Everybody okay? Still with me?

Okay, have a chapter full of healing and family time. You've definitely earned it after the last arc.

The song for this chapter is "Dela" by Johnny Clegg, possibly my favorite love song of all time. It touches my heart in the softest, warmest place.

Enjoy!

Chapter 11: A Simple Question

"For the last time," Director Fury scowled, "Quentin Beck is ours."

"You may say it as often as you please, but it will make it no more true." Loki sat confidently, his smile sharp. "His crimes were against a citizen of Asgard, and one who is under my specific protection. Additionally, he knows of the boy's identity as well as his connection to Stark. All are too dangerous to risk in your imprisoned population."

"Honestly, I'm with him," Stark said, gesturing at Loki. "I'd rather Beck be as far away from Peter as possible."

"You have to guarantee humane treatment," Maria Hill said.

"You really don't," the one called Happy said. He was sitting in on the discussion because he refused to be anywhere else. "Let him find out he's been impersonated for days and wake up with a catheter."

"You're in the minority here, Fury," Rogers said. "None of us want him on Earth where he's a threat to Peter, and he's shown he's smart enough to be a risk no matter where you lock him up. Send him to Asgard. He won't get out of there."

"He certainly will not. You have my word on it."

Loki was only calm now because he had been enraged already. As much as Peter had tried to reassure Loki that it was not his fault, Loki could not hear it.

The child had been tortured, and he had not known of it until all was ended.

The Realms were in chaos with the death of the All-Father, and Loki had not slept in an age — too busy running from one to the next, affirming his kingship, beginning new treaties, and dealing with those who thought to use what they perceived as an opportunity to do harm. For this, Loki had asked many of Midgard's Avengers to assist him. Not only did they have the strength of arms to impress the peoples of the Realms, but they demonstrated Asgard's willingness to partner with the Realms in a new manner.

But, of course, politics was never simple.

Loki had been surpassingly grateful for Natasha Romanoff in his efforts. She was a skilled negotiator and had a gift for reading strangers, even those whose physiology came as a surprise, which enabled Loki to focus on the discussions while others watched his potential allies with fresh eyes.

However, had Loki any idea of the events happening on Midgard, he would have sent the team back in a heartbeat even if it left him at a disadvantage.

(Loki cursed that he could not have come for Peter himself. But the acts of kings and Realms must always come before even the dearest things to the heart. It was something he could not have understood before, and now understood all too well.)

They had returned to Asgard from the farthest Realm to learn from Heimdall that what had been only as long as needed to negotiate an agreement upon the Realm had passed several weeks on Midgard, weeks in which Peter had been harmed and Loki never knew.

And now it was too late for Loki to intervene in the child's nightmarish experience. He could not witness his courage in defeating a monster who had manipulated his mind. He could not even bind the boy's wounds as all were already healed.

Loki could and would take Peter's tormentor back to Asgard for justice — never to threaten Midgard or the Spider-Child again.

"Give it a rest," Natasha said. "Nobody wants him here, and Loki will make sure he can't cause trouble. And Peter is his favorite."

Well, of course that was true, but Loki chose to sniff with disdain. "It is merely the fulfillment of my oath."

"Yeah, we all totally believe that," Stark said. But then Stark caught Loki's eye and gave a small nod.

Loki returned it.

Yes, the man was also enraged at what had been done to his son. Loki would see both their vengeance wrought.

No one harmed Peter Starkson, worthy child of Midgard and Asgard. Not while there was breath in Loki's body.

-==OOO==-

The downside of Peter beating Quentin Beck into the ground, of course, was that now everybody was worried again.

"Aunt May, seriously." Peter sighed. "I'm fine."

"I know you are," she said as if she hadn't just been hovering beside him. "I'm not worried."

"I actually think you are the reason I'm so bad at lying," he said, frowning at her. "Which makes me wonder how you and Tony snuck around so much when I was younger. Like, how did I not figure it out?"

"Because you're trusting," May said. Her face fell. "We were all too trusting."

"Hey." Peter nudged her. "It's definitely not your fault for not noticing Beck was pretending to be Happy when his disguise was so good even JARVIS couldn't see through it. The only one who figured it out was my Spider-Sense, and Beck nerfed that, too."

