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Chapter Text

“In Seattle, you learn to love the gray, for it makes the green all the more vibrant.” – Deb Caletti

Jane Foster never wanted to fall in love. Love was complicated; emotional. It took up too much time and energy, two things she was always in short supply of. Especially now that she was elbows deep in a doctorate program. At best, love was a problem for future-Jane. Future-Jane, after she graduated from the University of Washington as Dr. Jane and established herself in a prestigious position and bought herself a smart little condo that overlooked Elliot Bay…then, sure. Love could become a priority.

The only love she would indulge in outside of school was her love of hiking. An activity the sprawling Pacific Northwest was happy to accommodate. Jane was fond of the many, many trails and would escape to them when the world of astrophysics got a little too complicated. After that, she would settle into her favorite corner at the Union Street bar and sip a local craft beer.

One day though, after a meandering walk along the Cedar River Trail, Jane found a red Kanken backpack sitting in her spot. It had several keychains, and a few pins pushed into its face. The one that caught Jane’s eyes read ‘Vatnajökull National Park’ with an Icelandic flag.

“Told ya I saved us a good spot!” A boisterous laugh called over the din of the bar. Jane turned to see a burly man with a beard and two bright blue eyes looking right into hers.

“Fancy my bag?” He asked with a smile.

“I just saw that pin you have for Vatnajökull,” she smiled back, “I’m guessing you’ve been?”

“Twice, actually! And yourself?”

“No…,” Jane sighed, “it’s more of a bucket-list-type destination. Volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls…”

“Hot springs,” the man made a wily arch of his eyebrow, “you’ve not lived until you’ve climbed buck naked into an Icelandic hot spring in the winter!”

“Naked?”

“How else would you do it?”

“In a bathing suit like a normal person!” A member of the man’s party came up behind him and slapped his shoulder.

“Are we not Vikings?” The man turned to his group; three very distinctly different men and a woman with raven black hair.

“Vikings suck! Go Seahawks!” A drunken patron at the bar shouted at them.

“What did he just say?” The woman turned back to the bar, squaring her shoulders.

“Easy Sif!” The bearded man gently guided her back to the group, “I told you, these yanks take their football very seriously.”

“Yes, go Seahawks!” Jane called back at the drunk, offering a thumbs up as a token of apology.

The man asked if she would like to join his merry group and Jane, suddenly desperate to learn more about his handsome Viking and his naked adventures, agreed.

He told her that his name was Thor and that he was from Norway; a beautiful country that had inspired his love of nature. He had avidly hiked all around Europe, taking on every trail Jane had dreamed of: Lac Blanc in France and the Pico Sobarcal Trail in the Spanish Pyrenees.

“So, what brings you stateside?”

“Family,” Thor told her as he placed a hand over his chest, “I have a bit of a soft spot for my baby brother. When my parents decided to move here four years ago, I could not stand the idea of being away from him.”

“Wow,” Jane whispered, “that’s a huge commitment.”

“It’s crazy is what it is,” the man Jane had come to know as Fandral piped up. “We’re going to try and convince him to come back to Bergen with us next week!”

At this, Thor had whipped out his phone. Something that seemed to annoy his entire friend group.

“Oh geeze, here he goes again!”

“How many pictures do you have on there, Thor?”

“I get it! Loki’s super adorable! But you can’t tell me you actually like living in the states!”

Thor was completely in the zone though. As he scrolled through his phone, the smile on his face grew wider and wider.

“Here!” He finally declared as he turned the phone around for Jane to observe. “This was him when we first moved here!”

Jane was hit with a warm and cold sensation. Warm from the precious image of a Little with wavy black hair and bright blue-green eyes that sparkled like sea. He was dressed in a sage romper and clenching a pacifier between his teeth as he smiled at the camera. His gangly arms held an empty box over his head; clearly the picture was taken a moment before the Little pulled it down on himself.

The cold? Thor’s little brother was a Little brother.

“His name’s Loki,” Thor sighed, “my mischief maker! You’ve never seen a Little who can cause so much trouble!”

Jane shot him a withering look.

“He looks pretty harmless.”

“See? That’s how he gets you!”

Thor showed her a few more pictures; ones from a day trip to the Bergen Zoo, another of him in a bucket swing at the park. Thor even dug back to a trip the whole family had made to Disney World the summer before last. Once Jane got over the shock of how beautiful and poised Thor’s mother looked among the throngs of tourists, she saw the Little Loki beside her in a stroller with a strange gold and mossy green tiara.

“What is that?” Jane asked.

“His Tiana tiara,” said Thor, “Have you ever seen ‘The Princess and the Frog’?”

“Like, the kids movie?” Jane asked incredulously, “No…can’t say I have.”

“It’s Loki’s absolute favorite; he still laughs and claps his hands every time Tiana turns into the frog.”

“And Tiana is the princess in question?”

“Yeah, here, actually,” Thor pulled up a video, “this is when he got to meet her at Magic Kingdom!”

Jane watched as the camera focused in on a young woman dressed in a gown of the same green and gold as Loki’s tiara.

“Tee-nah!” Loki came toddling into the frame and right into the princess’s gloved arms.

“He’s…tall,” Jane said with genuine shock.

“Oh, yeah, he’s about one-eighty centimeters; or, for you Yanks-”

“Six feet,” Jane smirked, “I’m a scientist, half my job involves measurement conversion.”

Seeing Loki in motion did tug at Jane’s heart strings. The way he laughed and gushed and cried ‘Tee-nah! Tee-nah!’ over and over for his favorite princess was just…cute. The princess herself (an absolute professional, in Jane’s opinion) engaged him with questions and graciously smiled for each babbling response.

