He was smitten, absolutely besotted and in love. From the moment he had heard that first cry, that first great inhale before wailing loudly, he was gone on the little girl. The minute she had finally made her first appearance, screaming and thrashing at being pulled from the comfort of her mother's womb, she had the man wrapped around her tiny pink finger. She was everything to him from that moment on, taking her into his arms and shushing her cries as he held her close to his chest, allowing her to rest against his hammering heart.
From that moment onward, after her mother had left her in his care before disappearing, the little girl had never wanted for anything. Anything she asked for, it was hers. The only thing she had to do was bat those long, dark lashes that encased her baby blues, and her father would cave in an instant. She wanted a puppy when she was six, and her father made sure she had her pick of the litter. She had asked for stars on her painted walls when she was eleven. Her dad drilled meticulous holes in the walls, sticking small lights in each and granting her wish. She wanted to go to a regular high school and make friends her age when she was fourteen. He found the most prestigious school in New York and made it happen. Eden Stark was the apple of her father's eye. She had never wanted for anything in her life, and always had her dad there when she needed him. Pepper was a great mother figure, helping her navigate womanhood and puberty (Tony did NOT want to know any of that, thankyouverymuch), Happy and Rhodey were her unofficial uncles, and her family had grown when the Avengers had formed.
Tony wasn't the least bit surprised when Eden had befriended Peter Parker. The two were close in age and Tony adored them both (though he wouldn't admit that to Peter). What had surprised him, however, was when he had found the two of them locking lips and playing tonsil hockey in the penthouse after returning from a meeting. That had been a shock, and Tony had felt the need to embarrass the teens by giving them a talk about "the birds and the bees".
And then Thanos snapped his fingers. Tony had watched, helpless, as Peter latched onto him. The young man had begged for his life, begged to see Eden once again, the girl they loved. The older man had lost the breath from his lungs when he thought of his little girl. How would he tell her that the boy she loved was gone? Even worse. What if she had been a victim of the snap?
Five long years. It had taken Tony five years. He and Pepper now had another little girl, Morgan. God, Tony found it so hard to be a dad some days. How do you tell your daughter that her sister is dead? How do you parent a child you love, while still dealing with the loss of another child? There were so many hard days for Tony and Pepper both. Morgan would do or say something that would make them think of Eden, their smiles would slowly turn to frowns, and poor Morgan couldn't understand why her mom and dad were so sad all the time.
And then, Steve came. He had convinced Tony to help them. To go back and fix what had happened five years ago.
"You have a chance to get her back, Tony," Steve told him with solemn blue eyes. "We have a chance to get them all back."
Tony had worked tirelessly, Morgan asking him why. He had tucked her into bed the night before this last mission, explaining to her that he wanted to save her big sister. Morgan, of course, didn't truly understand how important this was, but understood that her parents loved Eden. When he had kissed her forehead before leaving the room, her words stopped him dead in his tracks.
"I love you 3,000," she said softly.
Tony had whipped around so quickly he was amazed his neck didn't break at the action. "Where did you hear that from, Morgster?" he asked his youngest child with wide brown eyes.
Tony had watched the home videos Morgan had told him she found. Pepper had joined him, the couple laughing through their tears as they watched Eden grow up once again. From a swaddled pink thing into a beautiful young woman. It was bittersweet for the Starks, seeing their beloved Eden once again for the first time in five years. The last clip ever taken was of the blue-eyed teen, smiling widely at the camera as she clung to Peter's back like a baby koala bear.
"I love you 3,000, dad!" she exclaimed.
And then, he came again. The violent monster of his nightmares. The beast who had snatched away the light of his life. The foul creature who had snuffed out his daughter's flame before it could even ignite. But this time, they weren't alone. Every enhanced human, mutant, and powered individual they could find had shown up. And then, in the sea of faces, he could see her.
The redhead had wasted no time, running straight into her father's embrace as his arms encircled her. The two held one another tightly, shedding tears and laughing. Pepper had found them quickly enough, encasing the young woman in her ironclad embrace with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face. And then Peter had come. He had greeted the Starks, surprised by their embrace, before grabbing Eden bodily by her hips and kissing the breath from her lungs. Tony didn't have the heart to chastise them. Nor the time.
