Nothing like life and an exam to get in the way of posting but without further adu here is chapter four! -'Tastic

A/N 2: Ahh, chapter four edited.

Tony laid pitifully on the couch. He closed his eyes and began to pray it wasn't true. He couldn't be pregnant. He wasn't female. He didn't have the parts. (But magic was always beyond his understanding.) No. He was male. He was not pregnant. He was- hell, he was carrying Loki in his belly. For karma's sake, it had to be him, didn't it? He raised an arm to cover his eyes and groan. He gently put a hand to his stomach. He noticed that it was much harder than it was a month ago.

"So explain to me how I got a fast talking freaked out Coulson on the line telling me you're carrying a reborn former criminal god growing in you belly like some woman." Fury snarled and thus the owner of Stark Industries groaned like a caught teenager and cursed the residential spies for letting the stoic spy who informed the spy of all spies.

Except this time, it really wasn't his fault.

"That's what Thor said." He growled back. He then felt a smack. A gentle one on the hand on his belly. A file landed there,

"Banner ran some scans while you played couch potato." Fury announced. Tony opened them. "Apparently something moved you pretty insides post-surgery to make room for a fucking womb. That there on the last page is an ultrasound of a fetus. Thor then proclaimed in a goddamn loud voice that it was of Loki's signature. So you tell me, Stark, How a motherfucker like you got knocked up!?" Fury shouted calmly from his seat beside his couch. He needed to talk to his designer about making interrogations easy in his home.

"When Loki died, he disintegrated into dust. Thor later told me it was his body's way of reaching the underworld to be reborn again due to unfulfilled ambitions. Except looking back on it. It lingered on me as I was the closest. Maybe Loki felt safe with me? If I were him, I wouldn't want to be reborn on Asgard. But why he chose a male is beyond me. Thor did let me know that it was common among his race and magical beings. There was a crack in my Reactor that was open during the death. Asgardians often call my Reactor power things 'Midgardian magic'."

Tony observed with a hand scratching his goatee. He began running through theories but that was the most prominent one. Who knew that he would be the first being on Earth to discover this world's 'magic'.

Fury eyed him and Tony stared back. Not before wrapping another arm around his stomach. He didn't know why he did so but he did so to help himself feel better.

"Your an idiot, Stark. A mother fucking idiot." Fury sighed and rubbed his eye. He looked at him slightly before his face became slightly concerned and Tony relaxed at that. He knew he was safe. Fury had been a very paranoid father figure these past few years. A few years too late, but Fury happen to worm his way into everyone's lives.

"That will never change. I am giving him another chance. Not a chance but a better life. He won't be the same with my guidance and the others." He said seriously.

"Just raise the bastard right or so help me."

Now Thor had to announce it to Odin because the Allfather deserved to know.

"By the way, Thor left to Asgard two hours ago."

Well, fuck. He had wanted to talk about it first. Oh well.

Of course this is Anthony Edward Stark, things don't go smoothly for this business owner. There has to be a bump somewhere and not the belly type either.

Fury left a while ago. They made plans and back plans to plans and backup-backup plans. This happens when you have two of the most paranoid people in the same room making plans. Mostly it was plans to clean Loki's already clean slate. Just to make sure. Then an update of a will. Where Tony announced that if it was him or the baby, it would be the baby to survive. Thor as next guardian. Then they decided that he would be name Luca Anthony Stark, it was close enough to Loki they figured.

"Luca? It's a boy not some pansy!" The pirate imitator gave his two cents by hacking into the Fury only path he created. It was a way past Jarvis that the man didn't know was made for him so he wouldn't chip Jarvis and push the AI into Skynet mode. Jarvis was a vain creature.

"Fine you name the brat!" Tony grumbled as he sipped Bruce's green tea with a grimace as he made repairs to his suits while search the trusty internet for names.

"Lucien, you idiot."

"Oh, I hadn't thought of that. I like it. You're good for something, Eyepatch."

"Shut up, Stark"

And that was that.

They also also decided to slowly announce it due to the fact that a pregnant belly could not be hidden. So the Avengers were to be first as they rarely hid anything from each other. Though it depended on Odin's response. Fury said he and Tony's people would make a plan to hide just in case. He then left leaving the creator of Iron Man to ponder his situation. He had a son on the way. Lucien. Lucien Anthony Stark. He was carrying a child. Family now. That made him and Thor brothers of sorts to Loki's clone/spawn/reincarnation? Or would he a pseudo father? Wow talk about a screwed up family.

He held a responsibility to a mind. He was going to influence one of the most mistreated soul in all the Realms. A frost giant with mage abilities and a list of enemies as long as it is coast to coast her n the States. Thanos and Odin at the top of it. He then knew that males could get maternal as he felt the urge to protect this child much like he gets when the planet is threatened. Except it is for a bundle of cells under his skin. One he would have thought of as a parasite a few months ago.

Pepper probably fainted when she heard the news. She needed yet another raise to deal with this. He is surprised she hasn't sprouted grey hair yet. Then again she could be dying her hair. The woman could keep secrets.

He rolled off the couch onto his feet. He stood and held a hand to his stomach. Examining it with close scrutiny. It was slightly raised. Not noticeable. Like he gained a pound or so. He might be seeing things. He shrugged and headed to the kitchen where the team gathers regularly. He slipped in and headed to the coffee machine out of habit. Some caffeine will help him think. He beelined straight to it only to have Steve step in front and a whine left his throat as nowhere Tony moved did Steve let him pass. It was like sparring, but with his life on the line.