“That was such a fun day,” Thor sighed as he put his phone away.

“Looks like it.”

After that, conversation wandered elsewhere. Another round of drinks were ordered; memories were made.

At the end of it, Thor told Jane he would like to see her again. And Jane said yes.

For their first three dates, Thor was the perfect gentlemen. He opened doors, pulled out chairs and ordered a bottle of wine without consulting Jane; all things the bright and independent woman usually loathed. But with Thor…it was (dare she say) kinda romantic.

At one point during their third date, while sitting side by side in a tiny sushi bar in Westlake, Jane laid out her fool-proof plan to become Doctor Jane Foster; professional astrophysicist.

“Astrophysics,” Thor said with an astonished gasp, “how did a bum like me end up with a girl like you?”

“You’re not a bum, being an electrician is a great job,” Jane rubbed his knee. “How’d you fall into that, anyway? Do you parents own a company or…?”

“Oh, no,” Thor shook his head, “my father’s in finance! As was his father and I assume his father before him. Sadly, I am the one to break the streak. I’ve never developed any interest. Or, really,” he tapped his head, “the smarts for it either.”

“Was he,” Jane briefly looked away, “I mean, I don’t want to pry, but how does your father feel about that?”

“Fine,” Thor shrugged, “honestly, Loki keeps my parents so busy, they hardly have time to worry about me!” There was no malice in Thor’s words. If anything, he seemed relieved at the idea. “I swear, if I decided to enroll into business school tomorrow neither of them would bat an eye!”

Loki.

The simple name haunted Jane. Someday she would have to meet him; the six-foot Little with sea-green eyes and jet-black hair. The way Thor talked about him, it was clear that Loki ran the household. Thor’s mother Frigga, an in-demand interior designer left her lucrative career to be a stay-at-home caregiver. Odin paid exorbitant amounts of money shipping hypoallergenic disposable diapers from Japan. Everything they did was for him.

Which made Jane wonder:

What if Loki doesn’t like me?

At night, Jane would scroll through Thor’s Instagram and live vicariously through the pictures he had posted of his adventures across Europe. Interspersed between mountain top vistas were pictures and reels of Little Loki.

The first reel she sat and watched through was of Loki’s first birthday with his new family back in Norway. He was in his highchair and wearing nothing but a diaper; Thor beside him, whispering something into his ear. Suddenly, Loki laughed, his eyes flashing with mischievous delight before smashing his hands into the cake. He then turned to Thor and mushed some of the frosting all over his brother’s face.

Jane smiled at the caption.

Never, never, ever did I think I could love someone as much as I love you. Happy birthday, baby brother! I am so lucky you came into my life! I cannot wait to celebrate a hundred more moments like this!

While in Florida, they had gone to the beach. There were dozens of pictures of Thor and Loki working on a sandcastle as well as a short reel of Loki kicking at the waves before running away with an exuberant screech. At the end, there was a photo of Thor cradling a passed-out Loki to his chest under an umbrella; a pacifier in the Little’s mouth and sunglasses over Thor’s eyes.

Best. Day. Ever. The caption read.

Loki was the center of Thor’s world. The whole reason Thor left the country – heck – the continent he loved so dearly. How could she even think to compete?

So, the question lingered…

What if Loki doesn’t like me?

What if he hates me?

School started in the fall and the weather turned grey. Trips out to the trails became less frequent, but dates with Thor were still multiplying.

“Mother would love for you to come to dinner. She and father have been dying to meet you.”

Jane gnawed nervously at her bottom lip before asking, “And what about Loki?”

Thor did not seem to pick up on her anxiety. He leaned back in his seat at the Union Street Bar and looked out into the bay. An amphibious tourist bus was driving into the water with much fanfare from the passengers.

“I don’t think Loki really understands,” he finally said with a small chuckle, “I’ve never, you know, brought a girl around him.”

“I’d be the first?” Jane asked, a doubtful arch in her eyebrow.

Thor smiled.

“I never met a girl worth showing off to him.”

“Oh…”

“Yeah…”

Thor reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind Jane’s ear.

“Should I bring him something?” She then asked.

“He loves sweets; cookies, cakes, candy, streusel.”

“Streusel?”

“Lingonberry, in particular. It’s been very hard to find here in the states.” Thor pouted his bottom lip, “Such a shame, it’s quite a lovely treat.”

Lingonberry streusel, Jane’s shining beacon of hope.

All she had to do was find it.

A short Google search informed Jane that a Scandinavian town called Poulsbo just across the Puget Sound. It was a quaint sort of place that held a yearly Viking Fest. It also hosted an abundance of B-and-B’s and bakeries. So, on the day Jane was expected to meet Thor’s parents, she filled the gas tank on her Subaru and hit the road.

Thor arrived at his parents an hour before Jane. His mother, Frigga had called that morning in a panic after her florist informed her that their delivery truck had a flat.

“Can you please pick up the order? I have so much to do here, and your father is in one of those virtual meetings– Loki!”

Thor stifled a laugh as he heard a clatter and his brother’s cheery voice.

“Mama! Look! Essa go bye’bye!”

“Please dear, can we not knock things off your highchair?” Frigga sighed, “I have to make him a new bottle now. He’s been in such a mood all morning…”

“It’s not a problem,” Thor assured, “what all am I getting?”

“One centerpiece and four bouquets – and do be gentle, there are oregonias, orange roses and gold cushion mums.”

“Consider it done!”

A sizeable box of flowers was not enough to deter Loki. The moment Thor was through the door of his parent’s home, the Little was clamoring for his attention.