It took a quick double tap to the necklace that hung from her neck, nanites encasing her in a protective shell of metal painted silver and red. The young woman nodded at her parents before running into the thick of battle.
He was high on adrenaline, but it soon came crashing down. He watched, helpless as his daughter was thrown haphazardly by the monster of his nightmares. The gauntlet on his hand was poised, his fingers ready to snap half the world back out of existence once again.
"I am inevitable," the beast glared, snapping his fingers with a smirk. However, that smirk soon turned to confusion, flipping the gauntlet over, eyes widening in realization.
"No!" Tony bellowed, struggling to stand, understanding dawning on him. "Eddie! No!" But there was nothing he could do but watch.
The redhead shook from the power coursing through her veins, skin burning away as her body was slowly dissolved by the stones in her hands. She gave the beast a vicious smirk of her own, eyes glittering with unshed tears, silent apologies on the tip of her tongue. "Yeah?" she said, bringing her fingers together. She then looked past Thanos, seeing her father's fearful gaze and giving him a proud smile. "Well, I'm Eden Stark!"
Tony rushed to her, pushing through the masses as his heart shattered with each step he took. And then, there she was. Her body broken, flesh burned from her fingertips to her rosy cheek. Her eyes were dull and her chest rose faintly, breath rattling in her damaged lungs. Tony fell into a heap next to her, Pepper and Peter flanking him.
"We did it," the young woman choked out. She had found the strength to reach up her hand, placing it on his cheek as she smiled at him. Tears fell from her eyes as she wiped his away with her thumb. "I love you 3,000, daddy," she managed to get past her lips. And then, her hand fell from his cheek, the last bit of light in her eyes dying along with her as she expelled her last breath.
Tony shook his head. The little angel that had stolen his heart was now taking the last of it with her. She was going somewhere he couldn't follow her. He had failed to protect her, to keep her safe. And now, she was gone for good.
There was silence, save for the sound of Tony's wailing, clutching his daughter's body as he heaved great sobs. Pepper had latched onto him as well, crying with him. Before too long, Peter had joined them. The sound of a father's anguish rang deeply in the hearts of those present, and each and every one of them took a knee to honor the fallen Stark.
There was a small memorial for Eden Stark at the lake house her parents lived in. Poor Morgan was so lost, wondering why there were so many people here. When her mother had explained that her sister had died, Morgan had innocently pointed out that she was already dead. Pepper had just shaken her head, shedding tears as she told Morgan, "We managed to bring her back. But, she died protecting everyone."
Tony stood on the dock at the lake, looking at the pendant he held in his hand. A small 'S' on a silver chain. Pepper had soon joined him, a bouquet of flowers in hand. She had found Eden's favorites, tiger lilies, pink irises, and babies' breath. She placed a hand on Tony's arm, nodding to let him know that it was time.
The Avengers had gathered at the docks, Tony and Pepper at the forefront with Peter and Morgan next to them. The young man had made a small pendant in the shape of a spider, his initials next to Eden's, and placed it in the bouquet. He pursed his lips as he placed his shaking hands in his pockets, fighting the tears that threatened to spill over.
Tony looked at his dysfunctional family, thankful for their support. Turning, he crouched down, placing the bouquet atop the calm water. He kissed his fingers, laying them against the nameplate he had engraved for her. "I love you 3,000, princess," he whispered, hoping that, wherever she was, she could hear him.
Tony, along with the Avengers, their allies, and Peter Parker, never let the world forget their fallen hero. A memorial was erected in her honor, a statue of her likeness standing in the middle of a fountain. Beneath her likeness, one of her favorite quotes, one that Tony, Peter, Pepper, Happy, Rhodey, and everyone else reminded themselves of every day.
'The ones we love never truly leave us. Not so long as we remember them.'
Did I just write one of the saddest things I've ever written in a while? Absolutely. Am I sorry? Not one bit. Did I cry while proofreading? Damn sure I did. Please don't hate me.
Also, if you follow my Mummy fic, I promise, I'm going to try and update soon!