The next morning, Desi knocked on the door about an hour before her and Laney were due at work. "Laney, it's me." She called out.

"Coming!" Laney quickly found her robe and picked it up from the floor before she pulled it on. She ran her fingers through her hair hastily, then answered the door. "Morning."

"Good morning! Star did good with the bottles last night but wants momma now." Desi told Laney, holding a wide-awake Star in her arms.

"She took a bottle? We have never tried that yet," Laney said happily as she reached for Star and kissed her cheek before cuddling her in her arms.

"She woke up hungry, so I wanted to try it before interrupting you two." Desi explained. "The formula I gave her was a very good Jotun mix."

"I'm glad she took it. I've been thinking of weaning her off the breast," Laney commented. "I know people say to keep them on you for as long as you can, but she nurses so hard that I blister."

"She doesn't nurse hard for a Jotun baby, but Jotun skin is a little tougher. Your skin is likely just too soft for her as you aren't Jotun." Desi explained. "I have plenty of formula and can get as much as you need."

"I would like to try and wean her. I just hope she continues to sleep well when we do so," Laney replied.

"You still need formula to wean her. She slept just fine after the bottle." Desi assured Laney. "I would suggest starting with breast feeding for her morning and evening feeding, then a bottle midday."

Laney nodded in agreement. "I can slowly increase the number of bottles versus my breast. I actually might have you take a look though; she has made sores."

"Do you want me to check here, or at the clinic? Either is fine with me." Desi replied.

"Here is fine, especially since she's rooting to eat," Laney answered, feeling Star rub her face back and forth against her chest. "We can go in the sitting room since Loki is still asleep. He uh... out did himself last night."

Desi nodded and followed Laney into the sitting room. "I figured he would. The Jotnar mating cycle is said to be very intense."

"It's the first time I've ever witnessed him be that way," Laney said softly. "I lost count of our copulations after four, and I am sore and tired, but it was worth it."

Desi gave a relieved sigh when she sat down. "It won't be like that for him every time. Male Jotnar go through breeding cycles as well. Loki's just happened to be at the same time as yours this time."

"That's news to the both of us." Laney unclipped the straps of her dress once she sat beside Desi and sighed at the relief it gave her. She looked down at her breasts, knowing they were swollen, red and scabbed over in places. "I love my daughter, but this is getting very hard to do."

Desi shifted to have a better look at the sores. "You definitely need to wean her to just bottles so you can heal. I don't know why Jotun babies suck so hard, but it's normal for them. I will get the proper bottles for her."

"It's gotten to the point where I have had Loki make me a numbing paste that I can apply to them, so I don't hurt as badly," Laney explained.

"I have a cream that will have you healed up in a few days. It will also keep you comfortable. She's only going to nurse harder as she grows though, so you need to switch her to bottles now." Desi told Laney. "She will do just fine, I promise."

"I know I do," Laney agreed. "She makes me bleed as it is now." She maneuvered Star into place and winced as she eagerly latched and began to nurse.

"What are you doing? I have a bottle in my bag. If you keep nursing her, you could get an infection." Desi said, grabbing her med bag from where it sat at her feet.

"It's a habit I guess," Laney answered as she looked down at Star. She removed her from her breast as gently as she could, then sat her up in her lap as she began to squirm. "I'll miss the binding part of nursing her."

Desi handed Laney the bottle. "You will still bond with her. She can still nuzzle up to you and everything else." She assured Laney. "I have the cream you need at the clinic. It will have you feeling better in no time."

Laney leaned Star back and offered her the bottle. When she eagerly took it, Laney sighed in relief. "This will be a lot nicer, plus Loki can feed her now too."

"I think he's going to enjoy that." Desi agreed. "I have more formula and the right bottles in the clinic. We will bring plenty back after work."

"That sounds like a good idea. Loki and I will be able to magically keep them clean too, which is helpful." Laney shook her head and laughed. "He already magically changes her while I do it the old fashion way."

"Why don't you use magic as well?" Laney asked curiously. "I would think it's simple magic?"

