Chapter 1
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
AN1: So, I ended up writing more stories between SOS and this than I was intending, but here it is the sequel to Spawn of Spies, if you haven't read Spawn of Spies then I recommend that you read that first.
As you may notice from the following ages of characters have been changed, that has been done to fit with the changed ages of Tony/Melinda/Hope.
Ages of Characters:
1917 (103 Technically. Looks 29-30) Bucky
1918 (102 Technically. Looks 29) Steve
1951 (69) = Fury
1960: (60 technically. Looks to be in early thirties) = Natasha (November 22nd)
1967 (45) = Phil
1969 (47) = Bruce (DECEMBER)/ Scott
1971 (49) = Rhodey (October 8th) /Clint (Jan 7th)
1973 (47) =
March 14th: Melinda
May 29th: Tony
July 18th: Hope
1976 (44) = T'Challa/ Stephen Strange/Mack
1978 (43) = Sam (September)
1980 (40) = Maria
1982 (38) = Elena
1983 (37) = Hunter
1984 (36) = Bobbi
1985 (35) = Sharon
1987 (32/33) = Fitz and Simmons
1990 (29/30) = Daisy
1996 (24) = Wanda
1998 (22) =(September) Kate
2000 (19/20) =(June): Lana
2001:(18/19) =
(Late April) Peter
(December) Vance
2004 (15 ALMOST 16 (August 17th) = Cooper Barton
2008: (11, 12 on July 20th) Cassie Lang
2010 (10) = Lila Barton (Early April birthday)
2015 (5) = Nathanial Barton
May 29th 2020. Avengers Compound
Evening
Three years and five months have passed since The New Avengers spent New Year's Eve at Avengers Tower, and in that time a lot of things has changed.
After Cassie Lang, her mother, and her step father, were attacked by a Watchdogs cell she was moved to Avengers Compound for a year, during which time she became best friends with Lila Barton, and even though she went back to San Francisco after a year she still visits the compound frequently.
Lana Baumgartner, despite a rocky start, ended up moving into the Avengers Compound after a couple of months partly because her grandmother got sick, and partly because she liked being around people who understood what it was like to have powers, and after her grandmother died a couple of months after she turned seventeen Natasha and Tony became her legal guardians.
Lana isn't the only new member of the Avengers Compound as a few weeks after Lana moved into the compound a then nineteen years old, by the name of Kate Bishop who became a fan of Clint's after the Battle of New York and became a master archer because of that, came to the attention of the Avengers and ended up joining them, going by the mantle of Hawkeye, something which was fully supported by Clint.
Since each of them turned eighteen Lana, Peter and Vance have all officially joined The Avengers, while they are all attending college, though their identities aren't known by anyone, not even the UN who only know them as Bomshell, Spiderman and Justice, and as per the altered accords, Natasha and Tony are responsible for their actions, and as Kate is under twenty-five Clint is responsible for hers.
As he is younger than the others Cooper Barton isn't allowed to be a part of the Avengers, even though he is very well trained with both a sword and bow, something which he isn't happy about as he is very close to the other teenagers especially Peter and Vance.
Changes in the number of people who call the Avengers Compound home isn't the only change in the Avengers Compound in three years as just like he wanted Tony has changed the compound from being like a compound to being like a big home, as that is what it is to those who live there.
It is early evening on a Friday night and Tony is just sitting at his desk in his private office, the place where he spends most his time, staring at a picture that was taken eight months ago, at his and Natasha's wedding. A picture of all the Avengers, including the two-part time members T'Challa and Doctor Stephen Strange, Melinda and her S.H.I.E.L.D team, which includes Fury, Hill and Sharon Carter as they have all once more joined S.H.I.E.L.D and Phil is once more the director having taken over from the New Director Mace who didn't last long.
"Tony." A voice says and Tony looks towards the door to see his wife, "It's time. Cassie's arrived for the summer and Mel, Phil and their girl just got here."
