A Stark Reunion and the Infinity Stones

I fully believe that Howard and Tony deserved to have some more closure other than that small part in Endgame.
You can't tell me that Steve wouldn't try and find Bucky before he killed Howard. Not when he got to go back and live out his life with Peggy, nope. He'd go and save his friends. I will continue to think the worse of Steven Grant Rogers until the day I die. I will die on the "I Hate Steve Rogers" hill
He's lucky Chris Evans played him

"Tony.."

He knew he was dead. He remembered his heart gave up on him.

"Son…you have to wake up."

It was warm. Not overwhelmingly warm but it was comforting and soothing in a way he hadn't felt in a long time. He thought death would be cold and painful, but if it felt like this, it was almost bearable. Almost.

"Tony."

Wha- Pep? Rhodey? No, I saved them. They aren't supposed to be here.

"You can rest now."

Wait…no. He didn't want to hear those words right now. He didn't want to hear them ever again.

"We won, Mr. Stark."

Oh, kid…

"Wake up."

No matter how hard he made an effort to hold it back, awareness started to leak out from the edges of his mind. Tony didn't want to open his eyes because he knew he wouldn't see his family. He remembered more than he would have liked. He remembered Thanos and the snap, the agony that ran through his veins as he commanded the stones, and the thick, smothering anguish that threatened to overwhelm everyone.

He remembered it all. He wanted it all to go away.

"Tony."

There was that voice again. Why did it sound so familiar? Why couldn't it leave him alone?

"You have to wake up."

Sluggishly, Tony opened his eyes and was greeted with an orange sky. Thankfully, it wasn't obnoxious but it was rather pretty. It reminded him of a sunset on the beach. It matched the warm feeling quite well, actually. After a quick look around, he finally found the source of the voice and realized why it sounded so familiar.

It was his dad. His dad was standing right next to him, dressed in the suit he died in. The suit he was murdered in. It was as if he were transported back to the day he last saw him, and suddenly Tony couldn't breathe…not that he should have been able to do so in the first place considering he died.

"You-" Tony began, but he couldn't get the rest of the words to leave his mouth. He had a hard time trying to get his breathing under control, which again…weird.

Howard snorted, and Tony had to bite back the hysterical laugh that threatened to bubble over. "Yeah, that was my first reaction when I saw you lying there," his father replied.

What? Tony stood up and took a better look around. To say he was taken aback would be an understatement. He had no idea where he was and could only see an endless expanse of an orange sunset. Apart from two lonely wooden chairs a few steps away, there was nothing else. He wasn't sure if this was the afterlife or a go-between. Quite frankly, he was still freaking out about his dead father standing there, waiting for him to say something else, but his mind was a tangled mess. He heard splashing as he decided to walk toward the chairs. When he looked down, he realized that the surface was covered in a thin layer of water.

He gasped when he took in his appearance. He looked like he had aged down at least 30 years. The stress lines and evidence of his time as Iron Man were gone. It was such a depressing sight to see, it took him being dead to see the result that life had left on him.

He raised his head to face his father once more and just stared. His death was replaying in his mind, and the blood and cuts that covered his face now distorted the sight in front of him. He'd imagined meeting his father many times over the years, wondering what he'd say and how he'd try to mend their relationship. He expected it to be awkward, or that they'd spend their time ranting at each other, both too wound up from years of animosity to do anything else. He fully expected the resentment he'd been carrying to lash out and was mildly surprised when it didn't.

The fact that Tony was able to speak with his father during the heist and come to some sort of resolution free of stress or trauma was a relief to him. He was able to tell him about his daughter and the family he had built for himself without revealing anything. It didn't matter that his father didn't know the truth; what mattered was that Tony did, and he believed it would be enough, but seeing him standing here now...there was this overpowering emotion welling up inside him. He recognized some of the emotions he was experiencing: heartbreak, remorse, and rage, all bundled into something he could only describe as all-encompassing sorrow.

"We don't have much time," his father spoke again, interrupting his thoughts.

"We're dead," Tony tried to hide the tremble in his voice, but when he spoke, it was a wet and shattered sound. "We have all the time in the world."

His dad then did something he only saw when he looked at his mom—he smiled. Not the sardonic, sharp grins he plastered on his face when Tony had done something his dad believed wasn't enough, but a genuine smile. As much as he wanted to deny it, it was hard to deny the fondness in it. Not when it was directed at him. Tony was stunned into absolute silence, which didn't happen often.

