Pepper and Tony showed Sigyn their home by the lake. It was lovely and quaint. It didn't seem like there was any technology besides the normal plug ins. Tony had solar panels here and there outside.
"Tony likes to tease, saying this is his Green Acres," Pepper explained as they came back inside. Sigyn was confused by the reference. "It's a tv program where city people become country people, but more private and secluded."
"Ah," Sigyn then understood after the explanation. She gave Pepper and Tony a comforting smile. "I think the Midgardians who seem the most like us, would be you two." Pepper and Tony looked to each other. They knew who us was. She continued. "And congratulations." Pepper hugged her. "I already knew by the glow you were emitting. I didn't have to use any powers." She winked over at Tony.
"Group hug," Tony came in to hug the two as well. When everyone finally separated, Tony spoke first. "Well, I think I should make us something hot and we should all catch up like old times. You two sit at the table and I will make dinner."
"Oh, Tony you don't have to," Pepper interjected.
"No-no-no, I said I would contribute and step up, this is me stepping up," Tony pushed them to sit down at the table. "I'll just comment every so often from cooking." Tony lit up. "I can finally use that tea set." He left them to go get some hot water ready.
Sigyn sat down as Pepper was giving a comforting smile. Sigyn was taken aback. "He. This is Tony?"
Pepper nodded. "After he found out I was pregnant, it was like a switch. Well, more like a whole other side of him hidden deep within surfaced. Still up to his antics but I think he's going to make a great father."
Sigyn agreed. "That he will be. It will always amaze those around to see people like them become something no one would expect. I think our children would enjoy playing with one another." Sigyn was too into the moment to realize the slip up. Sigyn cleared her throat and casted her eyes down.
Tony came just in time with the tea tray and a small towel draped on his shoulder. He set it down while Pepper was stunned. She was trying to figure out what to say.
"I bet our kids would enjoy playing with one another," Tony agreed. He placed three cups out. "I have a variety of hot chocolate, teas like peppermint, raspberry leaf, ginger, lemon balm, only the kinds that are safe." He gave Pepper a knowing look. She took a lemon balm tea packet. Sigyn looked up back at him. Tony just made sure to keep things flowing. "I am hoping for a little girl, Pepper wants a little boy. I don't think I could handle a little me."
"Our child will be like us, so you won't be able to get out of that," Pepper handed him the cup for him to pour the hot water in. Sigyn chuckled. It was nice being with them. She took one of the tea packets.
"How many children did you have, if I could ask?" Tony looked as he was pouring the hot water.
"Two," Sigyn breathed. "Two little boys."
Tony had to stop pouring, lest he would burn himself. He set down Pepper's cup and took Sigyn's next. "Two! Wow. Well," Tony bobbled his head back and forth thinking. "That actually shouldn't be such a surprise. We're both similar in sense. What are their names?"
"Vali and Nari," Sigyn smiled. "He picked out both names."
"May I ask how old?" Pepper was waiting for the tea to steep.
"Vali is one, and Nari is a week and five days, just an infant," Sigyn sighed.
Tony dropped the tea packet he was holding. It fell with a soft thud onto the table. He had no words. Pepper placed both hands over her mouth. She started to tear up.
"Sigyn, I-I," Tony started to jumble words out.
"I know what you are both trying to say," Sigyn didn't look at either of them. She was trying to get herself through it as well. "I appreciate it. I don't know if it gets harder or easier speaking about them." The two kept silent. "I haven't moved their cribs. I keep thinking one day they will come back. This will be all a dream" Sigyn didn't want to bring up her miscarriage. It was sad enough as it is with everything else. She switched subjects. "Now, tell me everything of what happened," Sigyn asked.
Tony looked back at the items he placed out. "Mind if I cook and talk?"
"Go right ahead," Sigyn finally looked up again.
