It took Tony a day and a half to do everything that Loki had asked of him. Well, it took Pepper a day to do it and Tony another half-day to get around to actually telling Loki. Although how Loki's cellphone still worked in Asgard was beyond him – the roaming charges alone…

After dropping Tony off, Loki had traveled back to Asgard to diffuse his father's anger over the whole throne thing – it had just been a bit of fun after all. Then he popped back down to Midgard to drop off Dr. Finklestein and felt compelled to break the doctor's distraught wife out of the psychiatric ward of the hospital. Admittedly, her confinement was probably Loki's fault for using teleportation to fetch her husband, but the situation had been urgent. He hadn't had the time to stop and explain that he was a god and his lover was near death from a difficult pregnancy. If the other mortal doctors thought she had suffered a nervous breakdown…well, that was unfortunate but not Loki's problem. Still, he knew Darcy would appreciate him "rescuing" the poor woman. Not to mention that Dr. Finklestein's gratitude could only come in handy down the line.

After returning Mrs. Finklestein to her husband, wiping a few memories, and quickly forging some electronic release papers for the woman, Loki then headed over to his future in-laws. He explained that Darcy had experienced a few hiccups in the pregnancy – but nothing to be alarmed about. If her mother had assumed he was talking about Braxton-Hicks contractions, Loki simply let her. He was able to deftly distract them from their worry by announcing that Darcy was now his fiancé (apparently "betrothed" was a bit outdated). They had been pleased if apprehensive about it – it seems they weren't quite over the whole world-domination thing. Loki felt confident that they would get there eventually. After all, he would have to invite them to Asgard for the wedding. He had a feeling that would put everything into perspective for them. It certainly had for Darcy. Darcy had explained the concept of an heir and a spare, and did a pseudo-psychological evaluation of him after their first night in Asgard. She said that he went for the universal dominion thing because, 'Growing up as a prince made you feel entitled. Growing up as the spare made you resentful. And anyone who grew up in the ridiculous luxury of a place like this must feel freaking unconquerable. Plus the weird futuristic-Renaissance thing must have messed with your head. How can you have intergalactic travel but no wi-fi?' Loki had indulged her until she tried to address the whole adoption angle. While Darcy knew his backstory, he had immediately corrected her on that little mislabeling. Loki hadn't been adopted. He'd been kidnapped. There was a rather unsubtle difference between the two.

Still, Darcy's parents would be properly awed by Asgard. Darcy had pointed out that her mother would love the fact that he grew up in a castle – apparently that was a prerequisite for princes. Or Disney princes. Loki understood the concept of a Disney prince – Darcy had made him suffer through a few such movies – and while the idea of animation was rather remarkable, Loki could think of no prince worth his title who would spontaneously burst into song. And he could never understand why they always fell for the reclusive girls who talked to animals. That was just bizarre.

After getting the call from Tony, Loki interrupted Darcy's girl-talk with Jane…and Sif. Loki knew that Darcy had only befriended the vile she-beast just to get on his nerves, but he couldn't rise above his irritation. Although Darcy would always defend him completely and viciously, he still worried about the stories each could tell. He tolerated the relationship forming between the two females solely because he knew that while Sif might try to lower his love's opinion of him, she would fail. Darcy had seen Loki at points even lower than Sif ever had – and she loved him still. Even more miraculous was that she forgave him, accepted him, and supported him. She believed in him. He hadn't realized how much he had needed such a thing.

And if Darcy ever became annoyed by someone unaccepting of him, her default response was to say something outrageously inappropriate about their sexual relationship. It was a damn good thing that Loki wasn't shy. Thor would have committed ritual suicide by now if Jane had started using his dirty little secrets as weapons. Granted, he and Darcy probably had a much better sex life. That almost went without saying. He and Darcy had always possessed a certain sexual synergy he had never experienced with another. Satisfaction was achieved and pleasure lingered on multiple levels. Perhaps that was because genuine emotion was involved this time. When the momentary pleasure of orgasm is stripped away, all that was left of his past sexual encounters were the selfish and mercenary intentions behind them. With Darcy, he'd initially used her to bring himself pleasure and nothing more. Then it had evolved to being as much about her pleasure as his own. Then it had been more about her pleasure than his own. Then her pleasure was his own. Perhaps that was what falling in love looked like when focusing solely on the sexual component.

