What to Expect when You're Expecting ((Arranged marriage AU, magpiemythos))

[shieldborne]

It's not hard for Steve to dote on Loki at the best of times, but given the additional excuse of incoming babies, his skills rise to new heights. Partly it's necessity; to protect his friends from god-induced damages he needs to make sure he's between them and his spouse as often as possible, but also...

There's something right about it, funny and wholesome, to be making trips for ice cream and flowers and honey candy to please the expectant parent. Steve doesn't sleep much, anyway. He's happy to go out late at night or early in the morning for food runs.

There's some inherent stress in Loki being even more mercurial than usual, though. Steve finds himself on edge at times, but there's no doubt in his mind it will all be worth it. For children. For a family.

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[magpiemythos]

"Did I say anything about volunteering?" Loki replied in a deceptively sweet tone, mischief glinting in her gaze. Not that she'd actually force Bucky to help, but she had a feeling that he'd offer of his own volition.

"Haven't eaten yet, but I'm not especially hungry yet." Tilting her head into that nuzzle, enjoying the affection for what it was before rewarding Steve with a kiss on the cheek. Not that her odd eating habits were any surprise at this point- in an hour or two she'd likely be positively ravenous after all.

And not saying anything about the comment of one child. No, she knew when she wanted to let Steve in on what was going on, and this wasn't the place.

[shieldborne]

Loki wouldn't have to force Bucky to help. Steve would totally do it himself, if need be.

"You're eating for two," Steve tells her, not knowing the half of it. But he's not going to force the issue, either, content to just hold her if that's all she wants. Probably in the next half hour or so he's going to be ready for something to eat, but in the meantime there's a lot of peace and contentment to be found in just coddling his wife and listening to the movie play in the background.

There's a lot that could go wrong here. And if it does, he might not be able to handle the devastation. But if it doesn't, if they can really have this, together--seems like the long road to get here might have been worth it.

[magpiemythos]

"I certainly am." Loki commented, though there was something considering in the tone, a blink and you miss it sort of thing really. She was tempted to just stay snuggled where she was. It was a rather nice little moment of peace and quiet, and she always did like being nestled into Steve's arms, like his embrace could shield her from ill fates. Maybe it really could. Things certainly seem to have been going better than she could ever have hoped after all.

"But talk of food aside, I was thinking." Pausing to let that make everyone in the room jolt, tone and expression innocent. "We should tell your mother the good news, don't you think?"

[shieldborne]

Haha, yeah, 'I was thinking' is always a statement that, when coming from Loki, ought to be paid attention to. Natasha looks over with raised eyebrows, Buck gulps quietly, and everyone else except Steve gives side-eyes.

Steve just kisses the top of her head like nothing she could say is going to faze him here, and waits for the rest of her suggestion.

He's not disappointed. He breaks into a grin; he doesn't like to ask to visit Sarah, although he suspects he could get Loki to indulge him nine times out of ten if he did, but every time they go makes him feel a little more...human. Connected to home and family. Less like a lost soldier and more like one that's finally come home.

Besides, his mother deserves to know she's getting grandchildren. "I'd love that," he tells Loki softly.

[magpiemythos]

Loki does so like getting those reactions. Not out of any cruelty, but just because she likes to cause a stir at times. And that grin from Steve is just one of her favorite reactions to get as of late- she makes it a point to offer to take him to visit his mother as often as she feels they can get away with, partly because she likes Sarah but also because of how happy it makes Steve.

"I thought you'd like that idea. Suppose that means I have to move." Not that she could until Steve relinquished his grasp on her. "Then after we can see about scaring up something to eat."

But good news and minor mischief first!

[shieldborne]

The people who know Steve best and care about him most--other than Loki, that is--have noticed how much more stable he seems since his marriage. The visits to Sarah are certainly a big part of that, but they're not the only gift Loki has given him. They all thought he was taking a huge risk, marrying a trickster god. If so, the payoff has been enormous.

He's happy.

"Umnn," he sighs and kisses behind her ear. As much as he wants to go, he's not eager to kick her off his lap. But after a moment he releases her and grins. "Do we have to scare it first?"

[magpiemythos]

It's a stabilizing influence on the both of them it seemed, for all the others didn't know this Loki well enough before he came here to know for sure one way or the other.

"Depends on what I'm in the mood for." Loki commented conversationally as she eased herself up off his lap, giving his hair an affectionate ruffle. "I could just send you on a chase for a bilgesnipe."

Not that she would. They were edible sure, but for all she knew Steve would go after one if he thought she wanted it, she wasn't about to send him on that sort of miserable trek.

