"You're sure about this?"
Stephen nodded, looking at Natasha, first, but then at the others who were also assembled in the lounge. Everyone had been told that they were going to be sending Pete back (hopefully) and had wanted to come have a chance to say goodbye. The boy had been grinning ear to ear when he'd seen them but was clearly excited to be going back to where he belonged.
"I am," he confirmed. "Furthermore, Wong is, as well. We know where we're sending him, and as far as we know the time is the same as it is for us, so it'll work out well."
Pepper slid an arm around Pete's waist, but she was looking at Tony.
"Any concerns?"
Stark shook his head.
"If Stephen is sure, then I'm good with making the attempt."
Not that he had any real say in the matter, truth be told. In Pete's reality, it was Stephen who had the authority over the boy, not Tony Stark. But they weren't in Pete's reality, were they?
"At least we get a chance to say goodbye," Natasha said, smiling.
Pete blushed, but he smiled.
"I appreciate everything you guys have done," he told her – and the others. He held up the flowers that he was still holding, given to him by Pepper before they'd gone through the portal. "It means a lot."
"We're not done, though," Steve told him. He snapped his fingers at Clint, who rolled his eyes and moved over behind the bar, emerging a moment later carrying a large shopping bag with a Captain America shield on either side. He handed it to Steve, who then handed it to Pete. "Here."
"What's this?" the boy asked, curiously.
Pepper took the flowers from him.
"Open it."
Pete did as he was told and found several shirts, a couple of sweatshirts, and even a hat. All of them were SHIELD or Avenger themed, and all his size.
"Wow."
"We figured you'd want a souvenir of your time with us," Steve said. "Even if no one but May, Stephen, and Wong know it happened."
"This is great. Thanks."
"This, also," Natasha said, handing over another shirt. This one was black and long-sleeved. "I want you to give this to your Stephen when you see him."
"What does it say?" Strange asked, curiously.
"Show him," Natasha told Pete, smirking.
This was obviously the first that he'd seen of it. Pete unfolded it, also curious, and Pepper wasn't the only one to make an amused noise when they read it. A plain black shirt, but the words 'My apprentice went to another reality and all he brought me was this t-shirt' printed in a cheerful font.
"That's awesome," Tony said, clearly amused.
"Yeah, it is," Pete agreed. He folded it back up and put it in the bag, and then hugged her. "Thank you."
She held him tightly for a moment, and then brushed a chaste kiss against his ear as she pulled away.
"You're welcome."
They'd already taken all their pictures with him – mainly so he would have them when he went home – but this was a final chance for them to say goodbye to him, and there were plenty of hugs, handshakes, and slaps on the back as they all took the opportunity.
"Do you have all your things packed?" Tony asked the boy when he hugged him, too.
"Yeah." Pete had known the time was close, and had taken some time that morning to pack some of the clothes and other items that he was going to take with him. Including a file with the prototype of his pumpkin chucker since the finished item was too large to carry. "It's on my bed."
"I'll go get it for you," Peter offered.
It would give him a chance to stash the bundle of cash into Pete's things – along with a note telling his doppelganger what it was for.
"Thanks."
"Don't take too long," Stephen told him. "Wong's waiting."
"I won't."
Peter left the lounge at a trot, already composing the note in his mind as he headed for his own quarters, first, to get what he needed.
"You'll tell Ned I said goodbye?" Pete requested of Tony.
"Of course. He'll be sorry to miss seeing you go, but we'll see him Friday morning."
Still had pumpkins to toss, after all.
"Okay."
Pepper looked at Stephen as she handed the flowers back to the boy.
"Peter's going with you?"
He didn't ask how she knew they needed the boy with them. He simply nodded.
"He is, yes."
Natasha frowned; this was the first that she was hearing of it.
"Is that wise?" she asked.
Strange smiled.
"It's fine. He isn't going to touch the figurine – we'll make sure he isn't anywhere near it, for that matter – just to be sure."
"I'm going to go, too," Tony told her. "Just to make sure the wizards send the right Peter over. As much as I like Pete, here, he can't bake a cake nearly as well as Peter can."
The boy smiled at that.
"It'll give me something to strive for when I get home."
OOOOOOOOO
"I don't know, Stephen…"
Strange raised an eyebrow at May, ignoring the small brood of young children who were gathered around a display for candy bars, but also happened to be in their way as they walked into the grocery store.
"It'll be fine, May."
She frowned.
"What if it isn't?" she asked. "I just don't see how it's a good idea to make Thanksgiving dinner when it's only going to emphasize just how empty the place is without Peter here…"
"And if he shows up by tomorrow and we are forced to feed him sandwiches because we didn't go get a turkey?" he countered. "Then what?"
"You could just make one," she pointed out, wiggling her fingers – which made him roll his eyes, amused more than annoyed.
"It's better this way. More traditional."
The horde of children ran by, called over by their parents.
"Dodging little kids and shopping carts and irritated shoppers getting their things last minute like we are…?" May asked. "I suppose that's as traditional as it comes."
Strange smiled, taking her hand.
"That's the spirit."
"And when he doesn't show up?" May asked, allowing her fears and the deep sorrow that she felt at the absence of her nephew to show. She couldn't help it, really. It was the holidays, after all, and that was a time for family. Even the few visions that she'd seen of him didn't make her miss him less. In fact, they made her miss him more, because she wanted to know who some of those people were, and what they were like – and how they were reacting to having him among them. "What then? Do we buy him Christmas presents, too? Put them under the tree on the off chance that he might-"
"May." He squeezed her hand, lightly. "It's going to be fine."
"You promise?"
"Absolutely."
Before he could say anything else, however, someone touched his shoulder, making him turn his attention from reassuring her to see who it was. And was surprised to see Wong – who had been at the sanctum when Stephen had last seen him. The other magician looked tense, and the sorcerer supreme assumed the worst.
"You need to come back."
"What's going on?"
"Something is happening," Wong replied. "But I don't know. I just know we need to be at the sanctum."
Strange glanced at May.
"I-"
"She needs to come, too."
"What?"
"Trust me. She needs to be there."
He did. Strange nodded, his grip on her hand tightening.
"We'll have to shop later," he told her.
"Yes."