Loki's dreamer: this is getting long. Much longer then I ever thought it would be. But then again loyal servant was only suppose to be 11 chapters and ended up at 43. Lol.

Sidney loves fiction: I a both happy and sad that I made you cry. I made myself cry writing it. Enjoy the next chapter it's much less sad and more happy.

Doctor Loki love: yay happy-sad years are better then ugly tears. I didn't want them to reach a stalemate on the bedroom so opted to write it in a more lightening fashion. They will take very careful measures with the next pregnancy if one happens before this story ends :p

Sorceress of the trees: hehe mushy. I love that word.

poodle warriors: I'm glad you think so. I was hoping it didn't seem to far out there.

Chapter 73: The best you can do?

Cephera had decided to teach the twins reading, writing, math and all other sorts of things on her own. She didn't want her children schooled by a paid scholar until they got older. There were no school for children in Asgard like there were on earth. Special tutors were brought in but Cephera had plenty of time on her hands.

The other reason was their mischief. She felt a tutor would not last a week with the amount of trickery the two got into daily. Just last week Cephera had made them help the kitchen staff clean up after they made frogs leap from the pastries, soups, and salads. As punishment Cephera watched while the children were made to sweep and scrub everything messed up from their little joke. Now four they were getting stronger then ever with their magic and they also knew a harmless joke from a harmful one. Their joke in the kitchen had caused staff to have to work double to prepare the things that were now ruined.

She had chosen Loki's tower to teach them. They sat up there for a few hours in the morning with a break of play and then a few hours in the afternoon also breaking for play. They learned simple things at first to test their mental strengths. Devian enjoyed having books read to him so Cephera tried to teach him how to read them himself.

He was getting better. It seemed he would be a book worm like his father. But Diana was another story altogether. She got distracted easily from her studies. She was all hands on. She hated reading, refused to do math of any kind. She was eager each day to stop the studies and not play but join Sif down in the training yards.

Diana had built a curiosity and love for combat. She enjoyed the adventure stories involving the warrior woman and made it clear she wanted to learn the same. Cephera didn't mind. She thought it was admirable. She often wanted to learn to fight herself when she would view Agent Romanov practicing with her friend Clint Barton.

Loki was another story. Sif was one of those once in a lifetime women. She had proven herself as good a warrior as any but women in Asgard were meant to be wives, to bare children and stay at home. They were not meant to be warriors. Growing up with this in mind Loki did not enjoy the thought of his little girl wearing armour and throwing around weapons.

She was not a warrior princess she was his little princess. He feared no man would want to marry a brute. Just as Sif was still single he feared this would be Diana's fate. However he didn't deny her the time with Sif. This was mostly Cephera's doing.

So after the kids were allowed to leave the tower Devian ran to the throne room. He enjoyed watching his grandfather talk all business with the other nobles. He didn't understand half of it but he tried. Diana would vanish using her usual teleporting and would join Sif leaving Cephera alone.

Loki and Kat were in training. The queen was having tea with some other noble ladies and Thor was off with the warriors three. Cephera looked down at Shiaji who was lying on his back basking in the sunlight. "Looks like it's just you and me...again." She said sitting down with the cat. Shiaji gave her a lazy look.

Just like old times. The times when she didn't even know Loki was interested in her. Just her, her guardian and a long day after class. Not much had happened since last year. It had been very peaceful which only caused more unease.

Whoever was out to harm her and her family had not done anything since Alexis. Once a month herself, Loki and the children went to the memorial as a reminder that someone was out there and to not let their guard down. The children were to be with someone at all times and Cephera didn't leave the palace without Kat or Sif with her.

Aside from the cautions nothing else had changed. Their lives had slowly gone back to the way they were with a shadow of a ghost in the back of their minds. It's not like they didn't think of what they lost but the pain of it was lessened with time.

Time was flying. It seemed like only yesterday the twins were two and causing havoc from their cribs. Cephera couldn't help but be eager to be pregnant again. They had already decided that once she found out she was pregnant nobody was to know. She would be sent to her home realm of Mechanova for a 'family' visit with the twins and Kat in tow and Loki would make visits along the way. But she was not pregnant.

She wanted to be. The twins fifth birthday would be in six months and she longed to add to the family sooner rather then later. She wanted Diana and Devian to be still young enough to play with their younger sibling and not wanting to always be off doing older kid stuff.

Loki kept telling her they had an eternity but still she was impatient. Some woman got pregnant one after the other but it seemed Cephera wasn't that fertile. For now she had to focus on what she did have and have fun working on the rest.

Loki left the room were he was training kat that day and went right for the training grounds for the warriors. He had no doubt he would find Diana there. He would fetch her for supper and Cephera usually fetched Devian.

When he entered the upper seats he could see Sif's dark hair as she demonstrated a simple swipe of her wooden sword. Diana had her own. It was smaller of course. Diana copied the female warrior with a serious determined look on her face.

Loki might not be happy with her early choices but he couldn't deny she was very serious about it and very passionate. Like her mother when she got a thought in her mind. "Diana!" He called out. Diana slipped on the sand at the sudden sound of his voice echoing off the stands. She fell to her ass and frowned. "Come on." He told her.

