Tony Stark was forty-two when his granddaughter was born.

…

Upload… complete…

Activation process beginning…

Power levels… stable…

Wake up procedure… complete.

Vivian sighed as the cradle slid open. She sat up and looked around, taking in the dark workshop. "Hello?"

No one answered her call.

What was going on? Had she woken early?

"S.I.L.K.? F.R.I.D.A.Y.? J.A.R.V.I.S.?"

When she yet again didn't get a response, she slid out of the cradle. She then immediately questioned herself. If she wasn't supposed to be up yet, should she go back in the cradle? Why wasn't Peter here? Why weren't the others responding?

She sat down on the cradle and waited.

Waited.

Waited.

Her internal clock ticked away until one, three, five hours passed.

"S.I.L.K.?"

Still nothing.

She stood up and moved to the door. She waited there another hour then went back to the cradle.

Someone would have come for her if she was supposed to be up.

…

But that didn't explain why S.I.L.K., J.A.R.V.I.S., and F.R.I.D.A.Y. weren't responding.

"F.R.I.D.A.Y.? J.A.R.V.I.S.?"

She turned the lights on and looked around the workshop for any sign of what she should do.

For once, I didn't look back.

Sighing, Vivan closed the book and set it back on the shelf with the others.

"S.I.L.K.? J.A.R.V.I.S.? F.R.I.D.A.Y.?" she said half-heartedly, to no response.

She glanced over the shelves, but decided she was bored with reading.

Maybe she should go out and look for someone? It had already been one day, seven hours, and twenty-three minutes since she had woken up. Something must have happened if no one had come for her… right? No, they wouldn't have just left her here… right?

I'll be right here waiting when you wake up, Karen.

Right. Yeah, maybe she should look for someone.

She pushed the couch she had dragged over to the bookshelf back into its place against the far wall then turned to the door. She paused halfway there when she caught sight of herself in a mirror. She ran her fingers through her hair with a frown.

Should she change? Yes, that would probably be best. Just until she found out if it was okay or not for her to be up.

A flicker of white light passed over her and she could have been taken for human. All that remained of her original appearance was her hair and eyes as her violet skin had turned a dark brown tone similar to Shuri's, if a touch paler, and the glittering blue-white stone in her forehead was hidden behind a slightly darker patch of skin. She was also now clothed in a violet sweatshirt and jeans.

The skin color wasn't the only thing she'd gotten from her creators, she noticed as she looked closer at herself. She greatly resembled Harley, though with an obvious feminine softness. Her nose also more closely matched Shuri's with her eyes distinctly being Amadeus's, excepting the color which was Peter's warm brown. Her black, pin-straight hair also seemed to have come from Amadeus, though hers was obviously longer as it was waist-length.

Nodding, she headed for the door.

And then froze.

She shook her head. "No, no more procrastinating." She marched up to the door and, after a second's hesitation, opened it. "Hello?"

"Who are you?"

She jumped and ducked back into the workshop, surprised to hear a voice other than her own after being alone since… well, her birth. "J-J.A.R.V.I.S.?"

"Who are you? How did you get in here?"

She peaked out into the hall. "I… I am…"

Don't worry, Karen, I'll love you no matter what.

Vivian! Her name is Vivian!

Or Viv!

We voted, you lost, get over it!

"Karen. Where's Peter?"

"How do you know Master Peter?" J.A.R.V.I.S. asked after a pause.

Vivian considered how to answer. Peter and the others had wanted to keep her creation hidden, but certainly, J.A.R.V.I.S. would find out eventually, right? "Peter created me, alongside Harley, Amadeus Cho, and Princess Shuri of Wakanda. Where is he? He was supposed to be here when I woke up."

"I do not understand. How could Master Peter have created you?"

Vivian glanced down the hall to be sure they were alone then let her skin fade back to violet and her crystal show for just a moment. "I am like Vision. They called me Project Vivian. They wished to keep it a secret, though, so please don't say anything."

J.A.R.V.I.S. paused again. "I can not connect to Master Peter's workshop to confirm what you are saying."

Vivian tilted her head, surprised. "I thought you were connected to the entire building. Are we not in Stark Tower?"

