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]

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."

[shieldborne]

Sarah takes everything in stride; probably that's one of the advantages of being dead and safely in Heaven. You've seen, demonstrably, that things can turn out beautifully in the end, even if it's a rough road to get there. Stevie has certainly had a rough road, but the place he's found himself is good for him. Even if she never would have anticipated him having a spouse quite like Loki, she's welcoming her with open arms.

"Now, how am I supposed to throw you a baby shower from here?" She teases gently. "Steve, if I can't do it, who've you got down there to manage it?"

"...Na..tash..aaa?" He says slowly, with an expression on his face that says 'yeah, that wouldn't end well'. "Maybe Tony could--no, that'd be worse..."

It would be a hilarious twist of fate if the other Loki handled the baby shower arrangements, though.

[magpiemythos]

The more Loki spent time around Sarah, the more she was quite convinced that if anyone in the world deserved a good afterlife it was definitely her. It was easy to see why Steve loved her so fiercely, and while sometimes that jealousy would flare up, it was quashed in almost the same moment by how easily the woman had welcomed Loki into her family.

"We could always string poor Bucky along and make him think he's gotta do it." Loki suggested, in a mild, almost innocent tone.

If the grin on her face was any hint well clearly she was feeling much better than how surly she'd been not even an hour back.

[shieldborne]

"I think he's about the only one I can trust with it," Steve snorts. "Which is a little scary."

"Oh, Stevie, Bucky's a little rough around the edges but he's always had your best interests at heart," Sarah laughs. "Give him a chance, then, and I'll see what we can do from here."

"What about names? Do you have names yet?" She's asking Loki, because mom gets the first say, and anyway she knows her son well enough to guess he doesn't want a Steve Junior anyway.

[magpiemythos]

"I'm sure we'll figure something out." Loki did like the whole concept. It wasn't often that her children were... anticipated. Not in any good way, and so the idea made her incredibly happy, that they'd be well-loved. For all she had her fears of what could happen, it was comforting knowing that she wouldn't be alone in protecting them.

"As far as names... I'm not sure yet. It'll depend if they decide they're boys or girls. Or something else." A good reason, even if it didn't touch on the reluctance to name them, to get too attached because of the track record her children held so far. Steve knew of that fear, but this wasn't a time for dwelling on such things.

[shieldborne]

That's the real point of it. Any gifts they might need, even for twins, they could buy or obtain themselves. Steve has a little money, which he rarely uses, and if he asked Tony for a loan or a grant, he'd get at least twice what he requested. But having everyone around them celebrate with the expectant mother? That's worth more than a new stroller and a diaper cake.

"You'll have to call them something in the interim, won't you?" Sarah's taking the gender thing in stride, but she's not entirely sure how it works. "Or will they decide the minute they're born?"

Look, they're god-babies, who knows how smart they'll be when they pop out? Steve looks like he's just realizing this, and realizing who their mother is, and oh shit they're going to be trouble.

"I should just dye my hair gray now and get it over with," he murmurs.

[magpiemythos]

And if anything, Loki was exceptionally good at digging up things of value out in the universe at large. Money wasn't an object when it came to handling this.

"They'll settle on something before birth. I'll be able to tell- they'll spend more time as one thing than the other options as they grow. It's instinctual in a way." A faint smile quirking her lips as she considered. "Vali kept me guessing. Didn't settle on a species even until a couple weeks out, the little miscreant."

As if being Steve's precludes them from being any additional trouble. His comment earns a low chuckle, Loki ruffling his hair affectionately.

"You'd look very distinguished, but I like what you've got now too."

[shieldborne]

"Didn't settle on a species?" Sarah's a little lost now. "Well, they're half you and half Stevie, aren't they? What's left to choose?"

Steve isn't entirely sure how this works, either, but he's already said he doesn't care if his children are giant snakes or eight-legged horses, anyway. (Okay, he hopes they'll look humanoid at least some of the time, because otherwise they'll have to be homeschooled.) He puts an arm around Loki's lower back and nuzzles her hair.

"We'll see what happens, then," he tells her. "It just sounds like I'm going to have a time keeping up with them."

[magpiemythos]

"Well I'm Jotun but I usually am in an Asgardian shape. Then there'll be the human side of them, courtesy of Stevie dearest." That's the easy part anyways. "And then I'm a shapeshifter which means they might decide they'd rather take one of those shapes, like Fenrir or Jörmungandr."

To be fair, Loki is planning on them being homeschooled at least at first. Until she can be sure that they have a handle on their abilities, and the understanding of when to stay in a single shape and play along at being a normal child. But that's a discussion for later. As it was, she leaned in against Steve's side with a soft content little sound, lips quirking on a smile.

"You're absolutely correct. If they're even half the trouble of you or I, we're going to have a time of things."

[shieldborne]

"I don't think magical genetics work the same as human heredity," Steve tells Sarah with a shrug. "But they're part of me and part of Loki, and that's all that really matters."

Sarah studies her son for a second, and then breaks into a grin and pulls him into a hug. "You're going to be a wonderful father."

