comforting smile, "Good. You're doing fine so far. Remember, if you need anything, just ask. I'll be here monitoring your progress regularly so we can keep track of how dilated you are."

Loki was surprised by Amelia's decision to turn pain relief away, he had thought she would want it given how distressed she appeared to be; it filled him with unease to see her so vulnerable. He turned to Inga, eyebrows furrowed, "Do you know how long this will take?"

Inga quirked an eyebrow, looking far from amused, "This is not something that can be rushed, prince. As I said, it can take anywhere from hours to days."

"Amelia can't handle this for days-" Loki was interrupted.

"I can if I have to!" Amelia snapped, drawing his attention. She almost looked insulted that Loki had spoken for her.

"I just- I'm worried for you, Amelia," Loki admitted.

Amelia gave an audible sigh, shaking her head as she subconsciously rubbed her belly; Loki simply couldn't decipher what his wife's reaction was supposed to mean. She was acting weirdly cryptic at the worst possible time, and Loki found himself feeling that Amelia wanted some space.

Biting his lip, Loki cleared his throat, "Are you- do you need anything to eat?" He needed a reason to leave the room for a little while.

"No," Amelia shook her head.

"Do you need anything to drink?" Loki tried again.

"No, I'm fine," was Amelia's curt response, "I have water." Indeed, there was a pitcher and a cup on the nearby table.

Loki stood from his seat, oscillating for a moment as he wondered if leaving Amelia's side was a good idea, before making up his mind, "I need to- go outside for a moment."

"What?" Amelia looked away from the ceiling to pin him with a look of incredulity, "Why? Where are you going?"

Loki couldn't quite bring himself to look her in the eyes, "Just out. For a moment. I'll be back soon, I need some air." He quickly walked around the bed and headed for the door, catching the disapproving stare from Inga as he went, and heard Amelia mutter under her breath before he left.

"Oh, you need some air, do you?"


Loki felt guilty for walking out on Amelia, but he really had needed some air. The atmosphere in the infirmary suite was thick and difficult to breathe, and on top of that, he definitely felt as though his presence had been nothing but irritating for Amelia, given how she had reacted to him. He wasn't proud of his urge to escape, but it hadn't felt right to stay put and continue having a silent struggle with his anxiety.

He stood now on a large open balcony, breathing in the crisp winter air which was much more his style, inhaling deep steadying breaths to try and control his fears. With one hand gripping the balcony railing, he used the other to drag down his face and groan. He must have looked pitiful from the outside.

He was a powerful Asgardian prince who had been waiting months in anticipation for the birth of his children, and now the day had come, he was practically paralysed with terror. No enemy or monster he had fought in the past had ever come close to leaving him quaking in his boots like he was now, not even facing Thanos was as nerve-wracking as watching Amelia go through labour.

He welcomed the breeze that brushed over him, staring down at the kingdom. The lower-class populace of Asgard were going about their day, likely unaware that Amelia had gone into labour, although news did spread quickly, so it was only a matter of time.

Some time after the birth they would head down into the city, so that the people of Asgard could look upon the faces of the new prince and princess, but not until they were a few months old and the weather had warmed up a little. Even if his children took after him and had a natural immunity to chilly weather, he felt it would be cruel to parade them around while it was still cold out, especially when the embracing warmth of the sun would be much more pleasant to feel upon their skin.

But first, Loki had to get through today. Or, if they were unlucky, the next few days.

"What are you doing out here?" Loki was surprised to hear Thor's disbelieving voice come from behind him, he had expected the King would be busying himself with his duties and preparing for the, ah, arrival, of the new royal children.

Loki sighed and told his brother the truth, "I couldn't breathe in there. I couldn't find a way to be useful either."

Thor approached and stood by his brother, staring him down with a cynical look, "Are you jesting? She's your wife and she's in labour! You need to be with her!"

"Inga said it could take days, I don't need to be with Amelia every second of it," Loki argued, trying to brush off Thor's accusatory words despite the fact that each syllable felt like a punch to the chest.

"If Amelia needs to be there for every second of it, I think you should too," Thor stated bluntly, a frown marring his face, "really, brother. Why are you out here? It's unlike you to leave Amelia alone when she obviously needs you by her side."

