So here is the new chapter. Hope you survived the wait. I will try to write another chapter today or tomorrow. But I have some other stuff to write and I need to pick up a friend that get here by train. But I will try for your sake.
And I am happy with this chapter. I wanted to have a more fun and uplifting chapter. A chapter that showed that things get's forward both with Loki and how he feels. And now he isn't only scared, so now we have the new phase and I hope you like it. It isn't as dark as it was at first. And I hope you don't mind how Loki is acting. Then I wanted more Loki and Cara, sand I really hope that you guys didn't think it was to silly and romantic. Sorry if you felt that way. I also wanted to show how the avengers and Loki becomes closer, just like Loki becomes closer to his family.
And here are the kids as I promised. Told you that it wasn't the last time we saw them! And well I just made it possible for all the children to speak. Felt like it was easier if they could.
In the next chapter things will move forward with the war plans and stuff. You will see :)
Besides that I really want to thank you guys for reading and staying with me. I sometimes feel like it isn't as good as it was when I started it, and I am really afraid that you will stop reading. But I am always happy to see that people read it, reviews and follows. It means so much to me! So thank you so much 3
Don't think I have more to say, so enjoy :)
When Thor and Jane walked out of the elevator, after three weeks in Australia they found the others watching a movie. Thor gave Jane a surprised and wondering look, seeing them all watching Bolt, why would they watch a children's movie? He felt like Clint and Tony would most protest against watching it, needing something with more action. So Thor's guess was that they hadn't have anything to say about it. But when Thor and Jane walked over to them Thor saw the twins, he understood why they were watching a kids movie.
"Uncle Thor!" The twins said when they saw him. They stood up and run towards him. Thor got a bit surprised about it. He had connected with his youngest nephews, but he didn't thought they would miss him if he were gone.
"Hi," Thor said and hugged them, before they ran to hug Jane too and Thor looked at the others.
"Welcome home big guy," Tony said when the others stood up to walk over and great him.
"How was Australia?" Did Bruce ask.
"More importantly, is Australia alright?" Clint asked and grinned.
"Alright? Why wouldn't it be alright?" Thor asked confused.
"It was a joke," Clint said and laughed.
"Luckily your livelihood doesn't depend on you making jokes," Loki said in a sarcastic way and Clint just gave him a annoyed look.
"You are so funny Loki! I almost preferred when you tried to take over the world. At least we didn't need to hear your jokes!" Clint answered.
"If I try or manage to take over the world, I am going to tell you jokes every day, just to please you," Loki said and Clint was about to say something when Thor stepped in between them and hugged Loki, who first tensed up, but then relaxed.
"I have missed you brother!" Thor said with a big smile.
"Let go of me you big oaf," Loki said to him.
"But I have missed you," Thor said. "I thought you would have missed me too."
"Why would I have missed you? And can you let go of me!" Loki said and tried to get Thor to release him.
"Not until you admit that you have missed me," Thor said and Loki sighed.
"Fine you got me Thor, I have missed you very much brother," Loki said and Thor smiled even bigger and let go of Loki.
"Really?" Thor asked and Loki gave him a cold look.
"No, that was a lie," Loki answered him.
"Loki!" Thor said and started to chase Loki.
"How do you handle them?" Tony asked as he walked up to Cara who just smiled.
"They aren't that difficult. They are like any other siblings, for most time," Cara said and laughed when Loki stopped which made Thor run through him, realizing it was a hologram, when he hit the wall.
"Are you ever not going to fall for that?" Loki said with a cocky smile as he walked over to Cara.
"Uncle Thor run into a wall," Váli said with a laugh.
"Normal siblings don't do that!" Tony said.
"They would if they could."
"They would?" Tony asked and Cara nodded, remembering that Tony didn't had any siblings.
"Without a doubt," Cara answered and watched Thor as he stood up and looked at Loki who smiled.
"Loki!" Thor said again and walked towards Loki with a big smile. "I haven't seen you do things like that in a long time, or rather just not for fun."
Loki didn't answer him, he just shrugged his shoulders.
"You seem different. Did something happen while we were gone?" Thor asked and everyone in the room just looked at each other. The Avengers looked a bit worried at Loki. Should he tell his brother? They had been worried about how Thor would react if he knew.
"Nothing that would interest you," Loki only answered his brother and Thor nodded.
