Like Mother, Like Son
THREE MONTHS LATER
Time had moved quickly. Faster than Ophelia had anticipated. Her and Loki had returned to Asgard for their more permanent stay two months ago. Ophelia had settled into a routine in her new home. They stayed in the palace per Odin's wishes. Loki would tend to his duties as a price of Asgard while Ophelia would either study magic with Frigga or help Jane set up her and Thor's new home outside of the palace. Odin also wished for Jane and Thor to live in the palace but Thor wanted Jane to have some sort of normalcy. Moving to another planet, especially one like Asgard, was a shock to both Jane and Ophelia. He didn't want to make Jane feel like she was giving up her privacy as well. Marrying into a royal alien family was shock enough.
It was another sunny day in Asgard and Ophelia was studying illusions with Frigga. Ophelia sat in the palace library with her eyes closed and her hands folded in her lap. Frigga stood before her a few paces away and spoke to her quietly.
"Clear your mind of all thoughts except one. Only think of the projection. Where you wish it to appear, and what you wish it to do." Frigga said and Ophelia cleared her mind. She had been working on this type of magic all morning and was yet to experience success. She imagined an illusion of herself standing beside Frigga dressed in the same black dress she wore. She held a book in her hand and read it silently as she turned the page every so often. She willed the magic to flow through her and present itself in the way she wished. Before long Frigga let out a small "Yes!" and Ophelia's eyes snapped open. She had done it. Ophelia stood and walked over to the illusion. She circled it and smiled at her achievement. It was an exact replica of her, right down to the beauty mark on the back of her neck.
"This looks so real." Ophelia said.
"That's because it is real. Your are exceptionally gifted, Scarlet Witch. You should be proud. I know Loki is of you."
"He is. He asks about my lessons each day. He will be happy to hear about today's." Ophelia smiled then closed her eyes and willed the illusion to dissipate. When she opened them the illusion was gone. Another success.
Frigga and Ophelia sat in the library talking about the history of Asgardian magic and how Frigga had been a teacher to many successful sorcerers in Asgard and the other realms. Ophelia was fascinated by her knowledge. She felt grateful to have someone so skilled and knowledgeable to help her navigate her powers. Soon the morning was turning to noon and Ophelia would have to leave to meet Loki for their afternoon meal.
"Before you go, can I ask you a question?" Frigga asked just as Ophelia started to get up from her seat. She sat back down and nodded.
"Of course. Anything."
"My son. Does he treat you well? I only ask because a mother worries. His past is, well, undesirable at the very least."
"He does." Ophelia said a little nervous. She knew about Loki's past. And although he did deceive her in the beginning, she had learned to trust him. He had more than made up for his wrongdoings and continued to show he had changed.
"I am so very glad to hear it. He is a mysterious one. I have felt the change in him. But I wanted to be certain."
"A mothers worry is always understandable. I only hope I have the same care for my children one day."
"You wish to have children?" Frigga asked her face immediately lighting up. Ophelia's eyes widened. She realized what she had just said. She hadn't planned on not having children, but she honestly thought she didn't have the ability. So many experiments were done on her during her capture with HYDRA, she hadn't thought about the possibility of having a child. Frigga could tell she had become panicked and leaned forward placing a hand on Ophelia's knee. "I did not mean to pry."
"It's fine. I haven't thought about it. I don't even know if I can. So much has happened." Ophelia said and without realizing, her eyes filled with tears. Frigga stood and wrapped her arms around her.
"If it is meant to be. It will be."
After Ophelia's heartfelt conversation with Frigga she sat with Loki in the dining hall.
"How was your lesson today?" Loki asked stirring his tea. Ophelia just hummed and Loki raised an eyebrow as he lifted his tea cup to his lips. He nearly spat out his drink when he felt a knife to his throat. He turned his head slowly and grinned when he saw an illusion of Ophelia holding the knife looking down at him. "Is it absolutely horrendous that the sight of you holding a knife to my throat brings me great pleasure?"
"Yes." Ophelia said then waved her hand in the air and the illusion disappeared.
"You, my dear, are no fun." Loki said poking his butter knife in her direction. Ophelia shrugged and smiled to herself as she took a bite of her food.
"But to answer your question. It went well. Your mother is an excellent teacher."
"She is. I am happy to hear you are doing so well. When she taught me the art of illusion magic I wasn't so quick to excel."
"Really? Your so good at it. Sometimes it's hard to tell if it's the real you standing before me."
"I am good, aren't I?" Loki said then winked at her.
"You are obnoxious."
"It's called talent, darling." Loki said and Ophelia scoffed mockingly. He was indeed talented, but completely full of himself as well. An attribute that Ophelia both was fond and annoyed of in her chosen partner.
"Your mother asked if your nice to me." Ophelia said and Loki's eyes looked down to his food.
"And your reply to that inquiry?"
"I said you were downright evil. And I was fearful for my life." Ophelia said and Loki frowned. "I'm joking."
"I am heart broken." Loki said faking a sob.
Ophelia lowered her eyes at Loki as he laughed to himself. He thought himself a true comedian. He often laughed at his own jokes, funny or not. Ophelia did find her partner funny, but not as often as he would like her too.
Later that evening as Ophelia laid in her bed beside Loki she thought to herself about how much her life had changed. She never thought she would be living in a palace on an alien planet; let alone practically married to a God. Life had certainly changed a lot for her. If she had never died for those five years in the blip, would she be the person she is now? Would she have ever met Loki? Or Wanda? So many changes had happened to her, especially in the last year. And the one change she hadn't completely let herself surrender to was Loki's proposal. She did love him, as did he love her. But was love enough? Could she handle living an eternity with the God of Mischief? Jane seemed to have adapted just fine with her new life with Thor. But Jane also hadn't lost most of her childhood to a terrorist organization hell bent on imprisoning super humans.
"Midgard to the witch." Loki's voice rang in Ophelia's head as she snapped out of her thoughts. She turned and leaned her head on her hand. "Everything alright up there?" Loki asked tapping her forehead with his index finger.
"Do you like children?" Ophelia asked and Loki cracked a smile.
"Hate them, why?"
"Seriously. Have you thought about having them?"
"Not particularly. Do you want one?" Loki asked pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"I don't know if it's for me."
"If I am being honest, I don't think it is for me either. But if it is meant to be, it will be."
"That is what your mother said." Ophelia said smiling now as well. "Like mother, like son." Loki rolled his eyes then pulled Ophelia closer to him and kissed her forehead.
"The child would be frustratingly like his father. It would be undoubtedly difficult to train."
"Your insane."
"That's what they tell me."