For several months, Loki and Bruce went to couples counseling, as well as individual sessions to work through the trauma that life had seen fit to give them. As Loki sat at his desk at Ottalauss, he paused and turned to look at Bruce, reflecting on how his life had changed for the better because of the man sitting next to him. While continuing to look at the document in front of him, Bruce reached out and took Loki's hand. "What are you thinking about, baby?"

Loki squeezed his hand before responding, "How much I love you, and how much you've helped me. When I think about who I was when I came to Midgard to ask for your help, I could never have imagined this life for me. A life with the love of a wonderful man, work that I am proud of and two people who I consider best friends. " Loki paused for a moment, "God Bruce you've turned me into a fucking Hallmark card. Are you proud of yourself?"

Bruce snorted, turned to face Loki and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "I love you so much Loki that it hurts. You are not the same man who Hulk tried to smash all those years ago. I didn't realize it, but I was so tired of being strong for everyone. So tired of coming home to an empty house every night. I was so lonely. I had a fulfilling career but no personal life. No one cared if I got injured or sick. I was simply a brain that fixed a problem or a big green mass of muscles that could destroy at will. No one cared aboutme." Bruce stopped talking as overcome by emotions as tears came to his eyes. Loki placed a gentle kiss over each eye before bringing both men to the couch where he gathered Bruce into his arms and started rocking gently, waiting for Bruce to begin speaking again. Bruce placed a gentle kiss on the underside of Loki's jaw before nuzzling into his neck. His voice broken and raw with emotion, Bruce continued quietly. "After our conversation all those months ago, I had to rediscover that I am not my father, that I may have darkness but it's not his. I am a better man than he ever was because I refuse to give into that darkness. I choose to help and make the world around me better through my work in science and with the Avengers. I refuse to give into the darkness like my father did." Looking up at Loki, he placed a hand on his cheek so that he was looking down at him, "But Loki you brought light to my life. You gave it new meaning that I never had before. You brought depth where I had none. If you ever left me I don't know what I'd do."

Loki gave him a deep, passionate kiss and they lost themselves for a moment before Loki pulled back. "Bruce, you will never lose me. I know you're scared that if we decide not to have children that I will drop everything and leave you. That is categorically untrue. You are more than enough on your own. Please believe that darling. Our relationship is enough to make me perfectly happy until the end of time. I love you with a depth that words cannot adequately express. You are mine and I am yours."

Bruce began to sob and bury himself closer into Loki. Loki gently tipped Bruce back against the sofa cushions and covered the man's body with his own. He arranged their bodies and adjusted his weight so that he pressed Bruce into the sofa but did not crush him, allowing Bruce's thighs to bracket his hips. Loki brought his hands up to draw comforting patterns on his back, while occasionally kissing his head, allowing Bruce to calm himself and his tears to dry. When Bruce had calmed himself, Loki quietly asked, "Should we head home darling? Have a quiet night in, dinner and maybe a movie while we cuddle?"

Bruce gently untangled himself, brought both of them to the sitting position and turned so they faced each other fully. "That sounds lovely baby but before that, there was a purpose for what I said earlier, before the tears."

Loki caressed Bruce's face and responded, "There is no shame in tears, Bruce, there is no shame in emotion. You taught me that."

Bruce brought his hand up to cover Loki's, "I did, baby, and you are correct. I was thinking about the conversation we had months ago that led to our therapy. Deep down I knew this but I was too scared to admit it. I do want a child Loki. I do want to raise them in a happy home that knows nothing of abuse or cruelty. I know I am not my father but I merely used that as an excuse to turn you away and shut you down. It took talking about it with Eir to help me realize and admit this. I want your child Loki. I want to raise your child."

Now it was Loki who shed tears as he leaned forward to give his husband a kiss, "You are sure about this Bruce? I am not pressuring you too much?" Bruce kissed his tears away before responding, "No, baby, you're not. I want us to have a child." The men snuggled together and sat for a time soaking in their life changing decision in the quiet of Loki's office. Their silence was disturbed when a knock came at the door, "Hey boss?" Bucky asked through the door, "Everything is closed up out here, is it okay if I come in or are you two at it again?"

"Come on in Bucky! Don't worry you won't get a show." Bucky came in with a smile as brought the till to put into the safe, causing the two men on the coach to get up and begin to pack up for home. As Bucky was about to walk back out the door, he turned to face the pair, "Is everything okay with you two?" The men nodded, and Loki said, "We decided to have a child." Bucky's face lit up with a smile that nearly split his face in two as he came over to bring the two men into a bone crushing hug. As he pulled back, he congratulated them before turning to leave, promising to keep it a secret until they wanted it made public. Loki, with a smile of his own, turned to Bruce, "Let's go home and celebrate shall we?"