"Their girl, you mean Daisy?" Tony asks, looking up at his wife as she walks over.
"Of course I do." Natasha says with small smile, "She's calls them Mom and Dad, she's their girl in every way that counts."
"Yeah." Tony confirms as Natasha sits down on the desk next to him, "What about Stephen? He here yet?"
"I just talked to him, he said there's something he's got to check into and can't make it." Natasha reveals.
"Check in on? Maybe I should go help him." Tony says, honestly wanting to avoid what he has to do, and as he does he notices Natasha's smirk, "What?"
"He knew you were going to say that. He told me to tell you that you he can handle it on his own, and if it is a problem that we need to know about he'll come to us, but you can't keep avoiding this, it's time you tell everyone." Natasha tells her husband, "And he's right." Natasha says reaching out and taking Tony's hand, "They deserve to know Tone, especially our kids." Natasha says and honestly even though Vance, Peter and Lana have been their kids for a while it still makes Tony smile to hear Natasha refer to them as that.
"I know, and I know we agreed to tell them tonight, I just don't want to hurt them." Tony admits, meaning that completely.
"Keeping this from them, will hurt them more. It's already been three months. It's time." Natasha tells him, "And you know it."
"Boss, Mr Peter has said to tell you that you and Mrs Stark are missing your birthday party and they can't start it without you." FRIDAY says.
"Thanks FRY." Tony and Natasha say together.
"Guess, we should go out there." Tony realises, "Huh, my second what really could be my last birthday." He comments, and even though she tries to hide it Tony notices a flash of pain flicker on Natasha's face, and he regrets causing saying that, "Do you remember what you told me the last time I thought it was going to be my last birthday party?" Tony asks curious.
"Of course." Natasha answers.
"Well spending my birthday with you and our family is exactly what I want, it's the only thing I want to be doing." Tony reveals, meaning that completely, as he stands up, "Guess I better get this over with."
"Yeah, and I'll be right with you the entire time." Natasha promises, standing up too, and the two of them kiss before heading out of Tony's office.
After leaving Tony's office Tony and Natasha head to the main living room where Rhodey, Hope, Vision, Clint, Laura, Peter, Lana, Kate, Vance, Cooper, Lila, Nathaniel, Cassie, T'Challa, Bruce, Melinda, Phil and Daisy are, everyone sitting around on the chairs and couches.
"About time, we were about to send out a search party for you two." Clint comments seeing them.
"Uncle Clint was, Pete and I both agreed that after asking FRIDAY we should leave you and Mom alone." Vance reveals, from where he is sitting on the floor with Peter and Cooper, across the room from Kate and Lana who are sitting with Daisy.
"Thanks for that boys." Tony says, smiling at his sons, as that's what Vance and Peter are to him, his sons, both how he sees them and what they are to him legally too.
"So, now that you two are finally here I guess we can get this party started." Hope comments, with a smirk as there are a few birthday traditions that she and Melinda intend to make Tony take part in.
"Not yet, there's something I have to say." Tony reveals, walking to a place over to where everyone can see him, and Natasha walks with him, and doesn't move away from her husband.
"Tony, what is it?" Rhodey asks, knowing his friend well enough to know that there is something he's not saying.
"I'm dying." Tony reveals, deciding to rip the bandaid off.
"Dad, don't joke about that." Peter says, pain in his voice, not wanting to believe that as after everyone he's lost he can't lose Tony, who he started calling Dad about a year ago, too.
"I'm not joking Pete." Tony reveals, it being clear to everyone that he is telling the truth.
"What?" Hope asks shocked, pain in her voice too.
"My hearts dying and because toxins are in my blood, that at this stage can't be removed, from the Arch reactor I used to have in my chest, I'm not eligible for a transplant." Tony explains, "For the last three months I have been working with Bruce, Stephen, T'Challa, Helen Cho, Jemma Simmons and even Hank and Bobbi Morse have been looking at everything, to try and find a way to both remove the toxins and repair the damage to my heart." Tony explains.