Sif helped her up and followed her up to her father. The suppers were always full with everyone but Loki cared only that his family showed up not other people. He nodded politely to Sif who did the same to him. "Father I almost got it." Diana boasted proudly.

"Keep practicing and perhaps one day you will even be able to win a fight against the lady Sif." He said to her. She skipped along side him. He enjoyed taking the long way back to the palace and she never argued. She had a hold of his hand and was swinging it back and forth with each skip. Her black hair was hanging down her back just passed her shoulders. She enjoyed wearing it down like her mother.

Another thing so different between them. Devian preferred his neatly trimmed and combed out of his face. Devian seemed to take after Loki to a degree when it came to his studies and attitude, were Diana held that sense of whimsical freedom like her mother.

But they both took after loki for their constant trickery and cunning. Loki took pride in that to some degree but he had to agree with his wife that sometimes it was too much.

They arrived in the dining area and Loki smiled at his wife who was chatting with his mother. Devian was shifting impatiently in his seat until he waved when he saw Diana run in and Loki behind her.

Throughout supper Loki listened to all the idle chatter and Thor's had actually made his brain start thinking. "Midgard?" Loki said suddenly making sure he heard right.

"Yes. Tony Stark has invited myself to join him at his home to get to know Midgardian ways better." Thor smiled cheerily.

Loki looked to Cephera who was not paying attention which was just as well. "Why not take the kids. I am sure they would love to see Stark." Loki said leaning an elbow on the table.

"What?" Cephera's ears had perked up.

"That's a wonderful idea." Thor said.

"Idea? What idea?" Cephera was attuned to this moment of mischief.

"I am traveling to Midgard tomorrow and Loki had suggested taking the children with me." Thor beamed. Loki stood and began his escape.

"What? Wait!" She called after Loki leaving Thor looking confused. "Loki stop." Her call did not make him stop. "Loki you can't send the twins to earth with just Thor. Do you realize what the twins will do to Tony's home or Tony given that much freedom!" He heard her stop and he couldn't help but turn to look at her. Her face was one of realization. "No. Loki I don't like this idea. Your causing unneeded trouble for Tony."

"You have such little faith in our children." Loki said knowing it wasn't true, she was exactly right about his intentions. He couldn't wait to see how Tony would react to the twins combined mischief. "Don't worry. It's no less what he did when he was here."

"You mean at the wedding...the dance? That was over two and a half years ago."

"And no better opportunity has arose until now." Loki could hear the absolute joy that was in his own tone. With that he turned and continued to walk away from his wife.

Cephera was pacing. Thor should be back any moment and she was worried over how much trouble the kids might have gotten into. The Byfrost had yet to light up the sky but still she waited near the palace entrance. Loki was in his tower. He was much more patient then she was. Though he was also excited.

Finally the Byfrosy lit up and she paced faster biting on her nails. It was a while before the horses could be seen and Loki was suddenly next to her and she shoved him irritated.

He chuckled at her but said nothing. Thor dismounted once her reached them. He looked as equally irritated as she felt. Loki helped the children down off their small mares.

"How was your trip." Cephera asked Thor nervously.

"I am not sure were to begin perhaps at the imploding pool or the Asgardian speaking Jarvis." Cephera pressed her lips together.

"How much damage?" She asked skipping the pleasantries.

"Enough to last The man of iron at least a months worth of repairs and cleanup." Thor sighed heavily.

"I told Devian to leave the house alone." Diana interjected. "Tony had a lovely house." Diana said glaring at her brother.

"Your the one who made the pool implode." Devian accused.

"That was an accident." She said frowning.

"Brother." Thor said hastily drowning out the kids. "I have a message for you." Loki looked to Thor smiling.

"From Stark?" Thor nodded. "I'm intrigued."

"He said to ask 'is that the best you can do?'." Thor didn't look as amused as Loki when he smirked wide.

"A challenge. I accept." Loki picked up Devian and took Diana's hand. "Come on children. Tell me everything." He said passing by Cephera who was rubbing her temple.

"I'm sorry Thor." She said when Loki was out of ear shot. "I tried telling them to behave but without being there they simply don't listen." She explained. She felt horrible.

"No need to be sorry. They are but children but it is a little frustrating when one cannot stop the things happening. I am sure Tony Stark will have no problems putting his affairs back in order. It was actually Devian who started it all." Cephera looked up surprised at this news.

"Devian?!"

"Yes. Diana was ignoring him and paying a lot of attention to Tony. I think he became a little jealous and perhaps even feeling protective and started with setting off the indoor sprinklers meant to put out fires." Thor laughed. "It was funny at first but soon it got out of hand. The more Diana insisted they leave Tony alone the more Devian acted out ."

"Oh." Cephera was aware of Diana's childlike adoration for Tony when she was two but she hadn't expected it to continue. She hardly remembered the man. Loki would not like this either. "Lets not tell Loki that." She decided.

"I am going to get cleaned up before supper." Thor said. His clothes were tinged with some kind of blue dye. Cephera didn't ask as he left her to wash up.