“Tor! Tor, play!”

“Aye, brother! Let me put the box down. Mother will be quite heartbroken if one mum or rose or …whatever that other one was, gets bruised.”

“’Es pwetty?” Loki followed Thor like a shadow into the living room, “Pwetty fow’ers! Me! ‘Es mine!”

“No, I don’t think they’re for you…oof!” Thor set the box down on the coffee table. “Finally,” then opened his arms for his little brother, “come here, Loki!”

“Tor lub,” Loki cooed happily around his pacifier, pressing himself into Thor’s chest.

“I love you too.”  

Thor pulled away to find that, despite it being nearly five in the evening, Loki was still dressed in his green two-piece pajama set.

The Little’s pacifier suddenly dropped from his lips, saved only by the nylon cord pinned to his top.

“I potty!”

This caused a spontaneous laugh from Thor.

“You what?”

“I b’g boy! Go potty!”

“That’s right,” Odin, the proud father, sauntered into the room. “Loki told us twice today that he had to use the bathroom; not one accident.”

“Wow! Loki!” Thor pulled him into another hug. “Good job, brother! I’m so proud of you!”

“Yeah!” Loki let out a spritely laugh before toddling off.  “Stik’uh!”

“So, he’s back to potty training again?” Thor asked once he and Odin were alone.

The older man released the exasperated sigh of caregiver.

“This time, your mother decided to consult some caregiver forums for advice. We’d both always been skeptical about rewarding Loki for proper toileting. You know how he can be…”

“Sneaky, manipulative,” Thor began, “always looking for a way to get more.”

“Indeed,” Odin chuckled, “but my long-suffering wife thought we ought to give it a try. Sweets of any kind were clearly out of the question, but-”

“Stik’uh!” Loki came running back into the living room, now with Frigga following behind him.  

“Careful, my little treasure! You make your mother worry so!”

“Tor! See!” Loki was all happy chirps as he held out a booklet, “See? ‘Ann’ah stik’uh!”

“Let me take a look,” Thor accepted the booklet that was being awkwardly shoved into his chest. Inside was a series of identical pages, all with dates and times that indicated when Loki successfully utilized the toilet. Not every spot had a sticker; actually, very few did. Something that did not surprise Thor. Loki’s track record with potty training was spotty at best.

Nevertheless…

“Look at all these stickers! Awesome job, Loki!”  

“’N I gots s’tars! See?”

Thor heard his parents cry a harried mix of ‘No, no, no!’ and ‘Loki! Stop!’ But all of it was in vain. The Little had quickly pulled his pants down in order show off his padded underwear. “S’tars!”

Thor was roaring with laughter.

“Goodness,” Frigga began to pull Loki’s pants back up, “my silly boy! What am I going to do with you?”

“No, Mummy! Tor see! See m’s’tars?”

“Yes, I see them,” Thor assured, finally catching his breath, “now, let Mother help you.”

“If he has an accident, the little stars go away,” Odin explained. Then, with a wry smile from behind his beard, he said, “I hope you have sufficiently warned this young lady about your brother.”

“I’ve let her know he can be unpredictable…”

“That might be all you can do,” Frigga said, placing a kiss on Loki’s cheek.

“Mummy,” the Little cooed.

“Well now, the hour’s almost here,” Thor put his hands on his hips. “Brother, are you planning to wear your jammies to meet my new friend?”

“Yeah!”

“We had a cute little outfit all picked out, but,” Frigga made a slight shrug.

“Aye, no stuffy sailor suit for you?” Thor winked a Loki. The Little stuck out his tongue in response. “Honestly, I don’t think Jane will mind.”

“Tor puz-zah?” Loki asked suddenly, “Tor play?”

“Oh, you have a new puzzle?” Loki began to tug at his brother’s arm, “I guess I have to look at it!”

“Puz-zah!”

“Loki, would you like to tell Thor what’s on your puzzle?” Frigga asked in her most motherly voice.

“Traine ‘n moos!”

“Cows,” Odin corrected. “Loki, can you say cows? Co-o-ows?”

Loki stopped and looked at his father with seriously furrowed brows.

“Moos.”

Chapter Text

Jane could not believe she got it: lingonberry streusel. Made fresh that morning by a sweet old woman named Heidi and tucked into a proper pink pastry box. If Loki did not approve of her after this, well…

She would have to let go of the fantasy of being Dr. Jane Foster-Odinson.

The address Thor provided led Jane right into the heart of Queen Anne Hill; home to Seattle’s most stately manors. Thor had always danced around the subject of how comfortable his family was. It was something Jane initially attributed is Norwegian roots as the nation, despite having well-fed coffers, was not one known for conspicuous displays of wealth. As time went on though, and more clues were dropped (like a three weeklong vacation to Florida and Disney World), Jane got the feeling his skittishness was more of a defensive mechanism.

Something that was confirmed when Jane pulled up to the Odinson’s red brick Italianate villa. Certain people would see the house and the luxury vehicles in the drive-way and suddenly look at affable, fun-loving Thor as an easy meal ticket.  

It just made Jane feel all the more special…and all the more nervous. Thor did not just need to protect himself, but Loki as well. When the inevitable happened, he would be Loki’s sole caretaker. Thor needed to be extra cautious about who he brought around the family.

The pressure was on. With one last glance in her sun visor mirror, she grabbed the box and her purse and headed up the entry flanked with cypress trees.

“Jane!”