"Good," Tony headed back to the kitchen area. "It is a long story, I am surprised no one has told you but then again its hard to want to relive that. I'll just do a shortened version. Thanos' goons arrived in different spots. Avengers were there. Things happened. Some left the Earth, others stayed. We lost. The snap. Then Captain Marvel, you haven't heard of her, have you?" He called back.
"I actually have met her," Sigyn took a sip afterwards. Pepper was wiping the tears off her cheeks. It was an emotional day for her. "I met her while I was roaming between the Nine Realms."
"Okay," Tony went back to cooking. "She came by, saved me, we regrouped, found Thanos, Thor delivered the killing blow and the stones were already destroyed by him. Here we are now."
"Short version indeed," Sigyn could read between the lines.
"Have you ever heard of Thanos?" Tony paused for a bit. Pepper was intrigued. Tony wasn't up for talking about Thanos.
"I heard about him when I was a little girl, or maybe the evil that he is," Sigyn explained. "Allfather warned me about how there are abysmal evil lurking in the far reaches of the universe and there were powerful beings like Allfather to keep them back. However, I only truly know about Thanos through his nightmares."
"He had nightmares?" Pepper had her cup in both hands, about to take a sip.
"Yes," Sigyn explained. "Nightmares that haunted where he would never tell me them, but would scream out and jolt awake. He would wake in cold sweat. I happened to see that nightmare. It is safe to say that the details probably match up to the details Tony is not speaking." Sigyn took a sip.
"Did he ever get over them?" Pepper followed up.
"Not really," Sigyn set down her cup. "When he would immerse himself into work and getting Asgard back to its former glory, I could sense that he was doing it fight off the darkness, literally and physically. Without Asgard defenses and the Rainbow bridge, we could have been easily wiped out. I had nightmares myself, but it was about the destruction of Asgard. He had similar ones but I didn't want to look into his mind."
"Do you," Tony wanted to know. "Do you really think he's gone?"
Sigyn stared at the tea cup. "It's hard to say. I have placed my Valkyrie protection on him. If he was to ever, ever, well I would know. I would be the one who would decide to grant him access to Valhalla or not."
"And you never sensed that?" Pepper set her cup down.
"No," Sigyn glanced over to Tony. "The first time, I didn't feel it, but I wasn't able to, I was chained up and my powers were controlled. I could not sense if he was truly gone or not. This time, I was free, and I sensed nothing."
"Then the most probable cause is," Tony was stirring.
"Is what happened to everyone else," Sigyn truly believed that. She didn't want to bring about her research about the Soul World and if there was a possibility to get them out of there. If there was no way of doing that, she didn't want to get their hopes up.
"Almost done ladies," Tony brought out some square plates.
"Thor won't speak to you at all, will he?" Pepper spoke in a hushed tone.
"He is guilt ridden," Sigyn explained. "When we found about the truth of one another, it made it worse for both of us. How are the rest?"
"Steve helps out with therapy sessions talking it out," Pepper explained. "Nat is over SHIELD, keeping in check with everyone else around the world. Bruce, I don't know what he's up to, probably the same." Sigyn nodded. "It's been a struggle, for everyone."
Tony finished cooking. He placed it on the plates, acting as if they are in a five-star restaurant. He picked all three up, walked very carefully, and placed them down in front of them. "These are the house special. Heard they had a five-star review. Please let me know and I can give the compliments to the chef." Pepper gave him a smile. Sigyn thanked him for the meal.
The three were silent for while until most of the food was eaten down before Tony spoke up again. He switched subjects. He didn't want to keep talking about the past. Since everyone was all caught up, he decided to talk about how he actually enjoyed living out by the lake. He also let Sigyn know that she was welcomed anytime to visit. Tony asked about her home. She explained that it was similar, but she had a waterfall. Tony let out a bit of jealousy. The three kept the happy banter.