That night, as they lay in bed with Loki's head resting on Bruce's chest, Bruce asked, "So, how do we want to go about this? Who do we want to be our surrogate? When do we want to start?"

Loki took a deep breath before he sat up to face Bruce. He opened and shut his mouth several times but couldn't seem to find the words. Eventually, he took a hold of Bruce's hand, interlocked their fingers, took a deep breath and began to speak. "Although I've had full use of my powers here on Midgard for close to two years I don't use them to the full extent possible, not nearly." Here he looked down, terrified that what he said next might destroy their relationship. Still not making eye contact, Loki continued, "What I am trying to say is, I can change form, I can become female."

Bruce tugged at his hand forcing Loki to look at him. And with a voice filled with wonder said, "Baby, that's the most beautiful and wonderful thing! I will get to see you swell with our child. Your body will change in order to grow and feed them. Oh my God Loki!" At this Bruce pulled Loki into a bone crushing hug, "You are so beautiful my love!"

"You're not repulsed at me changing form? Having to have sex with a female?" Loki asked, his voice muffled as he was still in Bruce's embrace.

Bruce sat back so he could look Loki in the eye. "Baby, I love you for you! For your heart, soul and mind. The fact that you can change your body to grow our child amazes me! I will be having sex with my husband, Loki, the person I love with all my being. The fact that you changed your body does not change who I'm making love to." Loki let out a small sob as he buried his face into Bruce's neck, the relief at not being rejected turning his body weak with relief.

"Oh my baby. My gentle, gentle Loki. I will always love you No matter the form."

Loki let out a muffled laugh as he said, "I'll hold you to that when I am swollen like a whale from carrying our child!"

The couple decided to start trying right away but before Loki changed his form, they thought it would be wise to inform Natashia and Bucky of their plans, as well as Loki's impending change. They knew that Bucky would tell Steve but they trusted the three of them to keep this information to themselves until Bruce would announce it to the Avengers. A few nights later, Natasha and Bucky were at Bruce and Loki's apartment for dinner so they could make the announcement. They two sat gobsmacked for a moment before they began to speak. "First of all," Natasha said, "I'm pissed that metal arm over here found out about baby Banner before I did. Second, do the two of us get to be godparents?"

Bruce and Loki looked at each other, before Loki turned and said "We would be honored if the two of you would be godparents. Although at the rate you and Hel are going you'll be Auntie Natashia." Natasha blushed a furious red, causing Loki to giggle.

"Bucky, are you sure Steve won't mind?" Bucky thought for a moment before responding, "I don't see why he would but I'll discuss it with him tonight."

Loki nodded, and bit his lip before asking, "It doesn't freak you out that I can change form at will?" Both Natasha and Bucky shook their heads before vocalizing their support of Loki, and how it wouldn't change their perspective of him in the least.

"Considering your ability to change form, I'm surprised Tony Stark didn't bring you into the Avengers fold," Bucky said.

Loki snorted, "He still thinks I've bewitched Bruce somehow and I am not to be trusted. If it were up to him, he would ship me back to Asgard to be put in prison from now until Ragnarok."

Natahsa shook her head slowly, "I don't get Tony. I don't get his aversion and refusal to accept your relationship. The only thing I can think of is that he expected Bruce to be at his beck and call forever, and I think in his own way he loved Bruce."

Bruce's mouth hung open in shock at this revelation, "Do you really think so? No, I can't believe it!"

Loki took Bruce's hand, nodding. "Actually, what Natahsa says makes a lot of sense Bruce. It explains his hostility and what happened the night he came to Ottalauss. Now that I look back on it as well I can see that he could absolutely be in love with you and refuse to admit it." Bruce shook his head in disbelief.

"Enough of that douche," Bucky declared. "When are you two going to start trying for baby Banner?" he asked with a wicked glint to his eye.

Loki, pretending to be offended, "Bucky! I didn't know you had it in you! Having the golden boy in you seems to have loosened you up a bit."

Bruce smacked Loki on his arm, "What have I told you about embarrassing Bucky?!" Loki laughed while Bucky shook his head, no longer surprised at what came out of the boss's mouth.

"In all seriousness," Loki responded, "We were thinking of starting right away."

Natahsa wiggled her eyebrows, "Okay then, we know when we're not wanted!" She got up to clear her dishes, grabbing Bucky's along the way.

Now it was Bruce's turn to have his face turn a furious shade of red, "Oh my god Natasha, you're just as bad as Loki! Get back over here, I absolutely refuse to eat the delectable dessert he made all by myself.