Chapter Three, Healing

Tony sat at his daughter's bedside soothingly stroking her hair as he waited for her to wake up. It has been a few days since they had arrived on Asgard, and his sweet daughter had been put into a healing coma to fix all the issues the Dursleys had caused her and had her magic unblocked; now he was wishing and praying to every god and goddess on Asgard (and others) that she would wake up. Despite the reassurances from Loki, Queen Frigga, and Lady Eir and her team of healers, Tony didn't want to leave her room until he saw her beautiful emerald eyes himself; not even when the healers told him they could put him in an healing sleep to remove the shrapnel in his chest and to fix all the damage done by inserting the arc reactor (i.e. regrow the bones and some of his lung that had been removed to make space for the reactor).

A knock on the door suddenly pulled Tony out of his thoughts but still, he did not move from his spot by his daughter's bedside. Nor did he stop carding his hand through her dark hair, the action along with watching her small chest rise and fall with each breath soothed Tony's troubled mind).
"Come in!" Tony called back to the door but he had a guess as to who this was.
"Tony?" Bruce called, proving Tony's assumption correct. "Tony, you need to eat and shower. Loki and I can sit with her for a while."
"She would want you to take care of yourself Tony." Loki added, pointedly but not unkindly. "Besides, she should be awake today so you don't want to look like a mess."

Tony was going to deny them like he had been doing for the last few days (unless forced to by Loki) but he had to admit that he could see their point and let out a heavy sigh. Conceding, he stood up pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.
"Fine." He sighed heavily to the two behind him. "Daddy will be back, I promise sweetheart." Tony whispered to his slumbering daughter. He knew he could have been healed while she was asleep but Tony wanted to be by her bedside in case anything happened, which thankfully hadn't happened.

When Tony returned to Valentina's room after a hot shower and something to eat, he came to an abrupt stop at the sight of Bruce helping a very awake and sitting Tina, drink some water. While Loki stood at the foot of the bed waving his hands above her, a soft green glow emitting from them as he checked her over. Taking in a ragged breath feeling like he'd been sucker punched with a boatload of relief, Tony staggered his way to the chair he'd left at her bedside.
"Daddy!" Valentina exclaimed excitedly, her eyes lighting up upon noticing him.
"Morning mini-me." Tony smiled, leaning forwards to kiss her forehead.

"How are you feeling, bambina? How is she?" He asked Loki once Valentina had answered that she was okay.
"She's completely healed, Tony." Loki reassured the worried father. "And her magic is recovering well so I'll teach her control while you're being healed."
"Thank you." Tony nodded his head gratefully before turning back to Tina.
"Now you just have to be healed, Daddy, then we can create things together."
"That's right, Tina." Tony agreed, leaning forwards to kiss her forehead a second time. "The second I've been cleared we'll head to the forge and have a daddy-daughter inventing session." Tony promised.

"I can't wait, Daddy!" Valentina infused, almost bouncing in her spot on the bed. "Thank you Dr Banner." She thanked him as he passed her another cup of water but this time it was full compared to the half cup she had when she first woke up.
"I told you, you can call me Bruce, Tina." Bruce reminded kindly. Before more could be said a pop could be heard behind Loki followed by a very familiar bark.
"HEDWIG!" Valentina squealed, a bundle of relief and excitement all wrapped in one.

"You're back!" Hedwig swooped over Loki's head to land on Valentina's lap, and despite the multiple letters attached to her leg, Hedwig did not hold it out like other owls usually would but instead snuggled into Valentina's chest purring and closing her eyes as the young witch hugged her and stroked her breast feathers. "Thank you Loki." Valentina smiled beautifully at the god.
"Anytime Prinessa." Loki smiled, brushing her hair out of her face and securing it with a golden clip that was identical to Hedwig right down to the amber jewelled eyes he'd just created that Valentina absolutely loved.
"Nice work reindeer games." Tony teased quietly, as his daughter informed the owl, who was listening rather intently, that she was healed now.

"Thank you." Tony thanked him and he meant that which Loki knew.
"It's a wonder she can smile like that after everything she's been through and it's such a beautiful smile that I never want to see it or her soul, the kindest, gentlest beautiful soul I've ever seen, besides my mother's that is, in all my years of living that I never want her light to go out." Loki whispered sincerely, causing Tony's whiskey brown eyes to soften as they turned towards him.
"You've done so much for my daughter and I, Loki and I can never thank you enough." The sincerity to Tony's words made a light dusting appear on Loki's alabaster cheeks.

