This was not going to end well. Thor was tied up, Heimdall was down, and Thanos had the Power Stone and was about to get the Space Stone, too. Loki's spouse gripped her a little bit tighter. "I'll tell you one more time," (Y/N) growled, their (e/c) eyes starting to shift to purple. "We don't have the Tesseract. It blew up on Asgard during Ragnarok, so if you want it, you're going to have to start shifting through the ashes." Thanos chuckled darkly.

"I have to applaud you. You're a very good liar. But, not good enough to deceive me, my child." Loki heard (Y/N)'s breath catch in their throat. "Now, you're going to give it up, or I'll have to take it from you." Loki's arms slid around (Y/N). Her heart was pounding. She should've left the Tesseract where it was, but then she might've died with Asgard, and living was her duty. For her family.

Out of the corner of her eye, Loki saw Heimdall shifting.

You're not dead? she asked him telepathically.

Not yet. Her eyes widened.

No. You can't. We need you, Heimdall.

Yes, Loki. To save you now. Don't worry. I'll be fine.

Heimdall--

The god extended his sword, and all Loki saw was multicolored light before she landed in Dr. Strange's odd house. Her hand flew to her stomach, her heart racing. Her magic told her that there were still two tiny hearts beating inside her. She sighed with relief. "Loki!" (Y/N) was immediately beside her, helping Loki to her feet. "Are you alright? Did you get hurt at all?" Loki shook her head and gave (Y/N) a kiss on their cheek. 

"I'm fine, darling."

"What the hell just happened?"

"Tony!" Tony Stark, Stephen Strange, Wong, and Bruce Banner all ran into the room.

"(Y/N)? Loki? What's going on?"

"It's Thanos. He's coming. Dr. Banner warned you, right?" Dr. Banner nodded. 

"We need a plan," he said. "He could be here at any moment." (Y/N) shook their head.

"Knowing him, he'll send my siblings down here to take care of things while he goes after stones he believes will be more challenging to obtain." As the heroes began to make a plan, Loki stumbled over to a table and pulled out a chair. She sat down and set her head in her hands.

"Loki? Are you sure you're not hurt?" (Y/N)'s face came into view, their expression etched with worry. Loki gave them a faint smile.

"It's just been a big day." She paused for a moment. "There is something you should know. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I was just worried you'd leave or fall out of love with me because I've heard stories, and you know my family life wasn't really--" (Y/N) sat down and took Loki's hand.

"You don't need to worry about a thing. Whatever it is, there's no way I can love you any less than I do right now, I promise." Loki took a deep breath.

"I'm--" And then, there was an explosion outside, and the building shook a bit. Loki gasped. "They're here." (Y/N) nodded. 

"Let's go."

*Hours Later*

Loki struggled to take deep breaths as (Y/N) rubbed her back and murmured sweet nothings into her ear.

"You idiot," she yelled at Quill. "You let him get away."

"I'm sorry, I lost control for a second."

"With five of the six stones, he's unstoppable. You just sealed our fates. And you--" Loki turned and glared at Stephen Strange. "What the Hel possessed you to give him the very thing that would guarantee his victory?! Do you know what you just did?!"

"Yes, actually. I assure you, Loki, this isn't over." Loki laughed angrily and sat down.

"You really are all idiots, aren't you?"

"I handed us our victory. I know it's hard for you to believe, but--" (Y/N) gasped suddenly. Loki's head shot up, and she screamed. The love of her life was crumbling before her. "No, no, no, (Y/N)," she shrieked, running to her lover. She began to hyperventilate as she tried and failed to keep them from falling apart.

"Hey, hey, Loki, baby, look me in the eye." (Y/N) cupped Loki's face with their remaining hand. "I'm going to be okay. We're going to be okay, I promise. Just keep looking in my eyes." Loki rested her hand on (Y/N)'s, tears streaming down her face. "Hey. I love you." And then, they were gone. Loki opened her hand to see the dust that used to be (Y/N) fall out of her hand. Suddenly, she felt something go very, very wrong in her body. Her hand immediately went to her stomach and she began to feel for those two little heartbeats. They grew slower and slower until they disappeared completely. Loki fell to her knees. Everything dimmed and slowed down as her world fell apart around her. Eventually, someone forced her to her feet and pushed her onto the ship.

