Ch. 2

Saturday

Loki fidgeted on the front porch of his in-laws, holding Darcy's hand. He didn't know why he was feeling so nervous. They had never been anything but kind and hospitable to him and he could find no source for his anxiety. Today was the first day he would see them in well over four months, but that was like a blink of an eye to an Asgardian.

Still, he shifted his weight from one foot to another while he waited for his mother-in-law to answer the door. He was glad to be back on Midgard to see his relatives, but he was a bit uneasy. They hadn't told Darcy's family that they were expecting yet and she was now in her sixth month.

"Hello," Darcy's mom said as she opened the door. Her eyes grew wide as she saw the both of them. "You're back! You're back!" she shouted as she rushed into her daughter's outstretched arms.

"Wait. You're . . . ," her mother began as she stepped back and peered at Darcy's softly rounded belly. Darcy was wearing a loose-fitting sweater, but it did not completely obscure her new curves.

"Asgardian food isn't that good. Yep, I'm preggers," Darcy said, with her characteristic "jazz hands" surprise gesture.

"Oh, honey. I'm so happy for you. Come in. Come in."

Loki followed his wife in, receiving tight hugs from both of Darcy's parents. "Your brother's family and your sister's family will be here in a few minutes," her mom explained as they all sat down in the living room. "So tell us everything? When are you due? Do you know what you're having?"

"Let's see. It's a little boy. The due date is around the middle to end of July, but they aren't entirely certain," Darcy said.

"I thought Asgard was so advanced. Shouldn't they know down to the second?" Darcy's mom asked.

"Well, there's a bit of a problem," Darcy began, biting her lip.

Loki could see that she was floundering, so he stepped in. "Since the baby is half-human and half-Jotun, it's an unique case, one the healers have never come across before. They are not proficient in the Jotun birthing process. They are not quite sure what to expect."

"Half-Jotun? I thought you were from Asgard," Darcy's father said.

"I was adopted," Loki said briefly. He had no desire to go into his twisted lineage at the moment.

"Well, can't you just ask these Jotuns what they do for their births? What's considered normal for them?" Darcy's mom pressed.

"The relations between the Jotuns and the Asgardians have never been cordial and, at the moment, they are quite strained," Loki said delicately.

"Well, why?" Darcy's father asked.

Darcy harrumphed. "Look, you know what Loki did here? What he did to Jotunheim was worse."

"Oh," Darcy's mom said softly. "I see."

Loki swallowed hard, desperate to erase the look of disappointment on his mother-in-law's face. "We are trying to mend the broken relationship between the two realms. Darcy and I travel there at least once a month to work on the diplomatic ties between our worlds."

"You killed people on Jotunheim, too?" Darcy's mother asked.

"Yes." He could think of no other answer.

"How many?"

"Hundreds, maybe as many as a thousand or more. I aimed the Bifrost at their world. It caused quite a bit of destruction."

"And you take my pregnant daughter there? Every month?" his mother-in-law asked, each word coming out painfully, slowly.

"Mom," Darcy protested. "He doesn't have any choice in the matter. I insist on going."

Her mother threw up her hands. "Fine. Fine." She stared at Loki. "At the beginning of July, you are going to take me and my husband to Asgard so that I can see my grandbaby being born." Her stern voice brooked no disagreement.

Loki nodded. He knew when to accept defeat.

Next up- Easter Sunday!