Merry Christmas if you celebrate. Happy Hannukah if that's for you. Happy Sunday to everyone 's been a tradition since I started posted stories 11 years ago that I post on Christmas Day and I'm not letting what's going on with me stop that.
This day can be overwhelming so hopefully this short reprieve from the celebrations and stress will help xxx

Chapter Ninety-Eight

"I'm going to be away next weekend," Tony said, setting down his knife and fork and taking a deep breath.

Pepper, who already knew about this, shot him a smile and looked to Peter. They were both anxious about his reaction as it was the first time he would be away from one of them for longer than a school day. After May's death, they wanted him to feel as stable as possible, and therefore Pepper had shelved extended work trips and they had taken Peter with them whenever they went elsewhere. But Tony had to go, and Peter couldn't really go with him.

Tony and the other Avengers—excepting Peter, Thor, and Bruce—were going to Wakanda for the final meeting to discuss Thanos' coming. While he could take Peter to Wakanda, and wanted to, Peter would question why he wasn't included in the meeting, and Tony wouldn't risk him finding out about what was coming. Though he'd once wanted to warn him, to hopefully ease the passage of death, Mind had forbidden it; saying it was an important step on Peter's path to being Worthy.

"Cool," Peter said, unconcerned. "Where are you going?"

"Wakanda," Tony said, biting his lip and awaiting Peter's reaction again.

Peter's eyes brightened. "Wow, that'll be so cool for you. Or will it? Do you spend a lot of time in Wakanda in the future? Because that would be awesome. Have I been there? I'd like to meet Shuri in person one day."

"You know Shuri?" Tony asked, slightly caught off-guard.

Peter grinned. "Yeah, totally. She connected with me on Tumblr, and we've been emailing for a while. She seems awesome. Crazy smart—like, really."

"You say that like you're not," Pepper said fondly.

Peter shook his head. "No, I mean, yeah, I'm not dumb, but Shuri is… Whoa!"

"Smarter than Tony?" Pepper asked, shooting Tony a teasing look.

Peter mouthed mutely for a moment, cheeks red, then said. "I think it's a different kind of smart. From what Shuri told me, Wakanda's tech is different to what we work with—like, they have an infinite supply of vibranium, and we only had a little to work with. But Tony is the smartest man I've ever met, and I've not really met Shuri, so Tony is the smartest."

Pepper laughed, and Tony reached over the table to pat Peter's hand. "Relax, Pete, it doesn't matter to me if you think Shuri's smarter than me. I'm not sure if she isn't."

Peter sagged with relief. "Awesome. Will you give her some stuff for me when you're there?"

Tony grinned. "You want to send her some of the new Spider-Man merchandise?"

Peter scoffed. "Uh… no. No one needs that. Although…" His eyes sparked. "Did you know Steve's key fob for his motorcycle is a tiny version of his shield?"

Pepper's eyes widened. "It is?"

"Yep, I saw it when I rode his bike that time. I thought it was kinda cheesy to have your own merchandise."

Tony scoffed and said, "Yeah, cheesy," but Pepper laughed and said, "Don't listen to him, Pete. Back in the day, Tony was all about his merchandise."

Tony groaned. "C'mon, Pep, he doesn't need to hear about that."

Pepper held up a hand to him. "In his Malibu house, his lab was a shrine to Iron Man. He even replaced a Barnett Newman with a picture of him."

"Oh, well I have no idea who Barnett Newman is," Peter said. "But it still sounds kinda…" Tony raised an eyebrow and Peter winked at him. "It still sounds kinda lame."

"That's one word for it," Pepper said.

"In my defense, I was dying," Tony said. "I can't be held responsible for my impulse control issues."

Peter's mouth dropped open. "You were dying!"

Tony realized his mistake and felt a well of shame. "I was, but it was years ago, and I'm totally fine now. You know how I created a new element, right?" Peter nodded. "That's because the palladium was poisoning me. But I fixed it."

Peter visibly relaxed. "I get why that wasn't on the news. I thought you just invented the element when you were… tweaking the settings."

