Hi friends. Hope your holidays went well!

Snow fell off of her boots and onto the welcome mat below her. The cold twisted through the air blowing tendrils of snow through her hair. She stood on the front porch of the house, her hand rested on the handle posed to turn it. The wood looked the same as it stretched out in her memory. There was a small section she could see from her station at the door that was replaced with a slightly different type of wood. It was something lighter than the rest but besides that spot everything looked the same. The drive was the same as always, too. She knew the forest was vastly different from the forest of her childhood but to her it looked the same as it always was all covered in a blanket of snow.

Now standing in front of the door, she saw no difference in the grains of the wood and handle besides the one spot. There was something in the out of place wood that made her stomach knot. Her eyes kept returning to the place where the wood changed colors. It boded ill in the sea of sameness from everything else. Morgan wasn't sure why but she shivered at the sight of it.

"Are you going to stand in this freezing weather all night?" She turned to see Alex walking up the steps with the rest of their bags in hand. There was a red tinge to his cheeks and a small flare of jealously hit her when she saw his long lashes catching the snowflakes falling around them. Morgan forced a smile on her face.

"I was just waiting." She said and his raised eyebrows. "Well, I was. You know how my mom gets. Once you're here it's hard to take a moment for yourself."

He laughed and reached around her to ring the bell. Immediately they heard a clattering of people coming toward them.

It was supposed to be the happiest time of year. At least that's what people said, but from Morgan's experience it was also the hardest time of year. All the people you saw only once a year were there. Memories were there.

Morgan loved Christmas growing up. She loved all the lights, and cookies, and Santa. Everything was magical at this time of year. It wasn't just snow covering the ground, but something more. Something that transformed the snow into snowmen and forts to play in. The trees were lush, green, and the few birds that dared to wander near the feeders looked all the more exotic against the white backdrop.

Coming home at almost thirty she felt a wisp of the excitement she had when she was a kid. Its tendrils curled loose in her stomach, soothing a part of the anxiousness that followed her when preparing for the visit. That anxious knot tainted the child-like excitement. Today the snow was a nuisance to drive through, slowing traffic and causing accidents, and the bird feeders in the back were all empty.

Morgan glanced up when the door swung open. Happy's face greeted her and a small smile graced his face when he spotted them.

"Hi, Kid." He said and opened the door further so she could enter her home. She entered the front hallway and before taking off her coat, leaned in to give the man a hug and kiss on the cheek.

"Merry Christmas, Happy."

He mumbled something particularly Grinch-like under his breath and she patted him on the shoulder before wandering further down the hall. She could hear Alex and Happy talking to one another and let them get on by themselves.

The first time she brought Alex home to meet the family was stressful to say the least. Her whole family sat him down at the end of the table and launched into a full-blown interrogation. It seemed to go on forever and Morgan was past embarrassed and far into anger by the time they deemed him properly vetted.

She tried to prepare Alex as best she could but, as Happy was one of the ones who took it the hardest, he took his role as bodyguard seriously still. He didn't like the fact that she was dating, even though it was their sixth year together and she was an adult. They met when she was starting grad school and were dating ever since then much to Happy's consternation. Being the easy-going person he was Alex took the whole thing in stride and laughed about it. He was always a good sport and understood that her family was not the most traditional.

The farther away she moved from the two men in the hallway the closer she got to the sounds and smells in the kitchen. She saw her mom first. Pepper Potts was beautiful and tonight she glowed in a black dress holding a wine glass and laughing at something said. Morgan smiled to herself at the way her mom's warmth infected the room and people in it.

The kitchen was full of food and people mingling about. She knew almost everyone but she didn't want to interrupt and scooted along the wall to set down the dishes Alex's made.

"Hi, Little Miss." Rhodey was the first to notice her and she immediately went to give him a hug.

"Merry Christmas, Honey bear. How are you doing?" A brief grimace washed along his face at the old nickname but he smiled when they met eyes.

"Oh, you know me. Always doing something."

