Of course many people who woke up in bed lying on their back after being used to a large swollen stomach would freak out when it was suddenly flat, but not Tony who had the logic functional enough to piece together what had happened. He was in a white room with gold highlights from what he could see via his blurred sight. His bed just as white and even the pajamas he wore. Everything had a soft glow. He sighed and got up. Suddenly, next to him a stone sink and decorated white mirror popped into existence. He knew better than to freak out.

A lot had happened in his life for him to leap at every new thing that occurred to him in his life. BUT even so, he still rose an eyebrow at his appearance. His face was highlighted by a rough five o'clock shadow around his lips and bottom cheeks. Nothing scandalous or aesthetically pleasing. His hair was something he never thought he would ever see on his head. The sides were shaved short but not a buzzcut as the top of his head was long and even dropped in front of his forehead naturally despite the sleep tousled hair he should have. He touched it and realized he had a thick but small amount of hair in a ponytail that fell past his shoulders and into the middle of his shoulder blades. Almost like some hipster version of a long haired mohawk.

"Well, Stark long time no see. I did not expect you for many years." A smooth but accented voice. A familiar tone that tickled his ears and squeezed Tony's heart as memories of beans from a can over a fire came to him.

"Yinsen. . ." The white clothed Avenger turned to face a dead man before him. Tears sprung to his eyes. He swallowed deeply and calmed the rhythmic thud in his ears. "I have died have I?" The poor man struggled to ask.

"No, not quite. This." The man indicate to the white place around them. "This in between. A place of decision you can say." The middle eastern escapee indicated. "Interesting choice. Calming. I myself had my old home when I arrived. I met my family." Yinsen conversated.

"Ah, okay. So now what?" Tony's voice broke at the thought of not knowing what happened.

"You get a choice. That's why I am here. I am apparently among the only few influential people in your life. Miss Peggy thought I would be the best choice over her or your mother." The older inventor revealed as he stuffed his hands into his pants. His whole outfit was white except for the gold pocket watch chain and glasses twinkled calmy in the light that surrounded the place. His face smooth of age but his hair looked soft and had specks of white that made him look wise and, oh so, alive. "You have two doors." As he revealed this, doors came into existence on either side of him as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. "One, is to the next life. Heaven, the afterlife, Hel, whatever you wish to call it." A grand gesture to the left. "The other, is to go back to your body." He revealed with a smile to his right. The coma-induced man came to a moment of indecision.

"My old friend, have I wasted my life?" The inventor desperately asked. He walked forward and laid hands on the shoulders of the very man that walked through hell with him.

"No Tony, I do not think so. . . but. . . I think you have so much more. You can do so much more. I know it sounds selfish but I want you to change the world more." He revealed by putting his hands back on the other man's shoulders in mutual respect.

"Then there it is. I am going back. Plus, my baby boy needs a 'mom' right? Plus, I can throw the childbirth argument whenever someone complains about pain. I mean I got it a lot from Pepper during her shark week." Anthony snickered as Yinsen laughed.

"Mr. Stark. I do not want to see you for a long, long time. Don't waste your life." He said as he returned his hands to his pockets and walked to the left as Tony stared and smiled.

"I never have since that day." He simply said and turned before stopping when he heard words he thought he would never hear as he was stepping through the threshold.

"Your Father has me to tell you that he gives you his blessing for Thor and has the greatest pride for 'Lucy' as he affectionately says."

It was already too late to say something back. So instead he smiled as he felt himself awaken into a painless body and heavy sheets. He opened his eyes to an old world with a new purpose.

Awakening was a new experience for Tony, it was full of bright lights and silence with the occasional beeping. He gasped and looked around. It was his room. The blinds opened to reveal the skyline he had memorized so thoroughly.

"Jarvis, Omega-Pheta-One-Three-Three-Zoo."Tony gruffly barked out the code to shut down any external commands not his own. That would prevent others from knowing he was awake. He then said the command to cause the machines to act as if he was still attached to them as he removed the IV and heart monitor. He then noted he didn't have the fat that he had gained in pregnancy. He might even be thinner than before (still blaming junk food for that fat).

"Jarvis, how long have I been out?" He asked as he stood heavily unsteady as the cry distracted his mind. He turned to a crib that sat beside his bed on the other side. He almost fell to get over there, ignoring the backless gown and the embarrassing fact he had to remove a catheter to even leave the bed. He hadn't had that one in a while.

