In Little Ways

Chapter 12

Loki looked between the two men with wide eyes.

"What if she hates me?" He asked and Stephen sighed, running his hand through his hair as Tony chuckled awkwardly.

"Well...we have no way of knowing really...but, it is better to get it out than to keep it a secret and risk her finding out if Thor came to town or something." Tony said, pacing in front of the couch. Loki nodded as he sighed.

"You're right. I can feel that my father is nearby...which means that Thor will follow soon. I need to tell her who I really am before he shows up." He said and stood, fiddling with his engagement ring.

"Listen to me, okay Loki?" Stephen said, placing his hand on the god's shoulder. "Lia will understand."

Loki nodded and opened his mouth to respond before Tony held up a finger.

"He isn't finished." Tony said, making Loki close his mouth as Stephen nodded.

"Thank you, dear. Now, she will understand. But if you don't tell her in time and you are forced apart by your cowardice?" The doctor paused, his eyebrows raised as he smiled wickedly. "I will not hesitate to drop you down an endless pit."

Loki looked at him in surprise and confusion before he forced himself to smile, nodding slowly.

"Of...course, Stephen." Stephen then nodded and stepped away, letting Loki go.

"You only have a month until you two get married, don't wait." Tony called as Loki stepped into the waiting elevator. Loki nodded and held up a thumbs up before the door closed, obscuring his view of the Stark men.

His phone alerted him of a text and he pulled it out, checking to see if it was Lia telling him to not forget the dinner that they had planned.

***

Lia waved at Peter as she waited to cross the street, cars flying past. She made the mistake of looking down at her phone as the light changed.

She stepped into the street as she smiled down at the flashing contact the told her who was calling. Just as she was about to swipe to answer, she heard a car horn blaring towards her.

Her eyes widened as the world seemed to go in slow motion, all noise falling away as she watched the nose of a truck barrel towards her.

'I am going to die. I will never see my wedding day, or see my daughter's again, or-' Her thoughts broke off as she saw the look on the man's face. The man who drove the truck was looking at her in fear and she would have laughed if she didn't know she was going to die.

'What does this man have to be afraid of? I am the one who is going to die.'

"Cecilia!" The truck swerved at the last moment, missing her by an inch. The world rushed into normal speed again as she realized she was still standing idle in the center of the street.

Tom ran up to her, his eyes wide as he grabbed her arms and pulled her to the sidewalk.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" He asked, looking her over for any wounds.

"I-I'm okay...I'm not hurt." She muttered, her voice shaking as she nodded slowly.

Tom sighed shakily and pulled her into a tight hug, his hands gripping her shirt.

"I thought I was going to die Tom. I-" Lia whispered, burying her face in his shoulder as she choked back a sob.

Tom shushed her lovingly, pulling back to cradle her face in his hands.

"You're okay, love. You're alive." Lia nodded, taking a shakey breath before she smiled softly.

"Mommy! Come on, it's time for dinner." Lia turned at the sound of Bec's voice, fear coursing through her before she saw the smile on her daughter's face.