Chapter 23: It's the most wonderful time of the year

It was finally Christmas Eve. Awhile back, Loki and Alex had helped decorate the living area and the tree. Now, everything was ready. There were gifts under the tree and Loki was finally able to bring his own. He had exchanged all his stars against gifts for the Barton children and his own, but he knew they would love it. He also had wrapped gifts for some of the Avengers in exchange for gifts for other Avengers, so he had gifts for Steve and Tony, plus Clint and his wife. It might not be too much, but it was really good all things considered. And he had a box containing the cards for everyone. He had planned on having Alex delivered them when they would exchange the gifts. So now, everything was ready for Christmas according to Loki.

Steve had staled and still had not offered Loki the working contract. He would, soon. But he didn't want the job offer to look like a Christmas gift because it was not. He had decided to lower the price of anything that Loki had bought with his stars knowing it was gifts for Christmas so Loki would be able to give and receive. Steve knew the god-turned-slave was not expecting gifts for himself, but he had still planned on giving something to Loki and the children. Steve had decided against giving Loki any gold stars as a Christmas gift, those were for a reward system, so intended to recompense Loki and Alex for good deeds, not as a gift. And with the coming job offer, Loki would have money and less need of the star system which would then be used only for the kids. Also, Steve knew that Loki usually uses his star to get gifts for his children, barely for himself. So now, everything was ready for Christmas according to Steve.

oOo

The Barton arrived early in the day, with Natasha, just while it was snowing outside.

"Hey! Look who's here," said Wanda while greeting them outside.

"Hey Wanda," said Clint.

The kids acted like Wanda was one of their aunts and Laura like Wanda was an old friend. Clint, though, was considering Wanda as a younger cousin giving her age. The Barton family entered the compound and greeted all the ones presents.

"And here we have Loki, Alex and baby Storm," introduced Clint. "She is my wife, Laura, and my children, Cooper, Lila and Nate." And the presentations were made.

"Hi," said Nate to Alex.

"Hi," said Alex.

"Can we go play outside? In the snow? There is a park just there," asked Cooper. "Who's coming?"

"Oh yes! Can we, daddy," begged Lila.

"Yes! I want to make a snow man," said Nate.

"Sure you can go," said Clint. "Who's coming? We could do a battle of snow balls."

"Can we go, daddy," asked Alex.

"Of course, you can," said Loki. Tony had got them some winter clothes so the children could play in the snow. Even Loki had wintered gears even if he didn't see the necessity of them.

Loki took Alex's winter pants and coat and looked at Steve.

"Are you going out too?"

"Yes, I am," had answered Steve.

"Could I ask you to keep an eye on Alex?"

Oh yeah, Alex didn't need to exchange his stars to go outside, but Loki still had too. And right now, he had spent them all on gifts, so he could not go enjoy the snow with the others.

"Do you want to come outside with us," asked Steve.

"I cannot. I don't have stars. It's okay, I will stay inside. But I would like for Alex to be able to enjoy the snow."

"I didn't ask if you can go outside but if you want to," repeated Steve, "so?"

"I would like it, but that's not the points," said Loki.

"Go grab your coat. Let's call it a special for Christmas. Look, everyone is coming for that outing and I won't tell you to stay inside and miss all the fun."

"But..."

"Hey, I told you the other night that I would slightly bend the rules for Christmas," said Steve, "so go get ready."

A few evenings ago, Steve had indeed told Loki that some rules would be slightly different for Christmas. For one, Alex and Loki could stay up later than usual for the holidays, but it was up to Loki to decide what would be Alex's bedtime.

So Loki put his coat on. Of course, being a frost giant, he could not get cold in his Jotun form, but he could in his Aesir form, and so do the children, so he dressed Alex up to keep him warm. Loki also asked Friday to keep an eye on Storm and warn him as soon as she wakes up.