"Oh okay. Guess you just seem different for some reason. But we will go to bed now. We can tell you all about our trip later," Thor said and walked over to Jane before they left the room.
"Why didn't you tell him?" Clint asked and Loki gave him a look, wondering if he was stupid.
"Did you really thought I would run to my brother and tell. Do you see me as a child?" Loki asked them and the Avengers gave each other looks, not sure what to answer.
"No, but…we don't know. Guess we were a bit scared that you would," Steve admitted.
"And this is the world's mighty heroes, scared of Thor," Loki said to them. "But I can inform you that Thor would be the last person I ran to tell. I didn't even did that as a child."
"No you would run to Cara instead," Tony teased.
"If I did, you guys would be in trouble," Loki only answered without getting insulted.
"That you would," Cara said and took Loki's hand and gave the others a look.
"We shall behave mother," Tony said sarcastically and Cara just shook her head.
"Let's finish the movie," Cara just said and they all sat down.
When the others got to the kitchen the next morning to eat breakfast, they saw that it was less food then normally.
"Hey, what happened?!" Clint said, really displeased.
"Sorry, but I didn't have time to do as much as I usually do," Cara said and they looked over to her and Loki, to see them wrapping something.
"What are you doing?" Steve asked.
"We are getting ready to visit Hel. It's her birthday," Cara said and the others looked surprised.
"It is?" Tony said. "Why haven't you said anything?"
At those words Loki looked up, a bit surprised, not following.
"What if we want to congratulate her too!" Tony said.
"You do?" Loki not being able to hide his surprised.
"Yes! You are our friend and she is your daughter. Of course we want to!" Tony said and at those words Loki froze, just staring at them, and that made the others a bit unsure.
"Excuse me" Loki said and left the room and Clint hit Tony.
"What?" Tony said in an angry voice.
"I don't know, but you did something wrong, so I hit you," Clint said.
"You!" Tony said and took a step against Clint who hide behind Natasha who only sighed. Tony smiled, knowing he had won and turned back to Cara.
"So what did I do?" He asked and she finished wrapping the present.
"Nothing bad if that's what worries you. I think you just surprised him. You said that you were his friend, and that you would like to meet Hel. I don't think he expected that," Cara explained and Tony gave her a surprised look.
"I called him a friend? Didn't mean to do that," Tony started.
"You don't see him as a friend?"
"No, no, no. Nothing like that. I just got surprised myself. I don't think I realised that I saw him as a friend," Tony explained and Cara smiled.
"It's nice to hear you say that you see him as a friend. Never thought I would hear those words," she said and stood up. "I will talk to him and see what I can do."
"So we will find presents?" Tony said with a smile and Cara just shook her head before she went to find Loki.
"Loki?" Cara asked as she walked out on the balcony. Loki didn't answer her, but she walked over and stood next to him. She didn't say anything; she knew that Loki would talk when he was ready. To hear someone, say that they are your friend after almost a lifetime without any friends was hard to take in. Cara guessed Loki wasn't sure how to handle it, after how everyone had treated him over the years, and she was fairly sure he would have been bad at handling it even if Odin hadn't fucked him up. However, she was really happy to hear Tony call Loki friend, she just hoped that Loki could handle it.
"Cara?" Loki asked and she looked at him. "I am scared."
Cara took his hand and smiled.
"I understand. Are you afraid that they will betray you?" she asked and he nodded. "I don't think you need to worry about that. They wouldn't do anything to hurt you intentionally, or betray you. But if you are scared, take it easy."
"I don't know how you act around friends, or how to be one," Loki said and Cara laughed a sweet laugh.
"You will learn. Everyone acts differently. Just be you. And you do know how to be a friend. You are my friend," Cara said.
"You are different. You see me for me. And I don't know, it's just impossible not to be friends with you," Loki said and kissed her on the forehead and she smiled.
"I am different, that is true, and I did see you for you. But so does they. They have seen many different sides of you this month's we have been living here. And trust me, it's possible not to be friends with me, just ask my enemies," Cara said with a smile.
"So how do I start?" Loki asked.
"But not forcing it. Just like I said when it comes to knowing who you are, don't over think it. Act like yourself, and take a few steps a time. Do what you feel like doing," she said and Loki slowly nodded. "And if you want I can accompany you."