Still, he would allow her to fraternize with Sif if she wanted to. He knew which battles were worth fighting and this wasn't one of them.

"Excuse me, ladies. I believe it is time for this little gathering to break up."

Jane looked at Sif and made a completely absurd facial expression. Loki really needed to teach Thor's woman some subtlety. Luckily, Sif's response was to roll her eyes and nod much more inconspicuously.

"Why do I get the feeling I'm missing something?" Darcy's voice was curious. Apparently she'd noticed Jane's facial gymnastics. Lovely.

"I am going to need to borrow my dear Sister and my dear friend for a few minutes." Loki enjoyed using those monikers as Jane always looked like she swallowed lemon juice every time Loki called her his sister. And referring to Sif as a friend just annoyed her so badly that her eye twitched. Wonderful.

"Okay, what's going on?" Darcy sounded less curious and more demanding. Loki tried not to leer, but he always found it sexy when she got imperious with him. So few women did. In truth, no woman ever had. (Sif was categorically not a woman).

Loki smiled, "Do you trust me, my love?"

Sif rolled her eyes again – no surprise there – but Darcy responded almost instantaneously, "You know I do. But you're invoking the infamous 'trust me' on this? That worries me."

His smile never faltered, "No need to worry. I shall be back momentarily."

Loki gestured for Jane and Sif to exit ahead of him. As they left, Jane turned her head to smile widely at Darcy while Sif never looked back. Loki closed the door behind him and put his hand to it, a silencing spell radiating from his fingers just to be extra cautious.

"Is everything ready?" Jane sounded more excited than the occasion really warranted, but Loki nodded.

"Are you sure she's up to this?" Ah Sif…always the prudent one.

Loki gave her a condescending look, "No, I would purposefully overstress her body while she is in such a fragile state. You know how much I love to see her suffer."

Sif remained silent.

He held his arm out to Jane, "Shall we?"

Jane latched on quickly, tucking her body close against his side and squeezing her eyes shut. With a sigh, Loki held his other arm out to Sif. She took it slowly and with obvious reluctance. They disappeared silently and swiftly. Within moments, he had reappeared back in the hallway alone. As he reopened Darcy's door, she turned her head on the pillow and leveled a suspicious glare at him.

"Am I supposed to guess what's happening? I assume it's something good since Jane has been bouncing around all day like she's been snorting Pixy Stix. And considering the fact that she's spent the rest of the time since your douche of a dad fucked with her head looking like someone only Haley Joel Osment should be able to talk to – well, something's obviously up. So spill."

Loki walked toward the bed, not saying a word. While she eyed him warily, he leaned over her slowly and brushed his lips against hers. Pulling back slightly, he breathed the words, "Always so impatient. Trust me."

She sighed, "I do. I will. I'll be patient."

Loki raised a brow until she amended, "Okay, I'll try to be patient."

Loki straightened and then pulled the sheet off her body. She was dressed in the sleepwear he preferred her in – short and silky. She never seemed to mind wearing such garments although he had a feeling that it had more to do with her being happy to please him and less with her actually enjoying the feel of silk against her naked skin. Prior to their relationship, she did own an awful lot of flannel and sweatpants. This was a drastic improvement. Loki wondered absently if Darcy also knew which battles to pick. With a flick of his wrist, she was dressed in a soft, flowing gown in an Asgardian style. Green, of course. And pale with a shimmer in the fabric.

While she gave him a look for the costume change, Loki placed his hands on her stomach. He did a quick check to make sure that all of his spells were in place and his daughter was content. Once that had been established, he slid his hands beneath her body and pulled her up off the bed and into his arms.

"Whoa! What are you doing?"

Loki smirked down at her, "Hold tight to me. I hate to ruin any aspect of the surprise element, but there will be several people where I am taking you. But I told them not to shout anything as I wish for you to remain calm for your health. And if you do not find this enjoyable, blame Tony. You know how Midgardian customs bewilder me. Most of this was his idea."

