A/N: I really enjoyed writing this one.

Most of the team was on a mission one day and Loki and Asta were watching Morgan. As they were preparing to make lunch, Morgan entered the kitchen and climbed into the chair in which her father normally sat.

Asta turned to her. "Yes, munchkin? What can we help you with?"

"Can I have mac n cheese?" the little girl asked.

"Of course!" Asta went to the cupboard and pulled out a box of mac n cheese.

"Darling," Loki said with a raised eyebrow. "What is that?"

Asta handed him the box. "Macaroni and cheese. Have you never had it?"

"Not this atrocity. What is that unnatural color?"

"It's from the cheese powder."

"Cheese powder?!" Loki sighed with raised eyebrows. "No. My two favorite girls in this tower will not be eating… this."

Morgan pouted. "But Loki, I really wanted mac n cheese!"

Loki put the box on the counter. "And you shall have it, nugget. But I'll make you actual macaroni and cheese."

He went back to the cupboard and pulled out a box of pasta and then went to the refrigerator and got out the rest of the cheese sauce ingredients. As Loki got out the pots, he was grateful that Stark paid people greatly to keep the kitchen well stocked.

Asta helped Morgan off Tony's chair and into her own booster. "Ok, your highness, I'll bite. Where did you learn to make macaroni and cheese?"

Loki started to boil the water for the pasta and combine the ingredients for the cheese sauce while he explained, "Well, after I left to roam around for a bit, I realized that I couldn't keep living on snacks or buying meals at eateries. I found a recipe book in my ship – which I am certain my mother put there – and the first thing I found was this. I hadn't even known my ship had a small kitchen in it, but I decided to learn a bit of self-reliance and made some macaroni and cheese for myself."

Asta couldn't believe this was the same self-centered prince she once knew. She turned to Morgan. "Well, Mo, I think we're in for a real treat. I've never had a meal prepared by royalty, have you?"

"Nope!"

"Then we shall have this adventure together!"

"Adventure? Your words cut me to the quick, beloved. I assure you that this will taste delicious."

Asta smirked. "So what other dishes have you learned to prepare then?"

"Well, I'm quite adept at soups, as it turns out. I am particularly fond of my chili and beef stew."

"I feel as though I've slipped into another dimension!"

"While the multiverse is quite real, my dearest, I assure you, this is the same one you and I have always been in."

Asta watched with fascination as Loki made the cheese sauce, then drained the pasta and combined them. He put a little into bowls for her and Morgan and served them with a flourish.

"Bon appetite!" he announced as he handed them forks.

Morgan dived right in and took a big bite. "Loki! This is so yummy!"

Asta took a bite as well. "By the nine, Loki, this is actually delicious!"

"Well, you don't have to sound so surprised, love," Loki said as he put some food into his own bowl and joined them at the table.

Asta rolled her eyes. "Be honest, darling. How would you react to learning this? I love you dearly, but I never expected cooking to be one of your talents."

Loki chuckled as he ate a bite, quite impressed at his own cooking. "I cannot decide how to take that."

"It's a compliment. Even if it doesn't sound like one."

"Well then. Morgan, in all the time they've been here, have Thor or Asta cooked you anything Asgardian?"

Morgan put a thoughtful finger to her chin. "Hmmm, nope," she said before eating some more.

Loki tutted. "Scandalous. I shall have to prepare something for you. Asgardian food is not much different than that on Midgard, usually just different spices and less… fluff. Do you enjoy chicken?"

"Like my dino nuggets?"

Loki scrunched his face. "Dino nuggets? What kind of drivel are they feeding you here? No, an actual roasted chicken."

"Oh, yeah, I think I've had that."

"Wonderful. I will make something even better than that."

Asta sat up a little. "Wait one moment. You can cook an Asgardian roasted chicken?"

"Honestly, darling, your compliments are getting worse as we go. Yes, I can cook an Asgardian roasted chicken."

Morgan interrupted then. "Can I have some more, please?"

Loki smiled. "Of course, Lady Morgan!" He got up to refill all their bowls.

"Loki, I'm sorry, I truly am, for my surprise, but this is just mind-boggling to me. Where did you learn to prepare food like that?"

"Ah, my secret is out. When I returned to the palace with Thor after my wanderings, Mother found out about my new hobby and gave me recipes to try."

