Chapter 25: Big Sister Ruby (Loki's POV)

Thor has woken me up for the first time in over fourteen years.

The last time he woke me up was when my daughter had a miscarriage.

"What is it this time, Thor?"

"Brother, you must get to Midgard. Your daughter needs you. Heimdall told me she's expecting to go into labor soon and she needs her father."

"At least allow me to get dressed first."

Thor allows me this request, and I hastily get dressed, then head to the bridge between Asgard and Midgard. I soon reach my destination, New Berk.

I head into my daughter's home, expecting to find her in the throes of labor, but, alas, she and my son-in-law are still upstairs, asleep. I peek down the hall after getting upstairs and see my fourteen-year old granddaughter asleep. I smile softly. Ruby looks more and more like her mother every day.

I sit in the chair near my daughter and son-in-law's bed, watching them before they wake up. I see Becky grimace in her sleep, and I know that labor pains have begun.

"Mmmm…Eret."

"I'm here, love. I'm right here." Eret says sleepily, rubbing Becky's shoulder comfortingly. I smile. The perfect couple.

"If I could be of any assistance…" I say. Eret is up like a shot, drawing his sword.

"Eret, calm down. It's my father."

"Loki?" Eret asks.

"Heimdall told me that Becky's soon to go into labor, and I wouldn't miss it for the world."

I help my daughter to sit up before kneeling in front of her.

"How's my darling daughter doing this morning?" I ask.

"Like I'm about to pop."

"That's usually a good sign you're going into labor, sweetheart. Ready to head downstairs?"

Becky nods. Eret, having put away his sword helps me get Becky downstairs.

"Dad…you won't leave, will you? When things get bad?"

"Not unless you want me to."

"I don't. I'm going to need both of you."

"Neither of us will leave your side." I say as we situate Becky on the couch.

Eret and I take turns helping Becky through contractions, and I'm soon sent off to fetch Ruffnut, Tuffnut, and Lily Thorston.

I soon return with the trio needed.

"Tuff, go get Ruby. She doesn't need to be here." Becky says in the midst of a contraction a few hours later.

"On it, sis."

Ruffnut and I kneel in front of my daughter.

"Just keep breathing, sweetie. You're doing great." Ruffnut says.

Tuffnut soon leads Ruby outside where Snotlout and Fishlegs are undoubtedly waiting.

Becky lets out a short scream as the pain escalates. We're quick to help her calm down.

"It's alright, sweetheart. Just breathe through it."

"I can't."

"Yes, you can, my love. We're right here."

"Daddy, can't you…use your…healing magic…on me?"

"I'm afraid the relief would only last until the next contraction, my princess of Midgard. You can and will do this. I know you can. I've seen you do it before."

Eret and I soon sit on either side of Becky, into the second hour of labor – transition has almost begun.

The first time around, Becky wasn't too vicious during transition when she was in labor with her son, probably because she feared reprimand from Drago. The second time around, with Ruby, Eret told me she was pretty vicious. This time around? Ehhhh…let's just say I'd do anything for my little girl.

"Daddy, please take my pain away. Please."

"Oh, my princess of Midgard, I wish I could. We don't know what effects my magic would have on your baby. Trust me; I know what you're going through."

"So…it's really true, then? About Sleipnir?"

"It is indeed true. That birth was no less painful that a human birth, although the pregnancy did last for two months more."

"Really?"

"Really. I know you can do this, Becky. You're strong enough to get through this."

Soon, the time comes for my next grandchild to be born.

With me on one side of Becky and Eret on the other, she begins to push.

"Here comes the head, baby girl. Gentle pushes for me now."

Groaning in agony, my daughter continues pushing. I regret not putting in a good word with Frigg, the goddess of childbirth. She's also my mother.

Meanwhile, in Asgard…

Frigga stands at the edge of the bridge between Asgard and Midgard.

"Rebekah Nordisk, daughter of Loki, I give you strength to bring this child forth."

Back on New Berk…

My daughter feels a new surge of strength and begins to push stronger than she ever has before.

"That's it! Good girl!"

The baby's head is soon born, and Becky is given a break.