"Coffeeeeee, Steveeeee" He groaned. Only to have Steve turn him to the kitchen table. He turned his head to the nearest camera and pleaded, hopefully Jarvis could see his desperation.

"Tony, coffee is bad for the kid. So is alcohol." Pepper sighed from her spot at the bar island with no heels in sight and a pair of shorts. A tablet and coffee with her.

Tony gulped. Well, talk about intervention.

"Uhh. Pepper. . ."

She raised a hand.

"I heard it so save it. I am still processing you got pregnant before me." She weakly joked and Rhodey scoffed from his own spot leaning against the wall and Tony noticed him and dropped his head to the table as he felt the storm brewing.

"Only you Tony could defy a law that defines humanity."

"I didn't even have to try, platypus." Tony chirped muffled.

The others just stared. It was silent for a few minutes before the tension rose from everyone. Eyes boring into his belly. Tony sighed and stood up and revealed his very flat stomach. All of them of course started more pointedly at it. No shame in this Tower.

"So it's true."

They turned to see Coulson in the doorway. Tony hid his stomach self consciously with childish tug and an exposed tongue.

"Yes, all test prove it to be true. Why do you even have an ultrasound machine in your arsenal is beyond me." Bruce joked weakly.

Tony blushed.

"I used to get a lot of accusations of pregnancies. Most weren't even pregnant despite the fact that I always took extreme measures." He excused. "Plus you never know. Now, I usually keep update ones for that purpose and donate older models to organizations around the world that need one."

Tony is a philanthropist and he had a large heart for single mothers. His mother was pretty much one with Howard being the father he was.

"Thank goodness you got over that." The personal assistant and CEO huffed.

Tony then laughed because it was Afghanistan that did it, but beyond that it was Pepper and their strange relationship. It didn't last long after Mandarin but it was still a great relationship that had become of that of siblings are much turmoil. There was still bumps but forgiveness was always given.

"So what now, Tony?" Rhodey questioned.

"We will wait for Tall, Shakespearean, and Blonde to come back. Then we talk it out. Fury and I came to some decisions. First, I am changing my will. Now, if it's between me and Lucien Anthony Stark, it will always be him."

"Wait, what?"

Apparently Clint had not gotten over the incident with the tesseract, Tony thought wearily.

"Things are changing. I know it's weird. I am still processing it myself, BUT Loki was innocent. He was forced to commit and kill when he didn't want to. Just like you, Barton. But twenty three people had nothing over the nearly thousand he had under his name. Now he has been given a new life and a new name. In me weirdly enough. He is MY son, now. I don't know if he will be the same or remember anything or if he will look like me or not but He is mines and no one touches what is don't any of you think of anything against me and Lucien because you will fail. I have me, Jarvis, and my suits to do so."

He warned as Clint gulped loudly. Tony had not rebuilt every suit, but he had made three others that were hidden throughout the country than his suitcase and primary fighter just in case. He would not be left out in the cold again. He would also be building a more useful suitcase suit to fit around his stomach if it gets to that point. Maybe a repulsor that flies around him. Or a arm brace with a few nick nacks. Or . . . yeah time for the lab.

The other Avengers stared awed at the normal stoic and cheerful man become a defensive father before their eyes. Many knew he had that side. The man had more orphanages and safe homes for kids and teens than his own personal homes. In less than a day he had grown attached to the being residing in his stomach.

Rhodey smiled sadly. It seemed his friend was constantly having to adapt to new situations regularly. He felt this wasn't fair but he knew as a superhero he had to keep himself on his toes.

Pepper looked at her boss, friend, and confider. She knew things were going to change. She would always be behind him. Immediately she took out her tablet and began to make a list of things to buy. She started conversing with Jarvis about specifics regarding the knew little one to join them.

Tony watch Pepper make her stance beside him by begin the process to help him out. He sighed as his oldest friend met his eye and nodded seriously. Carefully, he eyed the rest of the Tower's occupants. Peter shrugged and began to rummage for chips not before patting Tony's shoulder and smiling. Natasha followed out with Pepper and he heard her speak.

"I hear it is common to read to infants to develop intelligence. Maybe something other than electronic textbooks would be useful to have."

"Nat! I wouldn't do that!" Tony whined.

"Knowing you, the kid will come out building circuit boards and building AIs by the time he can walk." Rhodey chimed in.

Feeling betrayed, Tony Stark pouted.

"I can paint his room?" Steve inputted as if he had answered his own question. "Hey Jarvis."

Tony sighed and eyed the espresso maker as somehow a cup of tea made his way into his hands by a team member.

"Yes, Captain?" The British voice responded.

"Can you email me some pictures of all our famous battles the papers put out. I can make a tiny timeline." The military man mused while flexing his fingers with a gleam in his eye.

"Oh, be sure to give big muscles! Make me taller too!" Clint blurted earning a smile and even a slap on the back from the driver of the War Machine.

Tony felt warmth blossom in his chest. He couldn't help but smile as banter was released and Steve began to make food. Soon they all sat make easy conversation while Coulson video chatted with Fury in the nearby screen on the table. Tony remained silent sipping his highly sweetened chamomile tea with milk. He pondered what it would be like when Loki was born. Would he be loved? Would his friendships change because of this?