"I would feel safer if you did," he admitted and she smiled. Sometimes Loki was more like his old self, but he still had his moments when he was almost as scared as he was when they had rescued him.
"But what you need to decide right know, is if you want them to come with us to visit Hel," Cara said and she saw that Loki was even more unsure about that.
Cara know that Loki was very overprotective of his children after everything that happened. But she also guessed that he wanted to have this moment alone with Hel. He hadn't seen her in a long time.
"Do you think she would mind?" Loki asked.
"I don't know her well enough to be sure, but I don't think she would," Cara said and he nodded.
"Can you tell them that they can come if they behave?" he asked and Cara smiled.
"I will tell them that," she answered and then returned to the others.
"So this is Hell?" Clint asked.
"No I think we got the wrong turn and ended up at a bakery," Tony answered sarcastically.
"You are so funny. I was just surprised that it was this nice."
"Can't remember that it was the last time," Thor said and looked around.
"Maybe that was because you was about to die," Cara said and Thor shrugged his shoulders.
"Maybe," he just answered and Cara didn't say anything about it. Instead she turned towards Loki who was really quite. Cara could tell that he was nervous and she understood him, he hadn't seen his children in the longest time. Cara took his hand and he smiled towards her as they walked through the doors to Hel's throne room.
Hel looked up from the book she had been reading, and first she just stared at them, before she got up and ran over to Loki.
"Father," she said with a happy voice and big smile as she hugged him. Loki just stood there in shook at first before he hugged her back.
"Hel," he said, and you could hear the emotions in his voice and Cara smiled, until Tony coughed to get Loki's attention.
"Shall you not introduce us?" Tony asked and Cara hit him in the head.
"I know that you are impatient, but we talked about this before we left," Cara said.
"So shall we just stand here and do nothing?" Tony asked and Cara sighed.
"You should have done that until they were done!"
"It's alright Cara," Hel said and walked over to her. "Some humans will never learn."
At those words Cara smiled and so did Hel.
"Hello again Hel," Cara said and the goddess hugged her.
"Hello Cara," she said and then turned towards the others. "But my I ask why you all are here?"
"We come to wish you happy birthday," Tony said with the biggest smile and Hel turned towards Loki in surprise.
"You remembered?" She whispered and Cara saw how those words effected Loki. At ones she saw the sadness that overtook him and she gave him an encourage smile.
"I never forgot Hel," he started and walked over towards her. "Other things just got in the way. And I am sorry for that."
"You have nothing to be sorry for father," Hel said and hugged him again. "Let's go to the dining room. And I will call for my brothers."
Loki slowly nodded, very nervous about that, but Hel smiled towards him. She was just happy to see her father again, and she knew that her brothers would be to. But when she started to walking she felt that someone was pulling her skirt, very carefully. Hel looked down and saw two twin boys looking up at her.
"Are you our big sister?" They asked and she smiled towards them. She had never met the twins, being thrown out from Asgard long before they were born, but she knew about them.
"That I am, I am Hel," she said and they smiled a big smile towards her and hugged her.
"We are Váli and Narfi," Váli said to Hel who nodded.
"We have a sister Mother," Narfi said and Cara smiled.
"You also have three brothers. So go with your father and sister and you will meet them," Cara said.
"You aren't coming?" Váli asked.
"I will come later. Go now," she said, feeling that the family needed some time alone, and so did she. If Loki's other children would act like the twins she needed to prepare herself.
"What shall we do?" Tony asked and Cara just rolled her eyes.
"We are going to wait."
Hel had a hard time to describe the joy she felt over meeting her father again. She had missed him since the day her grandfather had cast her aside. Her father had visited as often as he could when she was younger. And she knew that he had tried when she got older too, but like he said other things got in the way. Hel would never blame him for it, because she understood why he had done what he had done. And if she was braver, maybe she had tried to do something similar too. She knew that she would never try something like that, but she could always dream of over throwing her grandfather, so she would be welcomed to Asgard again. However, she would never leave her own realm, she had become really found of it and its people. But she would be pleased if she could visit from time to time.
Hel looked at her father who answered the twins questions and explained for them how her realm and the others realm worked. Hel thought he looked much better than the expected. After her brothers had explained that their father was captured, and she had gotten to know what they had done to him, she thought he would look worse. But she guessed that Cara, and how much she hated to admit that, Thor, had helped her father. She didn't know how well he was, but compared to what Thor had described last time, he looked much better.