Jane looked up to see Thor throwing open the front door. It was the nicest she had ever seen him dressed; tailored slacks, crisply ironed button-up, wild hair pulled back into a ponytail. “Glad you found the place; I was a bit worried. The roads in here…are,” his lighthearted step slowed as his eyes fell on the pink box. “Whatcha got there?”

Jane grabbed the flap holding the lid shut.

“Wanna see?” Before he could answer, she lifted it up. The smell of warm bakery freshness and hot fruit filled the air.

“No,” Thor whispered, “it’s impossible…”

“Are you sure?”

Gently, Thor took the box from her hands, as if it were a basket of sleeping kittens.

“Lingonberry streusel,” his gaze looked up to meet hers. “Oh! Jane! Loki is going to love you!”

“Well,” Jane shrugged, “they say first impressions matter.”

“Thor?”

Jane’s breath hitched at the sight of Frigga standing in the doorway. She was even more elegant in person, her gold-spun curls loosely pinned to the back of her head, revealing a pair of diamond studs that dazzled like her eyes. A dress of sumptuous black velvet clung to her frame, one that tastefully cut off just below the knee. The sleeves were a sheer black that ran the length of her arms before cinching at each wrist.

“Dear; is everything alright?”

“Sorry, um,” Thor closed the lid and handed the box back to Jane before putting his arm around her, “Mother, it is my honor to introduce you to Miss Jane Foster.”

“Hello…,” Jane smiled.

“Hello, Jane,” Frigga cooed sweetly as she descended the steps…in her four-inch, black satin Dolce and Gabbana pumps. “It is a pleasure to finally meet the young woman who as stolen my boy’s heart. And…,” the first familial trait appeared. Jane noted how Frigga’s eyebrows arched and lips quirked at the sight of the box; it was almost identical to Thor’s reaction. “What might this be?”

“Lingonberry streusel!” Thor declared, giving Jane’s shoulder a squeeze, “She found a place that makes it!”

“How sweet of you,” a bright smile broke across Frigga’s face, “I’m certain Thor told you that it’s Loki’s favorite.”

“He did, yes.”

“This is a wonderful surprise, thank you,” Frigga clapped her hands, “come now; come inside and meet the rest of the family. And please excuse Loki, I tried to get him to put clothes on but-”

“He’s wearing his best dress pajamas for you,” Thor laughed.

It was no surprise, considering Frigga’s previous life as an interior designer, that walking into the home was like walking into a magazine spread.

“Mrs. Odinson, your home is beautiful.”

“Thank you, Jane. And please, no need for such formalities, Frigga will do just fine. Thor,” Frigga turned to her son, “could you take this box down to the kitchen and find someplace to hide it? If Loki finds out we have streusel, he will not be able to think of anything else.”

“Good point,” Thor nodded before holding his hands out to Jane, “may I?”

“Of course.”

“Oh,” Thor looked sadly down at the box as soon as it was given over, “well, now, how will I take your coat?”

“I think I’ll manage,” Jane smirked, already shrugging it off her shoulders.

“She’s very American, as you can see,” Thor said to his mother, “very independent! I’ll be right back!”

“As if Norwegian women are helpless damsels…,” Frigga rolled her eyes. “Well, let me introduce you to my husband Odin and our little Loki lamb.”

Frigga led Jane through the entry hall and into a neatly staged sitting room. Jane was struck by the endless variety of tactile features; plush rugs, embossed wallpaper, a roughhewn wood mantle lined with family photos and heirlooms. Cozy plaids and florals fabrics managed to oppose and complement each other. For a playful touch, French toile curtains flanked the large bay window facing, well…Elliot Bay.

There he is.

Sitting before the fireplace, in his ‘best dress pajamas’ and legs akimbo around a puzzle was the boy of the hour.

“Dah-Dah!” Loki suddenly chirruped, the pacifier dropping from his mouth, “I see un, too, fee moos!” He held up a clumsy set of three fingers to the older man beside him in a recliner, “Fee!”

“There are three cows in your puzzle?” The man leaned over, the fire casting his great white beard in a pale shade of orange. “Ah, yes, I see them; one, two, three! Very good, Loki!”

“Loki got a new puzzle today,” Frigga explained, “he has quite the aptitude for them! Fifty pieces and,” she then looked to the man, “is he already finished?”

“Just about,” the man laughed as he rocked to his feet, “come along, little one. Our guest has arrived.”

Jane forced a smile as Loki turned sharply to her. Thor’s numerous pictures had in no way captured how truly lovely Loki’s green-blue eyes were. They stood out in sharp contrast from his hair and equally dark eyelashes. His lips had been pulled into a tight purse; his eyebrows drawn into a knit above his slender nose.

Loki looked quite unimpressed.

He then blew a raspberry.

“Loki,” Frigga said with a semi-scolding tone, “now, that’s no way to behave!”

The Little then let out a screeching laugh, fell backward and began kicking his dangerously long legs. This got a few chuckles and passing comments from the parents like ‘Oh, that’s just how he is’ and ‘he’s such a funny boy’.

“Brother!” Thor burst into the room and Jane released an unheard sigh of relief. “What are you doing on the floor? Don’t you want to come and meet my new girlfriend? She’s very nice, I think you’ll like her.”

Loki sat up and declared: “Moos!”

“We probably should have warned you,” Frigga said with a hopeless sigh, “Loki, well, I love him to death but he’s an awful brat.”

At this, the whole family erupted in laughter.

“Well, um,” Jane began, “I actually, uh, like puzzles.” She then made a hard swallow and met Loki’s gaze. “Would you like to show me what you’re working on, Loki?”

Loki’s eye narrowed with sudden distrust, as if Jane were a spy after his secret.

