PRESENT TIME

Tony was bad. He went on benders for days. That was normal. But-but this wasn't even close to normal. The man was sober. The Avengers, especially Cap should be grateful. Because as skilled as you are, a drunk billionaire prone to trigger happy tendencies in a meatal death suit could be slightly intimidating. So they all jabbed at Tony. Wanted him to be sober. To think as clearly as possible. Not only for their safety but his as well. After New York they all became a little attached to the man. He was skilled, strong, and surprisingly aloof. He kept his distance. It was Strange at first. He was loud and proud in the news. Even louder and more egotistical when they first meet him. But once they moved in it was completely different. The man would stay up for at least forty-eight hours at a time. Working in his workshop with only his music and Jarvis to keep him company. Everyone was convinced that the AI was the only reason he has been around this long. They are almost convinced the child sounding AI tugs on Tony non-existent paternal instincts. Just like real children, the man in the walls used it to his full advantage. Especially when Tony was like this.

Tony was on a five day bender. Only one small bag of chips and countless cups of coffee to keep him going. He was completely entranced in fixing Clint's arrows. A mission a week and a half ago saw the man nearly getting shot, when his arrow made too loud of a sound when released. A bullet only half an inch closer and Clint would be gone. Tony seemed to just spiral from there. The neurotic engineer became obsessed with preventing it from happening again. With this dangerous pattern started, the Avengers were now locked out of the lab. Clint was the most worried out of all of them. It was surprising to some, not so much to others. Maybe Clint was more protective because he felt guilty. He had a lot of regret from his first meeting with Tony. He felt angry with himself for forcing him to reveal Lily. To open an old wound.

"Maybe we should try to get Jarvis to open up again? He can't stay down there forever" Clint shook his head. "I mean it's just not healthy!" Clint snorted

"Tony does a lot of stuff that is not healthy for him cap. This is just something to add to the ever growing list" Clint leaned back in his hammock. "He was doing this long before we knew him. I am sure he will do it long after the Avengers are gone". Steve stopped pacing and glared.

"That does not change the fact that he is doing it now. While we are here. While we can help drag him out of it!" Clint opened an eye and glanced down and the blond haired captain.

"Cap. We have already talked to Pepper. She knows him better than we do. She said and I quote 'Tony has a habit of not caring for himself. If it gets bad Jarvis will contact me and I will get him myself.' So I say that he is still okay." Steve relaxed slightly and sighed. He was still on edge but he knew Clint had a point.

"I suppose you are right. But we can't postpone that report much longer. We need him to snap out of it soon" Clint agreed. He was just as worried as Steve was. He had Jarvis reporting anything out of the ordinary to him just incase. He did relate to the captain more than he realized. He had just learned to hide it. His form of caring was much more subtle and simple.

"Sir's heading to the communal floor now. He shall be here in six point nine seconds." There was no echo in the room. Just silence from the abrupt announcement. It left everyone blinking in shock. All they thought to do was turn there eyes towards the elevator door. It dinged and out walked…a living disaster. Tony was covered in grease and who knows what else. His hair was greasy and all over the place. The bags etched in his under eyes were dark and spoke of days without sleep . His hands shook slightly as he held onto the new arrows for dear life. He smiled at them and walked straight to Clint. Steve stood open mouthed.

"Here Clint." Tony said while shoving them at the wide eyed archer. "They aren't as nice as my last design, but I reduced the sound by seventy-five percent. I also added some acid to the tip to let you melt away any armor for a more clear shot if needed. Which I know you don't usually need more than-"

"Tony"

"One. I was thinking about adding a slow acting poison"

"Tony"

"Speaking of poison I should upgrade Little Miss Spiders weapons. She might like a acid. For torture ya know?"

"TONY!" Clint yelled. Tony's mouth snapped shut. He looked a bit hurt at the yell but he smiled anyway.

"Oh was I talking to much? Sorry. Happens after benders like that. Har- uh friends have said so anyway . "

Clint just shook his head and looked at the arrows. His heart felt lighter than he expected it to. Knowing Tony wanted him to be safe and here. Tony wanted him to be alive. It was so strange have your teammates care about you. Not because they need you to complete the mission. But because they genuinely want to be safe and alive. Clint didn't know when Steve left them alone. He had no clue how long he and Tony stood there. The genius biting his lip anxiously. He was stuffing his hands into his pockets trying to act like he wasn't waiting for a rejection from him. It made Clint's heart hurt for the man. He wondered how many people had used and abused him in the past. He gripped the arrows tighter. He was glad The arrows were so heavily reinforced.

"Tony. Thank you so much. " it was so simple to say but the poor man's eyes practically sparkled with happiness. He cleared his throat and turned on his heels. Walking towards the elevator and throwing a wave over his shoulder Tony laughed out a "No probs Birdbrain"

When he was finally gone he took an arrow and examined it. It was sleek and perfect in a way only Tony could manage. Clint smiled and Put the arrow back with the others.

"Stupid playboy" he laughed to himself.

Six months ago in St. Mungo's

Harry looked at Ginny's pale hand. It had a grey tinge she had never had before. That being said Harry had seen it many times. During the battle of Hogwarts he seen it hundreds of times. They both had. Every boy and girl that died took on that parlor. But Ginny wasn't just anyone. She was his wife, she was a mother. Ginny should never look like this. She should be tan and have rosy cheeks. She should be smiling at him and their daughter. The daughter that was so sick. The little girl that needed her mom. But that wasn't going to happen. As Arthur held onto Harry's shoulder and Molly stroked Ginny's head Harry knew. He knew it would never be okay again. How could he tell the children?