"That's where you're wrong, my boy," Howard pointed to the chairs with his head, the smile dimmed a bit but was still noticeable. "We have much to discuss before it's time to go."

Tony frowned but followed his dad. "What do you mean?" He asked as he took a seat, and for ordinary wooden chairs, they were more comfortable than anything he's ever bought.

Howard raised his arms as he gestured to their surroundings, "We're in something called the "Soul Plane, it's located inside of the Soul Stone."

Now that Tony looked closer, it did have the exact same color as the soul stone did, at least from what he could tell from his memories. He wondered why he was brought here instead of the place other souls went, and considering he firmly believed he had a special place in hell reserved for him, Tony had to admit this was a lot better. It still didn't answer his unspoken question of why.

Tony nodded in understanding and said, "Why are we here?"

Howard fixed Tony with a look, and for a minute, Tony was transported back to his teenage self, where that particular look seemed to be a permanent fixture on his father's face when they were together. He thought he was done seeing that expression except in his nightmares. Apparently, even in death, they were inescapable.

"You died," his father hissed out. Tony's eyes widened in surprise at the grief and sorrow that laced his father's words, and suddenly Tony knew the reason behind that expression, but before he could analyze it, his father continued. "You wielded all the Infinity Stones, and you died. I had to watch you die; I watched you save the universe." It was unmistakable—the pride in his voice, the respect shining in those blue eyes. Tony once felt that looking into his father's eyes felt like he was drowning in the ocean like water was filling his lungs until he suffocated, but right now, even though it was a terrifying thought to admit, he felt at peace.

Tony bowed his head and whispered, "It was the only way."

"I know. Still, that doesn't mean I liked watching it. For that matter, neither did your mother." At the mention of his mom, Tony whipped his head back up with wide eyes. "Mom? She saw? Where is she?" He wasn't sure if he could handle seeing his mom, but on the chance that he could, he would take it. His father nodded slowly, but his face didn't give Tony much hope. "She'll come once you've made your decision." Although his tone stopped Tony from protesting, Tony was tempted to ignore it and protest it anyways, but before he could make up his mind, his father continued.

"I heard your wish; I felt it."

Tony was sure every mask he built up over the years crumbled at that moment. He remembered the desperation he felt as he tried in vain to keep breathing, the wish he made right before his heart decided to stop without his permission. Tony was so lost in his thoughts that he almost missed his father's next words.

"So did the stones."

Tony's face paled, the memories crashing down as the realization of what he had done slowly set in.

He used the stones again without meaning to. The last wish of a desperate man. He wondered if he had done more damage by doing so.

"The stones decided to give you a chance to fix everything." Howard's voice and face had softened in a way that made Tony want to break. He was so close. "They're giving you a second chance if that's truly what you want."

Tony had no qualms about returning. He was tired, that much was true, but the chance to get his family back outweighed the terror of reliving his past. Tony had no qualms about returning. Admittedly, he was tired, but the possibility of seeing his family again outweighed the fear of going back to his old life. He'd be a better friend and brother to Rhodey, a better boss to Happy, a better husband to Pepper, and a greater mentor to Peter and Harley. He considered the people whose lives he could save and the disasters he could stop. Though the idea made his stomach churn uncomfortably and the darkest memories threatened to shatter the surface of his already broken body, his selfishness and desire to be there with the people he loved the most overrode any second thoughts he might or will have.

Tony nodded viciously. "It's what I need," his voice was tinged with desperate hope. "I have a chance to be with my family again; I can't let that go. I won't."

Abruptly, five bright lights surrounded him; his father faded slowly into the background, and cold darkness rapidly replaced the warm orange.

"So you've decided."

"I told you he would."

"I still think we should choose someone else."

Despite the Infinity Stones appearing before him, Tony swore he heard them speaking in his head, and he wasn't sure he was completely okay with that considering one of them gave Maximoff the power to mind rape him.

"What the hell is going on? Where is my dad?" Tony asked.

"He is not needed for this conversation. We'll return him back to you once we're done." Time told him. Something told him he shouldn't question, but really, he couldn't help but be a tad bit skeptical.

"You don't believe us?" The Power stone spoke up this time, its voice taking on a note of annoyance, and Tony raised a single eyebrow and watched as the stone shook in what he could only guess was a rapidly growing anger. Tony wasn't surprised, he had that effect on people and apparently, the Infinity Stones were no exception.