Laney shrugged as she took the bottle from Star and sat the bottle beside her before she put Star on her shoulder and began to pat her back. "It is, I guess I just don't mind doing it. I use magic when she has really bad diapers though."

"Do you have an issue with Loki using magic to take care of Star?" Desi asked curiously.

"No, I don't mind that he uses magic. He was raised to use it willingly. I was taught how to use mine, but my father was kind of strict about using it and preferred hard work over the easy way out. Those are his words anyway," Laney explained.

"I have never understood why people think using magic is taking the easy way. It really isn't. In fact, it's often the harder way." Desi shrugged.

"It's just how my father saw things. If my mother was still here, it would have been different."

"I know. I was just saying that I don't understand it. Many people think magic is the easy way out." Desi clarified.

Laney sighed and nodded just as Star burped. "Good girl," Laney praised as she put the little one back into their arms. "Are you still hungry?" She cooed as she offered Star the bottle once more.

"She has quite the appetite. That probably wasn't helping your soreness." Desi said, watching Star take the bottle once more. "How was last night?" She asked, more teasingly.

"It was wonderful, honestly. But it was intense too. Loki was slow and loving then intense and rough the next," Laney said softly. "He kept apologizing early this morning, when neither of us could go any longer."

Desi nodded. "That sounds normal. Were you injured at all?" She asked. "I'm not asking that as anything bad. I've never heard of an Æsir being with a Jotun during a mating like that, so I'm just full of questions." She added truthfully.

"I'm... sore," Laney answered. "But I never bled or anything during our couplings. I think it may be because we're mate bonded."

"It could be. Would you mind if I ask some questions?" Desi asked, hoping to learn more for her records.

Laney shook her head. "You know everything about me. I don't mind telling you anything," Laney said as she covered herself back up with her free hand.

"Was anything different from other times you've been intimate? Other than it being all night." Desi asked, taking mental notes about everything.

"What do you mean by different?" Laney questioned.

"Remember when he marked you? You said it was different than a regular bite. Was there anything like that?" Desi tried to clarify.

"Not that I can recall. He does like to bite on a regular basis though... and I like to bite back in return."

"Have you tried marking him?" Desi asked, wondering if it would work.

"I've drawn blood," Laney said honestly. "But he always heals."

"I think they have a special way of biting when they mark. If you want to mark him, we might need to talk to a female Jotun for advice." Desi told Laney.

"Do you think it would bring us even closer?" Laney asked. "Is that possible?"

"I know it strengthens the bond between Jotun couples. There isn't much known about couples of mixed races as the Jotnar rarely mate outside of their race." Desi explained

"We're a bit special then," Laney giggled.

"Very special." Desi chuckled. "His mother is from mixed race parents; she might be able to give you some advice."

"I'm not sure if she's still here," Laney said.

"She is still here. She's asked to be sheltered here because she's scared to return to Jotunheim." Desi said sadly. "She helps in the clinic sometimes."

"I haven't heard from her since Loki sat with her with Star a while back. I never knew she stayed."

"She doesn't want Loki to know she's still here." Desi explained.

"Why?" Laney questioned.

"She can't handle the way Loki looks at her." Desi said softly.

Laney furrowed her brow, confused. "How does he look at her?"

"Like he doesn't know her. She knows he doesn't and that it's not his fault. But just imagine seeing Star all grown up and her not having a clue who you are." Desi said, trying to help Laney understand.

"I wish I could get Loki to talk to her. But I also understand his side of the story too," Laney replied.

Desi nodded. "She understands as well. It's still just painful for her. I wish he would talk to her as well. She knows Frigga is his mother now, but she still wants to be part of his life." She told Laney.

"Loki can be really close minded sometimes. But I can try and talk to him," Laney suggested.

"Even if he makes a negative decision, we just think he should make a clear minded decision." Desi said truthfully.

Laney nodded and took the now empty bottle from Star before she sat the baby up and began to pat her back. "That's understandable."

"She's still so scared though. I don't know how to help with that." Desi added.

"I don't either. We could offer her a job?" Laney suggested.

Desi thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "She does seem to enjoy helping in the clinic. I don't think she's had much training as a healer, but she's helped a lot with just her knowledge of the Jotnar."

