Uniting Asgard [Book Two]

Chapter Fourteen

In the middle of the night, Erica awoke and decided to go see if Loki was awake so that they could go on another walk through the halls or he could teach her another spell. She slowly opened the door and furrowed her brow seeing two people in the bed. Erica tip-toed to one side of the bed and her eyes widened seeing Alice in a deep sleep. She smiled brightly and walked to the foot of the bed, using the footboard as leverage to climb onto the bed. She carefully crawled towards the two and settled between them. Erica quietly giggled to herself as she got under the covers and started to fall asleep.

As the sun was beginning to shine through their windows, Alice rolled onto her left side as she began to wake, wanting to see Loki. Upon opening her eyes, she saw Erica sprawled out between them. Alice chuckled softly as she laid her hand against Erica's face, running her thumb over her cheek. Erica moved her body at the movement and furrowed her brow. Alice watched as Erica roused herself from her sleep. Erica opened her eyes and took a moment to wake up before smiling brightly and giggling as she looked at Alice.

"You're back!" Erica exclaimed quietly.

"I am." Alice laughed.

"Do you have to go back soon?" The girl inquired.

"No," Alice replied. "I'm staying right here. I missed you and your siblings."

"Papa taught me magic."

"He told me. He also told me you got a dagger."

"He said I could anything I wanted." Erica beamed.

"Did he now?" Alice raised her brow, stealing a glance at Loki sleeping soundly next to them.

"But he said I can't use it until I'm older." Erica pouted.

"Come here."

Erica moved closer to Alice and laid with her back against her chest. Alice wrapped an arm around Erica as she laid a kiss to her temple. She began to hum the tune Loki sang to Erica and lulled her and herself back to sleep.

A few hours later, Loki woke up and stretched turning his head to find Alice and Erica fast asleep. Loki smiled at the sight and leaned down, laying a kiss to Erica's forehead. As he did, Erica began to wake.

"Good morning, snowflake." He greeted her.

"Mama's back." Erica whispered happily.

"I know. I'm very excited to have her back," Loki told her. "How about you wake up your brothers and sisters and bring them here so they know too."

Erica nodded her head and Loki carefully picked up Erica into his arms and placed her down on the floor. Loki chuckled to himself, sitting up against the headboard, listening to the pitter-patter of Erica's feet as she ran out of the room. Moments later, all the children came walking in and before they could say anything, Loki placed a finger over his lips and shushed them.

"Be quiet. She's sleeping." He whispered.

They carefully made their way to his side of the bed and he picked them up one by one, placing them on the bed between him and Alice.

"Now, she's still healing so be careful placing your hands on her legs." Loki advised them.

He had Skye sit in his lap, knowing she would be the one to accidentally cause Alice pain. He kissed the top of her head, holding her hands in his as she went to try and reach out to Alice. Erica, Mánadis, Haldane and Arlan sat between them watching Alice as she slept. They lightly bounced on the bed from their excitement as Skye began to get fussy, not being able to reach out to Alice. Loki hushed her as he laid his chin on top of her head.