Loki clenched the balcony railing harder to stop his hands from shaking, "I'm not so sure she did want me by her side. She just seemed so prickly and dismissive whenever I tried to comfort her."

Thor looked sceptical, eyeing Loki with his mismatched eyes like he was some fool - it didn't help Loki's already peevish mood to have his bothersome brother telling him he was making a mistake when Thor didn't understand the situation.

"What makes you think she didn't want you there? Maybe she's just worried."

"She responded better to comfort from Inga than from me. She was giving me one-word answers when I asked if she was alright. She kept cutting me off when I tried to calm her when she was in pain from the contractions." Gripping the railing wasn't working to hide his shaky hands, so he crossed his arms instead.

Thor was quiet for a moment, tilting his head as he observed his brother's tense posture and rigid position, "Well, perhaps your attempt at comforting wasn't working because… you're also clearly terrified?"

"What?" Loki spat, glaring at his brother.

Thor raised his hands and smiled. "It doesn't take a genius to see that you're an anxious mess, Loki. And I don't blame you! I would be too if I had a wife in labour and twin babies on the way! But maybe Amelia doesn't need her husband buzzing with anxiety at her side while she's just as, if not more, frightened of what's to come."

"Exactly," Loki hissed, begrudgingly admitting his nervousness, "that's why I'm out here where I can't bother her."

"But she doesn't need that either," Thor argued, "she wants you by her side, but you need to be strong and supportive and you need to tell her, with confidence, that everything's going to be fine."

Loki looked at his brother, lips parted in surprise.

"Do you understand what I'm saying, Loki? She was most likely antsy and irritated because she could sense your fear. You're allowed to be nervous, but if she's relying on you for assurance, you need to convince her that everything will be fine." Thor grabbed his brother by the shoulders, giving him a sympathetic smile, "I can't imagine exactly what you're feeling, as I've never been in the position you're in now, but… there must be some excitement under that fear somewhere, right? You'll soon be able to hold your children for the first time!"

A rush of adrenaline flooded through Loki at the thought, almost punching the breath out of his lungs in the process, and he let his gaze fall to his hands, which continued to tremble. He wondered if his hands would be steady when his newborn son or daughter was placed in his hold. He'd have to pull himself together at that point, he couldn't allow himself to hold his children if there was a chance he might drop one of them.

Loki swallowed and let out a breath, nodding his head, "Okay. I get it. I'm an idiot."

"Yes, an utter moron," his brother replied with a smirk, and then patted him on the back, "now go make the smart decision and return to your wife." Loki couldn't exactly argue with Thor when he knew he was right, and he left the balcony speedily without another word.

Loki rushed back through the palace corridors, paying the guards and servants no mind as he passed them by, though he certainly felt their curious stares on the back of his head - they'd probably never seen him looking so flustered before.

He reached the infirmary wing of the palace quickly, but before he could rush back into the royal suite, Inga exited the room and placed her hands on her hips upon spotting him across the hallway.

"I know," Loki said before Inga could open her mouth to speak, "I made a mistake. I'm back, I won't leave Amelia's side again."

"Good," Inga stated heavily.

"How is she?" Loki inquired.

"In pain, still. It's only been twenty-six minutes since her last contraction, which means they're becoming more frequent. I suggest you return to her side, and here's a word of advice, let her squeeze your hand, it'll help her through the pain." Inga stepped aside, motioning the door behind her, and Loki gave her a nod of acknowledgement as he passed her and entered the room.

The first thing he registered was the irked pout on Amelia's lips, and the second thing he noticed was her laboured breathing as she endured her current contraction, the bedsheet scrunched up in her balled fist. Loki quickly moved to her side, saving the crumpled linen from her grip and replacing it with his own hand.

He gave her an apologetic smile as he brushed a few strands of hair from her face, "I'm sorry I left. I just needed a moment to collect myself, but I'm back now. I want you to know that no matter what, I'm here by your side. You're so strong, Amelia, and I know everything is going to be just fine. If you need to, you can squeeze my hand."

His words seemed to distract her briefly from her labour pains, because she turned her gaze on him, looking into his eyes, and Loki could see the alleviation as her fears were assuaged just slightly. She squeezed his hand and leaned her head into his palm, finding a hint of contentment in his affection.

