Oh wow yeah this one's long and it's ugh and I'm ugh and everything's ugh. Things get better soon though. I just needed to torture you all some more. It's what I do best. :)

Hopefully the next update won't take as long. I hope you guys are still enjoying!

Disclaimer: Does not own Marvel Universe

Warning: Language...and angst

Comments/critiques are welcomed!

Loki rests his head against the wood of his door and lets out a low chuckle. He didn't know what time it was. It was late—early?—he knew that much…the whole house was quiet and dark when he snuck in. His head was spinning violently and his nose felt like it was full of glass. He thought he needed to throw up but he must have done that already. Loki walks into his room and sighs, flopping down onto his bed. Steve had called. He'd called several times but Loki didn't want to talk to him. He'd rather Steve think his rotten thoughts about him and feel the abrasion of his foolishness when Loki decided to confront him again.

He sits up and stretches his back, yawning and rubbing his eyes. Loki couldn't remember where he'd gone tonight…he couldn't even remember how he'd gotten home. He knew he didn't drive, he didn't have a fucking car. Loki shrugs off his coat and sweater, bending over to pull off his boots. He remembered fighting with Steve though. Loki didn't even remember what had set him off…he already knew Steve was skeptical about their relationship, he could see it in his face and every time he apologized for the most ridiculous and slightest of things. He didn't mean to get upset but Steve belittling himself compared to Loki—that made him feel sick. Loki had started this silly ruse with the intentions of bringing Steve down to his level…but he was starting to feel like that would only spoil who Steve was. He liked feeling as if he was being kept on his toes for once and Steve seemed happy to oblige. But he was certainly not better than Steve. If anything Steve was a god compared to the sniveling treacherous snake that Loki was. He throws one of his boots at the wall and flops back onto the bed.

A clatter of something falling in the bedroom next to his makes Loki cringe. It was Baldur's room. No one was allowed in Baldur's room. If anything was out of place in Baldur's room it would drive Frigga insane. Loki stands and stumbles out into the hall. The door still had a large wooden 'B' on the front of it. Loki rolls his eyes. He jiggles the knob and frowns.

Locked. As if that had ever stopped him before.

He looks around the room and hums, settling himself down on the rug in the middle of the room. It looked as if nothing had changed. Loki hadn't been in here in some time, he'd expected to be similar but not to the point of nostalgia. The bed was neatly folded, toys were piled in the chest in the corner, there were pictures and knick-knacks all neatly aligned on the dresser, and tiny pairs of shoes were all lined up in a row in front of the closet. It was eerie how clean it smelled.

Loki looks up at all the pictures on the dresser and cocks his head. They seemed to be the only thing that seemed out of place. He recognized the frames but he didn't think they'd always been there. Loki pushes himself to his feet and wobbles over to the dresser. His eyes rest on the frame that had fallen over and seemed logically to be the culprit of the noise. He picks it up and looks over them. All of the pictures had Baldur in them—ones that had disappeared from the house a few weeks after his loss. At the time Loki had wondered where they'd gone. Frigga had obviously not been dealing with her grief in a healthy manner. Loki would have to remember that the next time she criticized him about going to talk to a counselor of some sort. He looks over the picture and sighs. Baldur had looked so much like her…but of course his personality matched Thor's in every way.

Deep down in his gut—just after Baldur was born—Loki had known he was different from the rest of them. He would've figured it out without finding all the paperwork by accident. His skin was too pale, his eyes and hair were too dark, the structure of his nose, the length of his face, the shape of his hands and feet—nothing about him bore any kind of similarity to the people who told him to call them "mom and dad." Then when he asked his innocent questions—ones he already knew the answers to—they lied to his face and reacted with offense.

"What are you doing in here?" Frigga flips on the light. She glares at Loki as he sets down the picture, crossing her arms. "I told you to be home at seven. Do you have any idea what time it is?"

