Chapter 9

warning: angst, sad moment, major fluff

Loki sat glaring at the woman across the table. She looked just as enraged. The lawyer sat very uncomfortably as they had a war with their eyes. He cleared his throat "how about we get started? you called me here but didn't tell me why" he turned to Ms. (L/N) he was ignored.

"How long were you and (y/n) been together?" she asked

" I don't know time is different in space. May have been a year or so on earth but out there it was a years decades almost." Loki's glared soften as he spoke so did Ms. (L/N)'s.

"Did she ever get hurt?" Loki didn't respond instead he looked out the window of the little café they chose to meet at. Judging by his reaction Ms. (l/n) already had an answer but for some reason, she needed more than his reaction.

"Did she get hurt?" she asked again more sternly.

"Yes, her foster parents-"

"No, I'm not talking about with them I'm talking about with you. Did she get hurt with you?"

"yes," he said softly tears gathering in both their eyes " remember when New York was invaded by aliens. I was the one that started that and ... I started it for her. I made a deal, earth for (y/n). I never gave earth so I never got (y/n) back thought she died."

"Then how?"

"she's a smart girl she found me. It was a few weeks ago actually" Loki chuckled remembering their eventful reunion. Ms. (l/n) didn't find it funny.

"SO the time in between New York 's attack and a few weeks ago she's been all by herself... in space" she was angry she was furious her inner momma bear was clawing to get out.

"she was safe"

"how do you know"

"I just did"

"HOW" she screamed banging on the table drawing all the attention to her the café fell in silences for a moment before picking back up.

"Magic," Loki said "Love. I always knew where she was but never got there in time to see her. I knew she was safe and I knew when she wasn't, which was very rare. I love your daughter like she is my own."

Ms. (L/N) sighed " You've got kids?"

"A few. But we're getting off topic. Why are we here, Why bring the lawyer?" They were finally getting down to business. The lawyer thought they forgot he was there, he was going to sneak out not anymore.

"I want to make a deal"

The TV was playing but no one was watching all the Avengers were on edge. Ms. (l/n) was coming (y/n) today she was going to take her away today and none of them could stop her. All they could do was sit in misery and wait for her to come and take (y/n) away.

" Thor" (y/n) said tiptoeing into the living room "where's Loki?"

"he stepped out for a moment sweetheart. Can we help you with something?"

"No ... I just wanted to see him"

"come here" Thor motioned her over she got on the couch between Thor and Bucky.

"what's wrong kid?" Bucky asked.

For a 10-year-old (y/n) seemed very distressed like the world was on her shoulder like she had a big decision to make that would affect the whole world. In reality, this kind of was the problem but she wasn't making the decision. The Avengers feared that if (y/n) left Loki he would do something dreadful. Thor fears his brother would once again fall into darkest and no one would be able to return him.

Bucky's and Clint's fears were probably the only ones directly connect.

Clint being a father and Bucky just being really caring they had fatherly fears they worried about her well being. They feared what would happen to her once she left once her mother.

Bucky feared it would be like Steve and his meetings. The day they meet he was filled with rage sadness, confusion, and guilt. He took it all out an Steve beating his face in. He eventually got over it and started remembering little Stevie. But the big difference between Bucky and Steve, and (y/n) and her mother as they had history something they could connect and fall back on. (y/n) and her mother had nothing but blood and paperwork it was not the same. Bucky feared all this happening right now would further emotionally damage her than she already was.

Clint feared more about feeling and the emotional mother-daughter bond that she did not have. He didn't see his kids all the time but he does call them and tries to be there for every important event. (y/n) mother wasn't there for anything she didn't witness any milestone and he knew that she took that to heart and it affected her greatly not having someone to witness every single one of her milestones in order and got evidence. Every important event at the beginning of her life was missed.

"I don't want to go with that woman" (y/n) said looking down the sadness in her voice could be heard loud and clear.

" we know little one but she's your mother. The least we should do it give her a chance" Thor said

"but I don't want to" (y/n) cried tears spilled from her eyes Bucky got off the couch and kneeled in front of her

"Don't cry, sweetheart. Listen, listen I'm going to do something I'm going to give you my phone number as well as everyone else whenever you need us no matter the time or day-"

"My offices are closed Friday through Saturday"

"Any time or day any of us. Especially, Tony, you should call him at midnight every Friday and Saturday" (y/n) laughed Tony rolled his eyes. Bucky managed to lighten the mood. "we'll always be there just a call away "

"But Thor and Loki don't have phones"

"just opened a window and holler we'll be right there" (y/n) laughed as Thor tickled her sides

The mood lightened and everyone seems eased now, relaxed. Problems almost  forgotten. Everyone was chill now enjoying the moment. It lasted 20 minutes.

"Sir their here" Jarvis announced referring to Ms. (L/n) and her lawyer, and Loki but no one knew that. The child mood was long gone as if it were never there.

"(y/n) go to your room" Clint used his stern father voice (y/n) got up and ran right past the elevator.

"Brother what are you doing ?" Thor asked being the first to step forward. Ms. (l/n) and Loki looked at each other

"we've made a deal" she says "I think most of everyone will like this deal" Loki smiled.

"what kind of deal" Steve asked.

"share custody" the lawyer stepped forward pulling a contract out of his briefcase " six months each".

"share custody? don't you have to be biological parents of that" Sam said

"Nope, Loki here has adopted her and has raised her a majority of her life so it plays out".

"wait, what? How?'

"Okay so I get (y/n) for six months here on earth and Loki gets here for six months on Asgard. I'll get to have my daughter and she will still see you make all of us happy" Ms. (l/n) smiled the was indeed good plan and made both parties happy too bad there was a third party called *cough* Avengers.

"Excuse me, do we get a piece of this shared custody?" Bucky said snatching the contract from Steve "I don't see my name".

Ms. (l/n) rolled her eyes she snatched the paper from Bucky and gave it to the lawyer for him to make copies." relax we'll be staying in upstate New York. Here's the address I'll make you all emergences keys. Keyword' emergence'. No random drop inns while she's staying with me."

" You're letting her take me" (y/n) walked out catching the last of her mother's words she immediately ran back to her room.

"I'll get her," Loki said stopping Ms. (l/n) from chasing after her. Tony came up to her " you look like you need a drink"

"I do".

Loki chased (y/n) into her room she ran straight in the bathroom and hid inside. He sat on her bed right in front of her bathroom door. He could hear her sobbing through the door he imagined her curled up in the tub.

"Sweetheart?"

"nooo" She cried

"sweetheart you didn't listen. You're going to live with me and your mother" he hears sniffles

"How?"

"shared custody. you get six months your mother and six months with me. But ...between me and you, a day on earth is 3 days on Asgard. So if we do the math right..." the bathroom door slowly creaked open and (y/n) poked her head out.

"hat's 18 months in Asgard a 1 year and six months"

Loki put a finger to his lips and whispered with a smile "don't tell her"