The night was chilly but beautiful. Coulson stood outside in his full winter garb next to the fresh Bifrost stamp. He was staring up at the black, starry sky, tasting the slowly melting ice cream in his mouth. Cheap vanilla and chocolate. Cold shivers when through his body as he swallowed down yet another slushy cold lump. It gave him a minor brain freeze and he grimace with a bad word.

After recovering, he spotted a satellite that floated across the dark sky and he wondered if it was one of their own. He followed its way until it disappeared out of his sight. Daringly he scooped another spoonful of the frozen dessert and forced it down, peering up at the unfair universe. It had been a pretty crappy evening on so far. So what else could go wrong? A meteor strike, perhaps?

Steve Rogers joined him outside and walked to him over crunching snow in the dim lit front yard. Cap gave his boss a long stare before he said, "Take it from a man who spent a few decades in an ice cube: that's not healthy for you."

Coulson put his spoon down with a rueful smile. "I was kind of hoping I could lure her back down here to kick my ass by annihilating her ice cream stash… but I think I lost feeling in my mouth already."

Steve gazed up at the night sky with a frown and crossed his arms. The stars looked beautiful up there and he pondered if Emma Morgan was able to spot Earth from wherever she was. "Do you think she'll ever come back?"

"Somehow I doubt we saw the last of Emma Morgan. If she wants to come back, I'm sure she'll find a way. I have faith in her." Of course Coulson had faith in her. Why else would he have still kept her presidential pardon right there in his coat's inner pocket? He knew she would have taken his deal if Loki hadn't showed up to kidnap her. She would have been a one hell of an asset to SHIELD.

"And what if she does come back?" Steve asked. "You'll go after her?"

"That's the plan."

"What about her baby?"

"Frankly," Coulson heaved a sigh. "I don't know. I promised her to keep her and the baby safe. If she cooperates then I have a big promise to keep."

Steve stared at Coulson a while as the boss forced down another spoonful of ice cream. "It's an alien, you know? The baby," Steve reminded.

"Considering that fact, Emma was taking it remarkably well. At the dinner table… if I'd have known. I mean, she has a different species growing inside of her. I can't help but to think Sigourney Weaver in Alien."

Steve lifted an eye brow. "The movie?"

"Yeah. You know, the whole argh…" Coulson mimicked as there would have been an alien bursting out of his chest scene, "thing."

Steve grimaced. "Yeah, I know. I stopped watching after that part."

"Really? You missed a great movie."

They heard the front door opening and closing further behind them as Aileen came out. She pulled her coat's hood up like armor against the coldness as much as the discomfort she felt inside, and walked to the men. Steve Rogers stepped aside, letting Aileen and Coulson talk in private.

For a moment Aileen just stared at the Bifrost stamp on the ground where snow had melted away. Her daughter was abducted by an alien who had impregnated her. "This is just a nightmare. Please, wake me up, Phil."

"I'm sorry this reunion didn't go as planned," Coulson said.

"I had her back," Aileen whispered and turned at him. "At least I know she's alive. Logan said she will be fine. He believes that man-thing will keep her safe." She sucked in a breath and gave a rueful smile. "I think I really hate this Loki person."

"Same," Coulson said and offered his ice cream cup.

Aileen took his spoon and helped herself with the cold treat. "I went through Emily's diary. There were so many things I didn't understand. But one thing is for sure; she's obsessed with that man. It's unhealthy. She speaks of him as a god." She grimaced when her mouth felt as chilling as the outside world. "Damn, this is cold!" she grunted and covered her mouth with her palm, wondering how Emma could be so fond of the coldness.

They both lifted their gaze as a super fast aircraft whooshed over the mountain further away and begun circling towards them. Coulson checked his watch to discover that his new fast response unit against extraterrestrial threats was miserably late.

"Is that your ride?" Aileen asked, watching as the aircraft kept coming closer.

"Yeah. We'll wrap things up here and then head back. Do you want me to drop you home?" Coulson asked. "I don't want to brag but that's a pretty damn fast plane."

Aileen returned his spoon with a sad smile. "What happens next, Phil? Are you still going to look for her?"

