The Rules of Living with the Avengers

34. Sometimes everything is okay. But don't tell Pepper about possessed Loki

I wake up to the sound of a door screeching as it moves against the floor. I groan and roll over but then realise. I shoot up, wiping hair out of my face and stare at the freedom that's the open door. Now light is pouring in, I can see that I'm alone in the room. Bucky and Natasha have obviously left me.

Or were taken. And if that's the case and there's no dead enemy bodies round, we're all screwed.

I try to remember everything that happened but it's hard since I was unconscious for most of it. Zombies, Loki, Loki possessed, hit on head, Bucky, sleeping...

"Guys?" I whisper as I walk through to the elevator. There's a slight creak and I almost crap myself but it's just Tony, talking into an earpiece. Looking and acting normal. God, I'm so confused.

"Yeah, Peps, we're all safe. Nothing bad has happened..." He pauses as he sees me and waves. "Ellie's here now."

"Tell her I said hi and when is she coming home?"

"Ellie says hi and asked when you're coming home?" Pepper's currently on a tour of the world, working out contracts and advertising the company. "She's coming home next week. She's just in Dubai at the moment," he tells me. "Go to the kitchen and tell Steve to save some pancakes for me and Bruce. We're just going to sort some things out." He winks at me. "And Loki's in the basement."

"We have a basement?" I frown.

Tony is about to reply when JARVIS starts speaking. "Sir, the tests on Loki are done and he...well rather the thing that is possessing him would-"

"JARVIS, quiet!" Tony shouts but it's too late. I hear Pepper's yells come from his earpiece and wince. That must freaking hurt Tony's ear. "No, Pepper. You don't need to come home now! Enjoy the trip! Yeah! Get a massage! Calm down and- what do you mean Padre is a great masseuse? Who the hell is Padre? Are you lying? No I'm not lying! Everything is fine! Do not book a flight home, Peps! Do not-" I skip down to the kitchen, wondering why the hell Loki has been possessed and why we're being watched by SHIELD and why I'm so worried about Loki and why Bucky flirted with me and why-yum I smell pancakes.

"Morning," Natasha says cheerfully as I step into the kitchen. "We've solved some problems."

"Which ones?" I sit down and Steve passes me a plate of pancakes. Bucky smiles at me and pushes the sugar over to me. Natasha pours me some orange juice and Clint ruffles my hair as he goes to the microwave. "Why are you all being so nice?"

"Because we're happy," Clint jumps and sits on the counter, eating porridge. Natasha stands beside him, leaning against his legs. "We've got news."

"About Loki?" I almost drop my fork in delight. "Is he okay?"

"Calm down," Bucky grins. "Anyone would think that you like him, the way you're jumping at the chance of his recovery."

"He's my friend. I'd be just as happy to see any of you recover."

"That's not our news," Natasha said quickly before Bucky could start an argument. "Where's Bruce and Tony? We've already told Thor."

"What's the news?" Tony comes walking in, yawning. Bruce follows, wearing his pyjamas and looking more tired than Tony, if that's possible. We all wait expectantly and Natasha and Clint glance at each other, looking nervous. "Hawk? Tasha?"

"Uh." Clint says. "Nat, you tell them. It is your...um..."

She sighs then looks up at us. "I know it's not exactly convenient right now, what with Loki being possessed and SHIELD stalking us and danger round every corner but...I-we," she rested her hand on Clint's, "we really want this. So, I'm pleased and a bit scared to announce that-"

"She's pregnant!" Clint bursts out. "Sorry! I couldn't wait! I'm really excited! We can call the baby Katniss and train it to shoot arrows and it's middle name can be Prim and if it's a boy we can call it Peeta Haymitch Finnick Gale Barton!"

"No." Natasha glares at him.

"But-"

"No."

We just stare at them. They're having a baby. I didn't know they were even trying. Ugh, gross mental image. I don't want to know what they do when they're alone. In my mind, the couples of the tower (Natasha and Clint, Jane and Thor, Pepper and Tony, Steve and Bucky) all don't have sex. They sleep. That's it. I can't exactly imagine Steve and Bucky in the bedroom. Not that I want to. Definitely not. Shirtless Steve is gorgeous though and I've never seen shirtless Bucky but I'm sure he's not bad. Ah. Off these thoughts.

"Congratulations!" Bruce says, finally breaking the silence. "When is it due?"

"We're not sure yet. I just took a test yesterday morning, informed Heimdall to tell Thor because we don't know how fast space messages travel and we didn't want Thor to be the last to know and then, uh--" Natasha blushes. "We kind of bought the Avengers set of dolls for the baby..."

"There's a doll of me?"

Bruce looks so horrified that I can't help laughing. Eventually he finds the funny side too and chuckles along with us. Then we all sit down, eating pancakes, discussing baby names and talking about anything except our problems. All through breakfast, even though I was kind of happy, I couldn't help glancing at the empty seats, usually reserved for the Asgardian brothers and sigh. I miss Loki.

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I will send you all invisible Loki's and virtual hugs so enjoy those hugs!

-Georgia xx