It was the middle of the night when Asta began to feel strange. She kept rolling over, but nothing made her comfortable.

She glanced over to Loki, blissfully sleeping. He usually slept like a rock and it made her so jealous. Especially that night.

Finally, Asta decided to take a walk to the bathroom. She got to the doorway and felt a gush. She grabbed the doorframe and gasped.

"Loki!" she yelled.

Loki sat up with a start. He may have slept like the dead, but his wife could wake him in an instant.

"My love?" he called, confused as to where her voice was coming from.

"Bathroom!"

He rushed to her and saw what caused her concern.

"Asta! The baby?"

She nodded hurriedly. "Yes, I think so."

Loki froze for a second and then snapped into action. "I will be right back."

He ran to her dresser and pulled out a clean nightgown and raced back to her. He led her to their room and helped her change before getting her back onto the bed.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Terrified."

"Yes, me too. Ok, I'm going to fetch Branka. Hold on, my queen."

Loki hurried to the door and told the guard to return with Branka, and only Branka. And if he told anyone about what was happening, he would be publicly executed in the courtyard.

He then ran back to Asta and joined her on the bed. "She'll be here soon. And so will our son. I cannot believe he's coming!"

"I can," Asta said with a sigh. "He's 2 weeks past what we expected."

"Yes, I know. You may reprimand him later for that."

"Oh I will. And maybe you."

Loki winced. He knew that Asta would likely say things to him that she didn't mean, but he wasn't looking forward to any of it.

"Let's focus on your breathing, darling. Can you do that with me?"

Asta nodded, but just as she started to breathe, a contraction hit. She grabbed Loki's hand and whimpered through it.

Suddenly Loki decided that it didn't matter what she said to him. He would deserve it all for what she was going through.

He also decided a spell on his hand to make it more durable might be a good idea.

Just then, Branka burst through the door.

"How's the mama-to-be?" she asked.

"Her water broke and the contractions are starting," Loki answered.

Branka smiled. "Wonderful! Let's take a look and see where you are."

She gently moved Asta's legs and examined her. "Well, we have some time until you're completely ready. But you are well on your way. Looks like we'll be meeting your son before the next sunset!"

"Could we get him here before the next sunrise?" Asta pleaded.

"My friend, sunrise is in about 4 hours. It's possible, but not likely."

Asta dropped her head back onto the pillows. "It was worth a try."

Branka laughed then turned to Loki. She motioned for him to follow as she walked to the door. "I'm going to get some supplies. I wanted to get here first and check on her. Just keep her calm in the meantime."

"Have you met Asta?" he asked.

"I know. Calm isn't always her forte, but do what you can. She's got a while ahead of her, so just talk her through it. And then we'll work on a spell to lessen the contractions."

"Is that safe?"

"Would I do it if it wasn't?"

"No. No, of course not. I'm just—"

"Panicking and overthinking?" Branka offered.

"Yes. All of that and more."

"It's fine. I promise you that I'm going to get all of you through this. Now, go take care of her."

Loki grabbed Branka's hand. "Thank you. I truly mean it."

"I know. And you're more than welcome."

"And Branka, one more favor?"
***

Loki returned to his wife. "How are you doing, darling?"

"Well, I've been better," Asta replied.

"Yes, I suppose that was a stupid question."

"No, I appreciate any distractions. Even silly questions." She paused for a moment. "Can I actually make a strange request?"

"Ask anything and it shall be given to you."

"Sing to me?"

"Sing?"

"Yes. The lullaby you always sing to Fredrik. Can you sing it now? I find it so soothing."

He smiled. "Anything my queen demands."

Loki then began to softly sing the song Frigga always sang to him. Asta closed her eyes and let herself drift off for a bit.

Finally, after all the pushing, a cry was heard and Branka shouted, "It's a boy!"

Branka wiped him off a bit and placed him on Asta's chest.

Asta glanced down through teary eyes. The baby on her chest was blue, but the palest shade she'd ever seen. His hair was almost non-existent and his eyes were a bright blue like his mother's. His skin did have Jotun markings, but they weren't as defined as his father's.

"Loki! Look what we did!" Asta said happily.

"My love, you are the strongest person in all the realms. You did this."

The baby's cries grew louder and Asta cuddled him close. "It's ok, my little one. Mama has you. Everything is ok, I promise."

Fredrik settled a bit and looked at his mother. With the slightest tilt to his head, the unnatural blue color began to give way to the pink tones of his parents (at least what they currently looked like). The Jotun markings went from raised to just pale lines.