"No offense," Tony said. "But you guys are clearly sentient, which means you probably know my problem with you all. Not that you can blame me. After all, you're the ones who allowed yourselves to be used by a mad titan hell-bent on destroying the universe." Tony took a very deep breath as he processed what he just said. He didn't mean to say it, but the words tumbled from his mouth without his permission. Sue him; he's talking with the Infinity Stones after dying and meeting his dead father again. He was allowed to fuck up.

"I like him. No one ever talks to Power like that." Reality giggled, and Tony just about lost his mind.

"Okay, okay," he interrupted the giggle-fest, holding his hand up. "My dad said you guys heard my wish and were planning to give me that chance?"

"Yes."

"Against my better judgment." And okay, so Power apparently did not like Tony.

"Why?" He questioned. "What's the catch?"

"Fix the universe and keep us away from Thanos. The "catch" as you've called it, is we've decided to choose you as our Guardian."

"Guardian?"

"Yes."

Tony was officially confused—well, more confused than he already was. He was sure he'll have a freakout about all this sooner or later…it was inevitable.

Aaand no. Nope. Not using that word ever again.

Shaking his head as if it would rid the word from his thoughts, he went back to the situation at hand. They were willing to ship him back in time, and all he had to do was guard them? Granted, it was easier said than done, but still. Tony was sure there was more to the title but that wasn't something he was willing to think about right now. Not on top of everything else.

"Except me," Time said. "I have my guardians, and Stephen will be my protector once again. I just ask that you find a way to help him keep his fortune. He'll need it. Other than that, you have no need to interfere with his journey."

"Same here," the Space stone spoke up for the first time, and Tony swore it sounded just like Loki. "I'd like to stay with Loki if it's not too much trouble." It seemed as if Tony hit the mark right on the head. "He'll protect me just fine, though I will be visiting you from time to time."

"Uuuh why?"

"Your arc reactor. It has my energy." Tony was sure that if a stone could shrug, that's exactly what it would have done. He had forgotten his reactor was based on the tesseract, so it made sense the Space Stone would be attracted to it. Tony had a theory that was the same reason why Vision and Wanda were so close: she got her powers from the mind stone he held in his head. He had to admit. It wasn't the weirdest request he'd heard, so he shrugged his acceptance. It's not like he could actually refuse. He had a feeling the stone would come to see him whether he liked it or not.

"Right. Now, what did you mean about fixing the universe? I thought we did that when we reversed the snap?" Tony knew there would be a time for adjustments again. It took the world a long time to move on, but with the progress they made, it would be easier to deal with the influx of life again.

"No, you. did. not. We were never meant to be used that way but the gauntlet didn't exactly give us a choice. People may have adjusted, but the universe most certainly didn't. Before you went back in time, Thanos destroyed us," Power hissed out, and yeah, Tony could understand his anger. Being killed wasn't fun.

Time glowed for a minute, a green mist reaching out to circle around the Power stone, suspending its shaking. "When you went back in time, we were misplaced, and it helped fracture the universe further," Time explained after Power had calmed down and Tony's mind blanked.

"Didn't they return you to the original timeline afterward? That was the plan."

Time flickered in and out, "They would have if they did not leave the task up to Steve Rogers," The venom with which Time hissed out the Cap's name had Tony taking a step back. He didn't know what Rogers did, but if it was enough to get an Infinity Stone this worked up...Tony was 99% sure it had catastrophic consequences, and considering Roger's past actions... "He determined that his reward for rescuing the universe would be to remain in the past. He entirely altered history to suit his own purposes, including yours. While saving your parents, his previous choices inadvertently prevented you from ever meeting Pepper, erasing your daughter from the timeline. It stopped you from taking control of Stark Industries, therefore Iron Man was never created. It goes without saying that without you being a significant player, the world was worse off."

For a moment, all Tony could do was blink dumbly as he stared at the green stone. He tried to digest what he just heard, but…to know everything he fought for and everything he died for was for nothing because Rogers decided his wants were above everyone else's was soul-crushing. He trampled over everyone he deemed unimportant in order to save Barnes; he went back in time in order to get him back, and the moment he does, he leaves him again to live out the life he believed he deserved with Peggy? He erased his little girl…He erased the children Peggy had with Daniel; he fucked up, and Tony knew…he knew that Steve didn't care. Not when he was getting what he wanted.