"Frigga cooks too?"

Loki raised an eyebrow. "Well, she was raised by witches. Are cooking and potion crafting really all that different?"

"I suppose not."

"And there you go. The rest was history."

"You know, we may have to keep this a secret or you'll be roped into cooking all the meals around here." She turned to Morgan. "What do you think, munchkin? Can you keep one more secret identity a secret?"

"Yep! No one will know that Loki is Cooking Man!"

Loki and Asta laughed. "Thank you, Lady Morgan. Your clandestineness is crucial to my future pursuits," he said, bowing his head.

"What?" the little girl asked with a giggle.

Asta winked. "It means he's glad you'll keep his secret so he can cook more."

"Oh! Ok! You guys from Asgard talk funny sometimes."

Loki refrained from making a fuss at that. Instead, he looked to the empty bowls. "Well, it appears that my secret identity may also need a sidekick. Nugget, would you help me clean up before our appetizing mystery is exposed?"

"If you mean you want to hide the evidence, then yep, I'll help!"

Morgan jumped down from her seat and carried her bowl to the dishwasher.

Asta gathered up the rest of the dishes and handed them to Loki who allowed Morgan to put them in one at a time. Once everything was hidden away, Asta picked Morgan up.

"Well, I think it's time for some little princesses to have quiet time," Asta said, carrying the little girl to her bedroom.

"Awww! But I was hoping for a movie!"

"Nope, quiet time in your room. I'd suggest a nap, but I know you'll disagree."

"Will you and Loki watch a movie with me later?"

Asta grinned as they entered the elevator. "Remember when you would just want me to watch things?"

"But now you have a boyfriend. So you're a couple. You do things together!"

Loki smiled and decided to save Asta. "Well, we are together quite a bit, but it doesn't mean we need to do everything together. However, if you wish for both of us to watch a movie, I will gladly participate, but you needn't invite both of us just because you feel it's necessary."

"That's not why!" Morgan defended. "You're fun to watch movies with, Loki! You say silly things about them."

He laughed at that. Most of his comments weren't really meant to charm Morgan, but they usually turned out that way.

"Well, I'm glad I can amuse you," Loki replied, ruffling her hair.

It hadn't been long since he moved into the tower, but already this little girl had a grip on his heart. It was easy to see why everyone on the team was absolutely enamored with her. It was so strange to him to feel like this. He loved Asta, he had friends, and he fiercely wanted to protect this little one that was beaming at him. His world was upside down, but he definitely liked it.

The elevator stopped at the floor with the bedrooms and Asta carried Morgan to her bed. "Ok, settle in, munchkin. Maybe after quiet time we'll see what trouble we can get into before dinner. Sound good?"

"Is Loki good at getting into trouble?" Morgan asked.

"Little nugget, I am literally the god of mischief. You and I are going to have a lot of fun getting into trouble with Asta."

Morgan giggled. "And maybe Clint?"

Loki pretended to think for a moment. "Yes, I think Barton could be an excellent collaborator for disobedience."

The little girl continued to giggle as she looked to Asta for translation.

"Loki thinks Clint could be good to get into trouble with."

"Gotcha," Morgan said before letting out a big yawn.

Asta smiled. She knew a nap would happen. "Ok, missy. We'll see you in a little bit." She blew her "little sister" a kiss as Loki winked before the door closed.

The pair walked to Asta's room. She dropped onto the bed and patted the space next to her in invitation.

"You're really good with her," Asta said as Loki sat next to her.

"I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing with her!"

"Doesn't matter. She thinks you're doing just fine. You made her mac and cheese and then promised mischief with Clint. You are golden with her. You might take my place soon!"

"Oh, I doubt that, my light. But, as I have never had a little sibling, I am taking some delight in knowing someone looks up to me."

"Well, you are super tall," she said with a wink.

Loki rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean."

Asta laughed. "I do. And I am so proud of you. You're this whole different Loki and it's awesome. I always loved the old Loki, but the improvements are quite well done."

"Thank you, my love. That means a great deal coming from you."

"Take a walk with me?" Asta asked. "There's something I'd like to show you."

"I'd follow you anywhere."

"And I you, my prince. Let's go."

End note: Is anyone out there? Let me know!