"You'd think I'd be able to tell," she grumbled, not for the first time.

The elevator opened to the Avengers common room in the Tower. A surprisingly well-populated common room, especially for a Wednesday late afternoon.

"What's all this?" Peter asked, looking around at everyone.

"Hey, kid."

Tony appeared from the side, wearing a very nice suit. He leaned over to give Peter a sideways hug.

"Are we having a party?" Peter guessed.

"No. But it's Valentine's Day, so May and I both have places to be."

The pieces clicked together in Peter's head. "Oh my god. You guys do not need the entire roster of the Avengers to babysit me while you go on your dates."

"I mean," May said, "we kind of do."

"It's not the entire roster," Tony said as if that made it better. "Thor took Jane to Asgard, and Wanda and Vision are out. Clint's still on his farm, and Pietro went out there to keep an eye on the place so he and Laura could do a thing."

"And Nat dragged Bruce somewhere," Aunt May said, smiling.

"And," Rhodey said, wheeling up in his chair, "you had better go meet Pepper before she comes down here."

"How is she today?" Peter asked. He'd only seen her a couple days before, but she was enormously pregnant now, and probably within weeks of going into labor.

Which had not stopped her from charging down with the others to help him when JARVIS alerted everybody about Beck in the Tower. Actually, Pepper, heavily pregnant and glowing orange, even in her comfy pants, was far more intimidating than everybody else who'd shown up — combined. She'd looked like a protective mother goddess incarnate. With fire.

The sight of Tony and Pepper and Rhodey and Bruce all running to his rescue had made Peter feel truly safe for the first time since he was drugged. And that feeling stayed with him even into the aftermath. Sure there had been so much therapy, and nightmares, and bad moments. Of course there were. But between the love and rage of his family and his now fully-functional Spider-Sense, Peter was doing mostly okay.

Having a built-in mechanism that could tell the demons in his head from any real danger made it so much easier to trust that things were real and safe again.

"Pepper's energetic enough to want a night out," Tony said. "I swear, that woman is going to make fuzzy pants the new haute couture fashion for the city elite the way she's been running around in them. Tonight, we've got tickets to the ballet in a private box, and if anyone gives her the side-eye for choosing to dress comfortably or for going pee whenever the baby says, they get to deal with my fleet of Happy-replacement security for the evening."

"And where's Happy taking you?" Peter asked Aunt May.

"There's a revival showing of some classic movies in Greenwich Village. Sappy, tear-jerker black-and-white stuff." She smiled. "Even if he hates it, we're getting pancakes from that good place in Queens after so that makes up for it."

"Take it from me," Rhodey said, "Happy is a total sap. He'll be fine. Bring tissues, though, because the man is a fountain."

May patted her purse. "I come prepared."

"And I seriously have to sit here and be watched over by…" Peter did a quick headcount, "four Avengers?"

"Four and a half," Sam said. "His Majestic Supreme Bossiness is around somewhere."

Peter assumed that meant Loki, and that Loki was either off in a huff because he did that sometimes when the team was annoying, or he was communing with Heimdall about Asgard again.

"Look." Tony met Peter's eyes. "It's not that we don't trust you. Kid, you scared the pants off all of us having to save yourself from that asshole and you did it without breaking a sweat, okay? You handled Beck when the rest of us would have been down for the count, probably. That's not why."

"This is as much for for them as for you," Sam said, laughter falling away from his expression. "Tony and May won't be able to relax unless they are a million percent sure you're safe. Hell, Nat and Bruce almost didn't go at all except I told them I'd give Loki permission to go all crazy-pants on anybody who got near you. Get it? This isn't about you. It's about the people who care about you."

Peter glanced over at where Steve and Bucky sat. Bucky was wearing his war arm, and even though Steve was in civilian clothes, he was wearing the boots he used in training. Sam and Rhodey were also dressed casually, but Peter could see the bulge in Sam's sleeve that meant he was wearing the wrist-control for his flight pack, which was probably stored nearby. And Rhodey was in a chair, but Peter knew how fast he could get into the latest War Machine suit from it if JARVIS sent it to them.

This was a protection detail, but it was for everybody's peace of mind as well as Peter's physical safety.

