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dark_granger

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Despite the fall of Hela, Loki, Hermione, Gwyneira, and Thor did not immediately rush back to Midgard and their friends. Thor and Hermione had sustained injuries that needed mending, and Gwyneira had worn herself into a deep, deep sleep. Loki's Joutnheim palace had not attained much destruction, aside from the Throne Room. While it was being repaired, he spent his time with his family in their chambers.
Thor felt lost, pacing the halls of the upper floors as he wondered what to do next with the people of Asgard. Luckily, Lady Sif had been able to save most of their population by having them board a spaceship. This ship was now on its way to Midgard, but no one knew as of yet where they would end up. Once fully healed, Thor would return to Midgard and help Lady Sif and Heimdall find a safe space for them all.
The situation was a little different for Loki and Hermione. It was apparent that Loki had to remain on Jotunheim to rule now that he'd taken over as its rightful king. That meant Hermione would have to make a choice; either she would return to Midgard with their daughter and raise her there, or they would remain here with Loki. Loki knew which he preferred, but Hermione had not yet expressed her true wishes.
It was early morning, two days after Hela had been destroyed when Hermione finally spoke up about what she wanted. She and Loki laid together in the semidarkness, naked and intertwined. Quietly, Hermione whispered, "I don't want to go back... I... This is where I belong."
"Are you certain?" Loki had asked, his fingers coming up to trace lazy circles on her back. "I only want for you to be happy."
"I've hurt a lot of people on Earth, Loki. I've done a lot of... damage." Her breath hitched on the last word, and Loki felt the cool drops of her tears on his chest. "Some of it is irreparable. I don't want to hurt anyone anymore. I want my friends and family to not have to worry about me like they have always done."
"You would be sacrificing much by choosing a life here on Jotunheim instead of one on Midgard," Loki pointed out, closing his eyes as he internally hid his feelings from Hermione. He did not want her to make a choice based on what his heart desired.
"It's time," Hermione said with a sigh. "I'm going to live far longer than all of them thanks to the Rime Diamonds and our bond, and I don't want to have to watch them fade away."
"What of Eira?" Loki asked, his hand pressing into the small of Hermione's back. "Do you wish to keep her from her heritage?"
"Absolutely not," Hermione said without pause. "When she is old enough, I want her to go to school as I did, and then she will be allowed to choose her own path. I would never hold her back from anything."
"Someday, she will become Queen of Jotunheim and take my place as the ruler here," Loki explained, smirking at the thought.
"If that is what she wants," Hermione mused, smiling a bit to herself now. "We do not know what the future holds."
Sighing, Loki kissed the top of Hermione's head. "This is true. Now, get some rest. You are still healing and need to sleep." Loki said nothing else, and neither did Hermione, but he did remain awake for just a while longer before eventually allowing sleep to take him as well.
"We have to go back eventually," Loki told Hermione that night as he watched her rock Eira to sleep. When lost brown eyes lifted to acknowledge him, he sighed heavily and conceded. "At least to say goodbye. We have to go back for you to say goodbye, if nothing else."
"I don't know how to say goodbye," Hermione admitted, brushing her daughter's curls away from her forehead before placing a kiss there. "We've been through so much over the years... And I- I've always just sort of disappeared or left a note when I wanted to go away and be left alone."
Loki wandered over to the doorway as he thought this over for the moment. In his heart, he knew that Hermione had suffered more than anyone he knew aside from himself. It would be hard for her to leave everything behind if she were to go back and glimpse what she had there. All the friends and family that she adored so much... All those people that she knew before he had come into her life and caused chaos.
"I know what you're thinking, Loki," Hermione said with a sad smile. She stood up from the rocking chair and placed Gwyneira into the crib. Turning back around, she gave a short sigh. "I'm not going to change my mind. I want to be here with you. I don't belong there anymore."
Loki glanced over his shoulder. "You could, you know?"
Shaking her head, Hermione said, "Maybe, but I don't think so... Like I said this morning, I'm going to outlive them all. It will wear on me more than I can explain. It'll be easier if I'm hardly ever there."
"You can go back anytime that you desire," Loki told her, pushing away from the doorway to take her into his arms.
Trembling, Hermione clung to Loki. She would never admit it aloud, but she was afraid of severing the ties she had on Earth. Even though she knew in her heart it was the right thing to do, it was going to hurt, and Hermione had always struggled with pain.
"How long do you think you will need to say your goodbyes and end your life on Midgard?" Loki asked, holding onto her hands. He could feel the trembling there, but slowly it faded away and then she took a deep breath.
