Bruce rung out another cold cloth and places it over Loki's head. Feeling the hot skin on the flushed cheeks he could tell they had used some kind drug to keep him from moving so much. Just as he was going to get something for him to eat so it would sober him up some the door opened and two healers came in and pretty much pushed him aside with a small bundle of what looked to a baby shape.

They bowed and the one with the baby waited as the other propped Loki up and they laid the baby in his arms and Bruce watched as Loki struggle to hold the baby thanks to the drugs. They left after bowing and Bruce rushed up to see… a baby.

But it wasn't Loki's. A new born wouldn't be able to have its head up or turning like that nor would it be that alert even at that early stage. Touching the baby he paused as Loki pulled the baby closer. Stopping he just pulled some pillows closer to the God's arm so it would be easier to hold the baby.

Once the drugs took over completely and Loki fell a sleep with the baby on his chest Bruce took the baby and looked him over. This baby was at least three or four months old. Something was also wrong. Carefully setting the baby in a nest of pillows he walked to the halls and saw some chamber maids getting out some new sheets. He was going to go ask them something when he heard something and hide as they walked with cart of bedding sheets.

"Well it serves him right. To have a baby at that young age. Not only that but with a frost giant." The first one said.

"You mean a frost Giant's horse." The other laughed. "That shape shifter price may have got the Kingdom a free wall but to lay with common animals is lucky the Allfather allowed him to even have such a beast."

"Now be fair. It is not the King's fault that Loki is such an outcast. No friends but those ones that show up every now and again. He should be lucky they found a dying child to give to him and use his real child to be Odin's horse."

Bruce tensed and tried to breath calmly and went back to the room to see Loki awake, still drowsy but awake holding the baby and kissing the forehead and rocking him slowly clearly in love with the child he thought he birthed. Walking over to him Bruce didn't have the heart to tell him when the doors opened the two maids who had been gossiping stepped in smiling.

"My Price, we are glad of your child's arrival."

"Ah, thank yo-"

"Just change the sheets and get out of here." Bruce growled and took a deep breath helping Loki stand and walk him over to a chair. "Hurry up."

"Are you well, friend?" Loki asked eyes still hazed for the most part.

"Yes… Loki…"

"Yes?" Loki smiled at the baby who was cooing.

"…Congratulations…"

Tony stared. Was everyone going to pretend to be happy that Loki had a baby… a baby that was contently sick, so much so that Loki never even left the room because he was so panicked of being gone even for a second. The healers swore there was nothing they could do, so Loki started to read, study anything to do with healing spells, potions, runes, anything at all and was taking care of the baby.

Thor tried helping but to be honest Thor wasn't really what one would call help so Loki would ask his brother and friends to brings things for him. They did time and again. Bruce told them what had happened but they couldn't tell Loki, because Thro knew so Thor should tell him.

They all knew what was going to happen to the baby. It was already sensed and clear but they helped Loki the best they could until one day when they came to visit and the baby lay still on the bed and Loki was dressing him in a white garment and was tying up the white furred boots slowly, head cast down, eyes stained from old and fresh tears.

Thor spoke first feeling horrible, pained at saddened. He had grown to love the baby as well. "Brother… when…?"

"Early this morning… before sunrise… I-… I cannot… tie the shoes on… It has been an hour…" Loki said taking off the laces and trying again to put them on again. "It seems not to be real…" The cracked voice said.

Walking over to him Thor embraced him, holding tight as the younger sobbed heart broken. The others walked over to the baby. Bruce checked the baby carefully before nodding that the baby was dead and turned away feeling sick.

Tony noticed and walked over to him hugging him. Steve hung his head until he felt a hand on his shoulder. Looking up he saw Thor looking at him and then looked at Loki who was sitting on a chair sitting side ways, legs pulled up and face hidden in his knees. Steve looked at him then back at Thor.

"I must take the child to the healers. They will set up a proper burial for him… watch over my brother."

"Sure…" Steve watched them leave and walked over to Loki and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

Loki said nothing but placed his hand over Steve's in a sign of thanks.

Steve had no idea how they ended up like this but he rather liked it. As a shamed as he was about it but really it felt nice. Slender fingers ran through his hair as in a calmly way. Loki had a distant look on his face but Loki had asked him to sit on the sofa with him and asked for Steve to lay his head down and started to run his fingers along as the other hand laid on the upper part of his arm.

Almost an hour later and Tony still biting his tongue trying not to say anything Thor returned and let them leave before closing the door. Walking to the younger and pulled him into his arms and held him. It was clear that Loki had gone passed crying and was now in shock.

All Thor could do was hold and whisper comforting words.

"This is actually kind of nice. Never thought it would feel this way. Your thoughts, Dr. Banner?"

"Well, it is... Somewhat comforting…"

"It is. I wonder if it's because we're younger, or because the culture is different here as well everything or even the timeline."

"Maybe so… Uh, maybe it could be an age thing. Be the coming of age and such."

"Yeah, that could be it. Hm. What do you think, Cap?"