With those confusing words still playing through her head, she and Loki disappeared.

"This would be the part where we all yell 'Surprise!', but Loki threatened me very creatively if I ended up scaring you. So in this instance I'll just go ahead and say it for everybody. Surprise, mommy!" Tony was giving her a big smile.

Darcy looked around at the various people filling up the unfamiliar room. All of the Avengers and their significant others, her parents, a few S.H.I.E.L.D. underlings who she'd gotten friendly with, and her new Asgardian pals.

She looked up at the face of the man still carrying her, "What the hell?"

Tony answered instead, "It was going to be a baby shower. But since Loki decided to make an honest woman out of you, I guess it's also a bridal shower."

Just when Darcy thought she had finally caught up, Pepper added from beside Tony, "And a housewarming."

"Housewarming? For who?"

Loki answered, "For us. What do you think of our new Midgardian residence?"

"What do you mean 'ours'?"

"I mean it in the traditional sense. Yours and mine combines to form ours."

Darcy's jaw dropped, "This is our place? Seriously!"

"Yes. Do you like it?" While his tone was casual, it was clear that her answer was exceedingly important.

She practically yelled, "I can't see it from here. Put me down!"

Loki considered before walking to the couch and placing her upon it gently. He gave her a pointed look and commanded sternly, "Stay."

"I'm not a dog."

He smiled, "There is a bitch joke lingering in that statement, but I shall leave it alone. You can look around later. For now, say hello to our guests."

Darcy looked around at all the people staring at her, "Oh! Hi guys! Umm...thanks for coming? I hear this is all Tony's fault."

Loki smiled indulgently as his lover was embraced by her parents, her friends, her coworkers. He even tolerated when the Captain placed a kiss on her cheek if only because of the perky looking redhead holding the man's hand. There was quite a backstory on that one...but he'd let Rogers figure it out on his own.

Darcy smiled at Jane, "So this is why you were being such a goofy dork today?"

Jane put her hands on her hips, "Hey, I'm not a dork!"

Darcy answered drolly, "You're an astrophysicist. And you like it. You're a dork."

From behind Jane's shoulder, a voice asked, "What is a dork?" Thor sounded innocently curious.

Darcy grinned wickedly, "Urban Dictionary says it's a whale's penis."

Loki had to laugh at the expression on his brother's face. "What? But...why would you refer to my beautiful Jane as such a vulgar thing?"

Darcy answered matter-of-factly, "Because she's a dork. You're a dork too. A ripped dork, but still a dork." Thor looked insulted. Darcy added, "Hey, it's a step up from hobo. Which is what I used to call you."

Thor seemed to weigh his words, "I believe it would be better not to ask for an explanation of a hobo."

Darcy just smiled mysteriously and caught Loki's eye, still shocked but happy.

Unnoticed, Frigga stood quietly in the corner, looking around at the loud strangers and strange contraptions that surrounded her. Then she looked at her youngest son and the ease with which he fit into the chaotic scene. It was strange to feel like an intruder in her own child's home. But even Thor looked out of place here - his body too big, his movements too much like a warrior, his words too formal.

But Loki...her youngest boy was ever the chameleon. His ability to adapt to new environments was remarkable. His ability to thrive in those environments was unparalleled. He was presently staring down at his mortal lover with a smile that grew as hers did, as if he was feeding off of her positive energy, as if her happiness was his own. She was looking up at him in fond exasperation. It was obvious that the events of today were a true surprise to her - but a pleasant one nonetheless.

Why did Odin still question Loki's choice?

While Jane was kind, intelligent and cautious - perfect qualities to balance out Thor's brash ways - Odin had always valued courage above all. And Darcy was obviously the braver of the two women. Thor was so very easy to love. That was why everyone did love him. But Loki...her amazing little boy...he was so very complicated. It took courage to love him. And faith. It was hard to love a man when you could never really understand him.

Mother's love was a strange thing - a powerful thing. And Frigga had always loved Loki. Always.

