Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel. Obviously.

In this chapter, Loki is feminine and uses "she/her/hers" pronouns. Frigga knows, but Odin does not, and so both refer to Loki in "he/him/his" pronouns.

After breakfast was over, Frigga had to go back to work and Loki went back to sleep, her back to the door. Frigga glanced up every once in a while to glance at the sofa, being unable to see Loki over the top of it.

It wasn't long before a knock came at the door. Frigga waved a hand to let the door open and Odin walked in, holding a stack of paperwork. He paused when he saw Loki on the sofa, frowning slightly before walking over to Frigga, placing the files on her desk.

"The council needs these signed by you," he said. Frigga hummed.

"As soon as I'm done here, I'll start on those," she replied. Odin nodded and paused, glancing back at Loki.

"Why is Loki sleeping on the sofa?" He asked.

"Because he is tired," Frigga replied. "He joined me for breakfast."

"I see," Odin said, eye straying to the breakfast tray that was still on the table. Frigga sighed and put her pen down, rubbing her eyes.

"Odin," she said. "I think it would be good for Loki to meet other jotnar. He says that Alfheim has a community of little ones like him."

Odin clenched his jaw. "He will not leave the realm—"

"Until Healer Evyn says he's ready," Frigga finished with a sigh. "I know that, Odin. But I think we ought to bring it up with the healer. He is from Alfheim himself, he will be able to advise us."

"An what does Loki think about that?" Odin asked, glancing behind him again to where Loki was.

"He says he doesn't want to," she said. "But I think he ought to think about it as well. It would benefit him to see other jotnar behaving as people. He has heard to many stories that I believe he must see it with his own eyes for him to believe that they—and he!—are not monsters."

"They aren't monsters!" Odin snapped.

"And I know that!" Frigga snapped back. "But he does not, Odin. The war changed everything and it cannot be changed back unless something is done about it. We cannot wait for things to clear up like they did with the vanir. And for heaven's sake, the only reason things did clear up with the vanir was because Laufey invaded Midgard!"

Odin huffed and crossed his arms. "And what would you do to change that, Frigga? We cannot hope to change people's minds, not after centuries of thinking otherwise."

"Perhaps on the elders," Frigga said. "But there are plenty of people willing to change, Odin. There are children willing to learn. The first step, I believe, would be to try and reinstate the treaty with Jotunehim," she added. "Make up new conditions. They have a new King, and from what I have heard, he has the makings of a good King. Certainly better than Laufey did." When Odin didn't reply, she added "There was a time when Asgard and Jotunheim were at peace, Odin. I think, for the sake of the Nine Realms, we need to attempt to bring that back."

"The people will be unhappy about it," Odin warned her.

"There will always be people who are dissatisfied," Frigga said. "But I cannot just sit and do nothing, Odin. I've been sitting and doing nothing about this for too long."

Odin looked down, sighing. Frigga leaned forwards and said "Odin, listen to me," she said. "We cannot dwell on what we did or did not do in the past. But we must do what we can to fix our mistakes!"

Odin nodded, still looking down. "I'll do what I can," he murmured. Frigga stood and walked around to him, pressing a kiss to his cheek and taking his hand. "Bring it up in court," she murmured.

"I will."

"Today."

"I will."

Frigga smiled. "Thank you, my love," she said. Odin nodded again and she pressed a hand to his cheek, tilting his face up to look at her. "I know you love him, Odin," she said. "And he loves you too."

"Does he?" Odin murmured. Frigga hummed.

"Loki loves you," Frigga said firmly. "Even if he may not like you right now. And that is understandable."

Odin looked up at her and she raised her eyebrows. "He's angry, Odin, and it is not without reason."

"Then why won't he—" Odin started loudly, only to be shushed by Frigga, pointing at the sofa where Loki was sleeping. Odin lowered his voice. "Then why won't he tell me what is wrong? I cannot fix anything without knowing what is wrong in the first place!"

Frigga sighed, giving Odin a fond look. "Then you must ask him, my love. And be patient. He is angry and upset with you. Give him time and space, but have care not to push him away."

"I'm not pushing him away! If anything, he is pushing me—"

"Then give him the space," she said. "He will seek you out eventually, Odin. He will have questions that I cannot answer. Tell him the truth."

"I do tell him the truth!" Odin argued. "I really do not see why he is so distressed by finding out that he is adopted."

"It does not matter why, Odin," Frigga sighed. "Whatever reason it may be, he is distressed, and that is all that matters."

"He has not even told Thor," Odin protested and Frigga shot him A Look.

"Thor invaded Jotunheim on the basis that they were monsters," she said, her voice sharp. "And Loki has just found out that he is jotun. Would you not be hesitant? You must think of things from his point of view."

Odin licked him lips and nodded. "I understand," he murmured. Frigga nodded and sat down again, taking up her pen as Odin turned to leave.

"Odin," she said and he paused, turning back. She looked up and said "I would also suggest telling him about Loptr."

Odin's shoulders tensed and he said nothing for a moment, clenching his hands instead. "No."

"Odin—"

"No, Frigga. That wound has long since healed, I will not reopen it!" He snapped.

"Not even for Loki's sake?" Frigga said quietly, raising her eyebrows. Odin clenched his jaw and turned, leaving without another word and closing the door behind him. Frigga sighed and went back to her work until she heard a ruffle of cloth. She glanced up and saw Loki peering at her, eyes blinking.

"Who's Loptr?" Loki asked. Frigga sighed, shaking her head.

"You would have to ask your father, my darling," she said. "It is something very dear and personal to your father, and therefore not my story to tell. He will when he is ready, Loki."

Loki blinked at her again and stood, pulling up the blankets and taking the bowl of fruit off of the abandoned breakfast tray, heading back to her hall.

Notes:

WOW. I feel like I haven't posted for a while. Sorry about that; I've not had much time to write, and I think I've re-written the same chapter I've been working on, like, five times because I wasn't satisfied with it.

On a different note, I'm looking for fics that have a lot of Thor character development (I guess like a character study, or a fic entirely from his POV?), as well as Thor headcanons. If anyone has some favorites, leave a comment or send me a PM!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed/favorited/followed!