"How long do you have if you don't manage to find a way?" Melinda asks, asking what they are all thinking.
"A few months, at most." Tony answers and as he does both Peter and Vance go running out the room, both looking like they are going to burst into tears.
"I'll go." Lana says, getting up and chasing after her brothers.
"Why didn't you say something sooner?" Clint asks, putting his arm around Nathaniel who is looking upset, though he doesn't completely understand everything that is going on.
"I was expecting to have found a cure by now." Tony admits, "I need to go check on my kids." He says, heading out of the room.
"Nat I….." Laura starts to say, not even being able to imagine how hard this is for Natasha.
"I know." Natasha says before heading after her family.
"Uncle Tony can't die, he just can't." Cooper says, looking close to tears himself.
Chasing after their kids neither Natasha nor Tony are surprised when the find Cooper, Vance, and Lana sitting together in one of the smaller living areas, the one with a lot of bean bag chairs, that is often used to play video games, though thanks to Kate's family money the teenagers have their own hide away on the grounds but as they didn't run in that direction Natasha and Tony know that Peter, Vance and Lana didn't head there.
"Peter, Vance, Lana." Tony says as he and Natasha walk into the room.
"Dad." Vance says, getting up from between his brother and sister and running over and hugging Tony tightly, surprising Tony slightly as even though Vance has come a long way he is still hesitant about physical touch and is only comfortable with the people he trusts, which is a small list, but even still he doesn't think Vance has ever ran for a hug before.
"It will be okay, Kiddo." Tony says as he hugs his son, having no idea what else to say as after he and Natasha realised how serious things were between them, even before they got married he adopted Vance too and Natasha adopted Peter.
"You don't know that, Tony." Lana says, being the only one of the three teenagers who doesn't call Tony and Natasha Mom and Dad something they don't mind as they know that the kids need to be comfortable, as honestly it surprised them, a lot, when Vance and Peter started to.
"Lana…" Natasha starts to say, as even though that is exactly what she has been thinking for the last three months she wants Peter, Vance and Lana to be able to hold onto some hope that Tony is going to be okay, at least for a little while longer.
"Don't Lana me, Nat." Lana says, trying to focus on annoyance rather than the pain she is feeling, "Tony's dying and for months the smartest people in the world have been trying to find a cure and come up blank."
"That doesn't mean we're going to stop trying." Tony says as he and Vance stop hugging.
"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Peter asks, speaking for the first time since he went running out of the other living room, and both Natasha and Tony can hear the anger in his voice.
"Honestly I was hoping to have found a cure by now." Tony admits, looking at his son.
"Well you haven't, and you should have told us." Peter says before angrily walking past Tony and Natasha, knowing exactly where he has to go.
"I'll go talk to him." Tony says, heading out of the room, leaving Natasha with Vance and Lana.
"What if Lana's right, Mom?" Vance asks it being clear that he is terrified of that, "What if a cure can't be found?"
"It means Tony will die." Lana answers, standing up
"Yeah, it does." Natasha confirms and both Vance and Lance can hear the pain in her voice, "But like Tony just said no one's giving up." She says and as she does she notices Vance trying to hold back tears, "Come here." She tells her son and he walks the few steps that separate them and hugs his mother, "You too, Lana." Natasha says as she hugs Vance and Lana walks towards Natasha and she hugs them both.
In the living room Daisy and Kate, at Daisy's suggestion, have taken one of the cars and Cooper, Lila, Cassie and Nathaniel on an ice cream run to allow the others to talk about what is going on.
Just like they have been ever since Daisy, Kate and the kids left Rhodey, Hope, Melinda, Vision, Phil, Bruce, T'Challa, Clint and Laura are sitting in tense silence.
"I want the truth." Rhodey says, looking between Bruce and T'Challa, "Realistically what do you think the chances are of finding a cure?" he asks, looking between the two people who know.
