A/N: OK guys, we're heading for the finish line now: just a few more chapters to go for this fic. Some fluff and feels for you this time as I start to wrap things up a bit more tidily! I hope you like it. And another massive thank-you to everyone who's taken the time to read, follow, favourite, and review! Love you!

"Well, what piece would you say goes there?" Loki said snippily.

Tony suppressed a chuckle – it wasn't every day that you got to watch two Norse Gods arguing over a jigsaw puzzle at the kitchen table.

"Well," Thor mumbled uncertainly, "I thought it was part of a cloud rather than a sheep..."

"Thor, it has part of the sheep's face on it," Loki sighed.

A blonde head leaned over the pieces on the table, "Is that what that was, brother? I thought it was a dragon."

"There are very few dragons in the 'Old MacDonald' rhyme," Loki told him, the hint of a smile crackling on his lips.

"I fail to see why. A dragon would make an excellent addition. And it would thin out this overly-popuated herd of sheep."

Tony laughed hard, tears springing to his eyes. This was better than cable!

Loki turned back and shot him a glare, but there was very little venom in it. Loki was having fun – actual, normal, jigsaw-puzzle-with-the-family, fun. As a plus, he had very little urge to bash Thor's head in this morning.

"Midgardian children's heads must be filled with air," Thor grumbled.

"Why's that?" Loki frowned, pausing with a puzzle piece in his hand.

"Because only fools would enjoy such meaningless rhymes," the Alpha Asgardian asserted, "they are non-sensical and are used to distract the stupid."

"If you don't enjoy something," Loki hissed, "that doesn't mean it's stupid."

"Brother, I..."

"Don't 'brother I,' me," Loki spat, throwing down the piece and storming off. "Piss off Thor! I hate you!" he called back over his shoulder.

Thor looked at the open door for a moment after the Omega had left, "Was that one of the 'mood swings,' that you warned me of Friend Stark?" he asked.

"Yep. He'll come around in a little while. Just be patient – he's still not hormonally stable, and the PTSD can cause enough mood swings without that. He doesn't hate you, Thor."

"Perhaps 'twere better if he did; the Norns know that I deserve it, and it would hurt him less if he didn't love me."

"Maybe short term... but long term?" Tony shook his head, "He needs you Thor. You're his brother. And he needs to love – he needs to love without turning it to hate and allowing it to eat him up inside. He needs to love, and not get hurt, and know that it's possible."

"I let this happen Stark. I stood by and let him suffer. I let my father break him," Thor's voice was ragged.

"Yes, you did. I'm not gonna sugar-coat it buddy, you made mistakes. Your father is one hell of a manipulative bastard, but -"

"But I should have tried. If I had been less naive, less self-absorbed – if I had been the brother he deserved..."

"Then life would've been a helluva lot different," Tony finished, "but this is the reality we're in, Thor. So we have to deal with it. Don't forget the past, but the more that you dwell on it, the worse it's gonna be for him... Dude - " he grinned, "check me out! I don't think I've ever sounded so responsible in my life!"

"It suits you, Friend Stark... As does the love you have for my brother."

Tony scratched at the back of his neck and simply chuckled in response, eyes on his shoes.

"I... I made you a present..."

Thor looked up from where he had been trying to figure out the washing machine (again,) he would probably have to call Tony (again,) to explain the infernal contraption to him (again.)

Loki. His little brother. Holding a cake in his slim arms. He looked so...young, so open, like he had when they were children. Thor didn't know what to say.

"Is it... is it ok...? Tasha helped me."

"The Widow of Blackest Shade can bake? And allows you to call her Tasha?!"

"Yes. Is it ok...?"

An iced green cake. The words 'I'm sorry,' in florid, intricate, black, icing, across the top. Thor had never seen something so beautiful.

"Brother," Thor whispered, "It is perfect," he cleared his throat, "May I... May I hug you brother? I will not be offended if you say nay."

Loki bit his lip and breathed heavily, before shaking his head in reply. "No," he answered softly, "I... He... When..." he stopped, unable to find the words.

"I do not mind brother," Thor whispered gently, keeping his tone calm and his posture relaxed. Nothing to worry about little brother, he thought, I am not Odin; I will not hurt you; I will spend the rest of my life making up for the injustices I have done you.

Loki looked down, face pale, unable to meet Thor's eyes. He placed the cake on the counter.

"Shall we have a piece together, brother?" Thor asked.

Loki looked up, a glimmer of hope in his emerald eyes, "Really? You want to?"

"Of course brother! Grab a plate!"

"Nat?"

"Yeah Tony?"

"What happened to my kitchen?"

"I taught Loki how to bake."

"It doesn't have a ceiling!"

"He was a fast learner."