"Seven days," Hermione said with finality. "All I need is seven days."
Seven Days Remaining on Earth
Arriving on Earth, Hermione held Gwyneira tightly against her chest and looked around the yard. The lab seemed dark and deserted this evening, and Hermione gave Loki a worried glance. "Where do you think everyone is? I thought Thor would have told everyone we were coming soon."
"Perhaps something horrible happened here," Loki said and then put an arm around Hermione's shoulder's when he felt a flash of fear through their connection. "Do not fret. Heimdall or Thor would have notified us if something horrific happened. I'm sure they are having a gathering like your friends so often do."
Biting her lip, Hermione struggled to believe Loki's words. Then again, when she used to disappear and travel for her research all those years ago, their lives continued on without her easily enough. They might have assumed she would return when the feeling struck her and carried on with their lives.
As she was about to voice this thought to Loki, a swirling, golden circle appeared in the yard. The man Hermione knew to be Doctor Strange stepped from its glittering and obviously magical centre and then made a hand gesture to seal it. The mystical man stared at Hermione and Loki before heaving a great sigh.
"As hard as it is for me to admit this," he began, meeting first Hermione's gaze before sliding it toward Loki, "you have done the universe a favour in ridding it of Hela and the hell she could bring."
Hermione gently wiggled her daughter. "It was actually our daughter who managed to stop Hela. She was about to kill me..." Remembering her near-death experience made Hermione pause as a shiver of fear travelled down her spine.
"Then it is Gwyneira Lokisdottir that we owe a great favour," Doctor Strange said, smiling as he reached out to gently ruffle the infant's dark curls. Turning to Loki, he added, "I suppose I am going to have to get used to your presence on this planet, then?"
Loki's eyes narrowed for the briefest of seconds as he contemplated how to respond. "We will come and go as we please if that is what you are referring to. Hermione is from this realm and will wish to visit with family."
"There's no use asking you to refrain from joining her?" Doctor Strange smirked the tiniest bit, and when Loki's stare turned to a glare, he laughed. "Very well then. Just know that I will be keeping a keen eye on you and your powerful daughter also." Strange turned to Hermione. "Your friend Pansy went into labour not long after your departure to Jotunheim. Everyone is gathered at the Burrow and are anticipating your arrival."
"Thank you, Doctor," Hermione replied with a nod of gratitude.
"You are welcome." Reopening his portal with a twirl of his hand, Doctor Strange said, "Until we meet again." Then he vanished as quickly as he'd arrived, leaving Hermione and Loki alone in the empty yard.
"We should go and see Pansy, Weasley, and the baby," Loki commented, eyeing Hermione carefully.
"Yes... I feel horrible that I missed the baby being born." Hermione ran a hand through her curls. "Pansy and Ron have done so much for me...."
"Fret not, my love," Loki said, dropping a kiss to the top of her head. "I believe they will be thrilled to see you so much that they will forget you ever left. All will be forgiven."
"Are you able to get us through the Spectral Plane to the Burrow?" Hermione asked, her mind still whirling with worry.
Loki merely scoffed, a playful smirk on his lips as he quickly opened the void and ushered his love and daughter through. Within moments they were safely in the yard outside the towering homestead of the Weasley family. Thankful, Hermione pecked Loki on the cheek before hurrying to the door. Loki stood back a bit, waiting for the door to open.
"Hermione!" Ginny gasped as she opened the door. Without a second thought, the redhead threw her arms around her friend, baby and all, and gave her a tight squeeze. "Good Godric, we thought we bloody lost you!"
As they separated and Ginny stole Eira from her arms, Hermione said, "Somehow, we made it through without too many injuries. Didn't Thor fill everyone in on the details?"
Kissing Eira, Ginny said, "He was vague. I'm just glad you survived, and you too." The last part was directed towards Loki, who was still standing a bit ways from the door. "Now, come in here and have some food. My mother made enough to feed everyone at Hogwarts and then some."
"I'm dying to see the new baby," Hermione whispered, waving for Loki to follow them inside.
Ginny's eyes flashed with mischief. "Oh, you just wait until you meet the dear. You're going to absolutely fall over yourself."
Hermione was going to ask what her friend meant, but her words were lost as she stood staring into the living room. There on the couch sat Pansy and Ron with their new baby. That wasn't the shocker, though. No, it was their baby that genuinely made one's head turn.
"Hermione," Pansy said, a smile breaking across her features in relief. "I'm so glad that you're here...."
