Asta woke to Fredrik beginning to fuss and Loki desperately trying to console him.

"Shhh, shhh, my sweet son. Maybe just a few more minutes for your mother to sleep?"

Asta smiled. "It's ok, my love. Give him here. I think we've reached the one thing you cannot provide. I appreciate the nap I got."

Loki gently handed the baby back to his mother. "I'm sorry, my sweet. I tried to settle him."

"Loki, it's really ok. Fredrik is going to need to eat very, very often for a while. So, we'll have to get used to this." She began to nurse the baby and put her head back. "Besides, I like being awake with you both."

"We like having you awake with us too. How are you feeling?"

"Still sore, still tired, but oh so happy. I do only have one regret."

"And what is that?"

"I wish my parents could meet him before the rest of the realm."

Loki smiled. "Well, then it's a good thing that they're likely already here."

Her eyes widened. "What?"

"Well, when Branka left after her first visit, I asked her to alert Heimdall of what was happening. He was to tell your parents and transport them here. I would imagine by now, they're in their chambers awaiting the news."

"Loki! Are you serious? That's wonderful! I can't wait to see them!"

"Shall I fetch them for you?"

"Can you send anyone else? I don't want you to leave."

He stroked her hair lovingly. "Anything my queen desires." He went to the door and told the guard there to fetch the Starks, then hurried back to Asta's bedside. "They'll be here very soon, darling."

"I can't believe you got them here! Thank you so much!"

He placed a kiss to the top of her head. "There is no need for thanks. Anything that makes you smile is worth it." He sat on the bed beside her and watched as their son nursed. "He really is a marvel to behold."

"But still so tiny," Asta whispered.

"Yes, but can you feel his power?"

"I can. I think he feels a little lost without mine," she said with a little smile. "I'm so sorry, Fredrik. You'll just have to stretch your own powers now."

The baby looked up at her with wide eyes. Asta smiled again and burped him gently, then placed him on the other side.

"He certainly has his father's appetite," she joked.

"He's a growing boy! He needs to be well fed to get big and strong and lead his people. And before that, he needs to be ready to play and be a happy little prince."

Asta wondered to herself if Loki's parenting style would basically be called "whatever Odin did, do it differently."

"Yes, he will definitely grow to be both of those things. But for now, he's just a content little baby. I can feel that coming off of him in waves."

"I can feel it too. I'm so relieved he's happy already. I really have no idea what to do here."

"I think you're doing just fine already. We both love you so much. I just didn't expect to feel it from him this soon."

"Indeed. I don't know if I've even read about a child this powerful before. We may have our work cut out for us now, my love."

"I think we already knew that. Perhaps we should guard the rolls at dinner?" She smirked.

"I'll never, ever live that down, will I?"

"Nope."

"You're lucky the king loves his queen so much." His tone dropped. "Otherwise there would be severe consequences for such talk."

"Yes, the queen is quite fortunate indeed. And looks forward to those consequences in about 6 weeks," she added with a wink.

"Such a saucy queen! Careful, my love, you're someone's mother now."

"And I can still love my husband, thank you very much."

"Mmm, and he certainly hopes you will." He glanced down and saw that Fredrik seemed to be finished eating. "Give him here, darling. I'll burp him this time." Loki carefully put the baby to his shoulder and patted gently. "Come on, Fredrik. Give me a burp to rival Uncle Thor."

Fredrik gave a huge burp then and Asta laughed.

"Well, you did give him the challenge," she giggled.

"I didn't think he'd take it so seriously," Loki replied with a laugh of his own.

Before he could say anymore, there was a soft knock on the door before it cracked open.

"We heard there was someone in here we needed to meet?" Tony whispered.

"You heard right!" Asta replied. "Come in!"

Tony cautiously opened the door and slowly entered, followed by Pepper and Morgan.

"Ok, where's my grandson?" he asked.

"Right here, Grandpa," Loki answered, carefully moving the baby from his shoulder to Tony's waiting arms.

"Well, look at that handsome fella. Mama's eyes, daddy's hair, and I'd say my nose."

"Dad, you do realize—" Asta began.

"Shh! Let me have this," Tony interrupted, not taking his eyes off the baby.

"Ok, ok. Would you like to know his name?"

"Yeah, I suppose we should have asked that," Tony answered.

"Please meet Prince Fredrik Lokison. Though, on Midgard, his birth certificate will need to say Fredrik Anthony Laufeyson."

