Based on the reviews, it looks like it's a three way split between Loki/Hogun, Loki/Tony and Loki/Steve. Which pairing are you rooting for? =)

Thanks again for reading, reviewing and following this story. I hope you will enjoy this new chapter!

Unbeta-ed.

WARNINGS : NONE

Bruce was having his second cup of tea when Steve walked into the dining room. He had just returned from his little talk with Tony. They knew that they couldn't not do anything about Tony's behaviour with Loki; and that they needed to get his alcoholism under control. They had decided to broach the subject of rehabilitation with him when the millionaire woke up, and also that it would be safer for everyone if Steve did the talking.

Bruce raised his cup in greeting at Steve and then asked, "So, what happened? How did he take it?"

Steve took a seat beside the doctor, sighed and then said, "Well, there was a lot of yelling, some punches were thrown and then some unkind words were said, but he has agreed to go to the rehab. I have called the center to tell them to expect his arrival and he had just left with Happy. He refused to let me go with him."

Bruce nodded, "That sounds easy enough. What did you do to get him to go?"

Steve smirked and explained, "I told him that I'd tell on him, about what he did to Loki, to Pepper if he refuse."

Bruce chuckled and agreed, "Yeah, that'd do it. Thank goodness for Pepper!"

The doctor took a sip of his tea and then turned to Steve and said, "I'm worried about Loki."

Steve frowned and gave him a worried look before he asked, "What? Why? Is something wrong with him?"

Bruce snorted, "Apart from the fact that he is pregnant and we don't have a gynae on hand here? No. Can we tell someone about this? I'm worried that if something goes wrong and I don't have the skills to help him, what will we do then?"

Steve nodded in agreement and then reluctantly asked, "Do you have anyone in mind?"

"Someone I trust?" Steve nodded and then sighed when Bruce answered, "No, not really."

Bruce continued, "But it's still very early into his pregnancy. Perhaps Thor will come soon enough and then we'll know more about this alien pregnancy and how to deal with it."

"And if it's another few months before Thor shows up? What then?"

Bruce gave another long sigh and then offered, "I guess, we'll just have to cross that bridge when we get there."

The next evening, Steve found Loki at the tower's indoor pool. He was seated at the side and he had his legs dipped into the pool. The captain made his way towards the prince and the sat down beside him and then lowered his legs into the pool.

Steve frowned when the young god did not acknowledge his presence. He nudged the prince's elbow and then softly asked, "Hey, you okay? The baby's okay?"

Loki nodded and replied just as softly, "Yes, we are both fine."

A few moments of silence passed before Steve decided to try and break the young prince out of his melancholic mood, "So, a magical baby, huh? Will the baby be doing tricks from womb anytime soon?"

Loki rolled his eyes at him and then corrected, "My baby has magic; he is not a magical baby. There's a difference."

Steve's smile broadened and he cooed, "He? It's a boy? You're sure? How did you know?"

"His magic told me," Loki answered as he turned towards the Captain and smiled.

"I love seeing you smile," Steve announced before both he and Loki blushed and then looked away from each other.

Another few moments of awkward silence before Steve cleared his throat and said, "So, naming him would be easy then, you've got many months to decide on a name."

Loki sighed and turned his gaze towards the pool, "I wish... I wish I could ask his other father. But, alas, I do not even know who he is."

Steve reached for the prince's hand and then gave it a light sympathetic squeeze.

And Loki continued, "I can't help but to wonder if he left us by choice? Or if he is alive? Or if he even loved me at all? Why I can't remember him? Was he my lover? Was I married? Was it for love? Was it for political purposes?" He shook his head and then sighed.

Steve did not know what to say to console him so he settled with, "I wished I had the answers for you, Loki."

The Captain decided to broach the subject again. "Are you sure that Tony's not the father?" he asked cautiously.

Loki shrugged awkwardly and reluctantly offered, "It's only been a week since Tony first bedded me. And I do not currently have my magic if that was how I am with child. No, I do not think he is the father."

Then, Loki opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but hesitated. Steve caught the movement and encouraged him, "What is it, Loki? You know you can tell me if you want to."

Loki frowned and bit his lip before he turned towards the Captain and exclaimed, "The father of my child, I don't know how to face him! I cheated on him with Tony. What if he finds out? What if he finds out that I have... dirtied myself by sleeping with another? What if he can't forgive me? What if he wants to take my son away from me? I can't let him do that! I can't let him take my son away from me." By then, Loki was already panting with panic.

Steve took the prince's trembling hands and tried to calm him, "Shh... shh... calm down, Loki. Stop scaring yourself."

When he had deemed the prince was calm enough to listen to his reasoning, Steve let go of Loki's hands but cupped his cheek so that the prince would keep his gaze on him. Steve then assured him, "Listen to me, Loki. What happened with Tony, that wasn't your fault. You weren't yourself. And if the father of your child cannot see that, if he cannot see pass that, then he doesn't deserve you. And I won't let him take your son from you. I promise you."

Loki shook his head, "You have no obligation to do that, Steve. You do not have to fight my battles for me."

But Steve was persistent, "You are my friend. And I protect what's mine."

The Captain blushed and then cringed when he realized the un-appropriateness of his word choices but fortunately for him, Loki was oblivious to that little blunder.

Steve cleared his throat again and tried to lightened the mood, "Enough about this, why don't you tell me more about your son?"

Loki gave him a small smile and asked, "What do you want to know? I don't know much about male pregnancies if that's what you wanted to know about."

