Disclaimer: I own nothing

I am SOOOOOOO SORRY for the long wait! Real life got in the way, then my daughter spilled something on my keyboard, and I had to wait until the next day and go buy a new one.

And I know. I'm a monster.

Now that Loki has dealt with his grief, can he handle fatherhood alone?

Let's find out!

Sit back and enjoy!

Love always,

Avoline

Loki awoke to hear Miekall screaming. He drug himself out of bed and reached into the ice chest for the bottle of milk. He used his magic to warm it up a bit as he made his way to the crib.

"What's wrong, son," he questioned softly, scooping the newborn into his arms. "Are you hungry? I cannot blame you for that." He gently placed the bottle near the child's lips, and the boy eagerly suckled on it. "I thought that's what it was. Your Aunt Jane warned me that you would wake up hungry." Miekall made a sound of contentment, and Loki smiled.

Maybe he could do this. Maybe he could be the father Miekall needed. It would be worth all the sleepless nights and hard work. It would make everything alright again.

"The young prince wake you up?"

He turned, his son dozing in his arms, to see Fandrall standing just inside the door. He managed a smile at the warrior.

"Of course," he answered, the blond stepping further into the room. "He was simply hungry." Fandrall chuckled.

"My daughter does the same thing," he mused. "So much like her mother." Loki shared a laughed as he gently set Miekall back in his crib. "I told you we settled on a name, did I not?" He turned and arched an eyebrow.

"No, you did not," he answered, curious and somewhat nervous.

Fandrall was one of the first to comfort him after Meeka's death. He was Loki's most loyal friend, and vowed to help out every so often with the newborn prince.

"Nikka," the sandy-haired man stated. "In honor of your queen." The brunette forced a smile. "It will be well, my friend. Miekall will grow up no different than any of us."

But his mother is not here...

A week had past since Miekall's birth. Loki had grown accustomed to the night time routine, and his body had adjusted to the amount of sleep.

But his heart still ached every morning.

He had tried to convince himself that he was fine; that his heart was healed from the grief. But the ache in his chest every time he awoke was proof that he was wrong. He never realized how much he needed her, or how much of an influence she had on his life. It never occurred to him that she truly was his everything. He could barely function as king without her.

He had to be strong, though. For Miekall. He needed to show his son how to be a man, and how to be a king.

"Brother." He turned, smiling at Thor as the couple made their way through the garden.

It had gotten easier to smile, at least. He could hide the pain behind a mask. He was good at that. He had always hidden his hurt behind a mask of indifference. Now was the time for a different mask.

"Brother, Jane," he greeted, laughing as Jane extracted Miekall from his arms. "How have you been?"

"We have been well, brother," the blond answered. "Jane has been eager to see the prince again."

"Has anything gotten easier," she inquired, meeting his gaze. He nodded.

"I've grown used to the sleepless nights," he replied. She cooed over the child as Thor stood next to Loki. "But not the emptiness in my heart."

"I know it has been hard, brother," the larger man comforted. "But it will all turn out well." The raven-headed man chuckled.

"That's what Fandrall said the other night," he murmured. "He and Sif settled on a name for their daughter. Nikka." Thor smiled.

"She will grow up strong like her mother," he stated simply.

"With her father's heart," Loki added.

Just like Miekall...