Avengers The Captain's Secret Book 2: Waiting for Thor

Part 1: Awake

LESEDI POV

I felt like he was right here with me.

I was curled in his arms, basking in kisses on my forehead, my eyes, my cheeks, my nose. He always smiled after kissing my nose, and my eyes would be locked on his and breathless as always. I stretched up to kiss him back, on his cheeks, his nose and finally his lips. I closed my eyes, feeling him, holding him, inhaling his scent...I miss you so much, my heart and mind whispered. Steve...

"Mama!"

I opened my eyes to see my son by my bed. He had his father's eyes, something that at times comforted me. But at the moment, I had a bigger problem: If my darling Steven Phillip T'Kari Rogers was here, that meant he climbed out of his crib, managed to turn a doorknob over his head, opened the door and got into my room. "Oh, Steven." I answered, shaking my head as he giggled. I was starting to think this was a game for him, but I was worried at times.

Steven Phillip T'Kari Rogers was the great grandson of Wakanda royalty T'Chaja and great grandmother Storm. His grandparents were Storm's daughter Kymera and Jotunir/Asgardian Loki. And to make it even more interesting, I was their daughter, married to super soldier Steve Rogers, also known as Captain America, producing this little miracle. He was a mysterious miracle at best, looking like a normal Midgardian child but showing abilities we were just beginning to discover.

"Good morning, sweetheart." I smiled. He clapped and smiled at me. He had begun walking at seven months, and a month after that, without support. His second birthday was coming. "Frigga would absolutely love you, you know that?" I missed her. She died not too long after he was born, protecting Thor's love, Jane Foster. Frigga made sure we were hidden away in the castle, safe from all that happened. Thor had to tell me what had happened. I never could understand why they didn't let me help, let me fight. I had powers, but Thor and Odin both agreed that shouldn't be known. I never understood the why of that. All I could do was hold my baby and look out of the fortress window as her body sailed the dark waters into eternity.

I picked Steven up, settling him on my hip, and headed out the door. 

"Gappa."

I looked at him. "Odin?"

"Gappa."

I sighed. For some reason Odin and Loki shared the same term of late.  Ever since Thor left, Odin and Steven had become fast friends. Steven used to be afraid of Odin, but no more. It was weird, but I dismissed it as his missing his real grandfather, Loki, and Odin felt some compassion for him and for me, his sudden kindness making me feel welcome. I was deep in thought when Steven pulled lightly on my locket. I smiled down at him and opened it, revealing a picture of his father, Steve Rogers, in uniform. "Who's that?"

He looked at me. "Dada."

"Yes, Dada." I jostled him onto my other hip. He was growing and getting kind of heavy. "Let's have breakfast."

We moved to the dining hall to see Sif, Hogun, Fandral and Volstagg already there.

"Ah, good morning milady," Fandral greeted smoothly.

"Good morning." I smiled. He was always so magnanimous. I enjoyed it, actually.  "Good morning everyone."

"Good morning." All chimed.

"Is it me, or is he growing overnight, Milady?" Volstagg said, holding his hand up for Steven to touch.

"I think you're right." I laughed softly as servants came with food.

"I still think we should start training him," Hogun said. We all turned. "Those eyes looked old beyond years. I think he will grow quickly in many ways, and--"

"There will be time for that, Hogun," Sif argued softly, smiling at him. Steven smiled back, reaching out to her. She took him from me, and I pushed his breakfast over to her. He did really like her. "Let him be a baby, a child for now. There is time."

"Ah, that boy is softening you."

Sif's gaze sparked. "You have no sense of timing, Volstagg, charging about as you do."

"Speaking of sense of timing," Fandral said, changing the subject. "I hear that Thor and Jane Foster are no longer." All turned to Sif.

She looked up, seemingly engrossed in feeding Steven, but I knew better. "Oh."

"So...?"

"So, what, Volstagg?"

"Must have a sense of timing of when to charge, Sif."

"I don't know what you mean."

"Well, I for one, am in no hurry to go to this play that chronicles Thor and Loki's adventures in the Dark World." I said quickly, trying to change the subject. All at the table chimed in agreement. "I don't know what has gotten into Odin."

"Gappa?" Steven asked.

"No, Odin." I corrected.

"Gappa." He said again.

I shook my head. "Alright."

After breakfast, I rose to go walking in the garden. That was when Ingemar came. Once a hopeful suitor when I was kidnapped and taken to Jotunheim, he did not change his mind or role when he decided to leave one homeland for another. He mostly followed me around and tried to keep me company, but I did not encourage it. I had a husband by Asgardian terms, a shieldmate by Jotunir terms. I loved Steve, and whether he realized it not, I didn't appreciate his advances in light that as a favor to me, Steve spared him in battle for my freedom and hand.

I didn't even look behind me. "Good morning, Ingemar."

"Good morning, milady." He was quiet for a moment. "May I accompany you to today's performance?"

I sighed. I missed Heimdall. He was the big brother I never had, effectively intimidating and blocking Ingemar most of the time. When Odin and he had a falling out, it was harder to go to the bridge and see Steve. After all, it was our secret that with his help I could look in on him. "I don't see why not."