"There's no thanks necessary Tony. I admit I'm drawn to you, to both of you but that's not why I helped." Loki insisted, Bruce's cheeks reddening as he tried to distract himself and the little girl from the heartfelt conversation Tony and Loki were having.
"Then what is it?" Tony asked, valiantly ignoring the fluttering in his heart and stomach at Loki's words.
"I helped because no one deserves to be hurt and treated the way you both have. No one should be stolen from a loving home with you and then abused, starved and mistreated like Tina was, and no one deserves to be treated the way your father treated you either, Tony." Loki insisted, a smiling pain on his jade green eyes.

"Huh." Tony hummed, looking from Loki, to his daughter and even to Bruce who has been so mistreated by society ever since the appearance of the Hulk that he had to go to another planet to find peace. "I guess pain recognises pain. But you're right, no one should be mistreated, abused, tortured, or abducted, including you Loki. Valentina was always a happy baby though." Changing the subject when it appeared Loki didn't want to talk about what happened to him; which Tony understood all too well. But he knew to truly help his daughter he'd need help dealing with his demons too.

"Very intelligent and inquisitive, too, but she hardly ever cried, apart from when she was in the same room or near Pettigrew. Guess we should've taken it more seriously." Tony sighed, running a hand down his face. "I wonder what happened to Sirius. He doted on Tina. There was no one he loved more than her, not even James, and they'd both claimed they were soul brothers; he wouldn't have just left her if he had a choice."

"I can find out for you. For both of you." Loki offered, Tony thought about it for a second before nodding his head whispering a quiet 'please' before he turned back to his daughter.
"Are you going to open your letters, sweetheart?" Tony reminded, seeing how his daughter was reacquainting with her owl that he'd been informed was her Familiar and had a deeper bond then that of a pet, although, Loki had said they had a deeper bond of that of a Familiar-witch, then he'd seen. But it could be due to what his sweet daughter had endured with only Hedwig there for solace and company while at the Dursleys. Blushing a little, Valentina relieved Hedwig of the letters, after which Loki gave the owl some food and water on the stand he'd had crafted for the owl.

A soft smile adorned Valentina's lips as she read through what her friends had written. They were all shocked that James Potter wasn't her birth father but an equally powerful and influential muggle, but were no less supportive and were relieved that she was no longer in the Dursleys' abusive care. They were also glad that Tony was creating his own case for the Muggle courts against the Dursleys, and they conveyed wishes to come and see her soon. Susan, Draco and Sue Li had also added in their letters that their parents (or aunt in Susan's case) were working together on a case to bring Dumbledore down.

In Neville's letter he conveyed that his Gran was working silently to sway people away from Dumbledore but that his ferocious and protective grandmother was annoyed at the slow progress and that most importantly he missed his god-sister and hoped they could all come see her soon now that she was in Asgard.

Fred and George's letter, however, made Valentina burst into loud laughter that brought tears to her eyes.
"Something funny, Bambina?" Tony asked, happy that his little girl had such supportive friends who had created their own case against Dumbledore along with their parents/guardians. He might even see if, 'what was her name, oh yes, Sue Li's mother' Tony thought with a shake of the head, 'would offer him therapy sessions. The last thing I want to do is go to someone and the next day my problems are all over the tabloids.'

"Yes." Valentina giggled. "My friends Fred and George Weasley are like my big brothers and are very protective like the others but they are also pranksters and love Loki." She told them before she giggled once more before reading the letter aloud.

"Hello dearest little sister,

First of all: YOU MET LOKI! AS IN THE GOD OF MISCHIEF AND MAGIC!!

Fred, that's not first of all!

You were as excited as me Georgie! I simply couldn't keep it in any longer, little Tina knows that's not really first of all. She is first above all else. Above even you, dear twin brother.

Well that's good then because to me she's above your ugly mug!

Oh, how nice of you dear twin brother-mine.

Tina, Fred just slapped me!!!

Seriously though, we're glad you have a father who seems to care about you so much and hasn't stopped looking for you for ten years - bloody Dumbledore - but if he hurts you we will prank and Hex him.

Our Dad would love to quiz yours on all things Muggle especially as like you - and us - (but we create spells and potions, not come up with ideas for phones to work in the Wizarding world like you did) - he likes to invent things. Perhaps now that you're in Asgard and with your Dad you'll get to create all the things you wanted to.

Still jealous you got to meet and live with Lok, he's as you know our favourite Norse God.

Charlie likes Thor and will be so jealous when Gred and I send him that letter.

Right you are Forge.

We're trying our hardest with the others and their parents to get a case for Dumbledore but that man is more slippery than a Niffler that spotted something shiny. Mum and Dad were horrified when we told them but all of us are glad that you're no longer with them. So hopefully you can get the help you need now.

We miss you and can't wait to - hopefully - see you soon.

Love,
Fred and George
I Solemnly Swear that I'm up to no Good
Mischief Managed."