But Darcy's love for her little boy was so very different. Frigga tried to equate it to her own love for Odin. The two men were more similar then either would ever admit: stubborn, deadly, powerful, convinced that they were always right, yet always waiting for the worst to happen with a sense of inevitability. And they both loved so fiercely.

But Frigga's own relationship had started so very differently than her son's – than either of her sons'.

Frigga's marriage to Odin had not been born out of love. Love came slowly to them through the years as she learned more and more about the man he was, as he let her in deeper and deeper. Respect, trust, partnership - that was where their love was formed. From her understanding of Loki and Darcy's courtship, it had been strictly sexual in nature - until it suddenly wasn't. And the alteration seemed to have been entirely against their wills. They fell for each other despite themselves, despite their better judgment. Frigga was as jealous as she was concerned. Love like theirs - love rooted in passion - was a violent thing. It was also a beautiful thing. Love that comes suddenly is no less enduring than that which builds over time. But it is so much more volatile.

And the girl knew he was Jötunn, knew he was dangerous, knew his sense of morality was less clearly defined than most Midgardians would find acceptable.

But she loved him in spite of it. Perhaps because of it. Frigga would never presume to guess at the workings of that girl's heart. But it was clear to all that she did love Loki. Completely.

And now she was carrying his child.

Frigga feared deeply for the life of Darcy Lewis. The child would live, of that there was little doubt. But the girl was mortal...

A mortal would have difficulty carrying an Asgardian child. It had happened before, but it was always difficult. And an Asgardian would have difficulty carrying a Jötunn child. It had happened before (though none would admit to such a thing in these times), and that birth would too have been difficult. But a mortal bearing a Jötunn? And not just any Jötunn, but a child of one as strong as Loki? With the child's powers already so impressive and terrifyingly unpredictable?

Darcy had almost died once already. Loki had saved her somehow. He would not explain the details of what he had done other than that he had told his daughter to calm down and to trust him. And she listened. But that was then. During the birth? With the stress and the confusion and the trauma...the child's instinctual magic would lash out. And Darcy's mortal womb was so very fragile. Her whole mortal body was fragile. There was a greater chance she would die than that she would live.

Odin thought Frigga was willfully blind when it came to Loki. He had always thought she played favorites with their children (as if Odin had never been obvious in his preference for Thor). But Frigga knew that if something happened to Darcy...

Loki was so unpredictable. He could laugh it off. He could run away to lick his wounds. Or he could kill them all. She greatly feared it would be the latter. But perhaps becoming a father would make him hang on to his sanity long enough for him to realize that such ruthless actions were not consistent with the path he wanted to take. Frigga could see how much he was trying to improve himself. She could see his struggle to change. Loki had always understood his own selfish nature - his own preoccupation with his self-interest. It was a flaw both her boys shared. It was the reason why Loki had never truly wanted to rule Asgard - not until he actually held the power in his hands. Power can be so seductive. But Loki always knew he was not the ruler that Asgard needed. But he, unlike his brother, also knew that Thor was not such a ruler either.

Then life changed. Jane appeared. Lessons were learned, sacrifices were made and Thor finally became a man all Asgard could be proud to call King. A man Loki would be proud to call King. And now Loki was trying to follow his brother on his journey to becoming a better man - taking a different path but reaching the same destination. And Frigga was so very proud of his efforts. He was fighting his very nature. He was fighting it for the mortal girl. And he did it despite knowing that she loved him anyway - that she would love him no matter which path he chose to follow. Darcy had a pure heart, but her love for him was too strong for her to ever refuse him if he embraced his darkness again. She would be at his side regardless.

Frigga adored her for that.

"Mother! Come meet Darcy's parents."

Frigga smiled and eased out of the shadows. Loki was holding his hand out to her with a smile and she swiftly walked over to him and reached her own hand out. He placed a kiss on her knuckles before tucking her arm in the crook of his own. Then he walked her over to a middle-aged mortal couple. The man looked a bit uncomfortable around so many colorful people, but the woman was smiling widely.

