A/N This series has been sitting on my hard drive for a long time now and I have decided to just let it out in the world. It's something fluffy and warm, maybe it will make you smile, maybe it makes you forget your worries and concerns for a little while and maybe just maybe you enjoy it, that is all I can wish for dear reader. Also this is unbeta'd but I have looked over it a few times, any mistakes and so on I own completely and hope they are forgiven. Also I am a big fat sucker for kid fics and scmoopiness...

They did not expect to see Thor so soon after the events in New York City, but Steve Rogers was happy to see him nonetheless and greeted his comrade with a smile and an embrace that started out as awkward but quickly turned into warmth as they grasped each other tightly around the shoulders. They had fought together but their time spent around each other had not been enough to strike up any kind of real friendship but they were bonded now by a fight to save the world. A bond that was now unshakeable.

"I didn't expect to see you back here so soon." Steve admitted stepping away from Thor, who was still dressed in his heavy cloaked armour, Steve smiled to himself he was again in the company of a god, none of the kind he had ever read about in Sunday school when he was a boy that was for certain.

"Loki?" Steve wanted to know immediately, because that was what all of them here on earth had wondered and mulled over for days, how exactly would the demi god get punished for his actions. Bruce Banner had read up on some of the Norse mythology stuff and it had not made for easy reading nor listening. Loki getting his mouth sewn shut was one, Loki tied to a rock for all of eternity with a serpent dripping venom in his face, that one had been interesting to say the least and then there was something about Loki being left in a tree until someone would shed a tear for him that had been a little funny the Avengers admitted but none of them could be certain what punishment the All Father would muster for the grievances caused by Loki this time around. All they knew for certain was that it would not be pretty and some of them secretly pitied him.

"He is... there has been some developments my friend." Thor whispered and he was about to explain when from behind his shoulder there was the cry of a baby, the cry was high pitched and demanding of attention, it sounded so foreign and strange in the halls of Avengers Towers.
"Fandral!" Thor called and heavy footsteps fell on the tiled floors in the corridor coming closer and closer towards them until the man named Fandral stepped inside.

He was dressed like Thor in warrior clothing that was made out of thick buckskins and leather and metal. He was blonde and blue eyed and Steve knew he was one of Thor's friends, because that had been in the books Bruce had read as well. Thor's comrades the warriors 3 and Sif.
And now Frandal looked like he had fallen right off from the pages of those books and he looked uncomfortable because in his arms was a squirming bundle wrapped in soft white fur.

"Give him here." Thor ordered and Fandral looked relieved to hand over the tiny package that whimpered softly now.
"A baby?" Steve asked and Thor pulled the fur back and a small infant looked back, its hands were pulled into tight little fists that it stuck into its small mouth and sucked sloppily on, only to realize it bore no sustenance and it began crying again.
"It's my brother...this child is Loki. And I am afraid he is incredibly hungry."
Thor said rocking the child who would not cease its incessant cries.

"Is this his punishment ," It all clicked into place for Steve quickly. "Was this what your father really decided?" he asked dumbfounded.
"It was either this or certainty of death." Thor explained.
"What is going on?" Pepper asked and none of them had even noticed her walking into the room.
"Thor's back, and so is Loki." Steve said and he could see on Pepper's face the same kind of dubious look that must have been on his face seconds ago. It all felt so surreal.

"The baby are you kidding me?" Pepper asked.
"I'm afraid not and I am in need of your assistance because as you can tell I have no idea what I am doing." Thor said and Loki screamed louder drowning out Thor's voice.
"How old is he?" Pepper asked.
"He was born this morning milady." Fandral spoke up.
"And his mother? Which is your mother and then reast feeding him is out of the question I guess." Thor finally managed a smile one that was however etched in sadness and deep regret.

"She doesn't know of his fate and even if she did I doubt she would be able to aid him in that area."
"So we need to get some bottles and baby formula, Steve get one of the agents to run to the store tell them it's an emergency and also tell them to get some diapers for a newborn baby."
"What if they want to know why?" Steve asked. Pepper rolled her eyes and patted his arm in a motherly fashion, a small smile on her face.
"This is still Stark Towers Cap." She reminded him. "They'll do it go on get done so Loki can feed."
Steve did as he was asked, disappearing quickly and returning a few minutes later with news that an agent had been sent to the nearest store and had looked of course unimpressed by the order but did it quickly when Steve threw Tony's name at him.

Steve returned to the room and Loki was quiet now having drifted off into some tiresome sleep.
"Okay now that we have food on the way for him I need an explanation Thor." Pepper whispered what she had been meaning to ask the entire time but had waited on Steve to return.
"Our Father decided between two actions for my brother's sentence, eternal death or for him to be reborn as a mortal child." Thor whispered looking down at Loki intently.