"If she is held on this planet, I would have an extraction plan by now. But up there," Coulson said, looking up at the dark sky, "I got no means to reach her. Aileen, it doesn't mean I'm going to give up. When we find her, you'll be the first one to know."

… …

"You're cruel, you know that? I simply can't. I won't!" Emma whispered. The whole idea grossed her out.

A pile of fresh oysters lied open on a silver plate on a bedding of crushed ice. Emma stared at her would-be evening meal nervously and nibbled a sweet dried fig, crunching the fruit's tiny seeds between her teeth.

It was a fact now; Asgardians were barbarians! They couldn't possible assume that a pregnant woman would eat raw oysters voluntarily.

Her left thumb played with her shiny new ring in her finger until Loki took her hand in his. "You should try to eat, my dear," he encouraged her, picking up one of the yucky-filled shells. "You will need all of your strength for what is to yet come. Here."

She shook her head as he offered the seafood to her, bringing it too close to her face. A luxury treat she had never tasted and was never going to break that habit. "Uh-uh! Sorry, but I can't eat that. You can't make me."

Queen Frigga eyed at the newly betrothed couple over the dining table. No matter how unorthodox and slightly amusing it was, she had been delighted of their news and was doing all she could to make Emma feeling welcome. The oyster dish on the table looked delicious and she couldn't understand why their guest didn't dare to touch it. It was even served with ice.

"Please, help yourself. Oysters are excellent nourishment for expecting mothers and many women simply crave for seafood during their pregnancy," Frigga said motherly.

Emma glanced at the queen, shocked. Haven't these people ever heard of toxoplasmosis? Salmonella? All those nasty little things she had read that could kill a baby? Not to mention cause a literal shitstorm?

She was literally blue and cold already, sitting at a grand table on a foreign planet with an alien fiancé and his mom, and carrying a half alien baby. There was absolutely no need of getting anymore weird things happening to her for the rest of her life.

She gulped, pushing Loki's offering further away from her. "I'm not really that hungry. Besides, I'm not putting anything uncooked and still living in my mouth."

Loki lifted an eyebrow with a lopsided smirk. "That's not what I recall."

Emma tilted her head at him questioningly like asking mutely was that a blowjob joke. In front of his mom? Seriously? His teasingly sweet grin was making her blush and she seriously needed to behave herself. It had been embarrassing enough when Frigga found them in the heat of an intimate embrace, she hanging on him like a leech and turning him Jotun-blue all over.

Emma tore her eyes away from him and picked another dried fig from a treat bowl of fruits and nuts. "Yeah. I'm being careful from now on."

Loki sated smile wouldn't wear off as his love one was there finally with him. When he didn't hold Emma's hand in his, he held her with his gaze as though being afraid she would vanish if he wouldn't constantly watch her. "It is your loss," he said and toasted with the oyster shell. "These are delicious."

When his lips made contact with the shell, Emma gaped at him, repulsed. "No, no, no! Don't put that thing in your mouth!" she yelped, only to witness as he slurped the thing into his mouth in an elegant way and relished the salty taste with a few chews before swallowing it down. She made a face like was going to puke. "Uh, you just killed it. What did it ever do to you?"

Loki only gave her a mischievous grin, licking his lips and picking up a new shell. "Oh, come now, dear. One day you will learn to enjoy these as much as I do."

"I think I'm going to be sick," she warned as he enjoyed another juicy oyster with an audible slurp. "Maybe this is fine dining to you but to me that looks like a murder/suicide."

"You are rightfully nervous, Emma. I remember I was, when I was expecting Thor," Frigga said while she stood up to pour a generous goblet of red wine. "Everything is new and strange to you when your body is preparing you for something wonderful."

Emma still felt uncomfortable of the blue tone of her skin and was only glad that they were dining in soft candlelight. "Yep, my body is preparing me for something, all right."

"At least drink this, dear," Frigga suggested as she gave the cup to Emma. "Wine helps you to relax. The calmer you are the better it is for the baby. A little glass of wine is a common treatment for pregnancy anxiety among Asgardian ladies. And it increases healthy appetite."

"Um… thanks." Raw seafood and alcohol? What next? Magic mushrooms? Emma's expression was simply hopeless as she forced a smile, holding the wine goblet.