“Maybe you can tell me what it’s a puzzle of? I can see some green…and a fence…is it a farm?”

“’Es puz-zah en ‘es goss taines ‘n moos,” he showed her three fingers, “fee moos.”

“Oh, moos!” Jane nodded, “I love moos. Are they brown moos, or black and white moos?”

“Ban-nah wh’te!” Loki chirped.

“I think we would all love to see your puzzle,” Frigga said. Jane followed the family over to the fireplace and joined their chorus of praise.

“I like how you did the middle first,” she thought to say, noting how the outside frame was the last part to be completed, “I have never seen someone do a puzzle like that.”

“Yeah,” Loki nodded, “’es good!”

“Fifty pieces,” Thor cheered, “I don’t even think father could do a puzzle that big!”

“Certainly not,” Odin said, patting Loki on the head, “what a brilliant boy we have.”

“Loki, my dear; would you like to show Jane your drawings?”

Loki looked sharply up at his mother; his eyes as big as saucers.

“Cuh-lor?”

“Our Loki is quite the artist as well,” Odin told Jane.  

“What say you, brother?” Thor held out a hand for him to take.

“I do!” Loki declared as he clumsily utilized his long skinny limbs to push off the ground. “I big.”

“Yes dear, you’re very big.”

“Aye! Very good, Loki! One, two, up you go! There’s my boy!”

“Well done, brother!”

 “Did it!”

Just like the puzzle, Thor and his family commended Loki in a way that was deeply disproportionate to the task. Had one walked into the living room just then, they might have thought the Little had just landed a gold medal dismount; blindfolded.

“L’ss go!”

It would have been an insult to suggest that the great Loki Odinson should hang his masterpieces on a mere refrigerator. So, his family arranged for an entire room to become a dedicated workspace/art gallery. Handsome built-ins of solid oak lined one wall, which led Jane to believe Loki’s studio had a previous life as an office. Leather-bound tomes and advanced electronics were now replaced with woven baskets; each one with a quaint little hand-written sign for what was inside. Crayons, paints, colored craft paper, glue, glitter, yarn – the list went on.

“See! ‘Essa cuh-lors!” Opposite the built-ins was Loki’s gallery wall. Half of it was a corkboard for hanging art, the other half was a chalkboard for doodling.

“Wow, you did all these?” Jane asked, gesturing to Loki’s drawings.

“Yeah!” Loki was beaming with pride, “’Es Tor!” He pointed to one with a yellow lump.

“As you can see, my brother has a skill for capturing my likeness.”

“Our little Rembrandt,” Odin chuckled.

“I bet you do all sorts of amazing things in here,” Jane said as she looked around. “Oh!” She pointed to the ceiling. “Look at that! You have glow-in-the-dark stars. I had those when I was a little girl.”

“Stahs?” Loki’s eyes grew wide. “Stahs! Look!”

“Loki!”

“No!”

“Don’t!”

“Huh?” Jane stared in disbelief as the Little unceremoniously pulled down his pajama pants, revealing his training underwear.

“Stahs!”

Both Odin and Frigga were a flurry of apologies as they helped Loki pull his pants back up. Thor was attempting to explain the situation…but he couldn’t stop laughing.

“He’s…he’s trying – geeze, Loki! He’s trying to potty train,” he finally managed.

“Right,” Jane nodded…though she did not fully understand.

“If he has an accident, the little stars disappear.”

“Oh-h-h-h, yeah, I’ve seen those commercials.”

Loki was cooing with sad ‘no’s as Frigga whispered something in his ear. Presumably, that he was not to pull down his bottoms in front of his brother’s girlfriend.

“Herr Odin? Fru Frigga?” An older woman hesitantly entered the office-turned-studio. “Dinner will be served in about fifteen minutes; would you like to bring the little one to be settled?”

“Thank you, Ingrid,” Odin nodded to her, “we’ll be down shortly.” They then exchanged a few more words in Norwegian before he turned back to his family.

“Alright, my little prince,” specifically Loki, who already was pressing himself into his mother’s side. “No more showing off our Pull-Ups, alright?”

Loki nodded.

“And we’ll be a proper gentleman for the rest of the evening, yes?”

Loki brought his thumb to his mouth and gave another nod.

“Very good,” Odin let out a long sigh. “Honestly though,” he then looked at Jane, “I can’t guarantee he won’t do it again.”

“It’s perfectly fine,” Jane smiled, “really.”

“Let’s go get you ready for dinner,” she heard Frigga whisper to her boy.

“’Kay…”

The dining room had been designed with Frigga’s impeccable balance of elegance and ease. All the tall windows were now dark; only the warm glow of the neighboring houses and the distant lights of the Seattle skyline could be seen. Bouquets of fall florals had been strategically placed around the space. A matching centerpiece stood in bold contrast to the white lace tablecloth.

Ingrid and another young woman were setting the last of the flatware. Four settings had been made…and a trayless highchair had been pulled up to the table.

“Mama, I do!” Loki ran right to it and plopped himself down.

“Such a big boy,” Frigga said as she followed behind.

“Your usual glass of Rêvasser Blanc de Blancs, Fru?” Ingrid asked.

“Yes, thank you.”

Ingrid nodded and placed a wine glass at the setting beside Loki. Her pale eyes then met Jane’s.

“And for the lady?”

“Oh, uh,” Jane looked to Thor.

“Well, father and I will each have a Stella-”

“Milk!” Loki chirped, “In-gee, milk p’ease!”

“Of course, little one.”

“Loki…,” Frigga hushed the Little as she slid the tray onto his highchair, “Ingrid was talking to Jane, you need to wait your turn.”

