The Hermit Herbalist

Chapter 31 - Midgard Move

For the safety of Darian, they remained on Nornheim for a little while longer after his birth.  After a four month span of living on Nornheim and spending time with Loki's Jotun relations, it was time to leave.  As extra protection for Darian, Odin put him in another form of his own Odinsleep and Loki wrapped him in a small basket.  Thor remained with Loki and Clint for the transfer, along with Natasha.  Tony, Bruce, and Steve returned to earth to inform Fury of what was going on and how he was not to react when they brought Loki over.  Clint watched as Loki fussed over the sleeping Darian.  The little boy and grown a bit in four months, but he was still Clint and Loki's little boy.  His black hair was starting to curl like his mother's and his eyes had flashed green on occasion since the Norns had met them.  Loki had been concerned at first, wondering what it meant; but Clint did not seem to care.  He would be thrilled if his son had magical powers, or just a good eye.  

"Are we ready yet?" Thor asked, getting impatient.

"Hush, Thor!  Unless you want to deal with an angry Loki and a crying Darian," Clint argued.  Thor paled at the possibility of having to take on either.  

"Yes, that would be unpleasant," Thor agreed as he watched Loki continue to package Darian like he was a present.

"Although, seriously... you're taking too long," Clint cut in and Loki gave him a death glare.  

"I want our son to be comfortable for our journey.  Even though he is protected by the sleep and magical wards, I don't want anything to happen to him," Loki retorted as she finally picked the basket up and held it close.  Natasha nodded, already feeling like the protective aunt when it came to Darian.  The little boy had wormed his way into her heart with his adorableness and good cheer.  She absolutely loved him.  

"I'm siding with her, Clint.  Don't make a mama unhappy," Natasha commented and Clint sighed dramatically.

"The women always team up against us," Clint whispered to Thor.  The God of Thunder nodded his head and both men accepted defeat.  "Whenever we're ready."  Loki was finally done and cradled Darian close.  Clint wrapped his arms around her and lightly kissed her cheek. 

"Heimdall!" Thor commanded and the rainbow lights enveloped them.  Loki had not traveled on the Bifrost in years and felt mildly nauseous, clinging to Clint and Darian.  When they landed, Loki swayed and had to lean on Clint for support.  

"Stand down!" she heard Natasha order and she raised her head.  

"Fury!  What the hell?!" Clint shouted as he stood before Loki and Darian, concealing them from Fury and the SHIELD agents, who were all pointing their guns at her.  That was when Steve and Bruce came running forward.

"Fury!  We told you everything!  Nothing has changed!" Steve snapped.

"If you don't want the Other Guy to come out, you and your men will stand down and not cause any trouble," Bruce threatened.  After half a second, Fury waved his hand and the agents lowered their weapons.  Clint and Thor still remained as a protective barrier between them and Loki.  Natasha stepped forward and walked up to Fury, glaring at him.  

"They told you what was going on.  May I say that if you had shot her, you would have had the entire realm of Jotunheim declaring war on us.  And Thor would have helped them, not opposed them," she informed.  Fury raised his eyebrow before he glanced at Loki.  She was tearing up, looking back and forth between Clint and the basket she was carrying.  Fury knew that basket had to contain the child she had given Clint that Steve and Bruce had told him about.  When things seemed to calm down, Fury could hear the boy in the basket.  He was whining and showing other signs of being upset.  Loki was rocking him and shushing him in another language and Clint still had them wrapped in his arms.  Thor glared at Fury, his grip on Mjolnir tight.

"Bring them inside.  The Quinn Jet is waiting to transport you to Stark Tower," the director said dourly as he turned his back on them.  Loki finally allowed Clint to walk her inside the building.  Everything seemed to foreign and yet so familiar to her.  She figured she may have been there before at some point in her previous life.  She got a few glares despite everything and knew that there were many who probably still hated her for what she did before.

"I don't feel safe here," she whispered to Clint.  Her husband looked down at her and smiled.

"Don't worry.  We won't be staying here and there won't be any reason for you to come back here again.  You'll be safe in the tower," he assured her.  Loki smiled a little and nodded her head, feeling a little bit better now that she knew she would not have to return to SHIELD headquarters.  

"Thank you," she answered, leaning up to press a kiss to his cheek.  Clint beamed at her show of affection and did not care if people noticed and did not like it.  When they entered the Quinn Jet and sat down, the doors closed and Steve took the helm. 

"Has he woken up yet, Loki?" Thor queried as he looked down at Darian.  

"He was disturbed by the anxiousness I was feeling.  Unfortunately, ward or no, our connection is strong and he felt it.  He has calmed down now.  Odin said that once we arrive at the tower, Heimdall will tell him and he'll lift the wards and Darian will wake up completely," Loki explained.  Her fingers lightly traced along her son's nose and cheeks.  Darian shifted minutely but did not show signs of distress again.  Loki kissed his cheek as the Quinn Jet took off.

Pepper Potts had been through quite a bit since Tony Stark had become Iron Man and she had seen quite a few things.  However, when he came to her and said that they would be playing host to a former world conquering maniac with a baby, who happened to be a woman now and Clint's wife, she thought her jaw might disconnect.  Tony had to explain everything from the beginning and only then would Pepper make preparations.  She learned how Loki had been almost assaulted and kidnapped growing up and then she met and tended to Clint.  Pepper felt sorry for her, wondering how Loki must have gone through in that brief period when Clint was home.  She had been a woman alone in a medieval world, pregnant.  That must have been a nightmare for her.  

"Boss, the Quinn Jet is returning," FRIDAY informed the both of them and they stood up and made their way to the landing pad.

"Just breathe, Pepper!  She's actually sweet and the baby is adorable!" Tony told her as the Quinn Jet came in for its landing.

"What's the boy's name?!  I've asked you that so many times and you can't remember!  I'm actually surprised you remember the gender at all," Pepper retorted.  Tony rolled his eyes just as the doors opened and Thor stepped out first.  Natasha was right behind him and that was when Pepper saw Clint and a petite, ebony haired woman beside him.  She was holding a basket in her arms and seemed very taken by it.

"Welcome to your new home!" Tony declared with a dramatic little bow.  Loki smiled shyly before looking up at Pepper.  The tall, red-head gave her a kind smile of her own and held out her hand.

"We're happy to have you.  Please come on in and get settled.  We're ordering Italian take-out tonight to introduce you to some earth food.  Hope you like it," Pepper said, reaching out and placing a hand on Loki's forearm.

"Thank you, Miss Potts," Loki answered, allowing Pepper to take her away from Clint and walk her into the tower.  Clint and the others followed with smiles on their faces.