Tony's eyes snapped up. "Fredrik Anthony?"

Asta nodded with tears in her eyes. "He needs a connection to his Midgardian family, does he not?"

"Of course he does! And I'm just honored to be a part of it!" Tony sat down in the nearest chair and held Fredrik out where he could see him. "All right then, little highness, let Grandpa take a good look at you." The baby opened his eyes and looked right at Tony. "Well, he's definitely a Stark. Smart as a whip already!"

Asta laughed and watched as Morgan slowly made her way to her father's side.

"What do you think, munchkin?" Asta asked.

"I dunno," Morgan said with confusion in her voice.

Loki sat in a different chair to be closer to her level. "What's the matter, nugget?"

"Well… I don't want to get in trouble…"

Asta raised an eyebrow. "You won't get in trouble. What's upsetting you?"

"Well, I thought you guys said he'd be blue."

Loki chuckled, surprising Asta. "Well, he actually was born blue, but he glamored himself to look a little more Asgardian. And, of course, I helped him a bit."

"I see."

"Did you want to see him blue?" Asta asked.

Pepper sucked in a breath, very uncomfortable with the conversation path her daughter put them on.

"It's fine, Pepper," Loki assured her. "Fredrik will be raised to not be ashamed of his Jotun heritage. And while it's not something to share right now with the public, it is nothing to be uncomfortable with. However, it is up to him whether or not he'd like to show you."

"He knows?" Pepper asked, visibly relieved now.

"In a way," Asta explained. "We think that he's just incredibly perceptive right now. We're not sure what his powers will be, but for now, Fredrik is just quite sensitive to the room."

Morgan tilted her head, then stroked the baby's hair. "Fredrik, hi! I'm your Auntie Morgan, but you can call med Aunt Mo. I'll probably call you Freddie. If you want to show me your other side, you definitely can. I promise that I'm going to love you no matter what!"

The tiniest of grins appeared on Fredrik's face. Loki dropped his magic as did Fredrik. The faint lines appeared as the blue tint spread as well.

"Oh! He's adorable like that too!" Morgan squealed.

Tony smiled. "He really is. But remember, this is a big secret around here."

Morgan rolled her eyes. "Dad, I'm really good with keeping secrets. Maybe you haven't noticed where I live?"

"There's the true Stark genes," Loki muttered as he stood again to stand by Asta.

"Hey, Elsa, just because you're king now, doesn't mean I can't still annoy you."

"Indeed…"

Fredrik gurgled a little and smiled.

Tony beamed. "Well, see? He thinks I'm funny. Don't you, Fredrik? Yes, Grandpa is very funny!"

Pepper nudged him. "Ok, give Grandma a turn already!"

"Ugh, fine," Tony grumbled as he stood and passed the infant to her.

"Oh my goodness! Look at you! Handsome little prince!" Pepper cooed. "You might just be the perfect combination of your parents. You're just perfect!"

Asta nudged Loki's hip. "They aren't biased or anything."

"No, not at all!" he replied with a smirk. "But they are right, of course. He's absolutely flawless."

Asta yawned then and Loki looked at her with concern.

"Do you need to rest again, my love?"

"I'm ok. It's just certainly been a long few hours."

Pepper stood then and handed the baby back to Loki. "We'll get going and let you take a nap."

"Awww!" Tony and Morgan whined together.

Pepper rolled her eyes. "It looks like Fredrik is almost ready anyway and all three of you could use the sleep. We'll be here for a few days, so don't worry about us." She kissed the top of Asta's head.

Tony kissed her as well. "Great job, sweetie. He's perfect."

"Thanks, guys. We'll see you soon," Asta replied sleepily.

They all hugged Loki as he saw them out and he quickly returned to her.

"Alright, my love. Fredrik is indeed asleep, so I believe it is time for us to rest as well." He gently placed the infant into the bassinette and replaced the magicks to conceal Fredrik's appearance. Then Loki carefully slipped into bed with Asta.

"A nap does sound heavenly. When should we get your parents?"

Loki almost laughed at her drowsy tone. "Later, sweetness. They live here, so they'll have plenty of time later. I'm much more concerned with your well-being." He kissed her softly. "I love you, my warrior queen."

"I love you, my troublemaker," she responded as she drifted off.

He smiled as he pulled her close. She really had made his life complete. He fell into a comfortable sleep as well as he counted all his blessings.