"She could be an assistant of some sort. Do we need anything like that in the clinic?" Laney asked. "I know that's more of a Midgard thing."

"It's not overly common here, but the extra help would be nice. I know I'll lighten my cases for a while after the baby is born, so a third set of hands would be useful." Desi agreed.

Laney grinned and sat back in her seat just as Star burped and spit up a bit of formula. "It's settled then," she said, grabbing for the cloth that sat beside her to clean Star's face.

"It will take some convincing for her to work with you. She is still jumpy around me, and she tends to get overwhelmed and disappears at times." Desi said, though she felt relieved to know the clinic would be in good hands.

"I can work with her, get to know her better. If we have something in common, it would be easier for us to be comfortable around each other," Laney commented.

"That might help Loki open up to getting to know her as well. She asks about Star often." Desi told Laney.

"I've told her that she can see her granddaughter at any time," Laney replied. "I hope she's not scared of me too."

"It's not you personally. She's scared of everyone. She's basically in the home of her greatest enemy." Desi pointed out.

"Not anymore," Laney assured. "We're doing everything we can to change that."

"I know that. We haven't made enough progress yet for her to feel safe. Her own people turned her back on her as well. They said they wouldn't help her if this was a trap." Desi told Laney.

"It isn't a trap though. It never was. Loki has even travelled to Jotunheim to speak with the others."

"She said they told her that if there had been a trap, they would not come to her rescue." Desi clarified.

"Well, she isn't in need of rescue to go home, but maybe she needs rescue of herself," Laney commented.

"Look at it from her perspective... She's here in the palace of her greatest enemies with no support from home. If you were in that position, wouldn't you be worried that peace could end at any moment?' Desi asked.

"I felt that way when I moved as a kid," Laney admitted. "I left everything I knew to a whole new world full of people I'd never met."

Desi nodded. "It's an all-around very difficult situation for her. When you can get her to open up and talk, she is very nice."

Laney slowly began to rock Star side to side, watching as she slowly began to fall asleep. "I wonder if she has any hobbies?" She questioned allowed.

Desi shrugged. "I have no idea. I'm sure she does but I haven't gotten her to talk that much yet."

"I guess we'll have to find out." Laney turned her head at the sound of the bedroom door opening. Loki stood in the doorway, half asleep, only wearing a pair of trousers. "Morning, love."

"Good morning darling." Loki mumbled. He rubbed his eyes as he slowly walked over to them. "Are you alright after last night?"

"I'm sore," Laney admitted. "But I am okay. What about you?"

"I have a bit of a headache and some sore spots on my back. I'm otherwise fine. I'll need some food before I go back to work with my brother though." Loki answered.

"Your back?" Laney asked. "Did I hurt you?"

"You never hurt me darling." Loki said sincerely as he sat next to Laney on the couch and wrapped his arm around her.

"Loki, are you sure? We were pretty intense last night."

"Absolutely sure darling." Loki promised, hardly worried about some scratches.

Laney sighed but left the subject alone. Her eyes quickly drew to his neck though, where a large red and purple bruise sat. "Oops."

"What's wrong darling?" Loki asked, seeing how she looked at him.

"I um... I bruised your neck pretty good."

Loki reached up to feel his neck. "It is likely just a love mark. I wear those proudly." He said with a grin.

Laney blushed. "It's so purple it almost looks black."

"That's because of his skin tone." Desi explained. "It's nothing bad."

"I still didn't mean to," Laney commented. "Although I'm bruised too."

"Are you in pain?" Loki asked, immediately concerned.

"I'm pretty sore, kind of stiff, but I'm okay."

"I'm so sorry, love. I never meant to cause you any discomfort." Loki said, feeling ashamed of himself.

Laney turned to face Loki with a stern look. "Hey, don't do that. I enjoyed last night just as much as you did, and I don't regret it."

"I still hurt you though. Do you need to stay off work today?" Loki asked, wondering how badly he hurt her.

"Not that I know of. I'll just move a bit slower," Laney told him.

"I promise to be more careful in the future." Loki vowed to her.

