A/N: Thank you dearest readers for staying with this story, and many hugs and thanks to everyone who reviews! You all really keep me going.

Seds

Tony headed down the hall at a speedy pace, but as he approached the entryway to the living area, he came to an abrupt stop. He figured dealing with Loki had already used up about 99.9 per cent of his viable brain cells, and meeting with Cap was most likely going to require some fancy mental footwork. So, he took a moment to breathe deep, get focused, and put on his best game face before striding in with a totally fake bounce in his step and a broad, nearly-sincere grin on his lips. "H-e-e-e-y, Steve! Steve-o! Welcome back! Bring me anything?" Tony made a beeline for Steve, arms outstretched.

Captain Steve Rogers was standing straight and tall by the huge plate-glass window, staring out into the city. He had his shield on his back, and was wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and a worn tan leather jacket. He turned at Tony's greeting and just managed to deflect the intended bear hug into a half hearty-pat-on-the-back, half handshake.

"Hey, Tony. No, sorry—no gift shops where I've been." He gave Tony a rueful smile and stepped back, regaining a bit of his personal space.

Tony nodded knowingly. "Gotcha. Well, you okay, man? Want something to drink? You hungry...?"

"No, no, I'm fine. I spent all morning with Fury, and then I stopped to have lunch with Natasha on my way over here." He gazed out the window a moment before adding, "She told me about Hawkeye and Selvig. Hell of a thing, huh?"

"Oh, shit, yeah. It's rough. But, Thor's on it. They'll be all right."

"I hope so." There was a long pause in which both men studied the floor. Then, Steve gave Tony an appraising once over. "And... I heard about Loki."

Tony's head popped up like a prairie dog. "Yeah?" he said a little more sharply than he intended. "What about him?"

"Is he here?"

"Who wants to know?"

"Aw, come on, Tony. Don't play games. I know he's here—he lives here, right?"

"I do," came a silky purr from the doorway. Loki was standing propped against the door frame, arms crossed, his hair a bed-ravaged wonder. He was wearing one of Tony's too-tight t-shirts and it hugged his torso, failing to cover his slightly protruding belly. A pair of plaid pajama bottoms hung precariously just below it, lending a sort of pregnant sex-kitten air to the lanky mischief-god's appearance.

Steve blinked.

Tony swallowed hard.

Loki grinned as he walked, hips shifting suggestively. He stopped in front of Steve and gave him a green-eyed all-consuming stare. "You're looking well, Captain. Much better than the last time I saw you."

Steve awkwardly cleared his throat. "Well... I could say the same about you. I guess everything, uh, healed up okay? You know, after the green guy..."

Loki laughed. "Oh, yes. I'm in fine physical shape these days." He ran a hand over his stomach. "We both are, so far as I know." His eyes narrowed and he jutted his chin towards Steve's shield. "And, I intend to stay that way. So, no need for that, if you don't mind."

Their eyes were locked on each other for a long moment, and then Steve pulled the shield from his back and propped it against the side of the couch. "I didn't come here to cause trouble."

"Which brings up a great question—why are you here? Really, I mean." Tony couldn't help feeling a little left out—Steve and Loki seemed to have forgotten he was even the room, they were eying each other so intently.

"Couple of things. One, I guess I just, uh, had to see this for myself." He gestured from Tony to Loki and back again. "Kind of hard to believe, you know? You two being a couple. I—"

"Yeah, well," Tony said, bristling. "A lot's changed since your time, old man. Gay people walk around in broad daylight now, no pretending to be something they're not. We can get married. We're main characters on TV shows, for chris'sakes. So, sorry to freak you out, but that's how it is—get used to it." Tony put an arm around Loki and pulled him close. He knew it was unnecessary to underline his words, but damn it, Loki was still staring a little too interestedly at Steve, and Tony figured it wouldn't hurt to remind him of who, exactly, it was that had just rocked his world, and—

"You think that bothers me?" Steve asked, frowning. "Let me tell you something. If there's one thing I learned from the war, it's that there are a lot of things people make a big deal about that just don't matter. Things like skin color, where you're from, how you worship, who you love—things like that don't make a damn bit of difference. What matters is, when you're in battle? When the chips are down and lives are on the line? What matters is that you're fighting for the same thing. And that's the real reason I'm here." Steve took a step closer to Loki, and Tony felt him tense against him. "I want to shake your hand." Steve thrust out his hand to Loki, arm fully extended.