And then, they all headed outside. The Barton children were ecstatic about being outside and were running. For Alex, snow was something new, though he saw it on TV, but it was different to really touch it. Alex was adaptable so he did the same as the others and started running.

"Do you have winter in Asgard," asked Tony.

"Well, it doesn't last. Asgard usually stay the small temperature and is warm. Snow there is rare. But Jotumheim is the realm of the frost giants. It's colder there."

"Where you are from?"

"Yes. My other form is better for the cold."

"Hey, let's built a big fort," proposed Cooper.

"No, I want a snowman," said Nate.

"Why not both," said Clint. "Nate, you built a snowman that would guard the fort."

"Yeah," said Nate.

And the children, plus Barton, started building the fort and the snowman. Rhodey, Wanda and Vision lost no time to help build one or the other. Alex approached his father.

"Can I play in the snow with them?"

"Of course, Alex, go play," said Loki.

Most of the time, Alex was acting like a normal child, but sometimes, he would hesitate between acting like a child and acting like a slave. A slave would never play in the snow and would certainly not play with free children. Well, a slave would not play at all, but Alex had understood he could play here, he just didn't get that it always means he could play with others as well.

"You can go too, if you want," said Steve to Loki that had been left alone when Tony had decided to join the building of the fort.

"Can I?"

"Of course."

So Loki joined the building of a snowman that was getting bigger by the minutes. With Tony as an engineer, the fort would be strong and big and Loki got an idea. He had seen children enjoying sliding from a hill. But there were no hills here, except the fort that was slowly turning into one.

"Mister Rogers, I have an idea that could amuse everyone. But it would require my magic. So I would like to run this idea by you," said politely Loki.

The pair discussed for a short while and then, Steve called everyone back.

"Hey, Loki got an awesome idea, but I need all of you to be far from the castle," announced Steve.

"It's barely a castle," said Cooper.

"Oh, but it is," said Tony. "It's not Elsa's ice castle, but it's pretty good. We even have a roof."

"Do you want to see a magic trick," asked Loki to everyone.

"Yeah!"

"Loki, I ordered you to do as we just discuss," said Steve.

And Loki then changed his form to a Jotun. That was just a part of the magic trick, but already the Barton children were fascinating. Well, only them because everyone else had seen Loki transformed. Then, Loki extended his arms and cast ice on the fort. He then added a slide on the side and even a staircase to go on top of the now castle. As a final touch, he gave the snowman a sword. Then, his magic show finished, he turned back into himself and looked at Steve.

"Wow! That was awesome."

The children lost no time in trying the new slide, but they were soon joined by the adults once they finished congratulating Loki for his exploit.

"It is really awesome," said Tony. "You are like an ice queen on your own. Or maybe ice king."

Loki joined the others in sliding down from the castle and he had fun. It was just a normal day on Earth with people playing outside.

"It is a really nice magic trick," said Wanda.

"And you know all about that," said Loki. « However, what I did today with the ice, that was not some magic tricks, but an ability common to all frost giants."

Then Tony came closer to them with his phone out, Steve following a bit behind.

"Hey, I just heard from Friday. Storm is awake and probably hungry," said Tony.

"Loki, I order you to change form," said Steve arriving.

So Loki used his magic to change and then he went inside and lost no time removing his winter jacket.

In the bedroom, Storm was raging when Loki entered. He picked her up and started to feed the baby. After, he changed her and dressed her up for Christmas.

oOo

Loki was nervous about meeting the Barton, but finally, it was nothing compared to his anxiety about meeting Pepper and Happy. Even though they both have been around the compound since Loki arrived, he had never been in the same room as them. Happy, just because it never happened. But Pepper, well, she was different. She was Tony's girlfriend. Oh, she knew all about Loki, Alex and Storm, and, according to Tony, she was looking forward to finally meeting them and hold no resentment toward Loki, but still, he was nervous.

Pepper entered the living area with Happy just as Loki exited his chamber with Storm in his arms. The problem was, Loki was still blue and cold.