"I think Mother may have had a hand in you getting that sudden surge of strength."

"Thank her for me, will you?"

"I swear to you I will, my daughter."

"Ready, love?"

"As I'll ever be."

"Here we go. Just a couple more pushes oughta do it."

A couple pushes later and the baby is born.

"It's a boy! He's a bit small, but otherwise a good size."

"Now, Eret, I am done having children. No more." Becky says.

"Can't say I blame you, my love."

But we're soon graced by another head's appearance.

"There's another baby, sweetheart. Ruffnut, take him." I step in.

"I'll take him, Lily. Becky needs her sister. I can sense it."

"Thank you, Loki." Lily gently places the crying baby boy into my arms as Ruffnut takes my place.

"Okay, sweetheart. You ready?"

"I think so."

"Okay. Go ahead and push."

Becky pushes, leaning into Eret and having quite the death grip on Ruffnut's and Eret's hands.

"That's it, my love. That's it."

"Come on, sis. You can do it."

"Mama, I can't. I can't push anymore. I don't have any more strength."

"Yes, you can, baby girl."

"You can do it, my princess of Midgard. I know you can."

Becky nods at my words and pushes as hard as she can.

"Sweetheart, stop pushing! You're losing too much blood."

"Mom, what do we do?" Ruffnut asks.

"Eret, go get some rags. Something to staunch the bleeding. Sweetheart, whatever you do, do not push."

"Daddy, can't you do something?" Becky asks, weakly. She's losing color fast.

"Yes, I can, sweetheart. I can definitely do something. But I can't do it until the baby's been born, for fear of injuring the baby."

"Let's get this baby out then."

Eret soon comes back with some rags.

"I promise, sweetheart, as soon as the baby's been born, I will heal you. But you have to promise me you'll hang on and get this baby out."

Becky nods.

"Let's do this." Becky pushes and the head soon emerges, and, soon, the whole body of the baby is out. With the umbilical cord still attached, I heal my daughter as she slumps breathlessly against her sister.

At first, my magic isn't strong enough.

"Eir, give me the strength to heal my daughter." I pray, and I feel Eir's power flow through me. I heal my daughter completely as the umbilical cord is cut, and color comes back to my daughter's cheeks.

"It's over, my princess. It's over."

"Rest, my love. You just rest. It's okay."

Several minutes pass as we stare at my grandchildren. Oh, I forgot to mention: the second baby is a girl!

Soon, Becky has her and Eret's son in her arms and Eret has their newborn daughter in his.

~.~

Dustin Kensley and Eira Shelby. Two perfect names for two perfect babies. Ruby has since returned home with her Uncle Tuffnut and my daughter is moved upstairs to rest.

Soon, I'm sensing my eldest grandchild needs me, and I race upstairs to her room.

She's crying. Sobbing, really.

"What's wrong, my little princess of Midgard?" I ask. I begin to rub Ruby's back as she basically throws herself at me.

A few minutes pass.

"What is it, my little princess?"

"Are we gonna lose my Mama?"

"Oh, Ruby, of course we're not gonna lose your Mama. She just…she lost a lot of blood during delivery. She just won't be able to have any more children. But she's okay."

~.~

After hugging my rightfully exhausted daughter, I leave for home, with promises to visit often.

"Did everything go well?" Thor asks me.

"A boy and a girl were both delivered."

"Twins? From your small daughter?"

"You'd be surprised at how strong she is."

"Oh, really? How strong can she be compared to me?"

"She's got more emotional strength than anyone I know."

"Now, Loki, I didn't say anything about emotional strength."

"I didn't say anything about physical strength." Thor says nothing.

"Loki…how did it go?" Mother asks.

"Mother, it went well, even with a few bumps in the road. Thank you for answering my prayer. Eir, too."

"I'll be sure to let her know."

"I was so afraid she'd be joining us in Asgard, being half-goddess."

"Now's not her time, Loki. It won't be her time for many a year."

"That's good to hear. Thank you, Mother."

"You're welcome. Now, go get some rest. You've had a long day."

I drift off to sleep, dreaming of a glorious future with my daughter and her family.