"Something on your mind Hel?" Loki asked and she realised that she had been staring.
"Just glad to see you again father," she said and Loki smiled towards her.
"Aren't you glad to see us too?" The twins asked and Hel laughed.
"I am glad to see you too," she said, and despite it being the first time she met them, she had already took a liking to them.
They walked into the dining room and Hel saw that her brothers was already there, talking about something she didn't hear.
"Are those our brothers?" Narfi asked and Hel nodded towards him.
"Wow," Váli said and ran towards them, holding Narfi's hand and Hel smiled, glad that they had each other.
"Father are you alright?" Hel asked when she saw that Loki had stopped. At first her father didn't say anything and Hel wasn't sure what was wrong. Her father looked really unsure, almost scared. She had never seen him like this, and she didn't know what was wrong.
"Shall I get Cara?" Hel asked. Thinking that she may know what's wrong with her father, but at those words Loki shook his head.
"No," he said in a low voice. "I just…"
Hel didn't know what her father wanted to say, so she didn't answer, since it would just be plain stupid to try. So she just stood there with her father, looking at him and her brothers who now had noticed them. She smiled when they walked were dragged over by the twins, it looked comical that the small boys lead the three older, much bigger ones.. Hel looked at their father, and Loki looked even more unsure and scared. Hel looked at him and then her brothers, and then it hit her, her father was scared that they would blame him.
"They don't blame you," Hel said and Loki looked at her in shock.
"How can they not?"
"Because they, or rather we know it's not your fault," she said in a comforting voice as her brothers stopped in front of them. At first they just all looked at each other, and no one was moving, Hel guessed that they were all nervous. Her brothers had said that they were afraid that Loki would see them as a failure for getting killed. She had told them it was ridicules, they had only died because Odin had made them mortal, not because they were weak or a failure, but she wasn't sure if they believed her.
Hel just looked at them before she started to laugh, and they all looked at her.
"Typical males," she said and her brothers gave her an wondering look. "How long are you going to stare at each other? You have all missed each other so instead of being scared of what the other think, just hug each other."
"How would you know?" Fenrir asked and she just rolled her eyes.
"A woman's intuition," she only answered as she walked over to the table. The twins followed her.
"What is so funny?" Váli asked and she turned towards him.
"Nothing particular. It's just that father and our brothers are a bit shy," she said and the twins looked over to the others, and they saw how they hugged each other.
"They don't seem that shy to me," Narfi said and Hel looked too.
"That's a start," Hel said with a smile as she sat the table.
"I am bored," Tony complained for what seemed like the 12 time in the short time they had been waiting.
"You complaining all the time isn't going to make you less bored," Clint said in an irritated voice. "But it may make us leave you down here."
"You wouldn't manage without me," Tony answered.
"I think they are willing to risk it Tony," Cara only answered.
"Not you too! You were the only one not complaining, I almost thought you was on my side."
"I didn't say anything because I wasn't listening to you."
"Hey!" Tony said and she just smiled as the door opened by a wolf. The others actually took a step back when they saw how big it was.
"Hi Fenrir," Cara said and the wolf did the closest thing to what you could call a smile.
"Hello Cara," Fenrir answered and then looked at the others. "Shall we go?"
"Finally!" Tony and Clint said and then looked at each other. And it didn't take long until Tony started to tease Clint for being as impatient as him, and Clint saying he only wanted to stop hearing Tony complain. The others just shook their heads as they walked towards the dining room.
When they got to the dining room the twins come running towards them.
"Mother, Mother," Narfi said.
"They are all amazing and funny," Váli said and Cara smiled.
"I am glad to hear that," she said and took their hands as they walked over to the table. Cara sat down next to Loki. "Did everything go well?"
Loki only nodded and she could see how moved he was about the meeting with his children, so she just took his hand and didn't ask anything else.
"So can you introduce us now?" Tony asked Loki and Cara just sighed.
"Better do that before Clint kills him," she said and Loki smiled.
"Maybe I shall take my time then."
"Let's not do that to Pepper," Cara said and Loki laughed.
