It was just another day at Aubrey Hall. A winter one for that matter. Anthony and Kate were just out of their honeymoon, taking up their duties in the house. So while Anthony was in his study, doing his work on his estate, Kate was busy planning dinner for Anthony's 31st birthday, which was the very next day. So much had to be done, the cake, the decorations, the food, et cetera and et cetera. Daphne and her husband, the Duke of Hastings were also coming by that evening with their one-year-old — Augustus or as he was lovingly called Augie.
Benedict and Colin were both helping with the decorations, after all, there was only a week left for Christmas. However, helping was not the word you should use when it comes to both of them. So they were more like goofing around the house instead of helping with the decorations. Eloise was with Francesca having a very heated argument with each other, just like every single day. Their arguments often ranged from "What is the best scone in the world" to "Women's rights or the lack thereof" and everything in between. Kate, Benedict and Colin would also join in sometimes, based on the topic of the debate.
Gregory was in the Eton but will return for a week and a half for Christmas celebrations. And Hyacinth was playing around the house with her elder brothers.
And as for Violet, she was in her room making paper crowns for her children. One for Anthony and the other for Antoinette, for wherever she might—heaven or earth. This custom was started by her father. According to him, birthdays were special and one must also feel special in their birthdays. So once she was a mother, she started making one for each of her kids every single year. And after Daphne's and Anthony's wedding, she added Simon, Kate and Augie to that list too.
While Anthony wore the crown during his birthday dinner, his sister's one would be placed on her grave in Aubrey Hall gardens just beside their father's, like every single year. The Bridgerton siblings were all loved by their mother, her love for each of them was unique and incomparable. But all of them knew that none matched the love she had for her firstborn and they never hold it against her for that. With time, the grief subsided and little by little she was becoming a memory for their mother, but the love—love never faded.
Soon enough, Daphne and Simon arrived with Augie in their hands. It was followed by a family dinner, drinks, laughter, teasing, stories and much more, till the family could not laugh and smile anymore and had to reluctantly retire for the night.
The next morning, everyone was up by the seventh hour of the day and met each other in the backyard, from where they started making their way towards the grave with the paper crown and a bouquet. But instead found themselves floating through black as if falling down a rabbit hole.
•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•
Christmas in Avengers Quarters was a morbid affair. Or at least it was for Toni Stark. It has always been for her for quite a while. It was during this time her parents died in an accident. Or as it was freshly found out, they were murdered. It has been six months since the Avengers broke up. As Toni likes to say—every boy band breaks up, Beatles did, One Direction did last year, and so did Fury's super secret one.
But it was also the first actual Christmas for many. Wanda and Pietro never got a chance to celebrate Christmas since they were ten years old. It has been seventeen years without a proper Christmas and now that they have a somewhat dysfunctional family, they were eager to celebrate. It would also be the first Christmas for Vision since he was only a year old.
Hence, the plan was all set. On the 24th of December, they would go to watch a Broadway show and have a formal dinner in a fancy restaurant. And on the 25th, the compound will be closed for them to celebrate in private. Stephen, Pepper and Rhodey would join them for the party and stay back for the next day. King T'Challa and her sister Princess Shuri were also invited, but no one is sure if he would show up given he has a country to take care of.
After the disbanding of the Avengers, Stephen showed up with newfound powers in mystic arts. And with a sincere apology for abandoning Toni after his accident and a range of screaming, cursing, making out and an almost fistfight later, they got back together stronger than ever.
The relationship between Stark and the Maximoffs also grew significantly. A year ago, if someone asked the twins what they would do if they had a chance to meet Toni Stark. They would have said they would kill her. But now, after she saved her brother, their friendship progressed. They now trust her with their life. For the past few months, she has taken care of everyone in that compound and most importantly, helped them gain control of their powers. After many hours of training with her and her tech, they are now confident that their powers won't cause any nuisance.
Maria Hill helped them get into shape through physical combat training. Wanda would visit Stephen and Wong twice a week in the New York Sanctum Santorum to learn more about witchcraft and explore her powers in a safe space and under expert supervision. Peter Parker, her young protege who goes by Spiderman, also visits the compound on the weekends for training and also helps her in her lab.