Ron stood and hurried to Hermione's side, clearly eager to make sure she'd survived all in one piece. Hermione still stood in disbelief at the baby in Pansy's arms. Blinking once and then twice, she took in Ron's familiar freckled face and red hair before glancing back at Pansy and smiling. "Well, well, well..." she said, trailing off and crossing her arms. "Isn't this something for the record books?"
Laughing, Pansy waved Hermione over to sit beside her. "Come and meet Violet properly," she said, offering up her daughter as Hermione settled onto the couch cushion next to her.
Carefully, Hermione took little Violet into her arms and snuggled her close. Brown eyes roamed over the infant's face, skin so fair that it made her dark tuft of hair stand out even more. "I do believe this is a Weasley first. No red hair." Glancing up at Ron with her eyes shining with mirth, "How in the name of Godric Gryffindor did that happen?"
"It's a mystery if I ever saw one," Ron said, crossing his arms and staring at his daughter in wonder. "Then again, a Weasley marrying a Slytherin was unheard of until I fell in love with Pansy too."
"She's absolutely stunning," Hermione replied, relaxing on the couch and enjoying the sleeping baby. "I'm so happy for the both of you."
"And we're happy for you too," Pansy said, leaning her head onto Hermione's shoulder. She shared a smile with Ron, who wiped a tear from the corner of his eye.
Sometime later, after the food was eaten and babies were put down for the night, Loki found Hermione standing alone in the backyard of the Burrow. Quietly, he shut the door behind him and walked through the damp grass where Hermione stood staring at the moon.
"I was wondering when you would come and find me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Chuckling, Loki too tipped his head to stare at the moon. "I felt you leave but wanted to give you space. Is all well?"
"I have a lot of goodbyes to get through," Hermione admitted, turning and wrapping her arms around Loki's middle and laying her head on his chest. She could hear his heart beating and tried to draw strength from him. "Being here tonight made it all the more real."
Arms coming up to wrap around his lover and the mother of his daughter, Loki gently said, "If you are uncertain about leaving behind all that you love, we can stay. I will find someone to rule Jotunheim in my absence."
Surprised, Hermione startled and then leaned back to peer up into Loki's emerald eyes. "You would do that? For me?"
"I would do anything to be with the woman I love," Loki said without hesitation.
Everything slotted into place for Hermione then, her past no longer mattering. She was a difficult woman to love so much that she'd believed that this right here would never happen for her. Loki had proved all of that wrong. Were they perfect? No, far from it, but what they had was real. The Rime Diamonds had only exemplified what was already there, after all.
Once upon a time, Hermione had given nearly all of herself only to find herself still alone. Now, Loki was offering to give up his dreams and empire for the sake of making her happy. After a lifetime of trials and tribulations, Hermione knew what was right and what she had to do. It was time to push aside fear and the wolves without teeth that threatened her all her life.
Reaching upward, Hermione took hold of Loki's face and stared deep into his eyes. "I love you, Loki, and that is why I'm more than ready to say my goodbyes and start our life together on Jotunheim with our daughter."
When she felt Loki relax with relief and felt more love than ever before radiate through their bond, Hermione kissed him. They stood there in the moonlight for some time before eventually returning to the party inside the Burrow. Tomorrow would begin the start of the goodbyes, but tonight they would celebrate the fact that they were alive and well.
Six Days Remaining on Earth
"Oh!" exclaimed Jean Granger as she opened the door of the house she shared with her husband, David. "This is a lovely surprise! What on earth are you doing in Sydney?"
"Hi, mum," Hermione mumbled, biting her lip. "I, uh, wanted to bring Gwyneira here to visit, and I have someone else for you to meet."
"Come inside," Jean said, ushering her daughter inside. She paused as a tall, dark-haired figure stepped up behind Hermione, holding Gwyneira. Swallowing back any nervousness, she said, "And you must be Loki. Please, come on in and make yourselves at home."
"Thank you," Loki said a bit stiffly, throwing Hermione a glance. He adjusted Eira on his hip as they were led inside the house. Using their telepathy, he said to Hermione, "I thought you were going to tell them I was coming too."
"I wanted it to be a surprise."
Loki merely rolled his eyes at that response and allowed Jean to show them into the living room. A grey-haired man was sitting in an oversized chair where he was reading the newspaper. Loki immediately recognized Hermione in his features. This must be her father, and when their eyes met, he could see the uncertainty there. Hopefully, he would alleviate any trepidations the man had about him being with his daughter.
"Dad," Hermione began as she tugged Loki to her side. "This is Loki, the father of Gwyneira."