"No it would be a shame to punish her for loving such a foolish man," Loki said and Tony was about to answer when Loki interrupted him. "This is Hel my daughter. This is Sleipnir, Fenrir and Jörmungandr. Children, this is the Avengers. Clint, Natasha, Bruce, Steve, You remember your uncle Thor, and that's his wife Jane, and then this tiny human is Tony."
They all looked at each other at first before they said there hellos and slowly started talking with each other and Cara could tell that Loki started relax. He had been afraid of how the others would react to his children, especially since all of them wasn't human looking.
"That went well," Cara said and Loki nodded and she smiled towards him.
"Thank you for coming along," Loki said and Cara laughed, and kissed him.
"Anytime," she said.
"You two are so cute together," Hel said and Cara could hear the little girl she ones had been in her voice. Loki looked down at once and Hel gave Cara a puzzled look.
"I think that was your daughters way of saying that she approves of me," Cara said and Loki nodded but he didn't look up.
"Did I say something wrong father?" Hel asked and Loki looked up.
"No, I just don't want you to think I am a bad person, for not being with your mother," Loki admitted and Hel smiled a sweet smile.
"I would rather think you were a bad person if you were with her. She is an awful person, and I am happy not to have her in our life," Hel said honestly and Loki couldn't hide how surprised he was to hear those words.
"Thank you Hel," he said and she smiled.
"There is nothing to thank me for. We are all just glad to see you happy, and just like everyone else you deserve happiness," Hel said and Cara saw how Loki's eyes started to filled up with tears.
"Excuse me," Loki said and left the table.
"I don't understand," Hel said and Cara smiled.
"It become too much for him. He is still coping with everything Odin did to him. And one of those things was to say that he wasn't worthy of anything, so hear people say otherwise makes him very confused," Cara explained.
"Odin," Hel said in an angry voice "I wish to see that man dead."
"Then you have to wait for your turn," Cara said with a smile.
"After you?"
"Well I think both your grandmother and uncle is standing before me," Cara informed her and Hel looked over to Thor.
"Thor? Really?" Hel asked and Cara nodded.
"It's a surprise, but he has really stepped up, and he is starting to act like a brother," she said. "But I am going to look for Loki, why don't you open your presents or eat some cake while I do."
It took Cara sometime to find Loki. Hell was after all a big place and she wasn't familiar with it, something she actually was happy with. But when she found him he was standing in a window looking out over the realm. Cara walked up to him and hugged him, she didn't say anything. Loki hugged her back and soon he started to cry, and Cara let him, knowing that he needed that.
He may talk now, and he wasn't as scared as he was in the beginning, but she knew that those feelings often got replaced by other feelings. And confusion was one of them, and sometimes that was scarier than the fear itself. Being confused made you doubt everything you have heard, and you had to figure out who you was, what you believed in, and what you wanted to do. Because it didn't matter how much you wanted to go back to be the person you were before everything happened, you couldn't. Being throw something like this changed you, and you had to learn to live with it.
But in Loki's case it was so much more then learn to live with it, and questioning some things, for him, it was everything. His whole life had been a lie, first the adoption, knowing that Odin kept him for an experiment, then after years of psychological torture, it was the physical. And after being alive for hundreds of years, you got to experience things you never had before, as real friendship, things you would have had if your father didn't used them to fuck with you. Cara know how Loki felt, she had thankfully never gone through all the things Loki had gone through. But she knew people who had gone through similar things. But she did know about the things Loki never had, like friendship, so she hoped she could help explain them to him.
"Cara, I feel like a mess," Loki whispered and Cara nodded.
"You are mess, I mean look at you, I think you got some tangles in your hair," she said with a warm teasing voice and Loki couldn't help smiling.
"That was not what I meant, but thank you for pointing it out," he answered.
"Anytime," she said before she become serious. "And I know that wasn't what you meant. But don't worry about it. Everything you are going through is normal."
"It's not normal for me! I cry at everything; I leave the room when it becomes too much. I don't know how to act around people, or in certain situations," Loki said in a frustrated voice.
"Once again that's normal. I know that it's not normal for you. But after going through it a few times, I can tell you that it's normal," She said and took his hands. "And don't worry, people understand that you are going through a hard time. They don't understand exactly what you are going through, but they will give you as much time as you need."
"How do you know?" he asked and she laughed.
"Because if they don't I will reprimand them," Cara answered.
