I want to start this update with some thanks. Snowecat has been on this journey with me since the very beginning of With Great Power and she's not let me down once. She's there in the comments each time and she even signed up to pre-read when I was struggling with this story. Not only is she a wonderful friend, she's a caring and kind person, too. Thank you so much hon xxx

7. Peter's True Fate

"Unless you can find a way to stop it, Peter is going to die."

Bucky's mind reeled and he tightened his grip on Peter to steady himself.

Peter made a small sound of shock and whispered, "Oh."

"Bud…" Bucky said helplessly, and then stopped trying to think of the words to comfort as Tony's furious roar echoed down the hall to them. "No! I've done this! We've all done this! We spent two of the best and worst years fighting to save him and we won—he's alive! He is not going to leave me now. He isn't." His voice cracked at the end.

"Neither of them are," Steve growled. "Understand?"

Of course, Bucky would die too. He'd not thought of it, and he didn't care that he would. What had turned his blood to ice was the thought of Peter dying.

He pushed aside his own feelings and focused on the person that mattered. Peter looked very small and very young; his rainbow eyes were glassy with tears, but his jaw was jutted with the strain of keeping those tears at bay. Bucky's heart sank, and he pulled Peter into his chest, wrapping his arms around him as though they ever had a chance of keeping him safe.

"It's okay, bud," he said. "He's wrong."

"He is." Peter pulled back and Bucky saw his eyes were now steely with determination, tears gone. "We're going to be fine. We can't die with The Stones."

Bucky knew that was true once, and he wanted to believe it was now, but he could feel Peter's pain through their connection where Peter had slipped in his control and his thoughts and feelings were bleeding through. Peter was scared, so Bucky was terrified. It was hard to tell where his pain ended and Peter's began.

Bucky reached for Peter again, wanting to hold him, but voices were coming back to them along the hall, and they drew both Peter and Bucky back to their family.

"Don't you think I want to be wrong?" their visitor said. "More than anything I wish Peter was going to live, in this world and mine, but I am not wrong."

"You have to be wrong," Rhodey said, sounding as young as Peter had looked. "You have to be."

"Because you want me to be? The world doesn't work that way, believe me. What I've wanted and needed has never come true. I am not wrong, but I am here to save him. He is not going to die because I am here. I am going to—"

He cut off as Bucky and Peter entered the common room and all eyes fell on them. Bucky could see the mirror of his pain in all their faces, even their visitor's. Some wore their pain openly, like Wanda who had tears on her cheeks, and Vision, whose arm around her shook. Others, like Steve and Natasha showed their pain as anger. Tony was the one that Bucky looked to last, and he was the one that stole Bucky's breath because he had never seen Tony as purely enraged as this. Even as he was, without his suit or even a weapon, Tony had never looked more dangerous.

He stared at Peter, eyes wild with rage and chest heaving, and growled. "You are not dying. Do you hear me?"

Peter nodded and smiled, though Bucky could feel his sadness within. "I hear you, Dad."

Tony nodded, breathing hard through his nose, and then stared around the room, pointing an accusing finger at them each in turn. "You all hear? Peter is not dying!"

"That is why I am here," their guest said. "I came to warn you and help to save him."

"And we're grateful," Peter said quietly.

"Grateful!" Tony exploded.

Bucky felt it very clearly as Peter pushed down his pain and fear and focused wholly on being strong. He was proud of the strength it showed in Peter, but at the same time he hated that Peter needed to do it.

Peter crossed the room and uncurled Tony's tightly fisted fingers and placed his hand on his chest, palm over his heart. "I am going to be fine, Dad," he said with a smile that only Bucky knew was forced. "You know having The Stones means I can't die."

"I know," Tony said, his voice softer now, for Peter and Peter alone. "I'm going to make sure of it."

Peter smiled again, and this time it was genuine. "I know." He turned to their visitor and said, "Tony, why do you think I'm going to die?"

"Because we saw it. Strange allowed us to connect the Time Stone to I-Spy so we could look at your path." He averted his eyes and sounded embarrassed as he added. "I wanted to see if you had the future I'd always imagined for you."

Bucky wanted to ask if he did, if there was a chance for a college graduation, romance, marriage, a family outside The Avengers for Peter, but then his mind supplied the answer for him—no, they saw death.

"How did you see me die?" Peter asked, pressing Tony's palm harder into his chest as he started to protest, grounding his father with his heartbeat.