After dinner, Tony took the plates, gave them both popsicles since that was what Pepper craved the most. Pepper and Sigyn spoke about pregnancy, cravings, and expectations. He finished cleaning when Pepper started to yawn. Pepper tried to keep it back but Sigyn and Tony knew that it was time for Pepper to go to bed. Pepper and Tony showed Sigyn one of the guest rooms.
Sigyn stayed with them until a week after the New Year. Spending time with one another helped with their mental health. Pepper and Tony asked Sigyn to be a Godmother for their child. Sigyn was elated and honored to be that for their child. She would come visit them when she could. They didn't want to push her, but let her know she was always welcome.
Back at home, Sigyn cleaned the home. It was in a perpetual state where there wasn't much of change in any of the season or the weather. Sigyn started at one end and slowly worked her way to the other end.
When she was wiping down the table, her hand brushed against the cylinder type of gold machine, one of the many trinkets that Loki had left. Sigyn had forgotten all about it. She kept wiping, not noticing the small hologram of Loki hovering on the table.
"It seems I have not come home, yet," his voice broke the silence.
Sigyn jolted, turning around to see if he was there. There was no one. She was confused. Was he calling from the Soul World?
"But I will be coming back," the hologram of him continued. Sigyn searched frantically for him, turning to see if he was the other way. "That is a promise I have made. I will not let my family down." Sigyn turned back around with utter confusion. She finally glanced at her hand with the rag to notice the small hologram upon the table next to it. Sigyn grabbed the chair and sat down. "Worry not." He gave her a comforting smile. "You are strong and have always waited for me patiently, just wait just a bit more." His hologram started to gesture to the cylinder. "I have left this device to try to make the time waiting for me go by faster. It wouldn't even be called a replacement but for now it will do." The hologram looked away before looking straight back into her eyes. "I have also set different messages for all occasions, just in case. I don't believe you'll need to hear them but as a husband and a father, it is my duty to leave a last word for all of you." Sigyn started to tear up. He smirked. "That will just be lies though. Me?" He pointed at himself. "Truly dead? Whole universe would have to come to an end for that to happen. Anyways, I keep promises when it's about you." He winked before the hologram vanished.
Sigyn had the rag clutched to her heart. She looked down to see that her outfit now had a wet spot. She tossed the rag over to the sink and dried her hands on her clothes. She would have to wash them anyways. At this moment, Sigyn only wanted to keep listening to all of his messages. She pushed the button again.
"Can't get enough of me, can you?" He taunted as the hologram appeared again. Sigyn placed her elbow on the table and rested her head upon her hand. "I mean, who wouldn't?" Sigyn shook her head and chuckled. "Here in Sakaar, I arrived in my lounge wear, had to get a new look. What do you think?" He turned around for her. "Sakaar, well old me would have enjoyed every bit of this place." He looked around. "Present me likes it, but lingering thoughts keep pulling me back to Asgard and you. As the King, I don't enjoy this place at all. Not when our people are suffering. I'm just biding my time, thankfully I landed on the leader of this place's shuttle. Get in good with him and then figure out a way home."
The hologram vanished again. Sigyn looked at the device. She wanted it to play all. The writing was Sakaarian and Allspeak didn't help with writing. Sigyn pushed the same button again. The hologram of Loki came back on. This time he was dressed in a different outfit then the blue and gold one he had earlier. "I think this thing has become my diary of sorts. Since you're seeing this, that means I probably didn't show you how this works." Loki explained the buttons before the hologram vanished again. This one was shorter. Sigyn thought she heard women's and men's voices in the background.
Sigyn pushed the button that would play all of the messages. The hologram of Loki in his new look arrived, making her heart ache for him. Some of his messages explained about Sakaar and how time worked differently since he was at the edge of the universe. About how Sakaar worked and glad he didn't end up as a warrior to fight in battle for his life.
She came across a message of him explaining if Hela would find her and that she needed to hide somewhere else, anywhere but the Nine Realms. Loki's hologram explained a few systems that her and the children could hide at and be safe from other beings. This tugged at her heart strings.