Tony was tempted to shoot him the moment they unfroze his ungrateful ass. Unfortunately, he also knew that Cap would be needed in some capacity, but thinking about it brought back the wariness he once had when he was actively dealing with the bullheaded man. Maybe he could be used as a dancing monkey again...or canon fodder. Tony was pretty that his body mass would cause some damage to anyone he was tossed at.

Sighing, Tony ran a hand over his face. "Is there anything else I should know?"

The Mind stone hummed, and a pale-yellow light emitted from the sound. Tony really wanted to know how they did that. "You should watch for a man named Quentin Beck. He uses your little spider boy to get revenge once you're gone."

"What!? I'm dead! What does he have to get revenge on?"

"Everyone knows you care for Spider-Man Tony," Mind told him, and yeah okay, he didn't exactly hide it. "It doesn't matter if you were there or not. It was something you cared for, and so he wanted to ruin it."

"Please tell me that was it," Tony breathed out.

"It was. Everything else will fall into place as it should." Reality confirmed.

"You can choose who you wish to return with you." Mind said.

"You can only choose four people. That is the limit," Time added. Funny enough, Tony already knew exactly who he wanted—not that it was a complete surprise.

"Pepper, Rhodey, and Jarvis," he rattled off the names. It was quiet for a moment before Time began to laugh hysterically.

"I told you he'd choose them," Time said, a hint of smugness radiated off the stone, and wow…he knew they were sentient, but that much smugness put him to shame, and that's on a good day.

"You still have one more," Space said, but Tony wasn't sure who else he could trust. Natasha, Rogers, and nearly everyone else from Shield were out. He wouldn't burden Peter or Harley; and besides, they were both too young to begin with. He should have never brought Peter into the fold with Germany and he wasn't going to make that mistake again. Tony had a hunch Strange already knew what was going to happen, and he had been warned he couldn't interfere with Strange's journey. He would warn the Guardians, but he doubted he'd be capable of establishing interplanetary space communication in time. He considered telling the Ancient One, but he knew it would interfere with Strange's training, so she was out as well.

Tony looked around at the stone as he went through all the people in his head. Either they weren't trustworthy or they were too far away. Slowly, Tony's eyes made their way toward the Space stone and he knew exactly who to choose.

"Loki."

Based on the bright blue that glowed from the stone, he knew it was the right choice. Only Loki knew what Thanos was planning. He could warn the Guardians, and he could warn Asgard, all while protecting the Space stone. He was a trickster, which made trusting him hard, but he also knew that Loki wouldn't have placed anything else above killing Thanos.

"Space was hoping you'd say that," Reality muttered, and Tony couldn't help but let out a breathy chuckle. Space merely glowed a little brighter at that.

"Right, so I'm just gonna take a hunch here and say there's going to be some rules because there will be some rules?"

The Time stone glowed brightly. "There will be events that must happen. You will be sent back to the moment you're found by your "Rhodey," the invasion must happen. Peter will get his powers, his uncle will, unfortunately, have to die, Strange must happen, and the Maximoff twins must appear. You can however change any event between those and influence how they turn out."

Tony nodded. Last time, Stephen ended up broke; this time he'll still be filthy rich. It should be simple enough to befriend the man. Based on past experiences, they were more alike than they previously believed, and it would be nice to talk to someone who would be able to understand him. Bruce was good, and he'll always be his science bro, but he was too scared of himself to form any lasting relationships, and Tony was done being ran off on. Tony wasn't sure how he felt about not being able to save the kid's uncle. He knew it was how he got his start but still.

Next Space glowed. "No need to worry about Maximoff. When you go back, your mind will be protected. We cannot afford for your past memories to be accessed by anyone."

"Besides," Mind piped up, and a distinct air of dislike surrounded it. "I want Maximoff to myself. I have a bone to pick with her and her need to use the powers I granted her for her own selfish needs."

Tony wanted to ask what it meant by that, but he also didn't want to touch it with a 10-foot pole. He would gladly hand over the crazy girl to a visibly angry sentient Infinity Stone. As long as he no longer had to deal with her, he was peachy.

"One more thing," Reality interjected. "The Vision cannot exist. Not if you wish to bring Jarvis back."

"Wait, why? Vision only has part of Jarvis's code; surely I can recreate it."

"No, you cannot. There is a reason why we are allowing you to bring Jarvis back." Tony was thoroughly confused right now. He knew he could do it; it was just the act of placing part of Jarvis into Vision.

