~Chapter 4~
Three months later Tony Stark was back to his normal self, somewhat. He attended work, trying his best not to skip too many meetings and press obligations. His new assistant, JAVIS, who is now taken up all of Pepper's old duties was busy making sure the billionaire stayed on track. Not a day passed that he didn't think about Pepper, he would dream of her all night and day dream about her all day. Sometimes so engulfed in his fantasies he'd miss work, other times he would sink back into depression, which happened more often then he liked to admit. He actually spent more time at work, believe it our not, the rush and business of the office kept his mind off things. Whereas the lab just haunted him with old memories.
Now that Loki was eight months pregnant, the playboy needed to get ready for his baby shower. Which he insisted on planning all by himself. "JAR, what's the number to the caterers again?" He shouted in between ordering balloons and finding baby shower decorations. "Sir, I am forwarding the number to your cell phone as we speak." Tony checked his phone "Thanks JAR." At the moment, Loki had wobbled in from his nap. These days the god spent most of his time sleeping then playing tricks. Tony looked up from his work. "Loki, please have a seat." Tony had been so kind to him these pass couple of months, thanking him everyday for saving his unborn child.
Loki stared at him from across the room "Anthony, I have been seating-"
"Resting," the playboy corrected
"Resting for hours, I want to walk around, stretch a little" Loki continued walking over to him, taking small breaks to rest his aching feet
"Oh no you don't, so you can fall again like last time" Tony got up and walked Loki over to the couch
Loki struggled a little but gave up "That was one time"
"Yeah, yeah, sit down."
Although over bearing at times, Loki was grateful, that he was able to bring the smile back to Tony's face. The group had forgiven him, Thor nearly hugging him to death, when he was well enough. It was nice to know that he had been finally accepted as one of the group; even Fury had begun to ease up on him.
"Loki," Tony stared deep into his emerald eyes "I want to thank you again, for all that you have done for me, I don't deserve it, but I know Pepper is looking down at us-" but Tony couldn't finish his statement because he had broken into tears. Loki placed a gentle head on his shoulders "It was the least I could do." He placed his hand on his stomach, rubbing it gently.
"Go on brother, open my presents first." Thor begged, after eating, everyone set around the mountain of gifts they had bought for the baby shower.
"Now, now brother, wait your turn." Loki rubbed his pregnant tummy "I believe Miss Romanoff asked first."
Thor groaned, looking like a sad puppy that had been left out in the rain
Tony laughed "Aww, let the big guy go, you don't mind if he goes first do ya Natasha?" she shook her head and Tony took another sip of his drink
"Yay!" Thor shouted raising his hammer into the air, Loki gave him an amused looked and searched the floor for his gift "Ah, Thor which on is yours."
Thor looked around the floor "Those ones!" He pointed in delight
The group eyed the large mountain of gifts beside the window, "Good heavens," Clint gasped, Loki looked at Tony and Tony looked back at him. The green eyed god spoke "Perhaps we should open yours last,"
Thor frowned again, but Tony patted him on the back "There there big guy, we'll save the best for last." Thor cheered up a little bit
"Hey, open up mine first then," Phil handed Loki a small box, warped in red, white, and blue wrapping paper.
Loki smiled "Sure," He opened the little box, revealing a little yellow book decorated with little American flags and little mini stickers of the Avengers. He opened the book, but to his surprise it was empty.
"It's a baby book, you can write about all you baby's precious moments in there. Even had pictures if want."
Loki smiled at the thought "Thank you," He handed it over to Tony "You'll have a lot of cataloging to do," Tony laughed, "You're not planning on going any where are you?" Loki was taken back by this "What, oh so you thought I was going to raise this thing all by myself?"
Loki recovered "And let you have all the fun," Tony hugged him tightly, looking through the baby book.
Next up was Fury, who tossed a small red box over to Tony "Here you go kid," He eyed the box "It's not an eye patch is it?" he joked
"Just open the damn box" Tony opened the box revealing a beautiful necklace, with a small round diamond cut gem, a ruby, on a silver chain. "It's her birthstone," Fury added "You know, for when she gets older."
Loki held up the necklace to the light "It's beautiful Director," he place the necklace back into the box "Thank you."
