Happy is the son whose faith in his mother remains unchallenged - Louisa May Alcott

/Did we ever see it coming? Will we ever let it go? We are buried in broken dreams, we are knee-deep without a plea.
I don't want to know, what its like, to live without you. Don't want to know, the other side of a world without you - Ruelle - The Other Side/

Her arrow whizzed through the air, piercing through the target precisely.

Hela lowered her bow, ignoring the throbbing pain in her arm from shooting all day. She threw her weapon across the room, wiping the sweat off her brow angrily.

"Weak," she murmured to herself, sliding down the wall to the ground.

The child should be learning to walk by now. If it was even still alive.

The thought of his soft cries, and his eyes filled with innocence made her heart twist painfully.

She took a deep breath, forcing her tears back. Ever since the war ended, the voices in her head always made her question if she made the right decision. Or that she was truly a heartless wretch who left him there to die.

Technically, he could've survived down here, sure he wouldn't exactly have had a merry childhood but...no. Her world was a cruel and desolate place to live in. No, she wouldn't condemn her own offspring down here for her own benefit, she wasn't Odin.

If he was dead, then he was rejoicing in Valhalla. Which brought some relief, she'd never meet him, but at least she knew he was at peace. Not waiting by the gates with empty eyes, to join the rest of the damned.

She pulled her hair back before retiring to her bedroom for the night.

The first thing his mind registered as he started waking up was pain, then confusion. He tried to open his eyes, only to close them due to the overbearing bright lights in the room.

Someone was holding his hand, for a moment he thought he heard a voice encouraging him to come back to them.

(What in the nine was going on?)

With renewed determination, he opened his eyes a second time, and found himself looking straight at his brother's weary face.

"Welcome back," Thor said in a relieved tone.

Loki blinked slowly, taking in his surroundings. It wasn't long before he realized they were in his room. Another wave of agony hit and he barely suppressed a groan. The only thing he could remember was trying to convince his biological mother not to commit genocide.

"What happened?"

Thor shifted uncomfortably before giving him an answer. "There was a confrontation with Hela in the Weapons Vault. She was going to kill me, but you sacrificed yourself for me. Your eye and shoulder were slashed, we thought...we thought you weren't going to make it. Then a week later, Heimdall told me that he... he managed to convince Eir to perform this special surgery that had never been done before. He gave you his eye Loki."

Loki stared in shock, for a split-second he wondered if this was all a mad hallucination; or if it was reality.

Thor had a worried expression on his face. "Are you alright?"

"No," Loki answered truthfully. "But I suppose none of us are."

Thor chuckled without mirth. "You're right about that. By the way, never do anything like that again. Or I'll gut you myself."

"You've done the same for me."

"Because it's my job moron, I can't lose another member of my family. But...thank you, for saving my life." Thor said, his voice shook with emotion.

Despite the pain, Loki moved into an upright position, placing a comforting hand on Thor's shoulder

"Loki, have you thought about what she revealed to us? If Hela is my sister, and your mother, that would make us related by blood."

"Would you mind if we discuss this later? I don't need my headache worsening right now."

"You're still my brother, nothing could ever change that. Rest now."

Tony Stark, James Rhodes, Wanda Maximoff, Spider-Man, and Vision were standing on the platform outside the Avengers Headquarters. Waiting for two of their old teammates to arrive.

Soon enough, a powerful blinding light beamed from the sky, and Thor and Bruce stood just a few feet away from them.

"The prodigal sons have returned." Tony said, outstretching his arms dramatically.

"It's good to see you my friends." Thor greeted and Bruce waved at them with visible joy at finally being back on earth.

"Likewise, gosh you two missed out on a lot of shit, I'm jealous," Tony grasped Bruce's shoulder fondly. Thor stared at the others confused, Rhodey simply mouthed, 'it's a long story.'

Peter decided to remove his mask, trying his best to conceal his excitement of finally seeing two of his favorite heroes up close. Wanda and Vision gave each other an amused look at his enthusiasm.

"It's an honor to meet you both, I'm a huge fan." Peter said, extending his hand to shake Bruce's.

"Hey, nice to meet you too...who are you?" Bruce questioned confused.

"Spider-Man, or Peter, he's my apprentice or whatever," Tony answered briefly.

"How kind of you to be taking part of charity Stark, oh before I forget, my coronation will be held in three months time. And it would be wonderful to see you all there," Thor smiled.

"Wait, us? Go to Asgard?" Tony took off his sunglasses bewildered. While Peter looked absolutely thrilled at the prospect.

"Yes, it'd only be for a couple days, besides I've been meaning to invite you to my home for quite some time now."

"Oh my god, can we Mr. Stark? Please? Asgard's supposed to be like the kingdom of gods and gold, basically paradise, and MJ loves all the dark gory myths surrounding-," Peter rambled before Tony cut him off.

"Kid, before you get too excited about a field trip that none of us might not even go on, you'd have to run this by your aunt first. And Thor, I don't know how else to put this, but Cap and I aren't exactly on the best terms right now. I don't know if half the team would be willing to go."

Bruce rolled his eyes irritably. "Seriously man? We leave you guys alone for a couple years and now you're not speaking to each other?"

"Well, I'm sure whatever squabble you two had, can be sorted out in no time. Now I have to go back to Asgard straight away, and Loki's actually not dead and we've reconciled so he's also going to be at the coronation." Thor concluded and summoned the Bifrost, vanishing in an instant.

Tony spluttered in shock before turning towards Bruce. "Okay, what the hell?"

Hela struggled to keep her composure as the guards escorted her through the halls, towards her son's room.

