Choices

Chapter 150
It had taken nearly two years, but the construction of their manor house in Mechanova was complete. Moving in had been a tiring but exciting day. The best wood workers and blacksmiths helped construct, not just the manor walls, but the interior design.
Every inch of the home was ready, including the nursery.
It had taken some trail and error. The medication Stark and Banner designed had indeed helped Cephera and her people ovulated more often, but the window to get them pregnant was still small. However, after some tweaking Cephera finally became pregnant.
Not only was she pregnant, but expecting twins. She was not the only one expecting a pregnancy. There were eight other people in her home world praising the work of Cephera's friends on Earth. Without them, they might never have had the chance to know what it was like to have a child of their own.
Moving into the manor seemed like the last step to completing their family. Ikol was closer to his grandfather, who happened to be the only one strong enough to actually train Ikol properly without taking too much damage in return. Cephera was close to her sister who would help her with her children as Cephera had Seraphina.
From their bedroom balcony, Loki gazed across the water and saw the familiar silhouette of Jör in the distance. He was lifting his entire body from the water, quite gracefully considering his size, and perfectly landing back under with minimal splashing. Loki had been right, Jör was strong enough to take on anything in Mechanova's ocean.
Somewhere in the darkness he heard Fenrir howl, most likely trying to chase his brother along the shoreline.
Loki smiled before turning around and walking back in the room. Cephera was sleeping on her back, the blankets forming around her large round baby bump, her hand resting on the very same lump.
He climbed into bed, careful not to wake her. He'd stayed up late to arrange his tomes on the thick bookshelves custom-made to house his personal collection.
Just as he settled in a knock forced him to jump from the bed and Cephera to wake looking confused and groggy.
Loki yanked open the room door to glare in irritation at the person standing behind it. Considering they were suppose to be alone in their new home, aside from Ikol who wouldn't have knocked, Loki was ready to strangle whomever decided to visit at such a late hour.
Seraphina stood on the other side, not that Loki was surprised that it was her. She was bad for ignoring personal limits and space.
"Father just received word from Heimdall, the fountain has been activated," she said getting right the the point.
Cephera was at his side in an instant, pulling on the easiest dress she could find. "Suvia?" Cephera questioned her twin.
"I don't know." Seraphina replied shrugging, but she looked concerned. "The Almother is treating it with caution, but she wants us there as soon as possible."
"I'll grab Ikol and bring him to father...,"
"You stay here." Loki ordered.
"What?" Cephera replied stopping to stare at him.
"You are pregnant and at risk of labour any time soon, especially with twins. For your safety you stay here. If it isn't Suvia who activated that portal then I don't want you there for the other option." Cephera pursed her lips, but to Loki's relief she nodded.
"Please be careful. Let me know as soon as you can." Cephera kissed Loki and he touched her belly before he followed her sister out.
The first night in his new home and already peace was not to be found. Worry strained in his stomach. If it was Tyr or Thanos, they might be in for more trouble and that was something he dearly hoped wasn't the case.
(Cephera)
She was unable to sleep after Loki left. She went to her sons room and found him fast asleep. She sat on the cushions window seat, and tried to take her mind off the worst case scenario, but it was impossible.
Night gave way to day. She was there to see Ikol open his eyes and stretch before jumping out of bed his hands up for a fight until he realized it was only her.
"Mother, you startled me." He growled, his attitude showing. He was a very moody 6 year old.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't sleep." She told him trying to force at least a small smile.
"Where is father?" Ikol looked around as if expecting Loki to be there.
"He went to Asgard upon receiving urgent news. He'll be back soon." Cephera beckoned her son over to her and when he climbed onto the window seat with her she genuinely smiled. He was staring at her as if trying to read her mind. "What?" She asked, amused.
"Does it hurt?" He pointed to her belly. He hadn't spoken much about it, not since the day she took him aside to explain to him that he would be a big brother soon.
"No." She shook her head. "Sometimes is feels strange. I can feel them moving or sneezing." She rubbed her bump in a loving circular motion.
"Will I have to babysit?" He narrowed his eyes, displeased at the thought.
"I won't force you to," Cephera promised. She had plenty of people willing to help her, she needn't put that responsibility on Ikol.
"When they are older, will I have to share my room?" Cephera chuckled and ruffled her sons ever growing black hair. He hated to cut it, he wanted it to touch his shoulders like his father. A change that seemed to be important to him in recent weeks.