Valentina finished reading the letter with a soft smile on her lips and tears tracking their way down her cheeks that Tony and Loki immediately wiped off.
"They sound great." Tony chuckled. "All of them do, Bambina." He kissed her forehead to aid her in centring her emotions. "What's with all the different coloured ink?"
"Fred and George like to write together so for me, as the only one who can tell them apart immediately, they write in different colours, orange for Fred, purple for George and green for both of them."
"Well, I for one would love to meet them." Loki stated a wide grin on his lips looking like the Cheshire Cat. "Especially Fred and George. What prankster doesn't love another prankster."

"Oh help us." Bruce sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. These twins sounded like a handful and if they shared ideas with Loki then Asgard would be in shambles.
"You worry too much Banner." Loki waved off knowing just what he was thinking. "I'll speak to my mother and Thor who will help me convince Odin to allow your friends with their parents to visit, even if for a short time. But for the time being would you like to meet Heimdall's son, Astrid? He's a year or two older than you. You don't have to if you don't want to, Prinessa, I just thought that when you're not learning control from me while your Dad is being healed then you may want a friend to play with."

"I can also teach you what I've been working on." Bruce offered, nodding to Tony who mouthed 'thank you' as Valentina thought seriously about both offers.
"Can I learn how to fight too?" Valentina asked. "I can't always rely on my magic. What if Voldemort comes back? Or if Dumbledore gets me? Or one of the Death Eaters? Or even one of the people who hate Dad and they kidnap me?" Valentina panicked, her magic rose rapidly with her panic until Tony quickly took her into his arms running his fingers through her hair and humming the lullaby he used to sing to her but he also felt guilty when he felt her flinch.
"Shh. Shh." Tony soothed. "You're okay, Bambina. You're okay."

Once she was calm he immediately told her she had nothing to be sorry for when she started apologising.
"How about once you reach thirteen and have fully recovered, your magic has fully settled and your body is used to all of your magic again then you can start training." Tony suggested, looking towards Loki to see if that'll be alright.
"You could even train with Astrid or another child if you prefer that or I could teach you." Loki offered.
"Okay. Thank you." Valentina relaxed against her Dad recovering from the small panic attack that has tired her out a little as she's not long woken up.
"What's bothering you, mini-me?" Tony asked, wrapping his arm around her while his other hand never stopped carding his fingers through her hair.

"Will you be in pain when they heal you?" Valentina asked scared, whether she was more scared of the answer or actually scared of what her Dad has gone through and still had to go through to heal she didn't know.
"No Bambina, I won't be in any pain." Tony assured her. "I'll be asleep just like you were. It'll just take me a little longer to recover as I don't have magic but before you know it I'll be up on my feet inventing with my mini-me." Tony smiled, a little tightly, as he kissed her forehead.
"That's good." Valentina sighed relieved, her words slurring together a little from tiredness.
"Get some rest, sweetie. You'll need it to get better, to heal your magic and body from the trauma and the bind on your magic." Loki advised.

"Will you all stay?" Valentina asked sleepily, as she lay down snuggled against her Dad.
"We'll all stay until you're asleep." Bruce assured her.
"Sleep well Bambina." Tony kissed her head, resting his cheek on top of it as he thought over what Loki had told him a few days ago. He was a little scared to be honest but he knew he was in very capable hands, the proof was lying snuggled up against him. He would be put into a healing sleep similar to the one Tina was in, to heal the injuries from the battle of New York, remove the shrapnel, heal the lung and heart damage, regrow some of his ribs and strengthen his chest cavity that had all been the cause of Yinsen making space for the reactor to save his life.

It was all a terrifying thought but he knew he'd come back stronger from it. And once he was awake and recovering he'll look over the information on Sirius that hopefully Loki would've found out by then. He knew his family would rise from the ashes like a phoenix, all those who harmed his little girl would rue the day they were born for taking her away from him for ten years. Now he just had to heal and then he and Tina could create and invent to their hearts content safe on Asgard where she couldn't be taken from him again. He wouldn't allow it and he knew Loki wouldn't either. He didn't know what was happening between him and the god but he'll soon find out; however, his first priority was his daughter. Always. He wouldn't be another Howard.

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Italian to English translation:

• Bambina = baby.

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Icelandic to English translations:

• Prinessa = Princess

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Author's Note: DO NOT ask me to update in any way shape or form. There are other ways of telling me what you thought of this. Sorry it's late my puppy has been really ill since he was neutered, so I'm shattered. But he's finally feeling better.

Second Author's Note: Thank you for all those who voted for a pairing for Valentina. The pairing winner is:

• Theo Nott.

Third note: Fred was written in italics, George in bold and when it's in both italics and bold that's both of them writing.

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