"I, uh... What?" The mild sneer Loki had been sporting morphed into a befuddled expression, which kind of made Tony's heart sing. It wasn't often he got to see his boyfriend knocked off his pins by somebody showing him honest respect, and he really, really liked it.

Steve smiled. "You took your punishment for what you did, and now you're turning your life around. It takes a lot of guts to do that. And, Fury told me what you did on Trondheim—risking your life to save our planet. That's a hero in my book. So, I just wanted to say 'thank you' in person, and let you know I'm in your corner." Steve's hand remained outstretched.

Loki licked his lips, buying himself some time, but before he could gather his snarky wits about him, he blurted out, "Hero? I'm hardly that. Believe me, if it hadn't been for Tony showing me there could be something more in my life than anger and hatred—" Loki cast an emotional glance at Tony. "...things might have gone in a very different direction. Very different. It's him you should be thanking."

"You're not giving yourself enough credit. Sure, we all need someone to believe in us, but you're the one that made it happen. And, I thank you for that." Steve had lowered his hand, but now he offered it again, standing steadfast as he waited for Loki to respond.

There seemed to be a wrestling match going on in Loki's mind, but at last he firmly grasped Steve's hand and Tony watched them shake, wondering if the roof would cave in just from the sheer freakiness of it all.

Loki had been pushing aside thoughts of Barton and Selvig ever since he and Tony had returned home, but now the image of Barton's face twisted in anguish came back to him, and he wondered how much of a thank-you Rogers would have given him if he'd seen that for himself. But, he rather liked getting a vote of confidence from Captain America and decided to accept it for what it was worth. "Well... You're welcome," Loki said at last.

Steve's smile deepened and then he went to pick up his shield. "All right. Listen guys, I've been up 48 hours straight, I kind of need to go home and get some sleep. It's good to see you, Tony. And Loki, I hope things stay on the right path for you. Oh, and—" He indicated Loki's tummy. "Sounds like the two of you are headed for a big adventure. Congratulations. I'm excited for you."

Tony glanced at Loki's bump and then gave Steve a quizzical look. "So, this doesn't freak you out or anything? A dude with a bun in the oven?"

The rueful expression returned to Steve's face. "I've seen some stuff, Tony. I'm not saying it didn't take me a minute to wrap my head around this, but in the big picture? This isn't the weirdest thing I've come across. And, it's nice to come across a happy weird thing for a change. Congrats again, and best of luck. Can't wait to meet the little one." He tipped an invisible hat and then headed out the door.

Loki sighed tiredly, and Tony pulled him into his arms and rubbed his back soothingly. "So, on a scale of one to ten, how jealous should I be right now? I'm feeling kind of eleven-ish."

Loki chuckled into Tony's neck. "He's a decent fellow and his ass looks splendid in Spandex, but I'm all yours, Stark. I'd say a minus one is about right."

Tony was just formulating a comeback to that when a bank of black clouds rolled across the sun. A violent flash of lightening tore through the sky outside of the picture window and a second later, thunder rumbled through the tower. Loki groaned. "Oh, good. I was afraid things were about to get dull."

"Hey, it's okay. Maybe big brother has good news."

"That is a spectacularly rare occurrence, but all right. Let's see what he has to say."

Loki stepped back, prepared for Thor to come barreling through the door, but instead Steve darted back in. "Hey, sorry, but it sounds like something's going on up on the roof. I thought maybe I should stick around for a minute, just in case."