"Good," Amelia breathed, "cause if you leave again… I'll kick your butt," her so-called threat was interspersed by deep breaths, and Loki found himself smiling as he stroked her sweaty forehead.

"I honestly don't doubt it."


True to his word, Loki stayed by Amelia's side for the following eight hours, allowing her to hold his hand in her crushing grip when each contraction hit. Amelia found herself growing restless around the fifth hour and expressed her desire to stretch her legs, to which Loki was surprised. Nevertheless, he helped her off the bed so she could walk around, remaining practically plastered to her side as she slowly moved.

He was ready to catch her should she find herself doubling over in pain.

Amelia moved to the window, looking out at the beautiful kingdom, and let out a heaving sigh; she was clearly very tired already, which concerned Loki - they hadn't even gotten to the birthing yet and Amelia looked like she needed a good twenty-four hour nap. Loki had faith in her, though. She would deliver their babies and there wouldn't be any complications, Loki forced himself to believe it would all be fine, refusing to show a hint of hesitation when assuring Amelia, just as Thor had instructed.

The sights of Asgard worked to calm Amelia's nerves somewhat as the labour progressed, and around the seventh hour, one of the nurses surmised that they were in the final stretch. Amelia's contractions were a little over three minutes apart and far stronger in intensity; Loki was thankful when his wife finally accepted the pain relief tonic, which brought the crippling bouts of agony to something more moderate and manageable.

Loki could almost taste Amelia's dread as the moment grew closer and closer, and while he was feeling just as alarmed on the inside, he put on a brave face and gently squeezed Amelia's hand, letting her know that he would be there with her through every moment.

When Inga confirmed Amelia was ten centimetres dilated, everything seemed to suddenly speed up tenfold, and Loki practically performed a double-take when the healer explained it was time to start pushing with each new contraction. It was like whiplash - to go from eight hours of painful waiting for Inga to suddenly say 'alright, time to push' - and Loki most certainly felt his heart lurch in his chest.

It wouldn't be long now.

There were multiple nurses present among Inga, and Loki stayed back, well out of their way as they moved back and forth, focused and determined to do their job impeccably, because their task was of the utmost importance.

Loki put all of his attention on Amelia, carding his fingers through her hair with all the tenderness he could muster. "This is it, Amelia. We'll be able to hold them soon," he encouraged her with a smile, and it succeeded in bringing a grin to Amelia's face.

"I know, I can't wait," she whispered breathlessly.

"Alright, Amelia. On your next contraction, I want you to push, okay?" Inga instructed, and Amelia nodded enthusiastically, probably as a side-effect from the nerves and excitement all mixing into one.

Loki offered his hand again, "Don't hold back on the squeezing," he told his wife.

"I might break your hand," Amelia giggled nervously.

"I'd be impressed."

When the contraction hit, Loki swore never to underestimate his wife's strength ever again; his hand was caught in her crushing grip as she wailed, pushing relentlessly with all her might until one of the nurses told her to relax.

"You're doing brilliantly, Amelia," Inga praised, "I'll let you know when to push again."

Loki watched over his wife, stroking her hair gently as she inhaled and exhaled deeply, and her eyes met his. He knew, in that moment, that it really would all be fine, that his wife was an incredibly strong person, both physically and emotionally. It would be okay.

It was only a little over an hour later that their son was born. Contrary to the dragging time of the first stage of labour, the second stage seemed to go by in a flash, and the moment Loki heard the cry of their first newborn, his gaze tore from his wife to land on the tiny baby taking his first breath of air.

Everything else seemed to fade into the background as the baby's umbilical cord was cut and the boy was placed on Amelia's chest for her to finally meet him. Amelia was sweaty and red from pushing, and looked almost dazed as her hands went automatically to cradle her child; she took heaving breaths and blinked rapidly, staring down at the boy in disbelief.

"O-oh," she whispered, "baby, my baby."

The boy's cry was loud and high-pitched, cutting through the air like a shrill alarm, but it was practically music to Loki's ears. His son had been born. His son had been born. He knew it had been coming, and yet it still felt like a shock. Loki didn't know what to say, so he simply stared.

