Tony and Peter walked in to see everyone at work to make this Christmas great. The other children greeted Tony with hugs. Pepper told them all to set the table. Peter followed as fast as he could with his crutch. Tony and Pepper bid each other a Merry Christmas and hugged. Peter saw all this food for Christmas dinner and became very excited. But a little too excited as he started to cough. Pepper came over to him telling him to calm down and sit down to rest for a moment.

"How was he at church?" Pepper asked Tony

"Oh, as good as gold and better," Tony said, "He told me that he hoped the people saw him in church because it might be pleasant for them to remember upon Christmas Day who made lame beggars walk and blind men see."

"A remarkable child!" Loki said feeling moved by that statement

And with that, the Starks came to what was surely the happiest single moment in all the livelong year.

"Such a meager feast," Loki commented

"But very much appreciated," Heimdall told him

"I pay Tony such a small amount."

"Mr. Laufeyson!" Tony began the toast.

Loki walked in at the mention of his name.

"It only seems right that I should lift a glass to my employer. I give you Mr. Laufeyson, the founder of the feast," Tony said

"The founder of the feast, indeed!" Pepper said annoyed, "If I had him here, I would give him a piece of my mind to feast upon. And I bet he would choke on it!"

"Choke!" the twins agreed

"My dear! The... The children! Christmas Day!" Tony reminded Pepper

"Well, I suppose that on the blessed day of Christmas, one must drink to the health of, uh. Mr. Laufeyson, even though he is odious, stingy, wicked, and unfeeling, and badly dressed, and..."

"To the founder of the feast, Mr. Laufeyson!" Peter said smiling

"To Mr. Laufeyson, he'll be very merry and happy this day, I have no doubt," Pepper said

Everyone had a sip of their drinks.

"God bless us, everyone!" Peter said smiling, 'Life is full of sweet surprises, every day's a gift. The sun comes up and I can feel it lift my spirit. Fills me up with laughter. Fills me up with song. I look into the eyes of love and know that I belong. Bless us all who gather here.'

'The loving family I hold dear,' Pepper joined in

'No place on Earth compares with home and every path will bring me back from where I roam,' Tony and Peter said

'Bless us all, and as we live, we always comfort and forgive,' the children said

'We have so much that we can share,' Tony and Peter said

'With those in need, we see around us everywhere,' Peter said, 'Let us always-'

'-love each other,' Tony and Pepper joined in

'Lead us to the light. Let us hear the-'

'-voice of reason.'

'Singing in the night.'

'Let us run from anger,' Tony said

'And catch us when we fall.' Pepper said

'Teach us in our dreams and please, yes, please-' Peter started

'-bless us one and all,' everyone said

'Bless us all with playful years, with noisy games and joyful tears.'

'We reach for you and we stand tall.'

'And in our dreams and prayers, we ask you bless us all,' Tony said

'We reach for you and we stand tall and in our dreams and prayers, we ask you bless us all.' Peter said before coughing again

It was time to start the Christmas dinner. All this was bringing tears to Loki's eyes. It's only been a few minutes since he's met Peter but he felt awful. Peter was sick and close to death. Loki was so selfish with his money and giving so little to Tony that he hadn't realized that he might be doing more bad than good. because of his little pay, Loki would be partly responsible for this young boys death. If he did nothing about it when this night was over, he'd never forgive himself. But he had to know. Would he survive?

"Spirit, tell me if Peter will live," Loki said

Heimdall's time on Earth was growing short. He was turning grey now.

"That is the future. My realm is the present. However, I see a vacant seat by the chimney-corner and a crutch without an owner. If these shadows remain unaltered, I believe the child will die. But what then? If he's going to die, he had better do it and decrease the surplus population," Heimdall said using Loki's words against him

If he could take those words back he would, but he knew he can't. As the Stark family vanished into the darkness, Loki kept his eyes upon Peter until the last.

"Come. My time grows short," Heimdall said

Loki and Heimdall went further into the darkness. They arrived in a graveyard where it was time for Heimdall to leave.

"Spirit, do you grow old?" Loki asked now that Heimdall's hair was all white

"I do," Heimdall said walking over to a bench

"Are spirits' lives so short?"

"My time upon this globe is very brief. I believe it will end upon the stroke of Twelve," Heimdall said sitting down.

Ellie started to ring the bell in the church. It's time.

"Now? But, Spirit, I have learned so much from you," Loki said not wanting Heimdall to leave

Nothing Loki could do or say could stop the relentless march of those terrible bells.

"Oh, Spirit, do not leave me," Loki begged

"I think I must, in fact," Heimdall said

"You have meant so much to me. You have changed me."

"And now I leave you with Red Skull, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come."

"You mean, the future? Must I?"

"Go forth and know him better, man!"

And Heimdall was gone with his laughter echoing away. Loki was left alone. Loki was used to being alone but, this time, he wanted someone to be with him. The graveyard was very unnerving to him in the dark with no one to turn to. A big cloud of fog came up behind him. Seeing this, Loki tried to run from it but it only caught up and consumed him.