Epilogue.
The sound of tiny feet running into their room made Loki and Thor smile warmly at each other. They lay in bed, curled into the other having woken at the sound.
"Incoming!" Loki breathed in a happy whisper into Thor's ear, just soon enough for Thor to turn sharply and catch his daughter midair as she bounded into their bed.
"Arghhhh gotcha!" Thor boomed.
"Daaaaaaaaaad"" she sang loudly "Wake up! Wake up!" he bounced on Thor's chest, Loki laughed with Thor as she settled down between them.
"We are awake princess, and at your humble service" Loki bowed to his daughter.
"What is it princes Thea requires at such an ungodly hour?" Thor asked from her other side, the young girl laughing at the attention. Thea was five years old, and was loved dearly by all around her.
"Daddy are you really going to be king?" She looked up at Thor, circling his large hand with her small fingers.
"yes I am" the Allfather had passed to Valhalla a few days previously, surrounded by Frigga, Loki and Thor, declaring himself the luckiest king that had ever lived, and Thor was to be crowned later that day. Only Loki knew the nerves that twisted in his stomach at the idea.
Loki and Thor had returned to Asgard five years ago, and with Frigga's help had shown the Allfather the course Asgard's future would take as Thor and Loki's marriage would make them rulers of the Kingdom. They had worked tirelessly, creating friendships between themselves and the sons and daughters of the kings of the surrounding kingdoms, and Asgard was at a time of peace and at allies with its neighbours. Odin had agreed to their marriage, having been convinced of their devotion to each other, and after a few months together, they had their first daughter, Thea.
If anyone was sceptical about the couple before, with the birth of their daughter all doubts were quashed. Around her tiny fingers, she had the whole of Asgard, even, to Thor and Loki's amazement, the Allfather. He was the image of a doting grandfather. The three became the figurehead to a new age of Asgard, and visitors came and went freely from other realms, bringing new tales and cultures with them.
It was a time of change, and with ease, Odin had departed for Valhalla, knowing his sons would be worthy rulers. Frigga had promised to watch over the couple after all.
Thea smiled at this "does that make you a queen daddy?" she laughed at Loki, who's raven brows raised in return.
"I suppose it does" he ran a hand over the blond haired child fondly, whose face contorted to that of serious concern to a five year old.
"Silly daddy. You can't be a queen, your not a girl" she pointed out matter-of-factly.
Loki looked at Thor with a smirk, before shape shifting into a female, with long waving black locks, and green eyes framed with long thick lashes, and unblemished porcelain skin. Thor gulped as memories flooded back to him of nights when this particular skill of Loki's had come in handy.
Thea, oblivious to the look shared between her parents giggled.
"Clever daddy, okay, you can be the queen" she declared, playing with Loki's hair as it shrunk back towards his scalp as he turned back into male form.
"Well that's just as well then isn't it!" he roughed up her hair, receiving a look in return, that quickly faded as,
"Look! Look what I forgot to show you!" Thor and Loki's attention turned sharply to her as the poked her tongue out in concentration, her hands out in front of her.
The couple sat, entranced as the girl made the vase on the other side of the room hover a few inches off the side, and waited for it to set firmly on the side again before whooping and cheering at her trick.
"Told you she was my daughter!" Loki smirked at his youngest, as she beamed with pride, magic was slowly becoming a talent she was mastering.
"Well done Thea!" Thor boomed as a noise broke through their words.
The cry of a baby could be heard throughout the little house that Loki and Thor shared, having moved out of the main palace when they were married, for a few years of privacy at least.
Thea slapped her knees with her palms "Bradie's awake" she sighed in fake disappointment, before springing to her feet to see her little brother excitedly.
Brandr was the newest member of their little family, second born, and first son to Thor and Loki. Whom, as yet didn't understand or respect the need of a good nights sleep. Loki smirked at Thor.
"Your turn, I believe your highness. First royal duty of the day" he turned and buried his head in his pillow from the wailing.
Thor mock pouted as he picked Brandr up to his face, who stopped crying instantly.
"Brandr." he placed his nose against his son's tiny one "We will have words if you do not start acting like a civil god, and stay asleep to a decent hour" Thor sternly told him, earning a gurgle and a laugh in response from the baby.
"Daddy! Don't be silly, Bradies only a baby" she fiercely stuck up for her brother, with her nickname for him. Thor picked her up with his other hand.
"Of course. My apologies." they laughed, Brandr looking at them, eyes wide kicking his legs wildly and jumping in Thor's arms.
