Sorry for the wait all, been busy with other things besides fics.

Before I go along with the small chapter summary I would ask some of you to please say a prayer for my friend AnnaBoleyna1536, her great grandma passed last week before Thanksgiving. If you find it in your heart to do so please pray for her and her family.

Now this chapter we have another skip ahead, this time a little more healing for Loki. Here he's going to talk with Stark more, and he's going to figure out what's best for him and Kira. As for the threat of Thanos, well that won't be happening anytime soon yet; I want to get further along before I bring big and ugly out.

I don't own the Marvel characters.

Enjoy!

Two and a half weeks later:

Time had passed since Loki arrived on Midgard, and so far things had picked up for him and Kira since he was brought to Stark Tower. His body had healed from its wounds internally and externally, and he regained some of his weight. He would still have the nightmares come, but when he went to sleep at night he felt more secure and that helped keep them away some nights.

In this time he spent with the mortals Loki admitted to himself that they weren't as pitiful or weak as he'd thought, not since the last time he was here before Thor's banishment. The mortals had grown despite their short lives, and it felt so strange being here but…not really. They treated him well, helped him care for his child, gave him a home and food, even clothes and for Kira. Why they were doing this…they said it was to help, but what for? Why help a fallen god, why help a creature from another realm? Why help…a monster?

'We're all monsters here.'

The one named Bruce Banner, with the alternate personality 'The Hulk' or 'The Other Guy', claimed everyone here was a monster. Stark used to make weapons that harmed other humans, Romanoff was a former assassin trained to kill from a young age, Rodgers and Barton fought in wars, and Banner…well if Banner felt angry or threatened the green beast would come and smash everything. Banner himself was harmless, but not the hulk.

He learned a lot, foolish of him perhaps, but he liked these mortals. Despite his once weakened state Loki's senses told him they would not harm him or Kira. If he'd ended up back in Asgard he might've been locked up and Kira would've been taken. Here he was healed and given medical treatment, and they allowed him to stay as long as he needed. Thor…no he would not think of Thor right now, he would not allow the memory of Thor to take over again.

"Loki." Loki had been nursing Kira when Pepper walked into the living room.

"Yes?"

"Bruce wanted me to remind you to come by for a quick checkup when you're done." she smiled; the woman had a kind spirit that almost reminded him of Frigga. "Do you want me to watch Kira?"

"Sure." Kira finished nursing after that, and after Loki settled her down under an odd colorful baby item with toys dangling down for her to reach at. "Where is he?"

"One level below, room six."

"Thank you." Loki took the elevator down; he was comfortable with letting Pepper watch Kira. His baby girl really liked the woman; he wondered why she didn't have any children of her own.

"Ah there you are." Bruce greeted him when he walked in. "Sit down on the table will you? Take off your shirt." Loki did so, though he was still hesitant with anyone touching his body he knew Banner wouldn't lay a finger against him. The others went as far as a simple clap on the shoulder or pat on the back, gently though, and that's how far it had gotten. "Are you having anymore nightmares?"

"On and off."

"Have the migraines stopped or have they kept coming?"

"I haven't had one in a week, I'm glad for it." it was just the usual, Loki just wanted to get better for himself and Kira. He ate well, exercised as asked by Banner, and made time to take it easy while caring for Kira.

"Good, you're doing better. Your vitals are improving, and you're gaining more weight which is good. Kira's doing well too I hear."

"Yes, she's getting her nutrition and she's getting bigger." Kira was almost three months old, Loki was happy to have her with him here.

"Glad to hear it, oh and before I forget Tony said Fury was coming by to see you." Loki paled a bit. "It's nothing serious from what I know, just wants to talk."

"Alright." he hadn't seen the director of shield since just after he'd arrived. "When is he coming?" Banner checked his watch.

"I'd say in an hour, but Fury tends to be early. Tony wants to see you too."

"Where is he?"

"In his lab, you can take Kira if you want." Loki nodded; he wanted his baby back right now. Out of everyone who seemed to be fine with him Stark was the strangest. He seemed to understand Loki more than the others, being on the end of a father's neglect and disappointment. Stark told him about his father, and they seemed to develop a friendship through it. Stark liked him and Kira, and they had some common ground.

"How'd it go?" when he walked back into his room for Kira Pepper was there still.

"Fine, I'm improving on my weight and I'm in no immediate danger." small humor there. Loki took Kira from Pepper and thanked her for watching while he was away.

"Oh and Loki?"

"Yes?" he turned back to her.

"You don't have to worry about any of us hurting you here, I hope you know that now." he gave her a slight smile and a nod before he left. Stark's lab was just a floor up, but it made Loki wonder why he'd want to talk up there. He'd been to Stark's lab before, but it wasn't safe for a baby.

"Mr. Loki." the AI Jarvis called to Loki as he entered the elevator.

"Yes Jarvis?"

"Mr. Stark knows you are coming and he wanted to tell you the laboratory has been organized for Kira and you."

"Organized?"

"He has put away all his dangerous tools and metals, out of courtesy to you." Loki almost didn't believe it, of all the things Stark was courtesy had not shown itself yet. Friendliness and kindness yes, but courtesy no.

