Magnus listened silently, shaking his head slowly at first, and then faster, choking out, "No." He placed his head in his hands, "No, no, no, that can't be real. The baby was fine, he was fine." Already the former guard had tears in his eyes that quickly started down his face one at a time. "I'm sorry for your loss," He said quietly, trying to regain what little composure he had left.
Avalin held in a sob as she heard that the baby didn't make it, blinking furiously as the tears pooled in her eyes. She didn't say anything, clearly trying her best to hold it together as she sat up. It didn't last long though, and her shoulders dropped before she pressed a hand to her mouth to muffle the sobs, eyes closed but tears streaming out of them nonetheless.
“I wish it weren’t real.” He whispered softly, pulling Avalin close to his chest and gently rubbing her back. He shook his head as Magnus apologized for the loss of the baby. “The doctors did what they could.” He reasoned softly, his eyes burning with new tears as he held his wife. In that moment, he hated everything, those in Valhalla for letting his son die, himself for not being there for Avalin when she’s needed him most, his brother for separating them for longer than what they hadn’t already endured, the world for always being against him. He shut his eyes, just wanting away from this reality
Avalin still didn’t speak, her body moving with every wracking sob against Loki’s chest. She didn’t bother wiping away her tears, leaving tear stains soaking into her husband’s shirt. Any words she tried to get out got caught in her throat and she shook her head, hand still tightly clamped over her mouth to stifle the sobs of pain. She wouldn’t accept that her child was gone. Not after everything they had been through.
“That doesn’t make it any easier to deal with,” Magnus replied bitterly, furiously trying to wipe away his tears as he stood and leaned against a wall, “This shouldn’t happen to you two.”
Loki nodded, burying his face in her hair, silent tears sliding down his cheeks. He wasn’t sure how long he’d cry, wasn’t sure how long he’d been cry for. Probably a few hours now, hours that we’re supposed to be spent with their son, not mourning him. He gently pulled away from Avalin to look at her and gently wipe away her tears. He pressed their heads together and took in a deep breath, urging her to breath with him. “What are we naming him?” He asked after a few more moments of broken dining and breathing
Avalin stayed silent, eyes and nose red from crying. She only shrugged, wiping at her face and shaking her head as she murmured, "I haven't decided." Her eyes flicked closed as she tried to even out her breathing, "I..I don't have any ideas."
He gently brushed her cheek with the back of his hand and nodded “we’ll decide later on then.” He reasoned, pulling her close and kissing her head “I’m so sorry my love.” He whispered softly. He gently rubbed her back, feeling a new wave of tears coming back.
"We should decide soon though," She mumbled, shaking her head, "None of this was your fault." Avalin glanced at Magnus, who had flopped back into his chair and was currently staring at his hands silently. "Did they say where..he was?" She asked, adding on the last bit hesitantly, not bothering to deal with the new stream of tears pooling their way in her eyes, "I want to see him once."
“I could have been there for you.” He said softly, hugging her close. He glanced over at Magnus before answering. “Yes, They did. They’ve kept him in the incubator in case there is a chance but the doctors said it was …unlikely he would.” He said, shutting his eyes once more and taking a deep breath, any effort to move or shift positions much was hard. “We can see him if you’d like.”
Avalin nodded, wiping her eyes again and nodding once more, "I want to go see him." She gently unwrapped him from her hug, though didn't let go of his hand. Being able to hold his hand was the only thing keeping her from bawling her eyes out again, being able to spend time with him was the only thing. Ever so slowly she stood, wincing but managing to stand up quite well as she managed to ask Magnus. "Do you want to come with us?"
Magnus looked up, nodding and adding in in a soft voice, "I'll walk with you if you'd like, but I'll wait until you've had your time with him before I see him."
Loki slowly stood with her, gently lacing their hands together before slipping his arm around her waist to help support her as she walked. He pressed a kiss to her head and started to slowly guid her out of the room, glancing over his shoulder at Magnus and nodded in thanks.
He slowly led Avalin to the room where the doctors said they would keep their son, scared that he wouldn’t be able to handle himself once they saw just how still a typically healthy and squirming child should be.
She leaned against him as they walked, more for comfort than anything but still using him as a support. "Before you have to go…," Avalin said quietly, looking up at him, "We should decide on a name together. We don't have to decide now though." She paused when they reached the room, sucking in a slow breath and trying to hold herself together.
Magnus followed the two of them quietly, stopping outside of the door and leaning against the wall outside.
Loki nodded “we will my love.” He reassured, leaning close to her, seemingly needing her as much as she needed him. “No matter how long it takes.” He pauses with her, his own breath shallow as he stared at the door. He hated how quiet it was, hated that all he could here was nothing. “Ready?” He asked, voice only a whisper
Avalin barely nodded, eyes already tearing up again. She hated that there was no noise from movement, no crying or anything. It was silent, almost seeming like a pause to remember their child. As soon as she door was open, she walk in alongside Loki, taking the lead this time and walking towards the quiet incubator slowly. All she could do was hold in another soft sob at the sight of their child, blinking back tears.