"Oh, hi. You must be Loki," said Pepper like it was natural to see a blue man in the middle of a hallway.

"Yes, I am. You must be Miss Potts. I'm sorry, I would shake your hand, but at the moment, my skin would freeze you," said Loki.

"Oh, just call me Pepper, like everyone else. And this is Storm, I presumed."

"Hi, I'm Happy."

"I am also happy to meet you, Mister Hogan," said Loki with a mischievous smile.

"Well, you're far from the first one to make that one," said Happy, "and just call me Happy."

"I believed mister Stark or mister Rogers told you that I always prefer to respect my betters and call them by the proper name," said Loki.

"There is a small difference between 'mister' and 'master'," said Pepper, "but you are part of this group, you can call them by their name, without the title. But if you feel more comfortable, you can take small steps. What I am trying to say is that you don't have to worry about that, they won't be offended no matter what you call them. Especially Tony. He can give anyone a nickname."

"No need to remind me," said Happy. "Where are the others? Friday, tell them we're here."

« They are playing outside," answered Loki.

"I've already warned mister Stark, he is on his way as soon as he finished sliding," said Friday. "He just has to act like a child."

Pepper approached the windows to see everybody outside and she saw Tony sliding with Rhodey.

"What happens in the yard? Who did that ice slide?"

"That was me, Miss Potts," said Loki.

"Oh! Tony told me you were on paternity leave, that you should not work. And that must have taken so long to build. They really should not have made you work like that. You know what, I'll talk to Tony. And it's unfair to you, to be outside in the cold to build that and let them all enjoy it while you are inside."

"Actually, Miss Potts, I only added the slide. The Bartons and the Avengers built the fort right before. I converted it into ice."

"You can do that? Really? They told me you can do magic, but Tony did not tell everything," said Happy.

Just then, the door opened and Tony, Steve and Laura entered.

"Hi, Pep! Happy! So good to see you," said Tony.

Loki stepped further away to let them have their reunion, but he was soon joined by Steve who then ordered him to go back to his favorite form.

oOo

When Alex came back from outside about half an hour later, he was really happy.

"Daddy! We did a big snowman!"

"Yes, I saw it. It's really awesome. Did you have fun outside?"

"Yeah! I played with Nate and now we are friends."

Friends after just a short afternoon? Well, maybe it was faster with kids, thought Loki. Nonetheless, Loki was happy Alex had a good day. It was the first time that Alex was with children of his age and it was special. It was a nice change for Alex to socialise and just be a normal kid with a friend. But could Alex really be friends with Nathaniel Barton? Clint didn't seem to have a problem with that, with neither Loki not Alex, and he was friendly with Loki. So if Loki and Clint can be on good terms, so could Alex and Nate.

Steve saw it too. Alex had trouble socialising and his slave training was still deeply ingrained in him. Even though Alex was more adapted to his new life than his father, he was still sometime acting like a slave, like someone who was not supposed to be there, like a shadow trying to be forgotten and invisible. But Steve wanted Alex to be well-adjusted. Not a slave, nor a child slave, nor a prisoner, but a normal child, nothing more, nothing less. Just because his father was a war criminal and a prisoner, it didn't have to mean Alex was the same.

oOo

The supper was nice, like a big family reunion. Everyone was really happy around the table set for a lot of people. Conversations were bubbling and wine was flowing. The children were having fun, but some of them were constantly asking, "At which time are we opening the gifts? Is Santa going to come soon?", though it was coming only from the Bartons' children, mostly Lila and Nate, but Cooper also. Alex was not asking questions about gifts because he actually never receive any beside the rewards they earned. Loki had tough about asking the Avengers not to give Alex, but why would he do that?