Laney reached out with her free hand and squeezed Loki's knee. "I loved it sweetheart; I promise you. I would have said something if I didn't like it."

Loki nodded and held Laney closer. "I still worry about hurting you. Last night was very enjoyable though." He agreed.

"Me and Desi believe that because we're marked as soulmates, it's very hard for me to be injured by you."

Loki gave them both a confused look. "How does that work?"

"I'm not really sure," Laney admitted. "Desi?"

"It's an effect of the bond. It's hard to explain, but it's like it quite literally protects you two from any accidental harm from the other." Desi explained.

Laney took one of Loki's hands and gripped it in her own. "Desi also said that it might be possible for me to mark you... like you did to me."

"I didn't know you could do that. Well, I guess I didn't even know I could." Loki sighed.

"We don't know if it's possible because I'm not Jotun, but I'd like to find out."

"I would like to find out as well. I want your mark on me and have felt incomplete without it." Loki admitted.

Laney blushed and glanced at Desi. "I will find out as soon as I can. You've never told me before."

"I didn't think it was possible, so it wasn't something I wanted you to worry about." Loki explained.

"Well, I'm glad you've told me. You need to feel as connected as I do." Laney squeezed Loki's hand, then rubbed the back of it with her thumb. "I will start researching."

"There is no way to research it. You just need to ask a Jotun from a mixed line." Desi told Laney.

"I only know of one person I could ask," Laney replied.

Desi nodded. "In my opinion, that's the best person to ask. The only other I could think of would be Gall."

"Has Gall come back?" Laney asked. "I know Loki wrote to him."

"I haven't seen him, but he did reach out to make an appointment at the clinic." Desi told Laney.

Laney nodded as she continued to run her thumb back and forth on Loki's hand. "I guess we'll have to see then."

"He should be here next week." Desi told them. "But that is all I can say regarding their visit."

"I'd like to find out sooner than that. I will have to find and ask her," Laney commented.

"Ask who?" Loki asked curiously.

Laney bit her bottom lip. "Your biological mother," she admitted. "She's the only other Jotun that I know that has mixed bloodlines."

Loki tensed at the mention of his mother but nodded. "I hope she can help."

"I know it's a tense subject Loki, but she's the only person I know who to ask," Laney said softly. "You wouldn't be angry if I spoke to her, would you?"

Loki shook his head. "Of course not darling. I am sincere in my hope that she can help." "

"That makes me happy to hear you say that," Laney said honestly.

"I just have trouble talking to her myself. I can't make sense of anything." Loki sighed.

Laney frowned. "I could always sit with you when you speak to her."

"I don't know that it would help. I have a mother, but she's my mother also. She also says she never abandoned me, but Odin says I was abandoned. None of it makes sense. Then there's also some talk of a prophecy." Loki said, feeling overwhelmed.

"It's a lot to think about, I agree. But the way she talked; you were taken from her because the rest of the race believed you would not live." Laney let go of Loki's hand to reach up and caress the side of his face. "But you're here and you're beyond strong."

"He was taken because many feared the prophecy." Desi softly corrected. "She is the only one who never stopped searching for him." She added but stopped there as to not make Loki too emotional.

Laney leaned over and kissed Loki's cheek. "It's okay Loki. I will talk to her if you don't want to. You and Thor can watch Star for a while."

Loki nodded, already using an illusion to hide his emotions. "She will be a great little helper." He said, trying to cheer himself up.

"We can talk later, love," Laney whispered to him, then kissed his cheek again before she turned and faced Desi. "Do you want to prepare for work? Little one here is out for her morning nap. Unless you feel I should stay with Loki."

Desi thought about it for a moment. "Why don't you go with him to meet up with Thor, and tell him what's going on? They usually talk things out really well." She suggested. "Then you can meet me at the clinic."

Laney smiled and nodded. "Sure, that sounds like a good idea. You can go ahead and take Star with you if you'd like, and I'll meet you there."

"We will see you in a few minutes." Desi said, then carefully took Star after she stood up. "Can you hand me my bag?" She asked Laney.

"Of course," Laney answered. She stood and picked up Desi's bag before she placed it on her shoulder.

