Loki stood in the doorway of his open cell, looking into the darkness of the night. The guards had gone home for the night, giving Loki his chance to escape. He could go anywhere he wanted, anywhere in the nine realms and re-build his life, become something new. That is what he wanted, a second chance, and he didn't know if he could have it while imprisoned, didn't know if he could have it in Asgard. What was the point waiting forever for something you knew might never come true? Yes, to leave might be the best answer; it would satisfy everyone. Loki stepped out of his cell, one last task on his mind.

Thor smiled as he sat down in the rocking chair, his sleeping son nestled in his arms. Jane was sleeping peacefully in their bed, exhausted from bringing their son in the world. His eyes shone with pride as he glanced at her resting in their bed; she had been so brave today, so strong in ways he could only hope he could be. He had seen firsthand why mothers were honored as highly as warriors in Asgard; both possessed immeasurable strength and courage, just in different ways.

He refocused on his sleeping son, tucking the blanket more firmly around him as the cross wind from the open window and slightly opened door blew gently. "Asgeir," Thor said softly. "My son, Asgeir." Asgeir was the perfect combination of Thor and Jane. His little tuft of brown hair had come from Jane, while his bright blue eyes came from Thor. He and Jane had spent some time debating who influences different parts of Asgeir's looks. Thor thought his nose resembled Jane's while Jane thought he had Thor's chin and brow. At the very least, they could agree that their son was absolutely perfect.

Thor was still surprised by how small his son was. 'He is no larger than a loaf of bread,' Thor thought, gently rocking his son. Thor knew he should leave his son to sleep, but he could not resist the urge to hold his son. From the moment he first set eyes on his son, Asgeir had snuck into his heart and buried himself deeply, just as deeply as Jane had. He had his family. "Asgeir, let me tell you about the world," Thor said softly, speaking as easily to his son as he had when Jane was still pregnant with him. "There are many people who are eager to meet you."

Loki paused in front of Thor's room, his brow creasing slightly. 'Thor never sleeps without his door closed,' he thought as he cautiously approached the half open door, hidden with his powers of invisibility. 'Is something wrong with him?' Loki's jaw dropped as he looked into the room, his eyes widening. Sitting in the room was his brother, the picture of fatherhood. Thor sat in a rocking chair, his foot pushing against the ground to make the chair move. Mjölnir rested at his feet, close enough for him to grab if there was an emergency. Nestled in his mighty arms, swaddled in cloth, was a baby. 'Lady Jane had the babe,' Loki thought, taking another step into the room. Loki's mind was still in a state of shock as he slowly approached Thor. He knew Jane was getting close to her due date, had watched her slowly grow round with the babe, but the child did not seem real until this very moment. Loki had to admit, fatherhood seemed to suit Thor. He opened his mouth to alert Thor to his presence when Thor began to speak to the baby.

"Wait until you meet my brother, your Uncle Loki," Thor said, a smile tugging at his lips. "You will love him." Loki's curiosity caused him to move forward, standing beside Thor as he looked down at the sleeping baby. "You will not find a man smarter than him in all the nine realms, little one. Your uncle has read a great number of books on many topics; when we were children he spent much of his time in the library. There are many times when I wished I was as diligent in my studies as Brother was. I was too busy fighting and getting into mischief," Thor said, shaking his head slightly. "You also will not meet a better trickster in the realm. Oh the trouble we would get ourselves into."

Loki withheld a laugh as he remembered the many tricks he and Thor had pulled during their youth. No one's pranks could compare to theirs, always up to mischief or some trick: bewitching the food platters so they could sneak some dessert before dinner, stuffing their beds so they could sneak about the palace at night and explore. They had many adventures while they pulled tricks. And they were punished a great number of times. Depending on the severity of their tricks, Odin might simply laugh, patting the boys on their head while telling them not to do it again or they might end up with a harsher punishment, forced to scrub the pots and pans in the kitchen for a week. Punishments aside, he and Thor always managed to have a good laugh. They were partners in crime.

"Loki once managed to put an elephant, it is a Midgardian creature we discovered in one of the history books, in Volstagg's room," Thor said, laughing slightly. "I shall show you a picture when you are a bit older. It is a large creature; it barely managed to fit into the bedroom. Your grandfather Odin was not pleased with us when he found out. But your Uncle Loki and I had a good laugh. Despite what others may tell you Asgeir, your uncle is a good person. He may have lost his way recently, but he is still a good person; I believe he will come back to us. Perhaps if your mother is not too tired tomorrow, we shall go visit him. Would you like that, little one?"

Loki smiled slightly, looking down at the pair. 'I would like that very much,' he thought.

Isn't Thor the cutest daddy in all of Asgard? And i'm sure Uncle Loki will be just as cute. Reviews please