One message startled her. The hologram switched looks again. This Loki was now only in his leather pants and boots. His hair was braided on the sides. He crossed his arms in front of his chest. He wasn't looking at her as most of the holograms were. This hologram let out a sigh. "Not one of my finer moments, but these parties the leader has, let's just say I would only say what happened in person." He finally looked at her. "I haven't been here long but I ache for you so much when I attend these types of events. I know you ache for me as well." He dropped his arms and gave a smoldering gaze. Sigyn gulped. This type of look with that gaze, reminded her of those certain times. She cleared her throat and shifted in her seat. "I have a gift for you. Probably will leave it in our chamber." Sigyn tilted her head. "Common gift amongst beings in the universe but Sakaar's version." He started to smirk. Sigyn didn't want to think where this was going.
The hologram continued. "This gift, not the real thing, but close to it." He lifted an eyebrow.
"Oh," Sigyn knew exactly where this was going.
"This technology can duplicate the model," his hologram kept taunting her. "Down to the exact feel."
Sigyn stood up to back away. She was getting hot and was trying to calm herself down. Sigyn glanced away, as her cheeks flushed. She didn't know the hologram became life size and was standing before her. She looked up only to flinch back. "Oh!" This was not the situation she was thinking she was going to be in. She peered up into his eyes.
"Giving the same satisfaction as the real thing," his voice had gotten lower and the hologram moved closer. "Well, almost." Sigyn's heart started to race as it seemed like the hologram was right by her ear. "Only I can ever truly satisfy you." Her whole body shivered. She clutched herself. The hologram moved back. This hologram smirked once more as well as giving a wink before shrinking back down onto the table. Sigyn pushed the pause button on there. Sigyn had to catch her breath. She stared at the hologram who was frozen in sexual taunt.
"You are truly mischievous!" Sigyn fired back. "Not fair at all. Up to your old tricks again." She nodded. "And now I need to go find that." She turned around to head towards the chamber.
Sigyn searched his side, through the cabinets and secret compartments. She looked through her side where she found it in one of the secret compartments. There was a locked box that was bound in black leather with gold metal detailing and green jewels. Sigyn sat upon the bed. Did she really want to open this? Sigyn placed it on the bed. She had to gather some courage. Sigyn unlocked the box since the gold with green jewels was on top of it. Once unlocked, she couldn't make herself open it. She glanced around. Is this really happening?
She took in a breath and let it out. Sigyn tried to open the box but pulled her hand away at the last minute. Sigyn felt she was a young maiden who had no experience and little knowledge of the acts that happen with consenting adults. Sigyn breathed again, reached down and opened it. She peered inside and then closed it just as quick. A hand placed upon her heart, trying to steady it. This husband of hers, cunning, cunning man. It is exactly what he said it was. Sigyn locked it back up and placed it on the stand next to her bed.
Sigyn headed back to the table where the hologram was still frozen. She pointed at it. "We are going to have a talk when you get back." She pushed a button to let it play.
The hologram was now giving her smug look. "I remember saying once, satisfaction is not in my nature, but oh Sigyn, with you, it is." He gave a once over. "It is. Try not to call my name out too loudly, wouldn't want to wake the children." The hologram vanished with him chuckling.
"You-" Sigyn stood up once more. She looked down her nose on that cylinder device. Sigyn tapped the pause button so no more would play. She had several words to say but just couldn't form the right sentence yet. "Ugh!" She was heated in more ways than one and was not to fond about it. "Incorrigible, cunning, ugh!" She turned her head away. She turned back to look at it again. "God of Mischief has never suited you so well until now. Do you know that you-" she stopped herself. Tears started to brim her eyes. She didn't want to think about the rest of the sentence. Sigyn took a few breaths. "I think that's enough for today." She told herself to head back to cleaning. Menial tasks should help get her mind off of things.