"Thank you." they arrived on the floor, and as Loki stepped off he spotted Stark at a table working with some gadget. "Stark." Kira cooed after he called the man.

"Hey there Loki, how are you?"

"Fine, Banner says I'm doing better."

"You look better, and Kira?"

"She's fine obviously." Stark chuckled.

"She has a good mommy." Loki blushed slightly. "I guess Bruce told you Fury is coming?" Loki nodded. "He's gonna bring Agent Coulson, they just want to talk."

"I can't tell them about…"

"You don't have to, I cleared that with him. Granted he knows you went through hell, but the details don't have to be known yet. Although…it's about the council."

"What do they want? Do they know?" Tony shrugged.

"I'm not sure, he said he'd tell us when he got here." Kira was looking all around the room, curious by the wires and metals she could see. "I think she likes this place."

"She seems to be curious by anything shiny." Loki gave a small smile.

"Sir, forgive me for interrupting but Director Fury and Agent Coulson are here."

"Send them up Jarvis." Stark put down his tools and wiped his hands down of the black substance on them. "Sit down if you want." Loki complied, and a moment later the director and his agent entered the lab.

"Tony, you cleaned up." the one known as Coulson looked around.

"Yeah well when you've got a newborn baby around you need to play it safe or your CEO will have your guts for garters." the director smirked.

"Pepper's got you good Tony." he looked to Loki with his one good eye. "How are you Loki?"

"I'm fine, your doctor is a good man."

"He's not our doctor, but I'm glad he's helped you. Now…for why we're here it's about the council." Loki stiffened slightly. "They know."

"What?" Tony stared at Fury and Coulson. "How?"

"One of the agents that worked with Selvig on the Tesseract slipped up, he's been suspended for it. At first they wanted to have you brought in for questioning, but when I showed them the medical reports upon your arrival they backed down."

"What do they want with me?"

"As of right now nothing, I told them you've been under watch with me since you came. They are suspicious, but so long as you keep low and cause no issues they won't be coming around."

"So he has nothing to worry about." Stark walked over to them.

"For now yes, and hopefully never." Coulson answered. "We also have this…" he pulled a folder from his jacket pocket.

"What is that?" Loki bounced Kira as she started getting fussy.

"Documents to make you a citizen." Loki's eyes widened, and then turned to Stark.

"I did tell you they might."

"You've been on our world for nearly three months, and it doesn't look like you plan on going back to Asgard anytime soon. This way you can stay permanently, of course you don't have to choose right away."

"This…this is only for me? What about Kira?" the two men exchanged a look.

"Did you have her just as you entered the portal? Or right before?" Loki looked down at Kira.

"Just…moments before." he held her a little closer.

"There's a birth certificate in here for her too, and more to make her a citizen."

"But…I haven't been here long I don't even know if I'll be able to stay. Thor…the Allfather…they won't let me." he felt tears coming, his fear was returning.

"Loki, Loki calm down." Stark was by his side in an instant. "This doesn't have to be an immediate decision right? He has time?"

"Yeah, won't rush but these will stay here until he decides. I wouldn't put it off for too long though." Coulson put the folder down on the table. "Loki…if you're up to it we need to ask a few questions."

"What questions?" Loki was doing his breathing exercises, trying to calm down with Kira still in his arms. Stark would answer for him, for now.

"Concerning how he got here, but if he's not up to answering right now we can return tomorrow."

"No." Loki spoke up. "No, no let's get this over with."

"Are you sure?" Stark had concern on his face.

"Yes." Loki adjusted himself in the seat, getting more comfortable. "What do you need?"

"For starters, you came through a portal, a wormhole set by the tesseract…can you tell us how?" Loki took a minute to gather his thoughts.

"I was weakened from the birth…" Loki took a quick breath. "My magic was only enough to escape…but I…" he started trembling.

"Loki easy…" Stark touched his arm. "In and out come on."

"I…teleported myself…when I sensed the tesseract." Fury's one eye widened a bit.

"You sensed it?" Coulson was the first to ask, and Loki nodded.

"They…they put a spell on me…my magic is now linked to the cube. I can sense its power, and I used it to get myself out of there…just after Kira was born." he started breathing again.

"Ok… think that's enough."

"No." Loki shook his head. "No I can do this…I just need…to breathe." he started again. "What else?"

"You can sense the tesseract, is there a chance anyone or anything else could get through like you did?"

"I don't know…I was the only one." they paused.

"Do you think that anyone in Asgard can come after you?"

"They might…but it could be a while before they do. The Bifrost…it's destroyed or at least I believe it is still."

"Bifrost?" Stark turned to Coulson.

"A magic bridge that allows Asgard access to all the nine realms, the only source of transportation unless one is powerful enough to move in and out of the realms…but it requires an immense amount of magic. I believe you know of it Agent Coulson?"

"Yeah, when your brother came here in New Mexico; still have the files."

"I remember that one." Fury sighed. "One more thing…if Thor shows up here again and comes for you…do you want us to protect you from him?" Loki froze for a minute.

