The Jotun, the Billionaire, and the Other

Just One Night

The dad's got out of the car and figured out how to get Gabriel out of his carrier. Loki had given Tony the back-pack and he took the baby.

"I'm going to go check his diaper Anthony."

"I can do it."

"No, I'm fine." Loki hurried out of the garage, now thinking about it, Loki had been quiet most of the car ride home. Oh God. Tony ran behind him, catching up to him when he got to the elevator.

"What's the matter?"

"There's nothing wrong."

"Is it Steve?"

"Yes." Loki looked completely drained, more than usual even with the baby.

"Give me the baby. Hand him over. Now."

"Can we some night this week have Agent Barton come and watch the baby? We need a night, just one night, even if its only a couple hours-" Loki shushed the second that Gabriel had been taken out of his arms by Tony. Tears were pouring out of his eyes.

"Lokes stop crying, please, stop. I can call over Clint any night you want this week. Let me go put him down and then after that we can talk."

"No, I can put him down on my own."

"Loki, I need you to go and sit down on the couch, give me that backpack and I'll make sure everything is away. Go on off with you." Tony took the bag and the baby, Gabriel must have fallen asleep because Tony didn't take too long. Loki was balled up on the couch, crying loudly. Tony walked over and laid basically right on top of him.

"Now, tell me why you are crying."

"Because Anthony, I've seen the way that he looks at you! Even today I saw all the longing and jealousy in his eyes, he was the only one who didn't want to hold the baby." When he took a huge shuddering breath with a fresh set of tears building his eyes, Tony knew Loki was about to slip into his mother-tongue. "Han så på min lille med en slik motvilje, skam på ham, behandle et barn på en slik måte!" He looked at my little one with such dislike, shame on him, treating a child in such a way! Loki was talking in full Norse, and Tony was sitting there rubbing his husband's arm and listening.

"Its fine, its fine, Loki its fine. I don't know why he is acting in such a way, if I did I'd figure out how to stop it. But right now, I can't, I don't know how to help you unless you tell me what the matter is."

"I just don't want to see him here, I don't want him near Gabriel. No where near him. I can handle him hating me, he has reasons to hate me, but he can't look at a baby with such contempt and dislike, its terrible! Babies don't deserve that."

"Loki, look at me," Loki's green eyes were puffy and bloodshot, "He looked that way because he wanted, a long time ago, to settle down and get married. That didn't happen for him, he see's a lot of the things we don't see, mostly fo the reason of us having what he's dreamed about. What he still dreams about.

"However, I agree that he shouldn't give Gabe dirty looks and he shouldn't be so complete with his dislike. Loki, you need to know that there is nothing to make him stop this, nothing that I can do. One thing I know for certain is this family won't be broken." Tony gave Loki a kiss on his lips, a hand reaching to his jaw and holding it.

Both of them pulled away when they heard crying from the nursery. They both walked in and Tony lifted him up first. He kissed Gabriel's forehead, and Loki stroked his small back. Gabriel turned around and look at Loki, his green and brown flecked eyes were wide then he looked back at Tony.

"Nydelig." Lovely, Loki whispered as he stroked the back of Gabriel's head softly. Loki's eyes were still red and puffy but he had stopped crying and had on the softest, most loving expression. Loki put his arms around Tony and Gabriel. "I'm sorry for being so dramatic, Anthony."