Loki hums. "Do you clean in here?" He looks around the room and snorts. "I think you do. Do you actually come in here and clean when no one's home? That's a bit ridiculous, don't you think?" Frigga scowls at him. "Do you clean it by hand? Do you vacuum and everything? Amazing…I can't imagine you letting the maid in here though you'd have an aneurysm-"

She grabs the scuff of his shirt and pulls him out of the room, flicking off the lights and shutting the door. He shrugs her off with a sneer. "I told you…to be home at seven…do you have any idea how late I stayed up waiting for you? Why can't you answer your phone? Why can't you follow my simplest instructions?"

"Because they're boring?" Loki scoffs, wandering off down the hall. He yawns and stretches his arms. "If you're so upset about staying up late go to bed. What do I care? Quit instructing me to do things then…"

Frigga crosses her arms. "Excuse me?" He stops walking and lets out a groan, recognizing the tone in her voice. "I am the parent, Loki. If I tell you to be home at seven I damn well expect you to be home at seven. And you have no right to question me-"

Thor stumbles out of his room, rubbing his eyes. He yawns. "What's going on?"

Loki reels on him, baring his teeth. "This doesn't concern you, oaf."

"Leave your brother alone!" Frigga snaps. She sighs, placing a hand to her temple. "I'm getting so tired of your attitude, Loki, and I'm tired of staying up at night worrying about where you are…"

He rolls his eyes. "So don't. It's that simple. I don't see why you care so much anyways." He motions towards Baldur's room. "If anything would happen to me I don't exactly see you preserving my room like you've so meticulously done-"

"Loki…" Thor shakes his head with a frown. Loki bites his tongue.

Frigga's bottom lip trembles, her hands gripping the sleeves of her robe. She inhales a deep breath. "I don't understand…why you insist upon being…the dark horse of this family…" Her voice shakes as she speaks, carefully mulling over her words. "When you're the one who keeps digging yourself into your own unhappy existence. I have tried—I am trying—to keep you happy, to make you feel loved, to keep you safe and healthy with a roof over your head, but I cannot for the life of me comprehend what it is I'm doing wrong for you to still act as if everything I do is to shame you in some way."

Loki shrugs. "Hmm. Maybe you aren't trying hard enough." He turns from her to walk back to his room, Frigga grabbing his arm.

"We are not finished!" she scolds, stepping in between him and his door. Loki laughs bitterly and attempts to step around her.

"Well that's too bad because I'm going to bed."

"No, you are not! Because whether you like it or not we are going to have the conversation I had planned to have early tonight!"

Thor makes an uneasy noise. "Mum-"

She holds up her hand for him to be quiet. "Your principal called me to check in with how you've been doing in school-" Loki sighs and rolls his eyes, "-he said if you don't step up with your work that you're going to have to repeat this year." He stares blankly at her. "He said you're not going to class, you skip out of school, you don't participate in class, you're not turning in homework—you're failing US History, Loki. Failing it! Principal Fury said your teacher told him that you're turning in blank tests! You're going to be held back, Loki. If you don't make 'A's' from here on out your chances of graduating are severely jeopardized. Is that want you want? To be a high school drop out?"

"Oh…my God…" Loki laughs, raising his voice. "Who cares?!"

"I care!" Frigga yells back at him. "You've worked so hard in school, Loki, you always have! But at the rate you're going the only school that's going to take you is the community college on the edge of town!"

Loki scoffs and crosses his arms. "I'm not going to college."

Frigga's whole face turns white. Her mouth stretches into a thin line. The way her body pulled taut it looked as if she was trying to resist every instinct to slap some sense into her youngest son. Her words come out in a hiss. "Oh, yes, you are."

"No, I'm not. It's my decision, my life. Why should I spend another six, seven, twelve years in school only to end up in a dead end job that increases my chances for middle aged suicide?"

"Then we find you a school and an interest that will benefit you for the future, Loki!" Frigga's arms had dropped to her sides, her fists clenched and trembling. "I don't care…how long it takes…we're getting you through school and into a college that will help you get somewhere in life that's better than where you are now because I am sick and tired of waiting up at night for the hospital to call and tell me that you've OD'd at a party!" She takes a deep breath. "This evening I went in your room-" His face pales. "-and I removed all harmful substances I could find. That includes all the pill canisters, razor blades, cold medicines, cigarettes, and lighters."

