Heaven Sent (Loki/Asgard Fanfiction - Aislinn's Story)

Chapter Eighty-Three

             

When they returned to Midgard, things became very hectic, very quickly, with the wrestling championship coming up fast. Chris kept Aislinn busy, while Steve ran like a madman between classes, practice, and the tournament looming in the near future. Somerset Valley was favored to win State, and as a result, Steve pushed his guys harder than he ever had before.

Wednesdays were his easy days—instead of practice, the wrestlers hit the weight room while he caught up on the paperwork that seemed to pile up on his desk like crazy, as he told Aislinn. But on the plus side, he was home by six, instead of eight, as he was most nights.

"And Daddy is going to need a long vacation when this is all over," she murmured as she changed Chris. He was three weeks old and although everyone told her his smiles were only gas, she liked to think they were real, since they were so adorable. Even now, as she buttoned up his fleece sleeper, he grinned, showing a dimple in his right cheek.

"My handsome little man," she whispered, bending over to rub noses with him. "You look so much like Daddy, do you know that, you lucky little boy? You're going to drive girls crazy when you're older."

She scooped him up and nuzzled him. He smelled sweetly of lavender and baby shampoo, his skin warm and soft. So far, he didn't show any indication of his Jötunn heritage, but when she'd said something to McKenna, her mother reminded her that she also didn't show any outward signs at first.

The front door slammed. A glance at the clock told Aislinn it was six-thirty. Steve was late for a Wednesday.

"I hope everything is okay," she said, brushing a kiss against Chris's temple as she carried him downstairs. "Steve?"

"In the den, baby."

She sighed softly. He sounded exhausted. They'd been back two weeks and already, he sounded like he needed a vacation. He was supposed to be getting his right knee operated on at the end of March, but now he talked about putting it off until summer, since he really didn't want to take any more time off work. She didn't really want him to put it off, even though Kyra told her a few months wouldn't matter much by now.

The den was lit only by the soft glow of the television. Sportscenter. Steve was sprawled on the sofa, feet up on the wood and glass coffee table, legs crossed at the ankles. Even in the gentle glow, the exhaustion showed on his face. There were dark circles under his eyes. A shadow of beard covered the lower half of his face. His hair poked up in haphazard fashion, as if he'd been raking his fingers through it. Which he probably had been.

But as Chris gurgled, Steve looked up and smiled. "A sight for sore eyes," he said, patting the sofa cushion next to him. "Come here."

She skirted the table to sink beside him and without hesitation, he scooped Chris away from her. "My favorite people in nine realms..."

Aislinn curled up next to him, tucking her legs beneath her. "You look tired."

"That's better than how I feel," he replied, cradling Chris against his chest. "I'm beyond beat, Ash. Beat would be an improvement."

"The tournament starts next weekend?"

"Yeah. Four days in Atlantic City. Can't wait." Chris began fussing, so Steve lifted him to his shoulder, rubbing his back with one hand. "But I have to get through this weekend first."

"The last match of the season?"

He offered up a tired grin. "You're catching on, honey."

"I'll never understand it completely," she confessed, reaching out to thread her fingers through his hair over his left ear.