Harry despised September. First his mother and grandfather had died. Then when he finally grew to love it knowing his baby girl would be born September first. Ginny died. He would never blame Lily. But when His daughter Lily died three weeks later Harry thought he was cursed. There was no way he wasn't. He was plagued with death. Harry hated London. Both the magical and muggle side. With his wife and child buried there, the only feeling it brought was pure agony. There was no privacy. Ginny and Lily's very much private funerals were packed full of un-wanted and now jobless reporters. Molly couldn't handle it and had to leave. Harry had her take the children with her. He wondered if his father's funeral was this bad. He wasn't allowed to go. Pepper and Rhodey hated him. He only really knew about the public funeral. He and the order all sat down and read the paper. Dumbledore helped him through a lot during that time.

There was nothing anyone could do this time. He had a four and three year old to take care of. There was no way he could do it in London. He had to get out of the UK. Maybe Salem? There is an thriving community there. They are still recovering from the witch trials but it was still one of the safest communities he knew of. It was growing and Albus and James could thrive there. While he was devastated to leave he had nothing left. Dumbledore wanted him to stay but his opinion meant nothing right now. He might return later but for now he needed space. The Weasley's helped them pack and after a sorrowful goodbye from his only other family The remaining Starks headed to America.

Back to the present

Harry smiled at his boys. They were playing in the yard. The new bunny- a gift from Molly and Arthur- hooping behind the children. Harry snorted into his tea.

"Should have been a ducking with how much she follows them around" he laughed to himself. It was quiet. He loved it. Harry looked around the isolated back yard. Tall apple and plum trees stood in a row against the property line. Rose bushes dotted the right half of the fence and a patch of tulips ruled over the left half. Tall bushes behind the flowers guarded and sealed in the yard from any passer by. It was a solitary place. Harry felt his eyes water slightly.

"Oh Ginny. You and Lily would have loved it here." Harry felt his mood wavering. It was easy these days to get lost in a melancholy. It was terrible the first few months. There had been Lilly's growing in the yard as well. The first thing Harry had done was destroy them. He wasn't handling the grief as well as he could have. Last time he had Ginny to help him. This time he has no one. No one that truly understood. Harry looked at his boys again. They were playing a game Harry now knew was leap frog. Albeit a poorly executed version. Kids under five weren't the most amazing coordination wise.

"Wahhhhhhh!" Albus cried out. The poor child had fallen and was quite startled. Harry rolled his eyes and set his tea down.

"Hold on Al" He laughed.

Later that night

The Weasly clan had invaded his small home for the night. It was loud and bright. Al and James played with their cousins and Molly fawned over how big the boys had gotten in only a month since her last visit. Harry smiled.

"It's just amazing Harry darling! Every time I see them they have sprouted up like weeds!" Harry hummed and stirred the gumbo.

" Trust me Molly. I know it. The pants Ginny make Albus don't fit anymore." It was quiet for a moment and Harry stopped stirring.

" Harry I-" The house rattled. Harry and the rest of the adults shot for their wands. Another Rattle followed by a loud boom. Al and James were now crying and clutching onto their grandmother's sweater. Harry glanced at his family.

" I don't think its death eaters. To flashy for their numbers" Ron was stern.

" What could it be Harry? Has this happened before?" Harry thought about it for a moment.

"No but this is something outside of Salem's magical wards. It must be something muggle related." The twins we the perfect picture of horrified.

"Blimey Harry-"

"What could-"

"Do that?" Harry looked grim. And went to the broom closet. He nodded at his brothers before heading for the doors. The house rattled again. The explosions were getting closer. He fixed them with a look.

"Mate your not really going out there are you?!" Ron yelled.

"Watch the boys" Harry was gone before Ron could say anything else.

Outside the wards

A squid. That was what they were fighting. A damn squid. Granted it was the biggest squid Tony had ever seen but still. A squid. Tony wished he had stayed in bed. This was utterly ridiculous. A few bombs here and some arrows there and it was dead. Dissolving back into what ever freaky science goo it came from in the first place. It was a simple kill at least.

Cap crackled over the radio.

"Team report. Any injuries?" After an all negative response it was now cleaning duty. Yay. How fun. The helicarrier had arrived and they were done with decontamination Tony wanted out of his suit. The squid stunk and the suit couldn't filter all of the smell out.

"I cant wait to not smell this thing" Tony groaned. Steve chuckled.

"Same here Tony" Even Natasha and Bruce were grossed out.

"Then let's wrap this up buttercup" Tony chanted.

"I need a good burger and a better filter. Jarvis put that on my to do list.

"Of course sir" the AI echoed. It was obvious he enjoyed Tony being grossed out at least a little bit.

" OI. Come on Tony. We are leaving with out ya" Clint yelled on the speaker. Sure enough the massive ship was already in the air and rising." Tony smiled.

" Sure bird for brain " Tony started his thrusters and quickly made it to the helipad on the ship. The rest of his team was standing there smiling and joking. Tony guided the suit down and quickly engaged the auto release.

"Oh man- maybe I should have stayed in the suit. It's almost worse out of it."

The team smiled.

"Don't be a child" Natasha teased. She was warmer these days. The team being some of the only people she could ever consider family. Tony pouted and let the suit step back . He started walking forward. Pop. Tony stumbled back several steps. His mouth open but no sound escaping. Pop. Tony was knocked back farther. His chest and stomach burned. He looked down. His front was wet.

" Wha-" He choked on his words. His knees buckled. Steve ran towards him. Tony watched him go faster than he had ever seen. But their fingers just barely grazed against each other as Tony fell over the edge of the Hellicarrier. His chest flickering dangerously before it died taking Tony with it.