"Nope, it was a masterful moment of creation which was done, in large part, thanks to some stuff my dad left me."

Peter nodded and said, "Oh, cool," then went back to eating his dinner.

"What do you want to send to Shuri?" Pepper asked.

"Oh, yeah. My web fluid. I've told her the formula, and she's having trouble getting it just right." He grinned, obviously pleased to have created something that Shuri couldn't replicate. "She's curious, so I can send her some to look at."

"No problem," Tony said. "I'll get that to her."

Peter smiled then said, "Oh, I'll be away next weekend, too."

"You will?" Tony asked.

"Yeah, I meant to tell you, but with the whole patrol and then dinner then Wakanda and Shuri thing I forgot. They've moved the date of Decathlon Nationals to next Saturday. We'll drive to DC Friday and compete Saturday, come home Sunday. If that's okay with you, obviously."

"It's fine," Pepper said.

Tony's face fell. "I don't want to miss that. I'll reschedule Wakanda."

"You can't," Pepper reminded him. "Everyone is coming for that date."

Tony sighed. "I could miss it. Steve, Natasha, and Bucky know everything I know."

"No," Peter said. "You shouldn't miss it if it's important. They're going to stream the meet online, so maybe you can watch it between meetings or something. Besides, I'm probably going to crash and burn. I missed so many practice sessions with"—he waved a hand —"everything. But MJ is insisting I go anyway, even though Flash might actually be a better choice."

"You and I both know that's not true," Pepper said. "You're the best on the team."

Peter shook his head and mumbled, "Really not."

"And…" she went on. "I'll come and we can make a trip of it. Your break starts Monday, right?" Peter nodded. "So we can stay in DC for a few days to explore. Tony can join us when he gets home from Wakanda."

Cheered, Tony said, "Yeah, we can make a real vacation of it."

Peter grinned. "Yeah, I'd love that. I've never seen DC before. I missed the meet last time after I… you know… blew up a classroom."

Tony laughed. "And the time before that—my time before anyway—you accidentally blew up an elevator in the Washington Monument and Spider-Man had to rescue your classmates."

Peter blinked. "How did I do that?"

"Glowy power core went through an x-ray in Ned's backpack and blew."

"Wow," Peter said. "That could have been way worse than the classroom."

"It could," Tony conceded. "But you saved them all, and impressed Liz, according to Karen."

"Still, wow," Peter said, then grinned. "I won't blow anything up this time."

Pepper smiled fondly. "I'd appreciate that. We can have a fun and relaxing trip and do some exploring."

"Cool," Peter said. "That sounds great."

Pepper smiled, but Tony still felt a little disappointed that he was going to miss Peter's big day. Still, with the time difference, he figured he could get the meeting done and then he and the team could watch the stream together. They'd all enjoy that.

If it wasn't so important, he would have cancelled. But they needed to have this meeting with as many of those that would fight as could be reached.

It was only a matter of weeks until the world ended.

T'Challa met them on at the palace doors, smile in place and Shuri at his side. "Welcome back to Wakanda," he said.

"Yeah, welcome, did you bring something for me?" Shuri asked.

Tony laughed and lifted the bag in his hand. "I've got web fluid and web shooters. Peter sent the web fluid, but I though it would be good to see if you've got any ideas for the web shooters."

Shuri grinned. "And so I could see what you're capable of at the same time?"

"Shuri," T'Challa sighed.

"No, she's right," Tony said. "I also wanted to see if you could improve upon them."

"Maybe," Shuri said. "But Peter is already thoroughly impressed by what you've made for him."

"We improved on them together," Tony said.

Shuri nodded. "One day I am going to have him in my lab to see what he's capable of. Both versions. Rainbow-Peter didn't hang around long enough for me to have much fun, and Real-Time Peter is being modest, I think."

Steve chuckled. "I don't doubt it. Queens is modest to a fault."

"Which is crazy when you see what he's capable of," Bucky added. "Both then and now."