He was only starting to realize how hurt everybody was — not just him — by what Beck did.

"It's fine," Peter said. And he decided it was. He would make it be okay. "But it's a school night," he said, pinning May with a glare, "so I expect you back by midnight."

She laughed. "Okay, dad."

"That's a terrifying thought," Tony said, but he smiled too. "Don't worry, Underoos. We'll all be back nice and early."

"Then go have fun. By the time you get back, we'll have a new high score in Mario Kart and I'll have wiped out all of Pietro's records."

May leaned in to give Peter a quick hug. "Love you, Spider-Kid."

"I love you, too," he told her, squeezing her back. "Go have fun. But not too much fun, because gross."

"My thoughts exactly," Tony said. He also leaned in for another hug with Peter while he addressed May. "Don't make me give Happy the big brother speech, because I will, and he will not enjoy it."

"I would pay money to see that," Rhodey said.

"Did you ever give Pepper a speech like that?" Sam asked him.

Rhodey scoffed. "No way. If she broke Tony's heart, it would definitely have been his own damn fault."

"Fair." Tony turned and offered May an elbow as they walked back to the elevator. "Everybody have a nice night. No heroics, no nonsense. You hear me? Good. Take care of my kid and don't ruin my Tower."

"It's Pepper's Tower!" Peter yelled back just as the elevator closed.

"Okay." Sam headed back towards the couch. "Now, as bachelors alone on Valentine's Day, there's an unbreakable protocol for this. It involves pizza, video games, and possibly some questioning of our life choices later on. We up for that?"

"What about Loki?" Bucky asked.

"Loki can participate if he wants," Sam said. "In this house, we don't discriminate by planet of origin."

Peter laughed and thought about how different everything was now than it had been even a couple of years ago. And how much better.

"Well." Steve was grinning. "I suppose we have our plan for the evening. The only question is how much pizza are we going to need and who gets to be Yoshi for round one?"

The evening progressed from there about as expected and they definitely played way too many rounds of Mario Kart. At one point they took a break with an impromptu game of target practice throwing the weird little plastic table things from the pizza boxes towards a hastily constructed target fashioned out of throw pillows. Some of the pillows survived, but none were really intact by the end. Sam lost, followed by Steve, and both grumbled bitterly about super soldier snipers, spider powers, and a lifetime of Air Force training.

It was the first time in a long time that Peter had really relaxed. The last year had been so crazy with the politics and Asgard, the wedding, Hela and losing Odin, and then Beck. Even his birthday celebration had been a little too intense. But tonight, he just laughed and squashed people in Mario Kart and let everything else slide into oblivion.

It was after eight in the evening when Loki finally appeared.

"If you want any pizza or wings, there's tons," Rhodey offered, gesturing at the mess they'd left on the sidebar.

"I will partake shortly. First, Peter, I need to speak with you for only a moment."

Peter could read Loki pretty well, and that statement didn't fill him with foreboding, and it also didn't trigger his Spider-Sense, so he just nodded. "Sure. Do we need to go somewhere?"

Loki gestured at the lab above the common room space. "That will do. Then all your dedicated protectors will still have you in view and shall not be foresworn in their oaths to guard you."

And Peter knew he didn't imagine that the other four clearly appreciated that.

Up in the lab, Peter leaned on a table. "What's up? Please don't apologize again for not being here with the thing with Beck, because, like, everybody is sorry they didn't figure out he was spying on me with drones and a bunch of holograms, and I'm kind of sick of it, to be honest."

Loki chuckled. "No, I have said as much already. This is a point of clarity I should have made to you sooner."

"About what?"

"Have you never wondered how I have perceived when you were in danger?" Loki asked.

Peter shrugged. "You told me you cast a protective spell, so I figured it was that."

"You are correct, but as with most things, the details are the most significant. The spell I cast was specifically intended to alert me when you were in mortal peril, a breath from a killing blow, so that I could intervene. But the temporal dilation between Asgard and Midgard would still have left you at risk should I not receive the warning in time. So I was forced to compensate."

Peter blinked. "How?"

"There are not many magics which can anticipate events, and those which do are supremely powerful. Dangerously so, enough to risk the very life of the one to whom they are bound."