"Well, would you look at that," Branka said. "You've got a very talented baby there."

Asta smiled. "His father has the strongest seidr I know."

Branka looked to Loki. "Why don't you hold him for a moment whilst I get set up for the rest? That way you can really hold him before I do."

Loki's face instantly went blank. "I have no idea how to hold him."

Asta rolled her eyes. "Hold his head and his bottom. Cuddle him to you. Ta-da!"

Very gently and very slowly, Loki scooped the infant up and held him to his chest. "Well, little prince. We're certainly glad you decided to make your appearance. Your mother and I have been waiting and waiting."

Fredrik made a tiny coo as he looked at his father. Loki looked at Asta. "Do you think he knows my voice?"

Asta laughed. "Well, you did talk to him nonstop for most of my pregnancy, so I think it's safe to assume, yes."

Branka smirked as she returned to Loki. "Ok, little one. Let's get you cleaned up and ready for Mama and your first meal."

Loki reluctantly gave Fredrik to Branka and then turned to his wife. "My love, how can I possibly thank you for this gift?"

"You can start by not making it seem like I was the only one involved here. I wouldn't have a son without you either."

He scoffed. "You'd find a way." He looked over to Branka and Fredrik. She was measuring him now after a brief cleaning.

Asta smacked him lightly. At his surprised face, she whispered, "Quit looking at them like that!"

"Like what?"

"Like she isn't a skilled healer and could drop him any second now."

"I'm not—" Her face stopped him. "Ok, I was a little."

"We trusted her to deliver him and to keep his secret. She's going to take excellent care of him."

Loki merely nodded as he continued to watch.

Branka finally finished up and brought the baby to his mother. "Well, he's 9 pounds 8 ounces, and 22 inches."

"That's pretty big," Asta said as her brow crinkled.

"Not big enough to be suspicious," Branka assured.

"I know. I just want to keep him safe."

"And you will. Now, let's try to get him fed."

After a feeding, a burping, and another quick exam, Branka left the new parents with the promise to keep checking in.

Asta leaned her head back on the pillows. "When should we make the announcement?"

"When you are ready and not a moment before," Loki said.

"But Asgard will want to know of their prince."

"And they will know, when you are ready. Branka will keep it a secret and so will the guard at the door."

Asta rolled her eyes. "Well, you did threaten him."

"Oh, he's fine. As long as he holds his tongue," Loki added with a wink.

"My protector king," Asta sighed.

Loki smiled at the scene before him. Fredrik was resting on his mother's chest, awake but content. And Asta looked exhausted, but glowing and joyful.

The king reached for the newborn. "Here, let me hold him while you get some rest."

"No, I want to stay awake with my boys," Asta said with a yawn.

"And your boys want you to be healthy. You've had a very difficult day, my love. Rest. I assure you that we'll both be here when you wake."

She pouted, but relented. "Fine. But wake me if he needs anything."

Loki beamed at his son as he lifted him and cradled him close. "There is one thing I cannot provide, anything else is my concern while you get some well-deserved and very necessary sleep. Please, Asta."

Asta could already feel her eyelids growing heavy. "Ok, ok. Jeg elsker dere, guttene mine." (I love you, my boys)

"Vi elsker deg også." (We love you too)

Loki sat in the chair, making sure that he could keep a close eye on Asta as she slept, and then looked down at Fredrik.

"My sweet son. You have no idea how important you are to me, to your mother, to your whole crazy family, and to this entire realm. You are the crown prince of Asgard, my Fredrik. But before that, you are our son. You are a grandson, a nephew, and I'm sure a little friend to many people. You have family on Asgard and on Midgard. And you are so, so loved. I never want you to spend a day not knowing that. I struggled with that growing up and I assure you that you will not feel that burden. You are a loved child before you are any other title. And you are so talented already. Daddy can feel your magic. Did you know that? And you glamored yourself so well, but I think I'll help you a little too. Someday we'll tell our secret, but not just yet. You'll understand one day. We will make sure of that."

The baby made a little whine and seemed to grin.

"You will be so happy, Fredrik. I swear this. You will learn to become a great king, but you will also be a happy prince." He placed a gentle kiss to the baby's head. "Such a loved son."

Fredrik's eyes began to close and Loki smiled. His two most precious treasures were confident enough in him that they could sleep peacefully. He rearranged the blanket around the baby just a bit and sat back in the chair. He softly began to sing the lullaby that Asta loved so much and that Fredrik had heard so many times in the womb.

"I stormsvarte fjell, jeg vandrer alene…"