Frost & Fire

Chapter 24 (Abigail)

I couldn't believe after what felt like so long, we had our baby boy finally and Loki was finally home for good. We wouldn't have to leave each other for any reason now that the rebels were taken care of and we could return as we wanted to. With the air down low and him being so content, I couldn't imagine not having this.

"Come in." I said softly when I heard the knock. We had slept so peacefully and had barely heard a peep from Arn all night.

"How are you feeling?" Pepper asked as Bruce followed with his blood pressure cuff and stethoscope.

"Really sore, but luckily not as light headed. I'm sorry I don't want to mess with the temperature just yet, but you can come see him."

Pepper smiled and came in. I knew that Morgan was either sleeping or was with my dad because it was still way too cold for her. "I would ask to hold him, but I don't think Loki is giving him up anytime soon." She said with a small laugh and sat on the edge of the bed by me.

"No, I don't think so. Other than feeding him and cuddling him a bit, he hasn't let Arn go. Which is probably a good thing considering I feel like I have nothing for him right now."

"Your dad took care of that. Don't worry, though, it's just the boxes right now so you guys can help set everything up the way you want, but he did get this." She held up a baby blue blanket with shimmery stars on it. "Careful opening it, though."

"Your father would have torn apart that one armed android of his if it didn't get that picture." Bruce said as I opened the blanket carefully. There was a frame with a picture of Loki holding onto Arn for the first time and cutting the umbilical cord while in the background my dad was still holding my hand and kissing my forehead. "You look good. Have you tried to stand yet?"

"Thank you." I said as I looked at the picture. There were two fathers, both holding onto their children as if they thought the children would disappear. "And no, I haven't yet. I just got up to be honest."

"Well, this will hurt because of the stitches, but I need you to try getting up, okay?" Banner asked as he and Pepper stood on either side of me. "Trust me, you'll feel better and once you're okay to stand, I'll let you try to shower."

"That actually sounds like heaven considering I feel like I smell to high heaven and sweaty still."

"You will. And trust me, you're going to wish we had the good stuff here for this." Pepper said as they tried to help me up and I whimpered in pain, which was apparently loud enough to wake Loki and he was sitting up, holding Arn in one arm and reaching for me with the other.

I held onto his hand and tried to give a brave smile. "It's okay, I need to walk. If I don't I'll be at risk for blood clots and those are going to be worse than birthing five of him."

"Pepper, will you hold him then? I'd rather be the one to help her stand."

Pepper smiled wide and reached for the newborn. She cradled him as she grabbed the baby blanket and started to wrap him in it. Meanwhile, it took both Bruce and Loki to get me to stand up and I seriously considered if this was worth it, but I needed to try to walk even if it was painful.

"How many stitches?" I asked worriedly as I took a few steps, though heavily leaning on Loki.

"About twenty, but you're lucky. It was only a second degree tear but because of your body temp changing, you almost hemorrhaged."

Once in the bathroom, Bruce left us and Loki gave me some privacy so I wouldn't be left alone. I cried out a little from the pain and really hoped that this was the worst I'd experience. Getting back up and walking back to our room was a lot easier than I expected and I sat on the rocker that was brought in. I reached for my phone and took a picture of Pepper holding Arn; she really was a natural and I worried I wouldn't be able to be as good of a mother as she was. Then again, she was used to us human children and I had a feeling none of us were going to know what to do with Arn when and if he would realize he had ice powers like most of the ice giants.