Tony shrugged. "It's fine. Point Break's coming back from Asgard with some kind of hoo-doo potion thingy to get Selvig and Barton back from the ha-ha hotel, but sure. The more the merrier, I always say."

The thud of heavy boots followed right behind Steve, and Thor lumbered in with a tight expression on his face. He brightened at the sight of Steve. "Captain Rogers! Excellent. I have need of you." Thor pulled Steve out of the room and Loki and Tony watched as the thunder god spoke in a furtive tone to the Captain. Steve's brow wrinkled and he gave Thor a puzzled look, but he nodded and turned to head down the hallway toward the elevator. Thor then came back and strode over to Tony.

"Friend Stark, I would have a word with you in private." He glanced at Loki. "Perhaps while my brother troubles himself with getting properly dressed."

Loki snarled. "Oh, no. No. I'm sick of being shuffled off to a remote chamber while people talk about me behind my back!" he snapped. "What do you think I'm going to do, rain a plague of toads upon the land? Whatever you have to say to Tony, you can say to me. I don't care how bad it is, I can handle it."

Thor's worried expression faded and he gave Loki a gentle smile. "It's not bad, Loki. It's just a bit... unnerving. I thought it might behoove us to have Tony help me deliver the news."

Now Loki was looking angry and puzzled. "Unnerving? Tell me what is going on immediately, or once I have my seidr back, I'll turn you into a very fetching female bilgesnipe, one with lots of suitors, and—"

Thor heaved a big sigh and put his hand up defensively. "All right, all right, but you must take care not to become overwrought."

"Overwr—" Loki made an exasperated sound. "Don't tell me—you couldn't find a way to help Barton and Selvig."

"No, no! I did. It's just that, it required bringing along some... visitors."

"Visitors."

"Yes. Mother is here—"

Loki's scowl softened. "Mother? Well, that's good."

"Yes, but there are two others."

The scowl returned. "Not Odin and one of his entourage, surely."

"No. I brought..." Thor couldn't quite put the words together and he looked helplessly at Tony, who gave him an uncertain but encouraging nod.

"It's okay, big guy, spit it out."

Thor took a breath and went to stand before Loki in order to look him in the eye. "I brought with me Queen Farbauti of Jotunheim, and her mage."

Not a muscle in Loki's face moved, but his stare could have boiled Thor's eyeballs in their very sockets. "Jotunheim," he hissed at last. He broke his gaze and glanced at Tony, shaking his head as if amused. "So, Jotunheim is now ruled by a female. How progressive of them. How did this come to be?" He looked back at Thor, one eyebrow raised in genuine curiosity.

"The Queen assumed the throne when her husband—died." Thor studied his younger brother's face, wishing he'd brought his mother downstairs with him instead of leaving her on the roof to keep their guests company. She was so much better at this sort of thing than he. It was clear by Loki's uncomprehending expression that Thor hadn't sufficiently made his point. In a grave tone he added, "She's... Laufey's widow."

"His widow." Loki stood glaring, his hands on his hips, knowing that, in his usual clumsy way, Thor was getting at something—something awful, probably—but his brain seemed have clicked off in self-defense. When he continued not to react, Thor grasped Loki's shoulders and said, "Yes, his widow. Loki, don't you see? Farbauti is your birth mother."

And, Loki's brain didn't like that at all."Fuck..." he spat, his face contorting in rage. "Why would you do this, you great doddering idiot? How dare you? If you imagine for one moment that I would willingly allow her to stand before me, you are utterly delusional." Loki's breath was coming rapidly and his hands were clenched in tight fists. "Why did you bring her here? What business has she with all this?"

Thor spoke as soothingly as he knew how. "She wants to meet you, brother. It's part of our bargain—"

"Bargain? Oh, lovely. How amusing for her! To meet the pathetic creature she sent off to die on a fucking block of ice—"

"No, Loki." Frigga's warm voice wafted through the room and the Allmother swiftly glided to her younger son's side. "I'm so sorry, I know this is a tremendous shock to you. I would have done anything to make it easier for you, but Thor says your mortal friend's life is in peril and there simply isn't time, so please listen. Farbauti had nothing to do with Laufey's actions. She thought you died at birth, she grieved for you—"

Loki's eyes narrowed in a scornful sneer. "You believe that?"