"No. They will have their own rooms when the time is right. You worry too much for a six year old." Cephera laughed when Ikol gave her the stink eye he so often used.
"Will they be Jotun too?" He shuffled closer to his mother still staring at her stomach.
"They will. And like you we plan to give them the chance to look like either race." Cephera and Loki had talked a great deal about it. Ikol enjoyed reverting to his natural form when fighting. He thought it made him look more intimidating.
Cephera wanted to give all her children a choice simply because Loki had no intentions of ever embracing his Jotun looks and her children may very well want to look more like them. Not to mention for when they went to Earth.
As of right now Aliens on Earth was a very trying thing. HYDRA would do anything to get their hands on someone from another world and her children's blue skin was a dead giveaway. Because Cephera spent time on Earth she wanted her children to be safe while journeying with her and she also wanted them to learn and understand that culture.
"I hope it's two girls so I can be the only boy," Ikol announced. Cephera laughed and grabbed hold of her son, much to his dismay, and hugged him. "Ugh, stop." He told her pushing her away.
He sat with his face red and irritated. Ikol was not a cuddly child, but at least he wasn't destructive anymore.
"Can I play with Jör today?" Ikol asked once his mood past.
"If you promise to be careful," Cephera reminded.
"Jör will protect me. Besides I have this." Ikol jumped off the seat and rummaged in his small travel bag. He pulled something out, came back to his mother and held up a vial of light blue liquid. It was a vial she recognized.
"Where did you get that?" Cephera asked reaching for it but her son pulled it out of sight.
He shrugged before responding. "Sister Hela," Cephera rubbed her temple. She remembered Hela as her younger self. Always fiddling with alchemy. An underwater breathing potion had been something she managed to create and Cephera suspected it was what was in that vial.
"When did you meet Hela?" Cephera shook her head in dismay. She hadn't seen Hela since she'd drowned and ended up in her stepdaughters realm.
"She comes to visit me from time to time." Ikol replied tucking the potion in his pajama pocket.
Cephera couldn't help but grin. It made sense now. She always wondered were Ikol's little attitude and moodiness came from and it was most certainly Loki. The more Cephera thought about it, the more she knew she was right. Hela and Ikol were very much alike.
"The next time you see her tell her we miss her." Cephera told him. She doubted she would ever see Hela again, but it was nice to know she was keeping in touch somehow.
"So can I go swimming with Jör?" Ikol skipped over Cephera's request without so much as a nod.
"I'll speak to Jör first and then you may go." Cephera didn't want to deny him. It looked like he was very excited about it and Ikol didn't get excited over much.
XxX
She'd just managed to get Ikol out of his room for breakfast when she heard the sound of the Byfrost echoing across the sky. She wondered if it was someone just traveling between the two worlds or if it might be Loki..., or someone else entirely.
"Stay!" Her father demanded. "Can't have you waddling off into trouble." He added.
"I don't waddle." Cephera insisted.
King Yorin laughed. "You do. Your mother did as well," he confirmed before standing and leaving to check out the commotion of the Byfrost. Cephera sat rigid in her seat unable to think of her food, while Ikol sat across from her, stuffing his face.
"Slow down, you're going to choke." Cephera urged him. He looked at her his mouth so full he couldn't even reply.
Rorik was sat next to him and smacked Ikol on the top of the head. "Listen to your Mother," he warned. His baby brother, Blaine laughed in delight as Ikol jabbed Rorik back making him jump.
Cephera didn't stop the mini battle, her eyes turned back to the archways leading into the dining area and she waited for a sign that everything was fine.
Shortly, Seraphina walked in with a smile on her face and Cephera's worry instantly disappeared. She stood and hurried across the room with the intent of drilling her sister for information, and instead ran past her sister and into the embrace of Suvia who had walked in behind her.
"Hello Cephera," Suvia said hugging her as tight as possible with her bump being in-between them.
"You're alive! You're safe!" Cephera cried smiling from ear to ear. "You must be tired, are you tired? What happened? Where's Tyr?" Cephera didn't mean to get so excited but she couldn't help it. The questions spilled from her lips before she could stop them.
"Calm yourself," Loki put a hand to his wife's shoulder and squeezed. "Breathe," he told her.
Cephera did as she was told and took a few deep breaths to calm herself. "I will explain everything once I've eaten. Traveling through universes makes you hungry." Suvia was all smiles like Cephera had never seen her before. A glow seemed to surround her as if all the weight of her burdens were gone.
Cephera stepped from the path between her and the tables and followed them to take a seat once more. Maybe now she could eat breakfast, despite her eagerness to know what happened.

Notes

Anticipating one more chapter before epilogue. So looks like this tale shall end come next Thursday unless my brain explodes with more to add, which is always possible. I never rule that out.