"You went in my room."

"You can be angry at me for the mistakes I have made in the past and you can be angry at me right now all you want but I am no longer going to sit back while you waste your life away!"

"You went in my room?!"

Thor shifts nervously beside them.

"Yes, Loki. I'm sick of worrying about you and I'm sick of all these distractions and excuses that are preventing you from focusing on school like you should be-"

"You're not supposed to go in my room—I don't want you in my room!"

"Loki, that is beside the point! I understand if you're mad but you can't-"

"That's all I ask of you! All I ask is that you stay out of my room and you can't even do that!"

"Loki-"

"You preach to me about being so concerned for my well-being and trying to protect my interests when all you ever do is prove to me over and over again how little I really matter to you."

Frigga frowns. "Loki, that's not-"

"The only reason I don't want to be in that fucking school is because of how miserable I am! I'm tormented every day and I can't do anything about it because I'll only end up being the one who's punished! Why would I care about something that doesn't give a shit about me? Don't you dare tell me that the things you do are because you care when you're the one who put me back in that hellhole! You tell me you care about me but what proof do I have? You going through my things and a shrine for a son who's been dead nearly two years-"

Loki falls backward into the stairs and catches himself on the banister to keep from tumbling down them. Thor lowers his fist and steps in front of Frigga protectively. Loki lifts his hand to his face and touches his nose, making a small noise when the blood starts to dribble out of both nostrils. He looks up at both their faces and his heart and stomach both tighten in a sickening manner. Once again Frigga was expressing her deepest concerns and affections for him and all Loki had managed to do was spit on them as if they meant nothing to him.

"Thor-" Frigga whimpers, his arm preventing her from getting to her youngest. Loki looks away from them and pulls himself up, covering his nose with his hand and using the banister to keep his balance.

Thor turns to her and wraps his arm around her to guide her towards her room. "Go to bed, mum, it's late…I'm sorry I lost my temper…"

"Thor, no, I can't just leave him like this-" They turn back towards the stairs where Loki had been to find him no longer there. Frigga furrows her brow and looks in his room. "Loki?" The front door slams. Frigga lets out a shaky breath and runs down the stairs. "Loki!" She pulls open the front door and looks around, stepping out into the snow, Thor on her heels. Frigga looks around and covers her mouth, trying to take deep breaths. She couldn't see him. Not on the driveway, not in the yard, not out on the street… "Loki!"

The doorbell buzzes. At least Steve figured that's what it was…he didn't really have an explanation for what else it would be. He grabs for his phone to check the time and lets out an exasperated sigh. Four in the fucking morning…hopefully his mother hadn't heard it or else she'd wake the whole neighborhood to scold whoever decided to ring the fucking doorbell at fucking four in the morning.

He pushes himself up and yawns, pulling on a pair of pajama pants and a shirt. The doorbell buzzes again, followed by a loud series of knocks on the door, Steve swearing to himself and trying to get to the stairs as quietly and quickly as possible. If it was Bucky or Clint he swore he was going to punch them in the face. He was in no mood to deal with anyone. He'd spent a majority of the night anxiously pacing around his room and worrying about whether or not Loki was okay. He was mad, sure, and Loki's behavior wasn't acceptable but it didn't mean Steve wasn't going to worry about whether he was okay and whether or not someone was touching him when they shouldn't be. Steve slips on the stairs when the knocking starts up again, groaning when the hall light flickers on.

"Stevie…" she yawns, rubbing her eyes. "What's going on?"

"N-nothing, mama, it's okay." He gets up and clambers down the rest of the stairs. "I'll handle it, go back to bed."

She starts coming down the stairs behind him as he reaches the door. He peers through the peephole and furrows his brow, sighing.

"Who is it, Steve?"

