It takes a few days for Jane to feel strong enough to travel to the field to see Angrbotha and her children off. Still uncomfortable after childbirth, Loki asks Sleipnir to pull a pillowed open carriage for her and he nuzzles his father with great enthusiasm in reply. So on a warm evening, they ride out, Loki, Jane, and their children, Thor, Sif, and Mothi as well, all settled into the nest of pillows and blankets. The carriage is no trouble for Sleipnir and Loki has to remind him to pull them gently.

When they arrive in the field, Etta escapes her father's arms and runs towards Fenrir shouting "Woof! Woof!" Angrbotha keeps a hand on his muzzle as the tiny girl throws herself against his snout in a huge hug. After, she turns her attention to Jormungandr. She isn't sure what to call him, but after a moment of inspection, she says, "SSSS! SSSS!" and proceeds to hug the closest section of his massive body. He looks at her and replies with a hiss. Then he licks her. She giggles.

Loki scoops her up, "Etta, darling, these two are your half brothers. Fenrir and Jormungandr. It may take a while for you to master their names."

"Woof! SSSS!" she shouts, pointing at each.

"Yes, indeed. Woof and SSSS. I am certain they will find your names for them quite charming." She claps, excited.

Jane walks to Loki, Finn fast asleep in the sling, Sif and Thor following with wide-eyed Mothi, "So...still worried about her forgetting to much while you were gone?"

"I am impressed she still knew me. A few months is such a long time for one so little."

"I told you how she went looking for you. Every morning, she'd sit up, pull the covers over her head, look around under them, and ask, 'Da?' That was her first word, wondering where you were."

Etta throws her arms around his neck, "DA! Me!"

"Precisely, my dear." He tries to loosen the little arms, "But you're strangling me."

"ME!"

"I know. Yours. And I'm not leaving again. But Jormungandr and Fenrir are. Their mother has built a world for them where they can run and play far better than they can here. They'll be happy." She looks worried, "We'll visit Woof and SSSS when we can, my love."

"YAY!" she claps, bouncing in his arms.

Loki turns to Jane, "Did you tell her of them? She's never met them and yet...she seems to be so open to the idea of giant creatures as her brothers."

"We talked about brothers a lot before Finn was born. I told her she had some she'd never met and they are a little unusual. She doesn't care. She turns blue when she's mad. Different is her normal. And she's not even two."

Loki gestures for Thor and Sif to come forward and they do, but more hesitantly than Jane, "Come. I want to introduce you." He takes them to each, repeating names and their relations for each of his sons. Jormungandr inspects them and nods, neither eager to know them or to eat them. Fenrir huffs at Thor, unwilling to come closer. Angrbotha soothes him, patting his snout.

"He remembers. Jormungandr, too. But this one, he is still angry from years of darkness."

Thor bows low, "I humbly apologize. I expect no forgiveness, nor do I deserve it. I was not the man I am now in those days and did not understand you, nor did I understand your parents."

Fenrir huffs again; Angrbotha holds her hand firm on his nose, "Thank you, Thor. But do step back. He is not likely to accept it. Not yet. Not until I have had time with them."

Thor nods and steps back, Sif and Mothi retreating with him to the carriage. Angrbotha leaves Fenrir's side and comes forward to Loki. She takes both his hands, squeezes them, and kisses his forehead.

Then she bows low to Jane, "You have a great man in your care, Jane Foster, of Midgard and Asgard. Keep this trust. He will be far better for it. And you will both live long together, his rise a blessing to you and your children."

"Thank you. He's wonderful. And I'm so excited to raise these kids with him."

"I see a shining future. And there is peace in Asgard."

"Oh thank god, I am so done with the crazy."

She laughs and turns to Etta, "Child. Be kind. Always."

Etta pokes Angrbotha's cheek, "Tee! Om om om."

"She's pointing out that you have teeth. I keep waking up to find her sticking her hand in my mouth. It's a thing." Angrbotha grins so Etta can she her pointed teeth more easily.

Etta opens her own mouth and points to her own tiny teeth, "Tee! Om om om!"

She kisses the child's forehead, "Yes, you have teeth. Perhaps the next time we meet, you can show them to me again." Angrbotha steps back and bows to the family, "Until we meet again." There is an explosion of rainbow light that comes from within her and they are all three gone. Loki helps Jane back to the carriage and they settle in for the ride back to the palace.

Thor speaks halfway back, "Thank you for introducing us. Even if I think your son wants to eat me."

"I don't blame him. I've felt the same," he quips in reply.

Sif's lips curl in a sly grin, "Oh, the places I could take this conversation were little ears not listening."

"You've been spending too much time with Darcy, dear Sif," Loki says, "Your mind is becoming as twisted as hers."