For twenty-three days, they drifted aimlessly. Tony Stark tried to make Loki eat something, but they refused. The only way he got them to drink was to remind them that (Y/N) would want them to take care of themself, and then, they only took a few sips before continuing to stare off into space. And when the power finally went out, Loki layed down and closed his eyes, ready to meet (Y/N) wherever they were.

A blonde woman woke him up once they'd reached Midgard. Loki stumbled down the ramp of the ship, where the rest of the Avengers were waiting for them. "Where's my brother?" Thor yelled. Loki looked up to see him pushing past Steve Rogers. Thor froze as soon as his eyes landed on his brother's blank expression. "Oh, Loki," he said. He closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms around Loki. And suddenly, the weight of everything that had happened in the past three weeks hit Loki like a truck. A sob ripped itself from his chest before he covered his mouth. Thor hugged him tighter and whispered, "I'm so sorry, brother." Loki found he couldn't hold back his tears a moment longer, and he was too tired and too hurt to keep pushing everything down. So, he let himself cry in Thor's arms as his brother rubbed his back and whispered, "It's okay," over and over again.

*Five Years Later*

"How are they?" Dr. Banner asked Thor. He shook his head.

"My sibling still grieves, both the loss of their partner and her children. There are times when he appears to get better, but they always fall back into depression. She'll see a mother with a five year old, and be reminded of what they should have, or he spots (Y/N)'s favorite flower in bloom again and picks some for them, only to remember they're gone. They yearn for a future she cannot have, and I don't know how much longer he can survive this. So, if you can convince them that your little plan will work and get her excited about something for once, then I will forever be in your debt." Dr. Banner nodded.

"Have you considered having them talk to someone? I do. I mean, I have, you know, since you-know-what, and it's helped." Thor frowned as he looked Dr. Banner up and down.

"Has it?" He sighed and shook his head. "Doesn't matter. Loki won't even get out of bed most days, let alone say a word to me or our housemates. Besides, they wouldn't trust a stranger with such issues. She has issues with that kind of thing, mostly from our father and I, I think." Thor stopped outside of a house. "Well, we're here." He opened the door and ushered Dr. Banner into his home. "Korg, Meik, make some room for our guests," Thor ordered.

"Of course, mate! Always a pleasure to have some company," Korg said, scooting over and patting the couch. Dr. Banner and Rocket took their places as Thor walked to the back of the house. Several minutes later, he returned, guiding his sibling into the room. The two heroes did a double take at the god who had once attempted to claim Earth as his own.

"What happened to you?" Dr. Banner whispered.

Loki's eyes, once deep and sharp and intense were now glassy. They didn't seem to look at anything and instead slid through everyone in the room. Her expression was blank and his hair fell to the middle of their back in greasy tangles. The blanket she hugged around himself did nothing to disguise how painfully thin they'd grown in the last five years. Thor gently put his arm around her. "Loki, you remember Rocket and Dr. Banner, don't you?" Loki barely nodded. "Yes, well, they're here on very important business. Dr. Banner, can you tell my sibling what you told me?" Dr. Banner nodded.

"We may have found a way to bring back everyone we lost when Thanos got the Infinity Stones." Loki's gaze suddenly locked onto Dr. Banner and his lips twitched into a tiny smile. They began to laugh, a soft chuckle at first, then loud, maniacal howls mixed with tears. The three former superheroes exchanged a look. "Loki--" Dr. Banner tried.

