Asta woke gently one morning to Loki holding her tightly and rubbing her belly softly.
"Good morning, my queen," he murmured in her ear.
"Good morning, my king," she replied as she stretched a bit.
"I'm sorry that I woke you. I just couldn't help myself."
"I'm certain I'd be awake soon anyway." She glanced out the window and noticed how bright it was. "It looks like you let me sleep in."
"A bit, yes. I have nothing planned until this afternoon, so I thought a bit of extra sleep would do us both some good."
Asta rolled over to face him. "I agree very much."
Loki smiled at her and then glanced down, replacing his hands to her bump again.
"What are you thinking for names, my darling?" Loki asked, gently rubbing her midsection.
"I have a few in mind," Asta replied. "You?"
"I've only really thought of one."
"And that is?"
"Fredrik."
"Peace and power.'' That was actually one of mine as well. I think we've found a winner then!"
Loki beamed and leaned down to speak to her bump. "Well, hello, Fredrik. You'll be happy to know you have a name now!"
Asta smiled. "It feels right. And it'll be nice to stop calling him 'the baby' or just 'him.'"
"Yes, I agree." Loki trailed off and Asta recognized his tone.
"My mischief?" she asked. "What's going through that head of yours?"
"How can I possibly do this?"
"Do what?"
"Be a father!"
Asta tried to lighten the moment. "Well, you started off pretty well when you helped me make a baby!"
Loki rolled his eyes but chuckled. "Yes, I suppose that was step one. But, Asta, I am serious. What do I know about being a good father? Odin was hardly the caring type. He taught me nothing but self-loathing. And Laufey! My birth father thought I was too small to be of importance."
Asta sighed. How could she tell him he was wrong when everything he was saying was technically true? "Loki, I can't say that none of that matters, because of course it does to you. But it does not matter to how you will be a father to your own child. No matter this child's appearance, skin tone, height, eye color, amount of hair, or chubby cheeks, nothing will change how you feel about him or how you will treat him. If anything, you actually have been taught. It's just that what you have been taught is a list of what not to do."
"I suppose…"
"If anyone should be concerned, it's me! I didn't even have a mother to tell me what not to do. I haven't had a mother in my life since I was 3 days old. Yes, Frigga was wonderful to me, but it's not as though she was around constantly. And I have Pepper now, but it took over a thousand years before she was in my life. I have no lesson other than 'don't leave.' Which is hardly a great example."
"Well, that's almost absurd," Loki said with a chuckle.
"I'm sorry?" she snapped.
He held up a hand of defense. "Now, calm down, my little tiger. All I meant was that you have been nurturing many people for ages now. Perhaps you learned some of that from my mother, but I think it has just come naturally to you. Look at how you cared for Thor and me during our… rambunctious years."
"And you're suggesting those years are over?" she asked with a smirk.
"Touché, darling. But beyond that, look at the Avengers. You were the heart of that group. Still are, even though we haven't lived there in months. Look at how Morgan adores you!"
"She is officially the only baby experience I have, though."
"Mine as well and I didn't know her until she was 4. Please understand, I am in no way trying to make this a competition. But, my light, you are a fantastic mother already. You are already concerned for our child and completely in love with him."
Asta raised an eyebrow. "And you?"
"What about me?"
"Are you not those things as well? My king, how much have you already prepared for this baby's arrival, even though it is months away? How often do you talk to him, wanting him to know you and your love? How much do you make sure I am comfortable so he can be comfortable?"
"Well, to be fair, I like taking care of you too—"
"That only adds to my point," she interrupted. "You are so caring, Loki. Now that you have seen that it is possible to love and be loved, you show it to those who matter most to you. When we get those moments to call the Avengers through the mirror and you joke with Clint, or you tell Wanda you miss her cooking, or when you read to Morgan, you are being that loving man. You will love this child and any others with the same fierceness and more!"
Loki smiled. "So, what we've established here is that we both think we're not prepared, but the other thinks we've been prepared for a long time?"
Asta laughed a little. "I suppose so."
"Well, I've always found you to be the smartest person I know, so perhaps I should actually listen to you."
"Ah, but I think you are the smartest person I've ever known, so I should probably listen to you now as well."
"What a pair we make," Loki sighed.
"I think it will only make us stronger parents. We are striving so much to be different, and so we will be."
He gently nudged her to roll to the opposite side again and held her belly gently. "Have I ever told you how I should listen to you more often?"
"You have. Now, if only you could follow through with that."
"Indeed, my love, indeed. In the meantime, what do you say to breakfast on the balcony and then a walk through the gardens?"
"Sounds wonderful. I should probably walk while I still can. Pretty soon I'll just be fat and waddling through the palace halls."
"Darling, you will most certainly not be fat!"
"And the watermelon belly I'll be carrying will disagree."
"I will not tolerate such talk about the queen! That is considered treason! Even from the queen herself."
"And will you have me tossed in the dungeons?"
Loki smiled, remembering the line from their childhood. "Well, if I didn't centuries ago, I'm not likely to do it now." He placed a loving hand on her cheek, like she had done for him so many times before. "Now, get up and I will summon breakfast."
Asta leaned over and kissed him. "Thank you, troublemaker. You always know how to make me feel better."
She got out of bed and went to choose an outfit for the day and wait for breakfast with her dear husband.