~Chapter 3~

Fury and Coulson ringed the doorbell at the Stark mansion, Steve answered the door. "Evening sir," Steve let them in, "Is Tony here, we need to speak to him." Fury walked in "Coulson, debrief the rest of the team, I'll talk to Tony." he nodded. Giving the Captain a sad look "Gather everyone in the den." Steve nodded

Once again the group, minus Tony found themselves crowded around a small computer screen watching bad quality footage, but what they were seeing they had wished it was a bad movie. Half of the footage was of the press conference Mrs. Stark was holding but towards the end there was some kind of disturbance, an explosion. The last part, was clips and stills, the camera had caught, of the room in the after math. There was one image though, that had the group looking on with surprise and nervousness. There stood Loki standing over what would appear to be Pepper's body.

Steve clasped his hands to his month, Clint and Natasha looked at each other nervously. Coulson stopped the video, "This isn't real?" Steve asked Phil nodded "And is Pepper?" Phil sighed deeply breaking eye contact with Steve and looking at the group sadly, he shook his head "Does Tony know," Steve almost regret asking that question and there was a dead silence in the room as the door to Tony's room opened. Tony ran out to the door and Fury looked like he had lost his best friend and addressed the group "Give him time." he nodded at Coulson "Right now we need to focus on finding Loki."

Tony ran down the street forgetting that he own several sport cars and a super suit. None of that matter, however, because the only thing on his mind at this moment was Pepper and the baby. He finally arrived at the hospital pushing his way through the crowd and press. The police and doctors tried to stop him from checking every room, but he was determined. SHEILD agents showed up at the hospital at last flashing their ID's saying the Billionaire was here on official SHEILD business and should not be disturbed. Tony found himself at the nurse's station, yelling and shouting at the poor women behind the corner. "Please!" which was all he could manage, before a couple of mortician grabbed him by the arm. "She's downstairs," one of them said remorsefully.

Tony's face turned white, as the mortician pulled the stab out of the ice box. "You ready?" one of them asked, Tony nodded. The man pulled the sheet back, revealing Pepper's pale face, eyes closed, hair brushed back. Tony nearly gagged, but not at the smell, she had not been dead that long, but at the sudden lost. "And the baby?" he asked, but the mortician looked back at him very confused "What baby?"

Tony couldn't stop the tears, that weren't falling, as he slowly walked back to his mansion. Cars, people, and buildings passed him as if he wasn't even there. His life's work, nothing but a shroud that had been removed revealing the dark emptiness of the world. He arrived back at his home, welcomed by his consoling friends, but he walked right pass them to his room where he stayed.

Jack James, sat at the bar, brooding over his drink. He had been watching the news for hours, footage of the explosion inside and out playing over and over and over again. In all his anger and bad feelings, he had never wanted to actually hurt anyone in the explosion. He just wanted to rattle the crowd up a bit. Six months ago Stark Industries had fired him because of his negligent work on a few bombs. Now, staring at his drink, he understood why. It was just supposed to be a small smoke bomb, but he had gravely miscalculated. He watched the morticians, carry the bodies out of the building in bags.

The press was all over Stark's mansion, when the news of his wife's death hit the fan, just days after the explosion. Though Tony hadn't even left his room, this whole time. Bruce and Steve tried to get him to leave, bribing him with scotch and telling him that they'd catch the guy that did this, but it was in vein. Tony just stood there for hours just staring out of his window.

"I can't believe this!" Steve shouted. The group had never seen the patriot so mad "When I get my hands on Loki-" Thor stood up "Hold you, how are you even certain Loki is behind this?" Steve lowered his gazed, but the fiery mix of emotions and lost still remained. He had knew how Tony had felt, this was the same feeling he had when he woke up and found out everyone he knew and loved were dead. "I will never forgive him for this." Steve crossed the room to the door.

"I agree, with the captain," Clint added "This was just heinous" he clinched his fist together. Thor looked at the rest of the group, everyone looked either extremely sad or extremely angry. "Coul, you have seen my brother last, did he seem," but he could tell by the look on Phil's face that he was just a surprised as him at the news.

Loki had awoken day's later, cold and hungry laying on the floor in the abandoned cottage he now called home. His head was throbbing and he could barely move his arms and legs. He groaned, lifting his arm to his stomach to make sure the baby was okay, "It's okay, you're safe now." Making his way back to his bed and drifting off to sleep.

Fury rubbed his aching temples; he had just come out of another press meeting and was heading back to base. A few weeks had passed since the incident and the Avengers had been on a man hunt for Loki, once again. Fury picked up his phone "Talk to me?" he frowned "Alright, keep me posted."