Toni also started working on the accords and its amendment with Fury, T'Challa and Everett Ross. They also began working on the accumulation of pieces of evidence against General Thaddeus Ross and his inhumane prejudice against the 'heroes' and 'enhanced'. They are even set to testify about it in the UN Assembly by the end of January, and henceforth bringing the Rogues home.
Soon it was the 21st of December, and the preparations for Christmas had started in full volume. The gifts were bought, greetings were made, the compound was being decorated and so was the huge tree in the sitting area. The Vision was in charge of wrapping the gifts given he was a robot, and could do it with utmost accuracy. Pietro was speeding through the hallway putting up decorations with the help of Peter while Wanda decorated the tree using her magic.
"Oh my god, you four have outdone yourselves' ", Toni stated with a grin plastered on her face when she saw them. "You guys know right we still have four days till Christmas?"
"Yeah, but one can never be ready for Christmas", Pietro replied.
"Yes, Dr Stark. And we still have the labs, the kitchen area, the libraries, the gym, the solarium, the pool, the other hallways and three more compounds to complete", Peter continued.
"And not to forget the gifts, I still have seven hundred fifty-nine more gifts to pack for the employees and staff in the compounds and headquarters", Vision chimed in.
"Yes, and I have to also decorate the tree in the headquarters lobby and the Sanctum Sanctorum if Stephen agrees", Wanda joined.
"I am pretty sure you all are aware that there are people who have been hired to do this stuff. So why don't you leave them to that and enjoy your break" Toni argued back.
"Well, where's the fun in that? And also we asked everyone to go home and enjoy the break" Pietro asked to which Toni facepalmed.
"Guys, it's their job. They get paid for that" Toni replied. "Oh no we promised that you'll pay them, we just wanted to do this ourselves, that's all."
"Oh boy! I cannot make you guys not do the hard work, right?" Toni asked them to which they replied with a series of 'no's. "Fine then let me help you all too. How about hot chocolate?" To this, they replied with a series of excited yes. She was about to go to the kitchen when suddenly her head started spinning and all she saw was black with a feeling of falling down a rabbit hole.
•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•
Toni?
Annie?
Dr Stark?
As the voices grew persistent, she opened her eyes, blinking rapidly to adjust to the light. The blurry faces of Stephen, Rhodey and Peter cleared up as she sat up from the floor. A blunt pain could be still felt as she took in her surroundings. It seemed she was in a circular room, with black walls surrounding her and a flat black screen behind her. The matte black walls and red carpeted floors looked sound absorbent. If you looked closely you could capture a glimpse of the speakers embedded in it. The walls also had seats lined up just like a movie theatre.
'Where are we?' Toni thought out loud.
"We don't know", Pietro said from behind that's when she understood she spoke it out loud.
"Toni Stark what did you do?" A voice screamed from behind. A voice that could be recognised anywhere. The ever-so-accusing voice of Captain America.
"She didn't do anything, she was with us one moment and now we are here" Wanda retorted protectively.
"Toni? Steve?"
"Bruce?"
"Where the hell have you been man? We searched so long for you." Sam asked concerned.
"I don't know, I don't remember", Bruce mumbled.
"You were with us, Dr Banner. You, me and Loki. We were on the Asgardian ship, after that, we were just here. I have no idea how" Thor came towards the team rubbing his head.
"Loki? He's alive?" Clint asked.
"Clint? I thought you were on house arrest." Rhodey asked.
"Well, so did I", Clint said looking around and spotting some teenagers.
"Umm, why are there so many teenagers here?" To which Peter perked up.
"Ned? MJ?"
"Dude"
"Dude"
"Where are we?"
"No idea, dude"
"Wow it's the Avengers dude"
"I know dude"
"Another person who says 'dude' will be thrown out of this, whatever this place is", Toni says pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Sorry, Dr Stark"
"Dude, I just got scolded by Dr Stark"
"Oh my god, idiots. My friends are idiots" MJ shook her head.
"Nat?"
"Hello, guys. Any idea what's going on?"
