I know this is late, and I know it's short. I'm sorry about that. I just figured posting something was better than posting nothing. I have a good portion of the next chapter written, so hopefully I can get that up before another six month hiatus.

John Winchester loved his sons. He loved them so much that he agreed to follow Odin for eternity so they wouldn't have to.

His solace was that he would be able to see the future generations of Winchesters bloom and flourish over the centuries. He was happy with that idea. He figured if he couldn't love them and care for them the way he wanted, then he would at least be able to keep their children safe. He just thought that he'd have to start worrying about that in the future, not now. Not this generation. He figured his sacrifice should have bought Sam, Dean and Adam at least a lifetime of happy endings.

"You are my most loyal, are you not, John?" Odin asked. "And it is for this reason that I give you leave to do what you like. Because I know you will return to me."

"Vater, toy not with the human," Thor said, scowling slightly. His red hair was done in thick braids under his winged helmet, his beard also neatly combed and plaited. They were apparently celebrating tonight. Either that, or Sif had grown tired of her husband's bedraggled appearance.

Next to Thor, one of his goats was happily chewing on an apple core.

"My lord Thor," John said, his voice even and calm, "The Allfather is correct. I am his most trusted servant."

Thor grunted in reply and filled a bowl of mead for his other goat. "I like not what this fairy has done with thy family, John Winchester. I give you my blessing, as the protector of humanity, to do what you must with it."

"Well, I have already given John leave, my son," Odin proclaimed proudly. "My blood-brother Loki has beseeched me on his behalf, though I was not aware that John and he were intimates."

Odin's eye was sharply roving over John, and for a moment, the Hunter held his breath. Odin and Loki had a strained relationship. They were contemporaneous gods, and had been close in their youth. Then they had gone down separate paths. Loki's love of chaos did not mesh well with Odin's hard-won wisdom and strong sense of kingly duty. If John were perceived to be sympathetic, or Odin-Forbid, friendly with Loki, it would not bode well for John.

"No one was more surprised than me when I found that Loki had gone to you on my behalf, my lord," John told the god, his head bowed in supplication. "I have rarely had occasion to speak with him, though it appears that he owes my eldest son a favor. I believe that is what prompted him to speak on my family's behalf. Not for me, but for Dean."

The Allfather ruminated this for a moment while Thor continued to feast his goats.

"Your son makes deals with Loki?" Odin asked after several minutes of silence. "The Trickster. Lover of Chaos."

"If Loki's ends are served, Father, he will not double cross. Remember Sleipnir?"

Odin "humphed" deep in his throat. "Ah, yes. Loki has been known to suit his own needs. But even my horse is a backfired plan. Loki tricked a man's stallion by disguising himself as a mare, and he was left to reap the consequences. If Loki helps the son of Winchester, who will those consequences then fall to? And what will they be?"

John tried to keep his blood from running cold. "I have accepted all consequences for my sons," he reminded Odin.

"But you have no bargain with Loki," Odin reminded him. "Your bargain lies with me. Your son is the one who bargained with the Trickster."

John Winchester wasn't quite sure what to make of Odin's speech. The god "saw" far at times. He wished desperately to press him, to insist on knowing what would happen to Dean if he continued in his deal with Loki, but Odin was clearly not going to say a word. He had made enough concessions for John Winchester and his sons. This much he had made clear.

}O{

Loki was rarely ever surprised. The presence of one Hunter, John Winchester, at his door, however, surprised him. Deeply.

"Does Odin know you are here?" he asked, too incredulous for any sort of greeting.

John shook his head. "I only wish for a minute, sir."

Loki looked the man up and down. "Oh? Only a minute?" He consulted his watch with one eyebrow raised high.

John sighed. "Loki…I do not wish to banter, I mean a figurative minute, not a literal one, as you well know."

Loki smirked and opened his door wide. "Come on in, John. Mi casa es…whatever. What can I do you for?"

John stepped in only to the foyer. Apparently he didn't really wish to stay very long after all. "This deal you made with Dean, Loki. Regarding the killing of Azazel. It's not going to…I don't know…curse my family in some way is it?"

Loki scoffed. "You read too many Eddas, John. That whole Niebelungd thing got way blown out of proportion."

"You started it by killing Ottr!" John insisted.

Gabriel waved him off. "He was asking for it, that big bag of dicks. The Eddas never talk about that!"

John's look suddenly turned desperate. "Loki, I am sacrificing eternal peace to keep my son's safe! I can't risk that this one deal between you and Dean is going to take all that away from me!"

"Hey, hey, John-boy," Loki said, his voice suddenly soft with concern. He had no idea John felt so deeply. He always seemed like more of a hammer than that. "Hey, I didn't make a deal with Dean!" he put a hand on John's shoulder and patted him gently. "Dean and I just came to a mutual understanding. Neither of us is giving anything up for the other, no handshake was transacted. Nothing is going to happen to me or Dean because of our understanding. Nothing."

John let out a huge breath and sank against the wall. "Thank goodness." He stood there for several minutes, letting the wall hold him up, and then he turned to the door. "I've already overstayed. I hope Odin won't notice I have been here."

"He won't hear it from me, bro," Loki promised. "But John…there is one way out of your endless torment. You know that, don't you?"

"Then my deal with Odin would be void. He could take my sons."

Loki shook his head. "Not if you die in glorious battle, John. I'm not saying you're going to. I'm just saying it's an option."

John gulped. "And my offspring?"

"If you were waiting in Valhalla for Ragnarok, technically speaking, you would still be a warrior of Odin. Your deal would still stand."

"I would need to die in battle," John said.

"Yes, but that's not hard, is it? You battle all day long."

"The most glorious death would be in battle," John said, nodding. "For Odin, of course."

Loki smiled slowly. "Of course! All for the Allfather."

"Huh," John hummed. "Thank you, Loki."

Loki winked. "Any time, John. Well, not any time," he amended. "Uh…how's about we just never talk again if we can help it?"

John nodded. "Agreed."