Overall, the supper was nice and everything was great. For Loki, it was a bit strange to have a big group there and be a part of it, not as a slave, but as a guest. He knew he was no longer a prince, but the feast was worthy of a king, courtesy of Tony Stark because he wanted to do it, and not having to serve, but actually being served by the Avengers who just wanted to serve was different. Even Loki had joined those who served, but not because he felt he had too, but because he wanted too. Basically, Tony had declared that anyone who wanted to help him get the plates on the table could lean a hand. As for dessert, Tony and Pepper just brought the cakes and other pleasantries on the table and served there. It was friendly, like a normal family during Christmas time. Eventually, it got closer to eleven and supper was over. They all moved to the living room and the Christmas tree. Finally, time for the gifts; and there were a lot of those.

Tony decided to start giving his gifts first. He had actually found the time — and money, though it was not an issue for him — to buy everyone a gift, but Loki already knew it. So everyone got a small something from uncle Tony. Alex got a scientific toy, some kind of experience a child his age could easily do with help. And Tony must have known Loki wanted some kind of educational toy. Storm got a medium size stuffed bear. Nothing educational, but the bear was actually bigger than her. Though she seems happy to see something fluffy beside her. Now, she was just more than two months old and couldn't walk yet, but she could enjoy a stuffed bear. As for Loki, he received a small tablet. Tony had said it already has a lot of songs, plus some books, but the tablet would be monitored by Friday and he couldn't go on the internet nor could he use it to communicate with unauthorised people, but he could use it for a lot of other things that Tony promised to explain in the following days. This was too much of a gift, but Tony said it was necessary to live on Earth in the 21st century.

"He even got me a new Starkphone whenever there is a new model," said Steve.

"Steve's not the only one," said Rhodey. "Tony gave a cellphone or tablet to all the Avengers. And since he made them — well, his company —, it doesn't actually cost him much to give some away."

"Mister Stark, I am highly grateful for your gift," said Loki.

"Don't push too much. Like they told you, it's not much. And I don't need you to be eternally grateful," said Tony.

"But I am grateful," said Loki. "And I am also grateful for what you gave my children. You didn't have to get them anything."

"I wanted to. And I can," said Tony. "Christmas is about giving if you can."

Alex, that was sitting with his father, looked up to Tony.

"I thank you, mister Stark, for the gift," said Alex.

"You're welcome."

"Are we giving our surprises, daddy?"

"Do you want to go get the box," asked Loki.

So Alex went to get the box with the cards and brought it back to his father who opened it and gave Alex the card one by one.
"This one is for Natasha, go give it," said Loki.

And Alex went to give the card to Natasha who hugged the little boy. Alex went back and forth between his father and whoever he was giving the card to. It was a long process, but at the same time, the others were also exchanging gifts. Halfway to the card delivery, Bruce decided to give a few boxes to Loki, Storm and Alex. Each one had a box the same size.

"You didn't have either," said Loki to Bruce.

"I want to," answered Bruce.

Alex opened his present and found a soft blanket, like the one he had taken from the Hulk. Alex's blanket was blue, and Storm, who had also received a blanket, had a red one. Loki, contrary to Bruce's green blanket, had received a purple one.

"Thank you, this is very kind of you, mister doctor Banner, I am deeply grateful for the blankets," said Loki.

"You're welcome," said Bruce.

Loki nudged Alex who stood up.

"I want to thank you, mister Bruce, for the gift. I am deeply grateful," said Alex, copying his father a bit.

"Now you have your own blanket," said Bruce. "I'm sorry, nature calling."

And then, Bruce left the room. Loki thought sadly that he did not have a gift for the nice doctor. He had a card for him, but it was nowhere near enough compared to the three blankets. Loki took Alex near him and whispered in his ear.

"Go get the gift for mister Stark," murmured Loki.

Alex went to get the gifts, taking a break from card delivery, and gave the first gift to Tony. Loki had managed, with the help of Steve and a few others, to get a nice book for Tony. It was a book about a scientific subject Loki had actually heard of — which was saying much giving the different names of nearly all the scientific branches in Asgard — and Loki understood it was at Tony's level of understanding about something called the multiverse.

