Forever and Ever, Amen

"They say time takes it's toll on the body, makes a young boys red hair turn grey..."

Love takes time, takes understanding and communication. It takes hard work, trust and an equal give and take like a two way high way. Loki and Jackson's love began strong, and grew over the span of a two year space. Now, to tell you that what happens next made this small conservative town go crazy- Loki has many times taken Jackson for a love sick spin that ended in the bed, but being a trans man meant that Jackson always took extra precautions. He had his tubes tied a while back, and he plans on a hysterectomy down the road. So no, a child in that sense wasn't possible. But when Loki's love talk became more and more serious, it always turned to the idea of a child of their own even though he knew he couldn't have it. So what does Loki do? He uses magic. It took days of restless nights to figure it out, but one day while Jackson was out in the farms he came running out the door with something crying in his arms. Jackson drops everything to see a Jötun baby in Loki's excited arms, his emerald eyes smiling as his sharp tooth grin shows his pride and joy in his work. "... Ya didn't steal that did ya-" Loki goes wide eyed as he immediately sputters out a response "What!? Absolutely not, I made this!" There was a long pause before the Auburn man looks back up at Loki. ".... Do I wanna know, Magpie?" Loki laughs as he shakes with a little snort, happy tears beginning to slide down his cheeks. "I-It was magic at its finest, and it was sheer luck on which gender would come out of it. It's a boy, Jackie... Our boy-" Jackson stands there in amazement as it hits him like a bus, and he laughs out hollering as he lets the joy take over. He's loved the idea of adopting a kid, but this? This was even better. He leans into the Jötun kings shoulder as he runs his hand through the short curly waves of thick dark Auburn hair, thinking of something to name him. "Loki, sweetheart, do ya have a name for the kid because I sure as hell don't-" Loki pauses as he realizes that he didn't think he'd get this far. "Ya know I didn't think ahead, didn't even know if it would work... Well, uh, there's Norse names like-" Jackson laughs as it becomes his turn to shake his head. "Honey I can't pronounce half that pretty fancy smancy shit and ya know it- I gotta be able to call my sons name ok?" Loki sighs in defeat and pouts as he looks down at the baby boy in his arms. "Maybe... Maybe something like Jay? I love Jays, the birds I mean. Maybe Jayden? Or Jaybird?" Jackson thinks on it, taking both boys inside as he starts a plan on what to do next. This was only the beginning, and it's only gonna be crazier and crazier thanks to the man he found in a bar a year ago.

"Well Jackie I don't care, I ain't in love with your hair, and if it all fell out? Well I'd love you anyway~"

Jay was only 7 months when he said Papa for the first time, he was only 8 months old when he started trying to get up and walk around, and he learned faster than the dad's could keep up with. By two years old, Loki made him a human disguise so he could be with other kids. But he didn't really want to, the toddler preferring it by his dad's side. Jackson sang lullabies and played guitar for the boy every day and night, and Loki told stories and home schooled the boy on his culture the best he could. Jay became quite talkative by 4 years old, and he would dance around the living room every chance he had, and was there when Jackson tried to teach Loki how to ride a horse. Sure, he did it in Asgard, but bare back- On a saddle? With real cowboy boots and spurs? It was awkward, but when Jackson took off shouting in joy, well... His embarrassing attempts were in the wind as he did all he could to try and keep up. Jackson reminds him that maybe, just maybe, freedom is something that made this realm so special after all and he feels a little less like trying to take the place over. Sure, he wanted to give Jay the world as a prince and as his son, but maybe Jotunheim is a better option for him than this wild free world. Though he knows that Jotunheim will never be home for Jay and Jackie.

"They say time can play tricks on memory, make people forget things they knew~"

Loki was on the run, saying that his brother needed him on Asgard. It had been long enough, and he hopes it's been long enough that he can help without being arrested. Jackson held their son close as he leaves, watching his Magpie leave the nest as their Stellars Jay baby starts to cry. It makes him pause, makes him wanna turn around, but he keeps going. His first home needs him with Ragnarok around the corner. He left that day, just a few months before Jays 5th birthday. And a year later, Jackson never lost hope that Loki would return, but when there was a knocking at the door he felt himself become terrified. That's not Loki, he never knocks like that, it's too formal- With shaken legs, Jackson stood and made his way to the door as Jay watched from the floor as his family suddenly falls apart. Within minutes, Jackson opened the door to Thor himself at the front door steps along side a Valkyrie and... Is that the Guardians of the Galaxy? Before he can ask, Thor takes his hands and tears fall as he realizes what the deafening silence meant before Thor even spoke. No, this isn't real and Loki is pulling some sick joke. This can't be right, what about... He promise... And what about Jay? Tears fall as he connects the dots as Thor tries to find the right words to tell the bad news.