"Is that code for if you tell me you'll have to kill me?"

"It's code for if I tell you, you'll end up falling asleep." Morgan laughed and squeezed his arm. She noticed his walking was not as confident and felt her stomach coil in worry.

"As long as you're staying out of trouble." He had the audacity to look offended and a laugh bubbled up from the back of her throat.

"Morguna, is that you?" Morgan turned around to see her mom coming toward her. Pepper's smile beamed out at Morgan from behind the counter. They squealed and rushed around, pushing past the people to hug each other properly.

"Hi, Mommy. Merry Christmas."

"I'm so glad you could make it, Sweetie. I know it was busy meeting with Alex's family first but I'm so glad I could have you for this week." Her mom clasped her arms around Morgan's shoulders and observed the dark circle's she knew were under her eyes. "You need to rest more." She said before turning back to the stove. "I swear you get more like your father every day. Always working too much."

Morgan ignored her mom knowing there was nothing she could say to change her mind. She knew the rest of the week would be spent with her mom sending her to bed early and trying to feed her the most classic comfort foods like she was six again. She sighed and started helping her take pots to the table.

"And if it isn't Alexander Stansberry. It's good to see you. Oh, and you brought my favorite wine. How thoughtful." Morgan looked up just in time to see her mom and Alex hug.

Morgan was nervous the first time the two met, but it turned out they got along great. Even better than her and Alex sometimes. Morgan could hear him asking her mom for the millionth time to just call him Alex and her mom, like always, said she would before calling him Alexander again. Morgan suppressed a giggle and went to the dinner table.

Before long they were seated at a full table, stuffed to the brim with people and food. It was pleasant sitting there and listening to everybody talk. Rhodey was explaining some new parts of his job and difficulties working with the new younger people. Bruce made sure to remind him about his age often enough through the conversation. On the other end there was her mom trying to talk down Happy and his new security measures for the house. Morgan sat in the middle, drinking a glass of wine and feeling her heart heal from the holiday cheer in the room.

"You cheated, Stansberry. I saw you." Happy said from across the table eyeing the cards in Alex's hands.

"I did no such thing. You're just a crap black jack player."

A round of ohs followed his statement and Happy mumbled profanities under his breath. Morgan was watching the game and decided she would go see who needed help cleaning up in the kitchen. It was empty and she went over to begin washing them. About halfway through Rhodey came over to dry the dishes. The sounds of the game filtered in over the sink's water turning on and off. She finished up with the washing and turned her hip against the counter staring at the man she'd known her whole life.

"I'm sorry I haven't visited sooner. Work has been really busy lately and, jeez, I sound so annoying. It's not an excuse." She said. He paused a moment before finishing with the plate in his hand and setting it down.

"I get it, don't worry about your old uncle. This time of year's hard as you know. It's always good to see your mom and you."

"If you ever go anywhere else for the holidays I know mom will personally kidnap you. I may or may not help her, too."

He laughed and put his hands up.

"Don't I know it. Pepper already told me about the same thing earlier. I wouldn't leave you guys, don't worry Little Miss." She grasped his wrist, stifling the pressure in the back of her throat. "He would be so proud of everything you're doing. I read that article in the Atlantic about what you're doing. That's big stuff and I know Tony is watching the whole thing with that devilish smile he had."

Something warm settled over her hand and she grasped the fingers tight. Morgan pressed her hip further into the cabinet. All the sudden the walls of the kitchen were too small, too closed in.

"There's nothing I wouldn't do to get him back."

"I know, Morgan. Same with me."

His arms wrapped around her shoulder and Morgan hugged her uncle. She sniffled into the soft fabric of his t-shirt and felt bad she was most likely ruining it with her snot.

"I'm sorry." She pulled back and gave him a watery smile. His hands came up to brush her cheeks dry.

"Hey now. There's nothing to be sorry about. This time of years about crying as much as laughing."

