When Tony was sleeping, Lorna changed back into Loki. He muttered a few choice words and a moment later, a copy of Lorna appeared in bed beside Tony. She looked like she was sleeping, but when Tony reached for a warm body in the morning, all he would find was a corpse.
Loki knelt by Tony's side of the bed and placed his hand on the inventor's forehead. He pulled every memory Tony had of him and changed them so he wouldn't remember Loki Odinson; he'd only ever remember Lorna Aven.
Loki gave Tony one final kiss, and then went to his daughter's room in order to alter her memories. Once he was finished, he quickly left the house, before he had time to change his mind and go against the Allfather. He teleported to New Mexico, Midgard's landing sight for the Bifrost, and called for Heimdall to bring him to Asgard. Upon his arrival, he was met by his brother, no doubt sent by Odin to ensure his return.
"Welcome home, brother!" Thor greeted, beaming.
Loki smoothed his features into an unreadable mask before giving Thor a small smile. "It's good to be back," he lied easily, and followed Thor back to the palace.
When Tony woke up, he was surprised to see Lorna still sleeping beside him. She was usually up by now, coaxing him out of bed at an ungodly hour—mainly, before noon.
'Must be tired," Tony thought, and he decided to leave her be.
Tony went to move hair away from her face and kiss her gently on the forehead and he shivered slightly—her skin was a bit colder than usual. Tony pulled the blankets over her more and got up to take a shower. After drying off and getting dressed, he went to wake up Erika and try and make her breakfast (or lunch, seeing how it was already past eleven). He made her what was supposed to be an omelet and Erika glanced at it before saying she'd wait for Lorna to get up to eat something.
Tony shrugged, turned on the TV for Erika, and then sat beside her while browsing the web. When he looked at a clock again, it was almost six.
"Is Momma up yet?" Erika asked, regretting her decision to wait for food.
Tony frowned. "Dunno, I'll go check." He went back upstairs to his and Lorna's room and Erika turned her attention back on the cartoon she was watching.
Tony peered into his and Lorna's room.
She was still fast asleep, which was weird because she never slept this late—being a former supermodel, she'd always had to rise early, and after meeting Tony she'd tried to get him into the same habits.
"Hey, Sleeping Beauty, rise and shine!"
No response.
Tony's playful smile faltered. "Babe?" He knelt on the bed next to Lorna and shook her shoulder. "Hey, babe, wake up—Kiddo wanted to know when you're getting up."
Still nothing. Lorna didn't even move.
Worried now, Tony checked to see if her breathing was irregular.
She wasn't breathing at all.
Tony's own breaths sped up as he checked for a pulse, a heartbeat, any signs of movement . . . . .
Nothing.
"Lorna, this isn't funny," Tony said, his chest tight. "C'mon, Babe, I know you like the odd cruel joke now and again, but this really isn't funny." He shook her again. "Seriously, get up. Lorna, get up. Lorna!"
No matter how hard he shook the pale body on the bed, there was no response. Tony stood up and backed away from the bed, his vision swimming.
"Lorna?"
A/N: again, so many feels.