"I think I would like for both of you to stop using me as a pillow and get up…"

Bruce sat up right away moving but Tony stayed where was, head still on Steve's chest as it was one of Tony's curiosity on the way Loki reacted with the super solider and he had noticed it around the place so was wondering it would affect them.

"Wait. I'm still seeing where this leads."

"Stark, I need to go to the restroom…"

"Alright fine." Tony rolled over to lie on his side. "I was going to take a nap you know."

Sighing Steve left. He really wondered why both of them had thought about that and wondered what they wanted when they asked him to lay down but was more shocked when they laid on he and started talking, so he ended up just letting them as he laid there in confusion.

After doing what he had to do Steve walked back and saw that Tony was still on his side, taking a nap and Bruce was just off in his own little world. Grabbing a ladle to drink some water Steve looked out the window. It seemed no one even cared about Loki's lost.

Instead it went on as if it didn't happen. Steve frowned. It was as if no one… cared… at all about Loki or his 'child'. Turning around he was going to ask Bruce if he would go with him to see Loki but at some point Bruce had wandered off so Steve left on his own.

Walking up to the palace he stopped as he noticed Odin walking with Loki to the stables. The image of what happened with Loki and the teeth still fresh in his mad made Steve tense and he followed them and he was nervous as Odin had a hand on Loki's back almost as if comforting but if you looked closer you could see that the Allfather was just making sure his younger son was going to stay where he was.

They walked into the stables. Steve hurried over to listen in on what they were saying and it made him sick hearing Odin tell Loki that he was going to name this new horse after his son. What made it worse was that Loki seemed to have felt a strong connection to the eight legged horse right away. Odin noticed and hurried Loki out saying that they had to go to somewhere but Loki was reluctant to leave but really had no say in the matter.

Steve saw Thor walking into the stable as well and followed him. "Thor?"

"Ah, Steve… What is it?"

"Uh, that horse… is it?"

"Quite. It is forbidden to speak if it."

"But-"

"IT. IS. FORBIFFRN. Or has my brother not suffered enough?" Thor growled and took a seat on a bench looking distressed. "I do not wish to see you put to death… leave it be and let my brother believe it."

Knowing full well that it was clear that here Odin's word was law so Steve had to let it go but sat next to Thor and for a short while said nothing.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yes?"

"Do you ever notice that Loki is treated way different than you?"

"None sense. Father treats us the same."

"You really don't see it? Thor, he treats Loki like he's not worth it. He just made him give up-"

Hands grabbed his mouth harshly. "Do not speak of it or you will be put to death." Thor hissed. "Go back to your friends. Something is about to happen and you do not wish to be outside when it does…"

Pushing the hands away Steve frowned. "What's going to happen?"

"Just find your friends and stay inside."

Before Steve could say anything there was such a loud clash in the sky that it shook the ground. Looking around Steve saw Thor leaving, most likely looking for Loki, and the ground shook harshly again. Taking off back to the house they lived in he saw Tony holding onto a pillar.

"What's going on?" He said still gripping the stone not letting go.

"I'm not sure. Where's Bruce?"

"I thought he was with you!"

"Stay here's I'll be back."

"Sure, because I was so looking to going for a walk at the moment."

Ignoring the remark he hurried outside scanning for Bruce when the ground shook again. Stumbling a bit he caught himself. Still running he noticed everyone was in their homes, and who ever wasn't was hurrying to get inside and fast.

Calling out for Bruce he looked for him hoping he would see him. A few streets over he couldn't find him until he saw someone clinging to a gate just as the ground shook again. Running up to him he helped his friend up.

"Come on."

"Okay!"

The sky started to darken. Steve looked up and then suddenly everything became eerily quite. Grabbing Bruce he hoisted him up so the smaller teen was on his back and took off running as fast as he could back to the house. When they got there Tony was standing outside looking up. Before anything else could happen there was a huge banging sound causing them all to fall to the ground.

Standing Steve saw that Bruce shoulder was hurt but they didn't have time to waste. Hoisting him up and over his shoulder, Steve grabbed Tony and dragged them back inside the house closing the door and locking it. Whatever was happening it didn't sound good.

"What the hell is happening?!" Tony said as lighting flashed outside dangerously.

"I don't know! Thor just said something bad was happening. Come on let's get to the crawl space!"

They all got in and closed it and waited as the clashing continued on and on and then the ground shook more almost like an Earthquake. The ground trembles and to keep them from bouncing around Steve held tight to both the geniuses who held tighten to him he swore they would leave bruises.

After what seemed like hours it stopped suddenly, the sound of pouring rain could be heard from outside. Steve got up letting go of his friends to check it out and slowly opened the door to the crawl space. Peeking out for a second Steve walked to the window and saw guards bringing hideous monsters in chains all walking in a line, howling, growling, drool falling form their mouths.

The skin looked like it was melting, the sick smell of rotting flesh, and worse it looked like there was small creatures eating their flesh. It was sickening. Steve was not aware that anyone was next to him until he heard someone throwing up and looked over to see Bruce throwing up and soon followed by Tony who was on the other side of him.