"It's hard to say." Bruce admits, "We thought a completely blood transfusion was the perfect cure." He explains, "Six weeks ago basically removed all of Tony's blood while quickly transferring in fresh blood, but the toxins remained." Bruce reveals.
"Figuring out a way to remove the toxins is what's most important." T'Challa reveals, "Because even if we don't manage to repair or reverse the damage to Tony's heart getting rid of the toxins means that he will be eligible for a transplant." He explains, trying to be a step removed from everything but the truth is that Tony is probably his closet friend so it's hard for him to talk about this.
"So basically you're saying that even though Tony's heart is dying what's killing him is the toxins?" Melinda asks, trying her best to hide the pain in her voice, as Phil reaches over and puts his hand on Melinda's leg, doing so because he knows what she is trying to hide.
"Both the toxins and the fact that his heart is dying are killing Tony, but the toxins are what's keeping him from being able to have the treatment that would save his heart." Bruce explains.
"What else are you trying to get rid of the toxins?" Hope asks, trying to think scientifically instead of thinking about the fact that one of the people who are more family to her than anyone blood related to her is dying.
"He's on medication, and we're working on theories." T'Challa answers, "We're consulting with the best, which is why we went to Jemma, and we're trying everything we can think of."
"And if you can't find a way, how bad are things going to get for Tony?" Clint asks curious, asking what everyone is too afraid to ask.
"At the moment only a small percent of his heart muscle is dead, and the toxins in his blood is at a pretty stable amount, but from our observations we know that both of those things are going to increase and Tony's going to experience heart failure." Bruce explains, trying to be as objective as possible, something which isn't easy when he is talking about someone who is like a brother to him, "It's… not going to be pleasant." He explains.
"You're underplaying it, aren't you?" Hope asks as she and Rhodey squeeze each other's hands.
"Yes." Vision confirms, knowing that without T'Challa or Bruce saying so and everyone once more drift into a pained silence.
As he knows his son Tony doesn't have to ask FRIDAY where he went, instead he just heads straight to the lab where he finds Peter accessing all the records of what is going on with him.
"Pete." Tony says, walking in.
"We can figure this out! We can figure out what is going on, and we can fix it!" Peter says, sounding both determine and upset.
"Pete." Tony says, walking over to his son.
"No! We can find a way; we can fix this!" Peter says, forcefully needed to believe that.
"Peter." Tony says, getting to Peter's side and putting his hand on his son's shoulder.
"I want to help figure this out." Peter says, turning to look at his dad, "You can't die, Dad, you can't die too, I can't lose you too." Peter says as he's lost too many family members to be able to handle losing Tony too.
"I wish I could say you won't lose me, but I can't." Tony assures his son, "But what I can promise you is that I'm not going to give up, and that I will do everything in my power to make sure I am here for a very, very long time." Tony says, wishing that there was more he could tell his son to make things okay, and Peter just steps forward and hugs him.
"I love you, Dad." Peter says, making a promise to himself that he'll say that more as it's something he regrets not saying more to his parents, and his Uncle Ben, and Aunt May.
"Love you too, Peter, so much." Tony says, as he returns the hug.
Having headed to a place near the compound that they know makes very good ice cream Kate, Lila, Cassie, Cooper, Daisy and Nathaniel are walking together to the store, Lila, Cassie and Cooper walking in front of them while Kate and Daisy are walking either side of Nathaniel, each holding one of his hands and as they walk, both of them lifting him up ever few steps, causing him to laugh.
If anyone were to watch they would think that Kate and Daisy, even Cooper, are just walking and enjoying themselves, but the truth is that all three of them are watching for any sign of danger and are all ready to attack at a moment's notice.
"We're taking ice cream back for everyone else right?" Cooper asks, "Pete, Vance and Lana would probably really want ice cream right now."