"Unfortunately, no"
"Oh. Well, thanks Toni for that helicopter and bike but uh, that helicopter broke down somewhere in Siberia, so..."
"It's fine. It was junk anyway" Toni waved her hand dismissively as she spotted Pepper and Happy getting up.
"Helicopter? What were you doing with a helicopter? And whose team are you even in?" Steve asked Natasha.
"Something. And Toni's. I've always been in hers." Before Steve could ask her further questions, he heard a scream.
"HELLO! EXCUSE ME! MR OR MISS OR MRS OR NON-BINARY WHOEVER YOU ARE, I DON'T CARE. IS ANYONE HERE?" Toni asked shouting towards the ceiling to which Rhodey and Pepper just sighed.
"Is it me or here and care rhymed?" Pietro whispered to Peter standing beside him. "No, it did", Peter replied. To this MJ and Wanda rolled their eyes.
Suddenly a bright light engulfed the room as a man walked out of it.
"Strange? Do you have a twin brother you never told me about or am I going insane?"
"No, Dr Stark you are perfectly alright and I do not have a twin", The other Strange replied with a small sad smile. The one that looked significantly older and tired. There were dark circles around his eyes. His salt-and-pepper hair was untamed. And his bright grey eyes were cold and lifeless. Even his fingers were black and his red cloak had a patchwork of different coloured fabrics — blue, purple, green etc.
"I am Stephen Strange and I am from the future. I brought you all here, to watch the life of Dr Antoinette Stark"
"But why Toni?" Steve asked.
"Because hers is the most important one, without her, the whole future is doomed"
"Doomed? What do you mean by that? Also time-travel? Don't you know how it will affect the timeline-" The younger Stephen was cut off by the older one.
"Stephen. I know what time travel can do. Trust me, there will be more dangers if I do not do it."
"What happens in the future? What happens that you are so afraid?" Wanda asked.
"Toni dies"
"You know that mortals will die no matter what? And Lady Antonia will have to die one day", Loki said from behind scaring everyone.
"You? You are here? Thor, I thought you were joking."
"Why would I joke about my brother's life and death?" Thor said somewhat offended.
"Well, he did fake his death a few times", Sam reasoned.
"Thrice. He did thrice", Thor said.
"Ok, fine. I faked my death a few times. Now stop it you babbling band of baboons. As I was saying, Lady Antonia will have to die one day. It's a universal truth."
"It is. But she did not have to die that way."
"What do you mean by that?" Stephen questioned.
"Toni Stark sacrificed herself to save the world." A series of gasps could be heard throughout the room.
"So, should we not honour that? Everything happens for a reason. Trying to stop would cause many other problems like branching in timelines, alternate realities and even universes. And that could collide with each other at any given moment", Bruce asked
"It would. This timeline changed the moment I time-travelled here, and another reality was already created at that time and this has the potential to become another universe. But you don't have to worry about the universe collision, mine is already destroyed."
"How? What happened?" Stephen asked. What was he doing in the future? What was Kama-Taj doing? They swore the sacred oath to protect the world. To this, the older Stephen bitterly laughed.
"I happened."
"What are you talking about?" Rhodey asked
"I destroyed my universe."
"Why?" Steve asked. Why would someone destroy a whole universe?
"BECAUSE OF TONI." Everyone stared at her shocked while she stared at the future version of her lover.
"Losing her broke me down, it broke me down so bad, I threw myself to research and study. I wanted to find a way to bring her back. I tried everything mystic arts, witchcraft, blood magic, light magic and even dark magic. I tried the Darkhold and the book of Vishanti. Even Dormamu's powers couldn't bring her back. I tried everything till nothing was left only to destroy the whole universe."
"But how? The Kamar-Taj would have stopped you. The Avengers would have stopped you", Stephen asked.
"They tried to but they couldn't. You underestimate yourself. You have no idea what you can do when you want to do it." The whole hall was silent.
"What do we have to do? To stop it?" Toni asked quietly.
"I have a few films about your life till now and beyond till your death. Watch it, understand it and learn from your mistakes. Do what I couldn't do." To this, the whole hall nodded.
"And while I was destroying the universe I found out Toni's birth family."
