Gradually, Pepper's nightmares become less frequent. The more time passes, the more the wretched feeling she could lose Tony at any moment fades. It never disappears, but when she sits in the living room of their home with him at her side, surrounded by family and friends, she almost feels like she did before the battle at the Avengers Compound.

Now, on the first anniversary of their victory against Thanos, they celebrate the fact that Tony Stark is alive, and the universe isn't destroyed.

Everyone is there in the big hall of the newly rebuild Avengers Compound: the New Avengers, the surviving members of the original Avengers, a delegation from Wakanda, high ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, several reporters and camera teams of news stations from all around the world, celebrities, wealthy industrialists and businessmen, even some senators and the President of the United States himself.

... and in the middle of all this hustle and bustle is Tony Stark, bright like a star, dressed to the nines, a drink in his hand, casually chatting with the most influential people of the country.

Stephen stands at the bar with Pepper and watches him from a distance. Annoyed, he tugs at his uncomfortably constricting bow tie. Hard to believe that there had been times when he had enjoyed gatherings like this. "Look at him. He is born for this, right?"

Pepper nods, her eyes firmly on Tony.

"How is he?"

"He is better than ever. I think he was as ready to die as one can be. That he is still alive, is an added bonus for him."

"Good to hear." He turns toward her. "And how are you?"

She smiles at him. "Getting better. Still not there, but definitely getting better."

"Good."

"What about you, Stephen?"

"It is not easy to settle back into this old life after nearly seven millennia, but you are a tremendous help."

"You're welcome." She puts her arm around his waist and pulls him closer. When he lays his arm around her shoulder in return, it feels natural.

Grinning like idiots, they look over to Tony, who just spotted them in the crowd.

He waves at them, excuses himself to the person he is talking to and strolls towards them with a big, shining smile.

"Well, if that ain't my two favorite people in this room," he says, but after a moment he adds, "Don't tell Rhodey!"

"I think I saw him leave with Danvers half an hour ago, so you're probably safe," Stephen tells him.

Tony beams at him and starts to adjust the doctor's tie. "You look absolutely stunning, Doc."

Stephen takes Tony's hands and pulls them gently away from the tie.

Surprised, how real Tony's new arm feels, he strokes it. Tonight is the first time Stephen sees this particular model, that indeed looks and feels like a genuine human limb. Only the blue glow of the miniature arc reactor on the back of Tony's hand gives its artificialness away.

"Mr. Stark... are you flirting with me?" Stephen's voice drops extra deep. "In front of your wife?"

"Says the man who stands here hugging my wife in front of the whole world."

"Hey! The wife would prefer it if you two idiots stopped talking about her like she's a piece of furniture!" says Pepper and slaps Tony's chest playfully.

Stephen lets go of Tony's left arm, but he keeps inspecting the right one.

"Tony, that feels incredibly real – the skin texture, the temperature – it even has a pulse!"

"Do you wanna know the best thing about it, Doc?"

Questioning, Stephen glances at him.

"For me, it feels real, too!"

"You have sensations? In an artificial arm?" Stephen asks excitedly.

"Yep." Tony ghosts with the tips of his fingers over the scars on Stephen's hands. "Bit different from the natural one, but I think I will get used to it."

"I'm very happy for you. You have to tell me how it works – I want to know everything about how you were able to integrate the sensory output of it into your neural system and how you were able to bypass the damaged nerves in your shoulder and... what?"

Tony has started laughing. "Nothing, I enjoy your enthusiasm."

"Well, it's my thing, you know – how did you phrase it? Neuro stuff meets rabbit from the hat? And in this case, the neuro stuff is groundbreakingly exciting."

"Yes. Think about how many people we can help once we go into serial production!"

Only now Stephen realizes he is still holding Tony's hand and drops it hastily.

Pepper says nothing. She just smiles this odd little smile that Stephen doesn't know how to interpret.

"Change of subject; Do you have any plans on Saturday, Doc?"

"I don't know. I guess I don't have any plans?"

"Great! Then you have now. You're coming to us then, 'cause I'm gonna celebrate my first rebirthday."

"Rebirthday?"

Pepper shrugs and looks at Tony. "Told you that sounds stupid."

Tony ignores her. "I'm entitled to celebrate the day I returned from being nearly dead. If Jesus is allowed to do that, so am I."

"You're comparing yourself to Jesus now?"

"I may not be the son of god, but to be fair, I saved the whole universe!"

Stephen rolls his eyes, but he replies grinning, "How can I argue with that?"

"You can't. Now tell me you'll be there."