His son was smaller than Loki imagined he would be, but as he was born two weeks premature, it was really no wonder. The newborn was messy and coated with amniotic fluid, his little face scrunched up and his little arms flailing, and Loki was relieved to see that he was not blue. It was like a weight had been lifted. The boys skin was peachy pink, no hint of the cold hue anywhere to be seen.

Loki swallowed, and then noticed Amelia's lips moving. It took a moment to register her words.

"He's beautiful," she whispered, her shaky fingers brushing against the boy's tiny, rosy cheek.

Loki's mouth wobbled as he struggled to find words for a minute, "He… he is." There was no previous experience in his life that he could liken to the euphoria he felt in that moment. His fingers twitched with the urge to reach out and touch the boy, but he couldn't bring himself to move.

Amelia held him for just a few minutes before one of the nurses stepped up to her side with a soft, small blanket. "Congratulations, princess," the woman praised, "he's a beauty, just like his parents. I'm going to take him for a while so you can concentrate on bringing the other one into the world, but you'll have him back soon, I promise," her voice was soft and understanding, and Amelia realised the importance of letting the nurse wrap him up and take him away from her, because she relented.

But seeing the boy taken away before Loki had had the chance to properly see him made his heart lurch longingly, and he stood from his chair, "Where are you taking him?"

The nurse cradled the bundled boy in her arms, "To be cleaned, weighed and examined to ensure he is in good health. It is an important process and it won't take long, my prince."

Loki slowly sat back down, his eyes never leaving the boy as he was taken to the adjoined room, at least not until he was out of sight.

"One to go, Amelia," Inga spoke, a smile on her face, "the second baby should come easier than the first. Are you ready to push again?"

Loki noticed for the first time that there were unshed tears in Amelia's eyes, he wondered if it was from the pain and strain of the birth or if holding their son had prompted her to cry.

"I'm ready," Amelia breathed. She was practically glowing with liveliness, the birth of her son having rejuvenated her completely, and Loki quickly took her hand again, disregarding any injuries he may sustain from Amelia's surprisingly shattering strength.

Twenty-four minutes after their son, their daughter was born.

Also not blue, Loki noted in the back of his mind, but the wash of relief that befell him was for other reasons - Amelia had done it. She had given birth to their twin children and she was okay. Utterly exhausted, but okay.

Much like the boy, their daughter's cry was piercing but welcomed, and Amelia cradled the child against her rapidly rising and falling chest as she came down from the adrenaline rush and entered a new high. She couldn't stop smiling, and it endeared her to Loki even more than ever before. It was quite a bewitching sight, made only better when the nurse returned with the boy, swaddled in a white blanket.

With his wife and newborn children before his eyes, Loki felt an overwhelming sense of joy, more powerful than anything he had felt in quite a while. It may very well be the happiest day of his life.


When the baby girl was brought back from being weighed and gently cleaned, Inga helped Amelia position them so they could be breastfed in unison. She was full of praise for the new mother, telling her over and over that she did such a great job and that the labour and birth went incredibly smoothly. Amelia was only half paying attention to the healer, but Inga seemed to understand why.

Amelia couldn't tear her eyes away from her babies, and on top of that she was very visibly bone-tired. The only thing keeping her awake after almost ten hours of labour was the desire to look upon her children and take in their sweet little faces as they fed.

Loki couldn't blame her. He could hardly look away from them either.

They were beautiful. Beyond beautiful. So small and in need of protection - protection that Loki would unerringly provide. He was full of pride and a deep urge to watch over his children, to make sure nothing bad ever happened to them. They deserved the world, and more.

With the two babies resting safely in her arms, the moment full of peaceful tranquility, Amelia sniffled and blinked as tears rolled down her face. Loki brushed her tears away with his thumb and quietly asked, "Are you alright?"

Amelia immediately smiled and bobbed her head in a reassuring nod, "I'm just so happy."

"As am I," Loki whispered in return, unwilling to break the serene moment with anything more than hushed words, and he grazed the back of his fingers over his daughter's thin, silken hair, afraid that any more pressure would somehow bring her harm.

After a short while, the boy unlatched from Amelia's breast, making a few soft gurgling noises as he settled, and Amelia looked to her husband knowingly.

