After brunch and another feeding for Fredrik, the royal couple put the baby to bed. Asta stood up carefully and announced that she was ready for a shower.
Loki watched her like a hawk and also kept an ear open for Fredrik's cries.
"Are you leering or are you being the lifeguard?" she asked with a grin.
"Can't it be both?" he replied with a smirk of his own.
"Not for another 6 weeks."
"I can still appreciate my wife's body before then."
Asta rolled her eyes but laughed. She stopped laughing when he conjured a speaker to hear if their son needed them. Then he stripped down and stepped in behind her.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm not trying anything, darling. I need a shower as well, and I thought I could help you." He reached behind her and grabbed the shampoo. "Let me take care of you."
She wanted to protest, but as he stroked her hair, she couldn't remotely think of why to stop him.
He gently helped her to wash as well and then quickly washed himself.
"I believe it's you who is leering now, my love," he said as he rinsed his hair.
"I can still appreciate my husband's body," she replied with a wink.
"Such a cheeky queen!"
Finally they both stepped out.
Asta reached for her towel. "Now that we're done appreciating from afar, we need to announce our little prince's birth."
The king smirked. "I'm not done appreciating your body by a long shot. And, as far as I'm concerned, they can keep waiting for an announcement."
"Loki!" she admonished as rolled her hair into a towel.
"Fine, fine! But we need to tell the rest of the Avengers as well. And we'll need to get them here for the grand presentation."
She pulled her simple dress over her head. "Ok, you contact them, and I'll write the announcement."
Loki sent word to Heimdall to gather the Avengers and bring them to Asgard as Asta sat to write the declaration:
King Loki Allfather and Queen Asta Allmother, as well as the rest of the royal family, are overjoyed to announce the birth of their son, Prince Fredrik Lokison. Please gather on Thursday morning for the young prince's formal introduction to the realm.
"Good enough," Loki said as he put the paper down.
"Good enough? Well, thank you for the compliment," Asta snipped.
"No, my darling, it's not what you wrote or how you wrote it. It's merely that I hate this part. I hate needing to show off our baby like he's some sort of relic."
It didn't miss Asta's attention that he used the word relic, much like he had in the past describing himself. But that would be a later conversation.
"Don't look at it like that. Fredrik isn't a relic, he's a treasure! He's our beloved son and the kingdom loves him already! He is to be their king. He is hope. And yes, he's hope for the realm, but even more than that, he is our hope. He is a result of our love. He is precious. So, I don't see it as showing him off like some sort of object, but instead, presenting him to the world as a proud parent tells everyone they know about their beautiful baby."
"Ah, my queen. Always there to show me the right way."
"Yes, well, I take my job very seriously."
A not so gentle knock at the door startled them all. Fredrik fussed then and Asta lifted the baby from his bassinette.
Loki rolled his eyes. "No need to ask who that is." He raised his voice slightly. "Come in, Thor!" He lowered it again. "You great oaf."
Asta smacked his shoulder lightly but smiled as Thor and Jane entered.
"There's a nephew we'd like to meet!" Thor said louder than intended.
"Shhh!" Loki shushed. "You'll burst his tiny ears!"
Thor blushed. "My apologies! I have no real experience with little ones. May we see him?"
Asta carried the almost calmed baby over to his uncle. "We'd like you to meet Fredrik."
"Fredrik," Thor said with a smile. "A strong name for a handsome prince. May I?" He stretched out his arms.
"Just be careful!" Loki said through gritted teeth.
Asta placed the baby into Thor's waiting arms. Fredrik suddenly seemed even smaller.
"There is no need to worry!" Thor said, smiling at the baby. "Besides, his mother is the goddess of healing, so—"
"Thor!" Jane screeched with embarrassment.
"I'm only joking! Just to see the look on Loki's face!" He turned serious and looked at the new parents. "Know this: I would give my life for this child. No harm shall come to him in my presence."
Asta smiled. "Thank you, Thor. That means the world to us. Doesn't it, Loki?"
"Yes… the world."
Thor grinned, pleased to have annoyed his brother effectively. "Now, little Fredrik, let's see you here. By the gods, you are the perfect mix of your parents. You will have the grace of your mother and the skill of your father and the strength of them both."
Fredrik cooed and Thor laughed. "Yes, you agree with me. Yes, you do. Am I your favorite uncle? Yes, I think I am." Thor looked to Jane. "Would you like a turn, Auntie Jane?"
"Of course!" Jane replied with eager arms. She gladly accepted Fredrik and began speaking in baby talk to him.
"Oh! We brought a gift!" Thor announced. He handed Asta a bag.
She reached into it and pulled out a baby mobile. From it dangled tiny Mjolnirs and horned helmets.
"Oh, Thor! That's adorable!" Asta said. "He'll love it!"
Thor smiled at Loki and Asta. "I hope so. He really is amazing. I could feel his power already."
Loki brightened at that. "Yes, he certainly is a wonder."
"And how are you both holding up?"
"Tired, but ok," Asta replied. "I'm grateful for my healing powers that are definitely helping me along. But he's still waking us a lot to eat, so I fear I'll never sleep again."
Loki placed a gentle kiss to the top of her head. "Asta was the picture of a mother goddess. Nothing but strength and beauty."
Thor grinned. He was so glad that his brother found his soulmate and was able to express his love to her. There were times when Thor feared Loki would never be able to show that kind of emotion. But Asta brought out the best in him.
"And when is his presentation?" Thor asked.
"Ugh, tomorrow afternoon," Loki replied with irritation.
"Why the spite, brother?"
"Because I don't feel the need to show him off like that. Like he's some sort of object that the kingdom needs to praise."
"Loki," Thor said with a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Please don't think that way. I know where this is coming from. Don't let Father's error misguide you here. Your son is not a prize for the realm, but a treasure that the people want to share in. How long has it been since a baby was born into the royal family? Centuries! You were the last. And now there is another and he is the symbol of a bright future, yes. But also a symbol of the love between you and Asta. The kingdom is strong and the people are happy. They just want to show their joy for you."
Loki's jaw dropped. "Thor, that's… that's incredibly astute. Thank you."
"Yes, well, even I have my moments of insight." He turned to Jane. "Give me one more cuddle before we go and let them rest."
"Aww, alright," she protested as she passed Fredrik back.
Asta leaned to whisper to Loki as she watched them. "I hope you never doubt your brother's love. He adores you and he already adores his nephew."
"Yes, I see that. And perhaps he – and you – are right. The presentation is a good thing. Send the declaration."
She patted his cheek. "There's my smart king." She took the pronouncement and gave it to the guard at the door. She returned to see Thor passing Fredrik back to Loki.
"He is a handsome and intelligent prince. This family is blessed to have him. I shall have much fun taking him hunting and teaching him combat!" Thor said.
Asta rolled her eyes. "Give it a few years, Uncle Thor."
"Yes, yes. I know. Congratulations, sister. You've done well."
They all hugged and then Thor and Jane left.
Loki placed the sleepy Fredrik into his bassinette and happily crawled into their bed with Asta.
"The rest of the Avengers will make their way here tomorrow morning before his presentation. We should definitely get some rest before their arrival."
"Yes, that sounds like a fantastic idea," Asta agreed as she snuggled up to her husband.
"Jeg elsker deg, min dronning." (I love you, my queen)
"Og jeg elsker deg, min konge," she said, already falling asleep. (And I love you, my king)
Loki looked to the sleeping baby and sent a message to his dreams. "Og vi elsker deg, søte sønn." (And we love you, sweet son.) He in return felt a sense of happiness and love.
"I am blessed," he thought to himself as he drifted off as well.