"But nothing bad ever happened from the spell. I mean, that I noticed. I guess something could have happened and I wouldn't be aware of it." Even with that thought, though, Peter wasn't getting nervous. Not with Loki.

"You would most certainly have been aware had anything occurred, but it did not," Loki said. "For I took precautions. Magics such as those do not sink easily into the flesh of a living being. Had I cast that spell upon you, child, it could have drained your very life-force. Instead, I bound it to a totem."

Peter put his hand on his chest, understanding. "Tony's saint medal. I gave it to you when you were gonna teach me so I could see you...but you never needed that at all, did you?"

Loki smirked. "Of course not. I have always had the ability to produce a shade of myself upon Midgard which none but those I chose could perceive. Yes, I cast it upon that protective charm."

And suddenly the pieces fit together in Peter's mind. "I get it now. I had to take it off when I went through the metal detector, and I bet that magic doesn't work if the pendant is in a box."

"It does not," Loki said. "Nor does it work if it sits upon your desk. And since you did not reclaim it until after you had defeated that vile deceiver, it could not warn me of the danger to you." Loki fixed him with a look. "Therefore, I hereby request that you do not remove it again for any purpose. Am I understood?"

Peter was grateful for the protection, even if he also quailed under having so many people intent on watching out for him. "What if I have to, though, like for a scanner or something?"

"Give it to me for a moment."

Peter pulled the chain over his head and held it out. Loki clasped it between his hands and muttered some words Peter couldn't understand. The room smelled like ozone for a moment, and there was a flash of green light.

"Here." Loki held it out once more. "Now it is as Odin's bauble — none who do not know of it will ever perceive it, and no Midgardian technology will acknowledge it."

Peter hung the chain around his neck again, tucking the medal into his shirt. "Thank you," he said. He met Loki's eyes. "You've always been keeping an eye on me and I didn't even realize. And, like, you're king of nine whole planets now, and you still care if I'm getting myself in trouble. It's...I appreciate it."

"Well," Loki said, and he showed the rare sincerity he never let outsiders see, "you are one of a very small number of worthy things about this Realm. I must safeguard what has value."

Peter figured that was about the closest he was going to get to any kind of declaration from the trickster god, so he smiled. "You have value to me, too, Loki."

Peter knew Loki let him see his momentary real reaction to that, but just as quickly covered it up in his usual cool expression. "Now, let us return you to your guardians. I believe there was some small hospitality offered, and although it is not as fine as the most meager feast in Asgard, I do appreciate what you call your 'chicken wings' enough to overlook their humility."

Downstairs, Loki's appreciation for wings turned into a debate about ranch dressing versus blue cheese, and whether it was betraying one's New York heritage to call them 'Buffalo wings' instead of just 'wings.' Peter was firmly on the ranch side of the debate, because, even as a born and bred New Yorker, he just could not get along with blue cheese. Sam and Rhodey argued for calling them 'Buffalo wings' outside of Buffalo for clarity. Steve, the only other true New Yorker, was perfectly happy to steal all the blue cheese for himself. Loki ignored them all and tossed the bones at people when he felt they were annoying — which was a lot.

It was such a calm and peaceful night, Peter should have expected something to happen.

It was just before ten when JARVIS interrupted the latest round of Mario Kart infighting.

"Master Parker, it is requested that you make your way to the Compound as quickly as possible. I can either send you in a Quinjet or ready one of the suits."

Peter got to his feet, heart pounding. "What's wrong, JARVIS?"

"I am in the process of recalling Missus Parker and Doctor Banner as well."

"Oh my god." Peter's stomach dropped. "Does that mean…?"

"Indeed, young sir. Lady Potts has gone into labor earlier than expected."

-==OOO==-

Tony had lost track of the hours. The ballet seemed like it was a thousand years ago.

"You're doing great, Pepper." Doctor Singh was a treasure of a lady, Tony had decided. She had joined Pepper's obstetrical team early — as soon as it was clear the little thing growing inside Pepper was enhanced and a SHIELD expert would be needed. She brought calm confidence along with a warmth that reminded Tony of a big sister.

And she'd never cracked, not once in the sixteen hours since Pepper first urgently tugged on Tony's sleeve and said that something was happening right in the middle of the big ballet finale.