Fury nodded, Bruce stood up next and handed Loki a rather large box "Welp it's now or never," he laughed
Tony looked over the large gift wrapped in green stripped wrapping paper. "Read the card first Tony." Bruce pointed to the envelope sitting on top of the box
"Right," He opened the card, holding it up to Loki's face so he could see. The front had a little baby in a basket sleeping quietly "Congratulations to the new parents, I know your special bundle of joy will turn out perfectly with amazing parents like you." Tony handed the card around "Aww thanks Bruce, that was sweet, that there is going on the fridge," he pointed to the kitchen "Right there." Everyone laughed
When everyone finished with the card Loki opened up the large present, inside was a white bed sit with little brown bears on it. Three little blankets, one pink, one a soft red, and the last one an Easter green. "That should keep her warm, through the winter months," Bruce commented, pushing up his glasses "Thank you Dr. Banner." Loki put the bed set back into the box, Tony inspected the blankets "Thanks Bruce." Bruce nodded
"Mine next," Natasha held up her gift, handing it to Loki.
He held it in his hands looking at the gold and black warping paper. "Don't just stare at it, open it up" Tony bugged. Loki gave him a look "I am." And he slowly opened on the package, in it were three children's books Where the Wild Things Are, If you Give a Mouse of Cookie, and The Rainbow Fish "I know you like to read, and you can share these with your new addition."
Tony grabbed the book with the mouse on it "I read this!" he showed everyone "Just last week." Loki looked at him "Good, now I know what kinds of things Tony likes to read, Thanks Miss Romanoff, I look forward to story time with my two little babies." He placed an arm around Tony and his tummy, but Tony didn't deny it.
"No problem." She smiled, Clint stood up next and handed Loki the next gift, which was warped in purple paper "Hope you like it."
Loki took the gift "I know I will," he opened the rectangle box "Awwww," Loki looked over the box, the picture showed a small child playing with a tan wood box with different shapes cut out of it.
"It's an enrichment toy, the kid puts the blocks in the slots with the matching shape." Clint tried to show the motion with his hands "Thank you Mr. Barton," Loki held the box up so that Tony could see "Look Tony," he glanced at it. "Oh I had one of these!" Tony placed the book down and looked at the box "Of course mine was cooler, but this'll do, Thanks Clint."
Clint nodded, Steve got up next and handed Loki his shoe boxed shaped gift, plainly wrapped in white paper with gold stars. Tony looked at the box, "Oh, can I open this one, can I please"
"Tony let Loki open it," said Steve, but Loki didn't seem to mind "It's okay Steven I don't mind." Steve blushed a little feeling a little silly about his comment, he nodded
"All right!" Tony tore off the paper "Oh, it's from Macy's" he pulled back the tissue paper "Awww, onesies" he pulled out four sets with matching socks and hats one yellow, one light pink, one Iron Man red, and one green. Each of them had little animals on them. "Awwww" Tony held up the red one "Thanks Steve." Loki smiled looking at the little green one with cats on it "Thank you Mr. Rogers."
"Don't mention it," Steve smiled wildly
"Mine next! Brother, open up ours!" Thor pointed and squirmed in his seat
"Ours?" Tony had to ask
"Yes, I have contacted Father, Mother, Lady Sif and Warriors Three and asked them all to send their blessing in forms of gifts for the showering of the baby." Thor beamed
"Th-Thank you brother," Loki looked over at the mountain of gifts near the window. Tony got up "Shall we get started?" Loki nodded
From Frigga and Odin the child received a little gold tiara, and little gold bracelets. Lady Sif got the child a small leather bond dagger, Fandral got her a gold blanket made of the finest silk, Hogun got the child a hand carved rattle with the markings of good luck and fortune carve into it, and Volstagg got her five pounds of mashed fruits and vegetables picked from the finest plants in all of Asgard. Thor got the child five boxes of pop-tarts, six packages of diapers, and a book on how to go poop.
"Wow," which was all Tony could manage, looking at the leather bond knife. Loki turned to Thor "Thank Thor, please send Mother and Father, Lady Sif and The Warriors Three my thanks as well."
"Ay, brother, the maiden at the store of baby products said a book on potty training will be most valuable." Thor beamed. Loki looked at the book "Thank you brother" Tony looked at the book "Hey,"
Clint looked at Tony "Let me guess, you read this one too?" Tony looked up from his book "No, but I like the pictures."
Everyone laughed so hard, Thor especially pleased that they liked his gifts. They raised their drinks to a toast, to the new born and the new parents. "Good luck guys," Clint said "You'll need it." Everyone laughed, drinking, talking, and dancing into the night.
On January 1st, Loki gave birth to a beautiful brown haired baby girl with the most beautiful deep blue eyes Tony has ever seen. Tony held her tight, her little fingers grabbing his, "She has Pepper's eyes," tears forming in his eyes, the nurse walked over to Tony, "What do you want to name her," Tony looked deep into her eyes "Gersemi Pepper Stark, my treasure, my gem, my jewel." He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. Loki smiled happily knowing he had done the right thing.
~End~
May write another one…..maybe