For Better or For Worse (Loki x Reader)

Bonus 1 - Mum

Hello, my loves! Thank you for tuning into this very special bonus chapter! I have wanted to write a chapter like this for a very very long time, but had never found the inspiration until now. I am also very proud of myself for taking a break when I hit writer's block to wait until I could be happy with it. I hope you like this fluffy chapter featuring Mama Frigga as much as I do. Enjoy!

NOTES:

This bonus chapter takes place shortly after Loki and (Y/N) return from Midgard but before Loki was stabbed.

⚠️TW: Mentions of abuse and panic attacks⚠️

Mother; noun

a woman in relation to her child or children

Mum; noun

a selfless, living human who must sacrifice many of their wants and needs for the wants and needs of their children

(Y/N)'s POV

I woke from a nightmare with a gasp, my breath stolen from my lungs, a silent scream on my lips. It had been my bastard of a father, always waiting and watching for me to mess up so he had an excuse to beat me. His breath always stunk of alcohol, and his hands were tight on my wrists as he screamed in my face, spittle flying. Then, Adin's screams and pleas to let me go, for my father to stop hurting me would fill my ears. As always, they would then transform into the last scream he had emitted when he had taken his final breath, when that sword was shoved through his abdomen.

Twisting around in the tangled sheets, I tried to take in my surroundings, trying to figure out where I was. Reaching for the other side of the bed, I hoped to find my husband who never hesitated to take me into his strong arms and hold me tight, promising that I was safe, that I was with him, not back in that Helish place. When I found the other side of the bed cold and undisturbed, my breathing increased tenfold, and soon, I found myself hyperventilating.

After a few moments of raw panic, it hit me like a ton of bricks that Loki was away with Thor on a diplomatic mission to a nearby village. It was routine, and this had happened several times over the course of our marriage, but this was the first time I had experienced a nightmare without him here to comfort me.

Now fully understanding the situation, I tried to take control of my breathing, trying to regain my composure with the hope to get a few more hours of sleep in. I let the memory of Loki's voice fill my head. His soft words reminded me how to breathe, how to work myself out of those terrifying memories. Sooner than I thought possible, I found myself slumped against my pillows, breathing heavily but now evenly.

Laying silently for a few more minutes, listening to the night sounds coming from just beyond the slightly ajar terrace door, I realized I wouldn't be going back to sleep tonight. Being as it was hard to fall back to sleep even when Loki's strong arms were wrapped around me, there was no way I would be able to sleep on my own. I needed my Loki back here, in my arms, in my bed. But alas, I still had two more days until he would be back from his trip. I would just have to live off the memory of his voice and his lingering scent that clung to his clothes and his side of the bed.

With a huff, I removed myself from the bed and grabbed my cloak that was laying over the back of one of the plush couches decorating our bedroom. I slipped it over my shoulders and fastened the clasp, pulling the warm material closer to try and stave off the coldness I knew wasn't brought on by the warm Asgardian night. I decided to forego shoes and left the room barefoot, not having a particular destination in mind.

As I wandered the silent halls of the palace, the guards let me do as I pleased as it wasn't uncommon to catch me wandering the hallways when my husband was away on business. There were a few stationed every couple of yards and there were at least two or three pairs walking the castle, making sure no one unwanted had slipped into the palace. When I passed, they simply bowed slightly and either continued on their way, or continued to hold their position at their assigned spot.