Tony had been copped in his mansion for weeks, the group thought he had made some progress when he finally left his room, but it was a false positive because now he had taken up refuge in the den. Bruce entered the den, the sun was setting, he walked over to Tony and joined him. "It's beautiful," Bruce commented "You really picked a prime peace of real estate here." He looked at Tony this time, his face unchanged, he looked thinner then before. He hardly ate or slept, not that he did when he was healthy, but now it felt like there was a ghost in the house. A shell of the person everyone knew and loved, walking among them. "Tony," Bruce patted him on the back pulling him close as the sun continued to set.

Two months had passed and some of the excitement had cooled down, there was still a man hunt for him, but he wasn't worried about it. He was five months pregnant and had enough on his plate. It was September in Alaska and it was starting the get very cold. Loki had to go out more and more often to collect firewood, it was becoming a very tiresome task. He stretched de scaling the fish he had caught early that day. He needed to come up with a game plan, he had wanted so badly to tell Tony and the other Avengers the news, but he could never find the right time. He sighed, chopping the bits of meat up and pouring into the stu.

Jack stumbled through the streets drunk and in tears, he collapsed on the ground. Cars passing him without any regard. He had been following the news, there had been a man hunt for who they thought caused the explosion and clips from the private funeral held for the woman who died. He sobbed, right before a police patrolmen picked him up.

Loki stared out of his clouded window, rubbing his round belly. It was early fall and the leafs had began to change color. He had had a pot of tea on his make shift stove. His plan was to have the baby and then show up and tell Tony, he figured it would be less weird. He turned and pulled a chair over to the window, staring out at his unowned property. He had found out from the town's people that the people who owned it last, had it as a time share and the rental company had not bothered to keep it up. He had made a mental note to buy the property when ever he had came into some money. He then grimaced at the ugly outhouse to the side of the yard. Going outside had not been a problem in the warmer months, but now five months caring a child, plus it was cold made the tiny outhouse useless.

With out any warning his door had been broken down, he got up quickly backing to the wall. This wasn't good, he was still far to weak to use his magic to defend himself. Steve followed by the other Avengers ran through the door. "Drop your weapon!" Steve shouted, no knowing what to drop Loki simply just knelt down lifting his hands up. The Captain lunged forward, grabbing the pregnant god's arm and twisting it behind his back so violently that it dislocated his left shoulder. "GAHHHHHH," Loki cried out in pain, on his knees, using his free hand to support his belly. The group, minus Tony, circled him, ready to pounce, if he had made any sudden movements. That's when Thor noticed, the large size and shape of his brother's stomach. "Steve unhand my brother," Steve surprised by the command let go and Loki fell to the ground. Thor helped him up so that he was resting on his legs, still groaning over his injured shoulder "Brother explain yourself."

They were all moved by Loki's story, not sure whether to believe it or not. They all sat at the table in silence, watching the dark haired god. "I'm sorry I should have said something earlier." Loki winced, his arm in a sling. Steve felt guilty for letting his anger get the best of him "Look...I'm sorry Loki," Loki smiled, he could tell that the captains emotions were punishment enough. "It's ok Steven." Thor looked at his brother in amazement "That was a very noble thing you did brother, Tony will be very pleased."

Fury came in later confirming Loki's story apparently the guy who caused the explosion had been found drunk in the street. The police had picked him up on a simple drunk in public charge but then the man had admitted to everything. When Loki was well enough to walk, he decided he would tell Tony.

The sun was setting on another beautiful day in Malibu, Bruce and Steve had finally got Tony out of the house, he was now setting on the beach. Loki sighed, well it was now or never his said to himself. He wobbled over to Tony, lowering himself down to take a seat next to him. The sun set over the ocean was beautiful "It's a beautiful, sun set." Loki rubbed his belly "Treasures like these, are best shared with your children." Loki grimaced at his poor choice of words, knowing that his silver tongue would not help him out of this one, but Tony's demeanor remained unchanged. "Anthony I-" seeing how this was getting him nowhere he decided it would be better just to show him. He grabbed the billionaire's hand and placed it on his round stomach. Tony turned his head slightly and Loki placed his hand on top of his "I am very sorry I couldn't save her, but this was the least I could do." Tony turned his whole body around, staring at the pale stomach and back at Loki, looking dead into the trickster's eyes and for the first time in months Tony let the tears fall.

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The next chapter is done, just need to proof read it! Thanks for sticking around and as always Thanks for reading =)