"I...I can't…" Pepper's breath was labored, and she was sweating. And burning.

Tony was going to have to replenish his supply of nanites, and soon. He held her hand as long as he could during the contractions, but she kept almost burning through his gauntlet even as fast as it reformed.

"You can." That was Bruce, also in the room, though more dedicated to monitoring Pepper than the baby — and probably Tony, the way he kept hovering on that side. "You're so strong. You can do this."

Tony swallowed. "I love you so much, honey." He bent and kissed her hair, ignoring the heat. "I love you and I'm right here. And if I could do this for you, I would. But I can't."

"I don't think you could," she managed, still able to snark at him in spite of it all.

"Stark men are made of iron," Tony said. "You're fire. You forge me into something better. You can do anything."

"It's almost over," Doctor Singh said. "The baby's crowning. Just a little more."

Pepper leaned her head back and shut her eyes.

Tony spared a thought of gratitude for all the people present, physically or in spirit, supporting them. Helen was in the room monitoring Pepper, Bruce was here, Doctor Singh was here, and the rest of Tony's family was out in the hall waiting. Tony didn't know — he hadn't really left Pepper's side — but Bruce came and went and said there was a long-term slumber party happening right outside the door. Apparently May and Peter and Rhodey wouldn't even leave for food.

"Come on, baby," Tony said, not even sure which person he was talking to. "Let's get this done so Pepper's crazy healing can kick in already."

Pepper chuckled. "Very much...looking forward to that."

Then she gave a cry.

"Push!" Doctor Singh encouraged, not yelling, and shifting position.

Tony looked down long enough to decide to stay up by Pepper's head instead. He gripped her arm with the hand that wasn't being squeezed.

"Good! The head is out!" Doctor Singh looked up. "Give me a second."

While Doctor Singh did something, Tony looked at Pepper. "You're doing it, Pep. You're doing it!"

Pepper, hair matted with sweat, orange and glowy, still looked beautiful even as she gave him a flat look.

"I noticed."

"Another push for the shoulders!"

Pepper made a sound somewhere between a sob and a scream, and a moment later a wail echoed from Doctor Singh's arms. The doctor did something else down there — Tony saw blood and decided he just didn't need to see that part — and then straightened up.

"Congratulations." Doctor Singh's dark face was damp with her own sweat. "You have a little girl."

And Tony got his first real look at his daughter.

She was tiny, her face squashed. She wasn't pink the way babies were on TV — she was kind of a weird color of purplish which, according to everything Tony had read while waiting on the contractions to hurry up, was apparently normal, but she was already getting visibly rosier. The pale umbilical cord dangled down.

She was perfect.

"Tony," Bruce said softly. "Do you want to cut it? Or should we?"

"I'll...I can…"

Later, he (and everybody else) would laugh, but Tony didn't really think about it. He just reached out, releasing Pepper's hand, and made a tiny repulsor beam. Helen held out the cord and he cut it with his gauntlet.

"Give us just a minute." Doctor Singh handed the baby to Helen.

Meanwhile, Pepper shuddered. Tony turned back in time to hold her through the afterbirth, although that didn't seem as bad in comparison. He definitely didn't look, though. Doctor Singh could deal with that stuff just fine.

Tony kissed Pepper's forehead again. "It's a girl, Pepper."

Pepper was smiling, her eyes glowing but not only with Extremis. "We have a daughter." A tear slipped down her cheek. "Oh my god, Tony."

"Here you go." Helen appeared at the side with a newly cleaned-off infant in her arms. "Initial scans show she's perfectly healthy, and I'm not reading much Extremis signature, but there's a little. We'll have to see what happens."

Doctor Singh gave the baby a quick glance, then nodded. "Don't worry about any of that right now. Just bond with your daughter. Skin-to-skin is best. You cuddle and I'll take care of whatever your body doesn't."

Tony barely heard any of it. He crowded close as Pepper pulled the baby down against her chest.

"Her eyes are open," Tony breathed.

The universe was in those eyes. Everything Tony had ever felt, ever wanted, it all crystalized in that unblinking gaze taking in the world.

He had no idea how long he stood there, stroking Pepper's hair with one hand and his daughter's back with the other. Everything stopped, everything faded away. Time stood still.