"It's—don't worry about it, mama, I'll handle it. Go back to bed." Steve pulls on his galoshes and opens the door, stepping out onto the stoop before she has a chance to butt in. He frowns. Loki barely lifts his head. Steve knew it was him though…he could tell just from the frame of his body and the way his arms were crossed defensively. "Loki—it's nearly dawn…what do you want?"

Loki shakes his head, letting out a soft noise. The words choke in his throat. "I'm—I know you're mad and—I'm s-sorry about earlier…"

"Yeah, well, I can't do this right now, okay? You woke up my mother and to be honest I really don't want to do this right now."

"I—I am s-sorry though…n-nothing happened…"

Steve scowls. "Oh, you're sorry? You're sorry for worrying me or you're sorry for hopping into the back of another guy's car and flicking me off? If I upset you, fine, lash out at me all you want but don't treat me like I'm disposable." Loki's head droops down. "But I can't do this, okay? I'm exhausted and I can't think straight and I honestly can't so just, please-" His heart twists in his chest when Loki lets out a pitifully shaky breath that almost sounded like a sob. Steve could barely send him away without the thought of him crying on the way home. "Loki, don't—I'm mad, yes, but we'll be okay. I just can't do this this early in the morning. I'll drive you home if you-" He reaches out to take his shoulders and frowns. "Loki—are you not wearing a coat? Hang on…" Steve opens the door and flips on the overhead light, furrowing his brow.

Loki was trembling violently. He had on no coat, no shoes, and was starting to turn blue. Steve felt like his heart was going to fall out at the sight of him. There were streams of blood pouring out of his nose and a small split in his lip. The bridge of his nose and both eyes were starting to swell and blacken. He looked as if he'd been crying on his walk over.

"What happened to you?" Steve's chest tightens at the thought of someone hitting Loki without him being there to do anything. His tone darkens, wrapping an arm gently around Loki's shoulders and leading him inside. "Who did this?"

"I-I-I got in a fight, I—I was fighting with Frigga…"

His eyes widen. "Frigga did this to you?"

"Wh-what?" Loki scowls, still trembling. "N-no…st-stupid…"

"Right…Thor…Thor was—probably the more accurate assumption…" Loki stumbles on his way inside. Steve frowns and glances behind them to see spots of blood in Loki's footsteps. He scoops Loki up in a swift movement and carries him into the living room, placing him on the couch and wrapping a blanket around him. Steve wraps another one around his feet. Blood was still pouring out of his nose and showed no signs of stopping any time soon. "I'm going to get you some tissues, alright? I'll be right back."

Steve gives his arm a light squeeze and rubs his eyes, turning on the kitchen light. He jumps when his mother clears her throat and scowls at him. She takes a sip of her wine. Steve sighs, frowning. "Mama…isn't it way too early for you to be doing that?" He grabs a box of tissues and digs through the cabinets for a kettle, filling it with water and setting it on the stove to boil. Steve glances up when his mother holds the phone out to him.

"His mother, his father—I don't care who—needs to pick him up. Now."

He scowls at her. "He needs to calm down first, mama, I'm not sending him anywhere in the state he's in. Please—stop drinking and go back to bed. I'll take him home once he's settled." Steve catches her wrist and kisses the back of her hand. He takes the box of tissues to Loki who was curled up and shivering on the couch, letting out small noises that sounded like tiny sobs. Steve lifts Loki up just slightly and sits down, placing Loki's legs over his.

"Shhhhhh. Just take a deep breath, baby, you're going to be okay," Steve forces out a small smile, rubbing Loki's legs soothingly. "I started a pot of tea for you, it'll be ready soon."

"Th-thank you…" Loki sniffles, wiping his eyes. He uses some of the tissues to clean the blood off his face, holding some more against his nose. Steve gently touches the bone between his eyes, Loki flinching as he prods it.

"Well…it's not broken so I guess that's a good thing."

Loki nods. Steve of course had a handful of questions to ask, things he needed to know, the most prominent being why Loki had come to him. Darcy would've been the obvious choice…why him? If Loki was mad at him why would he want Steve to see him in this state? Vulnerable—no masks, no shields of any kind, just the shame and pain that came from the aftermath of fighting with both Steve and apparently Frigga. Loki rests his head on Steve's shoulder and shudders out another small sob.

