A/N: Hello! I promised I would be updating more often, so, here I am! I moved back home for the summer on Sunday, so I should be (relatively) able to post once a week! Any questions or comments, you can leave a review on here! Enjoy! Xx

OOOOOO

Chapter Nine
It's a Kind of Magic

OOOOOO

"Why would they want a parent teacher conference?" Clint questioned, not taking his eyes off the road. "Taz, have you been having any trouble?"

Tasia sat in the back seat, hands in her lap. "No, Daddy, I would tell you if I was." She looked up and relaxed when she saw her mother looking at her, smiling. "I have good grades! And I don't act out, I promise!"

"We know, honey. We're just confused." Natasha reached a hand back to run her fingers through Tasia's hair. "I'm sure everything will be just fine."

Ten minutes later, Natasha and Clint were sitting in front of Mrs. Gunderson, waiting for her to begin talking.

"To start off, I want to completely stress that this is a good conference," Mrs. Gunderson started, "Tasia is a model student. She's smart, hardworking, and very intuitive."

"We agree, we're very proud of her," Clint replied.

"As am I. I'm very proud to be her teacher." Mrs. Gunderson pulled out a stack of papers. "As you know, Tasia is the star of our school's student government, and she has been hand-selected for the Young Leaders of America program."

Natasha blinked in surprise. "Really? I thought that was a program for high school students."

"Normally it is. However, Senator Russen was very impressed by her speech at the seminar last month, and she appealed to the board." The younger woman gathered the papers into a manila folder and handed it to Clint. "All you need is to sign the authorization form, and she's in."

"Of course. We'll discuss all this with her, and then go from there." Natasha stood, and shook her hand. "Thank you."

Tasia stood when her parent stepped into the hallway. "So? Am I in trouble?"

"You're the farthest thing from in trouble." Clint said, moving to pull her into a hug.

OOOOOO

"A sister? We're going to have a baby sister?" Matthew grinned. "That is so awesome."

Jane smiled at her boys, who were both looking at her like she hung the moon. "Your father and I think so, too." She rested a hand against her belly. "Anyways, dinner's at seven. Try and get your homework done, and no sword fights."

"Aye, aye, captain!" Markus said before tugging Matthew out of the room.

"Boys," Jane rolled her eyes and turned back to her work.

OOOOOO

"Is it scary?"

Loki looked up from his textbook. Chloe was standing in the doorway, arms crossed against her chest, looking at him pointedly. "Is what scary?" he asked curiously, motioning her into the room.

Chloe walked in and closed the door, moving to sit cross-legged on his bed. "The magic. Is it scary, when it happens?"

"Not really. The first time, it was. I was so terrified, I thought something… something was really wrong with me." Loki frowned and took a deep breath. "It feels natural, though. Like it's supposed to be there, it's meant to be a part of me. What I'm trying to work on with Dad is controlling it a little better."

"That makes sense. I'm glad you're feeling better about it all." Chloe picked at one of her nails. "I love you, y'know. Not just because you're my brother, either. I just love you. I would be so sad if you were sad."

"I know, Little Bird." Loki stood up and walked over to tug her into his arms. "We're a team, you and me. Can't have one without the other, can you?"

"Of course not."

He sighed. "You want to watch a movie? I know Mom just stocked back up on popcorn." Chloe nodded against his shoulder. "Alright. You grab the popcorn, and I'll get the pillows and blankets, alright?"

"Alright." She pulled away and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. "I'll meet you in the living room."

Loki watched her go, smiling a bit. He felt better than he had in a long time. Without much thought, he gathered up the pillows from his bed and the thickest quilt he could find, wrapping it around his shoulders to walk out to the living room. Chloe was standing in front of the microwave, watching the plate move through the window on the front. Loki watched her, amused. She had always done that with popcorn – he could remember her, five years old and curious about everything, nose pressed to the glass.

"It's so cool," she would always mutter, "Loki! Come look!"