"But it's easy to see its happenin' to me, I've already forgotten every lover but you~"

"Loki, he... He told me much about you and the little family you've made together. I don't want to do this, gods I can't-" The god of thunder chokes on his words as his friends try to comfort him. His voice comes out like a child who witnessed murder, and in a way? He was just that. A child who lost his brother to a monster from stories, and that monster was on his way to Earth. "Jackson Clearwater, your fiancee was killed on a ship back home with me. A horrendous man grabbed him by the neck and... A-And snapped it like that of a toothpick between his fingers. I couldn't do anything, I couldn't save him and it's all my fault, I-" Jackson couldn't take it, letting out a sob so loud it makes Jay whimper and begin to cry in the living room. Jackson threw his arms around his brother in law, both men sobbing out their woes as the little boy comes waddling out, his baby Magpie plush in his hands as he looks up at the strangers in fear with tears in his eyes. "He said he would be back within 6 months time! He promised! Thor honey, this isn't your fault ok? Look at me, Thunder, look at me-" Jackson sobs as he tries to help himself and the god before him snap out of it. Thor's blue eyes lock in on The others own as he can't stop the tears falling down his face. "I know Loki, he tried to pull one of his tricks to escape but this man did his studies and played my lover boy like a fiddle didn't he... There's nothing we could have done, but now I have a son who's gonna wonder where his daddy went and I can't explain to him that he isn't coming back- He's a god, there's gotta be a way to bring him back! Right? He left his spell books behind, there has to be somethin' in those to bring him back! Damn it!" Jackson falls to his knees as I clutched his chest, letting Thor go as the group step back. Valkyrie taps Thor's Shoulder, saying it's time to go back to New Asgard to help it set up. She gave her own mild condolences, The guardians simply nodding in respect and following. Thor looks at the Jötun boy and they stare at each other as the god of thunder shakes. He has his brothers face for sure, and his auburn hair is curly like Loki's is. He shakes his head and steps away, saying sorry one last time before running off with the others. He leaves Jackson to pick up the pieces, and to leave the Bluejay to tell the Stellars Jay baby that his daddy isn't coming come. Not yet anyway. The boy didn't understand what just happened, he won't for another few years. Jackson bolts for his room, where some of Loki's belongings still stay. That stupid golden horns crown of his on a hat hanger by the door, his coat from Asgard in the closet, his favorite PJs in his night stand and his beloved books in the closet. He pulls out those books and throws them about in haste to find the book he had for travel. He'd spend the next several years trying to find a way to bring him back, his son even helping with practice as he grows into a young man. Finally, the code is close after 6 years when their son turned 11. Jackson packs their things, saying that Jay was gonna see some other family and new sights other than this tiny forest town in Montana. They book a plane trip to New York where Tony Stark takes Jay to the towers where he safe. He tries to convince Jackson to stop, looking to Thor to snap some sense into him. "Bring him home, I know you can do it... I will not stop you." Thor says.

"Oh Jackie I'm gonna love you forever, forever and ever amen~"

He takes out the books and studies needed, heading out with Thor to New Asgard in Norway where he has ample space to finish the spell. The ground cracks, the skies seem to open as tears fall from Jackson's eyes. Bet you've never seen a cowboy jump through space and time like this, at least not to fetch a dead man from another time line.

"As long as old men sit and talk about the weather, and as long as old women sit and talk about old men~"

Jackson looks back just once before speaking and leaving through the gate of time with no return. "Keep an eye on that boy ok? He's gonna be a hero someday, and a king, and I will make sure his father is there to see it... If something happens to me, It's Loki's turn to be a dad. Jay needs him, and tell my boy I love him with my whole heart. Forever and ever." The world he knew closed behind him as he finds himself in a dark realm, the skies red and black as fear tries to stop him from going back. The portal closes, and he takes his first forced steps in a realm that becomes all he knows for 10 years. This is the beginning to the end of a love story gone wrong, and Loki at the moment sits in a place where time is a construct and his magic doesn't matter. If only Jackson could find him... He sings their song as he walks further into the unknown, TVA notified of Loki's magic being used and a new variant being made. If only they knew he wasn't a Loki, but a man willing to give his life to break a Loki out of that hell they've chained him to. He's coming, and he isn't giving up on the Magpie he found in a bar all those summers ago...

"And if you wonder how long I'll be faithful, just listen to how this song ends~"