Sif sat near the burning cauldron in her chambers. After Thor's presence within them in recent days, his departure left them feeling desolate and empty. To Sif it was as if he had died for the second time. For hours she had left the letter unread. To draw it out, to not know his final words to her in a sense kept a part of him alive. In the end however, she had to know what it was he had to say to her that he felt he could not tell her during the time they'd had together. She now held the letter in her hand after having finally broken the seal and read its contents.

Standing, Sif moved the folded paper to her lips before placing it into the fire.

***************************************

"What did you think?" Loki asked as he and Verda walked arm and arm past the towering golden statue of Thor that had just been unveiled that morning after leaving the open air theater where they had watched the play Loki had promised him, commemorating him.

"It was...interesting," Verda answered.

"Interesting…" Loki repeated.

"He would have liked it very much, though I don't believe those were likely his last words to you on his deathbed. There was some dialogue I spoke that I don't recall taking place as well...though my memory may be faulty."

"I took some dramatic license, of course," Loki responded.

"Of course. The actress portraying myself--" Verda began.

"I believe she captured your essence quite well."

"She was very good, though a bit more...liberally endowed," said Verda, glancing sideways at Loki.

"I cast her solely for her talent on the stage."

"I'm sure," Verda replied, though it was clear from her tone she was not wholly convinced.

"We should change into something more comfortable for the revels," suggested Loki, as they had both dressed in formal attire as was fitting their position for the public presentation of the monument and the theatrical production.

"I'm afraid I won't be joining you," Verda said as Loki looked over at her, noticing that she appeared fatigued and slightly pale.

"Are you not well?" Loki asked, concerned.

"I'm fine...just tired. It's been a long day. I'm also afraid I wouldn't be much fun seeing as I'd be unable to participate in the principal activity."

"What do you--" Loki began to ask before breaking off as Verda looked over at him with a smile, Loki putting the pieces together, "You're…we're to…?" Loki stammered.

"Yes," Verda replied.

Loki grabbed Verda, excitedly lifting her off her feet, laughing joyfully as he spun her around.

"Loki! Loki..stop! " Verda squealed, Loki quickly setting her back on her feet, steadying her as she swayed dizzily.

"I'm sorry," Loki apologized.

"It's alright," Verda chuckled, "Just be thankful I haven't eaten recently or you'd be changing for another reason."

"Why didn't you tell me? We could have made the announcement before the performance."

"I didn't want to overshadow the celebrations for Thor. Besides, now you'll have another reason to hold revels."

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"You know me too well," Loki responded with a grin.

***************************************

"Erik Selvig," Loki said, appearing to be dressed in the clothing of a mortal, of course of his favored hue, as he rose from the booth in the bar in Puente Antiguo to greet Selvig as he approached, the two men shaking hands.

"Loki! It's good to see you again," Selvig said with a wide grin as both men seated themselves.

"How goes your work?" Loki asked.

"Very well...extraordinarily well, actually. It's going to take awhile to work through all you've given us," Selvig answered happily.

"It was Verda's idea, to give you the information to begin to unlock those secrets yourselves over time."

"She's not joining us?" Selvig asked.

"Oh...no. It has been some time since we last spoke. She sends her regards. I must have forgotten to mention it when I invited you here. Things have been quite hectic as of late. She recently gave birth to our first child."

"Congratulations! Boy or girl?" Selvig asked.

"A son...Thor, in honor of my brother," Loki replied.

"So I guess you figured it out," Selvig said.

"What have I figured out?" Loki asked, puzzled.

"The first time we were here you said you were still figuring it out, what loving someone means."

"Oh...yes," Loki answered, surprised Selvig remembered such detail of their conversation, Selvig having been obviously very drunk at the time.

"I suppose I'm figuring it out too. I've met someone as well...Lynn. She's a physicist like myself. She's working with S.H.I.E.L.D. along with me. She worked for N.A.S.A. I guess we'll see where it goes."

"What of Jane and Darcy?"

"She's taken a position in London teaching part time while she continues her research. Darcy went with her as a graduate assistant. She's met someone too. He's a doctor, I don't recall what specialty."

Loki looked across the bar to the door he had been keeping an eye on since his arrival for both Selvig as well as the man who now entered, a gift wrapped package tucked under his arm.

"Excuse me," Loki said to Selvig, leaving the booth and walking to the entrance, greeting Stark and leading him back to the booth and introducing him to Selvig who slid over to make room for Stark to sit.

"The others aren't coming?" Loki asked as Stark sat down next to Selvig.

"Barton and Romanoff are off somewhere playing Robin Hood and Little John on some assignment. Banner doesn't drink...for obvious reasons. I'm not sure why Rogers bowed out, something Coulson told him, oh, and the fact he can't get drunk. I guess there is a downside to being a nearly indestructible super soldier," Stark said before handing the package to Loki, "For the kid. Pepper picked it out. I'm sure it's something nice."

"Thank you. I'll let Verda open it," Loki said, "Let us have that drink now."

***************************************

Loki walked in the darkness from the Rainbow Bridge to the palace, the package Stark had given him tucked under his arm. Passing the statue of Thor he stopped in front of it, looking up at it before ensuring there was no one else nearby. Passing his hand over the base of the statue, the door to a compartment appeared. Opening it, Loki reached in, removing the leather bag containing the Norn Stones. Emptying the bag into his hand, he examined them for a moment before replacing them in the bag and back into the compartment before disguising it once again.

***************************************

Loki entered his and Verda's chambers, the room lit by the dancing flames of the cauldrons, as Verda rose from the armchair, the infant Thor swaddled in a blanket in her arms.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" Verda asked.

"A good time was had by all. You didn't have to wait up for me."

"I wasn't planning to. Someone else had other ideas. He just went back to sleep. What's that?" Verda asked, noticing the gift Loki held in his hand.

"A gift, from Stark. I thought I'd let you open it."

Loki approached Verda, reaching out and taking the infant from her as he handed her the package, doing his best not to wake the sleeping baby. Verda opened the box, revealing a blue blanket embroidered with a crown and the words, 'Little Prince.'

"It's adorable."

"Go to bed. I'll join you shortly," Loki told her before kissing her.

Verda made her way to the doorway leading to the bedchambers, the blanket over her arm.

Loki crossed the room to the balcony, peering into the darkness over Asgard. Loki thought once more of his visions of the future and how different was the trajectory his life had now taken. All was quiet and peaceful, but would it remain so? Looking down at his newborn son slumbering in his arms, he knew he would do whatever it took to put an end to any threat to that peace as his own father had done.

It was then that it hit him like a bolt out of the blue. The pain, the loneliness, the self loathing he had carried in his heart for so long had flown. Selvig was right, he had 'figured it out.' He was Loki, son of Odin, King of Asgard...and of course, the God of Mischief, as Verda had been reminded that morning upon opening her trunk to find a mass of twisting, writhing likjs.

"What surprise shall we spring on your mother tomorrow to keep her on her toes?" Loki said quietly to the sleeping baby Thor.

The End