"So…" Steve bites his lip, shifting to wrap one arm around Loki's shoulders. "Do you want to talk about it? I mean—I hate seeing you this upset…I'm not sure I have seen you this upset…" Loki hums, curling into him and still trembling as his body attempts to warm up.

"I don't-" Steve furrows his brow, leaning in to listen. Loki's voice was coming out as barely a whisper. "I don't want you thinking you're not worth my time, Rogers…" Steve opens his mouth to argue, Loki letting out a yawn and continuing. "Especially when—when someone like you…falls for—someone like me…I'm not—not worth the effort…"

Steve sighs, rubbing his legs as Loki starts to nod off. It seemed as if that was all Steve was going to get out of him for now. "I'll drive you home soon, okay?"

"So you haven't seen him?" Frigga wrings the phone cord in her trembling hand. She was pacing around the kitchen as if the motion would clear her head of her anxieties. "You're sure he's not at your house?" There's a pause, the voice on the other line slurring together their words out of exhaustion and most likely frustration. Frigga sighs, biting her lip. "I know, I know, I'm not—I'm not saying you would, I'm saying he'd tell you to…" There's a pause. "Alright. Alright…okay, alright. Alright. Give me a call if he turns up. Thank you, Darcy…"

She hangs up the phone and lets out a little sob. It had been an hour—maybe two? Frigga wasn't even sure. All she could think about was Loki's face as he scrambled to his feet and ran out of the house. Their arguments were still ringing in her ears. She'd called everyone she could think of…Darcy, a few of Thor's friends, even Odin… He was sympathetic but of course advised she should call the police. Frigga didn't want to do that though. She could tell from the glazed look in Loki's eyes that he'd done a few more things than drink and she didn't know if when the police found him if they'd bring him home or lock him up for the night for being under the influence. The front door opens and Frigga holds her breath, walking quickly towards the foyer. Thor closes the door and sits down to pull off his boots.

"A-anything?"

He shakes his head. Frigga lets out another sob, shuffling into the living room and sitting down on the couch, burying her face into her hands. Thor hangs up his coat and scarf. He hovers over her, rubbing her back with a frown. "Mum, he'll turn up. He always does…" Thor pauses. "Besides—even he couldn't stand this cold for too long. He doesn't have a coat and I'm not even sure he had shoes on…he couldn't have gotten far."

Frigga covers her mouth with her hands and takes a deep breath. What could she have done differently? She'd done everything wrong but how could she have fixed it? She didn't know. Thor continues to rub her back soothingly as she trembles with both anxiety and frustration.

"You checked the gas stations?" she mumbles against her hand. "The grocery store? Were there any bars or restaurants open he could've gone into?"

"Just McDonalds…but they said they hadn't seen him…"

She whimpers. "I shouldn't have gone in his room…I knew he'd be upset with me if I did and I did it anyway and worse I went through his things, I—I shouldn't have—I should've just let him be…"

Thor furrows his brow. "Mum-"

"I push him too hard, I should know better than to push, when I push he just pushes back…"

"Mum…you can't just let him do whatever he wants though. If you do that he just walks all over you and—I know you think it's easier to just let him," Thor sighs, giving her shoulder a squeeze. "But once he knows he can do that it's harder to get him to stop."

"But I—I don't want him upset with me…seeing the way he looks at me when he gets like that just—it breaks my heart, Thor, I can't handle it…" she looks up at the clock and whimpers again. "You're sure he wasn't at any of the gas stations? Anywhere?"

He sighs. "No, mum, I didn't see him…"

Frigga stands, walking briskly towards the kitchen and wringing her hands. "I'm calling the police."