"Mother, these are Darcy's parents. Alan Lewis and Donna Lewis, please meet my mother, Frigga."

Donna's eyes widened, "You're the Queen aren't you? It's an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. Should I curtsey?"

Loki laughed deeply and shook his head, "That will not be necessary, right Mother?" He was giving the couple his most winning smile.

Frigga smiled back at her boy, amused by his obvious attempts to be charming to these mortals. She answered, "Of course not. And please call me Frigga. We are to be family. It is an honor to meet you as well. I must say that I have been quite taken with your daughter. She is lovely inside and out. And we all shall be grandparents together soon enough. I cannot tell you how long I have waited for such an occurrence."

Alan's voice was a bit gruff with anxiety, "Well I can't say we'd been holding our breath. Darcy's still just a kid to us. But we're getting pretty excited now. I can't believe I'll have a granddaughter so soon."

Donna cut in, "Well, I can certainly believe it! But Darcy just looks beautiful today, doesn't she? We really surprised her with this. It was such a lovely idea, Loki."

"Oh no, I cannot take the credit. Tony told me it was customary. And Pepper was the one who found us this lovely apartment."

Donna shook her head with an incredulous smile, "I still can't believe that I'm at a party with Tony Stark. And with princes and queens and gods. It seems so surreal."

Frigga smiled gently, "I know what you mean. This is certainly unlike any party I have been to on Asgard."

Loki looked back and forth between the two women with a critical eye. Then he turned to Alan, "Sir, have you been formally introduced to my brother? I do not believe so. Come, let us allow the ladies to gossip." He winked at the women to show that his words were meant in jest, then gestured for Alan to walk with him. Alan gave a nod to Frigga before following Loki over to the blond behemoth in the corner. Alan said a quick prayer of thanks that Darcy had at least chosen a man who didn't look like he could bench-press a Buick. He knew Loki could do such things, but at least he looked relatively nonthreatening.

"Brother, have you met Darcy's father? This is Alan Lewis."

Thor smiled and the tension in Alan's shoulders dissipated. The big man was much less threatening when the dimples came out.

"Mr. Lewis! It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Thor, brother of Loki."

Alan reached his hand out politely and Loki quickly jerked his head to grab Thor's attention. He mouthed the word 'gentle' and Thor nodded, reaching his own hand out to gently shake the mortal's. It wouldn't do for Thor to forget his strength at this particular moment.

Loki looked back at Darcy sitting on the couch next to Pepper, one hand on her stomach and a smile across her lips. As if she could feel his gaze, she turned her head and caught Loki's stare. Her smile widened. Something Pepper said grabbed her attention and the moment was broken.

Loki scanned the room, watching as his mother and brother spoke with Darcy's parents, as Natasha said something to Steve's woman that made the poor Captain blush, as Tony laughed too loudly at Bruce's joke, as Pepper cooed over Darcy's ring. What a strange assortment of individuals.

And he was one of them.

Loki was bemused to find that this was his life now. And he didn't even mind.

"I feel like a queen with you carrying me everywhere."

The presents had been opened, the food and drinks devoured, and the stragglers finally kicked out. Now Loki was giving Darcy that tour she had wanted.

He smiled at her words, "Well, you are to be a princess. Although if you have your heart set on queen, I am certain Thor could meet with some sort of unfortunate accident."

"Very funny."

"I live for your amusement."

Darcy giggled, still marveling at the space around her. "I can't believe we live here. I can't believe you didn't tell me! This is one of those things couples discuss before doing." Despite her words, she didn't seem too angry.

Loki smiled, "This was a necessity if you wish to continue living on Midgard. There was simply no room for all three of us in your apartment."

"I know. It's just…this place is amazing. How could you afford this? You don't even have a job, you slacker."

"You seem to have forgotten that I am a prince, a god, and a conjurer of anything I damn well want." A Loki-double appeared and slid his thumb across his forefinger, a span of $100 bills trailing behind like playing cards.

Darcy gaped, "Damn. Why the hell were we living in squalor?"