"For me? What is it," asked Tony when Alex gave it.

"Well, daddy said it's a surprise and that I should not tell you it's a book," said Alex.

Tony chuckled, but then was amazed when he saw the book.

"Wow, Alex, this is a very good book," said Tony. "Thank you very much."

And Tony proceeded to get close to Loki.

"Thank you, you got me exactly what I wanted," said Tony. "And I know it must have been difficult for you to get it. It means a lot."

"You are very welcome, and while it's true I had help, I wanted to offer you something special," said Loki. "I own you for my mistakes and for everything you have done for me so far."

Steve's gift was heavier, so Alex got Loki to help him.

"Loki, you didn't have to," said Steve.

"We wanted to," said Loki.

"Yes, it's a good gift," said Alex.

"Well, thank you very much," said Steve.

He opened the gift and then the box.

"Wow! Really? Wow, this is awesome," said Steve seeing the ancient typewriter. "Thank you so much."

"You are welcome," said Loki.

"It looks like the one I used to have. Oh, Loki, I hope you didn't spend too much money on it."

Tony approached them.

"Well, I know from a fact Loki got help for my gift, and he got help for yours, Steve. He earned that typewriter the good way," said Tony as much for Steve as for Loki.

"Don't worry, mister Rogers, I did work for it, but it was pleasant work."

"And I had an ancient typewriter in storage somewhere, I just exchange it for some work," said Tony. Actually, the typewriter used to belong to Howard Stark and Tony had inherited it with no use for the antique. Now, it would be used by someone who would appreciate it.

"Do you want to give our gifts to the Bartons," asked Loki.

And Alex went to get the four gifts, but Loki soon took the more fragile one. Natasha had suggested giving Clint and Laura a nice bottle of wine, so Loki would be the one giving it. Alex was not as timid in front of the other children after having spent some time outside with them.

"We have some gifts for you. This one is for Cooper, this one for Nate, and for Lila. And Daddy has the other one."

Alex handed the gifts and Loki gave his gift to Laura and Clint.

"I also wish to apologise to you, Miss Barton, for the troubles I caused. You were not a direct victim of my actions, but I still own you an apology. I am sorry," said Loki.

"I understand you did some bad things, but those are in the past. You can be good and you can use your potential, your talents to be a good man, or alien. I had pardoned Clint for his wrongdoing, and then Natasha. I can forgive you for what you did. They are bad people everywhere, and some of them are worse than other, but you can change. Look at the people around you, they have evolved," said Laura.

"And I can see you had helped to select gifts," said Clint. "Natasha gave you tips. Thank you for that, Loki. And thank you for the gifts, Alex."

"You're welcome," said Alex.

"Wow, this is awesome," said Lila. "This is so fun, thank you mister Loki, and thanks Alex."

So Natasha had given Loki good gift ideas and Loki was grateful. She had said she didn't want a gift from Loki because she knew he could not, but he decided to hand deliver her card himself. So he went to pick up the card and approached her with Storm in his arms.

"Miss Romanoff, I want to thank you for the advices. The gifts seem to be appreciated by the Bartons. I also got you a card that I made with the children," said Loki.

Storm had the card in her small hand and Loki made her give the card to Natasha.

"Well, thank you," said Natasha. "This is beautiful."

Natasha was touched by the words inside the card. It was just words, but Loki had a way with them.

"Thank you Loki, this means a lot," said Natasha.

The Barton also had gift for Loki and the children. Then, Tony distracted everyone.

"Hey, Friday, is it time for Santa yet? Everybody, should we sing for Santa?"

"According to Norad and some satellites," said Friday, "Santa Claus is just above us."

"Daddy, is Santa really coming," asked Alex.

"I think so, yes."

The Bartons children, and everyone really, just seemed so exited about the arrival of Santa Claus. Up to then, Loki had thought it was just a myth, a legend, a kind of story adults told kids to have them behave like some stories in Asgard, but he was not so sure now, because all the others seemed so convince that it was all real. But maybe it was all just a trick for the children... some grand illusion to entertain them like Loki had been told, and being the god of mischief, he actually enjoyed that idea.

