A/N: I babysit a 20 month old, so I make all my guesses about how a toddler would act with how fast he learns, and he's a smart little kid. Kids are amazing sometimes.

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 looked at the choices that Emma had put on the bed, resting his chin on his hand. "And you've decided to wear the purple plaid pants, right?" The little girl nodded, hands gripping the green bucket hat on her head. "Right, well I don't suggest the orange shirt then. What about the white one?"

"Will it go with my hat?" She looked up at Tony, eyes hidden under the hat.

"I don't think Dad's going to let you wear it once we get out of the car," Tony admitted. He saw her lips purse together and he tried to keep from laughing. Tony grabbed the mid sleeve length white shirt with butterflies on it and slipped it over her head, hat and all. "Okay, now we need some shoes."

"The orange ones!" She grinned and pointed to her closet. Tony snorted and walked over to the closet, opening the door and seeing all her shoes.

"You really want to wear orange today, don't you? Let's try something else, this is a big day for your cousin." Tony pulled out a pair of white shoes and a pair of black shoes. "Maybe these?" Emma pursed her lips again then hopped over and stood in front of the row of shoes. She reached out and grabbed her golden chucks and held them up. Tony glanced at his own pair of brown chucks. "Oh sure, why not."

"We will be bringing a brush, and you will be fixing her hair in the car." They both looked up to see Loki standing in the doorway, rounded stomach visible for the moment.

"Dad!" Emma giggled and ran over, jumping up and Loki caught her, holding her in one arm to the side. "I can't wear my hat?"

"No, I'm afraid not today, darling." He pulled the hat down over her nose and she giggled. "Now are you two almost ready? We're going to meet Aunt Pepper downstairs."

"Can't Aunt Pepper do her hair?" Tony asked, grabbing her brush and play tote. "Or better yet, can't Kaia? They're both girls." Loki rolled his eyes and turned, walking away with Emma still in his arms.

"Come on Daddy! We can't be late!"

"She's learning too much from you," Tony called out to Loki as he followed them.

"No such thing." He could practically hear the grin in his partners voice.


It was Pepper that found Gabby first in the crowd of people. It was also Pepper who saw the ring first. "You're engaged?!" She put her hands over her mouth, but Gabby could see the smile in her eyes. "When?!"

"Last month, but we thought it'd be fun to tell everyone at the party," Gabby grinned, chuckling as Pepper grabbed her hand to inspect the ring. "Saves me the trouble of having to call everyone separately, and now that I'm done with school, I can focus on it."

"I can think of two or three men that are going to give you and Steve hell for waiting," Pepper smirked as she let go of her hand.

"Oh, I know." She rolled her eyes a little then smiled when Steve found them and kissed her. "You know that the sunglasses do nothing to hide your identity, right?"

"Don't worry, Tony's here to take most of the attention." He smiled at her.

"Well, that's not going to help you any when they all find out the good news." Pepper smirked when Steve blinked a little

"She has a heat seeking ring radar," Gabby told him.

"It's a good thing that you did finish school, or else it would be so much harder for you to finish."

"What would be harder?" Tony walked over, a little girl attached to his leg as he walked.

"Your life when Uncle Loki has another baby." Gabby grinned at Tony's deadpan expression.

"Oh ha ha, so very funny." He shook his leg a little and Emma squealed with laughter. "Just remember that I have more degrees than you."

"Academic requirements weren't quite as strict when you got your degrees." Balder grinned as he walked over and wrapped Gabby in a big hug. "Obviously she's smarter than you."

"Saaaaave meeeee," Gabby leaned back to Steve. He wrinkled his nose a little and her jaw dropped a little. "No, this is your job now, to save me!" Steve reached out and took her hand, helping her slip away from the small group.

"How are we going to tell everyone?" She entwined her fingers with his, and Steve smiled at the feel of the ring against her hand. "I mean, I'm we could just like get up on a table and tell everyone, but even that doesn't sound all that appealing to me.

"Tell everyone what?" Gabby squeaked and Steve jumped when Loki's voice sounded behind them.