"Yes."

"Has it not occurred to you that the creature who birthed the God of Lies might be lying to you?"

"It has—but I believe her. She's come here in good faith. All she wants is to see you, and to tell you her story herself. For this, she will have her mage break the bond between you and the sufferers, and then they will be back to normal."

"Please, brother," Thor said quietly.

Loki seemed a little calmer, but his eyes were snapping fire and he slowly shook his head. "When I completed my treatment on Asgard, I was told I could start my life anew. And yet, it seems I am to be forever punished. Why is it so difficult for you to understand? I don't want this. Even if I did, it's pure folly. She's tricking you, she's manipulating you both for her own entertainment, and by the gods, I won't be used like that."

Thor fought to hold down a burst of frustration. "We don't have time for your unfounded suspicions, brother. Selvig is getting weaker. He—"

"I don't care!" Loki's voice was becoming raw as his anger dissolved into hot crushing pain. "This isn't fair! I don't want to see her, she's nothing to me! You're my mother!" he shouted to Frigga. The words reverberated in the large, open room until he repeated, "You're my mother," so softly, so brokenly, that only she could make them out.

Frigga hastened to wrap her arms around him and smooth back his hair as she made soft shushing noises in his ear. "Of course I'm your mother, love. I always will be. And, meeting Farbauti will not change that." Frigga held her son for a long moment before pulling back and laying her hand along the side of his face. "But, she did give birth to you—and, she lost you before she could even lay eyes on you. Can you imagine what that must be like? To carry a babe inside you, to feel him moving, and then to have him gone forever, without ever getting to see him, to hold him? Think how that would wound your soul." Frigga looked deeply into Loki's tear-filled eyes. "Please, Loki. It will be all right. You won't regret it."

Loki blinked back the tears. He'd tried so hard for so long not to think of this possibility. It had crept into his thoughts, of course. He'd known perfectly well that having rid the world of Laufey had eliminated only half of the... the monsters that had conceived him. But he'd managed to convince himself that he'd never have to confront the other one, and now, here she was, on Midgard, among his family. Imperiously demanding to meet him, as if it were her domain to rule.

It was almost more than he could bear.

He angrily swiped at his eyes and drew himself up straight. "I've hated her from the moment I learned she existed. I can't stand the thought of even looking at her. Do you really expect me to just stand there and... take it?"

Tony came to stand beside Loki. "I'll be right here with you, babe."

"And I, as well," Thor said firmly.

"She means you no harm, Loki. She simply wants to complete a circle. You can understand that, can't you?" Frigga squeezed Loki's hand. "You've been so strong, my love. Be strong again, for the others' sake. It's the only way to help them."

Exhaustion overcame Loki and he felt himself sway as his knees threatened to give out. Tony quickly slid an arm around his waist and guided him to the couch. "Come on, slugger. If she gives you one speck of trouble, ol' Thor here'll pop her with his magic hammer—right?" It occurred to Tony that he had absolutely no idea whether Mjolnir would actually work against a Jotun queen, but he glanced back at Thor and saw him nodding enthusiastically.

"That most certainly will not be necessary," Frigga said dryly. "If things take a wrong turn, we will protect you, my love. But they won't. I give you my word as the Allmother." She sat down beside her son. "It's the right thing to do."

The tension in the room hung heavily as everyone watched Loki wrap his arms around himself and stare blankly at the floor. At last, he drew in a shaky breath and gave a slight nod. "Fine. Bring her to me," he said gruffly. "Let's get it over with."

"I'll return momentarily," Thor said, relief palpable in his voice as he hurried to the door. "Put on some clothes!" he yelled on his way out, and Loki irritably rolled his eyes before getting up to go do just that.