Enjoy!

Saga studied the patterns on her face. The mirror held the perfect image of the girl. She was, in a sense, back to her roots. The girl was finally true to herself. Sebastian and Hadia were happy for the young girl. She was thrilled, but she was still anxious to attack. Hadia stood beside her, a nervous smile on her face.

"Are you sure you want to do this now?" Hadia asked," You don't have to do this. You don't even have all of your powers ready."

"I know, but if you guys got hurt, and I wasn't there to help, I would feel guilty. In this form, I can use what I've learned and I can help you guys. Please?"

Hadia looked to Sebastian, who gave a worried nod. Hadia agreed to let the girl come. Saga thanked the woman and went back to looking in the mirror. She studied her eyes and, once again, the patterns on her skin. They would be leaving soon, but for now, Saga couldn't help but admire herself.

The silver briefcase had two glass beams in it. Rhodey recognized it as a security system, one of Stark's last inventions. Peter held one of the beams with excitement and fear. Ned touched it and admired it strongly. The two wanted to be the ones to set it up and Rhodey agreed, but they had to have Sam watch over them. Bucky laughed at the misfortune, until he noticed that Stephen was starting to act...strange.

"Are you good?" Bucky asked.

"Where's Loki?

"I think he went to check on the prisoner-"

Stephen quickly brushed past the people. The wizard could tell that something bad was about to happen and he had a feeling Loki was the source. They were all as confused as one another. Meanwhile, Loki was sitting on the other side of the glass. Ben leaned against the glass, waiting for this nightmare to be over.

"How can I convince you to let me out of here?" Ben asked.

"You can't," the other man said,"You're going to stay here and think about what you've done."

"You sound just like a mom. Let me guess, you're keeping an eye on me because I'm your one ticket to seeing your daughter."

Loki wouldn't confirm nor deny such claims. He simply stayed quiet, trying not to think about his daughter. But Ben was the one piece that he had to hold onto. Ben knew he was getting to the trickster's head and that put a smile on his face.

"Want to know how she feels about you?"

"She hasn't truly met me," Loki grumbled,"She probably doesn't even remember my face."

"That's true," Ben said,"She honestly doesn't say much. Saga just wants to see her parents again. She misses you and she doesn't even remember you."

Loki paused as he tried to hold back tears. He didn't expect her to remember anything, but ht was hoping otherwise. He could only picture the baby she once was. So tiny, so fragile. He never wanted his daughter to be as corrupted as he was. Before Ben could continue to talk about Saga, Stephen burst into the room. He had a serious look on his face as Loki stood up.

"What are you doing here?" he asked," Can't you go bother the others?"

"Loki, step away from that man," Stephen said as he froze Ben in time," He's dangerous and I have a feeling he's gonna try to manipulate you. I need you to trust me."

"If this is some kind of way to win my admiration and respect, this is a sad attempt," Loki went on as he unfroze Ben," After everything you've done-"

"What the hell have I done to you?" he finally snapped," I made you fall for thirty minutes. I'm sorry- I was worried for the safety of Earth and the people on it. Or was it that I found your father? You're welcome by the way-"

Loki couldn't take anymore of this behavior. He went to the backroom without a word. Stephen looked to Ben, glaring, and following the trickster. He called his name three times before he heard a soft laugh. Stephen swore he'd heard it before but he couldn't pinpoint who it came from. Until he saw the slim hand in the doorway.

"Do you remember," a female voice asked, "years ago, there was a woman you met at a bar? She had long black hair, a slim waist and a smile, as you described, like poison? You met her when you both ordered the same martini and gave her a smile. You talked about family and friends and how your career was going to impact your entire life. She trusted you and you took her home and-"

Stephen felt his heart drop when he saw the woman before him. It had been a long time since Ben he'd seen the persona. It didn't surprise him at all, but he knew the wizard was in a state of shock. Loki, or Lydia, gave a smile that really was like poison.

"Well, you know the rest."

"Lydia Turner... Loki, I don't understand."

Loki frowned for a second, then the smile returned. Stephen became tense as his hand was grabbed. Everything grew bright, then he was standing at the end of a hallway. The building looked familiar and then he remembered where he was. He was living in his first apartment just outside of Manhattan. Early 2002, he recalled, as heard the elevator door open.

At the end of the hall, he saw Lydia-well, Loki-getting off. She was nervously moving her hands as she approached his apartment. She was afraid to knock, her eyes lowering to the floor. A hand went to her stomach and Present Day Stephen curiously watched. He called out to her, but she couldn't hear him. Finally, she knocked on the door and a younger Stephen answered the door. God, he looked like an arrogant douchebag. The younger Stephen peered at the woman.

"Can I help you?" he asked.

"Stephen," she said as she tried to get in," we need to talk."

"Woah, woah," he stopped her," Who the hell are you? Please leave-"

Lydia tried to say her name, but the doctor wanted to make her leave. Present Day Stephen watched the interaction, remembering what an awful person he was. Before he shut the door, the woman pried it open once more.

"I'll have the martini, with a hint of mint and strawberry."

"Wait...Lydia?" the young man paused," Can we talk tomorrow? I'm about to be late to a New Years party."

"But it's important."

"So is this party. Now, if you don't mind I have to-"

"Stephen, I'm pregnant!"

Both Stephens felt their whole world shatter. Present Day Stephen grabbed his mouth as the words played out in his head. He was a dad, he had a kid, he got Loki pregnant...the younger Stephen tried to process what the woman had said. Then, as she gave a smile, he gave such a scowl that discouraged her.

"So you came here to get some kind of money from me?"

"Not at all!" she said nervously," I came here because I thought that the three of us could be a family-"

"I don't have time for family!" he loudly spoke, angering his older self," I'm going to be at the peak of my career and I have no plans for a baby."

"So you can enjoy being with me and doing what you want until there's a serious issue?" Lydia stood up for herself," What kind of a person are you?"

"What kind of a person are you? You're the one who decided to sleep with me. I thought it would just be drinks and a goodbye, maybe another date. I didn't expect this to happen. I wish you and the baby the best of luck, but I am no position to take care of it. Now, leave and let me get ready for my party."

As the door was shut, Present Day Stephen tried to open the door. He wanted to yell at his old self and tell him he was being an idiot. That he had to raise this child with Loki. But there was no use and Lydia walked off crying. She was followed by Stephen, who kept apologizing as the elevator doors shut.

He opened his eyes and Lydia was still staring right at him. She was trying her best not to cry but it was getting harder and harder not to. Ben was quiet but he knew there was a storm brewing.

"Do you remember how you told me that I was quite a gal? Remember when we danced to songs of your generation? And how you held me in your arms when we lied in bed? You convinced a lost lady that she found her knight. Until she ended up pregnant with a daughter you couldn't be bothered to be with."

"Wait a minute...are you telling me that the girl in that video is my daughter?"

"Our daughter. You turned me away when I said I was pregnant. You told me that you couldn't deal with us and you shunned us away like the bastard you were! Or still are?"

Lydia turned away as Peter and Ned entered the room. They gazed at the lady, who gave them both a gentle smile. As she transformed back to Loki, confusing the two boys, Stephen spoke up.

"I...I don't know what to say."

"Of course you don't," Loki scoffed," Of course you don't. You're only listening now, because you realize how irresponsible you've been. I thought that you would remember when we... I have to leave before I do something horrible to you."

As Loki left, Stephen sat back and thought. He was a dad. He had a daughter. And he completely screwed up. Peter and Ned, however, broke out into smiles.

'Mr. Loki really is a shapeshifter!"