"And you decided the latter." Pepper did not mean for it to sound harsh but it did and Thor looked up at her unmoved.
"I hated what my brother did to the citizens of earth I despised him for it but at the same time I would not wish death upon him much of what happened was our fault and he deserves a second chance and now he has it." Thor said.
"And you are going to raise him here?" Steve asked.
"Aye."
"Thor!" Fandral was up on his feet. "That is not the terms we discussed, we were to bring him here and leave him here, you told your Father you would do that." Fandral reminded him and Thor shook his head sadly.

"I am not leaving him here that was never my intention. I am staying Fandral and you my friend may take your leave."
"Your Father..." Fandral began to argue.
"My Father has no choice in this decision I am staying. Loki needs to be around his family and my father may have given up on that but I am still Loki's family and I plan to take care of him." Thor got up and handed Loki to Pepper. He walked over to Fandral stood in front of him and gripped him tightly by the shoulders.

"Fandral you and I have faced many battles, fought many foes. And I have been proud to call you not only a friend but also brother, but I am afraid tis the end unless my Father changes his mind but until then I am not going anywhere. I am not leaving him."
"This is a mistake." Fandral whispered.
"Perhaps, but it's a simple question between what is right and what is wrong and my heart has decided that this is right. I have to stay."
"The Lady Sif, Volgstagg what do I tell our friends?"

"You tell them..." Thor looked over at Loki who was nestled safely in Pepper's arms. "You tell them the truth, that I am off on a new quest one that is far more important than any I had ever been on before. "
"There really is no way of making you come home is there?" Fandral asked and Thor shook his head.
"Very well...good luck to you, to both of you Thor." Fandral embraced Thor. "Till we meet again." He said and then bowed to Steve and Pepper, he was out of the front door and there was a crash of lightning and thunder, a bright light, brighter than any before it and Thor sighed knowing that Fandral was gone.

The agent Steve had sent on the baby supplies errand returned and looked like he had plenty of questions to ask, but Pepper's face alone told him to rather keep his mouth shut which was what he did and he disappeared as quickly as he had shown up.
They gathered in the kitchen Pepper preparing the bottle of milk according to the instructions and when the formula was cooled down she guided the dummy into the child's small mouth.

"His not doing anything." Thor said with concern standing beside her.
"Give him a second. He'll figure it out." And like magic Loki started suckling on the bottle slowly but surely until he spat the teat out and was fully fed.
"What if your father comes here and forces you to go back?" Steve asked.
"Is that not the reason I joined the intiative called the Avengers?" Thor asked with a weary smile.
"Absolutely we'll help you anyway we can and this little guy needs to be burped." Pepper said.
"Burped?" Thor asked as she handed Loki back to him.

"Oh Thor that journey you were talking about to that cute buddy of yours yeah it's a long one, lesson number one, after this little guy drinks he needs to be burped cause he can't do it himself." Pepper moved Loki around Thor's shoulder where he laid slumped.
"Rub his back like so." Pepper instructed and she moved Thor's hands up and down along the length of Loki's small back.
"Pepper you are a godsend." Thor admitted and she smiled.

"All those hours babysitting in college is finally paying off." It was quiet in the room for a while as Thor rubbed Loki's back gently.
"Are you having second thoughts big guy?" Steve asked and Thor shook his head.
"No." Thor smiled. "Well not just yet. I am just marvelling at how small a thing he is."
The rest of the Avengers walked in much later and there was a stupefied silence as Thor retold the story of what had happened to Loki in Asgard, followed quickly by a go around of who could hold the baby first. Clint somehow won and he cradled Loki who was burped and sleeping still wrapped in the warm fur.

"So this is real, he is really Loki, the same Loki who climbed in my head and messed up this whole city it's that same Loki?" Clint asked.
"Yes the very same one." Thor whispered as if it were an apology.
"I'll be goddamned, you guys sure know how to dish out punishment up there wait till Fury hears about this." Clint said running a hand over Loki's soft hair.
"Leave Fury for now, for now we need baby supplies, clothes he can't go around naked." Pepper held out a hand to Tony who stared at it like he had no clue what she wanted. And then it dawned on him.
"Really how am I supposed to pay for this?" Tony asked.

"Just pay up...Thor how long do you plan on staying here with us?" Pepper asked as Tony handed his credit card over and not looking happy about it at all.
"I have not given it much thought." He admitted as Clint passed Loki back to Thor.
"This is your home big guy I cleared a floor for you in case you dropped by so mi casa es su cas."
"What?" Steve and Thor asked in unison.
"My home is yours and that little guy's." Tony pointed out.

A/N Thank you for reading! Have a splendid day because you are splendid person and deserve all the splendor. Another part up in a day or two ;)