Finally, Bruce cleared his throat. "Do you want me to go tell the others?"

Tony looked up. The mess between Pepper's legs was gone and she was clean and had been covered up again. Doctor Singh and Helen were looking at readings from JARVIS to the side and talking quietly.

"Tony," Pepper said. "Go get them. Please."

"That's fast," he said, and he smiled and it cracked his heart. "So quick to replace me."

"Go and get our family, Mister Stark."

"Here." That was Helen, and she handed him a damp towel. "Wipe up first. You're sweatier than she is."

In a daze, Tony made his way out into the hall.

Peter practically teleported to his side. "Tony! Is Pepper…?"

May and Rhodey crowded after. Behind them were Happy and Steve and Nat and everyone else. Even the Bartons had come.

"She's...it's a girl," he managed. "We have a daughter."

There was cheering from everyone, but Tony looked down at Peter.

"Come meet your baby sister, figlio." He stretched out a hand. "And you two. You have a niece now."

Then Tony looked up, torn between leaving anyone out of this moment and not wanting to overwhelm Pepper.

"We're fine," Happy said as if reading his thoughts. "You three go first. We can wait."

Tony shot him a grateful smile, affection nearly choking him.

Peter was vibrating at Tony's side and May and Rhodey fell in behind them to go back into the room. But, when they got there, Peter hung back, letting Rhodey roll closer while May went straight to Pepper.

"Oh my god." May was crying and she touched a careful finger to a round cheek. "She's so beautiful, Pepper."

"You doing okay?" Rhodey asked her.

Pepper's smile was tired, but bright. "I'm perfect."

"Tony," Peter said softly, "the...the right word for her is...sorellina, right?"

Tony's heart must be giving out because it thumped weirdly and his eyes got wet again. "Yes, your little sister."

"What if I hurt her?" he whispered. "She's so tiny and I'm so strong. I could…"

"Peter Benjamin Parker." Tony turned away from the others and put both hands on Peter's shoulders. "You could never hurt her. I would trust her with you more than anyone in existence."

"Peter." Pepper's call made them both look over at her. "I need you to do me a favor."

Peter moved to her at full speed, May backing out of his way just in time.

"Anything, Pepper! What can I do?"

"You run warmer than the rest of them because of your enhancements," she said. "The baby needs warm skin contact, and I need to set her down for a moment. Would you please help keep her warm for me?"

Peter froze. Then he pulled off his sweatshirt so fast he tore a whole sleeve. "I don't know how, but I'll do anything."

"I'll show you."

Tony stayed back next to May, holding her hand tightly. Leave it to Pepper to know exactly how to handle Peter's fear about himself in this moment.

Pepper shifted the baby from her own chest to Peter's, settling the tiny body in his arms. Then she sat back with a smile.

Tony had a perfect view of Peter's face. He started terrified but desperate to help. At the first touch of the baby's head on his bare shoulder, his expression shattered and melted. And once he held her secure in his arms, he looked at her with the same big eyes that had changed Tony's world.

"Ti voglio bene, sorellina," Peter said with a voice that shook. "I love you so much right now and I just met you." He ducked his head to bury his nose in the slight fuzz on the baby's head. "I would fight the universe for you."

Tony realized he was crying and he didn't care.

Rhodey appeared at his other side and held up a tissue. "Good job, Tony," he said gently. "I've never been so proud of you, or of being part of this family."

Tony wiped his face. He could only stare at Peter holding the baby, their eyes locked together. There was nothing else that could ever matter more. He loved Pepper with all his heart, but his son and his daughter — they were his soul.

"What's her name going to be?" May asked. May was sobbing, too, but Bruce had already given her his handkerchief.

"Morgan Maria," Pepper said. "Morgan for my uncle, Maria for Tony's mom."

"Hi Morgan. I'm Peter." Peter rocked her gently, never looking away from her face. "I'm your big brother. Welcome to our crazy family."

-==OOO==-

Morgan was born on February 15th, and every day after that was both a miracle and a challenge. Later, much later, JARVIS and Clint and May would compile a highlights reel they called "Baby Adventures."

In the current moment, though, those adventures were more stressful than funny — at least to those involved. Especially because the vast majority of them involved Tony or Peter, or both of them, freaking out in entirely predictable ways.