T'Challa nodded and smiled, then redirected them. "Stephen Strange has arrived already with his own unique form of transport, and Carol Danvers… flew in… but we're still waiting on Peter Quill and his people."

"He'll want to make a statement with his arrival," Tony said. "Those Guardians are… And Power is…"

"Peter told me you don't like him," Shuri said.

"For good reason," Bucky said gruffly.

Shuri's watch beeped, and she glanced at it and said, "A ship just passed through our protections. I'll assume that's them."

Tony looked up at the sky and saw the large ship looming down on them. When he squinted, he saw Nebula and Quill at the controls. "That's them."

The Benatar landed beside the Quinjet, and Quill was first off, followed by Gamora, Groot, Drax, Mantis, and Rocket."

There were indrawn breaths from those of them that had not met the unusual collection of the Guardians before, and Rhodey muttered, "I know you said racoon, but I didn't think you actually meant racoon."

"Welcome to Wakanda," T'Challa said, spreading his arms. "Thank you for coming."

"Yeah, you should thank us," Quill said. "I still don't really understand what we're doing here, but I know already it sucks. Because Terra sucks."

"I am Groot."

"Exactly," Quill said. "So what do you assholes want?"

"Power," Bucky said bitterly and then smiled, a distant look in his eyes.

"Queens?" Steve guessed.

Bucky nodded. "He's pleased they're here."

Tony smiled. Any and all news of his son was good to hear, especially now they couldn't see him, even though he had to get it by proxy of Bucky, when what he wanted more than anything was to talk to him himself.

"He gets to be pleased," Natasha muttered. "He's not here."

"I am Groot,"

T'Challa raised an eyebrow and said, "Um, yes, would you like to come in?"

"Sure," Quill said, brushing past him and entering the palace, and then stopping just inside the doors.

"Left," Shuri called, and Quill strode away, the rest of his team following.

Tony looked at Nebula, feeling the disparity between her now and as he would know her in the future. While she was never what he would call close, there had been a bond there. Now, he was a stranger to her.

However, now was not the time to worry about making friends; they had more important things to do, like plan for Thanos.

Strange was on his feet when they reached the conference room, and Carol Danvers was sitting on the table, wearing her strange flight-suit again.

Quill strode forward and took a seat at the head of the table, Gamora and Drax on his left, and Mantis, Rocket, and Groot on his right.

T'Challa didn't seem at all bothered by the presumption; in fact, he smiled graciously and took a seat at the opposite end of the table. Carol moved to a chair, and the others all took their places, leaving their bags in the corner.

Tony was seated between Steve and Natasha, and Bucky was opposite. The fact Bucky was smiling made Tony think Peter was communicating with him again.

"So, we're here," Quill said. "Why?"

Steve looked to Tony with a raised eyebrow and said, "Shall I?" Tony nodded and held out a hand to gesture him on, and Steve said, "Okay, we need to speak to you all because in a matter of weeks, we're going to be at war…"

As Steve finished his tale of the future, he looked around and saw the looks of worry on his team, the doubt on Carol's, and the outright annoyance in Quill's.

"So, you're telling me, my girl is going to die and there's nothing you can do about it?" he asked.

"Essentially, yes," Natasha said. "But she's got a chance of coming back."

Gamora nodded, but her attention was on Quill. "Your girl?"

"Seriously, that's what you want to talk about now?" he asked. "Bigger fish, Gamora."

"She is going to die, and so am I, but if we win—"

"Which we will," Tony interjected.

She nodded and corrected. "When they win, Peter will bring us back."

"I am Groot."

"Exactly," Rocket said. "I smell bullshit, too."

"Why would we lie about this?" Bucky asked.

"Maybe because you think it's funny, maybe because you're all so full of your Super-Avenger-Hero business that you believe this is actually true because some magic kid sent you back to save him."

"His name is Peter," Bucky snapped. "And he did send us back. How else would we know about Thanos?"

Quill opened his mouth to argue, but Gamora spoke up. "I believe them. I know Thanos." She looked to Nebula. "We know Thanos. This has been his plan from the beginning. This is what he does. He's moved on from single planets at a time, and now he can do it all in one swipe."

