1. Tony's Return

Steve was waiting. They were all waiting.

Carol Danvers had come, and they'd immediately sent her off to find Tony and Nebula.

He looked at the clock and wondered how long it would take. He'd not noticed the time of Tony's return the last time they'd lived through these days. He hoped it wouldn't be long. He knew the weakened state he was going to be in when he arrived, and they had the med team on standby with a brief overview of his condition, which they'd been bemused by but hadn't asked questions. The world's ending had negated the need for a lot of questions.

Steve was more worried for Tony's mental state this time. Before, he'd slipped into a state of devastation that only Pepper's pregnancy had saved him from, at least that was what he'd told them in one of their conversations in preparation for this moment. On the one hand, it should be better this time as he knew the exact date of Peter's return and knew Morgan would be there soon, but on the other hand, he loved Peter so much more now than he had before.

Steve climbed to his feet and walked into the common room where those of them that remained were busy on phones and computers, carrying out the tasks that they'd prepared for over previous months: all the things they knew that would help people. Pepper was tapping the keys of a laptop, her eyes reddened from tears.

Steve remembered last time, when she'd been wholly focused on her concern for Tony, desperate to have him home. This she was also grieving her son. Steve had thought many times of the blessing it was and would be to Peter to have a mother in Pepper, but he'd never considered how much more she was going to suffer without him. He thought Morgan would ease much of that grief, beginning when she discovered her pregnancy, but it was not going to be a magical fix. Tony and Pepper were going to miss Peter until he returned. Nothing could change that.

They knew it was coming, but foreknowledge had helped none of them. Especially Clint, who had lost his entire family in an instant. He was there, though, and working with them to help those that remained. There were differences in him not to the man he had been: a darkness in his eyes and the steep downturn of his lips, but he was there and not beginning his rampage as Ronin.

"A ship I believe is the Benatar has just passed into the stratosphere," Friday announced.

The news acted like a stimulant for them all. Phone calls were abruptly ended, laptops were closed, and they all rose to their feet and made for the door. Steve noticed that Pepper was stumbling, overcome with emotion, and he hurried to support her. Rhodey was already there, though; he wrapped an arm around her back and guided her out of the door.

They gathered on the lawn and looked up at the sky, searching for a sign of the ship.

"I see it!" Natasha said, at the same time as Steve noted the small glow of light slowly brightening as it came towards them.

"Oh, god," Pepper whispered. "Oh god."

"He's going to be okay, Pepper," Rhodey assured her. "He's back."

Pepper turned and looked at him, and Steve saw the statement in her eyes as clearly as if she had vocalized it—Tony was going to heal physically, but they had no idea how long the mental wounds would take. Everyone but Pepper knew a rough timeline of how long it would take, at least to ease the worst of his pain, as they knew what was going to be the balm to his wounds: Morgan.

The light came closer, the shape of the Benatar above, and Steve stepped forwards. Carol set the ship down, and the rear ramp opened. Steve hurried up it and got his first sight of Tony.

He was as wrecked as before, his skin grey and eyes ringing with shadows, but it was the look in his eyes that made Steve's heart sink. He had been right: this was so much worse that last time.

He put an arm around Tony's back and Rhodey took Tony's other side. Tony didn't speak, but he trembled under Steve's arm.

"The med team are ready, Tone," Rhodey said.

"I don't need them," Tony said, voice rough.

Steve was going to point out that he did, but the words died on his lips when Pepper rushed forwards, her face a picture of concern and pain.

Tony made a choked sound and stumbled away from Steve and Rhodey and into her open arms. They clung to each other, Tony silent but Pepper's words stumbling as she expressed her love and grief.

"He loves you," Tony said when they had finally pulled apart. "He wanted you to know; he loves you, Pep."

Tears filled Pepper's eyes and slipped down her cheeks.

"He loved us," Tony went on, the words pouring from him as if he needed to express them as fast as he could. "He wanted us to know. He needed us to know he loved us."

"We knew," Pepper said, her voice catching. "We always knew."

"He was brave," Tony went on, looking around at them all, sharing this news with them all now. "He was comforting me. He was so brave. And he…" He choked a sob. "He called me Dad." His face crumpled. "He called me Dad for the first time ever, and then he died in my arms."

Steve wrapped his arms around him, and Tony fell forwards, all his weight on Steve as he sobbed. Tears pricked Steve's eyes as his misery swelled. They'd all lost so much, so many people they loved, and most of them hadn't been able to say a proper goodbye. But they had, Tony and Peter had, and Peter had given Tony a gift in his last moments.

"Five years, Tone," Rhodey said, voice catching and tears on his own cheeks. "He's going to come back, we're going to fight, and Peter is going to be Worthy."

"Five years," Tony moaned.

"Five years and all the things that happen in them," Steve said pointedly.

Tony pulled back and looked at him, Steve still supporting him. "Five years."

"And so much good," Steve said.

Pepper looked between them, grief and confusion on her face, but Tony nodded and moved from Steve to Pepper, wrapping his arms around her and closing his eyes.

Peter was gone, and they would not see him for five long years, but in a matter of months, Morgan would be born, and Tony would have the mission of being the best father he could be again.

"Come inside, Tony," Pepper said. "Let the doctors look at you. Please, for me."

Tony heaved a sigh and nodded, perhaps remembering how it had ended last time, and allowed Pepper and Rhodey to support him as he walked into the compound.

Carol watched them go, and then said, "Okay, now that's done, I want to know what happening now. I've got hundreds of planets all going through the same thing right now, and I need to help, but you say we've got a Titan to kill."

"We have," Steve said harshly. "Are you ready?"

Carol's eyes narrowed. "After what he did, what he took, I want nothing more than to end him."

"So do we," Natasha said. "So come in so we can tell you how it's going to happen."

Steve took the lead, Carol and the remnants of his family following him, and he prepared to plan. Thanos was still out there, alive, and they were going to end the asshole.

And Steve knew this time they were really going to make it hurt.

So… That was the first of around 20 one-shots and drabbles about the missing years. You don't need to read them to follow the rest of the series, as any variations will be explained before the final chapter of But No Man… Still, I enjoyed writing them and I believe they add a little richness to the series.

Until next time…

Jadey xxx