"Tony, Jarvis is not just a code. He is just as sentient as we are. He died, which means he also has a soul. It's not something that can be replicated or copied. Not without consequences," Time explained. His voice was gentle but chiding, and Tony's eyes widened in realization. Vision had a part of Jarvis's code, and if the code was his soul, Tony would have to rip up Jarvis's soul in order to do it.

"Understood," he said weakly. He would mourn Vision when he was back, but if he had to choose, he would always choose Jarvis. He just felt bad that Vision would never be able to live again, but he supposed it would be better this way. Vision was a shining beacon for Thanos since he wore the Mind Stone on his head. He couldn't exactly hide it.

Slowly but surely, every stone glowed until there was a myriad of different colors filling up the dark void. Every color except...

"Wait, where's the soul?" Tony wondered. He hadn't realized there were only five stones when there were six in total. He decided to chalk it up to him being too surprised to remember. It wasn't exactly a lie.

"Look down."

When he did, Tony was shocked to see his arc reactor shining that warm orange rather than the bright blue it normally did. He didn't understand, and the theory that was forming in his head wasn't one he was willing to confirm. Unluckily for him, the stones were more than ready to do that for him.

Power sighed as if it were annoyed by his reaction. Tony liked it better when it didn't talk, "You already know what it means."

Huffing, Tony shook his head and rubbed at his chest. Soon the warm feeling spread across his body, and he couldn't contain his gasp. Oh, that was new.

"We will return you to your parents, and then you will be transported to the time we have designated."

Before he could say anything, the stones glowed, and soon he was standing in front of both of his parents, with that warm orange landscape around them. Tony glanced down and saw that his arc reactor now glowed the bright blue he was used to. "This is getting freakier and freakier," he muttered before looking back up at his parents. He stared at his mom and wanted so desperately to run into her arms. He was 53 years old, but standing in front of her now, he felt like he was 17 all over again.

"What happened?" His father asked after a moment.

"They explained the rules and set some guidelines. They told me Captain America managed to screw up the entire timeline and erased my daughter from existence, and apparently, the soul stone has decided to use me as a vessel. Although they didn't tell me that directly, I just figured it out when my chest decided to glow orange for a few seconds," Tony rushed out, maintaining eye contact with his mom.

His mom held out her arms, and Tony was in them before he knew what he was doing. He managed to stop from crying, but he inhaled her signature perfume like it was a drug. "Mom…" he whispered and choked back a sob when he felt her hands running through his hair.

"Tony," she spoke softly, and Tony squeezed her tighter against him. "I am so proud of you, my bambino. Ti amo così tanto. Mi sei mancato, figlio mio."

"Mamma..." Tony let her push him back reluctantly and blinked his eyes as she caressed his cheeks. "I wish we had more time, Antonio, but I knew if I showed up too soon, you wouldn't be as willing to say yes." As much as Tony would have liked to protest that fact, he also knew it was nothing more than the truth. He wouldn't stay forever, but he also wouldn't be able to leave his mom again.

"I'm glad I got to see you before I left," Tony said, glancing at his father for a moment before switching his gaze back to his mom. "Both of you. We left everything so unsolved, I-"

His mom nodded her understanding when he couldn't get his words out.

"We've also been given a chance to fix things," his father said. Tony paused for a moment before removing one arm from his mother and leaving it extended for his father. Despite the awkwardness, he was relieved he welcomed the invitation and didn't want to give it any thought. Not until he finally burst into tears in his parents' embrace. The gravity of what had occurred finally hit him, and the breakdown he'd been trying to prevent took full control. He was frail and torn open by everything that had happened, everything he had experienced, and the feelings of both of his parents as they held him together.

Tony didn't know how long they talked for, but he finally reached a point where he knew he could leave with closure. His father also gave him some necessary information he would need when he was taken back. Before he knew it, the warm orange began to fade into blackness and he slipped away from the Soul Plane in his parents' arms, listening to his mother's soothing Italian whispers. He knew they'd have more time when it was his turn, and he knew this wouldn't be the last time he saw them. This wasn't a goodbye; it was a see you later, and he was completely fine with that. When he opened his eyes again, he was in Rhodey's arms, staring intently at him in the middle of the Afghan desert.

"You have so much explaining to do, Tones," Rhodey choked out, and Tony merely smiled before hugging his best friend tightly to his chest.

He was back.

We'll know what Howard told Tony throughout the story. ahahaha
I'm bout to rewrite this bitch