[shieldborne]

"You wouldn't do that to me," he says, giving her puppy eyes. He's never actually seen a bilgesnipe, but from what he's heard about them, he has the impression that they're big and mean and he doesn't want to tangle with any.

He would probably have a hard time scaring one.

He waits until she's on her feet, then he rises, too. "Anyone want anything while we're out?"

[magpiemythos]

"Wouldn't I?" Said in a mild, innocent tone as Loki was carefully arching her back to stretch those lower muscles and maybe ease some of the stiffness.

"I'll take a slice off that bilgesnipe!" Clint piped up from his end of the sofa. And as the trickster was wandering by he froze utterly as a black-nailed hand patted his hair in passing, Loki letting out a low chuckle at that reaction.

Not that anyone was going to tell him his hair was now a charming shade of lavender just yet, though.

[shieldborne]

Under normal circumstances, Steve would confidently reply that no, he's pretty sure she would not. But she's pregnant and she's been a bit more mercurial lately, and he's a little afraid to tempt fate. His expression goes from playful to contemplative and wary, and he looks like he's not sure how to respond.

Luckily, Clint volunteers himself as tribute, and Steve is off the hook for the moment. He grins, but manages not to laugh, and simply follows his wife from the room like a little lamb.

[magpiemythos]

No one was looking at Clint too long at the moment, even as someone stifled a snort of laughter of their own as the man inquired nervously as to what was so funny, earning an amused grin from Loki as she led the way out of the room. Not too far, just enough to give some room to open a rift to that vista that Steve would certainly find familiar at this point before turning towards him to take his hand.

"Shall we?"

[shieldborne]

"That's going to match his outfit well," Steve tells Loki as they get out of earshot of the others. He puts an arm around her back gently and falls silent as she opens up the rift.

He always smiles at the site of the afterlife. It gives him hope just to see it, to know his mother is there safely, and his father is in just as good a place. To feel it.

Whatever happens to him, they're all right. Although in all fairness what's been happening to him lately is nothing but good. He lets Loki takes his hand and nods mutely, letting her lead the way.

[magpiemythos]

"Color coordination is important." Loki replied, paying no mind to the outraged yelp and peals of laughter that followed them through the rift.

Loki is always glad that this brings her husband such peace of mind. She's seen the way his life and work had affected him, still do at times. Knows that hope is harder to hold onto sometimes. So to see it in that smile always make these trips worth it in and of itself, no matter all the other good points there are.

And as always it's almost like a tour as they follow whatever invisible markers lead the way through the place. Sometimes it's a familiar area, other times Steve gets to see something new. Towering buildings, or delicate bridges over endless swirling stars, or a sweeping field that fades out into mountains in a shimmering distance. He might recognize that they're wandering in the direction of the gardens again today, likely about to interrupt his mother at her knitting as sometimes tended to happen.

[shieldborne]

"Just try and keep that in mind if you ever do mine," Steve chuckles softly.

He walks slow, hand dropping to curl around Loki's, threading his fingers between hers. Steve knows he's pretty damaged; plenty of soldiers come home from the war with PTSD, or depression, or both. A lot of them, like Steve, keep on serving right through it. He knows he's not alone. That doesn't always make is easier.

She does, though, even as much of a force for chaos as she is. Loki always manages to give him something to smile about.

They'll find Sarah under a flowering tree, knitting as usual. She's alone today, where sometimes she's chatting with other women or even reading to children, but she's humming to herself.

[magpiemythos]

"Hmm... maybe stripes?" Her free hand came up to ruffle his hair as if considering trying it out right there at that chuckle, something soft and playful in her own grin as she just leans in to tuck herself against his side, enjoying his presence.

A slight nudge and a tilt of her head when she spots the woman they were looking at, her smile widening as she steers Steve and herself towards that tree and the woman settled under it.

"Yo-hoo~! Honestly, if you keep knitting long enough you'll have enough to cover the entire hall!" A little bratty? Sure. But the tone was light, and teasing. Not like this was anything new, Sarah was just as susceptible to gentle ribbing from Loki as Steve was. It was part of how Loki showed affection after all.

[shieldborne]

"I'd be tempted to ask for rainbow tips," he laughs a little. "If only to blow up the internet."

Sarah breaks off both knitting and humming when she hears Loki's voice, glancing up with a smile. She's gotten very fond of her child-in-law, having spent time with them when Loki is in both shapes, and she takes any oddities in stride. Because Steve is so clearly happy, and Loki genuinely cares for him, and that's really the ideal.

"Nah, I'm working on knitting something to cover you head to toe," she quips back at Loki, "so we can sneak you in."

Steve lets go of his wife long enough to hug and kiss his mother, beaming. "I don't know if we can take home knits from the afterlife," he says. "But we might need an extra little blanket soon..."