"Thanks mother," Loki teased.
"I can scold you too, I should for even calling me that!" she said and turned, pretending to be hurt, and Loki hugged her from behind.
"Even if that would have been fun, please don't," Loki said and Cara didn't answer at first, pretending to think.
"Fine, I will not reprimand you," she said and Loki put his head on her shoulder.
"Thank you. And also thank you for making me smile. Not sure how you do it."
"Magic," Cara said and laughed.
"Always the funny one," Loki only said and Cara nodded.
"Someone has to be," Cara answered and Loki just kissed her on the cheek.
"Are you feeling better?" Cara asked.
"For now," Loki answered her and Cara knew that it would take time until Loki felt completely better.
"I take what I get. But you know that I am here whenever you need to talk."
"I know that. And thank you for that. I may need that, all this is very confusing."
"And I will not lie to you, it will most likely be for awhile." Cara said and turned to face Loki who slowly nodded. "But I am here for as long as you want."
"Forever?" Loki asked and Cara actually was caught off guard at the question. She had stayed in worlds for a long time before, for the most until the ones she knew died. But it had never been forever. Could she stay in one world forever? Would she die here then? To never be able to see another world again? But could she just leave Loki? "You don't have to answer, forget that I said anything."
"Maybe I don't want to forget. I just thought about how you would most likely grew tired of me," she said.
"You are a good liar, but I can still tell that it's a lie. Just like you said years ago, you don't need to tell me anything, just don't lie to me," Loki said.
"Sorry Loki. I was just caught off guard," she started. "No one has ever asked me to stay forever. Most likely because they knew that they would die before me."
Cara stopped and looked outside and thought to think of what to say, and Loki didn't said anything giving her the time she needed.
"And I have never stayed in one place forever, I am unsure if I can get used to it, to not travel around. I have done it for such a long time," she didn't want it to sound like she didn't want to be with Loki, but she had to tell him that, because she was sure she could never stop traveling, just like she couldn't leave Loki either, but she couldn't force him to come with her.
"Then don't. Go and travel when you feel that you need to, just come back to me when you are done," Loki said and she turned towards him.
"Do you know what you are signing up for? I may be away for long periods of time. Would you really be okay with that?" Cara asked. She had always thought that she would move on some day, start a new life somewhere, she always did that when her loved ones died, but Loki was different, he was immortal, yet she had thought that they would go their separate ways one day.
"I know, but if I know that you would come back to me, I would gladly be waiting for you. Cara I guessed that you would wish to move on one day, because you always does. I figured it out when we visited the other world, and asking you to stay with me forever, I could never do that, because I would never want you to stop feeling free, but I will ask you if you are willing to come back to me from time to time," Loki slowly said and Cara just stared at him, unsure of what to say.
She had never needed to deal with a situation such as this, because the ones she got to know in the new world always died, and she had dreaded what would happen the day she wished to move one, would she even have been able? But instead, here he was, one of the persons she loved, and not only did he understand her, but he also offered her a way to be with him, and to keep being free, without any strings. Cara didn't know how to react so she just hugged Loki and she felt her tears start falling.
"Now you made me cry," she said with a laugh and Loki laughed too.
"Shall I take that as a yes?"
"I will stay with you forever," Cara answered and kissed Loki who smiled when they parted. "I love you Loki."
"I love you too Cara," Loki answered and Cara couldn't describe how happy she was. to hear those words. And to hear how much Loki meant them.
She could only kiss him again. This time she put her hands in his hair and Loki pulled her closer and Cara felt the butterflies in her stomach. At an impulse she wanted to push Loki against the wall, but she knew that it was a stupid idea, she didn't want to scare him, and they were in a corridor at his daughter's house. So she stopped herself and forced herself to end the kiss.
"I think we need to go back, before they start looking for us," Cara said and Loki nodded and took her hand. They started walking back to the others, both smiling, not prepared for where the conversation would end.
When they got back to the others they saw how Hel was opening her presents, and Cara looked at the stuff in front of Hel. Cara smiled, she could without a doubt say which present was from everybody, they had all chosen typical gifts for them. When Loki and Cara sat down Hel opened a a doll, and Cara looked at Thor who smiled the biggest smile he could.