"Do you want to hold him?" She asked.

Loki had wanted to hold them since the moment they were born, but at the same time, the thought filled him with trepidation. What if he wasn't tender enough? What if he hurt them with his rough, calloused hands?

"It's okay," Amelia assured him, as if reading his mind, "I know you could never hurt them."

Loki pulled his chair in closer and took a stabling breath, reaching for his son with surprisingly steady hands, and lifted the bundled child as carefully as he could. He didn't want to disturb the boy from his calm state, and almost froze when the newborn let out a quiet noise of dismay at being moved.

"Don't worry, he'll settle," Amelia spoke, smiling as she watched.

Loki repositioned the bundled boy to the crook of his elbow, using both arms to hold him securely before lowering to his seat, his wide eyes pinned to the infant. The boy whimpered, looking like he was gearing up to cry, and Loki looked imploringly to Amelia with wavering uncertainty in his gaze.

"Talk to him," Amelia suggested simply.

Swallowing his nerves, Loki lowered his eyes back to his son, "...It's alright, little one," he murmured, "I won't let any harm come to you."

A fresh wave of wonder rolled over him when the boy appeared to calm down once again, welcoming the arms of his father.

"You see?" Amelia spoke, sniffling with joy once again, "He recognises your voice."

"How?" Loki wondered, "This is the first time I spoke to him." He was still gripped with awe, half his attention fastened to the infant's face.

"You talked to them for months," Amelia pointed out with a grin, "like, every single night, you talked to my bump. They heard it."

Loki didn't know why, but the knowledge that his babies already knew his voice was enough to make his eyes wet. He observed his son's face, absorbing the sight of his chubby little cheeks and tiny button nose; the boy's eyes were closed now, but he had been blinking and looking around early, taking in his blurred surroundings, and Loki had been able to perceive just a hint of green in his irises, much like his own.

His hair appeared different to that of his sister's, still thin but wispy with a few notable curls instead of straight, the strands dark in colour. Loki couldn't quite discern whether the boy's hair was black, or dark brown like his mother's - it was late at night, and the only light present was dim from the oil lamps, but he figured he would find out when the sun rose the next morning.

The boy yawned, stretching his small mouth and letting out a slight squeak, and that was the point at which Loki wholly understood Amelia's joyful crying. A few tears squeezed out from the corners of his eyes, and he murmured a quiet 'oh' in acceptance of the feeling rushing through him. He couldn't remember the last time he had cried from jubilation, but he welcomed it.

"I think this one looks more like you," Amelia indicated their daughter, who was just finishing up feeding, "she has your nose, and your earlobes are totally the same."

"My nose and earlobes?" Loki parroted in amusement, wiping the wetness from his face with his sleeve. At first, he thought it was a silly comparison to notice so quickly, but then he realised he had subconsciously been thinking his son looked just like Amelia with his round face and the shape of his mouth.

"Yeah," Amelia snickered, "your handsomest features."

"Wow," Loki breathed, "I can't believe you married me just for my nose and earlobes."

Amelia threw her head back, stifling a cackle which turned into a snort, "You'd better believe it, babe."

Before long, both infants were fast asleep, warm and comforted in the arms of their parents, and Amelia spoke up after a long period of silence.

"We need to name them." It was something Loki knew had been coming, but he still felt a flutter of apprehension at the thought of struggling unsuccessfully for days to come up with two meaningful names for their beloved babies.

"Do you… have any ideas?" Loki enquired tentatively, hoping the was a resounding yes.

Amelia smiled knowingly, which gave him hope, and she gazed up at the wall opposite them by the window, motioning the painted patterns on the surface with an upwards tilt of her head, "You see that floral pattern? Do you recognise the flower?"

Loki followed her gaze, picking out the flowers Amelia was referring to - small daisy-like blooms with many thin, purple petals, and he shook his head apologetically, "Will you enlighten me?"

"They're asters; in some cultures they're considered enchanted flowers that drive away evil, and they're often used as talismans of love and patience," she explained in hushed tones, "well, that's what I want to name our daughter. Aster."