"Master Peter requested that F.R.I.D.A.Y. and I remove ourselves from the lab while he and Mr. Cho worked on a special secret project. You, I would assume, if you are telling the truth. As S.I.L.K. was monitoring their safety, we allowed it. Without his, Sir's, Ms. Potts', or S.I.L.K.'s permission, I cannot reconnect unless I believe someone to be in danger."

"Well, can't you call them?" Vivian asked, feeling frustrated. She just wanted to talk to Peter or Harley or Amadeus or Shuri or S.I.L.K. Someone who could tell her why she woke up alone.

"… Ms. Potts is currently busy in talks with the Avengers."

Vivian shut the door.

She didn't understand! Why couldn't he just call Peter?

She curled up in the cradle, scowling at the door. Maybe she should just leave. Ignore J.A.R.V.I.S. and track down one of her creators on her own.

Where would she go, though?

If Peter wasn't here, then where was he? Should she check his school? His apartment? Or should she look for Amadeus? But would he be in the Cho's New York home or their Seoul one? She wouldn't be able to get to Wakanda, so maybe she should just go to Harley? He'd definitely be in Rose Hill… unless he was visiting New York?

Vivian groaned and buried her face into her knees.

She stayed like that for one hour and seven minutes, at which time the door to the workshop opened. She peeked through her hair to see Rhodey step into the workshop.

He looked around until his eyes landed on her. "Okay, J.A.R.V.I.S., I'm sorry for thinking you were exaggerating."

"No hard feelings, Colonel," J.A.R.V.I.S. said from the hall.

"Hey there," Rhodey hummed, approaching slowly. "My name's Col. Rhodes, but you can call me Rhodey."

"I know."

"Right, J.A.R.V.I.S. said you told him the kids made you."

She tightened her grip on her knees. "He wasn't supposed to tell anyone."

"Sorry. He had to tell me so I could know why you were here."

"Why are you here? I want Peter or Harley!"

"That's…" Rhodey glanced at the door and sat down next to her. "How long have you been in here?"

"The activation process finished one day, eight hours, and forty-seven minutes ago."

Rhodey blinked. "Right," he said slowly. "And before that?"

"I don't know. Harley and S.I.L.K. only included the necessities in my memory banks so that I could form my own memories and personality."

"Necessities like?"

"The English language, the members of the Stark family, a few things from my creation, and the basics of how to operate my body as well as a few other random topics. Why does this matter? Where's Peter and Harley?"

"They're… not available."

"Why!?" she shouted sitting up. Why was this happening? What was going on? Why couldn't he just tell her already? This was all so confusing!

Rhodey stared down at his hands. "Kid, a lot has happened this past week. Harley and Peter… We're not sure where Peter is and Harley… He's gone."

"Gone where?"

"He-he's dead."

Vivian froze. "Wh-No. That's-No. Ho-No!"

Rhodey reached for her and she flinched away.

"No!"

"I'm sorry."

"How?"

"It's a long story."

Vivian buried her hands in her hair as her vision became blurry.

"Kid."

No, this wasn't possible. He was just fine. He'd been there on the phone.

I get to be stuck in a class full of neanderthals while our child is being brought to life!

"Karen." Rhodey's hands carefully untwisted her fingers from her hair then turned her to face him.

"He can't be! H-he can't be!"

"I know." He pulled her into a hug and she clung to his chest. "I know."

"Colonel," J.A.R.V.I.S.'s soft voice came from the room's speakers. "Ms. Potts gave me permission to enter and confirm what Miss Karen has said. She and Miss Nebula will be here soon."

"Alright, thank you, J.A.R.V.I.S.," Rhodey said, rubbing her back. "Come on, sweetheart. How about we find somewhere a little more comfortable?"

Vivian didn't see the point, but let him lead her up to the penthouse living room. He left her on the couch for a moment and returned with some tissues and water.

"I grabbed this and don't even know if you can drink," he chuckled awkwardly, handing her the tissues.

"I don't need to, but I can," she sniffled. Peter and Amadeus had thought it was a flaw in Vision that he couldn't eat or drink. She wiped her face then accepted the water. "Thanks."

"Anything else I can get you?"