"And who is to say it wasn't twisted before? You have heard me teasing Fandral, have you not?"

"Yes, indeed."

There is a pause in the conversation until Sif speaks again, "We know you and he were close. Are close."

Loki sighs and rubs the bridge of his nose, "What did he tell you?"

"It was no mere fling. It never really ended, at least not for him. You kissed before you left."

"I haven't spoken to him since I came back. I really ought to." He glances over to Jane, "Did you talk to him?"

"Yeah. He and Darcy and I sat down together."

"Oh."

"I know you kissed him. Or he kissed you. There was a meeting of lips. And Fandral clearly still cares about you. Don't worry. Whatever happens...we're going to be OK."

"Do you honestly mean that?"

"I think so. I mean...hearts do stuff I'm not used to sometimes. Just...give me time. I love you. We have two kids. And this is going to take some getting used to."

He wraps his arms around her, "You are wonderful, Jane. I love you so dearly."

"I know. That's why I think we'll be OK."

"And how is Darcy taking this?"

"She came to Asgard expecting to slut around with somebody in a perpetual orgy of sexy fun. She has no qualms about anything."

Loki laughs, "Well that's a delightful description."

"I'm a colourful one."

When they arrive at the palace, Loki leaves to return Sleipnir to his stable while Thor and Sif help Jane with Etta. Etta doesn't want to stop chattering about the Woof and the SSSS, even though most of her other words are unintelligible babbling. Then she licks Thor's cheek and hisses, giggling.

Jane shakes her head, "Come on, you two. I'm hungry. I think...Cora? The girl stepping up into Ursa's place...said there was food coming after we got back. It'll be in the rooms."

They walk down the halls, the toddlers singing and chattering the entire time. Loki joins them and makes the world ahead of them sparkle with falling flowers, butterfly illusions, and frogs hopping down the hall, leading their little parade. The children are delighted. It is the first time Jane has ever seen him use his magic for pure play.

And in the middle of it all, Darcy runs across the hallway wearing both empty Infinity Gauntlets, fists raised high, Fandral chasing after her, "WHOOOO! Darcy for the win! I'm Rocky! I'm awesome! I've got me a pair of gauntlets!" She freezes when she realizes that the others are watching; Fandral crashes into her from behind.

He waves, "Hello! We're having a bit of fun, care to join us?"

Thor shakes his head, chuckling at whatever game they have invented, "No, but thank you. We will join you for lunch shortly. But I think you and Jane and Loki have something you need to talk about first. And return those to the Vault, please."

Fandral nods and puts a hand on Darcy's shoulder, "Come on. Back to the Foster Flat. We'll play at this later."

She punches him lightly with one of the gauntlets, "Yeah, sure. But I'm never going to stop standing on the top of flights of stairs with these things raised. This is way too much fun."

"The Vault, my friends..."

Darcy shakes her head, "No way. I earned these motherfuckers and one of them tried to kill me. I'm keeping them. At least for now."

"Darcy..."

"Nope. You can stash 'em when I'm done playing Rocky."

"Rocky?"

"Midgardian movie reference."

"Ah. Yes. You called it a 'muggle movie'. Well. I suppose if you're careful."

Darcy punches the air, "Dude! Yes!" Fandral rolls his eyes and grabs her arm. They bound, giggling, towards Loki and Jane's rooms.

Food is waiting for them on the table with a note from Cora that she will return to pick up the pizza trays once they send for her. The trays are covered, still steaming.

Fandral turns to his friends, "So. Before we eat."

"Yes. Before," Loki states.

"I never really stopped loving you. At least in some way." The words start tumbling out, "But I don't want to be a wedge and I don't want this to get odd or for anyone to stop being with anyone else and I'm not sure how this will work and I feel I can hide it if I need to but it won't make me happy and I don't know what to do-"

Loki cuts him off by kissing him, "Fandral. Hush."

"Is it the same for you?"

"I don't know if it is entirely the same. But in a way, yes. And there is something that still tightens in my chest when our mouths meet."

"Can this work?"

Loki turns to Jane, "I don't know. Can it?"

She sighs, "I'm not sure how, but yes. I don't really feel like sharing in the sex department. Kissing doesn't feel weird. Sharing you that way-"

Fandral holds up a hand, "I won't ask that. Just allow me a kiss now and again, and perhaps we can all snuggle in a pile together on occasion. This is...different than what I have with Darcy. Maybe it will fade. Maybe not. But for now, a kiss and closeness is all I ask."

Jane nods, "We're going to have to make sure we talk a lot- keep touching base with each other to be sure we're all still OK."