"Remember, you have ten minutes my queen," one of the men snarled once they approached the doors. He then shoved her inside roughly and shut the door behind her. She stumbled in ungracefully, her eyes darted across the room before making direct eye-contact with him. She instantly rushed towards the bed, once she reached him, Loki looked like he wanted to say something. But she beat him to it.

"I know I'm not worthy of your forgiveness. But this could be the last time they'll allow us to be together, and I need you to know how sorry I am. I'm so sorry Loki, for everything. I should've listened to you, vengeance clouded my judgement. I'm sorry." Hela's eyes shone slightly with unshed tears.

Loki took her trembling hands in his. "Hela enough, I've already forgiven you."

She nearly reeled back at hearing those words. "What?"

"I know what its like to view yourself as a monster, and to expect everyone to treat you as such. But I saw the haunted look in your eyes, and no matter what the Aesir believe or say, you are not a monster. If anyone's a monster in our family, it's Odin. As for the stabbing, well, I've been stabbing people since I was a child. So I really have no room to talk."

Hela shook her head in disbelief, 'How could a dark soul like me bear a son with such a noble heart'? She muttered in her head.

"What are they going to do to you?"

"Keep me in these chains for the next thousand years, if they're merciful. Although I would prefer if they would just get it over with and tie a rope around my neck. They'll most-likely send me back to Hel to live out the rest of my days," Hela grimaced at the thought of going back to her old residence.

Loki gripped the chains suddenly, magic coursing through his veins.

"What are doing?" Hela asked with slight concern. Soon she heard a distinct clink sound, and the manacles immediately fell from her wrists.

"I won't see you being executed or imprisoned for eternity Hela. Go, run and find refuge, I'll make sure they don't come after you."

Hela gaped for a couple seconds before snapping out of her daze. She held his face for a brief moment. "This won't be the last time we see each other, min sønn," she swore, her voice wavering slightly as she stepped away from him.

Going though her portal, the Goddess of Death felt sick to her stomach when she realized history was repeating itself. She was abandoning him again.

Weeks went by, and so far no gruesome deaths had taken place, so Thor took it as a good sign.

For days, his advisors pestered him to give Loki some sort of punishment for setting Hela free. And while he was extremely pissed for what Loki had done, he understood why he let her go. Thor still couldn't fully grasp that Hela was his birth mother. It made sense, but it was just so...bizarre to him.

Currently, they were out on the terrace. Eating supper and discussing politics and his upcoming coronation.

"So, there's something I've been wanting to tell you, about the coronation."

"What is it?"

"Well, I've been contemplating this for a while now. And I would like to make you my second-in-command."

Loki stared at his brother, trying to decipher whether he was joking or actually being serious. "Are you drunk? Because you would never say something like that in your right mind."

"Nope, not drunk. I'm completely sober and serious my dear little nephew."

"Oh shut up."

Thor adjusted the crown on his head for the umpteenth time. Norns, how he was able to be so confident six years ago, he had no idea.

"It suits you." Loki affirmed, emerging from behind the columns.

"Agree to disagree brother." Thor responded, cursing himself for not being able to settle his nerves.

"You'll be fine, all you have to do is exchange a few words. I know it sounds exhausting, but I think you'll manage."

Thor snorted. "Your silvertongue never fails you, does it?"

Loki smirked before wishing him luck, and headed inside to take his place for the ceremony.

After reciting his pledge to Asgard one last time, he opened the doors and moved onward, ready to claim the throne.

Heimdall was standing in the same spot Odin stood, the choir sung an old hymn in their native tongue. Their voices resounded throughout the grand room. The Avengers and The Warriors Three were standing together in the front row. Loki stood on the steps, giving him an encouraging look.

As Thor approached the dais, he smiled, knowing his mother was celebrating this up in Valhalla.

The coronation ended fairly quickly after that, the Asgardians' cheers could be heard across the Nine Realms. Thor hurried to see his friends (before he was swept away by his people). Volstagg and Fandral were grinning like madmen and continuously pat him on the back. Natasha decided to come as well, though he barely recognized her with her blonde hair. She congratulated him, and apologized for Steve and Clint not being able to make it.

Peter (who Thor now called 'Little Spider') somehow managed to record the whole ceremony without getting in trouble with the Asgardian security.

That night, once all the reunions and festivities were finally over. Two brothers stood by a window, overlooking their realm together.

"I'm glad you're here brother," Thor grasped Loki's neck gently, just like he used to do.

"So am I."

Loki placed his drink on his desk, and continued to recite old spells from one of Frigga's books. It was odd, knowing he was reading with an eye he wasn't born with. He still wasn't used to the foreign (intruding) feeling of having a replacement eye. But he supposed it was getting better.

Suddenly, he sensed a familiar presence standing behind him; and was instantly overcome with relief.

Loki turned around to greet the person, with a wide grin on his face.

"Hello mother."

The End.

Thank you guys so much for reading and sticking w me and this chaotic story! ! ! I hope everyone is safe/healthy during this time

I'm so happy this book is finally finished (may or may not write an epilogue...and if I do it won't take 6 months to a year to post lmao...hopefully (let me know what y'all would like to see?)). I had a lot of moments where I thought I would just leave this story on permanent hiatus or delete it, but then my mom found out that I left it incomplete and threatened to hit me with a chancla if I didn't finish it so...yep Lol

Person: Oh my god, bro reading your sweet reviews made me an emotional mess. In the words of Thanos, they did put a smile on my face haha. Tysm :,))))💞

Whew, I love you people, sending all of you virtual hugs w ice-cream/brownies!🎉 💖

-azureLuna11