"Yeah, we'll bring back a few extra pints." Daisy assures him.
"Good." Cassie says, sounding glad, as they arrive at the shop.
"Daisy, why is everyone so sad?" Nathaniel asks, sounding confused, and everyone stops walking, and Daisy and Kate exchange looks.
"I'll take the others in." Kate says, letting go of Nathaniel's hand and heading into the ice cream shop with Cassie, Lila and Cooper, as while she has spent more time with Nathaniel Daisy is better than her at this kind of thing.
"Daisy?" Nathaniel asks curious, looking confused, as Daisy squats down in front of the five-year-old.
"Uncle Tony's sick, Nate." Daisy reveals, feeling comfortable enough to say that, though she doesn't want to tell the young boy too much, saying uncle Tony even though she doesn't call him that because that's what Nathaniel calls him, "It's making everyone sad."
"But he'll be okay, right?" Nathaniel asks, looking upset.
"I don't know." Daisy admits, "But Uncle Tony, Uncle Bruce, T'Challa, Stephen, Hank, Hellen and Jemma are all working together to help Uncle Tony." She explains.
"They can help him; they always help people!" Nate realises.
"Yeah Nate, they do." Daisy confirms, "Let's go get ice cream." Daisy says with a smile, standing up, and once more taking the young boys hand before heading into the ice cream shop.
Hours later Daisy, Melinda and Phil have gone back to S.H.I.E.L.D and everyone else is spread out through the compound.
Walking into his and Natasha's bedroom, which is pretty large, Tony isn't at all surprised to find his wife doing Tai-Chi as while Melinda taught her how to do it years ago Natasha's only started to do it regularly since he became sick, it's her way of dealing, not that she told him that, he just knows. Knowing how much she needs to do it Tony doesn't disturbed her and instead goes about his normal bedtime routine and once he is done he sits down on the end of their bed and just watches.
Five minutes after Tony started to watch his wife Natasha finishes and then walks over to Tony.
"How'd it go with Peter?" Natasha asks, it being clear that she is concerned.
"He's hurting, and can't bear the thought of losing me." Tony reveals, guilt clear in his voice as he opens his legs so that Natasha can stand between them, "He also got into my medical records, said he's going to help figure this out." Tony reveals.
"We both saw that coming." Natasha reminds him as they both talked about it and knew that as soon as Peter knew what was going on with Tony he'd try to help
"Yeah." Tony says, reaching out and pushing Natasha's hair back before putting his hands on Natasha's hips, "Vance? Lana?"
"Both upset. Vance doesn't even want to think about losing the only real father he's ever known. Lana's terrified too, though she's trying harder to hide it." Natasha reveals.
"Maybe we shouldn't have told them." Tony comments, as all he wants to do is protect Peter, Vance, Lana and even Natasha from pain, and it seems like he's just caused them more.
"No, we did the right thing, they deserve to know what might be coming." Natasha informs her husband, "How's your pain been today? Any more difficulty breathing?"
"Pain's been about the same." Tony answers, "Breathing was a little difficult earlier, but I didn't do anything and it passed." Tony says, pulling Natasha in closer, "All in all I'd say it was a pretty good day."
"Sounds like it." Natasha says, as she knows that days are coming, probably very, very soon, where a day with the kind of symptoms Tony just described will be a pipe dream, "It's time for the medication." She says as there is an experimental medication that Tony is on that he only trusts her to give him.
"Yeah." Tony confirms and Natasha moves back then walks over to the bedside table on Tony's side of the bed and pulls out a vial and syringe.
Turning back to the bed Natasha sees Tony lying on the bed, on his stomach and Natasha moves in the right position to inject the medication into his spin, that being one of the reasons why she injects it.
"Don't move." Natasha instructs as she cleans the area where she is going to inject and then lines the needle up.
"I won't." Tony says, bracing himself for the intense pain he knows is coming.