Loki slowly followed Avalin in, also holding back tears as they reached the little incubator that held their small child. He set a hand down against the top of the small clear box and smiled shakily, not being able to help himself as tears rolled down his cheek. He looked away from the still child to gather himself, but finding that small task excruciating. Finally when he could breath he looked back at him. Little whispered of black hair could be seen on the baby’s head. He had Avalin’s lighter colored skin abs well as her facial features. “Hello little one.” Loki whispered, choking back a small sob before before continuing. “I’m glad we finally got to meet you, despite where you may be at this time. I’m sure mother is taking great care of you. Know we love you. We’ve always loved you, before you were even born.”
Avalin let her tears start to fall again as she studied the child, smiling saddly at him. She didn't say anything, put placed her hand on the incubator and closed her eyes, silently praying to Valhalla that their child was being taken care of and was at peace. "Hi there," She murmured, bending down and pressing her forehead to the glass as she tried to steady her breathing and tears.
He bent down with her and smiled softly, glad that at least she was speaking. He looked back up at the incubator and shook his head “You were going’s to be the new prince of Asgard, the first in a while. Now, you’ll be a prince in Valhalla. I would much rather you here with us but if you keep mother happy then there’s nothing more to say. I hope you grow to be as beautiful and intelligent as your mother, if you learn a few tricks along the way, remember, that’s all your grandmothers fault, not ours.” He teased, laughing through some tears. “How I wish I could’ve taught you all that my mother told me.”
"I hope you become as clever as your father, with the stubbornness of your uncle and the determination of them both. With that and your grandmother's willpower, you'll do anything," Avalin whispered, wiping at her face as her smile wobbled, "My little prince, you are loved. Even if you made work hard, I wouldn't trade you for anything, we miss you already." She slowly stood up as she whispered, swallowing the lump in her throat and leaning against Loki heavily as she ever so reluctantly let her tears flow again.
Loki, wrapped her in a secure hug and kissed her head, smiling sadly at the still baby. “We always have, we always will, young prince. May you live forever in Valhalla as well as our hearts.” He whispered, letting his hand drop from the incubator glass. He took in a shakily breath and looked away, glancing back to where Markus was standings and nodding
Avalin slowly dropped her own hand from the glass, wrapping Loki in a tight hug and pressing her face into his chest. Another barely audible sob could be heard from her and she did her best to stop her crying, especially as they started away from the incubator.
Magnus returned the nod that Loki had given, making his way to the incubator and only pausing for a minute to rest a soft hand on Avalin's shoulder. "Your son is at peace in Vahalla, he's safe and in no pain," He said gently before continuing over to the incubator, pressing a surprisingly steady hand to the glass and talking softly.
Loki held her close, even as they walked back towards the room, allowing for Magnus to have some time with the child. He didn’t say anything, not that there was anything to say in times such as these, so he just walked around the infirmary with her, pausing every so often to make sure she was alright or if she’s need anything from the small cafeteria or rest rooms.
It took her a few minues to rein in control over her tears, but when she did, she refused to let them fall again. She looked defeated, and shook her head no whenever Loki asked her if she needed anything. All she wanted to do was hug him until life was back to normal and he didn't have to leave so soon.
He led her to the servant’s quarter, not wanting to be anywhere near the infirmary at the moment. He quietly closed the door behind him and led her to the bed, wanting her to rest. He gently pulled her close, knowing she was still probably in pain from hours before. He kissed her head and wrapped her in his Armani once again, never wanting to let her go ever again
"How long before you have to go?" She asked, murmuring the question against his chest as she pulled herself tightly against him, "How long do we have left to be together?" Avalin let her eyes flick closed, feeling just how incredibly tired she was but forcing herself to stay awake. The last thing she wanted was to fall asleep and miss time with him. Who knew how much longer it would take for her to work off the rest of his sentence.
He took a deep breath, having hoped not to think about just how long he would be apart from his wife. “I’m not sure, probably until morning. Maybe at best 9 more hours.” He glanced down at his beloved wife and shook his head, gently stroking her tear stained face. “We have eternity my love. Don’t worry, this will all be over soon.” He pressed a kiss to the bridge of her nose and tucked her safely in his embrace. “Sleep my angel.”
She shook her head, saying softly, "I don't want to waste any time with you, I'll sleep tomorrow." Avalin looked up at him, pain and sadness still clear in her eyes as she whispered, "How long should we wait to name our child?" She didn't want to think about the tiny still child in the incubator, but it kept her mind off sleeping. It kept her mind going, and all she had to do then was focus on keeping her eyes open.