Loki grimaced at a recollection of Emma's bad tolerance of alcohol he once witnessed. He snatched the wine glass from her hand with two fingers, gracefully not spilling it. "Ah, I will have that, thank you very much." He saw it safer to empty the goblet before she did and got into it.

"With all due respect, ma'am," Emma began, watching as Loki drained the cup empty, and then focused back at Frigga. "Back home we believe that drinking alcohol during pregnancy could cause some serious damage to the baby. So, I'm not touching it."

"Oh, what sort of damage?" Loki asked amusedly curious and put the empty cup down. It seemed that he was a savior here.

Emma shot a cautious glance at the queen. She didn't want to offend Frigga with a bad choice of words, since the woman had been only kind to her. "Great amounts could cause a whole variety of problems…" she explained uneasily and placed a hand on her belly, "at least among humans…"

Frigga seemed genuinely surprised of hearing it, but Loki smirked to that. "That certainly explains a lot. I would put my money in mental deficiency for starters," he stated and turned at Frigga. "Tell me, did you indulge yourself with a lot of wine while you were expecting Thor?"

Frigga shot him a disapproving look. "Loki!"

"Maybe mead too?" Loki couldn't help himself with this amusing discovery, knowing how much all the Asgardians loved wet parties, no matter pregnant or not. "I am not even slightly sorry anymore that I am not a native Asgardian."

Frigga gave him a tiny head shake. He would never let it go now. "No, but you would seize every opportunity to criticize them… Including me?"

"Just returning the favor," Loki said smugly. "You are safe, though. Since you are a Vanir."

Ignoring Loki's jesting, Frigga's smile was warm as she focused back at Emma. "Loki never told me how you two met. I would love to hear everything about it."

"LOKI!" Another, louder voice echoed his name from the doors as they were slammed open.

Emma winced by the sudden sounds behind her. Loki placed his hand on her shoulder to calm her. "All is well, my dear," he promised as though he had already been prepared for this. This interruption conveniently saved them from Frigga's question. He didn't want to divulge to his dear mother how the beginning of his journey with Emma hadn't been as pretty as it turned out to be.

Frigga poured herself a goblet with a sigh when heavy footsteps approached them. "I told you, Loki. You should have retired to your own chambers hours ago," she said and took a soothing sip of wine.

It was Thor who marched in as though he had been summoned with Loki's jesting.

Frigga smiled to her eldest and cradled the wine goblet against her chest. "Hello, son. Did you have a fruitful journey?"

"Ah, brother," Loki greeted warmly and stood up to face Thor. "I take it that the peace of Vanaheim has been restored since you already return."

Thor's forehead was furrowed like wavy beach sand as he noticed the blonde sitting there with his family, her back towards him.

"It was an easy task," he said simply and took a demanding step closer. "Heimdall just told me that you brought Emma Morgan here. And here she is! Are you completely mad, brother? You brought a mortal to Asgard behind Father's back!"

Warily, Emma stood up and turned at Thor with a mild smile. "Hi, Thor!" She grimaced, seeing how her new, bluish appearance seemed to shock him. Maybe it was her obvious baby bump too that made him look almost scared. "Am I glad to see you! It's been a while."

Thor gazed at her, stunned, her strange appearance stealing his full attention. "Emma? You… Are… Blue?"

Loki glanced at his adoptive mother with a wry grin and whispered, "How much wine did you say you enjoyed during your pregnancy?" The queen gave him a firm scolding shake of head.

Emma shrugged. "Yeah, it's freaky. I'm still getting used to it. Hey, the last time I saw you, Loki was dying and… you helped him back here. You two made it safely back home. Loki is fine. I'm so grateful. So, how have you been, Thor?"

"I am good. Could not be better." Thor glanced at Frigga and Loki, pondering how they could stay so calm there when this girl was blue like a Jotun and obviously pregnant. His gaze returned to his second observation. "Emma, the last time I saw you… there were a bit less of you."

"I know," Emma said with an awkward smile and glanced slowly at Loki. "So, you're going to tell him or shall I?"

"Tell me what?" Thor asked cautiously. "What the hell have you done to her now, Loki?"