"Relax, it will be worse if you don't." Natasha tells him as she injects him, saying what she says every single time she gives him the medication.
"I know." Tony says through gritted teeth.
Once Natasha injects Tony shed deposes of what she has to get rid of before once more sitting next to Tony who is still lying on his stomach, as still as a rock, though it is clear that he is in pain.
"Better or worse?" Natasha asks, as she reaches out and takes Tony's hand.
"Same." Tony forces out as he squeezes Natasha's hand.
"Just a few more minutes." Natasha reminds him, doing what is basically the only thing that helps Tony once he's been injected with that particular medication.
For five minutes Natasha holds Tony's hand while he tries to hide the fact that he is in incredible pain, something which is more than a little difficult and as she watches him Natasha feels completely useless, just like she always does when he has this medication as she wishes there was more she could do.
"it's easing." Tony finally says, after what feels like a lifetime to Natasha.
"That was longer." Natasha realises, knowing because she timed it.
"Yeah, could be good be a good thing." Tony says pushing himself up.
"Move slowly." Natasha reminds him, "Or it could be a very bad thing." She counters.
"Guess, we'll find out in the next lot of tests." Tony says he slowly gets into a sitting position, "You shouldn't have to see this." He says, guilt in his voice.
"We've talked about this." Natasha reminds him, "I'm not going anywhere, I'm not going to let you push me away." She says forcible.
"You might be a master Spy Tash, but I know you and I know you're hurting, and I don't want that." Tony tells his wife "Maybe it would be better for you if…."
"Don't you dare finish that sentence Anthony Stark." Natasha says angrily, knowing exactly what he is going to say because he's said it before, "You might be my husband but you don't get to decide what's best for me, I do, and I decide to stay." Natasha says, completely meaning that, "So you can try to push me away all you want, but it's not going to work, because I love you and I'm going to be with you ever step of the way." Natasha says, reaching out and taking Tony's hands, it being clear how serious she is as she hardly every says I love you and she NEVER says it when someone other than one of their kids can hear, "You said you're not giving up without a fight, well I'm fighting for you, I'm fighting right beside you because that's what partners do."
"I love you too, Tash, so much." Tony says, before kissing her as he knows trying to push Natasha away won't work, but he keeps trying, even though he doesn't want to, because he hates hurting her and that's exactly what watching him die is doing to her.
While Natasha and Tony are in their room their three kids are in the getaway area that Kate arranged to be built, where they have been for a while just sitting in silence when Cooper and Kate walk in.
"Hey." Cooper says, having no idea what else to say.
"Hey." Peter and Lana say, though Vance is quiet.
"Okay do you guys need me to use the fact that I am twenty-one?" Kate asks curious, everyone knowing exactly what she is offering.
"No, no alcohol. Alcohol makes everything worse." Vance says, and his words don't surprise anyone considering his history.
"Vance is right, drinking is bad idea." Peter realises, completely agreeing with his brother.
"I think I need to hit something, or blow something up, or both." Lana comments.
"That's an idea I could get behind." Cooper admits, "Pete? Vance?" he asks, looking over at his two best friends.
"I could get behind punching something." Peter admits, "Or just using my powers."
"Same." Vance says with a nod, as he is a little surprised he hasn't caused things to go flying already.
"Then I guess it's time we finally put our training room to good use." Kate comments as while she made sure there was a training room in their getaway they usually use one of the training rooms in the main compound so that they can work with the others.
"That's sounds like a really good idea." Lana says, standing up and once she is she sticks out her hands to pull Peter and Vance up too.
Five minutes later the five teenagers are in the training room that they all worked together to design, Kate and Cooper are fighting hand to hand while Peter is using his webs to swing around the room, avoiding explosions, coming from Lana, and things being thrown around thanks to Vance, who is also using his powers to fly around the room, and even though things are exploding, going flying, and getting webbed up, they aren't worrying about things going wrong, they are just letting off steam together, trying to deal with the news they got.