A/N: Time frame wise, this is set 8 years after Burning Curve, for reference. :)

So updates might be a little slow as I deal with some big personal stuff. If you're interested you can read about it at my Tumblr. megaranoelle . tumblr . com

I don't own The Avengers, Loki, Iron Man, or anything of the like. Just the thoughts inside my head. And taking some personal freedoms with mythology and lore.

Tony carried Melisande in one arm to her bed for naptime, the little girl almost asleep with her head on his shoulder. He put her down in her bed and made sure that her stuffed fox was in her arms. "Dad home soon?" She asked sleepily.

Tony ran his hand through her hair and kissed her forehead, pulling the blanket over her. "Soon, munchkin." A week later and Tony still had no leads, but he wasn't about to give up. He had told Melisande that Loki was very busy being a King, and it was very important, or he would have taken them with him. He was glad that she was so young, it would take her a little while before she worked out that something was actually wrong. She didn't seem fazed when he told her that dad had left the new baby with Daddy so that she wouldn't have to miss it when her new sister was born.

Sander was teleporting back and forth from his classes, staying at the mansion instead of his apartment. Eindride and Elpis had gone back to their own home, but still stopped by to keep updated on the progress. Elpis couldn't help much until after her own child was born. Bruce was staying at the mansion, keeping Melisande occupied when Tony lost his energy, and keeping an eye on Tony's health.

Tony turned on Melisande's night light and closed her door halfway before heading down the hall to his own bedroom. He sighed and sat at the edge of the bed and rubbed his face. He wasn't actually sure how long he could keep faking a smile.

There was a dip in the bed as someone sat down next to him and he put his hands down looking over. Eir put a hand on his knee. "I won't lie, when I had a boy I didn't think that I would be here to offer him advice on being pregnant." Tony snorted lightly.

"Sometimes, when Loki was having a bad day during his pregnancy with Anders, he would make me feel what he was feeling. The morning sickness, the sore back, all that," Tony told her, hand resting on his stomach. "I'm prepared this, sadly."

"You would know if something had happened to him," she told Tony gently. "Your connection would tell you."

"I know," he nodded a little. "I haven't given up hope, not on Loki." He looked at Eir, looking as normal as could be at the moment. He wasn't sure if it was because of what was happening, or if the drastic changes in his biology and hormones was starting to work, but he leaned against her, falling into her arms when she wrapped them around him.

"You're a lucky man, to have such a close family," Eir said as she held onto him. "To have them here without question to help. You have done such an amazing job as a parent, that very fact is evident as they all stand by your side." She ran her hand through his hair. "I may not have been around, I may not have been the parent you needed, but I'm so proud of the man that you've become."

Tony wiggled his nose around, trying to hold back the tingling sensation, trying to stem the tears he felt coming. "Thank you," he said quietly. "Thank you for coming."

Eir kissed the side of his head. "Anytime you need me, whenever, just let me know. You're all my family, and I'll fight tooth and nail for any of you." Tony nodded a little into her shoulder.

There was a knock on the door and Tony sat up a little as Eir looked over. "Hey Nana," Sander smiled at her. Eir got up and walked over to Sander, wrapping him in a hug, giving Tony the time he needed to take a breath and compose himself. She knew he'd want to look strong in front of everyone else. "When did you get here?"

"Just a few minutes ago." She smiled and tugged lightly on his ponytail. "This is longer than your Dad's now, when are you going to cut it?"

Sander smiled a little. "When Dad decides to cut his hair." They both turned their head to looks at Tony who just raised an eyebrow at them.

"I'm waiting for another fifty years, or when Loki cuts his hair," Tony informed them. "People still haven't gotten too used to my longer hair, and I'm taking advantage of that."

"I think you're just making up excuses," Eir said with a sigh. She looked back at Sander who was smiling. "Valkyries don't know the meaning of patience until they have met my family." Sander's grin only widened.

Loki took a breath as he looked around and seeing nothing. He felt his heart practically jump into his chest, could feel the beating, a little pain moving up, trying to control his breathing. Back in the Void, the one place he had never wanted to return to again.

Adir's hand on his shoulder tightened and it was just enough to bring Loki's consciousness come crashing back to his mind and he pulled away, turning to face the man. "You intrigue me." Loki frowned at him. "You know who I am, what I could do." Adir waved his hand and the nothingness around them started to change, ground appearing grey and dead, the sky matching the feeling. "You know the power that I wield, and yet you still fight."

"I'm sorry, were you waiting for me to give in?" Loki took a step back from the man. Even if he was trapped with the man, he would still keep his space. His advantage to being here was that he could also manipulate the Void, not to the degree that Adir could, but a little bit could mean the difference between getting back to Tony and giving in completely.

"Yes, honestly," the man admitted. "Others have fallen to their knees as soon as they feel my power, begging for forgiveness. When they realize none is coming, I grant them the mercy of a quick end." Adir put his hands behind his back, observing Loki's movements. "Not you though. You fight, you plan, you very much think that there is still hope for you. This intrigues me, as I've said."

"If that was supposed to make me feel flattered, it doesn't," Loki told him. Adir smiled and nodded.

"This could actually prove to be interesting. It's a game now," he let his smile widen. "I can't remember the last time I've ever had a hunt give me a challenge. Yes, this hunt shall go on."

"If it's a game, is it fair that you have the upper hand in your own realm?" Loki raised an eyebrow at him.

Adir let out a chuckle. "Are you mistaking me for someone with the same kind of honor in a hunt that you're used too? I said this could be fun, not that I wanted to give you any resounding hope."

Loki bared his teeth at him before wrapping a spell around his fingers, starting to warp the void space around him. "Then I'll not make this easy for you."

The air around him rippled and Loki disappeared. Adir smirked and nodded. "Well played little trickster. I look forward to seeing the tricks up your sleeve. I also look forward to breaking you, before destroying you completely."