Author's Note: So happy New Year people! Posting this as soon as possible for the new year for you night people who like to stay up late. I guess you'll see it first. Happy 2015 and enjoy!

Loki sighed as Frigga brough him tea. Again. He kept telling her that he didn't need it and that it was too hot for him to drink, but, yet she persisted. He had no choice but to wait for the beverage to cool off before drinking it.

It had been a three weeks since they had found him suffering in the dungeons and removed the chains. Two of the men who had done the crime had been found and executed. They had yet to find the other two. Even so, Loki still worried that Tony and the others had gone in his stead to find the children. It still worried him that they had been gone for such a lengthy time and had not returned yet. Frigga insisted that there was no need to worry. He forced himself to relax.

The children were going to be saved. Everything was going to be fine.

2 weeks ago

Thor took a deep breath. He was sure he hadn't heard his companions correctly. "All of them?" the god asked. Bruce nodded. Thor groaned and covered his face with his hands.

"How many?" he asked. Tony removed his helmet and ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know...a lot. Maybe around 300? It was just...a lot." he said. Thor shook his head. "All of them?" the god asked again. Bruce nodded. "It's kinda hard to look at." he warned. Tony nodded in agreement. "I can't believe anyone would do that to children." the inventor said. Thor placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I can. If we had known that it had been an ally of Thanos that had taken the children, we would have suspected that they would not be alive." He paused, listening to the quiet around them.

"How do you think Loki will take it?" Bruce asked. Thor shook his head. "He is still recovering. I fear the stress of the situation would not be good for him." the god answered. Steve crossed his arms over his chest.

"So we're not going to tell him?" the captain asked. Tony shook his head. "I know this seems wrong, but, he's not stable enough to handle this yet. He hasn't even gotten his magic back. At least that's what your mom said the last time I spoke to her." Thor frowned.

"You have spoken to my mother? When was this?" Thor demanded. Tony pulled a small shiny object from a compartment in his suit. "She gave this to me just before we left. Told me not to say anything until we'd found the kids and were returning. I was just doing what she asked." Thor took the glass and turned it over in his hand.

"This is Loki's." he said. Tony raised an eyebrow, taking it back. "Really? Well I'll just make sure he gets it back then." Thor nodded and urged him to lead on.

When they got to the clearing, Tony hung back a bit, waving them on. Bruce stayed with him.

"How long to you think they've been here?" they heard Steve ask. Thor sighed. "I cannot be sure. Perhaps a week. No less than that I'd say." The men returned to the others. "We must return to Asgard and aquire more men to assist us with the removal of the bodies." the god declared. Tony groaned. "Do you really think Odin will let us burrow a whole group of men when he wouldn't even send two to even go through the portal to look in the first place?" he asked. Thor shook his head.

"If Njord should discover that we have kept from him these findings, there may be a war with Vanaheim. At the very least there will be no communications with the Vanir for a few centuries. It is only right that the children are returned to their parents. It is only right that they alone put their children to rest." Tony sighed. "Ok. But you're the one who's going to ask him." Thor nodded, a small smile forming.

"Of course."

Odin sat quietly as Thor spoke. So much had happened, and now this.

"Thor I can only spare twenty soldiers to aid you. The rest you and your friends must handle yourselves." Thor bowed his head. "Of course father. Thank you." he replied politely. He'd been hoping for a bit more help, but it appeared that this was the Allfather's first and only offer, so he decided not to argue and take it. He left the throneroom, leaving the king to deal with the repairs and requests of his kingdom.

Thor returned to his friends who still in Tony's chambers were where he had left them. When he entered the room, they turned in his direction, waiting.

"My father has agreed to allow us twenty men to aid us." he told them. Tony groaned. "Seriously? Didn't you tell him how many bodies there were? It's going to take us weeks now. And by that time, we'll only be able to give their families back a few bones."

"The Allfather is quite busy attending to the damages done to Asgard as a result of the battle. I am actually quite grateful that he even spared the men at all." Thor told them. "Oh alright. He didn't have to do it I guess. It'll just take a bit longer than expected." Tony said.