"That was not squalor – believe me I know squalor. And you loved your apartment. It was the first place you were able to afford without parental assistance. I was not going to make you give up a rite of passage so that I could have more leg room. Anyway, your bed was fantastic and that was what truly mattered."

Darcy smiled and kissed his jaw before going back to gawking at her new home. "Loki, this place is seriously amazing. That view! How did you find it? And if you say 'magic', I'll elbow you in the throat."

Loki chuckled, "Pepper is not magical, though she may seem to possess certain superhuman abilities."

"Pepper? She found this place?"

Loki nodded and moved down the hallway, pausing in front of the final door. "Yes. I asked her for a favor. She was so excited at being named godmother that she truly went above and beyond. I am quite impressed. That woman is terrifyingly efficient."

"She didn't tell me! I would have thanked her."

Loki smiled wryly, "You thanked her enough."

"Well, the party was really thoughtful. Baby showers are so…normal. I didn't think I'd have one. Although some of those presents were pretty unique."

Loki chuckled, "Most were pointless – as I said, I am a conjurer – but some were certainly interesting."

"That framed picture of Tony on the throne is priceless. I can't believe you helped him take that! We're totally hanging it somewhere."

Loki shook his head but didn't contradict her words.

Darcy looked around, realizing they had been standing in front of the last door for a little while. "Are we waiting for something?"

Loki smiled, "Just your full attention."

Her eyes widened, "Well you've got it now."

With a tilt of Loki's head, the door opened. Darcy gasped audibly as they slowly made their way into the room.

Loki's voice was soft, "It is the nursery."

Darcy let out a little whimper that was half-laugh, half-sob. "Loki…it's perfect."

The walls were a mural of an Asgardian mountain leading into a perfect sunset – all soft tones of gold and pink and green. In one corner, a large tree seemed to grow straight up to the ceiling, its branches stretching widely, looking so real that you would swear it was bark instead of paint. An ornate rocking chair made from a dark wood that seemed to glow almost golden sat in the opposite corner next to a wide dresser made of the same. But Darcy couldn't stop staring at the crib. It was pure art. Matching the other wooden pieces in the room, it glowed – its shape reminiscent of Odin's throne, of a Viking ship – so seemingly appropriate for the daughter of an Asgardian god.

"Do you like it, my love?"

Darcy took a deep breath, "I'm gonna cry. But I promise they're happy tears."

True to her word, she tucked her face close to his chest and let out a little sob. Loki walked over to the rocking chair and sat gingerly. He adjusted the woman on his lap, tilting her head up so he could see her face clearly.

"So you do like it."

Darcy nodded, still unable to form words.

Loki smiled, "Good. This is the only room I decorated myself. Pepper had it all done in shades of pink."

Darcy snorted a laugh, "That's because Astrid is a girl. Girls' rooms are pink."

Loki tilted his head, surveying his handiwork. "Well, there is a great deal of pink on the walls. But it is natural pink, true to the skies of Asgard at dusk. Not that odd color Pepper used. It was reminiscent of that liquid medication Coulson always takes."

"Pepto?"

Loki nodded. "I debated whether Yggdrasil was too much, but I like the idea that Astrid be connected to the world tree. After all, she will bring together three of its branches."

Darcy's voice was a whisper, "It's perfect. The whole room is perfect."

Loki ran his thumb below her eyes, wiping away her tears. "All it is missing is an occupant."

Darcy cradled her stomach, "Not much longer now."

Her words sent chills up his spine even as they brought a smile to his lips. She was right. The child was developed enough now that she could be born without any true dangers. But Darcy was just as breakable as she always had been. Loki wrapped his arms tighter around the woman on his lap as if he could protect her. She needed to be alright. She would be. There was no alternative.

Not much longer now…

A/N: Saw a girl on the subway the other day wearing a 'Made to be Ruled by Loki' shirt. Smiled widely and made eye contact…thought we were having a moment of secret fangirl solidarity. Then she gave me the 'why are you staring at my boobs, you creeper?' look and I realized I had been mistaken. So if said girl is reading this (which is honestly not THAT farfetched), I promise I wasn't checking you out. Seriously. Also, where did you get that shirt?