"How frighteningly silent you can be," Steve quipped and Loki smiled. Loki let out a low whistle and Nathan suddenly stepped out from behind Loki. "Also, how frightening that kind of was."

"Nathan, this lovely couple needs to make an announcement to the rest of the room," Loki talked to the man, but both of them kept staring at Steve and Gabby. "Would you be so kind as to get everyone's attention and make it for them?"

"It would be my distinct pleasure." Nathan grinned toothily at Gabby. "What exactly should I tell them, my dearest younger Gabriella?"

"That I'm smarter than you, and you're Not older than me." Gabby's eye twitched a little.

"I do believe that they want to tell everyone of their upcoming nuptials," Loki cut off the incoming argument. "There's a highly decorated ring on your finger, and I saw Pepper fawning over it a minute ago."

"You're Finally marrying Cap? About time," Nathan exclaimed. He jumped up on a chair, standing tall enough so that everyone could see him. "Hello! Can I get everyone's attention please?" Gabby groaned and shoved her face into Steve's shirt, trying to pull his jacket closed over her head.

"If I pull them tight enough, will it wrap around me like a cocoon and hide me?" Steve pat her back a couple of time and shook his head.

"No, you'll just stretch out my jacket, that's all."

"Not a lot of you know me, but I'm a Very close friend of our dear Gabriella." Nathan continued once everyone had turned to face him. Loki swore he heard Kaia groaning in the crowd. "Which, round of applause for her degree." Everyone started to clap and Nathan nodded, smiling. "Now, our smart girl would like to make another announcement, and I'm very honored to have been asked to give it Everyone, get ready to line up and give more congrats, for her and longtime boyfriend, Steve Rogers," now Steve groaned a little, "are engaged!" The room full of family and friends started to clap, some 'awwws' were also heard and Loki grinned when he saw Gabby's ears turn red, the same shade as Steve's face.

Nathan hopped off the chair. "I think my job here is done. Have fun you happy couple you." He grinned and walked off."

"He seemed all too happy to do that," Steve looked at Loki who shrugged, a knowing smirk on his lips.

"He may or may not just asked me yesterday if he could marry Kaia." Gabby whipped around to face her Uncle. "And I may have said that I would talk to Tony so he didn't freak out. For a price of course."

"Oh, of course." Steve snorted a little.


Loki found Balder later when Tony disappeared with Emma to do some exploring around the Tower. "How long ago did he ask for Gabby's hand?" Loki asked as he sat down next to his brother, casually snacking on a roll.

"Five years ago," he snorted and smirked. "Said he wanted to wait until she was done with school though." Balder looked at his youngest sibling. "How did you know he asked me?"

"Steve Rogers is an old spirit, and I've come to find, the embodiment of the perfect Midgardian, gentleman." Loki shrugged a little. "Otherwise known as the opposite of Tony and myself."

"Thank Valhalla for that." Balder grinned.

"Have you told them that they'll have to go to Asgard for a celebration?" Balder kept grinning and Loki rolled his eyes. "You know, Balder, I am supposed to be the devious one, please stop trying to take my title."

"I suppose I should tell them. With Gabby technically being of the Royal line of Asgard, Rogers will most likely have to go through the Trials." Balder shrugged a little. "I assume that Nathan knows about that?"

"He was there when Tony asked, so I believe that he has an inkling." Loki nodded glancing over to where some people were still dancing. Nathan was attempting a very poor swing dance with Kaia, who couldn't stop laughing. At 27 the man worked in Engineering at Stark Enterprises, currently working on a solo project with Tony's supervision. Kaia looked like a younger Tony Stark with Loki's green eyes, and at 24 was trying to work her way into the publishing world.

"Ah, the joys of being part of the royal family."

"At least we aren't the oldest." Balder nodded quickly, agreeing with him. "I'm quite content with staying down here and just worrying about Tony not blowing us all up." Loki looked over as Tony walked in the room with Emma on his shoulders, both with dirt on their faces, and hair a mess Balder started to laugh as Loki sighed.