Shattered (Sequel to Shadowfax)

Epilogue

Loki tugged his coat tighter around him as another one of those strong Scottish winds buffeted him from the back. Bracing himself against the cold, he watched as a child with black and white striped hair was tackled to the ground by a large black ball of fur. She screeched happily, throwing her arms around the cat's neck as it nuzzled her gently before rolling away and resuming the game of chase.

From around the house, a little boy with matching salt-and-pepper hair and warm brown skin came speeding towards the pair. The little girl waved as she raced towards him, failing to hit the brakes and stumbling into her friend. The pair went down in a heap, laughing hysterically.

A door creaked open from the back of the inn, and Loki's heart tugged at him painfully as a tall woman in jeans and a wool sweater stepped onto the porch. Her hair—identical to her daughter and nephew's, whipped around as the wind got a hold of it and she tugged it back into a messy ponytail, muttering to herself.

She was smiling gently as the kids ran after the cat, and allowed the children to play for a few moments longer before calling them in. The boy ran in, a woman with chestnut hair waiting at the door to pull him into her arms. The girl lingered with the cat a while longer before her mother, finally impatient, called for her again. "Frigga, it's time fer dinner. Into the house, now!"

Grumbling, the child—Frigga, Loki thought, his heart constricting—pried herself from the cat and ran into the house. The cat trotted after her, pausing on the steps as he lifted his head to sniff. With a start, Loki realized he was standing upwind from the animal and began to turn away, only to find himself sprawling on the ground as the cat bounded across the yard and onto his chest.

"Smokey, NO!" Jade bellowed, sprinting after the charging feline. She was panting as she caught up to him, apologies already on her lips.

"I'm so sorry, mate. He's usually much better behaved. Are ye hurt? I swear he dinna mean anything by—" she broke off abruptly, seeing his face for the first time. She whispered, "You."

"Jade—" Loki began, shoving Smokey away and stumbling to his feet. She took a step back, shaking slightly.

"How did you find me?" Her voice was strong, despite her trembling hands. Loki didn't reach for her again.

"Nutsy," he admitted. "I ran into him and his partner—Danny, I think—at the compound. He thought I knew."

Jade snorted. "'Course he did."

Loki looked down at his feet awkwardly. "An inn, huh?" he finally managed, indicating the house behind her.

Jade nodded stiffly. "Aye."

"I wouldn't have taken you for the domestic type."

"Shut yer trap, it used to be my Da's." She looked away for a moment, biting her lip before asking, "So why are ye here?"

Loki threw up his hands, incredulous. "What am I—you let me believe you were dead since Thanos—since New York! I thought I'd lost you—lost both of you." He gestured to inn.

"Aye," Jade cut him off. "Ye did. You lost us the minute you decided not to run back to check on me—who, by the way was nine months pregnant—the instant buildings started falling apart." Her voice caught. "I was scared, Loki. I was watching the walls crumbling around me an' all I could think was how my babe's father was out there somewhere instead of right there with me—protecting me an' making sure I wasn't alone when I went into bloody labor. God, do you know how dangerous it is to shadow while you're in labor? I was lucky not to kill Frigga—"

"You named her after my mother?" Loki cut her off, his eyes wide.

Jade stopped, finally meeting his gaze. He seemed unfocused in front of her, and she realized with a start she was crying. She wiped the tears away with the cuff of her sleeve, frustrated. "Yes," she admitted. "I don't know why. Maybe I figured I owed it to her—some part of her father she could hang onto, at least."

"I'm sorry," Loki blurted out, his voice cracking. "I'm sorry I wasn't there—haven't been there. I should have run straight back to you and damn the consequences. I should have been there—here for you then and all the years afterwards. Dammit Jade, why didn't you tell me you were alive?"

They were both crying now, and Jade stepped towards Loki and finally allowed him to grip her in a bone-crushing hug. He tangled his fingers in her hair, trying to take in her scent, the feel of her clothes, of her skin, all at once. Jade squeezed him tightly back, shuddering slightly.

Feeling left out, Smokey tried to push between them. They broke apart with a shaky laugh. Composing herself, Jade straightened and fixed a stern glare on Loki.

"I don't need a husband, you know. I'm doing just find on my own." Loki nodded slowly, and Jade held up a finger. "But Frigga needs a father, and as great as Jax has been to her, she deserves a chance to meet you. You owe her that much."

Loki's head snapped up, and Jade's tone turned menacing. "If you hurt her, I'll castrate you and feed you to Smokey."

He laughed. "I would expect nothing less." Loki's expression was nervous. "What if she doesn't like me?"

Jade snorted. "She's six, you'll win her over somehow. The real challenge is going to be Jax."

Loki grinned. "I highly doubt that it's possible for him to dislike me any more than he already does."

Jade inclined her head in agreement, laughing loudly as Loki pulled her in to steal a quick kiss. She spluttered, surprised, and he took off across the yard. Jade hurtled after him, Smokey hot on her heels.

These humans were so troublesome.