"Thank you. It's getting hard to bend down." Desi sighed. "See you in a few!" She added in a cheerful tone, then she left.

Laney turned to face Loki fully and cupped his face in her hands. "Are you okay?" She asked softly. "You can talk to me."

"I'm alright. It's just a lot to process." Loki replied, pressing his forehead to hers.

"I know sweetheart," Laney murmured. She ran one hand through his hair, trying to soothe him. "I'm always right here."

Loki held Laney close and kissed her softly. "I know you are darling, and it means more to me than you know."

Laney gently played with Loki's hair and pecked his lips to steal another kiss. "Be honest. Do you mind if I speak with her?"

"I was honest. I don't mind it at all. I'm just not ready to talk to her myself." Loki said truthfully.

"Okay," Laney said softly. "I understand that. I will speak with her tomorrow, send a notice to her first."

Loki nodded. "Thank you darling. Could you also ask her about the prophecy? I've never heard the details of it."

"I've mentioned it to her before, but I'm not sure she knows much about it herself." Laney sat back and wiped at her eyes. "I can ask again though."

"What's wrong darling?" Loki asked, worried when he saw her tears.

"It's nothing, I assure you," Laney answered. "I just know you're going through a lot on top of being a new father."

"You don't need to shed any tears for me darling. As for being a father, I love being a father and wouldn't trade it for the world." Loki said truthfully.

Laney smiled. "I will always worry about you. That won't stop. But I love that you love being a dad, even when she's up late at night wailing or has made a mess in our bed from a leaking diaper."

Loki returned Laney's smile with one of his own. "Being a father has been one of the highlights of my life. Even when a leaking diaper makes a mess, I wouldn't trade those moments either."

"Well, maybe when we're ready, we'll have another," Laney commented.

"If we get to that point, I would love to. If we don't, little Star is perfect." Loki said happily.

"We'll just have to wait and see then." Laney stood and stretched her legs before she looked down at Loki. "I believe I'm supposed to take you to your brother."

"If you want to join Desi, I can go to my brother. I am fine either way." Loki said, leaving it up to her.

"Are you sure?" Laney asked. "I can walk with you if you want me to."

"I wouldn't mind having you walk with me." Loki said truthfully.

Laney stood and offered Loki her hand. "I will walk with you then."

Loki took Laney's hand and stood up. "Do you know what patients you will have today?" He asked as they walked out of their chambers.

"No, I don't. I know it's all routine checks though," Laney replied.

"Have you given any thought to what path you want to study?" Loki asked curiously. He opened the door for them and led them into the hall.

"Desi wants me to become her assistant as well as her sole doctor, like she was for me," Laney answered. "I hope I can make her proud."

"What do you want though?" Loki asked, wanting Laney to pursue whatever made her happy.

"I like helping children," Laney replied. "I've done so much learning how to diagnose illnesses and things, I enjoy it."

"I think that's a very good path for you darling." Loki said happily.

"Thank you, sweetheart," Laney said softly.

"I want you to be happy in whatever you choose." Loki said truthfully as they walked down the hall. "I think you are wonderful with children though."

"I love working with children. Working with babies is my favorite," Laney said happily.

"It sounds like Desi is the perfect one for you to partner with then." Loki chuckled. "She does have some adult patients though, doesn't she?"

Laney nodded as they came around the corner. "She does. Desi also wants me to be her midwife."

"Are you comfortable with that? My brother has mentioned it as well." Loki admitted.

"I've never been one before. I've never helped birth a child, but I have seen it in person. There's a lot I would need to learn." Laney grasped and held into Loki's hand as they continued to walk, finally making it outside.

"She will teach you everything you need to know." Loki assured Laney. He stopped outside of the study door and pulled her into a loving kiss. "I will try to sneak away to see you for lunch." He promised.

Laney leaned up and wrapped her arms around Loki's neck, reluctant to leave his side. "I would love that."

Loki kissed Laney again, holding her close. "I will see you soon darling."

"Not soon enough," Laney cooed, then reluctantly let go of Loki to walk towards the hall of healing.