"Birth family? You were adopted?" Natasha asked.
"Yeah, I was. I tried to find them but couldn't"
"I will be bringing them here, but they are not from your time"
"Now, what does that mean?" Clint asked exasperated with all these new pieces of information being dumped on him.
"Yeah, they are from the Regency era, London"
"Regency? As in the 1810s to 1830s?" The Vision asked.
"How did I end up here then?"
"Honestly, I have no idea about that. But here they are", with that he circled his hand and a portal opened up. Ten people stood there, trying to balance themselves from the sudden fall.
"Where the hell are we?" A girl not more than 17 spoke.
"Eloise, mind your language, young lady."
"Sorry, mother."
"No but where are we?"
"Who are you all?"
"Hello! I am Stephen Strange and I brought you out here to meet your eldest daughter and learn about her life."
"Eldest? As in Antoinette?" The oldest woman of the group spoke up, her eyes searching for her daughter. She gasped when she noticed a pair of bright blue ones. The whole crowd stared at the woman, there was no doubt she was a Bridgerton.
"Yes, but she is known as Antoinette Stark here. If you would please introduce yourselves."
"Violet. Violet Bridgerton."
"Viscount Anthony Bridgerton."
"Viscountess Kate Sharma-Bridgerton."
"Benedict Bridgerton"
"Colin Bridgerton"
"Daphne Bridgerton-Basset. Duchess of Hastings."
"Simon Basset. Duke of Hastings."
"Eloise. Eloise Bridgerton"
"Francesca Bridgerton"
"Gregory Bridgerton"
"Hyacinth"
The kid sitting on Daphne's arms also babbled. "Yeah, that's Augie, I guess he also wanted to join in." To this, the whole hall was awed.
"Is it me or do they seem to be named alphabetically", Shuri asked for the first time since stepping into the room, to which his brother nudged him.
"Yeah, no we are", the man named Benedict said.
"Edward and I thought it would be good for you all siblings to be named alphabetically", Violet explained.
"Wow, you have grown out to be a beautiful woman, my dear" Violet continued as she stared at her eldest.
"Thank you", Toni said but it ended up more as a question. The Bridgertons were about to start firing questions but were cut off by the older Stephen.
"Ok. We don't have much time to waste. You all introduce yourselves".
They all waited for someone to start with their names but no one said anything causing it to be an awkward pause throughout the room. All the Avengers glanced at each other, but no one spoke first. Irritated at their antics Pepper spoke up.
"You know what, I'll go first. Virginia Potts".
"I thought it was Pepper"
"Oh no that's her nickname, I gave it to her."
"Next, you are all swaying from conversation"
"Harold Hogan. You can call me Happy."
"James Rhodes, War Machine"
"Steve Rogers, Captain America"
"Sam Wilson, Falcon"
"Bucky Barnes"
"Natasha Romanoff, Black Widow"
"Clint Barton, Hawkeye"
"Bruce Banner, Hulk"
"Thor Odinson, God of Thunder"
"Loki Odinson, God of Mischief"
"Wanda Maximoff, Scarlet Witch"
"Pietro Maximoff, Quicksilver"
"Vision"
"Peter Parker, Spiderman"
"Ned Leeds"
"Michelle Jones, but please call me MJ"
"T'Challa Udaku, Black Panther"
"Shuri Udaku"
"Dr Stephen Strange"
"Antoinette Stark, Ironman"
"So. now that you all are done. Please grab a sit."
They did as they were told. The Rogues took a side of the theatre while the others took another and the middle seats were taken by the Bridgertons.
"Ok, I have a question", Loki asked.
"Yes?"
"Where are we?"
"We are in a pocket dimension, outside of yours and mine. Don't worry we are safe."
"So snacks counters to the left, drinks to the right. We will start with what I would call Ironman 1. This will show how Toni became Ironman. Lunch will be served after this movie. So buckle up, everyone. And Bridgertons please try to keep an open mind, your daughter was brought up in a world that's two hundred years ahead of yours."
"We will" Anthony replied.
"Ok, I bid you all adieu. See you at lunch."
With that, the hall turned black and the screen lit up.