Steve protested quickly, "No, not about the pregnancy. I mean, well, anything that you know then. Does he kick you yet?"

Loki chuckled softly and answered, "I'm not even showing yet, Steve. I think it will be a few more months before he does that. But I can feel his energy. Strong, but evasive, a little cheeky. And a little unpredictable perhaps but that might be the raw energy."

Steve grinned and then teased, "Like his father, you mean." Loki replied with a musical laugh, "Yes, very much like his father."

Steve beamed and continued, "So, you can't control his energy?"

"I can feel it, but no, I can't wield it. But I can redirect it though, in case if you are afraid of my son harming you," Loki teased.

"I think I'm in awe," Steve announced with a goofy grin.

"And why is that, my dear Captain?"

Steve blushed at the term of endearment and then explained, "I think that a child is a blessing from God. So, I think it's awesome that you're having a baby."

Loki look bewildered and asked, "You... want to carry a child?"

To which Steve gave a bellowed laugh, "What?! No! I mean, there's nothing wrong with being pregnant, I just meant that I would love to be a dad." He explained at Loki's piercing glare.

Loki's glare softened with a smile, "Ah yes, a family of five?"

"It doesn't have to be a family of five. I think that I wouldn't mind adopting a child of my own," Steve said.

Loki nodded in comprehension, "Ah... a man with a heart as big as yours, Captain, I think you would make a wonderful father."

"You think so?" Steve asked with a silly smile on his face.

"Most assuredly. You will spoil the child rotten," Loki smirked.

Steve laughed and then decided that he should get to know his god-like friend better, "Why don't you tell me about your childhood?"

Loki sighed but did not shy away from the question, "It was... difficult. Especially after we have outgrown our childish ways. I have told you that I am not like the other Aesir men. Well, I was not like the other Aesir children either. I was smaller, and weaker, so they did not spare much of their time for me."

"What about Thor?" Steve asked as he swung his legs in the water.

Loki shrugged, "He was much older than me. While he doted on me in the privacy of our home, he had his own friends to be content with."

Steve nodded and then decided to shift Loki's attention to another question, "Were you close with your parents?"

"Of course!" Loki exclaimed, which surprised Steve but he was smart enough to not show it.

"What's wrong?" Steve asked when he noticed the sad look on the prince's face.

Loki gave him another shrug, "I miss my mother. I wish I am home."

"What about your father?" Steve asked.

Loki let out an impatient sigh, "Yes, my father too. But what if he is upset about my child? I have let him down one time too many. I fear that this would drive us further apart."

"You are not close with your father?" Steve prodded.

"He wished for me to be more like Thor. Big, strong, a warrior. Instead, the second prince is a sorcerer, a scholar. Someone who excelled in women's art. And now that I am pregnant, what would he think of me now?" Loki let out another sigh.

Steve nudged the prince and reassured him with a smile, "If I were your father, I would look forward to meeting my grandson. I would teach him how to play baseball, how to ride a bike or perhaps even buy him his first bike."

"What if he is like me? A son who would dabble in women's art?" Loki asked with narrowed eyes.

Steve beamed, "Then, I would learn with him. I'll even buy him his first cauldron."

"A sorcerer, not a witch", Loki chuckled, "Like I said before, you will spoil the child rotten."

Steve was enjoying the comfortable silence that followed when Loki turned to him and asked, "Why did you help me?"

Steve chuckled nervously and answered, "What? I told you, we are friends, Loki."

Loki argued, "But you said that I tried to subjugate Midgard. Your home."

"Indeed, but you failed. We intercepted your effort and then Thor took you home," Steve tried to reassure the young prince.

But Loki was persistent and asked with a hard stare, "And you forgave me that easily?"

Steve stared back at the prince, adamant, "Yes."

"Why?!" and still, Loki asked again. 'Damn his stubbornness,' Steve thought.

"Must there be a reason? You were punished for that, and as far..." Steve countered when Loki stood up and interrupted him. Steve followed suit. They stood face-to-face as Loki glowered at him, "Why was I punished for a quest? Why did I target Midgard? HOW did I fail?"

"I don't know, I think it's..." Steve put his palms out as he tried to pacify the upset prince.

"STOP LYING TO ME!" Loki yelled in anger.

"I'm not lying to you, Loki," Steve reassured him in a soft voice.

"If I am an enemy of Midgard, why am I not in a cell? Why am I here, with all of you? I don't understand, I don't understand," Loki paced and babbled, more to him than to the super soldier.

A frustrated Steve then grabbed Loki's hands to stop him from pacing and pulled him close. When Loki's face was mere inches from himself, he explained with gritted teeth, "Because your brother told us to keep you safe. Because I keep my promises. Because, even though you were our enemy, you are now my friend. Because I wanted to see you safe. And because I CARE about you and your well-being! Are those reasons enough for you?"

Steve panted breathlessly when he was done. They stood so close to each other that Steve could feel Loki's hot breath on his lips. Blushes crept on both of their faces when they realized the distance between themselves. But neither made a move.

After a few short awkward moments, the loud crashes of thunder rolled in and lightning lighted up the evening sky. Loki turned his gaze away from the Captain and then looked towards the window with a tiny frown before he declared, "My brother has arrived."

Oooops! Really bad timing there, Thor! =p

Okay, so Tony's not the father. The time frame just doesn't add up. But we do still have three more suspects to choose from : Hogun, Fandral or Volstagg?

Who do you think Thor traveled with to Midgard? Do we tell Thor about Tony? Should we give Tony another chance once he has sobered up?

Thanks for reading! =)