Worthy

Part 66 - Welcome To The Family

"So is someone going to tell me the truth or what?" Tony snaps, looking around the room. While Thor is with you, the others all look around; no-one willing to give Tony the answers that he's looking for. "Ok, Ratchet. Thor said to ask you, so spit it out."

"He's gone." Rocket looks down at the floor; Drax standing next to him, awkwardly shifting his feet.

"Gone where?" Bruce asks, eyes almost popping out of his head as he thinks. "Gone as in...dead?"

"No," Rocket sighs, rubbing a paw over his face. "As in gone. Soon as we got clear of the whole damn planet exploding," He points over to Parker. "Which was pretty cool by the way, I think you'd have liked it." Parker can't help but smile, before he sees the look on Tony's face, making him shake his head, a little too enthusiastically.

"Focus Rocket," Steve growls, looking over Tony's shoulder to see Loki walking wearily through the hallway towards them; Frigga meeting him and the two of them whispering amongst themselves.

"Fine. He ran off to find Thanos."

"Alone?"

"Yes. Thanos killed Gamora." Drax continues, in his usual monotone voice. "But Nebula is still with him. She would have wanted her sister free." He turns and looks at Loki as he finally joins the group. "Like his."

"And Thor just let him run off like that?" Tony yells. "When his sister is laying through there, DYING because he wanted to play family for first time in 20 odd years..." Before anyone can interrupt him, he sighs, throwing himself down on the couch. "Before anyone says it, yes I know I went too far. It's just been..."

"Tough." Bruce agrees. While everyone catches up, explaining how they managed to get off of Ego's planet with the help of the Ravagers, almost everyone's eye turns to watch Frigga; who stands simply staring at the hallway, waiting for Thor to emerge. Sensing that it could take a while, Steve finally walks over to her.

"We can set up a room for you, your majesty, if you'd be more comfortable." He stands proudly beside her.

"No thank you, Steven," She smiles softly at him. "I will wait for my son. I need to see her." She pats his arm. "And please, call me Frigga." Steve smiles back at her, before surprisingly sitting next to Loki.

"Thank you," Loki murmurs. "But she is as stubborn as my brother." He lets out a little smile, Steve looking at him with a raised eyebrow before smiling too.

"Speaking of..." Bruce nods towards the hallway, as Thor finally emerges; Bruce practically running over to him to wrap him in a tight hug. "Stupid question, but how you doing buddy?" Unable to keep the smile off his face, Thor can't help but pat Bruce's shoulder before turning to his mother.

"Loki, Wanda, if you don't mind." She asks calmly before heading to your bedside. They both give Thor a sympathetic smile before following her. "Get some sleep Thor." She gently shouts behind her as she disappears from view. He nods, before sitting down next to Tony. Not moving a muscle until they return.

***
An hour passes. Neither Frigga, Loki or Wanda have left you. Some of the team have freshened up and eaten, but Tony and Thor remain locked in place. The only movement either of them making is Thor stopping to grab little Groot from storming to your bedside. Managing to calm him, the little tree is now wrapped in Thor's huge arms, snoring soundly.

"Worth getting the practice in, I suppose." Tony laughs at the image, trying desperately to keep himself calm, and even encite the smallest reaction from him. But Thor stares on ahead, his mind awash with the wonder if he'd ever have this feeling with his own child. "I'm sorry," Tony manages hold back a sob. "I didn't mean to..."

"It's fine Stark," Thor replies, finally looking down at Groot tucked up in his arms. "I know what you meant." The lightest of smiles flitters across his face. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"Why did you tell her sooner?" He turns to look at him. "Or me. Why didn't you tell me? When I came to you on Ego's planet...when I asked you..."

Running a hand down his face, guilt making him jump up and pace around the room. "I don't know," Tony's voice is low. "I guess, there was so much going on that I thought we had time. I only found out because we wanted to check for sure Ego was her father and then...well you know." Thor nods. "I was a coward Thor, I know. It was something that should have been private between you both and now..."

"Everyone knows." Thor sighs. "I'm worried about that too. You know how she is about her privacy." Carefully placing Groot down, tucked against a cushion, he stands and grasps Tony's shoulder. "But she'll forgive you Stark. Because it's you. I just wish you had come to me sooner."

"Me too," Tony sighs, clasping Thors shoulder in return. "I meant what I said by the way. I've known Kate a long time, and I've never seen her as happy as she is with you. And when she wakes up, she'll say yes." Thor politely smiles, but drops his head, wondering if you'll ever wake up. It had been almost a week. "Trust me," Tony grips his shoulder tighter. "She'll wake up. She has too." He tries his hardest to convince himself too.

"Stark is right," Loki's voice breaks the moment. As he, Frigga and Wanda finally walk back into the room, the smiles on their faces glowing in the dark moment. "She's on her way."

"Please Loki," Tony huffs out, no energy to even think of a nickname. "Speak English."

"She was lost in the dreamscape, but Wanda and Loki have helped her navigate her way home." Frigga tries to explain. "It was the celestial part of hers way of coping with the damage done. But being that she's part human, it's taking her longer to wake, which would have taken its toll on her body..."

"But she also has a little bolt of lightning to keep her body energised." Wanda can't help but jump in and beam as the emotion on Thor's face turns to excitement.

"They're..." He starts, finding the lump in his throat making it difficult to speak.

"Both going to be fine brother." Loki smiles, clasping his brother in a warm hug. "May take a couple more days. But I guess now a congratulations are in order." Thor grabs onto Loki tighter than he ever has before.

"Thank you." He moves onto his mother, and Wanda, who yelps slightly, as he squeezes her a little too tightly. Turning to Tony, the two men embrace.

"We have no way to repay you." Tony mumbles, trying to keep his emotion in check. He first hugs Wanda, bows to Frigga before standing in front of Loki and offering him his hand. Loki looks at it blankly before accepting the handshake.

"No need," Loki clasps Tony's forearm, bringing him in for a small, and brief hug. "We are going to be family after all. Sharing a niece or nephew."

"Well," Tony replies, startled that he had forgotten about that part. Reaching over to the bar, he pulls out a bottle of scotch. "Welcome to the family."