"Mum-" Thor turns his head to watch her. "They're not going to do anything until he's been missing 48 hours…maybe more considering his age…"

"Then what do you suggest I do?" she snaps. "Have you drive around looking for him at all hours of the morning? Call every police station in the city to see if they have him in holding? Call all the hospitals to see if anyone dropped him off?" She laughs dryly, wiping her eyes. "Maybe I should call your father again, ask if he'll drive around the city, that'll play over well…" Thor frowns. "I can't sit around here waiting for a call, I'll go insane, and it won't be the call I'm hoping for-"

The phone rings and her heart jumps in her chest. Thor climbs over the couch. Frigga grabs for the receiver, Thor grabbing the receiver in the other room. She bites her lip, hand clenching and twisting the cord, her voice cracking as it escapes her throat.

"H-hello?"

Steve pulls all the way into the driveway and parks the truck, glancing at Loki curled up in the passenger seat next to him. His nose had stopped bleeding and the tea had helped to settle him and warm him up but he'd fallen into a deep sleep and Steve couldn't wake him. He'd spoken with Frigga on the phone and she sounded to be in hysterics so Steve offered to drive him home as soon as he could. Steve didn't really want to be involved though. He couldn't help but feel Loki had unintentionally dragged him into a mess that Steve was going to be embarrassed about witnessing first-hand. Then again…Steve glances at Loki and sighs. Dating him proved to be an invitation into all of Loki's other messy relationships.

He climbs out of the truck with a sigh and opens the passenger side to pick up Loki who was still wrapped up in a blanket. Loki hums and curls into Steve with a little sigh. Steve wasn't sure he liked seeing Loki without all his masks…it almost felt—unnatural to see him in such a relaxed state. He carries him to the door, Frigga opening it before he has a chance to knock.

"Hi, Mrs. Odinson," Steve forces out with a smile.

She lets out a relieved noise, placing a hand over her heart. "Oh, thank God…" Frigga steps aside for Steve to carry him in. "Is he alright? Is he hurt?" She follows him closely, Steve hesitating and looking around when he reaches the living room.

"Uhh—should I just-?"

"Oh! Yes, yes, of course, just put him on the couch he'll be alright there…"

Loki mumbles when Steve lays him down gently, rolling over to curl into himself. Frigga sits down on the ottoman beside him and strokes his hair. Steve bites his lip. He looks around the room, covering his mouth when he yawns. It was too early for him. And he had to drive to Pennsylvania the next day for Christmas which he was looking forward to but also…not looking forward to. He didn't want his mother fighting with everyone again and starting needless drama.

"Here you go, mum."

Steve lifts his head to the sound of Thor's voice as he hands Frigga a coffee, giving Steve a small smile.

"Thank you, love," she sighs, taking a sip of it and setting it on the end table. "Why don't you go to bed, darling, we have to start packing tomorrow."

Thor nods. He gives her shoulder a squeeze and walks up to Steve, giving him a fist bump and receding towards the stairs. Thor didn't seem very shaken up but Steve could see it. The way his shoulders were slumped, the way he glanced over his shoulder when he reached the top of the stairs—he wanted an excuse to stay. Him not staying made Steve feel as though he shouldn't either. He was intruding now and it was making him anxious.

He attempts to come up with a proper goodbye when Frigga lets out a shaky sob. Steve's heart drops. Now it felt wrong of him for wanting to leave.

She cries silently to herself, sniffling every so often as Steve stands off awkwardly to the side. She uses one of her hands to shield her face. Steve wasn't sure he'd seen her so disheveled before. Even when he slept over he'd wake up to find her beaming like the sun—something Thor had obviously inherited from her. Frigga—right now—looked exhausted. There were black smudges around her eyes from where she hadn't removed her mascara and her whole face was flushed from crying. Some of her curlers had come undone—a few partially dangling from their roots while others were simply gone. Her robe wasn't fully closed and was drooping off her shoulders, revealing the little bit of silk underneath.

They both jump when the phone rings. Frigga sighs, wiping her eyes with her hands and standing to reach the phone. "Hello?" She sighs, placing a hand on her temple. "No, no, we found him, he's alright…" Steve turns away shyly to give her a moment to herself, looking around the room. "He's fine, he's sleeping." She lowers her voice and places a hand on her hip. "You're asking if you should come home? Is that really what it's come down to?" Frigga laughs dryly. "God forbid I take you away from your work, it's only five in the morning… Yes, I needed you at home, I needed you at home hours ago while I was in hysterics but your seventeen-year-old son filled in for you."