His own eyes were wet and after another hug the two cleared their throats. Happy called in from the other room, waiting to begin the next round. He turned around to ask if she wanted to join but Morgan declined. Instead she finished wiping the counters, swiped a cookie off of the table, and went to go find her mom. The kitchen felt too big without Rhodey there with her.

"Mom?" She called from down the stairs but heard nothing. After the bathroom Morgan checked her mom's bedroom. The various pictures stood on the lining the tall dresser in the front of the room. There was the three of them when she was really young and the rest were of the two of them through different parts of her life. Looking at the photos Morgan realized where her mom was.

The door to her dad's office was open a crack, through which she could see her mom sitting on one of the chairs. Her hair cascaded down her back and not for the first time Morgan wished she had the same strawberry blonde locks.

"I'm hoping if you play this back… It's in celebration."

Morgan stiffened and leaned against the wall outside of the door. Her eyes stared down the hallway at the Christmas lights and away from the back of her mom's head. Why would she watch that today of all days?

After that first night of college she'd thrown the mask in one of her suitcases to be pushed to the back of her closet. Never in her five years there had she looked at it again. Her mom found it when they were moving her out of the last apartment. With a queer look on her face she insisted she take it home with her. Morgan was more than happy to let the speech fade into the recesses of her memory. Every time his words popped into her mind the same heat would overcome her. Anger coursed through her and Morgan would have to distract herself.

His voice was softer than she remembered. For someone who was facing uncertain death it would be reasonable to be grave, to shed any number of tears, but he was hopeful. Morgan knew her dad. He was always goofing around usually to make people feel better. He went out of his way to help if someone was hurting no matter how hard it was for him and this was no different.

"So, I found a private area to record a little greeting in case of an untimely death on my part. Not that death at any time is ever timely."

Morgan fisted her hand in the entrance of her mouth in hopes of blocking out her sob. Her back slid down the wall until she hit the floor. The tile was cool against her back but she didn't dare move. Her father continued to speak. This time he spoke directly to her mom. She swore her heart broke when she heard another, higher sound from the room.

Her mom's grief had always been so quiet, so dignified. It angered her when she was younger. She didn't understand at first that it was as difficult, if not more, for her mom. Morgan could hear the muffled thumps of something hitting a cushion. The cries tore into her and were so at odds with all the Christmas decorations she was sure her mom spent weeks planning.

Morgan tilted her head up, closing her eyes. She would give anything to see her father in the flesh one last time. To feel his strong arms lifting her up and letting her soar through the sky. She wished he could be upstairs playing cards at the table with their family. There wasn't anything she wouldn't do or give to see him again.

"Please, please, please." She whispered into her hand repeatedly trying to drown out the sounds coming from his office.

It was cruel her mom was alone for the Holiday. She shouldn't have to beg her own daughter to leave work and come home at Christmas time. Not for the first time did Morgan wish there was something she could do to give her mom happiness. To restore everything taken from her.

The whole of humanity got their individual worlds back. Families were reunited. Sons and daughters were brought back to their parents. People's lives started with universities and libraries full again. Weddings and birthdays seemed to happen every day. She couldn't keep track of the amount of baby announcements she had received.

Yet her mom was left with nothing. Pepper had no say in whether or not her family was whole. It was him or the world and he knew his choice. At times she wondered if there was really any choice given the circumstances.

"I love you 3000."

Morgan felt awkward listening in on his declaration of love, because for the first time she realized that her father wasn't just talking to her. He was speaking to her mom; to their love.

Her hands clasped together in front of her. Her fingers mashed together, white knuckles pressed tightly against her forehead in a desperate plea. She ignored the laughter coming from upstairs. She ignored her mom and the pain she could still hear from beyond the room.

Morgan closed her eyes. Her breath was hot on her hands and even though they ached she held them tighter and tighter hoping the pain would be some kind of payment for her wish. Never in the twenty-four years since they set flowers floating down the lake had she stopped hoping.

The hope that he would still walk through that door. The hope Pepper Potts's husband would be able to kiss her once more. And the hope that her dad would hug her again.

"Please…"

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