“Milk Mama!”

“A nice cold Stella sounds perfect,” Jane told Ingrid, “thank you.”

She pretended not to see the smile and wink Odin gave Thor.

“Well then,” Thor pulled out one of the tall dining room chairs, “since I didn’t get to take your coat.”

“Thank you,” Jane slipped into the seat. Thor took the one to her left, which was next to Odin’s seat at the head of the table. An empty seat, clearly Frigga’s, was at Odin’s left…which put Loki directly across from Jane.

“There we are, all ready for dinner,” Frigga tucked the long end of Loki’s plastic bib under the tray.

“Mama…,” the Little cooed sweetly her.

“Such a silly boy,” she leaned down to rub her nose with his before officially joining the family at the table.

“We’ve had Ingrid and Svelte prepare a traditional meal,” Odin began, capturing Jane’s attention, “smoked salmon shipped all the way from Oslo, arrived fresh this morning. There’s dark rye bread, potato dumplings and a hearty lapskaus; which is just our word for lamb stew.”

“Sounds delicious!”

Svelte returned with the drinks, including Loki’s bottle of milk. A handful of what appeared to be crackers were put on his tray to pick at.

Loki once more became disinterested in Jane. Maybe because she lost her shiny newness. Maybe because his parents wanted to learn all about her classes and Littles and astrophysics did not mix well. Whatever the reason, Loki was more focused on his snack and playing with the toys clamped to the rim of the highchair tray.

“Be’eg play! Mama!” Every now and again, he would kick his legs and screech with delight.

“Loki, it’s not polite to interrupt, remember?” And Frigga was forced to calm him. “Dinner will be out in just a moment; alright my sweet treasure?”

“Tor play?” Loki began to ask, slumping over in his highchair as if dying of boredom.

“I would love to play after we have dinner. Would you like to ask Jane to play, too?”

“I would love to play with you,” Jane said in her cheeriest voice, “maybe a board game? Or another puzzle?”

Loki huffed and flopped his body to the other side of the highchair.

“Jane is your brother’s new friend,” Frigga whispered to him, “wouldn’t you like to play with her?”

Loki blew another raspberry.

“Don’t take it personally, Jane” Odin said, “Loki is very close to his brother. And like most Littles, he does not react well to any sort of change. The move here from Bergen was very difficult for him to process.”

“I can only imagine,” said Jane.

“They were insistent they could handle him on their own,” Thor said with a sort of mock scolding as his eyes moved back and forth between his parents.

“I’m glad you pushed back,” said Frigga, “Odin and I truly underestimated how much Loki needed you during that time.” She took a moment to look adoringly upon her youngest, brushing some of his hair from his face.

“Loki loved our old home,” Odin went on, “we had a modest little bit of land where he could run around and cause mischief.”

“And in the winter the snow would pile into a perfect slop for him to sled on,” Thor added. “Hm, that reminds me; how goes looking for holiday cabins in Leavenworth?”

“Go snow?” Loki perked up, “Mama ‘n Papa? In’nah Tor?”

“We certainly hope so,” Frigga told him.

“Leavenworth is really lovely in the winter,” Jane said, “I’m sure you must’ve seen pictures of the Bavarian city center; probably as close as you’ll find to a European-style holiday here in Washington.”

“Have you been?” Odin sat up in his seat, “We shared with our neighbors that we were looking to buy a second home in the mountains; somewhere not too far but also with plenty of snow for the little prince to play in.”

“Oh, I’ve been lots of times. Mostly in the summer,” Jane nudged Thor with her shoulder, “it’s a great place for hiking, and the kayaking down over in Wenatchee isn’t bad either.”

“Is that so?” Thor asked, nudging her back.

“Mhmm. But,” she looked back to Odin, “back when I was working on my undergrad, a few of us who didn’t have family nearby scraped together a little money to get a cabin one Christmas.”

“Are you not from Washington then?” Frigga asked.

“New Mexico, actually. I moved to Seattle for school. I love it here; there’s a lot more variety in things to do, but,” Jane smiled at Loki, “I know how scary and strange it can be to move to a whole new place you’ve never been before.”

Loki made a small huff of acknowledgement of her words.

The meal was then brought out on several plates and Thor quickly whispered to Jane that his family preferred shared meals as opposed to individual plates.

“Something we picked up after we adopted Loki,” he added with a small laugh, “he used to love to eat off all of our plates!”

Sure enough, Loki did not get his own plate. Rather, he pointed to what he wanted, and Frigga would slice it or tear it up into tiny pieces and put it on his tray.

“Can we use our manners?”

“P’ease Mama?”

As long as he asked her nicely.

Chapter Text

There was never a lull in conversation between Jane, Thor and his parents. And anytime silence threatened to settle upon them, Loki chimed in with whatever capricious thought had just crossed his mind.

“Papa!”

“Yes, my boy?”

“Papa, inn’ah I go park wit’Tor ‘n Mama to’morrow – ‘kay?”

“This is the first I’m hearing about a trip to the park!” Thor said with mock indignation. This did not deter Loki, who kept laughing and clapping his hands.

“I go swing! An’nah Tor push!”

“I bet Thor is great at pushing you on the swing,” said Jane, “I bet he’s just the best! Right, Loki?”

“Yeah!”

“Is that it then, brother? I’m at your beck and call all hours of the day for swing pushing and playtime?”

The rest of the table anticipated another spirited round of laughter from the Little, but instead Loki’s lanky frame started sinking downward into his seat. Tears began to sparkle in his eyes, like the crystals hanging from the chandelier.

