The Before [Prequel- Part 1]

The Hard Goodbye

~~~Catherine's pov~~~

Four days had passed since I used the cooling spell to stabilize Loki's condition and none of his vitals improved in the slightest.

That spell was my last chance of bringing him back, and it was gone.

And things only got worse from there.

Because of all the chaos caused by Thanos' snap, resources were in short supply, as well as electricity and power apparently.

That's why Bruce came to me and brought up the unthinkable.

He wanted to take Loki off life support to conserve power.

It didn't matter how much I protested, cried, or straight up threatened to murder him if he tried anything, he said it was for the best and nothing would change his mind.

He left me alone so I could say my goodbyes, but that just made it all seem far too real.

"Loki... I..." I couldn't get out more than two words before I broke down sobbing at his bedside, my hands tightly entwined with his. "They're going to take you off life support in twenty four hours unless they see some sign of life... I'm so sorry-" My voice broke with grief.

"I tried to reason with him, but Bruce said it's just cruel to leave you like this if you have no possibility of recovering." I tried so hard to make him understand that this wasn't something I wanted. That all I wanted was for him to be awake and here with me.

"I don't want this. It's the last thing I'd ever want. You deserve so much better than this. I am so incredibly sorry." I sobbed, burying my tear stained face in his chest, desperate to be close to him just one last time.

"I just need you to know that she'll know you." I gently took his hand and placed it on my baby bump. "I don't care if she never gets the chance to meet you in person, she will know you. Because I'll tell her stories about you all the damn time. About how you saved me from falling cities and took me to watch shooting stars on distant planets." I continued to choke back tears as I spoke, trying with every fiber of my being to not let my voice convey the pain I was feeling.

"I'll tell her how much you loved us. So much so that you sacrificed your life so that we could go on. She'll know you loved her even before she was born. And when she asks where you are, I'll tell her the truth." I attempted a small smile, but failed miserably. "I'll tell her that you're watching over us from the stars. Protecting us."

This was the hardest moment of my entire life. I was letting the love of my life, my soulmate, my husband, die.

"I love you, Mischief." I let out a quiet, grief stricken sob, and kissed his cheek gently. "Till death do us part, right?"

And that's when something truly miraculous happened.

I felt Loki's hand squeeze mine ever so slightly.

My eyes widened with shock and pure happiness. "Loki? Loki, can you hear me?" I sat up straight, wiping my tears and continuing to hold his hand tightly.

I didn't get a response, but I knew what I felt.

"Bruce!" I frantically called into my radio the scientist had given me for emergencies. "Get in here, now!"