Loki moved closer to Thor, unable to hide his sincere joy and amusement of the situation. "Brother," he sighed and placed his hand on Thor's shoulder, "I have the pleasure to tell you that you will become an uncle. Emma and I are having a child together."

"W-what? No!" Thor grunted. "Oh, please tell me you are making a jest. How – how can you be sure it is yours? I mean… You have not seen her in many moons…"

Loki sighed heavily, rolling his eyes. "Nice, Thor!"

Emma lifted a brow like asking was Thor fucking joking. "Excuse me. Usually…" she begun, annoyed, waving towards herself, "girls don't look like this when they're pregnant where I come from. This color… it's not me."

Thor stared at Frigga who was taking all of this a bit too serenely. "You knew about this, Mother?"

"Yes. And it is true." Frigga half-circled the table to be closer to her boys and explained on her way to Thor, "Emma is carrying Loki's child. The Jotun inheritance of this baby has been altering her body to become more suitable to bear this unusual pregnancy. We brought her here to make sure that she and the baby will survive this through."

Thor grimaced. "So, she is carrying your half Jotun bastard, not far from being a tiny Frost giantess herself?"

"Please, choose your words carefully, brother!" Loki warned. "It is not healthy in her condition to get upset."

"Yeah, I'm such a delicate flower," Emma murmured with tone of upset and snatched a handful of dried fruits and nuts, and begun chewing one furiously. She was getting hungry again and she didn't like herself when she was hungry. "Why can't people just be happy for us, huh? I mean… can you believe that agent Coulson was the first one who actually congratulated me…"

"Son of Coul?" Thor cut in on her, surprised. "He is alive?"

"Son of Coul? Oh, okay." Emma nodded and chewed her mouth empty. "Yeah, Phil Coulson is alive. Fury lied to me about his death. He's fine. I met him. Actually SHIELD found me today… and then Loki came to the rescue. Talking about perfect timing."

Thor just stared at the three of them for a moment. "What are you going to tell Father? You cannot just hide her under your bed and hope he never finds out."

Loki glanced at Emma and Frigga, his partner in crime. "We were hoping to keep this from Odin a bit longer. Perhaps caution him first of our intentions."

"Does my words echo so differently in your ears, son?" Odin asked in a scolding tone as he entered the guest chambers, surprising everyone with his unexpected arrival.

Emma felt how the baby went in a kung fu mode and started kicking as if it too had gotten scared of the old king's entry. Loki leaped forward with a last attempt to hide Emma behind his back.

But Allfather was already there and he didn't look too happy about what had come to his attention. "You had my blessing to visit Midgard, revel with the mortal as you want, but not to bring your trophy to Asgard. She does not belong here. Send her back!" he said as he moved forward, unable yet to see the visitor face to face.

"That I cannot do," Loki protested formally and gulped when Odin's silver brows furrowed at him. That was never a good expression. "She would not be safe in Midgard. Her current condition will make her vulnerable there," he added gently the last words.

"You must be Odin, the king of Asgard and Loki's father?" Emma said, facing the king. He might have looked a feeble old man, but the vibes he sent commanded respect. And she felt it. He sucked the air out of the room but she braced herself. "I'm not a trophy, sir. And I do have a name. Emma Morgan."

Loki gave her a fond sideways glance as she fearlessly presented herself to the king. He should have prepared her a bit better for this though.

Odin gaped at the young woman. Her brusqueness was one thing but her whole appearance was something quite different. Something he clearly hadn't been expecting. "I know who you are, child," Odin stated simply. His good eye settled on her, and it was as though he discovered the same things with one glance the others had needed the soul forge to find out. He looked at her as if she was the alien there.

"Her ability to adapt is unique. This is Loki's offspring she is carrying. It is changing her. Midgard would not fit either of them. For her safety, she must stay in Asgard," Frigga stated firmly to her husband who gave her a curious glance.

Loki held a breath before he spoke. "There is no denying it. I will take full responsibility for it."

Odin gave a few joyless chuckles to that. "Will you?" He invaded Emma's personal space and placed a hand on her belly to be sure this wasn't just one of Loki's tricks again.

