AUTHORS NOTE: Hello everyone! I did say last week that Valki shippers were going to enjoy this chapter, and I didn't lie! This chapter is another setting-up chapter, but I threw in some banter from a couple of everyone's favourite sarcastic characters, so hopefully this will tide you over until the next chapter! Enjoy!
Steve had no idea why the King of Asgard and his astonishingly beautiful Queen- who everyone had learnt to be in constant fear of- were on Earth, and by the looks of things neither did anyone else, save for Thor. The nodding of his head and the almost-nervous glances he was shooting around the room gave him away.
By the time the group had assembled on the balcony, the couple had fully touched down via Asgard's magic portal and were soon being badgered by six eager children- in the bustle of their arrival, Lila and Cooper Barton had come on the scene.
'Lokiiiiii, show me some magic pleeeaasseee' Cassie pleaded, as Anastasia and Lila fussed over the massive ring that adorned Val's left hand, while the trickster God and his new wife smirked in Thor's direction.
'Well, have you missed me?' asked Loki, now producing a golden coin from behind Cassie's ear, causing the child to squeal with delight.
'I missed you as much as anyone who's been at the wrong end of your scepter could' Natasha sarcastically replied, 'but why are you even here?'.
Valkyrie laughed, smiled her gorgeously dangerous smile and tossed her inky black curls over one shoulder.
'What, Thor didn't tell you that he's recruiting us to babysit your children while you're away on this mission?' she questioned.
'YOU'RE GONNA BE OUR BABYSITTERS!?' screeched the delighted Anastasia and Alexei in unison.
As most of the team face palmed, Loki nodded in response and shot his brother an expectant look.
Thor spoke up, 'You know how we always have to leave the children with Lady Barton and she gets awfully tired?' he offered.
'So you decided to call your brother with murderous tendencies and your sister in law with a drinking problem to take care of them instead of my wife?' Clint summed up, looking as shocked as everyone else.
Thor sheepishly nodded.
'Even Nathaniel?' Laura Barton asked, so happy that her eyes were glazing over and she was having visions of a home where she could replace the children she would have had to babysit with bottles of wine, maybe even two per child.
As if on cue, the youngest Barton cooed and stuck out his chubby arms in the direction of Brunnhilde his blue eyes going wide when he caught a glimpse of the Valkyrie-turned-queen's elaborate violet-coloured headdress.
'Even Nathaniel' the queen replied, taking the gurgling baby into her arms, 'plus, we are in dire need of some parental experience' she admitted.
Steve knew she was right. Because of all the people Loki had pissed off over the course of seven years, namely Thanos, pretty soon job security would be required in the form of an heir to the throne. And remembering how Valkyrie, last week at one of Tony's after-mission parties, had literally skulled a whole bottle of liquor in the matter of seconds then proceeded to (seductively of course) lay all over her very pleased husband, Steve agreed they desperately needed some exposure to children.
'YAY! WE'RE GOING TO ASGARD AND WE'RE GONNA PLAY ON MARIO CART RAINBOW ROAD AND WE'RE SEEING ROCK MAN AND CRAB MAN AND EYE-PATCH MAN!' yelled a now very-awake Sarah.
Due to their children's extreme excitement about being in Asgard, the parents had no choice but to oblige and the six children that were capable of walking and were not being aww-ed over by a certain warrior queen rushed off to gather their things for their day in paradise- which was really a week in Asgardian time, but it seemed that Loki and Val hadn't remembered, so Steve didn't remind them of that fact.
Steve had to remind Sharon that she couldn't pack their daughter's entire wardrobe, because Sharon had a serious knack for over packing- she had sent Sarah to her first day of preschool with two entire changes of clothes, shoes and all as well as different accessories for each outfit. Even though this reminder had become a regular occurrence, Sharon still snuck three types of chapstick- watermelon, raspberry, strawberry and two tutus.
By the time Sarah was happy with her collection of bracelets she was bringing, the family made their way into the large living area, where the Barnes and Barton children were almost bouncing off the walls in their excitement, while Laura was writing a two-page, double sided list of instructions for her youngest son, which Brunnhilde was studying carefully. Laura scribbled down a last note with a flurry of the pen, and triumphantly handed Valkyrie the paper and Nathaniel.
Sarah gave her parents a last hug and skipped off to stand beside Loki. Sharon squeezed Steve's hand and gave him a sad look.
'Don't worry Sharon, the children are in good hands' Valkyrie reassured as they stepped out onto the balcony, taking Sarah's hand.
'I think we should be worried about Barbie bawling her eyes out' Tony sarcastically added, patting Sharon on the back, earning him an eye-roll from Steve.
Having finally detached themselves from their children, the parents stepped back, as the King and Queen, brought the children close to them and the rainbow colours of the Bifrost encircled them.
And they were gone.
The group of nine landed in the Bifrost, Loki and Valkyrie remaining on their feet, but the children rolling off in all directions giggling madly, while Heimdall gave them a puzzled look.
'We're back!' Loki announced, lifting a madly happy Lila to her feet.
Valkyrie made sure that Nathaniel was okay, and glanced up to Asgard, glowing a warm gold in the moonlight. She was home, and as long as the children and her husband didn't get up to any mischief, it was going to be a pleasant we-
A screeching of tires interrupted Valkyrie's thoughts. This was followed by a series of small explosions, but enough to make all the children run to she and Loki and for Nathaniel to starting fussing. Heimdall tilted his head in the direction of the city and Loki began to stride towards the origin of the racket. Valkyrie motioned for the children to follow.
What they saw was quite the sight. Skurge was doing burnouts on the Bifrost in the car Tony had gifted him- they had become good friends, while a squealing Miek was throwing small sticks of explosives at the car as Korg chased the vehicle down. And if the racket wasn't loud enough, The Grandmaster's ship began to let off a colourful array off fireworks, while blaring some ridiculous tune.
Brunnhilde looked down at the clearly annoyed baby in her arms as he began to screw up his face. She didn't have to be a mother to know what was coming next, and Nathaniel let out a loud, frustrated wail. As Valkyrie tried (and failed) to shush him, the tell-tale rumbling of thunder started in the distance and in a matter of seconds rain began to pour, soaking everyone.
Valkyrie looked at Loki.
'Shit'.
Ooohhhh I wonder what's going to happen next! I'll give you a hint, it's got something to do with the Grandmaster! I'm on a roll with my writing, so an Alexei-centric chapter might be up sooner than normal. Hope you enjoyed and please leave your comments!