A/N: I'm so sorry it took so long for me to update! I don't know why, but it took me three days to write this, even though I can usually have a chapter written in about three hours! Anyways, I hope you enjoy!

No.

No, I can't. This isn't my Mr. Stark. This isn't the mentor that I've come to love, and he certainly isn't the father that I cost Morgan.

This can't be happening. This shouldn't be happening, shouldn't be possible.

But when I was a kid, I would've said there was no such thing as aliens. Six years ago, I would have said there was no way to kill half of all life instantaneously. A year ago, everyone thought that it was impossible to bring the dead back to life. So maybe this was possible. maybe, just maybe this was actually happening, and I won't be waking up with Morgan curled up with me any second now.

But still. An entirely different timeline? A new Earth, a multiverse? At first, the idea had been astounding. But now? It's terrifying. An infinite number of Earths, and apparently there's the potential that the villains from other Earths can come here as well? Do we not have enough of our own problems?

I look down at the kid again. He's small, maybe even smaller than Morgan is now. He has one of his hands in his mouth, sucking on his fingers. Letting go of the agent's hand, he shuffles towards Mr. Stark. I watch him, but make no move to say anything. Not yet, at least.

The kid - Michael, apparently - is picked up. Mr. Stark holds him protectively against his hip. "Please, kid. Who else did you lose? We- we lost everything. Please tell me that you didn't too."

I shake my head slowly. "Uh, Vision stayed dead. You, all three of you actually, sorta. Captain Rogers, you're just really really old now. Black Widow ma'am, you uh, you gave your life for the soul stone. Mr. Stark, you all apparently know what happened there. I heard your heart give out, sir. I heard you die. I-" I cut off. They know. They've been through enough without me burdening them with my problems. "As far as I know, everyone else was okay. Now that Princess Shuri of Wakanda is back, they're working on trying to get Colonel Rhodes' legs functional again, so he doesn't have to use the braces. Um. Mor-morgan is fine. She's this little guys counterpart. She doesn't really understand the whole 'death' thing, especially with me coming back. But she will. Eventually. This world, it's good. We made it. And you helped out with that Magic guy, so thanks."

My Spidey Sense goes off. Before I can truly process what it's reacting to, the Black Widow is on her feet and leaning over me, a knife in her hand and panic in her eyes. "Clint. What about Clint?" She must see my look of confusion. "Hawkeye. Where is he? Is he alive? And his family? Do you know if they're okay? Tell me!" She tries to grab my arm to shake me, but I leap backward and out of her way. When she follows me over the chair, I jump to the ceiling, hanging there for a moment before answering.

"He's fine, he's fine! Last I heard they were all fine! We've been in constant communication, all the Avengers have. We need to stick together, and all that jazz. But he's fine! The new Captain America has noticed some activity heading that way, but he thinks it's nothing, just some low-level gang activity or something like that. But he's fine!"

There is some confusion on their faces when I mention the new Captain America, but no one comments on it. "Thors off world, he left with the Guardians, they're trying to figure out the whole Gamora situation, and-"

I am cut off by a hand on my shoulder. "This is all well and good, but we need to get all of you on a plane back to the states. There'll be enough time for chitchat on board. Got it?" I look over my shoulder, Mr. Fury is glaring at us. At this point, I think that's just his normal resting face.

I nod, as does the Captain. Ms. Romanoff follows silently, and Mr. Stark makes a big show about being obedient, but follows as well.

The plane right is quiet, for the most part. I try not to think about how I'm going to explain my absence to my friends, as well as the 'coincidence' that I disappeared whenever Spider-Man appeared on the scene. I put it to the back of my mind. It's a problem for another time. The trip passes in a blur, and in what seems like barely an hour, we are arriving at our destination.

"We will be landing at Shield Headquarters. Which technically doesn't exist, but that's just the way I like it. You all will be debriefed, and we will figure out living arrangements for the four of you, as well."

We walk silently, but quickly. Not in an obvious rush, but with a sense of purpose about us. No one stops or tries to interrupt us. We are about to walk into the conference room, but Nick Fury is holding the door open for everyone to enter, but grabs my arm as I pass him.

"Parker, wait. I need you to do something else for us, first."

I nod. I'd like almost nothing more than to get this mess figured out. "What is it?"

"We need you to call Pepper and get her here. I don't care what you have to say to get here on such short notice, but we need her here. Like it or not, she's now the go to for all things hero related. Anyone who can keep Tony Stark in line for that long is very capable, in my book."

I nod again, pulling out my phone. My hands are shaking. I nearly click the wrong name, but manage to select Pepper's after a moment. The phone only rings for a moment before she picks up.

"Peter? What's wrong? Is everything alright? Why are you- I knew we shouldn't have let you go on this trip! Do I need to send someone to get you? I can have one of To- one of the old suits to pick you up, if it's an emergency."

She talks rapidly, barely giving me any time to get a comment in. "No, I'm. I'm fine. I'm uh, not exactly in Venice anymore. We actually just got back to New York. Speaking of, I think I need your help."

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah! Yes, I'm fine. I just, I just need your help, I need you to come help me real quick. It's nothing bad, I promise! I don't think so, at least."

"Alright Honey, I can send Happy to come g-"

No! It has to be you. It can't be Happy, it has to be you."

"Alright, Peter. I'm in a board meeting right now, can it wait a few minutes, so I can get these idiots out of here, and make them think that it's their idea? I can be there in ten minutes or so. I'll even take the armor, So it won't take as long. Okay? May can keep Morgan for a few more hours if needed, she doesn't have a shift tonight, right?"

I nod in agreement, then realize that she can't see me. "Oh, okay! Yeah, yes. I mean, no, she doesn't. Not tonight. Ten minutes, good, thanks. Can you just have Friday track my phone? Or do you want my actual address?"

"Sure, Hon. I'll just have Friday bring me to you, okay? I'll be there soon." She hangs up the phone. I look to Mr. Fury, silently asking for instructions, but he is already walking into the conference room and sitting at the head of the table. He gestures to me to sit, so I follow his example.

The next fifteen minutes are completely silent, apart from the quiet noises Michael is making as he entertains himself.

I lose track of time quickly, and the next thing I know, Pepper is standing at the door, hand over her mouth, tears in her eyes, and a little boy hugging her knees, begging to be picked up.

A/N: Please review, comments give me life!

Have a nice day :)