Emma's raising arm was yanked back down, captured by Loki's hand firmly but gently. She would have strike the old king with a reflex, being startled by his sudden touch. The baby however seemed to calm down under Allfather's hand.

She glared at Odin and then at Loki with a frown of angry Clint Eastwood. "Excuse me? This is not a common property, you know!"

Loki's expression was simply begging her to bear with it. He was more concerned of Odin reaction to this revealed secret.

Pondering, Thor set down his hammer on a table and joined in Emma's defending party. "Emma's help was crucial when we retrieving the Tesseract in Midgard. We owe her a debt of gratitude. I am afraid she is outlawed among mortals for aiding us. We are left with no choice but to grant her refuge."

"And you think this is enough for you japing at our laws? Do you have the slightest notion of what sort of being lies within her?" Odin murmured under his breath, sensing the raw force of the child inside of her. He looked the girl in the eye, concerned. "It endangers her."

"Emma is strong. She will survive," Loki said without a doubt, his eyes cutting to her.

"Even if she endures the childbearing, she is unable to look after the child much stronger than herself. Asgard does not recognize such hybrids. Neither illegitimate children of the crown. You knew this, Loki. I should banish you both to Jotunheim for your foolish disgrace," Odin said and removed his hand from her belly.

Frigga's mouth set in a hard line as she stared at Odin disapprovingly. "Odin, it is just a baby. Our first grandchild."

"If Loki is part of creating a new life instead of chaos then it is a reason for celebration not dispute," Thor tried to reason.

Emma winced with discomfort. It was as if the calming connection between the baby and Allfather had ceased and was replaced by something uneasy. She didn't like the feeling and it was spreading. Not this again! "Loki…" she whispered and grabbed her baby bump.

"I shall wed her!" Loki declared heatedly. "So the child will be born in wedlock. Punish me if you so wish, but leave her out of it. All I want is that she is safe. As you have so many times reminded me, I have no place on the throne, so my children should not cause you any problems."

"Oh, what the hell…" Emma panted, waves of heat and chills going through her now in completely differently than before, "… did you do to me?" The baby was too quiet now and it freaked her out.

Dismayed, Loki wrapped his arm around her protectively, cradling her belly with other hand, and shot a murderous glare at Odin. That little color he had on his pale face just vanished. "What have you done?" he barked.

Frigga and Thor both moved a bit closer, seemingly troubled of what was going on.

"Father?" Thor demanded an explanation.

With his one good eye, Odin watched calmly with curiosity as the girl was starting to look more like an average mortal again. "The child is innocent of its existence," he admitted and motioned towards her. "It would serve Emma Morgan better to stay in Asgard until the baby is born. After that she will be sent back to Midgard and she will never see the child again. Loki's child is of Asgard and will have a proper upbringing here."

Loki inhaled sharply and his breath shivered when he exhaled. "And what sort of lies would you feed my child of its origins?" His arm tightened around Emma's shoulders and his dark brows drew together. "I swear to you if I lose her, you will lose Jotunheim!"

"Careful now, brother!" Thor cut in.

"So heedless of losing your newfound liberties, are you?" Odin asked.

"He didn't mean it," Thor said.

Loki glared at them both annoyed. He felt so tense he hardly moved at all. "Jotuns do not negotiate with Asgard without me. And I may not see the importance of taking part of the future negations without her by my side."

"A threat? This does not surprise me." Odin remarked dryly.

Emma sucked in a sharp breath. Her body felt like her own again and the little guy was starting to move in its normal manner. All except it wasn't a cold lump of ice inside of her anymore. In fact all the sensations of coldness were gone. She glanced at her hands to discover her normal skin color. Odin had stripped the baby from its Jotun traits and she changed quickly back in her own form.

She took a beat before lifting her angry eyes back at Allfather, only Loki's hold preventing her from pulling her claws on Allfather. "Who the hell do you think you are?" she cried out. "You have no right to turn my baby into something else! No! No way I'm leaving my kid in your care, knowing what kind of sick fa…"

Frigga moved next to Emma and placed a hand on the girl's forearm to still her. Poor child was enraged and shaking and obviously not liking to be touched anymore since she shied away from her hand.