"Of course- I expect nothing less. That is what Darcy and I do in our relationship on a regular basis, especially if we are mingling at a feast. But what will the children call me?"

"Uncle Fandral seems perfectly fine. And it's what they already are learning to call you. There neednt' be much change here. No upheaval. And we'll always talk." He turns to Jane, "Especially you. I don't want to risk losing you. Gods, Jane, please promise me you'll say something if this is too much for you."

She smiles, "I will. We're OK. We're a family. We've survived you and Odin's...whatever the hell is always going on with you and Odin. We'll be OK with this, too."

He kisses her, "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"You must tell me if that ever changes."

"I will. And so will Darcy. Loudly."

Darcy grins, "You bet I will."

There is a clang from the table as Etta tosses one of the covers off a pizza tray, "Ooops!" she sings, giggling.

There is a knock on the door; Fandral turns to the others, "May I? Or do we need more time?"

Jane shakes her head, "It's OK."

He nods and opens the door to find Thor, Sif, and Mothi on the other side, "Come. There is pizza."

Thor hugs Fandral at the door, "I trust my friends are well?"

He smiles, "We are in a good place with one another."

"Good! Then let us celebrate that we are family with this food for the gods."

As they gather around the table, Darcy calls for a toast, her glass raised high, "So! Here's to us. We're a bunch of weirdos and fuckups- thank god for that. But we're also a family. You guys. Me. Whatever the hell Angrbotha is. Loki's critterkids. Hela. Odin. Jane's mom. Even ol' Earthbound Erik. And we're going to be OK. Better than OK. We're awesome and that means we've got a lot of mischief to make. Clink 'em, people, and take a drink, for this absolutely insane family. I love you guys."

They cheer and Thor serves pizza.

Late that night, when it is just Jane, Loki, and their sleeping children, they take time to talk after they are in bed. He runs his hands along Jane's side, in awe of her as he always is. He loves every curve, every stretch mark, and the droop of her post-pregnancy stomach. He kisses her and rubs her back. She melts against him.

"Loki?"

"Hmmm?"

"We've come a long way."

"Yes, we have. A remarkable long way."

"Do you remember the first time I came to see you after we were married?"

"Yes."

"I'm glad we took a chance. That we decided to try to be friends, even if it wasn't what we wanted."

"As am I, my love." He pauses, trying to figure out what he wants to tell her, "I could have changed it. I considered it, actually. I had the Time Stone in my hands. I thought about going back, whispering suspicions of my race in my own ear...erased everything. But I couldn't do it. Not even to save Sigyn. I didn't know what would happen to me, if I would have my memories, jump into this new reality anew, or discover I had to replace myself or die. And so because I did not know, because I did not want to live with the knowledge that I had destroyed us and undone our beautiful children, I did nothing."

"Oh wow. That's...that's incredible."

"Oh?"

"I know how much you loved Sigyn...and how much you've wished everything had turned out differently. Are you telling me that little ol' Jane Foster was the reason you didn't?"

"Yes. And our children."

She glances over her shoulder where Etta sleeps behind her, curled up against Finn's basket, "I feel like a fairy tale princess."

"My love, you are a fairy tale princess. Love has redeemed your prince."

"Love and your own incredible courage- don't you dare write your own work and sacrifices off as nothing. You're a brave man, Loki. And a good one. No matter how many crappy choices you've made or what you had to do to save the universe."

"I'm not so certain about that. I killed a man. Asked a very good one to die of his own accord. And he did."

"I had a moment where I wasn't sure, either. After Angrbotha came back and told us the Collector was in Hela's halls. But she reminded me why you were doing this. What you were sacrificing to try to stop Thanos. And it was pretty clear- you're an incredibly good person for taking on that burden yourself. For making the hard calls."

He kisses her slowly, everything he can't put into words resting on his lips. She gently pushes him back when he tries to shift on top of her.

"Just had a baby, sweetheart. Everything's still pretty sore."

"Ah. Yes. I'm sorry."

"It's OK. We haven't really had the time to be close since you came back. There's been so much to do, people to meet...and Finn's so new. I want it, too. But not yet. Right now, I just want to know you're here and the world isn't going to turn to chaos again."

"Angrbotha said we would have peace."

"So the princess and prince will get a happily ever after?"

"It seems so."

She smiles, "Good. Let's get some rest. I'm exhausted. I forgot how tiring newborns are." She turns on her side, her back to him, so she can keep an eye on the children. He wraps his arm around her, tucking close against her, and lightly kisses her neck, breathing deep the scent of her hair. She sighs and closes her eyes, her hand over his. "Goodnight, Loki."

"Goodnight, my princess. Sleep well. Tomorrow we begin our happily ever after." He falls asleep completely content.

THE END