"I know that you aren't a child anymore. But I remembered that you wanted one of those when you wear a child. So it's a bit too late, but I still hope you will like it," Thor explained and Cara actually saw Hel smile towards Thor, and Cara guessed that the gesture meant a lot to her. She may have a long way to go before she trusted or accepted Thor, but Hel could tell that he was trying.
"Thank you uncle Thor," she said and then went for a blue wrapped gift and Hel looked at Loki.
"You have always known that I loved blue" she said and Loki nodded.
"It's from me and the twins," he said and Hel smiled towards them before she opened it. Inside was a book, with blue cover and Hel opened it and saw that it was a photo album. She looked at the moving pictures.
"Are this?" Hel asked and Loki smiled.
"It's pictures of you and your siblings over the years. Me and your grandmother are in them too. The big oaf over there may be in a few as well," Loki explained and Thor who was eating cake didn't even react and Hel smiled.
"They are moving" she said impressed.
"That's Cara's doing. That is something that is very common where she grew up," Loki said and Cara just smiled towards Hel.
"This is lovely father," Hel said as she looked at the photos.
"I am glad you thought so. I wanted you to remember how much I love you, and that we are a family," Loki said and Hel hugged him.
"We want to see too," the twins said and Hel put them sit in her lap as they started to look through the album.
"Thank you for the idea," Loki whispered towards Cara.
"Nothing to thank me for," Cara said and kissed him on the cheek before Loki started watching with Hel and the others, as he explained a few things that happened in the pictures. And after a few minutes the others started to look at the album too.
The had gone through the whole album a few hours lately, since Loki needed to answer all of Clint's and Tony's questions, which he did very patently. When they were done, everyone seemed to be very happy.
"Our family is so special," Narfi said.
"That it is," Sleipnir answered and Narfi smiled towards his oldest brother and gave him an apple, which the horse took it very thankfully.
"I have to open your gift too Cara," Hel said and took a small golden box.
"I hope you like it," Cara said to her and Hel opened it to find an orb inside, one much alike the one Loki had. Hel looked a bit puzzled at it, and Cara smiled.
"Turn it," she explained and Hel did. In the same second as she did the whole room went dark for a second, before it filled up with a hologram of stars.
"This, this…" Hel started and looked in the direction she knew Cara had been sitting.
"It's the stars from Asgard. Your father told me you loved to watch them, but you couldn't from down here. So I created a hologram for you. So you can watch them whenever you feel like it," Cara explained and Hel nodded, even if she knew Cara wouldn't see it. She looked at all the stars and smiled before she turned it off.
"Thank you so much mother," Hel said and hugged Cara.
"I am glad you liked it," Cara said.
"This has been a very pleasant birthday, the greatest in years," Hel informed them "Thank you father."
When the twins had fallen asleep the others agreed that it was time to head home. The grownup may not admit it, but most of them was really exhausted, but it had been a great day.
"I said I would never drink again, why didn't you guys stop me?" Tony complained as he leaned against Steve.
"Because you are a adult and can make your own decisions," Bruce told Tony who just grabbed his cheeks.
"But I can't, you should know that Bruciiiii," Tony said and Bruce sighed as he helped Steve carry Tony.
"Thank you ones more for the gifts," Hel said.
"You are welcome little one," Clint said and waved towards her.
"You are both younger and shorter than her Clint," Natasha said and dragged Clint away and the others were laughing, as Clint tried to break free.
"Take care Hel," Thor said and Hel nodded towards him.
"It was really nice to meet you," Jane told her.
"And you," Hel answered, she had nothing against Jane, she had been a very pleasant woman to talk too.
"Yeah it was nice to meet you," Tony shouted back towards Hel.
"If any of you send me to him, I will kill you all, and force you to be with him forever!" Hel threatened and Loki laughed.
"She is definitely your daughter," Thor said as he walked past them and went over to the others.
"Thank you for all this father," Hel said and smiled towards Loki who smiled back.
"That's what's fathers are for," he said and Hel nodded.
"At least the good ones," Hel answered him.
"At least the good ones", Loki agreed on. "I promise to come and visit as soon as I can."
"I know you will. And we will all be waiting," Hel said and Loki nodded. "For all of you."
"Glad to hear it, because I don't think can stop the little ones from coming along," Loki said and looked at the twins that was sleeping in his and Cara's arms.
"And I will return as long as I am welcomed," Cara said and Hel smiled.
