Choices

Chapter 145
Cephera couldn't stop shifting from foot to foot the whole way up in the elevator. She was anxious to see her son, to hold him.
The thought of bringing him home excited her. To watch Loki be a true father, to watch Frigga play with him. Sif, the Warriors three. She wanted them all to meet Ikol.
The metal doors opened and Cephera pushed her way between Howard Stark and Tony, who hadn't spoken much the whole way to the tower.
Pepper was waiting for them. Tony had given JAVIS the permission to tell Pepper they were coming once his communications were returned on Earth.
Ikol was squirming in her arms and upon seeing his mother he giggled and smiled. Cephera took her son, thanking Pepper rather quickly, and hugging Ikol close.
"My darling, I must admit, I've never seen such beauty in all my life." Cephera looked to see Howard give Pepper a wiggle of his brows and a flirty smile.
"Excuse me," Tony placed himself between Pepper and his father. "Those are my goods." Tony warned. When it came to his father, he couldn't seem to find jokes to ease his tension.
"You have my taste." Howard remarked a grin gracing his lips this time.
"Your goods?" Pepper asked her voice sharp.
"My partner, girlfriend." Tony attempted to take back his wrong choice of word, but it wasn't hard to tell that Pepper wasn't actually offended. She enjoyed making Tony sweat when she could.
"You'll have to forgive my sons reaction. I swear I expect better of him." Howard seemed to say son with ease now.
"Son?" Pepper looked Howard over for the first time.
"It's a long story." Cephera cut in before Tony could open his mouth. "We'll have supper and explain." Cephera offered.
"Supper sounds delightful," Peggy agreed. Steve offered her his arm and led her to the dining area.
"Is everyone okay?" Pepper asked finally getting a chance.
"Nothing that wasn't healable." Cephera answered. They'd had plenty of casualities both Asgardian and Mechanovian, but none Pepper had ever met and Fandral was on the mend and expected to make it.
Cephera sat at the table. By the smell of it, Pepper had been preparing food for their return. Pepper rushed to the kitchen and brought out a bunch of bags. "I ordered out." She admitted and they all laughed and started opening the many bags.
(One month later)
It wasn't professional, but Frigga didn't seem to care. Cephera handed Ikol over to Frigga so she could help in the library and Frigga sat upon the throne with Ikol in her lap.
Cephera had made the mistake of taking Ikol to the library and allowing him to crawl around the floor at their feet. He'd grabbed the table leg and snapped it. The whole table came crashing down. All their work putting together stray pieces scattering across the floor and Ikol had been injured.
He was fine, a large bruise on his head, but otherwise okay. Cephera had no idea where he got the strength from, but it was a problem as long as he was too young to understand what not to break.
The setback left Cephera out to take care of her son while he was recovering from his head injury and left Suvia and Loki to pick up the pieces.
After a week she was able to return with peace of mind that her son didn't receive any lasting damage and Frigga offered to watch him in the meantime.
Seraphina had returned to Mechanova to handle political matters while Fandral still recovered from his poisoned wound.
Thor had also returned to Asgard, with Jane in tow, but something was different. It wasn't long before the word spread that Jane and Thor were not a couple any longer.
Frigga accepted the proposal to allow Jane to study their world and their stars. "It's time Asgard become more involved in the lives of its realms," she'd said. "The mortals know the truth of us and it's time we make sure they know we pose no threat."
So Jane had free reign to go between Earth and Asgard for her research.
(Loki)
Loki had left the girls to put the pieces together, he continued with his notes and testing. He'd had some of the already put together remains on a separate table to see what liquids were used in their enchanting.
"Brother," Thor's voice called out. Not as loudly as he once might have, Loki noted.
"Over here," Loki confirmed. Thor quickly found him.
"Once you've completed your task here, I have a request for use of your magic," Thor said.
"Really?" Loki half teased Thor. Once upon a time, his brother had seen Loki's talents as mere tricks, and nothing useful.
"Of course," Thor replied missing the amusement of Loki's tone.
"And what is it you want?" Loki continued, ignoring Thor's obliviousness.
"You successfully created a rune that took you to your sons. I was hoping to try something new." Thor grinned. "I want a way to enjoy my own room and my own things while helping my friends on Earth. I want a way to enter my room door there and end up here, or something of that sort."
"Interesting." Loki pondered the thought. "I'll think of possibilities once I'm finished here." Loki agreed. The idea sounded challenging and Loki did enjoy a challenge.
(Four mother later)
Suvia took a deep breath. They were back in the labyrinth of tunnels below the palace to the room where her husband created his fountain portal.
With the help of Loki, Cephera, and Frigga they finally had a finished product, but the only way to test it was to dive in and hope for the best.
Howard Stark was ready to depart, a pair of goggles on his face, and wearing a wet suit. "I'll do better with my future family." He told Tony. Everyone had come to send them off on their mission to save the other world.
"Don't make promises you can't keep." Tony replied. "Besides you might not be destined to have kids in your world." He reminded him.
Suvia waited patiently for Peggy Carter to embrace Steve Rogers one last time. They muttered to each other private last words and Suvia half smiled. It was bittersweet.
Cephera was stood beside Loki, holding her toddler. Loki refused to hold Ikol, he figured Cephera wouldn't randomly jump in with Ikol and it amused Suvia. She was happy that he loved her and maybe he could stay happy here.
Cephera stepped forward, approaching Suvia with worry on her face. "Be careful," she said for maybe the hundredth time. "When you win, remember you'll always have a home in this world if you want to return." Cephera looked hopeful. They both knew that return might not be possible, but still Cephera hoped.
"I know." Suvia replied and hugged Cephera and Ikol. "Take care of him." She glanced at Loki upon speaking the words.
"I will." Suvia had discussed long ago the many reasons Cephera couldn't go. Even if she wasn't holding Ikol, Suvia believed Cephera wouldn't follow.
"Everyone ready?" Loki asked holding the final vial that would activate the portal. Everyone mumbled their yes and Loki poured the elixir over the final rune stone. The water turned murky and swirled with liquid silver and white.
Howard took Peggy's hand and after taking one final look at the others, they jumped in and disappeared. Suvia waited for her turn. Loki had enchanted it to open to Howard and Peggy's world using the ruins Tyr had used, but it only worked if Peggy and Howard fell through first.
When Tyr had activated his portal, Peggy and Howard had seen a strange disturbance in close proximity to their home and when they'd gone to see what it was they both ended up jumping in. Howard first, out of curiosity and Peggy afterwards to follow.
Suvia took one long breath and finally she jumped into the portal and as she fell through the swirls of magic she saw her destination below and allowed herself to fall toward it.
She clutched the pendant that was hanging around her neck. A gift from Frigga imbued with magic that would make Suvia stronger and capable of competing with Tyr's magic.
Now more than ever she was determined to succeed. If she didn't, all those she'd grown attached to would suffer. One day Tyr would return to complete the destruction of Cephera's world, Suvia was sure about that. Unless, of course, she stopped him now. Come hell or high water, she was going to stop him or die trying.

Notes

This fic is nearing its end. There may be anywhere between 5 to 10 chapters left to go before this sums up. I have the next fic planned and the first chapter written. I'm excited and sad all at once. This has been a long ride and one I've enjoyed immensely though I did struggle at times.

I've been tempted to start a YouTube channel talking about my writing and fanfiction, I'm hoping people may come around and ask questions that I can answer on those videos. I really love interacting with all of my readers!

What do you guys think? Would you drop by my YouTube channel?