I can't believe we've finally got to the epilogue - I seem to have been writing this story forever... There are still two one shots to follow, which I will post within the next week or so...

Warning - fluff alert...

Early May the following year... The Palace of Asgard.

It was late - very late, and on any other night - unless it were a feast night - the Palace of Asgard would have been quiet and dim by this hour. On this particular night however, the King of Asgard came striding through the Throne Room from his study to join a small group seated in silence outside the Healing Rooms.

As he approached, Jane rose, and hugged him. Nodding to Steve Rogers who was seated cross legged on the floor, Thor dropped into a convenient window seat.

"Any news yet?"

Jane shook her head, her face serious. "Frigga has gone in to find out how things are going."

Thor looked around confused. "And my Brother?"

Jane smiled. "He's in there."

Thor's eyebrows shot upwards. "My Brother is in the Healing Rooms with Hermione? How is this? The Father's role is to pace out here and look suitably terrified."

"That shows how little you know Thor. The birthing of magical children is no easy thing." Frigga emerged from the doorway, looking weary and disheveled. Thor rose from his seat to allow her to sit down.

Jane looked confused "Why does magic make a difference? Surely it should make things easier?"

Frigga shook her head. "No Jane, when the mother is magical but not the child - that does help. But this child has mage powers from her father - is powerfully magical already, and is in no hurry to leave her place for the discomforts of birth. It then becomes a battle of her magic against Hermione's. In addition, this child has the Jotun powers of her father, and should she panic, will literally freeze Hermione from the inside out."

Jane gave a gasp of horror. "Has that happened. Is Hermione alright?"

Frigga put a consoling hand on her daughter in law's arm. "All is well at the moment. That is part of the reason why Loki is by her side rather than out here. His power is able to connect with the child's - keep her calm. At the moment the birth is going as well as any other."

Thor glanced out of the window at the rising moon. "Will it be much longer Mother?"

Frigga smiled fond but worried. "I hope not. Hermione is strong, but she is tiring."

ooo0ooo

Two hours later Lucilla returned to the Healing Rooms, having been to her potions lab for supplies. Bobbing a curtsey to the King and Queen as she passed she went into the dim side room where Hermione was still in labour.

"How does she do" Lucilla murmured to Eir.

"It will not be long now. She will need to push very soon, and should all go well, it should be less than an hour. Did you get the essence of dittany?"

Lucilla passed the bottle to Eir. Hermione's was pacing the chamber, Loki at her side. As the next contraction hit, she leaned against him, panting through the pain. He put his hands over her swollen belly, feeling the child within, still calm. He could feel how she had dropped, surely it would not be long now.

As the contraction abated, Eir approached them. "My dear, I need you on the bed now so that I can see how you progress. I believe we may be very nearly there."

When the examination was over, Eir looked up and smiled. "I believe we are there Hermione. When the next contraction comes, you can start to push. You are doing very well dear. By all means lie down, but only if you want to. You may find it easier to squat or to kneel, Loki, can you support her if she needs it?"

Despite her pain and exhaustion, Hermione just couldn't resist it. "Hey - I finally get to kneel before Loki..."

His face was a picture. "Seriously! You have the worst comic timing in the Nine Realms. Next time you feel the need for a remark like that..."

She looked up at him, trying urgently not to laugh, knowing she should be saving her strength... "Yes...?"

"Don't. Just resist the temptation. Please..."

ooo0ooo

The group outside were beginning to succumb to the lateness of the hour, Steve was nodding, and Jane had fallen asleep, curled in a very un-Queen like fashion on Thor's lap. Lucilla had joined them, a little awkwardly, a while ago, her role in the birthing room over for the time being - but unwilling to leave until it was over..

Out of nowhere, a strangled shriek from the Healing Rooms jolted them all awake, eyes wide in shock.

Frigga's face was tense. "That is either a very good or very bad thing..."

For the longest ten minutes of their lives, nothing happened. Then a figure emerged from the Healing Rooms.

Loki was a mess. Shirtless and barefoot, his hair was all over the place, and his hands and chest were streaked with blood. He looked far beyond exhausted.

In his arms he held a bundle, wrapped in a soft pink blanket.

Frigga was out of her seat in seconds. "Loki?"

His smile could have lit the room. "We have a daughter. Mother, meet your newest grandchild."

She was perfect. Pale skin and soft black fuzzy hair. Her eyes, keenly alert for a newborn, were the clearest blue, but Frigga was certain that they would eventually change to her Father's emerald green.

"Hello little one. Welcome to the world." Frigga kissed her gently on the forehead. Then she looked up at her son, who appeared to be completely unaware of the fact that he was crying, Thor's arm was around his shoulders.

"She looked like that when she was born. But...but... when they put her in my arms - she turned blue." Frigga looked at him, wide eyed. "Then it faded. It was as though she - recognised me..."

"And Hermione?"

He smiled, finally wiping his face on the back of his hand, as he had when he was a little boy. "Tired, but fine. They are just getting her tidied up, then she would love to see you for a few minutes."

Thor ran a large finger over his niece's hair. "Do you have a name brother?"

"We thought Lilja. Lilly - was Harry's Mother's name. It seemed appropriate."

Thor held out his arms, the already tiny bundle looked even tinier in them. "Princess Lilja of Asgard. I like it. She will be a rare handful brother - she is but ten minutes old and already she holds your heart in her hands."

Jane smiled serenely, leaning against her husband's arm, smiling at her little niece, "... and well she should Thor, although it appears to me that big strong Uncle Thor is already wrapped firmly around her little finger too."

They all looked up as Eir appeared at the doorway, looking equally exhausted. "Lady Frigga, Princess Hermione is ready to receive a visitor, but only one tonight if you don't mind... "

Jane kissed Frigga's cheek. "Give her our love, and tell her Thor and I will come to visit her and our niece tomorrow if she feels up to it."

Steve and Lucilla echoed their good wishes, and they all reluctantly retired for the night.

While Loki went to change into something more appropriate for spending the night in the Healing Rooms - for he had no intention of being evicted back to his empty chambers at this point, Frigga crept quietly into Hermione's room.

"Oh my dear, she's perfect. Well done. How are you feeling?"

Hermione looked, thought Frigga, surprisingly well. Someone had brushed out her hair, she looked cleaner and fresher, and was wearing her favourite pyjamas. She looked, justifiably, extremely proud of herself.

"Tired, but happy, and you're right, she's the loveliest thing I've ever seen. Did Loki tell you what happened when he held her?"

Frigga nodded. "He was utterly overwhelmed I think. Do I understand that he will be spending the night here with you?"

Hermione chuckled. "I don't think a herd of rampaging Bilgesnipe could turn him out tonight. And tomorrow I hope to be back in our chambers. It's not as though we can't summon help if we need it."

As if on cue, Loki himself wandered in, wearing his usual sleeping trousers and nothing else. He did look a little cleaner, and had tamed his hair slightly.

Hermione was already tiring visibly, and she was likely to be woken several times during the night. Frigga kissed the top of her head, returned her granddaughter to her rightful place, and, hugging Loki on the way out, she left them. On the way out she stopped to say a few words to Eir, who was on the way to bed herself, so it was about ten minutes later when she walked back past the little family's room.

The image would be fixed in her mind for a long time to come. Loki sitting up in bed, Hermione curled up against his shoulder, his arm around her. Lilja nestled in her arms. The expressions on their faces were of utter contentment.

Wishing them a soft goodnight, Frigga closed their door, and headed, gratefully, to her bed.

The End.

Don't forget to keep an eye out for "What's in a Name?" and "Legacy" later this week.

Merrick x