"What?" he was near shell-shocked.

"I'm really good at reading people Loki, and I can tell you are not evil. You're not a saint none of us are, but I think you've been punished enough. I want to ask how you ended up wherever you did, but you can tell us when you're ready."

"I will." Loki took in another breath; he had to tell it now. For the sake of his sanity he had to, and from what Banner had said sometimes talking helped. "I…I had been the one who sent the Destroyer here to your realm…but not to harm anyone fatally."

"That big machine that nearly killed Thor?" Coulson asked.

"Yes, because we were at war with another realm…I was trying to ensure Thor would not step in and do something stupid again. I didn't want to kill him but…I wanted to stall him. After he regained his powers I thought I had enough time to secure Asgard's safety and I killed the king of the other realm just before he could kill the Allfather. I was then stopped by Thor before I could finish off the entire realm…in my own anger I tried to kill others that hadn't done me harm. Thor was able to stop me, and he destroyed the bridge with his hammer Mjolnir. We both fell, but Odin caught us just before. I tried to have him see reason, that I thought I was doing what was best…but he only said…'No Loki'." Loki had one tear fall from his eye.

"And then you let go." Stark was stunned.

"I didn't think I would live, I had expected to die in the void. Then I ended up in…his realm." Loki let more tears fall.

"That's enough, no more." Stark gently touched Loki's shoulders.

"Yeah that's enough, alright Loki I'll give you more time to think. Talk it over and next time I come by…hopefully things will be better for you." Fury and Coulson took their opportunity to leave, and Loki did what he could to keep calm remembering he still had Kira in his arms.

"Hey." Stark did an unusual thing and wiped his tears away. "It's okay."

"Is it?" Loki adjusted his daughter in his hold, she sensed his unease but she was cooing. "Is it okay for me to live here? Okay for me to move on? To have a life that I never thought possible?"

"Yeah it is." Stark gave a light smile. "I asked myself the same thing once, after I had this." he pointed to the metal object in his chest, his arc reactor that kept him alive. "I didn't know how to cope at first, but after I got help…unwillingly might I add, things got easier. Pepper helped a good bit, but she's a friend, the only person who's ever put up with me longer than anyone else. I owe her a lot."

"So I owe you and your friends for helping me?"

"Not exactly, but you have a chance to make a clean slate." he looked at Kira. "Both of you do."

"What can I do for your people? My magic will return but…there's no telling when Thor or someone of Asgard will come after me. You can't fight them."

"We can try if you let us."

"You can't risk a war with Asgard."

"It won't come to that, because if Thor is your brother I think he'll try everything to prevent one. Selvig said he and Jane Foster were pretty cozy last time, so perhaps he'll act better than you believe." Loki let more tears fall.

"You don't know what he'll do." he held Kira again.

"Loki we won't let anything happen, I can promise you that we'll help you even more."

"But why? Why help me? I am a monster, a freak, a trickster! What good would me being here give you?" Stark just continued to smile.

"To be honest…I don't know but I can tell you now that we all like you. It takes a lot for anyone to get on everyone's good side here. Bruce and I like your brain, your intelligence, Clint well he'll come around, Nat likes how you study people, better than she can, Pep she likes your mommy side…and well…Rodgers and Coulson like almost everyone."

"And Fury?"

"Him I can't read too well, but I know how he works and he wouldn't go so far for just anyone. Unless he sees some good in you, that's how Nat started out with him. Clint saw good in her and she became a member of SHIELD."

"I still don't understand…"

"Then don't. Just give yourself time, more time to think and pick what you want. Not just for you, but for this little princess too." Stark stroked Kira's little cheek.

"I…I…alright."

"Alright, so are you hungry? I'll have Jarvis order Chinese; get you some of that wanton soup you like and maybe some egg rolls."

"That will be fine." Loki nodded.

"Alright, go on and get some air and I'll call everyone when it comes. Steve and Nat will be by later, just try and keep yourself steady eh?"

"As you wish Stark." Loki stood up and left the lab with Kira. He made it back to his own room and sat on the bed to change her diaper.

"Bah…baa bbbaaa…" Kira kept making silly noises, and Loki just kept smiling.

"What I would do for you my little jewel, I would do anything for you."

They wanted him here, they wanted to help, and they had. Loki was given a choice, a real choice to decide what he wants to do. They could help him more, but if anyone from Asgard showed up he feared the worst. It would be tough, and difficult to adjust to this odd realm…but perhaps there was something here that could give him hope.

So it's been known now that Loki will be given an opportunity to live on Midgard, but the question is…for how long? Stark and the others want him around, but what can Loki give them in return for everything?

Next chapter we move more along, and Loki chooses what he must do to ensure his daughter's safety and future. Also…there's going to be some more stories on Loki's torture so I advise caution when it's posted. Stark is going to get closer to Loki, and it will get on from there.

I still haven't decided about Thor yet, but there is something I'd like your opinions on. Should I bring Jane Foster in before Thor? If so…should she be briefed in on everything or will she find out after she meets Loki? Give Loki another friend? Or just make her a mutual companion?

R&R

Later!