"Did you really think that would work?" Everyone fell silent. Loki turned to Thor. "Did you bring them here to laugh at me? Is this funny to you? Some wonderful practical joke, or was it some elaborate trick to get me out of bed? You know, because I'm so dull and depressed now, and you're trying to be a good elder brother and take care of me? Well, guess what, Thor? I am depressed! Bad things have happened to me. I've lost everything, and--"

"So have I!" Thor finally shouted. "Jane left me. Mother and Father are gone, our sister is gone, our home and half our people are gone, and I hate that I couldn't do anything to save them. I have lost everything, too, Loki, everyone except you. You are all I have and more. You are my sibling and I love you, and that's why it breaks me to see you like this. I love you so much that seeing you suffer brings me sorrow. I would never bring my friends here to bring you even more harm." Loki turned away from Thor. He took their hands. "Hey. I believe in them. I think we can bring everyone back. So, we are going to go back to America, we are going to see how this new invention of Stark and Dr. Banner's works, and we are going to go and do whatever we are required to save the world. Including having you bathe and eat something. Do you understand?" Loki nodded, tears in her eyes. "Good." Thor pulled him close. "Everything's going to be alright."

***

Loki stared hungrily at the Infinity Stones. He reached for them, but Stark held out his arm. 

"Not so fast, Reindeer Games," he said. Loki gave him a dark look. "We need someone we can trust to use them, thanks."

"Believe me, Stark, I couldn't care less who does the deed as long as my spouse returns to me. You're all just taking so fucking long that I--"

"Alright, that's enough," Clint snapped. "Nat didn't sacrifice herself for this bullshit. Bring them all back, someone." Dr. Banner stepped forward and put the gauntlet with the stones on. He snapped his fingers and everyone held their breath. And then--

Loki heard birds chirping outside for the first time in years. Her hand instinctively went to her stomach as her body shifted into a more feminine shape. She cast the spell and, sure enough, there were two little heartbeats growing stronger. A choked sob left her lips. Thor turned to look at her, and his face lit up.

"Am I-- am I going to be an uncle again?" Loki nodded, her hand over her mouth, tears sliding down her cheeks. Thor shouted with joy, picked up his sister, and twirled her around. "It worked! I'm going to be an uncle! Loki, you're going to be a mother. Oh, if Mother and Father could see us now, they'd be so proud of you, Loki." Loki laughed, unable to keep a smile from creeping across her face.

"You think?" Thor smiled and nodded.

"I know."

"Loki?" Loki gasped, her eyes welling up again.

"(Y/N)?"

"Loki!" She ran towards the door and shoved it open.

"(Y/N)!" And there they all were. A million portals were open on Tony Stark's lawn. Everyone who had been missed for the past five years was standing before her, but the only person Loki had eyes for was the love of her life, her (Y/N). They locked eyes, and Loki ran into their arms. (Y/N) caught her like they always did, and they kissed long and hard. (Y/N)'s arms tightened around Loki, and she tried her best to pull herself closer to them.

"I missed you so much," Loki sighed.

"I'm just glad you're here," (Y/N) agreed. "I was so worried when you weren't there with me when I woke up."

"I'm sorry,  my love. I spent the last five years mourning all that I'd lost. If it wasn't for my brother, I'd be dead now."

"All that you'd lost? You grieved so much for me, one person? And what is five years to us, anyway, us Jotuns and half-Titans?" Loki smiled and took (Y/N)'s hands. Her heart was pounding, but she knew that now was the time to tell them.

"Five years is ordinarily nothing, but without you, my darling, it seemed like an eternity of agony. And as for all that I've lost.... You mean more to me than anyone, even my brother. If you truly died, I'd never stop grieving. But... There are two more that I was grieving for that have now returned to me." (Y/N) frowned, their eyebrows scrunching together in confusion.

"You brought back your parents?" Loki shook her head, her smile growing wider.

"No. Two even more special. Our children." (Y/N) gasped.

"Our..." Loki nodded.

"I'm pregnant." A wide grin creeped across (Y/N)'s face.

"We're going to be parents!" They cheered, picked Loki up, and spun her around while she laughed.

"Yes! We're having twins!" (Y/N) laughed and pulled Loki close. They kissed again, and (Y/N) hugged Loki tighter.

"I love you," they whispered into the goddess's chest. Loki smiled and rested her head on (Y/N)'s.

"I love you to."