He could never stay away. Chloe had this aura about her, a blanket of warmth that enveloped all she was near. Gosh, Loki adored his sister.

"What are we watching, nerd?" she asked, turning to face him.

"I don't know, I thought I would let you pick," he responded, turning and walking towards the living room. "I mean, Disney movie, maybe?" He collapsed back onto the couch, curling up a bit and getting comfortable in his own little corner. He shivered a bit when his phone buzzed in his pocket, and pulled it out.

Peter: Woke up from my nap and my boy was missing. Did he disappear?

Loki: I'm watching a movie with Chloe. I'll be back later, babe.

Peter: Okay. I'm going to get some homework done. Love you.

Loki: Love you too. Xx

Next thing he knew, Chloe was cuddled up to him, tucked close under the quilt. She reached over him to grab the remote, and turned on the television. "I hope you're prepared for Hercules and The Emperor's New Groove, Nerdface."

"Always, Little Bird. Always."

When Darcy and Bruce arrived back from their shopping trip, around 2:30pm, they found their children dancing around the living room, Mulan on the screen, and singing "I'll Make a Man Out of You" at the top of their lungs. Darcy was smart enough to pull out her phone and start video recording them, snickering to herself. Bruce just watched, smiling widely. The kids ended up together in a pile on the carpet, laughing loudly and gasping for air.

OOOOOO

It was a week before Thanksgiving when Peter woke up with a stuffy nose. He groaned, curling further into the blankets and burrowing himself into the pillows. Loki jerked awake at the noise and blinked sleepily down at the blankets, Peter having rolled up into a tiny ball. Without a second thought, he moved under the blankets and plastered himself to Peter's back, nuzzling against his neck.

"What's wrong?" he asked quietly, wrapping an arm around Peter's waist and kissing his skin.

"My nose is stuffy," Peter said, turning to face his boyfriend. "I don't want to be sick, Loki. I don't want it! I can't afford to be sick right now!"

Loki cooed gently, running his fingers through Peter's hair and rubbing their noses together. "Sh, you'll be alright. I'll be right here. I can take care of you," he soothed. "Besides, you might not be properly sick, Pete. You could just have the sniffles."

"You're right. I overreacted." Peter's eyes fluttered shut, and he tugged Loki up against his chest. "Mm, you're so warm. Can we stay in bed forever?"

"Unfortunately, we need to go to school today."

"Darn."

Loki leaned up to kiss him lazily, their mouths moving together in perfect time. Peter pulled away first, sniffling. He kissed Loki once more before moving towards the bathroom, scratching at his stomach and yawning. Loki watched him go, smiling.

They met up in the kitchen for breakfast twenty minutes later, Peter wearing the thickest sweater he could find, Loki in fuzzy socks and very skinny jeans. Loki pushed a glass of orange juice at Peter, kissing his forehead. Steve and Tony watched the interaction, smiling.

"I have a cold," Peter moaned, "I should still be allowed to have my coffee!"

"No! You need vitamin C, and caffeine would make your stomach hurt! This isn't my first time around the rodeo with you, Peter Stark-Rogers!" Loki said. "You've been sick, what, fifty times since we first met? I know you."

Tony set a bowl of oatmeal in front of Peter. "Brown sugar and banana, your favorite."

Peter smiled up at him. "Thanks, Dad."

"Hm," Steve leaned down to press his cheek to Peter's forehead, "you feel a bit warm, but you should be alright to go to school. Call if you need to come home, alright? I don't want you sticking it out just to make yourself sicker in the long run."

"Of course, Papa." Peter finished off his glass of orange juice and frowned. "That isn't nearly as satisfying as coffee, Loke."

Loki looked at him pointedly. "Pete, you know I'm right."

"Unfortunately, yes."

Chloe walked in, still in her pajamas and rubbing her eyes. "Why are you guys even awake?" she asked, voice still rough. "Mom and Dad got the call half an hour ago. There was a gas leak at school, so we have the day off."