Training had kept Steve from throwing up with them but he grabbed them both and lead them back to the crawl space, pretty much tossing them in and hoping in and closing it. It was dark. They couldn't see each other and it hit Steve.

"Tony… Your reactor…"

"It's, ugh," Tony gagged still recovering from the smell. "Since we're 'back' in time and my body's younger here… I don't have it…"

"When I got angry… I didn't turn into the other guy." Bruce's voice sounded from the right.

"What about me? I'm still… well, unchanged?"

"I'm guessing that the super serum was un affective. Lucky you or you would be dead. Gah, my nose… I need to sleep."

There was shuffling and Steve from feeling Tony settle on left side using him as a pillow. "That's not the floor."

No one answered but Steve let it slide. It was a horrible day, the afternoon was turned into a something that they couldn't explain. What was with those things? What did Thor know about them? What would become of Loki? Would they ever get back? And when they did what would happen?

Now Bruce came up on his right side huddling up seeking comfort. Steve was going to ask why but shut his mouth realizing. Tony hated to be locked up in dark places. It reminded him of the time he was held hostage in Afghanistan and being tortured. It was no secret that back home in the tower that Tony still suffered from it.

Bruce too had a fear of Ross. He had been captured and tortured as well there and though they didn't know much about it they did know it was bad because sometimes they would find Bruce wandering around the tower, and other times crying, but that's because Tony was noisy and often told Steve about it when it occurred.

Sighing softy Steve pulled them closer giving the unspoken comfort they needed. Of course Bruce would say thank you and Tony would later make a comment. But right now at the moment it worried him that neither said a word but the small trembles confirmed that they were fighting off the horrible memories.

Steve woke to the sun seeping through the wood. Blinking he was going to move when he remembered that two of his teammates where hugging him in their sleep. Which brought the question: How long had they been in this small space? Sitting up a little he woke them from the sleep. Bruce went to move but Steve pulled him back to his side suddenly.

"Shh… do you hear that?"

Tony now Alert looked up listening. There was the sound of footsteps in the house. The person seemed to stop and look around for a moment. The steps back over them and they watched staying as quite as possible when voices spoke.

"Leave the invitation here. They will be back. Now let us go."

"Alright."

When the steps left Steve got up and slowly opened the door slightly looking around before pushing it open and jumping out. Reaching back in he pulled out Tony and Bruce before closing the trap door and hiding it under the thick rug.

Tony read the invite and then handed it to Steve and Steve frowned. "A celebration? Tonight? Wait. It says here that they"

"Why are they holding it?" Bruce asked frowning.

"It looked like they defeated a great enemy. That could be the war criminals we saw."

"Gross."

"Uh, you guys…?"

They turned to Bruce who was at the door and a guy had his hand on Bruce's shoulder and he was smiling at them. Steve frowned and Tony looked the other up and down.

"Can we help you?"

"Yes, I was wondering if I might borrow the son of Banner for a few moments?" the guys said.

Steve walked over to him. "For what reason?"

"Ah, forgive me. I should talk to you first. You are their older brother are you not?"

Blinking in shock Steve was about to say no when Tony ran up to him. "Yes. Yes he is. Now I'll stay here with Bruce and you can take our dear big brother. Fear not Steve for I shall watch over us."

With that Tony pushed Steve out and closed the door and turned to Bruce. "Don't look at me like that. We need a cover story. Now then to get back to our time were going to need Thor's help again and tonight seems like the perfect chance."

"Right. But I was thinking we should make a few changes to the watches. Maybe we can get back to a more our time without risking too much."

Nodding Tony stepped forward. "We would need tools for that and since we're guests here we have no means of money- Oh my God… I'm poor here. POOR. NO MONEY BRUCE I'M TONY STARK AND I HAVE NO MONEY!"

"Calm down! We'll… Uh, find away."

"We need someone. Someone rich. Someone willing to give us money. We could ask Thor but he won't do it and Loki's been through enough. If only we had sort of force that was on our side…"

The door opened and Steve looked both slightly angry and uncomfortable and he looked at Bruce and Bruce looked at the young man, maybe a seventeen here, close to their current age if not a little older but then again the real age cold be well over eight hundred.

"Bruce… this is Barbrian… He's a nobleman and he wants to date you."

"Oh. OH… well, this is awkward."

"I'll tell him to leave."

"No! Wait! Bruce would love for you to court him. Isn't that right Bruce? This nice wealthy nobleman likes you so he must prove it… with gifts…. Preferably gold gifts."

"Uh…" Bruce gave up and sighed. "I want to be courted first."

Steve palmed and the Nobleman took Bruce away talking happily promising to buy him a gift right at that moment. Steve shook his head and turned to Tony who looked who was smiling proud of himself and he explained to Steve why and then frowned when Steve smiled at him.

"What?"

"Clean up, Stark. You're going to go out there and make men court you. You are a play boy so find noblemen to bring you stuff won't take long."

"Damn."

I want to thank you all for the reviews! As I am running late for work I will respond to your reviews and advice in the next chapter. Thank you all so much!