She took a sip. "What did you mean you don't know where Peter is? What… What happened?"

Rhodey sat down next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "You know about Spider-Man and the Avengers, right?"

"I know Peter is Spider-Man and that you and Vision are Avengers, while Tony used to be one. The Avengers are heroes, right?"

"Right. Well, a little over a week ago an old Avenger, Bruce, came back to Earth."

"You mean Dr. Banner? I didn't know he wasn't on Earth."

Rhodey chuckled sadly. "Of course Pete made sure you knew Bruce. Yeah, we didn't know he was in space either until he showed up. Anyways, he was with another old Avenger, Thor, when their ship was attacked by an alien named Thanos. Bruce barely escaped. Thanos wanted all the Infinity Stones - Do you know what those are?"

Vivian shrugged. "Vision has one, I think?"

"I-The Mind Stone, yeah. Thor's brother had had the Space Stone, which is why Thanos attacked them. Someone else - a sorcerer called Dr. Strange - had another, the Time Stone. That's where Bruce ended up so they called in Tony. Once they explained what was going on, he tried to call Vision to warn him, but he was on a mission and didn't get the message until it was too late. A pair of aliens attacked New York and one of them abducted Dr. Strange with Tony and Peter following. No one has heard from them since. We… We know Thanos got the stone from them though."

"They could still be okay, right?" Vivian asked, staring up at him, but he didn't meet her eyes.

"Maybe."

"What happened after that?"

Rhodey was quiet for a few moments then asked, "Do you know about Rogers? Captain America?"

"No. Who is that?"

"He used to be an Avenger, but then he and a few others… left, breaking the law as they went. The mission Vision was on was to track down one of Rogers' crew…"

"Having fun, love?"

Vision looked up to see Agent Drew smiling at him and couldn't help but return it at the sound of the nickname they'd given each other after one too many British jokes from Peter. He set down his mixing bowl and wiped his hands off. "Quite, love. Despite his temper, I have learned much from the tutelage of Chef R-"

"That's great. I need your help."

Vision frowned and looked her over. "Did something come up in your Oscorp investigation?"

"No, for once Osborn actually seems to be keeping his nose clean. This one's closer to home. MI5 got some tip-offs about Rogers crew being in the area and they think they've got a location on Maximoff."

Vision stared down at his bowl.

"They thought you'd be able to help me bring her in since you're already here, but I can tell them you're unavailable."

"No, I am the best suited for taking her down without a fight."

"And if there is a fight?"

"I am also the best suited for taking her down in a fight."

"If you're sure."

Vision nodded. "I will not allow my emotions to put others in harm's way again."

Agent Drew looked like she wanted to say something, but simply patted his shoulder. "I'll be right by your side if you need me."

Wanda pulled her collar closer with a shiver as she made her way down the street.

"'Scuse me," a woman muttered as she stumbled into her.

"Watch it," Wanda huffed, tucking her grocery bags further under her arm and giving the drunk a glare.

"Shut yer geggie, roaster!" the woman slurred, stumbling and putting two fingers up.

The telepath shook her head and continued on her way.

"Wanda."

She froze, then turned to see Vision standing in the road. "Vis!" She ran towards him, but he took a step back. "What's wrong?"

"You need to come with me."

"What is it? Is it Stark? It's okay, I can protect you."

"It's not Grandfather. Come with me and I'll be able to tell them you went quietly."

She shook her head. "You can't do this."

"Wanda -"

"If you do this, we'll never be able to be together!"

She was sure she had won as she watched sorrow flood Vision's face.

Then he said, "You made sure of that when you attacked me."

"I had to, you know that. We can still be together."

"No, we can't. You hurt me, in a way we can't come back from."

Her fists clenched and her powers rose up. "Stark. This is Stark. He's trying to keep us apart."

Vision held up his hands placatingly. "No, my family stayed out of it because they know they're biased. I decided this all on my own."

"You don't know what you're saying."

Vision stepped forward, then paused and tilted his head. "What?"

"I sa-"

He held up a finger and turned away slightly. "What do you mean he's gone? Calm down and speak slower… I understand, F.R.I.D.A.Y. I'll be there soon."