“Ma…,” Loki began to hiccup, “Ma…Ma…,” and then let out the most pitiful wail.

“Oh, my love,” Frigga was up in a flash, already undoing the straps on the chair, “my sweet baby, did you have an accident?”

Loki was now hyperventilating, nearly panicking as his mother got him to his feet.

“Shhhh, my treasure,” she whispered, “it’s alright…” Frigga than turned and looked to Jane. “Carry on. We’ll be back in a moment.”

“Poor Loki,” Jane looked to Thor with round eyes, “he was so upset…”

“He’ll be fine; Mother will get him cleaned up and get some new bottoms on him.”

“Yes, those Pull-Up things don’t always hold,” Odin said knowingly, drumming his fingers on the table. He then looked to Thor with a world-weary sigh and said, “Your mother will probably put him in a nappy, so get ready for that.”

“Does he not like them?” Jane asked.

“Normally, he never has an issue,” Thor shrugged, “but when he gets the idea in his head that he wants to potty train…”

“Loki did this about a year ago, the year before that,” said Odin. “He really never makes a fuss about nappies. Just every now again, he gets it into his head that he doesn’t want them anymore. Frigga and I try to be supportive,” the old man chuckled, shaking his head, “I’d certainly not complain if I never had to change a messy nappy again!”

It was not long before Frigga returned with a sniffling, red-nosed Loki gripping her hand.

“Look who it is,” she announced in a sing-song voice. Loki had indeed been changed into a new pajama set…with a proper diaper now visible in the bottoms.  

“Here now brother, come sit with me,” Thor pushed his chair away from the table.

Loki rubbed his eyes and dragged his feet with every step. Though Jane’s heart hurt for him, she also could not help but notice Frigga and Odin trying to stifle their laughter.

“Aye, aye,” Thor shook his head, “my poor baby brother, back in his nappies. Such a tragedy!”

Loki was not at all aware of Thor’s slight. He crawled up into his brother’s lap, one arm around Thor’s neck and the other bringing a thumb to his mouth.

More conversation went around the table as the last of the meal was polished off. Thor absently bounced Loki on his knee, the simple act never once bringing a smile to the Little’s face.

“I think a few cups of decaffeinated coffee and little cream would be nice,” Frigga suddenly said in a curiously loud voice, “what say you, dear?”

“Indeed!” Odin leaned back in his seat, patting his belly, “Sounds like the fine end to a meal…”

For whatever reason, Loki’s interest was piqued. He lifted his head from where it rested against Thor’s and began to look around the table.

“Brother, did you know that Jane here brought you a surprise?”

Loki’s green eyes quickly locked on Jane, regarding her with great suspicion.

“I did,” Jane smiled back at him, “want to try and guess what it is?”

Loki’s thumb stayed planted in his mouth.

“Go on, brother,” Thor gave him another small jostle.

Loki made a huff and turned his attention to Frigga. He then lowered his head and pulled his thumb out so he could make the saddest kitten-like mewl.

“What do you think, baby?” Frigga asked. To Jane’s absolute surprise, the woman did not seem the least bit moved by this pathetic little noise.

Loki was not surprised; he was annoyed. He now looked to Odin, eyes narrowed and lips pulled down into a pout.

“Beguiling little devil!” The patriarch roared with laughter. “See how he would rather get one of us to tell him? Aye! Every now and again, Loki likes to flex that manipulative muscle of his, just to see what works.”

Loki stuck out his tongue at Odin’s mocking. Like before, the defiant act was met with dismissive laughter.

“Hey, Loki,” Jane angled her head to catch his attention, “maybe…I found someone’s favorite dessert?”

“Stoo-sell?” Loki’s entire mood made a one-eighty. “Stoo-sell Jay-nee?” Lights began to dance in his eyes, every muscle became tense with anticipation.

“Yes!” Jane reached out to tickle his thigh, “I found one just for you!”

“F’r me?” Loki began to giggle.

“Can you say thank you?” Thor whispered into his brother’s ear.

“Tank’oo!”

“Come back here, my darling,” Frigga said, getting to her feet, “you can have some streusel and ice cream, but only if you sit in your highchair.”

Loki babbled with excitement as he toddled to her.

Odin called Ingrid and once more they conversed in Norwegian. A few times, Jane heard Loki’s name mentioned, followed by shared laughter.

“Would anyone else like an after-dinner drink?” Indrid then asked. Odin made a request for a glass of scotch, the name of which was gruff and properly Scottish. Thor declined to join his father and asked for another Stella.

“I would not be opposed to a little shot of amaretto in my coffee,” Frigga smiled graciously at Ingrid…as Loki began to meltdown over his lack of streusel.

“Mama! Stoo-sell! I wanna is’cream!”

“And a warm bottle for the little one as well?”

“Yes please.”

“Stoo-sel!”

“Perhaps two little shots.”

Ingrid nodded to her mistress before turning to Jane.

“And for the lady?”

“A decaf would be nice, but just a little cream,” she shrugged, “I’ll eventually have to drive myself home.”

“Nonsense!” Odin waved away her words, “We have more than enough rooms for you to stay over.”

“Father, how many times do I have to tell you; Americans don’t just stay over at each other’s homes.”

“They’re very, hm,” Frigga furrowed her brow, “hvordan sier du...ah! Puritanical!”

“Oh, um, maybe?” Jane laughed, uncertain of what to say. Puritanical? Really?

“Very strange,” Odin nodded his head, “Americans always claim to be free, but you cannot be naked on their beaches.”

“Yes, that part is confusing…,” Thor looked to Jane, as if she had the answer.