"Where is your heart, Odin? You cannot separate a mother from her child," Frigga said forcefully. Her eyes were nailed at Odin. "I simply will not allow it! We have kept her safe this far and are obliged to continue to do so."

"It's okay," Emma whispered to her baby, calming its extreme kickboxing enthusiasm in her womb. When she was calm the baby was calm. And right now she was very, very angry and needed the calming herself. Frigga had only just saved her from doing and saying something she couldn't have taken back.

Thor noticed how the disapproving gap between Odin's brows thickened and he hurried taking Loki's side. "I am no king, but I would not let my future nephew or niece go on without mother or father," he assured. "We are protectors of the Nine Realms. Surely we can and will protect the mother of your first grandchild."

Odin gritted his teeth and the muscles in his jaw tensed under his white beard. "You have all known of this matter for months and concealed it from me, haven't you?" he realized. "My family has lied to me!"

"Now you know how it feels," Loki smirked bluntly.

"Loki!" Frigga warned her son and turned then at her husband. "Odin, all I ask from you is a bit understanding. When Heimdall brought this news to me, I was the one who decided we should keep this from you until the time is right. Loki has done more than enough with a simple wish to be able to raise a family with her. He has betrothed her and they have my blessing."

"Ah," Odin acknowledged after a tiny pause. "A mortal with grace of a berserker is to be your wife, Loki? A fair price to pay for your earthly revels. I take into account the circumstances that let you so recklessly pouring your seed into her," he stated in a mildly impish tone and received Loki's strained scowl.

Odin stared at Emma then as long as she turned her eyes from Loki at him questioningly. "You are yet so young and imprudent. Is this what you truly desire, Emma Morgan? To seal your life with Loki?"

"Um…?" Emma got a hell of a lot of digesting to do. She would have needed a timeout. She was upset enough of all the changes that happened to her and the baby without her approval.

Loki and Frigga both were going to say something, but Odin lifted his hand to silence them. "After all you have done behind my back you will indulge me to speak openly with our guest," he said sternly.

"Openly? Okay," Emma murmured challengingly and took a breath, gathering her thoughts. "You can think whatever you want about me, but I'm not leaving my baby. Ever. Period. No disrespect, sir. But you can't go changing my child's DNA into something more pleasing to the eye. So what if it is a half Jotun? So what if it is physically changing me? I'll accept it. Loki is the father of this baby," she said and glanced at Loki fondly. "He asked me to marry him on his knees. So, I'm marrying him because I love him."

"Ah, love. Do you think you have the mettle to stand by his side from decades to centuries? Bring more of his children into this world?"Odin questioned her.

"I think I can handle it," Emma said coolly and lifted her hands on her hips. What he saw should have been a proof enough. But there was no way in hell she would do any more babies than this.

Odin contemplated her for a moment. "He will betray you," he said then as though others hadn't been around. "He has betrayed all his love ones. It is in his nature."

"Hang on now!" Loki objected, shocked and hurt, and stroked Emma's shoulder to have her attention. "I would never betray you, Emma."

"Why is she any different? Are you not the god of mischief? Did you not just now threaten to bring to an end our successful treaty with the Frost Giants?" Odin reminded and got Loki silenced like he'd been a little boy.

Odin looked at Emma then. "I doubt you fully understand what you are getting yourself into. Your marriage will be written in blood! That is something mortals have difficult to comprehend. What is once united in Asgard cannot be undone. Regardless of your decision, the child will remain in Asgard. That is the final word. And not all Asgardians share you fondness towards Jotuns thus the child will be born as an Asgardian." He heaved a tired sigh and he motioned towards her. "If you shall consent to the marriage, you must leave behind your life in Midgard. And consider yourself warned; if Loki falls from his path of repentance, your little family will accompany him straight into the dungeon."

Loki's disquiet frown protested that. He had to hold himself together with all his might for not making things any worse. He hated the fact that at least part of it was true what Odin said. But a threat like that, he couldn't tolerate. Loki watched Emma, wondering what she thought of him when his own adaptive father spoke such vile things of him. He feared she would grow to hate him.