"Okay, maybe they're telling the truth," Quill conceded. "But that doesn't mean we have to play along. Thanos needs to kill you to get one of the glow rocks, so we stop him doing that. Problem solved. Gamora doesn't die, we don't die, and the universe doesn't die."

"I like this plan," Carol said.

"It doesn't work like that," Steve said patiently. "Thanos' Snap is locked in time. Bruce's Snap is locked in time. And Queens' is, too. We can't change that."

"Back us up, Strange," Tony said. "You've got to have seen this. Even if you didn't, the Ancient One warned you."

Strange nodded slowly. "She did tell me about you, and she warned me of what was coming. But… if there are millions of possible futures, what makes you think you know the right one?"

"Because we've lived it!" Tony snapped.

"But we have some control, don't we?" T'Challa asked. "I've thought about it since I first heard your tale, and I don't see why we can't change some of it."

"We can't," Tony said, exasperated. "The Snaps are going to happen!"

"Yes," T'Challa said patiently. "But can't we stop other things coming to pass? There is going to be a battle here in Wakanda as Thanos' forces come for the Mind Stone, but do we have fight? If there is no way to change the disaster coming for the world, can't we stop some of the carnage that comes before?"

"How?" Steve asked warily.

Shuri scoffed. "By giving them the Stone they want."

"One problem," Sam said. "The Stone is in Vision's head. It's kinda what makes him-him."

"Not true," Steve said. "He doesn't have The Stone in 2023, and he's different, but he's still Vis."

Wanda gasped. "You can save him?"

Vision took her hand in his, eyes contemplative, and then they turned yellow and he dropped her hand. "This is possible."

"Wait!" Tony gasped. "You're here! Does that mean Pete unlocked the timeline? Is he coming, too?"

"No," Mind said. "But I was never here through Time. I was here through the Stone. I just had nothing to say before now."

"Will it work?" Steve asked, then looked to Bucky to see what Peter thought; he was smiling widely, a light in his eyes that they only saw rarely and usually in relation to Peter.

"It could," Bucky said, looking at Mind. "Right?"

Mind frowned. "You already heard it from Peter himself. But I can confirm; it is possible."

"Can you look Strange?" Tony asked.

Strange frowned, but lifted the pendant from his chest, moved a hand over it, and the green Time Stone was revealed. Steve stared at it, wondering at the physical representation of that sheer power and knowledge—both of which Peter possessed in 2023.

Strange closed his eyes and the room fell silent as they watched. Steve noticed Quill looked amused, and Gamora cautious. Tony and the rest of their family looked eager.

After a long time, Strange opened his eyes again and said, "It is possible. I can see a variety of ways it could go wrong, but also ways in which it might work. However…" He looked to Tony. "I do not anticipate the future you expect. I see you with the Stones, I see Thanos with the Stones, I see millions of other possible futures, but in only one of them do I see the child with the eyes you expect."

Steve felt his heart sink at the thought it was one future in millions, but Tony waved a hand and said, "Time is obviously messing with you. Or it's not as connected as it thinks. Peter is going to live."

Strange gave him an odd look and then closed the pendant over the Stones and said, "If you say so."

"No!" Tony said forcefully. "It is fact! Last time you didn't even see a single future of Peter and the Stones. There's one and that's the one we're getting." He turned to Bucky. "Back me up?"

Bucky sighed. "There is some risk," he said, as though the words cost him something, and Steve knew he was repeating what Peter was saying to him, then he went on, and Steve knew it was Bucky. "I know he's going to live, though."

Strange shrugged. "I already said what I had to say."

"Time sees many options," Mind said enigmatically. "As The Stone Bearer says, there are millions of futures."

"If there are millions of futures, what else can we do?" T'Challa said. "Thanos' forces came to New York and Wakanda, causing untold damage. Can we isolate the danger?"

"By all gathering in one place?" Strange scoffed. "We might as well hand over the planet ourselves."

"We don't have a choice," Tony said. "We've told you—Thanos will win the first battle and lose the second."