"It is currently an exact month since you had fallen into a comma. Sir, I must say I am relieved to have you among the living." The AI sounded relieved as he immediately rose stats and news on screens all around. Tony ignored them all for the moment as he left his son into his arms. Already the little man seemed to be almost three months old and just as big. The little guy kicked and giggled as his green eyes met his 'Mother' for the first time.

Anthony Edward Stark melted on sight and rocked him as felt a familiar touch to his mind. A connection he held that he hadn't noticed. He noticed the almost purr like thrums the bond revealed.

The little guy had grown. His limbs chunky like any baby and his grip on any finger tight. But his eyes held curiosity and basic knowledge. The poor little man was dressed in a onesie with tiny bows and a depressing amount of purple. Clint's decision no doubt. A meow of protest brought his eyes up to his son's who immediately smiled as he noticed attention was back on him. He knew that other Realm children grew rapidly from infancy and slowed at one or two years old.

"Oh you're going to be an attention seeker, huh, my little Lucy? Right, Jay?" Tony laughed silently. He marched to the closet and found a set of clothing as while holding the little monster that threaten to cry if let down.

"Indeed, Sir. May I 'catch' you up on current affairs?"

"Most certainly." Stark replied as he managed to put on a pair of jeans hadn't fit in for quite a while from his closet and his favorite Sabbath shirt that he hadn't wore in months. He then noticed the smell and gave the hand wave for his AI to continue as he took off the dreaded purple monstrosity and choose something better from the selection below the crib with diapers. Trying not to inhale the whole time from his nose, he began to wonder what they were feeding his child during the time he was asleep. The green mess that was expelled did not stop him from admiring the little being that almost was killed. He caressed the cheek and smoothed out the longer hair. He then lifted the cleaned and dressed infant and laid him against his chest where the child automatically curled and snuggled noiselessly. He noticed how big and heavy the child was from usual children he remembered holding. He was a good head taller than when he was at birth. Pride resonated from his chest and the child giggled in response.

He snuck out of his room painlessly and avoided the team with the help of Jarvis. Currently, everyone was returning from various missions. Apparently war so not upon them but it was nearing fast. Surprised at the fact Odin had generously awaited his awakening, he quickly located a baby backpack as he so called it. It kept his quiet but squirming son in place in front of him as he headed down to the lab and worked on his suit. While of course having protection on his child.

He didn't have time to waste. He would be joining battle and he had to be prepared to do so. If that meant equipping his suit with more explosive force than the war machine while keeping it slender and stealthy enough to sneak up on foes, well he would figure it out, he was Tony Stark after all.

After an hour of beneficial work he heard the grumbling sounds of whining as he noticed his son was getting hungry. He quickly quieted the child and informed him that he was locating food for him. He made his way to the kitchen in a calm manner while rubbing the back of the child's head. Soothingly humming as knew the outburst that was coming as he entered the common area.

Yet, he felt at ease with the situation. He could have faced Odin now and still be at peace.

He had affirmed himself with the love and support of those who weren't there, but watched and approved of everything despite his mistakes like Yinsen. He was beginning to think this is what happened to enlighten Buddha back in his day as he grumbled and dissected the instructions on the screen on how to make formula work for some project. He ended up ignoring his mirthful kid good heartedly as he figured it out with some input from Jarvis (the witty little fucker) and kicks of impatientency from the little monster in his carrier as Tony finished the job with much less beard pulling as he thought.

"Tony?" It hurt Tony to hear such a sound of emotional disbelief and happiness from Thor.

He turned while holding the bottle to his son's lips as the little one pulled milk like a starving man. He saw a sight that hurt the recovering bond within him. Thor was a mess.

The Asgard King had a wild look of love as he held himself on the marble kitchen counter. He looked regal but his short hair was a disarray from usual. It reminded him that most of the time it was he who picked the outfits and adjusted them before Thor left as the man had grown dependent on him. The man looked like a neglected worker. Tony slowly rounded the island to come up his bonded and with a free hand stroked the stubbled cheek as tears ran into the short hairs on the beard before him.

"Tony." The man sighed as he carefully took the recovered man into his arms. He patted and ran his hand over Tony's shoulders and head as he found tangible proof he was awake. "I am so sorry."

Here it is! I did not know this was going to happen, but it did. Just go with the flow, my life motto came into play. Have fun! See you soon.

-'Tastic