"In battle with Nemesis. We saw you surrounded by rainbow light, fighting as you were today. You are both hurting each other, not just you hurting Nemesis, and then—" He cut off breathing hard.

"I need to know, Tony," Peter said gently.

"But I don't know why it happened, how," Tony said. "You are fighting and then you just… drop…"

"Dead," Sam whispered.

"No!" Tony growled. "We're not doing that again. I won't. I can't."

"You won't have to," Peter said, though his eyes were distant.

"Bud?" Bucky prompted. "What are you thinking?"

"Obviously, I can't die now—I've got The Infinity Stones so it's impossible. But Tony saw what he saw so… There's a way to be sure. I need to talk to Time." He looked at Bucky. "Do you want to come?"

"Come?" Bucky asked doubtfully.

Peter winked and Bucky felt himself tipping back, his mind swimming and eyes blurring; when they focused he was in a strange facsimile of Tony's lab with six people that he recognized at once as Peter's physical approximations of The Infinity Stones. He was standing behind a chair on which Peter sat, fingers gripping the back in tight fists.

Power leaned back and examined Bucky with lazy interest. "Hmm, it's about time we met one of you assholes properly," he said.

"Power," Peter chided.

Bucky held up a hand. He thought he was going to have this opportunity once and once alone, and for the sake of everyone whom he loved and who loved Peter, he was going to make the most of it, no matter what Peter said. He stepped to the side and planted his hands on the table, leaning forward and glaring at Power. "You Are An Asshole," he said, each word hateful and enunciated.

Power raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me? Are you seriously talking to me?"

"I am," Bucky said, narrowing his eyes. "You are the asshole."

Power jumped to his feet, and Bucky forced himself not to flinch. He was a little worried that Power might melt his brain or something in revenge. Though he knew Peter would usually defend him, Peter was a little distracted.

"Power, sit down," Time said firmly. "Sit!"

Power remained standing, glaring daggers at Bucky, and Peter spoke up. "You know you deserved that from him, Power, so sit down."

Power's glare moved from Peter and softened into something more gentle, loving, as he looked at Peter. Bucky wouldn't have believed it had he not seen it himself. He'd accepted Mind cared for Peter, he'd witnessed the emotion, but now he saw that Power also loved Peter.

Power sat and Time leaned forwards, saying, "Sergeant Barnes, it is good to speak to you face-to-face at last."

"Yeah, a real damn treat," Power grumbled.

"Bigger fish, Power," Space said, and then turned to Time. "Do you have anything to say about Stark Mark II's announcement?"

Bucky's eyes snapped to Time and he held his breath, waiting anxiously.

"He misunderstood what he saw," "Time said. "It was a future I saw and not one that came to pass, and in that future Peter was seriously injured by Nemesis, that is what he saw and mistook for death," Time said, and Bucky breathed again, the breath becoming a laugh of relief as Time went on, "It was a future that existed before Peter trained to fight Nemesis. It will not happen now."

"Thank you," Peter said, calmly, as if he was thanking Time for handing him a soda and not assuring him of his continued existence. "We should go. We've got to tell the others before Tony gets too in their heads."

Bucky thought he was already pretty far in their heads from the reactions he'd seen, but he agreed they should go back and reassure them immediately.

"Wait!" Soul said urgently.

Peter frowned. "What's up?"

"The Tony that has come to this world is a man obsessed," she said. "He lost you and his best friend and never forgave himself for not being there to protect you."

"That's crazy," Peter said. "He couldn't exactly follow me around in the suit twenty-four-seven. What happened, happened. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine. I should have protected those worlds from Kaecilius."

"You couldn't," Reality said. "You know that."

"That doesn't matter," Soul cut in, her tone reminding Bucky that, though she looked like a child, she was actually an eternal and absolute being. "Though he has been told he cannot take you back to his world, that is what he wishes for more than anything. His soul cries out for you."

Peter looked startled for a moment, then sad and guilty.

"It's not your fault, bud," Bucky said. "You couldn't have saved yourself from Kaecilius, and you couldn't have saved Happy."

"Maybe," Peter said vaguely. "But Tony is hurting because of it. I know he's not my Dad, not really, but I wish I could help him."

"You can't," Soul said brutally. "And thinking you can is only going to hurt you."

Peter frowned. "It's not like he can force me to do anything."

"No, not force," Mind said. "But he can persuade."