This prompts a few awkward noises out of the soldier. "Ma...! Aw, c'mon, now."

He's blushing.

[magpiemythos]

It still sends Loki about over the moon in her quiet way to hear Steve claim any part of her is good. Wanted. Appreciated.

That it was about their impending children of course just made that delight all the more deeply felt, a laugh slipping from her as she watched her husband fussing in his mother's grasp, giving one of those reddened cheeks a gentle pinch.

"She's right you know."

[shieldborne]

He made a commitment, to save the world, so he was bound to accept Loki as she is, good and bad. But what he's learned of her, he not only likes, but loves. She's been an unexpected blessing in his life. Which is probably one of the reasons the rest of the Avengers have begun to embrace her. She's been good for Steve. Babies will be just as good.

"Aaa!" He protests at the pinch, but he's laughing now, too, giddy with affection and impending joy. "I'm outnumbered! This isn't fair."

[magpiemythos]

"You'd best get used to it, darling dearest." Loki's tone was affectionate, but still teasing as she gave that cheek a pat following the pinch, amusement dancing in her gaze. "There'll be two more to gang up on you soon enough."

Assuming they didn't wind up on his side, ganging up on Loki instead. Surely that wouldn't happen though right?

"You don't stand a chance against the combined teasing of your whole family."

[shieldborne]

Steve laughs quietly, but then suddenly he's crying again, because family. This feels like all he's ever wanted.

They're there for a few more hours, and it's mostly Sarah and Loki talking about motherhood, with Steve just quietly basking in their presence and idly rubbing his wife's shoulders. But a good time is had by all, and they promise to return soon.

Steve lets Loki handle the birth announcements, and promptly regrets it when Tony and Bucky come to him covered with glitter. After that, though, they may both be surprised when a bouquet of white and yellow roses arrives for Loki, with a small baby gift (two of them) attached in a rainbow gift bag.

The card is signed, simply, L.

[magpiemythos]

Loki knows that every culture on every world has their celebrations for new life. Has seen quite a few of them over the years, but it's something else entirely to be one of the ones at the center of such a fuss. Even if she didn't have the twins to be so achingly delighted over, she'd still love the attention, the warmth and celebration that Midgardians seemed to do so well. For a race that was comparatively isolated from the other realms, the humans were amazingly open towards others at times in a way that fascinated her.

So she played her tricks, enjoyed her games. Sent Sarah a tablet so the woman wouldn't miss out on things, could send Steve messages whenever she wished. Started the process of plotting out the children's room, for all she was still changing her mind every week or so yet.

The gift from her counterpart was a surprise, but a pleasant one. She couldn't help but laugh at the sight of the little hats, sending a message in kind.

There's truffles here with your name on them.

It was while the others were busy- no threat to be had but some sort of charity event overseas. She'd promised Steve she'd come keep him company later, but this was the best time to invite the other Loki around, so they could feel out how they wanted to be now that it seemed the initial offense at her showing up had eased at least some.

[coldsong]

Perhaps it's the tacit understanding that new life is so vital to the human race because of their isolation, that makes them so effusive over it. Or maybe it's just an innate instinct to coo over cute babies. In any case, there's no harm in enjoying it.

Steve encourages her to enjoy it, in fact, and he's patiently bowing to her every whim in setting up the nursery, so she's going to be thoroughly spoiled by the time all this is over.

This world's Loki has been withdrawn. Civil, at least, ever since getting over the upset at the wedding, but not seeking out contact. It might be that he feels the need to be polite, and that's the only reason he sent the gift, except then she responds. And he could ignore the invitation, but...

But. In a weird way, the infants to come are kin.

He arrives at the step of their apartment shortly after the message, not bothering to knock physically, but his energies announce his presence perfectly clearly.

[magpiemythos]

She'll settle on something eventually. At least so far she hasn't made Steve set up four or five different room sets. But Loki is absolutely basking in the attention and spoiling either way.

Civil was a good start. But then Loki was a greedy thing and at the moment that focus was on improving relations with her counterpart. One for the fact that who would better understand her? And another point for this being well... her children's family. An aunt or uncle of a sort, perhaps a bit closer than that. She'd grown up without much blood family, and she'd be damned if the twins grew up with a similar sense of isolation.

Either way, when her guest arrived, even before the door was opened he'd certainly be able to smell that someone had been busy baking. Whatever there was, truffles weren't the only sweet in the place. Loki beamed when she did open the door to see her counterpart, stepping back to let the door open a bit farther.

"I thought the promise of sweets might lure you in." Her phone on the counter was still playing music, and part of the kitchen was still a mess from her baking, aside from the kitchen island where her cinnamon rolls and some other things were set to cool, the bouquet her twin had sent sitting in a vase towards one end.

[coldsong]

Honestly, he's likely to understand her well enough, but she might end up tainted by association with him, for this world's Avengers. That's less of a danger with Steve than anyone else. He knows and loves her by now, and he's more likely to warn this world's Loki to behave himself than worry about them conspiring. The others might have different reactions. But time will tell.