Loki stirs on the couch. He rolls onto his other side and blinks, using the blanket to rub his eyes. "Mmm…mama?" Frigga makes a small noise and bites her lip, looking down at him.

"Shhh, love, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you-" Frigga runs a hand over his hair and Loki settles. "I'm—no, I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow." She hangs up the phone and covers her face with her hands, taking a deep breath. Frigga sits back down and continues stroking Loki's hair. She sighs. "I can't imagine what you must think of me…"

Steve blinks. She hadn't addressed him in so long he'd thought she didn't even know he was still there.

"Ma'am?"

She attempts to laugh, looking down at her lap. Her bottom lip quivers ever so slightly. "You must think I'm such a terrible mother…him showing up at your house the way he was…" Frigga wrings her hands together, whimpering. "Things always get so out of hand when I confront him about things…and I shouldn't have so late—early?" she sighs. "I ask him for a simple task, I ask him directly and without any leverage, just like my parenting books say I should do but he—he views it as a challenge. All I want is for him to grow up and find something that makes him happy, get away from all the negativity he's built here but he doesn't—he doesn't want to get better…" Frigga buries her face into her hands. "And the moment I raise my voice he raises his and—and then Thor becomes confrontational…and I of course let it happen. I allowed it to get to that point and I just—I'm in over my head. I have no idea what I'm doing anymore and I'm doing a terrible job of it."

Frigga sobs into her hands. Her shoulders shudder with each little noise and Steve frowns. He picks up a box of tissues from the other end table and holds it out to her.

"…I don't think that."

She looks up at him, accepting the box of tissues and sniffling as she wipes her eyes.

"Look, Mrs. Odinson…" Steve smiles lightly, shuffling his feet. "I don't think you're a bad mom. I just think you have too much love to give…and maybe sometimes it's not exactly what he needs. Being a parent isn't just about giving him everything he wants and making it easy for him, it's about supporting him through his mistakes and giving him what he needs even if he doesn't want it." He shrugs. "That's just my opinion though…" Steve bites his lip. He wasn't doing such a great job with Loki either if he thought about it. Then again—Loki twisted everything in his head to create a scenario in which he's the victim. There was no winning there. "I'm the reason he was late, tonight…I didn't know you wanted him home though but either way…it was my fault."

"Oh, no, no, no, no," Frigga furrows her brow, taking his hand and giving it a squeeze. "You can't blame yourself for his negligence, love, I'm sure he didn't even tell you that he-"

"We got in a fight. He misconstrued what I'd said and he got upset and made me the bad guy and I—I got upset too…"

"Steven…Loki doesn't—he seems to like you…Thor said you two have been spending more and more time together and I think it's been so long since Loki's made a friend that he's a little unsure of himself and becomes defensive. I'm not saying he can't be blamed for reacting irrationally but-" Frigga watches him thoughtfully in a moment's silence, looking back at Loki when he mumbles in his sleep. She sighs, chuckling to herself. "You're a very intelligent young man…and I'm glad both my boys have made friends with you." She stands, smiling and pulling him into a hug. Frigga pulls away and brushes some hair out of his face. "It's early. You're welcome to stay and sleep for a few hours before you head home."

Steve smiles shyly. "No, that's alright…my mom wanted me home right away…" She links her arm with his and walks with him towards the door. Somewhere in his sleep deprived mind a thought drifted into his head. Steve chews anxiously on his lip, hesitating when they reach the door. "Umm—Mrs. Odinson?" She turns to him with an exhausted smile. He wanted to tell her. He wanted to tell her that he and Loki were secretly dating and he wanted to turn to her to ask for advice whenever Loki got upset and maybe they could do that vice versa but the words stuck to the back of his throat. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, love," Frigga gives Steve's hand a little pat, pecking his cheek. "Thank you for bringing him home…and I suppose if I don't see you before we leave, have a Happy New Year."