"I won't leave my family for him," Peter said firmly. "Not for anything."

"So you believe now," Soul said, sounding old and weary.

"So I know," Peter said defiantly.

Mind and Soul exchanged a glance, and Power sat up straight and said, "You better get back, kid. You've got two Starks losing their minds this time around, and we all know that's not pretty.."

Peter laughed softly and then, as Power flicked his hand, disappeared.

Left alone with The Stones, with Power, Bucky braced himself for a fight, though how he was supposed to fight a source of the universe he didn't know.

However, Power waved a hand at Mind and said, "Say what you need to say."

Mind leaned forwards and said, "Peter isn't listening to us, but our warning is real. Stark does want him; his loss crushed him and seeing Peter again, seeing him alive and happy has created a burning desire to not lose him again. That is why he is obsessed with the outcome they saw with Time. Even though it is not going to happen, the chance has passed, Stark is not going to relax his hold on Peter."

Bucky frowned. "He's got a hold on him?"

Power scoffed. "Yes, asshole, he's got Peter's heartstrings and he's plucking out a waltz. You need to get rid of him."

"How do I do that?" Bucky asked.

"We don't know," Soul said. "And perhaps you can't, but you must guard Peter. He feels he owes that man to make up for the losses he suffered, and that will make his will weak."

Bucky struggled to imagine Peter weak and found he couldn't. Sure, Peter cared for this version of Tony by extension of who he was in this world, but he wasn't going to give them all up for him—give up Morgan.

"I think you're making too much of this," he said. "But I will keep an eye on him, for sure."

Power scoffed. "Yeah, that'll help."

Bucky opened his mouth to reply, but Power flicked his fingers and Bucky found himself back in the common room, The Stones gone, and Rhodey's voice in his ears. "So it wasn't you dying he saw, it was you getting messed up again, and that's not a possibility anymore?"

"Exactly," Peter said, his smile bright. "I get why you saw it, Tony, and that it looked worse than it was, because I have been trashed by them before. It was a possibility, happening again, before I went away with Nat and Carol to train. But you saw what happened today—I would have won if they'd not run away. I am going to be fine."

The atmosphere of the room was lighter than air now, the polar opposite of what it had been when Bucky and Peter left it. Peter was sitting on the couch beside his father. Tony himself looked elated, filled with relief at Peter's news.

Bucky felt it, too, he was giddy with relief at the news, but underneath that he had a sense of unease at what The Stones had told him.

He couldn't imagine anything that would make Peter leave his family behind, even to go to a world where there were alternate versions of them. It was more than who they were that bound them all together. They were all tied by the things that happened to them and the things they'd lived through.

Peter would never leave them behind willingly, and no one had the power to take the choice out of his hands.

So why were The Infinity Stones so worried?

Bucky tried to shake off the question and enjoy the good feeling in the room. Sam was calling for more drinks and Clint was suggesting music to turn it into a real party. Peter was chatting to his father animatedly, and the other Tony was watching with unmistakable jealousy burning in his eyes.

Peter shifted a little closer to his father and rested his head on his shoulder.

"You tired, kid?" the visiting Tony asked.

"Yeah," Peter sighed. "It's been a long day and it's not even half over."

"No kidding," Natasha said with a grin. "You should get some sleep. A nap. Bucky can go into the city with Steve to get what we need for dinner, and you can make it once you've gotten some rest"

"I think I will," Peter said, and then looked to their guest. "Will you be okay, Tony? Obviously, no one minds you hanging out here, but we've loads of spare rooms for you to use for privacy, or you can take mine and I'll bunk with Mo."

Steve narrowed his eyes, and Bucky had the distinct impression that Steve would be much happier if their visitor went home now his warning was proven unneeded. Bucky would be, too, as would The Infinity Stones.

"Or you can go home," Rhodey said, evidently on the same track as Steve. "Since you don't need to be here anymore."

Tony's eyes narrowed a little and he said, "I would go home, but I need to create the technology to facilitate the trip. The physical component of I-Spy works one way."

"That's okay," Rhodey said. "You tell us what you need, and me and Tony can make it tonight."

Peter frowned slightly. "You don't have to go straight away, Tony, but I can take you when you want to go."

He smiled at him, eyes fond, and said, "I'd like to have a little time with you before I am forced to go, even though…"

"Though what?" Tony asked, eyes narrowed and hand on Peter's chest in a pose that looked like a claim.