Just a few minutes later, something big landed on the roof, and then, someone jumped down and arrived in front of the door. Tony went to open the door and let Santa in.

"Ho ho ho," said Santa.

"Santa!" exclaimed Lila and Nate.

Cooper was somehow calmer, maybe because at his age, he had seen Santa more often.

"Are there children here," asked Santa.

"Yeah!"

"And were you nice this year?"

"Yeah!"

Alex was more hesitant than the others, like he was not sure he had been nice. Loki, however, knew his son had been exemplary. Santa went to sit and all the children

"So, I got a gift for Lila. Have you been nice this year Lila?"

"Yes."

"You listened to your parent?"

"Yes."

Lila sat on Santa and Tony took a photo of them.

She then went to open her gift and said thank you.

"Next I have a gift for Alex. Is Alex here?"

"I'm Alex."

"Come sit, Alex."

And Alex went to sit on Santa.

"And this is your first Christmas on Earth, right?"

"Yes."

"Have you been nice this year, Alex?"

"I'm not sure... I tried."

"Let's ask your daddy. Loki, had Alex been nice this year?"

"Oh, yes, he has been," answered Loki.

The tradition of Christmas was so strange for Loki, but at the same time, it was really nice. Alex got a gift from Santa. In a way, it was his first Christmas and Loki was glad that Alex could have some nice memories, just like a normal child.

Then, Santa got a gift for Storm.

"That's my little sister," said Alex proudly.

"Hey, how about a photo with both children with Santa," suggested Tony.

So Loki put Storm in Santa's arms. By that time, Loki had doubted this was the real Santa Claus. His voice reminded him of someone. Someone just as nice that also knew everyone here.

Later that evening, Santa had left and all the gifts had been opened. Storm had, among other things, got a pink Christmas decoration saying "First Christmas" on it from Wanda. But Wanda had also bought a blue one for Alex. And she had decided to take one for Loki as well, given it was also his first Christmas. Loki went to put Storm to sleep, but he allowed Alex to stay up later than usual. Steve had said they could stay up for Christmas's eve. On the way back to the living room, Loki met Bruce.

"You look good in green, but I didn't know you also look good in red," said Loki.

"Well, what can I say? I did it for the kids."

"Thank you. Christmas is not a tradition we have on Asgard, but I appreciate what you've done."

"You should know the gifts are from Tony and Steve, and Nat too. Tony just really wanted to have Santa here for Christmas."

The children were playing with their toys in the living room while the adults were talking. It was a fun evening, something normal. Loki just enjoyed the normality of it. It was simple, like when he had been a free man on Asgard and was talking late at night with Thor's friends.

"Okay Nate, time to say good-night," announced Laura.

And soon, all the children went to sleep too. It was just the adults talking.

"So, Loki? Do you like Christmas," asked Clint.

"Yes. It is quite different than our holidays in Asgard. I think I really love the concept of someone who brings gifts to well-behave children."

"Cooper just plays along," said Clint. "He knows. He's old enough now."

"But Christmas is also fun for adults. Who wants another drink," asked Tony.

So far, Loki had refused to drink alcohol. A slave doesn't drink, it is not the proper behaviour for a slave to drink, or worse, get drunk.

"Hey, Loki, come on. I own you a drink from last time and I still feel I own you," said Tony. "One for Christmas?"

And why not? It's Christmas after all.

"Okay, I'll have that drink now," said Loki.

"And he finally said yes," said Tony happy.

"Tony, some people just don't like alcohol as much as you do," said Pepper.

"Well, it would make them happy, right Happy?"

Happy was not amused by the lame joke.

"Here you go, Loki," said Tony giving him a drink.

Well, right now, life was nice. It was so different from what he had thought he deserved, but it was nice.