[magpiemythos]

"I could do that. Glitter tips, really get everyone yelping."

Loki couldn't help but laugh st Sarah's teasing in turn green eyes bright with amusement.

"Clearly it'll need to be longer-I'm all legs." Once Steve got his hugs, she'll just be opening her arms for a hug of her own please! While her stomach isn't so large to be visible under her loose top, she knows Sarah will notice it during the embrace. "Maybe some little boots too. It'll be chilly in six months after all."

Surprise, Mama Rogers!

[shieldborne]

Steve seems to be seriously considering rainbow hair glitter. He's straight-laced about 90% of the time, but when he decides to play around and troll, he's not above really going for the throat. He would absolutely have Loki do up his hair and take her to a Pride celebration on a fun date.

In uniform.

"Can confirm," Steve says, moving back to let Loki hug her mother in law. "All legs and sass."

During the hug, she can feel Sarah start slightly, and when she lets go, she looks down, wide-eyed. "...I'm going to be a grandmother??"

Steve laughs, utterly delighted, and puts his arms around the both of them at once. "Yes."

[magpiemythos]

That reaction pleases her. Loki does like her games, and is glad to see this one make them both so happy, her own smile widening as she tugs Sarah back in for another hug.

"Indeed you will!" Loki replied cheerfully, basking in the warmth of the family embrace, leaning slightly against Steve as he hugs them both. "Good thing you're already knitting."

An almost casual nudge to Sarah to draw her attention to Steve because his reaction will likely be gold, tone turning a bit sly and playful. "We'll be needing two of those blankets, after all."

Surprise Steve!

[shieldborne]

To her credit, Sarah immediately picks up on the bombshell being dropped, and that it's something her son was not aware of. She opens her mouth, closes it again, and bites her lip to keep from laughter, watching Steve.

"Two of them?" Steve is slower. It's obvious Loki is trying to tell him something, but he's not sure what for a full five seconds.

And then he lets them go and abruptly drops into a sitting position on the ground.

"Twins??!" His cup runneth over. Give him a moment, he's forgotten how to breathe.

[magpiemythos]

Oh. it's actually rather cute to watch Steve puzzle over that subtle news, expression perfectly placid. At least until he sits so suddenly, the trickster releasing her grasp on Sarah to kneel, a hand moving to stroke her husband's hair.

"Come now darling, keep breathing for me, hm?" Her tone was light with laughter, smile spreading until she was practically beaming.

[shieldborne]

"You..." He blinks at her, dazed, leans his head into the stroking, and then tugs her into a kiss, brief and fierce.

And then he finishes the accusation: "You brought me here so you could break the news like that in front of ma!"

Well, what do you expect from a Trickster deity? He shakes his head at Loki, then breaks into a watery laugh and buries his face in her shoulder.

Sarah chuckles softly and joins them on the soft, grassy ground. "To prepare you for the chaos and surprise that is parenthood, I think, love." And now it's Mama Rogers' turn to hug them both at the same time.

[magpiemythos]

That kiss admittedly left her a little dizzy, but Loki didn't mind it. especially not with him leaning in, her arms automatically slipping around him.

"I absolutely did." She replied, prim and pleased as she turned her head to kiss hi cheek.

"It didn't hurt that I knew she'd enjoy seeing the realization dawning." Oh... Sarah's arms around them both has the trickster leaning into the woman's arms, unable to help the prick of tears starting to well up at the almost overwhelming feeling of love she felt in that moment.

[shieldborne]

"I love you," Steve mumbles into her shoulder, laughing and crying all at once.

He hasn't asked about the sex of the infant, and he's not going to now. He's been assured that baby clothes come in colors other than pink and blue, anyway, and given that Loki is more or less genderfluid herself, he wouldn't be surprised if the child (children!) were the same. It'd be fitting. He never even thought to ask if there might be more than one.

"Well you brought me three gifts in one, then, didn't you, love?" This time the endearment from Sarah is directed at Loki, and the hug she gives her is warm.

"I already know just what colors to knit. Green, with gold around the edges and white stars in the middle, hmm?"

[magpiemythos]

"Love you too." Damn Steve, she can hear you crying and that just gets her going, even if the grin still isn't going to be leaving her face for anything.

Loki wasn't entirely sure on the gender. It could change. It could not. Depended on how much of her magic the babies had, and how much of it manifested as they grew, to say nothing of the natural shifting she had herself. So long as they were healthy, they'd figure it out. (Even if Loki felt a bit extra soft over the idea of one or both of them having those clear blue eyes like their father had.)

"What can I say, I'm an over-achiever like that." She responded happily to Sarah, leaning into the feel of arms squeezing around her.

"That sounds absolutely perfect."