Emma did her best not to gulp audibly. This old guy was a tough cookie, all right. "Okay. What you just said about Loki, I think that's bullshit!" After getting that nastiness said, she continued more bravely. "I think you're just trying to scare me. I got my rights! Do not get me wrong, but I'm from Earth and this baby is half Midgardian. So, your laws don't apply on us. Sorry to say but you are not my king, sir."

Slowly Odin broke into a smallest, smuggest smile, taking a step forward. "I shall be, once you marry my son," he reminded and watched as that basic fact settled into her mind. He glanced at Loki then, feeling the boy's resentment turning into something he wasn't quite sure what. "Perhaps we can come to terms with this unorthodox arrangement. Welcome to Asgard, Logandaughter," Odin said and turned on his heels like an old diva. He was already walking out when he ordered to the others; "Bring her proper meat before she fades away! She is carrying my grandchild."

Did he just…? What the hell just happened?

Emma gaped at him, stunned. More precisely she stared at his distancing back as the king left and told to the guards outside not to let her leave the chambers on her own.

Now she knew exactly where Loki had gotten his devilish negation skills. Now she also knew why everyone had been so worried for Odin knowing about her and the baby. The man was a tyrant and a crappy dad, and now for some reason he believed he could decide her fate too. Oh for Christ's sake, she was not in Kansas anymore! He was right about two things though: she had no idea where she was getting herself into and she needed real food not some slimy oysters.

Fuming, Frigga went after her husband and Emma turned around towards Loki with a serious face. Her glare deepened with his attempt of a conciliatory smile. "So, that's your father, huh?"

Loki looked more concerned than happy, matching her seriousness or doubling it. "I am afraid so. The way he spoke to you– I am sorry." He lifted his hands like wanting to embrace her and being unsure if he should. He was still shocked what Odin had done and told her and yet sadly pleased Odin had literally trapped her in Asgard. "About what he said about me. It did not sound good," he admitted with a great effort. His hands came down on her shoulders and slid slowly along her arms. "I am trying not to be that person anymore. You know who I am."

"Yeah," she nodded in understanding, glancing down at the ring on her finger which she had been rolling nervously. She hadn't been expecting any child support from Asgard from the beginning anyways, but this was... she didn't really know what it was. They were engaged now and she wouldn't break her vows to him. But then again, every time she had ever felt like being trapped, she had wanted to break free. This time was no different. She lifted her gaze back to his eyes and tried to smile. "Loki, I decided long ago to believe you. I'm just not sure what the hell just happened. Am I…? Are we stuck here forever?"

"This may not necessarily be a bad thing," Loki whispered, his eyes glistering with a sad smile. "You are safe here."

"I don't like this. Your father changed our baby into something else! That's not okay! I think I'm done with him and Asgard. Get your bags, we're moving out."

"Aw…" Thor grimaced with a protesting tone, letting the two know he was still there. He munched his mouth empty since he had helped himself with the oyster dish he was now carrying. "Father has forbidden you to leave, Emma. And it would be unwise for Loki to challenge our Father's commands. But look on the bright side. It strongly seems you two got his blessing. Congratulations!" He smiled with glee and dropped an empty shell on the pile to pick up another. "I hope you don't mind. Smashing Marauders' skulls woke my appetite," he said and slurped another poor oyster.

"Go ahead! It's all yours," Emma said, only happy she had at least one problem less to deal with.

"Thanks!" Thor smiled but turned more serious then. "One advice though. Our father is the king. You should address him as so. Show some more respect, please. And do not ever say bull-shit on his face."

Emma grimaced. "Sorry! But after what he did to my baby –you saw it – I think he kind of deserved it."

"Our father turned your child into an Asgardian form to protect the baby and Loki by keeping his true origin secret," Thor explained and glanced at Loki like telling him to teach his woman knowing her place. "I am sure you two have much to talk about. I shall leave you to it."

Loki forced himself to speak as his brother was already taking his leave. "Thank you, Thor. You took a stand for us. I will not forget it." He swallowed the rising lump in his throat, feeling choked up. He hoped that his words hadn't come out too unsteadily, because it was the mere willpower that held him together.

The sincerity in Loki's voice stopped Thor for a short moment. He nodded, summoned his hammer with him and then he was out.