The former dentist rose from the chair and made his way over to Loki. Giving him the once over, he smiled, alleviating any worries Hermione had about him kicking her lover out of the house. Holding out his hand, he said, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Loki. I've heard, well, I've heard much about you."
Loki smirked but took the man's hand and shook it. "I won't try and deny my past, but I can tell you that I am no longer the Jotun I once was."
"I'm not quite sure what that means," David said as they dropped hands, "but I'm glad to know I don't have to worry about the wellbeing of Hermione and my granddaughter."
"David, can you go put on a pot of tea?" Jean asked as she took Gwyneira into her arms after Loki was finished greeting her husband. "I'll be in shortly to scrounge up some sandwiches and biscuits."
"Sure thing," he told his wife before heading toward the kitchen.
"I'll go help," Hermione said before rushing after her father. Loki gave her a desperate look at being left alone with Jean, but she just smiled and let him be. Her mother was fierce but harmless.
Entering the kitchen, Hermione leaned against the island and watched quietly as her father filled the kettle and put it on the stove to heat. This was her opportunity to talk to him about what was to come, but something was holding her back. Thankfully, as if sensing her hesitation, David turned and faced her, a grim expression on his elderly face.
"Come here," he said gently, gesturing for Hermione to come to him. Quickly, Hermione moved forward and allowed her father to embrace her in a comforting hug. David breathed deep the smell of his only child, laying his cheek on the top of her curls. Closing his eyes, he asked, "You are going away with him, aren't you?"
A strangled sob bubbled up from inside of Hermione, and she nodded. "I'm going to return to Jotunheim and rule at his side. We're going to raise our daughter there."
Sighing, David held tighter to his daughter. "I hate that you have to go, but I know that this is what you want. What you have always wanted."
Hermione shifted and lifted her head so she could stare up at her father. "You're not upset?"
"Of course I'm upset, pumpkin," David said with affection, "but I understand that we all have to do what is best for our families. If that means moving light-years away to rule some bizarre alien race, then so be it." David paused. "You will come back, though?"
Nodding, Hermione brushed away unshed tears. "Yes, of course. I already told Loki that I want Heimdall to keep an eye on you, and I plan to bring Eira back from time to time to visit everyone. She and Violet are destined to be best friends, I'm sure."
"Despite many hardships, you have always done well for yourself," David told Hermione as he held her at arm's length. "I know that wherever you go, and whatever you do, you are going to be great. Just promise to be safe."
"I promise," Hermione told her dad before throwing her arms around him again. As they separated, she added, "When I come home next, I hope it's New Year's Eve so we can celebrate properly just like we used to."
"That sounds lovely," Jean said as she entered the kitchen. It was apparent she had overheard everything from the tear stains on her cheeks. She did an excellent job of hiding it, though. Taking hold of Hermione and her husband's hands, she squeezed. "We've missed a few over the years, but from here on out, we spend every New Year together."
David and Hermione met each other's gaze. When Hermione nodded, David smiled and said, "Sounds like a perfect plan to me. I'd hate for us to miss out on Eira's birthdays."
Hermione knew Loki and Eira were waiting in the other room to leave and return to London, but she wasn't yet ready to part with her parents. Even with promises of future celebrations, one never knew what tomorrow could bring. An understanding washed through her, and Hermione knew that Loki was giving her all the time she needed. London could wait until tomorrow...
Today she would enjoy this time with her parents.
Five Days Remaining on Earth
"So this is goodbye then?"
Hermione smiled sadly at Darcy as she came out of the lab. Jane and Thor were still inside packing. "It's not forever," she replied, biting her lip.
"Come on," Darcy said, placing both hands on her hips. "We both know this universe is crazy, and we very well might never see each other again after this."
"Look, I'm not saying you're right, but we will definitely see each other again. Now, I have something for you," Hermione said, digging into her pocket. When she found what she wanted, she pulled it out and handed it over to her friend. "This is for you and Jane."
Taking the item, Darcy held it in her palm. "Keys? What are these for?"
"When he passed away, Draco bequeathed me his flat in New York City," Hermione explained with a nostalgic smile. "I spent a lot of time there in the early 2000s. I thought that after you and Jane get done in South Africa, you might like someplace to call home back in the States."
"What?" Darcy stared at the keys and then back at Hermione, her mouth hanging open. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure," Hermione replied, frowning. She glanced over at the For Sale sign in the yard. "This place will be gone before you or I ever come back this way again, so you're going to need someplace to stay. Besides, I won't have use of the flat. When Loki and I visit with Eira, we'll just stay with friends or family."