He's just standing at the door when she answers, hands clasped behind his back, and he's dressed a bit more simply than his usual garb. Tunic, trousers, boots, no coat or helm, and no weapons visible. This is a friendly visit.

"Are you suggesting we have the same taste in bribes?" He asks with a little smirk, and bows before he steps inside.

Her female form doesn't look quite like his. Curlier hair, a younger, sweeter face but with older eyes. It's interesting, and though she's not really showing yet, he can sense the thrum of new life within and around her. In spite of everything he is and has done, it touches him, right down to the heart he tries to hide.

"I'll remember that." He breathes in the scent of cinnamon with a sigh. "Thor and Barnes think they're planning a baby shower for you, incidentally. A surprise."

Yeah, he doesn't think so. "I thought perhaps we could improve upon their design."

[magpiemythos]

Loki on the other hand isn't too worried. If the others want to fuss over her cozying up with this world's trickster, well that's their problem. Steve wouldn't be too alarmed and his is the only real opinion that matters on the subject to her.

"Are you suggesting that you don't have a prodigious sweet tooth? Say it isn't so!" Leading the way into the kitchen as she teased, plucking the kettle from the stove to pour a cup of tea for the pair of them. Sure her normal method was to pour a cocktail or pass out bottles of ale, but well, concessions needed to be made at the moment.

The container of truffles will be flipped open and nudged in her counterpart's direction along with his cup as she perches on one of the stools to doctor her tea with honey, brows lifting at the news he brought.

"Thor couldn't keep a secret if his life depended on it. Sit, and we can plot about these improvements you're thinking of."

[coldsong]

He's on perfect court manners for the moment, which is a clear indication he's tense, but her easy acceptance of his presence is reassuring. He's still not thrilled about her just introducing herself in Jotun form, but this goes a long way to making up for it. His shoulders relax as he finds himself a seat at the counter. He lists to his left when he sits, resting his elbow on the nearest available clear surface.

"I like honey," he admits. "And vanilla, in particular. Mn, and coffee! But sweets in general...yes, that's a pretty safe bet."

Chocolate is not a thing to be refused, either, though, and he's not too shy to select a truffle to his liking, nibbling politely.

"Barnes has potential, given he's been an assassin, but his idea of surprising you is going to provoke anxiety in the rest of the Avengers, so I think his creativity will be hampered."

Really, imagine it: Well, look, if we can get her into an elevator alone--

Bucky, no!

[magpiemythos]

She could just come out and apologize for that but at the same time, she knew that she wouldn't appreciate having it called out if the roles were reversed. Better to pretend that he'd hidden his discomfort with her antics as he'd likely hoped to and just focus on making friends here and now.

"You can never go wrong with good coffee. There's a place down the street that makes Turkish coffee, I rather think you'd enjoy it. And the baklava is delicious, I'll have to take you there sometime."

Loki plucks one of the cinnamon rolls up onto a plate, even if they're likely still a bit too hot, but then they do smell too good to resist for longer.

"So he needs to be encouraged to just go for it without letting his fellow Avengers nerves dissuading him somehow. But obviously it can't come from me, given how I'm supposed to be blissfully ignorant of their scheming."

And okay. Okay, one of those rolls will be plunked on a plate and moved in her counterpart's direction. Sharing is caring!

[coldsong]

What's done is done, and she's right: Loki would rather start anew here than rehash the past. Besides, there is undeniable allure in the idea of having someone around who can't and won't look down on his past actions. They both have the same heredity and the same call to darkness, even if they've responded to it differently.

"An invitation?" Something in his expression softens. He doesn't get invited to social events on Midgard very often. "I await it eagerly."

He's not going to take a cinnamon roll without being invited, but he's actually already impressed because he's never baked in his life. Maybe he should try? No, if Thor found out he'd never live it down.

"Precisely," he agrees. "And he doesn't entirely trust me, but I think I could...steer him a little, as it were."

Or, you know, pretend to be Thor and steer him that way. He blinks when given a cinnamon roll and gives her a real smile. "Did you make these yourself? From scratch?"

[magpiemythos]

For all she looks and acts the younger, Loki has had a lot longer to do a lot more terrible things. She's heard of what her counterpart has done, can empathize with the situations that led him to what had been done. Could remember her own moments when nothing so nice could be said. She'd been evil for the sake of it for a long time, after all.

"I can think of no one better to gossip over treats with." She notices that look. Files the information away, even if she'd already had a good idea that perhaps Loki didn't get out much on Midgard. Which was a shame, as she thought he'd enjoy the place, if he was able to simply experience it on the ground floor as it were. She certainly did, after all.

"If there's anyone able to steer that ship to more entertaining harbors, I'd trust it to be you, masquerading as Thor or no." It would probably be the best way to go about it, truth be told. But then she was distracted by that smile, which just had her own widening in response. "I did indeed! I learned quite a bit about Midgardian cuisine. Much more varied than Asgardian fare, lots more options to suit the mood."