"Oh look Thea!" Thor exclaimed and winked at his daughter, who winked in return "Brandr wants daddy!" the pair stifled a giggle, as Loki grumbled into the pillow,
"I'm sure your misunderstanding his baby language! Really its you he wants. He's really saying, no let Loki sleep, he has enough to deal with after your snoring" Thor gasped.
"I resent that acquisition. I do not snore" Thea folded her arms.
"Yes you do" she laughed, pointing a finger at Thor.
"Shhh" he widened his eyes at her "your supposed to be on my side"
"nuu-huhh" she shook her head
"Ohh that's how it is huh?" he tickled the girl, setting her down on the bed where Loki hugged her.
"At least I have one friend in the world" He said smugly, holding the baby.
Thor pocked a tongue out at the pair, before looking at his son, who stared back in response.
"We don't need them. Come on" he stalked to the bathroom, to deal with a royal stink.
Even gods have to poop, and even kings have to change nappies.
Later that morning, Thea and Brandr had been taken away by maids to be dressed and fussed over before the ceremony, loving the attention their parents had tried to keep away from them, as to keep their heads from becoming too large to handle. The couple sat alone,
"It will be okay, won't it?" Thor turned to look at Loki, leant against the wall.
"Thor how many years have you known this day would come?" he kicked off the wall and sauntered towards Thor "you're loved by your people, your children, and" he paused "you have me of course" he grinned and kissed Thor quickly. They grinned, but Thor tuned serious again.
"Everything will change, we'll have to move and be more public. I've got big shoes to fill, and I just don't think I can" he sighed, before turning to sit on the bed, Loki joined him.
"So don't try." he stated simply "as I said, everyone loves you Thor, I love you and I know you will be a fine king, you don't have to fill the Allfather's shoes to prove yourself." Their hands joined, Loki smiled warmly.
"I believe in you" Loki whispered into his ear and Thor perked at the words.
"Your right, nerves is all. It will be fine… Loki?" He asked as the younger stood.
"Make sure I don't fall."
Loki looked at Thor with a solemn, helpless look "There is no magic strong enough to make sure you don't fall, great oaf" he grinned as Thor swiped at his head with a fist.
"Cheek!" he mocked anger.
"Oh, go play with Mjolnir" Loki teased.
"I know something else I could play with" he rounded on Loki, flashing his teeth, Loki groaned, catching his mood,
"Laaaaaaater" he drawled, as Thor began to kiss up his neck "Thor!" his resolve started to falter "Thor! We're supposed to be- Oh!" he gave in as he reached his mouth, hands wandering.
"A few minutes" he mumbled into Loki's hair "Don't pretend you don't like it" Loki grumbled and gave in.
They wouldn't be missed for a while yet, he reasoned.
"You'll be the first person ever to be late to their own coronation" Loki laughed, hair still mused, tangled in the sheets.
"I was busy" Thor replied, pulling Loki closer, meeting each other's eyes "thank you" Thor's words confused Loki.
"What for?" Thor smiled warmly.
"For being you, and for our children, and for protecting me" they lay together, lost to the world.
"True, its all true, I am wonderful" Loki fanned himself jokingly, before turning serious, his skin warm where his body sculpted into Thor's "I love you, you know."
Arms pulled the smaller god closer "I know" he grinned dumbly "as I you".
They were just about changed, as footsteps alerted them to a small presence hidden from view.
"Daaaaaaaaaaaaaad!" a voice bellowed down the corridor behind their door "your laaaaaaaaatee!"
The two gods sighed at each other, mouths turning up in grins, Loki bowed
"After you, your highness" Thor gulped at the words and turned as the door opened, Thea springing through, only to stop, staring open-mouthed at the sight of her parents in full court attire.
"Daddy, why have you got horns?" she stifled a giggle at Loki's dress, Thor bit his own lip at Loki's expression, willing himself not to laugh as nostalgic memories of their childhoods rushed back.
Loki stared at his daughter in Thor's arms, un-amused.
"For the very last time! They are not- THOR! What have you been?.." Loki bellowed but it was too late. The flash of a red cape was all that was visible as the pair fled through the door, Loki chasing after, horns and all.
So there we are! The end :)
I couldn't resist a fluffy ending hehehe, and to explain I know Brandr doesn't sound very Asgardian, but it means sword in Norse, so I thought it was fitting. Thea... Well I have no real reason for that, it sounded pretty.
I really hope you enjoyed it, it's been nice to write... Reviews are loved! Thank you... Alexinie xx