Wanda scowled. "You can't leave!"

"Please -"

"No!" She raised her hand, ready to pin Vision down so she could make him see sense. Then a figure lurched out of the shadows behind him.

Suddenly a white string shot past them both to hit the figure, who collapsed in a jerking fit.

"We've got unknowns on the scene. We might need reinforcements."

Wanda spun around to see the drunk from before, except now she looked serious and sober. Her long winter coat was gone, revealing a red, black, and yellow outfit while her glasses had been replaced by a matching facemask. The white string was connected to a device on her wrist and electrical sparks flowed from her hand down it.

Before she could react to the woman, Wanda was blasted through a glass door.

When she pulled herself out of the rubble, she spotted the woman gracefully dodging around the attacks of a horned woman while Vision shared blows with the figure from before - a grey-skinned man in a hood.

She hit the panic button Natasha had given her then climbed out of the store she'd been knocked into. "Hands off," she growled, grabbing the grey man and tossing him at the women's fight.

The red woman rolled out of the way just in time, but the man crashed into the horned one and the two went flying down the street.

Red glared at her then turned to Vision. "You okay?"

He nodded and flew to her side. As they faced the attackers, he said, "They're aliens who want the Mind Stone. F.R.I.D.A.Y. said another pair attacked New York because a sorcerer there had a similar one. The sorcerer got taken to their ship and Grandfather followed."

"We need to get you out of here," Wanda said, but they ignored her.

"Watch their spears. They're setting off my spider-sense. The teams are moving in."

He gave another nod then they threw themselves at the aliens.

Furious, Wanda sent out a pulse of energy that knocked all four into nearby buildings.

Vision pulled himself up first and immediately flew to the red woman's side. "Agent Drew, are you okay?"

"I'm going to kick your wagon ex's arse, love," she groaned as Vision helped her up.

Wanda froze. Love?

There was a flash of light, then darkness.

"What's wrong?"

She groaned and opened her eyes, but it wasn't Vision hanging over her as she'd assumed by his question. Instead, Natasha was kneeling at her side while Steve and Sam stood over them, facing away.

"How are you feeling?" Natasha asked.

Wanda looked around to see that they were surrounded by people in tactical gear with the only one not pointing a gun at them being the woman speaking with Vision and Agent Drew on the other side of the circle.

"Just some bad news," Drew said, turning to Vision to answer the question he must have been directing at her.

"What happened?" Wanda asked Natasha.

"We're not completely sure. We got your distress call and tracked you down, but you were already unconscious. Those two were fighting some weird people and we tried to help Vision, but they just told us to stay back."

"And when you didn't listen, the aliens managed to get away," Drew said, coming up to the edge of the circle and a man stepped aside to let her through.

"We were trying to help," Steve said.

"Vision and I had the situation under control until we were forced to discard a practiced strategy because your man flew in without thought, which gave them a chance to break free and teleport away. We did not want nor need your help, Rogers. You're lucky I just got orders from the accords council to bring you back to America or I'd have you in the deepest, darkest pit MI5 can come up with."

"You're not taking us anywhere," Wanda said, standing with some help from Natasha.

"Calm your witch, Rogers. The council's giving you all temporary pardons so you can help with this Infinity Stone mess. Unfortunately, without Stark here we've got no choice. I'm kind of wishing we hadn't kicked Ross out, he'd never have allowed this."

Their team bristled, but Drew just turned to the woman they'd been speaking to before. "Sorry about this. It should be your team's win."

"Still ours in the end," the woman said in a heavy accent and with a shrug. "You taking them by air?"

"There's a jet waiting at Edinburgh Airport for us."

"We'll escort you there."

Wanda turned to Steve and could see the others doing the same.

"We'll go with them, for now. The world needs us."

Drew snorted, but didn't comment.

"So Vision's okay then?" Vivian asked when Rhodey finished his story.

He didn't answer.

The elevator rang and they turned to see Pepper, Nebula, and Happy coming out.

As soon as their eyes met, Pepper rushed over to Vivian and pulled her into a hug. Even with her face buried in Vivian's hair, her sniffles were audible. Vivian held her just as tight, her own eyes tearing up again.