"Thank fuck," Peter blurted out.

Steve gasped then. "Peter, language!"

Tony snickered and looked down at his coffee cup, trying to hide his large smile. Steve glared at him, arms against his chest.

"Sorry, Papa," Peter said, sniffling. "Long weekend! Yay!"

Loki reached over to rub at Peter's cheek with his thumb, and sighed. "This is probably for the best. You should get some rest." He picked up the second spoon near Peter's bowl and took a bite of the oatmeal. "Uncle Steve, please help me reason with him."

"Oh my god, is Loki the Uncle Steve of your relationship, Pete?" Chloe whispered.

Tony full on laughed then, coughing up coffee. Steve patted his back, and Loki blushed, curling up a bit in his seat and pulling his knees up to his chest.

"I guess I'll just go then," he managed out, running from the room, angry tears streaming down over his pale cheeks.

Peter watched him go, frowning. "Chloe, that wasn't cool. And Dad, that was rude. I expect you to treat my boyfriend better than that." He stood up, sniffling, and followed after Loki. "Loki… Loki, c'mon!" He made it down to the Banner's floor and ran down the hall to Loki's bedroom, pounding on the door. "Loki, you know she didn't mean it as an insult… everyone loves you so much. I love you so much. Please?"

"Just leave me alone, Peter, okay? I'll… I'll see you later."

"Loki…" Peter sighed. "Okay. Text me? I promise my Dad didn't mean to laugh like that. Well, he did, but he didn't mean to hurt your feelings. And, I love you." He backed away then. "I'll be in my room. Sleeping. Or just resting. Y'know."

He made his way back to the Stark-Rogers floor and glared at Tony. "That wasn't nice, Dad. He's really upset. He doesn't even want to come back up here."

Tony looked at his son. "I am sorry it hurt his feelings."

"Good." Peter picked up his bowl of oatmeal and started back towards his bedroom. It seemed colder without Loki there to cuddle, and the pillow still smelled of him. Peter frowned and sniffled again, burrowing against the covers.

OOOOOO

When the alarm sounded throughout the tower that evening, Peter sat upright in bed, gasping for breath. He stumbled out of his bedroom to see Tony and Steve preparing to leave, shoving things into a duffel bag, the shield propped up against the counter.

"Peter," Steve said, catching sight of him standing in the doorway, rubbing sleepily at his eyes, "sorry for waking you up, honey."

"What's going on?" Peter crossed his arms against his chest and shivered, thinking about all the things that could be happening out there in the cruel, dark world. "Is the whole team being called in?"

"Peter, it's nothing too bad. We'll be home before you know it." Tony walked over and pressed a kiss to his son's forehead. "Try and get some more rest, alright?"

Peter teared up a bit, nodding. "I will. I promise." He still didn't react well to the alarm, always worrying and getting upset. "Can we all have a hug before you leave?"

Steve crooned, walking forward to envelope his son in his arms, holding him close. "Don't you worry about us, okay? Everyone else is gathered down on the Banner floor, and I know that the other kids would probably love a group cuddle. You should go down and join them." Tony joined the hug, running his fingers through Peter's thick hair. "We love you so much."

"Love you too, Papa. Love you, Dad." Peter nuzzled against them for a few more moments. "Alright, I'm going to go gather my comfy stuff and head down there."

"We will be back before you know it," Tony reminded.

When Peter got to the Banner floor, he wasn't surprised to find the usual crowd gathered around the television. Darcy and Jane were tucked together on the couch, clutching cups of coffee and talking gently. Matthew and Markus were fast asleep on the floor, snoring a bit, while Tasia and Chloe played gin rummy. And Loki – Loki was waiting for him with open arms, which Peter rushed into, already starting to cry.

"I've got you," he soothed. "I'm right here." Loki led him back to his own bedroom, pushing him back onto the bed. "I'm not going to leave. I'll be right here."

Peter clung to him, staining his t-shirt with tears. "T-thank you. Thank you."

OOOOOO