“We didn’t have any beaches in New Mexico, so,” she gave him a shrug. “Can’t help you with that one.”

Ingrid and Svelte soon returned with the drinks and dessert. Loki was twisting himself up in the straps of his highchair.

“Kjære,” Ingrid cooed as she prepared a new bib for Loki, “sweet boy, hold still for me, please.”

Loki grumbled but did as he was told. Jane smiled at the adorable terrycloth bib. It was a soft yellow buttery and covered in alligators.

Then came the moment the Little had been waiting, well…about fifteen minutes for.

“Stoo-sel!”

Jane’s jaw dropped as she watched Loki dig into the dessert with both hands. The sight was made stranger with the juxtaposition of his family taking only polite bites as they pretended like they did not notice the full-on massacre happening on the highchair tray.

“He’s certainly going to need a bath later,” was all Odin had to say.

Like any good mother though, Frigga made short work of the gooey purple goop all over Loki’s hands and face.

“There we are, good as new!” And rubbed her nose with his for good measure.

“Room?” Loki’s attention was back on Jane, “Room ‘n play?”

“You want to show Jane your room?” Thor sat up in his seat.

“Yeah! ‘N play!”

“Oh, I would like that very much,” said Jane.  

“It’s a terrible mess,” Frigga chuckled, “I hope you won’t judge us too harshly.”

“I’m not one to speak; you should see my office!”

Odin realized that after a generous glass of scotch that he was very, very comfortable in his seat and, let’s be honest, the invitation to the nursery was clearly not for him.

Jane knew Loki’s room was going to be impressive; there was no debate to be had there. How impressive…well…

“Rock-ahh horsie!”

Jane had never seen a rocking horse big enough for a Little. She was faintly aware that such things existed, but the extra space needed to accommodate one was not the sort of extra space most homes had.

“Aye, brother! What’s your steeds name again?”

“Sleep-nur!” Loki said with a little huff as he got himself situated onto the horse’s back. “G’ddy-up!” He then began to undulate his body in a steady rhythm, creating enough momentum to get the rocking horse to ‘giddy-up’.

“Frigga, this is a beautiful nursery,” Jane slowly craned her head around the space. It was large, of course. Not only was there a rocking horse, but a proper crib for a six foot Little as well as an equally accommodating changing table. The overall theme was that of a European forest; foxes and rabbits played among the sage greens and grey-blues that made up the palette. Even the adjoining bathroom’s wallpaper had a cheery patter of geese dressed in little yellow raincoats.

A tree had been painted into one of the corners and fairy-lights were strung through the ‘branches’. They hung over a little library that came complete with a tactile rug and lots of pillows and stuffies to cuddle up with.

“Nurseries were actually my specialty,” Frigga told Jane, “and they’re also what got me into trouble!”

“Oh?”

“Mother was getting more and more request for Little’s nurseries,” Thor said, his attention still on his brother, “and the more time she spent around them…”

“The more I wanted to adopt.”

“I go dow’n,” Loki began to clumsily try sliding off his horse.

“Are you sure, brother? Let me help you…”

The moment Loki’s bare feet touched the floor, he was toddling over to Jane.

“Play!” He then grabbed her hand and began to tug, “’Essa’play!”

“Loki,” Frigga said in a warning voice, “we need to ask Jane nicely if she would like to play. We don’t tug on her arm.”

Though clearly confused by his mother’s words, Loki nodded and released Jane’s hand.

“Jay-nee play?”

“Um,” Jane suddenly realized in that moment Loki had yet to say her name, “yes, I’d love to play!”

“Jay-nee play!”  

Thor stood with his arms crossed over his chest, still as a statue as he watched his girlfriend and baby brother attempt to build a questionable house with waffle blocks.

A hand gently rested itself on his shoulder.

“Look how well they’re getting on,” Frigga whispered, “I’ll be honest, I was worried…”

“I was too,” Thor said with a long sigh. It was a hard thing to admit. Jane was easily the most amazing woman he had ever met; smart, funny, adventurous…and quite easy on the eyes!

But Loki…

“Loki doesn’t open up easily,” said Frigga.

“Can’t blame the little mite…he’s been through so much…”

Thor’s somber tone was quickly undercut by Loki’s bright laughter.

“Jay-nee silly!” He declared, causing Jane to laugh as well.

“I’m not silly, you’re silly!” She reached out and began to tickle Loki’s belly.

“Oh dear, they look so happy together but,” Frigga began to step forward, “my darling treasure, it’s nearly bedtime and someone still needs a bath.”

“No!” Loki cried as if wounded, “No baff!”

“Yes, it’s bath time.”

“No!”

“Brother,” Thor moved to kneel down beside Loki, “come now, be a nice boy and tell Jane thank you for your streusel and for coming to see you tonight.”

Loki’s bottom lip began to quiver. Eyes that had once looked at Jane with such disapproval, were now welling up with tears at the thought of her leaving.

“No go…”

Jane’s hand went out and covered Loki’s.

“If you like, I can come back again,” she said, smiling tenderly at him, “would you like that, Loki?”

Loki sniffled and nodded.

“Jay-nee...fwend?”

Thor felt like the air had been knocked from his lungs.

“Yes, I would love to be your friend,” said Jane, “that would be the most wonderful thing in the world!”

Loki let out a gleeful chirrup and turned to Thor.

“Jay-nee ‘es fwend! ‘Es baby ‘n Jay-nee!”

“Hey!” Thor laughed, “Are you trying to steal my girlfriend?”

“Yeah!”

“He is the cuter one,” Jane smirked.