"I will not come here and wait for Thanos to take the Stone from me," Strange said.

Bucky frowned and said, "But you're going to hand over the Stone."

Strange didn't answer directly Instead, he said, "Millions of futures all leading from the smallest change."

Tony glared at him. "We are going to hand over the Stones. Understand?"

Strange nodded and rose to his feet. "With that agreed, I am going to take my leave. I will see you in in time."

He waved his hands and stepped through the portal that appeared. When it had closed behind him, Sam said, "He's going to be a problem."

"He is," Clint agreed. "Look, if I thought I could save my wife and kids by fighting, I'd do it, if I thought I could save Nat's life, but if Peter is telling us that's how it's got to be, I say we fight that battles we can win. We save Vis."

"Handing over the Stones," Okoye said.

"It's the only way to save as many lives as possible," T'Challa said.

"It's the only way," Carol said. "We're going to lose half the universe anyway, so we should save as many as we can. I agree we should hand them over. Do I have a part in all this?"

"Not until after," Steve said. "But things will be different this time. If we're handing over the Stones, you won't need to be on Titan with Queens, Tony."

Tony's eyes widened. "Yes! We… he doesn't have to …" He took a deep breath. "Me and Pep can be with him. That's how it should be."

"We're in agreement," T'Challa said then turned to his sister. "Shuri, how long will you need to remove the Stone?"

Shuri blew out a breath. "I'd need to get a proper look at it, analyze it, but not long." She forced a smile. "I am that good."

"You are," Bucky agreed with a smile.

Shuri grinned. "According to Captain America, I almost did before. Give me time and space, I can do it."

Steve breathed a sigh of relief. He'd not considered that they might be able to save Vision. That would be amazing for Wanda, and for them all. Vision was part of their family now. If they could get the Stone out of him, hand it over to Thanos—though the very idea of handing him the tool to destroy the universe made his hands shake with anger—they didn't need to lose Vision.

There was nothing they could do to save Natasha, as her death was the only way to get the Soul Stone, but Peter would bring her back.

"We can't do it too soon, though," Bucky said, the look in his eyes, again, making Steve sure it was Peter talking. "If Thanos knew the Stone was available, he'd come. We need to time it right."

"Okay," Tony said. "A day before? The day of?"

Bucky frowned and glanced at Mind. "Early the day of?"

Mind nodded. "That's best."

Quil threw up his hands. "Yeah, this is interesting and all, and I'm glad you get to keep your buddy, whatever, but Thanos is not winning this. He needs to sacrifice Gamora to get one of the rocks, right? Well, he's not killing Gamora. I've already solved this for you. No one dies, no one comes back, there's no big battle—so your kid gets to live."

Steve sighed. He wished it was that easy, but he knew it wasn't.

Before anyone could speak, though, Tony's watch beeped and Friday spoke from it. "Boss, Peter has just summoned the Iron Spider suit to DC."

Tony jumped to his feet, face draining of color. "What? Why? What's happening?"

Shuri took a phone from her pocket and tapped at the screen. A hologram spread from it, and a state of organized chaos met Steve's eyes. It was the exterior of the Capitol Building, police surrounding it and helicopters flying overhead. Shuri tapped the phone again and audio came through.

"This is live coverage of the situation outside the Capitol Building. Reports say Secret Service Agents have declared a state of emergency within. Rogue agents have taken control and barricaded themselves inside with the full assembly. I repeat, the elected of the US government, including the President, are being held hostage inside the building."

"Holy shit," Rhodey said quietly. "This could be a disaster."

"Screw them," Bucky said fiercely, eyes distant. "Peter is on his way in there!"

Tony made a sound of pain and ran from the room. Steve was on his feet and following him.

He had no idea what exactly was happening in DC, what Peter was about to go into, but he was very aware they were seven thousand miles away.

Peter was alone. Again.

So… A little bit of action. I know a cliffhanger is a crappy gift to give today, and I'm sorry. I'll do my best to update again soon. I think what's coming is worth the wait, though.

Until next time…

Jadey xxx