"My son!" Odin proclaimed the moment he saw Thor appear in the throne room's entrance. His wife, Frigga, had tears in her eyes upon seeing her son alive. "You are alive!" He rose from his place on the throne and outstretched his arms as Thor quickly approached his parents.
Loki uncomfortably watched the heartfelt reunion. His grip on Natasha's hand had tightened subconsciously.
"Hey," she whispered as she glanced up at him. The look of longing in his eyes began to concern her.
"I'm fine," he stated. Still, he continued to stare ahead, watching Thor hug his Mother and Father. The perfect family. There was no room in this picture for a lost soul, such as himself. He had his own family to look out for and that was something he valued in his heart more than anything. "Perfectly fine," he added with a small smile.
"It was all Loki, Father," Thor began. "He used the Infinity Gauntlet that you had told us stories of as boys!"
Hearing Thor praise him had caught Loki's attention. He was able to look Odin straight in the eyes with a sense of pride.
"My son…" Odin drew nearer to Loki. "Thank you." He warmly embraced his son.
Loki stood in place, wide-eyed by the praise and attention that Odin had only given him in his dreams. Suddenly, he felt like he had finally gotten what he wanted. A family-more than just Natasha. The family he had grown up with was accepting him, despite his faults from the past.
"You had infinite powers at your command and you used them for good," added Thor. "I can't ask for a better Brother!"
"Oh, Loki!" His Mother threw her arms around him.
"You have redeemed yourself as I always hoped you would," Odin commented. He happened to notice Natasha standing off to the side, then turned to Loki. "You had previously mentioned a child. Is this your wife-to-be?" he wondered.
Wife? She hadn't once wrapped her mind around the idea of actually marrying Loki. Natasha felt her face grow hot. She noticed Loki stare at her with a sly grin. He seemed to be finding her embarrassment amusing so she glared back.
"Father, Mother, this is Natasha Romanoff," began Loki. "We've yet to discuss marriage," he added as he eyed Natasha curiously. He took her hand in his and brought her closer to his family. "I only recently heard the news that I am to be a father…"
"This is most wonderful news!" Frigga exclaimed. "I am to be a Grandmother!" she beamed.
Natasha had always managed to maintain a cool composure after years of her training, but now she was finding herself losing it before Loki's family. She wondered if it was because she never had a real family. Her memories of a father and mother had been completely wiped from her memory. She absently began to try remembering something-anything- but a sick feeling induced by all the brain-washing settled in her stomach. She stopped herself and focused on Loki's family.
Loki took note of her sickly pallor and decided it was time to leave. "Perhaps we can visit another day," he coolly continued. "Thor was in the midst of a celebration with his friends." He shot his Brother a look telling him that it was time to leave.
"Yes," said Thor. "We are needed back on Midgard!"
"It was nice to meet you," Natasha smiled after Thor and Loki had bid their parents farewell.
"Come back soon-all of you!" Frigga added.
Thor, Loki, and Batasha grabbed hold of the Tesseract and were transported back to the Avenger's Tower.
"You didn't have to leave," Natasha told Loki.
He shook his head. "You look unwell. It's the lack of sleep."
"Probably," she lied. "You stay with Thor, okay? I'm just gonna lie down."
Loki nodded and accompanied Thor back up to the party.
Natasha went straight to her apartment and ended up emptying the contents of her stomach and showering before finally going to bed.