The name was elegant and sweet. "Aster," Loki repeated, testing the name on his tongue, and decided at once that he loved it. The name was beautiful, just like their daughter, perfectly fitting. "It's perfect."

"Oh, good!" Amelia gasped. "I'm so glad you like it, cause that was the only name that kept coming to me," she giggled, "and what about you? Do you have any ideas for what we should name our son?"

Loki gulped, "I… don't really know."

Amelia tilted her head, "I named our daughter, so I think it's only fair you get to name our son."

Loki blinked rapidly as he tried to think, but his brain offered him absolutely nothing, "I don't know." It was a decision of great importance, and he didn't want to pick a name that didn't seem fitting enough.

"Loki, look at him," Amelia instructed, "just look at his face, and think."

He did as she told him, looking over the adoring face of his sleeping son. He looked so soothed and undisturbed, the sight was completely pacifying, and a part of Loki wished he could live in this blissful moment for the rest of his days.

"I… I don't…" Loki sighed, looking back up sheepishly, "Does the name have to begin with an 'A'?"

Amelia blinked, biting her lip so as not to laugh, "What? No, it doesn't have to begin with an 'A'."

"I just thought…" Loki felt his face flush as Amelia snickered, "You know, because everybody in your family had a name beginning with 'A', and you named her Aster, so I figured…"

"Purely coincidental," Amelia told him, grinning adorably, "It doesn't have to begin with 'A'. You can name him anything you want, love."

That knowledge opened up a whole new world of possibilities, so Loki once again looked upon the face of his son and put his mind to the task. The very first name that flickered into his mind was Leif. It had been the name his mind had supplied for his not-real son when he'd been lost in the delusions Thanos had put him under - it was a good name, meaning beloved descendant, but Loki couldn't bring himself to use the name for his real son. Not when it triggered the awful memories that had followed that point in his life.

Leif was off the table.

Various Norse names flashed through his head, but none of them seemed to stick with the infant's face. He imagined the right name would stand out immediately, that it would just feel unequivocally right.

He sighed in frustration, reaching with gentle fingers to stroke his son's head, eyeing the pretty wisps of dark hair that prompted a smile on Loki's face.

And then something came to mind.

Loki's eyebrows rose and he blinked, looking up at Amelia before back down to the boy, and his mouth hesitantly opened.

"Kari," he said quietly.

"Hm?" Amelia hummed.

"Kari." Loki repeated the name more firmly.

"Kari?"

"Yes."

Amelia tilted her head, looking down at her son, lips curling up at the edges, "Kari is a cute name," she approved, "but what does it mean?"

Loki let his fingertips glide through the thin hairs on his son's head, "It means curly-haired."


It was past four o'clock in the morning, the world outside was dark and the lamplight within the room was further dimmed, giving off just a soft orange glow in the room, enough for Loki to look upon the faces of his children. Kari was sleeping soundly in one of the cribs the nurses had brought in, swathed in the softest blanket with just his chubby round face visible, while Aster was just barely awake, squirming slightly in Loki's arms as he rocked her gently back and forth, lulling her into slumber.

No more than six hours old, and the two babies already had Loki wrapped around their tiny little fingers. He would do anything for them. His love for them was already immeasurable, and still growing with each passing moment.

Amelia was practically knocked out after the day she had had, lying motionless on the infirmary bed save for the rise and fall of her chest, and yet she had still fought her tiredness till the last moment. She had wanted to remain awake so she could be there for her newborns, but Loki had eventually persuaded her to lay her head down and go to sleep.

He'd promised to stay up and watch over them, wanting his wife to get as much rest as possible.

Aster had stirred a few minutes ago, making soft noises that steadily grew in volume, and Loki had picked her up carefully and held her close, whispering quietly to soothe her away from crying. It didn't take long for her to settle down, and once she did, Loki waited a good fifteen minutes before laying her back in her crib beside Kari's, content to simply hold her and watch her breathe for a while.

Loki stood over them, looking back and forth every so often when one of them would twitch slightly or coo in their sleep. It was so peaceful.

The quietest knock on the door drew Loki's awareness, and he forced himself to tear his attention away from his little ones. He padded towards the door and opened it excruciatingly slowly, trying to avoid the slight creak of the wood, peering curiously through the gap.