"You are always welcomed Mother," Hel told her and Cara smiled back towards her. "I need another woman down here sometimes."
"Yes I think you do," Cara said and looked at Loki and Hel's brothers.
"Without you she may forget how to be a woman," Jörmungandr teased his sister and Hel smiled a cold smile.
"I may also forget to turn up the heat in your room," she threatened Jörmungandr.
"Then I will sleep with Fenrir," he said and Fenrir laughed.
"No you will not, and I prefer the cold," he said and looked down at his fur.
"You can sleep with me," Sleipnir said and Jörmungandr smiled.
"Always the nice brother," Hel said and Sleipnir nodded.
"I was the only one mother could make a decent child of," he said and Loki smiled towards all of them.
"I am glad that you all get along," he admitted and they all looked at him and smiled too.
"So are we. It's nice to be surrounded by family again," Fenrir said.
"I am sorry for giving you such trouble through the years," Loki whispered and looked away. Cara knew how much Loki blamed himself for everything that happened to his children. Cara took Loki's hand just as his children hugged him, at least in any way they could.
"We don't blame you father," Fenrir said.
"No you did everything you could," Jörmungandr told him.
"You were always there for us, when you could. It's Odin we blame," Sleipnir told Loki, and Cara almost thought she heard Sleipnir growl when he said Odin's name.
"That's why we ask you to think about letting us help you. And when you say no again, just be prepared that we will help you fight against him anyway," Hel said with a smile.
The children had told Loki that they had talked with Thor about helping them bring down Odin. Hel offered her army of the dead, and her brothers offered to help in anyway they could. But Loki had said no. He didn't wish for them to get hurt again. He wanted to keep them safe. Cara understood why, it was your children, you always wanted to protect them. But they were all grownups now and Cara knew that they wanted to help and protect Loki, just like he had done towards them. And just like Hel had said, Cara know that they would do it no matter what Loki said.
Cara smiled over how much they resembled Loki, even if he didn't always saw it. But she didn't say anything about it. It wasn't her children, and it wasn't her choice. She loved Loki, and she wanted to protect him. Yet she had no power in this realm, no army to offer or friends that would fight for them, and she could not order people to kill Odin. She would help Loki in anyway she could, she knew that, and as off now she would need to try to convince Loki to let the children help, knowing that his children would be happier if their help was accepted, not forced. She hoped she could assure him that they did this because they loved him, and out of free will. But she wouldn't push him to far, knowing that she would have react the same if Minna was alive, and offered her help.
"I will think about it," Loki finally said, and his children smiled.
"That's a start at least," Hel said and turned towards Cara.
"I will talk to him, but I can't force him to accept it," Cara answered and Hel laughed.
"Didn't ask you too, do what you can."
"I am standing here," Loki gave them a look and both women looked at each other.
"I didn't see him there," Hel said.
"Neither did I. And even if I did, I thought that he knew better than to eavesdrop at two ladies," Cara said and Loki smiled.
"That I know, but I don't see two ladies," he said with a teasing voice, and his sons laughed while Cara gave Hel a look.
"I hope your brothers gets partners one day and the will understand why Loki is in trouble now," she said and now Hel laughed.
"I pray for that day to get here," Hel said and her brothers had stopped laughing and actually looked a bit worried at their father.
"Do you worst," Loki said to her and Cara raised an eyebrow.
"Not wise words to say to me," she said and Loki just smiled a cocky smile and Cara didn't say anything more to him. "It's time to say goodbye. Time to get all of the kids to bed."
"They are just two," Sleipnir said.
"The twins yes. But we need to get the others home too," Cara said and pointed towards the others and the older children nodded.
"It was lovely to meet you all again," Cara said and hugged them all.
"Watch after for him mother," Hel whispered in her ear when she hugged her and Cara nodded.
"I will," she whispered back and walked over to the others, giving Loki some time to say goodbye to his children.
When he got over Cara saw how emotional he was and she took his hand and he smiled.
"Thank you for making it easier to say goodbye," he said and Cara smiled. She knew that it would have been easier to say goodbye if they joked before, not saying goodbye when they all were sad.
"Anytime," she said and Loki kissed her hand before he turned towards the others.
"Are you read?" he asked and the nodded, and Loki opened the portal that would take them home.