"No one's going to force you to do anything," Peter said firmly.

Judging from the looks on the faces of the other occupants of the room, they all had other ideas to Peter's. Bucky wanted him gone, too, wanted The Stones warning to no longer be relevant, but he wasn't going to be obvious about it. The situation needed careful handling.

"I'd like to spend some time with you, too," Peter went on with a soft smile. "But I don't think staying here is a good idea. It's going to confuse Morgan, having you here and looking like our Dad."

Peter didn't seem to notice, but Bucky did—their visitor flinched when Peter referred to Tony as his father. Bucky noted that he wasn't the only one to see it: Steve was watching him with narrowed eyes.

"I'll have to say goodbye to her, and we have to have our special dinner first," Peter went on. "And I have to explain why I have to go, but you and I can go into the city and stay at the tower for a while."

Their visitor smiled widely and said, "I'd enjoy that."

"I'll come with you, bud," Bucky said.

Bucky could feel Peter's confusion through their bond and see it in his furrowed brow, but he didn't question why Bucky was inserting himself in his time with this doppelgänger of his father. Instead, he said, "Actually, Buck, I need you to stay here. Nemesis are badly hurt, and I don't expect them to be in any position to attack for"—he blew out a breath—"weeks, but I'd like one of us to be close in case so The Stones are able to act instantly."

"You mean protect Morgan again like you did before?" Tony asked.

Peter nodded. "Well, obviously all of you, but Morgan… yeah. Nemesis couldn't have hurt any of you, obviously, but I guess I got a little helicopter brother when they showed up."

Tony grinned. "Pete, I'd want you to protect her out of us all, too. And I do understand why you've got to go away with, well, other-me, even though this whole thing is weird."

"Thanks, Dad," Peter said, then glanced at his watch and said, "If I'm not up in a few hours, can someone drag me out of bed?"

"Happily," Natasha said cheerfully.

Bucky stared between the two versions of Tony, wondering if he could use one to deter the other's wish to get Peter back to his world. Bucky assured himself that Peter loved Morgan more than almost anything and would never leave her willingly, but he loved Tony more, and that might translate to both versions of him.…

That was his fear.

However, Tony seemed at ease as he said to his double, "Obviously, people are going to think you're me if they see you and Peter together, so maybe keep a low profile and mind your manners."

His double raised an eyebrow. "Do you really mind your manners?"

"Yes," Natasha said. "He does. But don't worry—Peter can take care of any trouble that shows up."

There was the hint of a threat in her voice, and Bucky thought he'd found another ally in his mission to keep Peter here. He tested his theory by saying, "Nat, you'd like to spend some time with Peter and, uh, Tony, right?"

She narrowed her eyes and he tried to communicate his need with her. "Yeah. I could do that," she said.

Their visitor cleared his throat and said, "I'd prefer to have time with Peter alone if I can. I've not had time with him in years, not even shared time."

"That's fair enough," Tony said. "If it was me…" He shook his head, face pained. "Yeah, I'd want it, too. You and Pete have fun."

"We will," his double said. "We absolutely will."

As James Barnes disappeared, Mind sighed and looked down at the tabletop. "I hate to lie to them, to Peter most of all, but to Sergeant Barnes, after all he's done for us…"

"Yeah, well what choice do we have?" Power asked. "The kid's been through too much for us to tell him he's going to die, and if Barnes knew, Peter would know. You saw what a mess they were back in 2017 when they heard he was dying. Can you imagine him going through that again and hiding it from Peter. And it wouldn't make a difference anyway. It's on us to save him this time, so we get our heads down and work it out."

"I still don't understand how it could happen," Reality said, pushing her long hair back from her face. "He can only die if we…" She shook her head. "Why would we do that to him?"

"Because it will be his choice," Time said. "It each iteration of his death I've seen, it's his choice."

"But he would have crushed Nemesis today if they'd not taken off," Power said. "So what's going to change between now and then to make it go down like that?"

"I don't know," Time said. "I can't see. I only know it will unless we find a way to change it." He sighed. "We have to find a way. We have until his birthday to change his path."

"To save his life," Soul said quietly.

"To save Peter's life," Time agreed.

So… The Stones are little fibbers. The ending we are building towards is the one I have been thinking about since I first knew I wanted Nemesis to be the villain of the series, so around Spring 2020, and I can't tell you how good it feels to be getting there.

Until next time…

Jadey xxx