Thor stood there, looking both sheepish and full of excitement.

"I know I wasn't supposed to come until mid-morning," Thor began, his usually natural booming voice lowered to a mild murmur, "but I can't sleep and I just really want to see them."

As the babies had been born late at night, Inga had recommended no visitors until long after sunrise the next morning, just to offer Loki and Amelia some time alone with their newborn children, and Loki had assumed Inga had enforced that rule even on the king.

"Everyone's sleeping," Loki whispered, quirking up an eyebrow.

"Please? Just to see them. I won't be long." Thor was begging to be allowed into the room, to which Loki gave an amused smile.

"You must be completely quiet. Aster is a light sleeper," Loki revealed, and Thor's eyes lit up brighter than the warm glow emanating from the room. The king nodded enthusiastically, clamping his lips shut to show he was prepared to be as silent as a mouse.

Loki opened the door unhurriedly and Thor slipped in. The king looked to Amelia first, smiling as she slept; Loki imagined Inga had probably told Thor exactly how the labour and birth had gone, so he knew just how exhausted Amelia must have been by the end of it.

When Thor crept up to the cribs, he covered his mouth to keep from loudly expressing his glee at the sight of the infants, and remained silently observing them for several minutes; Loki could see the rush of delight on his face as he took in the sight of his niece and nephew for the first time. Loki probably would have teased him about it if it wasn't for the fact that he'd had much the same response the moment they'd been born.

After a while, Thor opened his mouth, "Loki… they're beautiful."

"I know," the proud father responded.

"And- they're perfectly healthy, right?"

"Yes. Despite being born two weeks early, both are a healthy weight. Aster is five point eight pounds, and Kari is six point two pounds. No complications, everything went smoothly," Loki relayed, "I think Amelia could just about sleep for a whole week after yesterday."

"I'll bet," Thor grinned, "Can I hold them?"

Loki's eyebrows furrowed, "No, Thor. They're sleeping."

"Right," said Thor, "I meant, can I hold them tomorrow?"

"I'm not sure. We'll see." Loki shrugged cryptically, and Thor knew he was winding him up - at least he hoped he was.

"Brother, this is truly a jovial occasion. The whole kingdom will be overjoyed when news of the birth gets out." Thor leant over Kari's crib, fighting the urge to reach in and brush a large finger against the boy's pudgy cheeks, "Prince Kari and Princess Aster, the new royal children of Asgard."

"Mmm," Loki hummed softly, "I… expect I'll be quite busy the coming weeks. I must warn you that the likelihood of me being able to attend every advisory meeting is relatively low."

Thor stifled a chuckle, "Understood, brother. I know where your priorities lie right now."

Silence fell for a while, where the only noise interspersed between the tranquil moments was the slight whistling of the wind outside - not loud enough to wake the children, thankfully - and the light of the oil lamps flickered through the darkness.

"Enjoy this moment, brother," Thor began, a knowing smile on his face, "I suspect it'll be the last instance of peacefulness for you for a while."


And there we have it. The babies have been born into the world with a loving mama and papa and everything is well. I never planned on making things difficult for Amelia here, I wanted the birth to be quick and easy save for a little pain, because as you all well know, she's dealt with three fics full of angst xD

I hope everybody approves of the names. I'd known what to name the girl practically from before I even started this fic, but the boys name, Kari, actually didn't come to me until last week. I had ACTUALLY decided to name him Ari, but had a change of heart. I really like the names Aster and Kari, and I hope you do to.

Now, just in case anyone is disappointed that neither of the babies were blue... just hold your horses there and have faith that I do have plans to write something about that ;) Hopefully you'll be satisfied when that time comes.

IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ: If anyone has ideas to share for things they wanna see with mama!Amelia and dad!Loki then PLEASE TELL ME, because while I have a few ideas, such as first steps and first words etc, I do want to extend this fic as much as possible so everybody gets a wonderful amount of Loki and Amelia being parents, and the best way for that to happen is to write based on ideas any of you might have! I definitely want to write as many chapters as I can from here on out, and I am fully open to incorporate anything you want to see happen in this fic!

Finally: I friggin love you all, your comments literally make me so BEYOND happy and I can't wait to see what everyone thinks of this chapter!