On the day after Tony's return from Wakanda, Pepper and Tony sit on the porch of their cabin. Morgan is seated on Tony's lap, inspecting his new arm, when Pepper states casually, "I've invited some friends over for dinner tomorrow, to celebrate your 'rebirth.'"
Grinning, he wiggles his fingers and lays his artificial hand into the tiny one of his daughter, who starts palpate it in awe.
"Oh, nice. Who did you invite?"
"The usual... Rhodey, Peter and May, Happy... Strange and Wong."
He looks up. "Why Strange and Wong?"
"Why not? They saved your life."
"But Strange–"
"There was no other way."
"Yeah, he says that, but I don't believe it."
"I don't need to believe; I know it's true." She looks down at her hands. "He showed me – that was an accident and he didn't mean to – but I've seen those fourteen million possible outcomes. This was the only way."
"So, you're saying I should give him a chance?"
"Yes, he deserves it. Also, I'm absolutely sure that you'll like Stephen once you get to know him better."
With his most adorable smile, he leans in and kisses her. "I'm not convinced, but I trust you."
-–-
To Tony's surprise, it turns out she was right. The evening has been delightful so far, and somehow Tony had ended up chatting alone with Stephen, while Wong entertains the others with a magic trick. Something with fireworks or whatnot, Tony hadn't paid attention.
"So, a new arm. Impressive!" says Stephen in an awkward attempt to make small talk.
"Yeah, but it's just an interim solution. The fine motor skills of the thing are garbage! It's more constructed for punching things very hard. Makes you appreciate what you had before."
Stephen holds up his shaking hands. "You tell me."
"You seem to get through life without problems. What's your secret?"
"Magic."
"Nah, that won't do for me, thanks. Any other tips?" He takes a sip of his coke.
"No buttons, no shoelaces, no zippers! Velcro is your friend."
"That's profound, thank you, Doc."
Stephen shrugs. "You asked."
They stare at each other deadly serious before they're bursting into laughter.
"Daddy, daddy, daddy! I want to learn magic, too!" Morgan runs to them and crawls into Tony's lap. "Wong can make fireworks with his hands and flowers made of fire, and I want to learn that, too."
"I don't know if the sorcerers have enough time to teach you," Tony remarks.
Stephen objects. "Kamar-Taj is always taking recruits."
"Yes, but I'm certain you have a minimum age for your recruits, right?"
It takes a second before Stephen gets what Tony wants from him. "Oh, yes, of course. First, you have to finish high school. Sorry, Morgan." He pats her shoulder. "But then you are free to join us if you still want it."
"Great! I'm gonna tell mom!" Fast like a rabbit, she hops from her father's legs and runs to the others.
"That was quick thinking and an excellent lie," compliments Tony.
"That wasn't a lie. Morgan will be very welcome at Kamar-Taj once she's old enough. I firmly believe you Starks have what it takes to be great sorcerers, even you."
"I'm unsure about that. I am a man of science."
"So was I. Once you made the first step and accepted magic as real, the mystic arts are just like any other subject you can study. All it takes is dedication and time to practice."
"I'll never be as good as you."
"Tony, nobody expects that. I have thousands of years of experience."
Tony gapes at him. "My god, how old are you?"
"That's complicated. I was born in 1976, but I have lived for more than ten thousand years. ...or something along the line. Frankly, I lost count."
"How?"
"Time stone."
"Okay, apparently, I wasn't making myself clear enough, so let me rephrase my question: How?"
With a shrug Stephen starts to explain, "You live some time, something happens. You use the stone to reverse time, you do it all over again, but this time you do it differently. In the end, you are the only one who remembers the things that never happened."
"This is how you 'looked' into the future?"
The doctor nods.
"...and it still works if you die in one of the loops?"
Another nod.
"How often did you die, Doc?"
"Millions of times."
Tony stares at him. The look in his eyes is unreadable, but eventually, he gets up, opens a cabinet next to their armchairs, and pours two drinks. As he sits down again, he hands one to Stephen. With one big gulp, Tony empties his glass, while the doctor watches him slightly amused.
"Listen, Doc. My expertise for dying is somewhat limited, given that I was only once nearly really dead, but how in the world did you manage not to go completely insane?"
In a casual tone of voice, Stephen answers, "After the first couple of thousand deaths, you get used to it."
"Is this your way of telling me you don't wanna talk about it?"
"Yes. Maybe that is what it is."
The rest of the night, Tony tries to stay off critical topics, so he starts talking about music and finds himself fascinated by the encyclopedic knowledge the doctor has on the subject.
-–-
In the following weeks, Stephen Strange becomes a regular guest in the home of the Starks. In the beginning, they invite him alongside others – movie night with Peter, barbecue with Happy and Wong – but one day, five months after Tony's 'resurrection', they ask Stephen for the first time to come over alone.
It's a pleasant evening with fondue and Tony's special homemade berry ice cream afterward. The engineer had turned out to be a great cook, which surprised nobody more than himself.
"That's better than 'Stark Raving Hazelnuts,' right?" Tony asks proudly.
"Yes, it is, indeed!" replies Stephen, smiling into his dessert.
"I picked the berries from our garden," Morgan added equally proudly.
"They were perfect, honey!" Pepper agrees.
After finishing her dessert, Morgan starts getting fidgety. "Can I go now and play with Cloakie?"
Everyone looks at Stephen, but he holds his hands defensively in the air. "Ask Cloakie. I don't decide on its behalf."
But that isn't necessary: the Cloak swoops down to Morgan's shoulders and lifts the squealing girl into the air. Together, they float over to the sofa.
After Stephen helped Pepper with the dishes, they return to the living room, where Tony and Morgan ride Cloakie like a magic carpet.
Stephen starts laughing. "Look at this millennia-old magical artifact, all sublime and powerful."
Pepper takes his hand and puts her head on his shoulder. "It seems to have fun. How about you?"
It takes him a moment until he answers. "Yes, thank you."
They sit down and talk. After a while, Tony joins them.
When it's time for Morgan to go to bed, she begs, "Can Stephen read me a story, please?"
"Why do you want Stephen?" Tony asks, sounding a bit hurt. Usually, it is his part to bring her to bed. "What's wrong with me reading?"
"He can do better voices," the little girl explains.
"Does he?" Tony inquires.
"Yes! It is like he is fifty different people!"
"In this case, he should read to you," Tony affirms, nodding.
That catches the sorcerer off guard. "I'm not sure that would be appropriate."
"Then why don't you do it together?" Pepper suggests.
Tony's smile would be able to eclipse the sun.
In the end, the two of them perform a dramatic reading of "Winnie the Pooh" the likes of which the world has never seen.
Pepper watches them from the door of Morgan's bedroom, thinking she could get used to this.