"She has been crying for literally four hours and nobody, not me, not Pep, not Pete, nobody could make her happy. But you walk up and pick her up like she's a smelly sack of garbage and she just drops right off to sleep? What, are you secretly Mary Poppins, Happy? Never mind. You're being reassigned. Permanent baby sleep maker. Starting now."

(Why Happy Hogan was the one with the magic touch that could soothe Morgan when literally nothing and no one else could, they never figured out. Happy pretended to hate it, but more than once he was found half asleep in a rocking chair with Morgan happily asleep on his chest and a dopey smile on his face.)

"I know they only left us alone for an hour but, like, I am way out of my depths here. Aunt May, she has poop in her hair! Like in 'The Exorcist' but from her butt! Stop laughing and tell me what I'm supposed to do now!"

(May and a giggling group of nurses on speakerphone carefully walked Peter through the process of bathing a newborn, all the while assuring him that volcanic poop was very normal and not a sign of a horrible illness. Peter was so worried, he mostly forgot to be grossed out.)

"Okay, this is ridiculous. I am literally the greatest engineer on the planet and I can't figure out this stupid thing? No. No, we're done. I'm building this from scratch. Who designed this thing? How can a stroller be so complicated? JARVIS, figure out if we can acquire the company that makes this so I can fire their engineering department. And start on a build. I want a stroller that is lightweight, safe enough to endure a car crash, and looks fabulous rolling out of the fabrication units in under an hour, do you hear me?"

(In fact, Tony did in one sleepless fit of manic energy redesign baby strollers to make them safer than car seats. The patent and its subsequent success opened up a whole new product line at SI, but only Tony had the original model in his signature gold and red titanium alloy, and, really, if people were surprised that he wheeled his kid around the Tower and the Compound in it, they just had not been paying attention.)

"Okay, I know how this looks, but in my defense, like, if rocking helps her sleep, I thought a hammock would be even better. And if it's my webs, she can't possibly fall out because they stick to her. Well, not to her, but to the little harness thingy. And JARVIS and I are watching them since they do start to degrade in two hours, so I've been replenishing them. And it works! I even got some homework done for once! Pepper, quit laughing, I'm innovating here!"

(Tony and Peter both extensively tested Peter's webs and a myriad of designs before they settled on what they considered to be the perfect hammock construction. Morgan never slept as well if the bassinet was webbed, so they webbed her directly into it and Peter became an expert at rocking it with one hand while doing homework with the other. He got fast enough at putting up the hammock that he could do it in seconds, anywhere, and soon it became a common sight throughout the Compound as well as the Tower penthouse whenever he was around.)

It wasn't always smooth sailing — nothing with a newborn ever is — but it worked. Inside a month, every single Avenger could change a diaper or prepare a bottle like an expert. Steve designed a literal schedule so that Tony and Pepper always had at least two people around to help out or take a turn to give them a rest. There hadn't been an official baby shower before Morgan's arrival, but there was a veritable shower of gifts afterwards, from beautiful blankets from their friends in Wakanda to a mobile Loki enchanted in the shape of Yggdrasil. The noise of the press who wanted to see what they called "the Stark baby" was easily ignored inside the cocoon of family that kept the world away.

They still had things to do — Spider-Man still patrolled and Peter went to school, and there was a whole weird day with some crazy robots in New Jersey that required an Avengers deployment, and Loki was still ruling Asgard — but Tony and Pepper were given the time they needed and the space not to worry. February and March passed in a rush of baby milestones (accelerated, because of course Morgan wouldn't slow down any now that she was out of the womb), family dinners, many, many pictures, and a deep sense of joy.

Tony Stark slept with his wife in his arms, his son and daughter down the hall, his brother and sister and friends who were family on the floor below — and understood for the very first time in his life what peace really felt like.

This, he thought to himself as April bloomed into a beautiful spring, is what life is for. This is what it's all about.

On April 22nd, Morgan was just a little less than two and a half months old, the family was figuring out how to go to see Peter's AcaDec team compete at Nationals again while incognito, and Tony and Pepper were planning to take Morgan to look at the ducks in the park the next day.

On April 23rd, all that joy evaporated.

Thanos had come.