Emma turned back at Loki when the doors closed behind Thor. "Look, we seriously need to get…" she begun but his fingers on her lips stopped her and she looked at him confused.

His hands trembled slightly as he lifted his other hand on her cheek, cupping her face with both hands. Touching her skin didn't bring out the Jotun in him the way it had only a moment ago, and he hated Odin for it. He was reluctant to admit that he was being selfish even he knew it. He caressed her softly, holding his breath when in fact he was holding back his emotions that were willing to burst out. It felt irrational, but he had truly dreadfully feared Odin would have not only steal the baby's Jotun traits but end its unborn life and throw Emma out, back to Midgard suffering along. It would have been a far worse punishment than he had ever suffered. He couldn't have faced it. He knew she wouldn't have coped with it.

She stared at him, realizing only then that he was not okay. His sorrowful eyes couldn't hide the hurt any longer. "Loki?" she whispered his name in a caring tone and touched his face. With a blink, tears fell down his cheeks and met her fingers like drops of his silent remorse.

His breath quivered as he inched closer to embrace her and kissed her forehead, cheeks and lips like it would have been the first time. The taste of his sorrow lingered in her mouth as he slowly broke free from the kiss, leaving tears on her skin. Squatting down on one knee right in front of her, his hands came down along her sides and he leaned his forehead against her womb. His left arm wrapped tightly around her and he kept her practically all still. He held her like that, caressing her belly gently, grateful for feeling the baby moving.

Emma could only gaze down at him, being moved to wordless. This embrace felt so overpoweringly intimate that if she had not been pregnant for him already, she would have been soon. She wasn't sure what drove him over the edge, but she knew it was solace he was seeking. Cautiously she laid her hands on his black hair and let her tender touch do the consolation. He held her like that a long time and she felt how the thin fabric of her tunic got wet with his tears.

She heard him speaking with the softest voice, nearly whispering, not to her but to the baby. It was a language strange to her; she couldn't understand what he said. Maybe he shared his secrets with the baby, maybe he prayed, maybe he gave a promise he would never break. And she gave him all the time he needed, just being there for him, being the one to hold.

… …

Frigga followed her husband and stopped him in an empty hallway, demanding answers. "What was that about? You threatened that girl of losing her child and then imprisoned her here. Loki is ready to take responsibly of his actions and you would send him into the dungeon. Do you not care for your son at all?"

"I do love our son!" Odin stated in a voice that seemed to echo through the hallway guarded by golden pillars. He looked weary as he met the questioning gaze of his wife and continued nearly murmuring, "Against my better judgment I let her stay and this child be born. You know that is something my father Bor would have never done."

Frigga moved closer to him. "And for that I am grateful. You are wiser king than your father."

"No. I am a fool for having no lingering doubts in my mind that the girl would fit Loki. She might even do him good." He cast a glance at his wife. "The secrecy you kept…"

"I am sorry." Frigga moved even closer, clasping her hands together. "That is all my doing. If you want to blame someone, blame me. I asked Heimdall to keep it from you, and Loki knew nothing about this child until I told him. But look how far he has gotten now. Are you not proud of him yet?"

Odin lifted his eye as though the answer he was seeking could have been found from the ornaments of the high ceiling. "Loki doesn't know what he has set in motion. Did you not feel it? The child growing inside of the girl?" he asked, returning his gaze back at Frigga. "Emma Morgan is no common mortal. The rare strength of her bloodline grows stronger with every generation. With someone like Loki she breeds immortals."

Frigga looked at him confused. "You are afraid?"

"Concerned. Loki as the father. He is but a boy himself, driven by his whims."

"Becoming a father chances a man, usually for better," Frigga reminded.

Odin heaved a giving-up sigh and took a breath laboriously. "The child will need our protection and a firm hand to guide. We cannot afford of losing this one to the darkness."

He took a few staggering steps forward to go around her but halted in mild annoyance, feeling the age taking its toll on him. It hadn't done good either to use his magic to alter the baby's heritage. He grimaced, clenching his chest.

"Odin?" Immediately Frigga took his arm with concern. "You have over exerted yourself. I summon our sons."

"Nonsense!" The old king snorted but not unfriendly. "Nothing to worry, my love. Please, just… just walk me to my quarters."