They all glanced over as the door opened and Frigga slipped into the room. "I heard that you had returned, so I came to see about the children." Thor shook his head. "Oh no, Thor. What happened?" she asked.

"There is nothing else we can do for them mother. They were already dead when we found them. We plan to bring the bodies back here and reunite them with their families." the god told her. She nodded. "I take it you do not wish for me to speak of this to Loki until he has recovered completely?" she said. Thor nodded. "I suppose someone shall have to tell King Njord then. They were his people after all." she said with a sigh. "I plan to speak with him the first thing in the morning.." Thor said. She smiled and placed a hand on his cheek.

"I know you worry for your brother Thor. But you know how he is. He has gotten quite anxious for you to return with news. He will want to see you."

Tony stood. "How is he by the way?" he asked her. "He is still weak from the chains. But he is doing quite well."

"Goodbye everyone. I do hope that your future endeavors are successful." she told them as she headed to the door. Thor patted Tony's shoulder when he saw the look on his face. "Man of Iron, I understand that you wish to visit my brother but your presence my alert him to the true reason why we have returned. It is for his own good I assure you."

"I know. I just haven't seen him in sooo long." Tony whined. Bruce smiled. "Tony it hasn't been that long." he said. "That's easy for you to say. Steve's been by your side since day one. Loki's here sick." Tony groaned, grabbing fistfulls of his own hair. "I sound like a horny love sick teenager. What is wrong with me?" he wailed.

Thor sighed. "Anthony, I am sure Loki wishes to see you too. But you must wait another few weeks or so. Alright?" he asked. Tony nodded. "Of course. I would never do anything to jeoperdize Loki's health." the inventor said quickly. Thor nodded. "Alright. Now if you'll excuse me I think I could use some alone time right about now." Tony said. The others nodded and left the room.

Tony sighed and went to lay down on his bed. Then he jumped up again to make a few minor repairs on his suit. "God what I wouldn't give for a good bottle of scotch right now." he moaned.

"I do not believe we have that beverage here on Asgard. May I bring you something else instead?" a voice asked from over in the corner. Tony let out a cry of surprise and whipped around toward the sound, mini blowtorch in hand. He looked at the servant standing in the corner. He slowly put his tool/weapon down, a hand over his arc reactor.

"Dammit Rezylyn! I thought I told you not to do that! It's really creepy." Tony exclaimed. "My apologies Master Stark. I shall remember next time. I will wait here while you decide my punishment." Tony stared at him.

"What punishment? I keep telling you I'm not gonna punish you over such a trivial matter. In fact I'm not going to punish you at all. Not my style Rezie. Now come over here and help me with this last part." The man came to stand at his side and waited for his next instructions. Tony handed him a pair of fire-proof gloves.

"Ok. Now I need you to hold these two pieces of metal so I weld them back together."

Loki sat up as Frigga reentered the room. "Have they returned yet?" he asked. Frigga smiled and shook her head. "Give them time. The realms are very large places to travel through." He relaxed.

"I wish you would tell me more mother. It feels as though you are keeping something from me." He looked at her face, studying it. It only showed her love for him and her concern for his health. It frustrated him.

"There is nothing to worry about Loki. Just rest and reclaim your health. I am sure Thor and the others will be happy to know that you have recovered during their search." He nodded and pressed his head back onto the piillow.

"Alright. I will not trouble myself. I trust them to find the children." He took the sleeping potion she handed him and drank it down. He closed his eyes as it began to take effect. "Goodnight Loki." she whispered, wanting to kiss him the way she used to ut not being able to because of his Jotun skin.

Hours later Thor had the chosen twenty men Odin had given him assembled and ready. He led them through the portal with Tony, Bruce and Steve to the plac where the bodies had been found. As they approached the designated area, Tony began to slow, hanging back again. "Hey what's wrong?" Steve asked him. Tony shook his head.

"I just...need a minute." he said. Steve nodded in understanding. "Alright. Take your time." he said. The captain made his way back to Bruce, giving Tony some time to himself. After a few minutes, Tony took a deep breath to calm himself and lowered his faceplate.