Uniting Asgard [Book Two]

Chapter Eighteen

"So... this is it?" Tony asked.

"Yes. Eir explained it all to me this morning."

Loki had gone to Tony and Pepper's bedroom to tell them first while Eir remained with Alice.

"Is there anything we can do for her?" Pepper inquired.

"I'm not sure. At this point, I would just say to be there for her as much as you can. Support her and help her through whatever she's going to experience in the last few months before the birth."

"As if we haven't been doing that already." Tony raised his brow.

"I'm not saying we haven't. Eir wants her bedridden. I had to put a spell on the children's doors so that Alice can't get in in case she tries to hurt them. Eir has no idea what Alice may do during this stage. Please don't be sarcastic with me, Tony. We all know how this ends but we can try and make it less painful for her. All she wants is to be surrounded with the people she loves when she dies. If we can agree on doing that, then I promise you, you can yell, hit, do whatever you want to me to let all your anger and frustration out."

Tony exhaled slowly as he glanced down at the floor and then back up at Loki.

"You know we'll be there for her... and I'm not going to do that to you." Tony spoke.

After a few more moments with them, Loki went to Thor's office. He found him sitting at his desk with his hands over his face, groaning as he spotted a half-empty glass of water beside him.

"Seems as though you really enjoyed yourself last night." Loki chuckled.

"If you've come to scold me, can we reschedule?"

That earned another laugh from Loki.

"No, that's not why I'm here but I'm curious to know what happened after I left."

"To give you a quick summary, as the party was coming to an end, Brunhilde and Marilyn decided to let it continue in Marilyn's chambers." Thor replied.

"Ah, so you've formed a drinking trio."

"It appears so."

"As happy as I am to hear that... I have an update about last night... if you remember it." Loki smirked.

"I remember." Thor scoffed.

"About Alice."

"Oh."

"I had Eir check on her this morning and she has confirmed that Alice is at the end. She only has the few months left until the baby is born. Eir also told me that Alice may potentially become a harm to herself and others so she is to remain bedridden in our room." Loki explained.

"I see. You want me to make another announcement." Thor sighed, leaning back in his seat.

"Yes. You don't have to go into details but just prepare them."

"Of course, Loki. Now, go back to Alice. She needs you."

Back in his bedroom, he saw Eir sitting at the edge of the bed next to Alice. Her wheezing had softened as she slept.

"Shouldn't you get back to the healing rooms?" Loki asked.

"I have some excellent healers there. They'll be fine without me. Although, I don't have a healer like her." She replied, pushing back the hair behind Alice's ears.

"She would have been amazing." Loki commented.

"I was planning on her taking my spot."

"As the head healer?"