It was so white here. Tony looked around. The world was pure white. It was as if all of the color as stolen from it all. The flowers and grass-hell even the sky and sun. It was all white. There was no life. It was all still and Tony stood in the middle of it all. He was still in color and still out of place even in death. Tony scoffed, he was still the black sheep as always.
Tony shook his head and took a step.
"What the hell?" he muttered to himself. He felt both light as air and completely weighted down. As if his body wanted to float away but the ground refused to let him go. But Tony was never one to be kept in one spot for long. So he took another step. Then another and another. Tony had no idea when he had began to run. Once he started he couldn't stop. As if he had to keep running.
His chest didn't feel tight though and he never lost his breath. It was as if he could keep going forever, and maybe he would. It was so much easier when he could just keep going forward. Not be trapped in the past and the what if's.
Chocolate colored hair appeared in the distance and Tony stopped running. He didn't need to run, not from his mother. She stood there. Her favorite dress just as beautiful as he remembered. She was younger. Her face no longer held the pain and sadness the years of neglect Howard had forced upon her. She was healthy and vivacious. Her soft curls framing her face. If her hair was shorter the strands no longer weighed down would stick up in random way's. Tony swallowed hard. Harrison was so much like her.
"Oh, my precious Bambino. Look at you. The world has been so cruel " her voice was soft. The slight rasp that was so unique to Maria Stark. Tony who had not looked at himself to closely looked down. The bullet holes and blood was still on his chest. He looked up and his eyes watered.
" Oh mama." he rasped. his voice thick with decades of pain and grief. "Mama, I missed you so much" He ran to her open arms. She embraced him in the warmest hug he had felt in years. He sobbed like a child. Maria was silent and only rubbed his back in comfort. When the sobs ebbed away and his mind was a bit more clear he looked up. She smiled sadly.
"My love" Her voice so delicate and sad "I am so sorry you have been so alone. I would never have left you if it could have been helped ". Her hand was stroking Tony's cheek.
"It isn't like you had an option in the end" Tony said. Maria smiled sadly and nodded in agreement.
"You are right bambino I didn't. But I will always regret leaving you. Whether I had a choice or not." Her eyes reflected her pain and sorrow. Tony hugged her again.
" Everyone leaves me eventually" he wispered.
"We never left Tony". No. There was no way. Tony let go of Maria and slowly stood straight. "We were always watching you and Harrison" Tony turned. His knees gave way. The vines and flowers below his getting crushed. Lily smiled beautifully at him.
"Lily" He choked out. His throat tight. She took at step forward and the sent of roses wafted towards him. She knelt down next to him. He reached out to touch her but his hand was caught. The vines had wrapped around his arms and legs. The more he struggled the more of him was pulled into the ground.
"No!" He cried" Please I want to stay!" His body was slowly getting heavier. Lily leaned in close. Her hair tickled his cheek and his view was curtained in red. " I have always been here Tony. Always." She kissed his cheek. He sobbed louder.
" Lily! Please, don't make me be alone again! I don't want to be alone!" She pressed his forehead to hers.
" Tony, you have always had me. Harrison needs you more. He needs you Tony. He needs his Dad." Tony was waist deep in the vines.
" Harrison is dead Lily! He is gone. Sirius and Remus stole him from me!" Lily stood up. Tony's shoulder's were in the vines now.
" He isn't dead Tony. He is still alive, and he needs you. Go to him Tony. Save our baby." Tony was completely taken over by the vines. His body felt like stone and it felt like he was falling again.
