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Odin and Loki were walking through the halls of the Palace, enjoying the quiet peace that had settled over Asgard.

In the distance from where they are, a group of young maidens are walking together. In the midst of them Loki sees his betrothed is in conversation with another one of the young women. They're laughing together, and Loki is relieved to see her making friends among the Asgardians, for her doesn't want her to be lonely after they've wed.

They are precisely one month away from when they would exchange vows not be all of Asgard but a good portion of it. Eva's family will also be at the ceremony that Odin had agreed to officiate as both the King of Asgard, and as the father of the groom.

Loki had hesitated at the idea of Odin having such a huge role in their wedding, but Eva had thought it would be a good idea as it would help to continue to heal the rift between them.

He'd bowed to her wisdom.

Suddenly, Eva looked in his direction, her face lighting up when she saw him, and she waved.

He returned her wave, and was suddenly aware of the fact Odin was watching him closely.

"Have care, Loki. For while she seems to be strong, vital, and beautiful now, all too soon she will wither, then die. And she will do far sooner than you will."

Loki was taken aback by his words, and then he grew angry, "How can you say such things when we are to soon wed?"

"Mayhap you will not believe me when I say this, but my words are not intended to be cruel. They are a simple reminder of the folly which you are about to enter into with your union with the Midgardian woman. Her people are fragile creatures as they are born, live, and they die after such the blink of an eye for us. It is the way of things concerning them."

"But does a shorter lifespan means she is weak? Eva may not be as powerful as a single warrior of Asgard, but she has qualities that I admire. She is endlessly kind, and an indomitable strength of character that I admire."

With a nod, Odin acknowledged Loki's words, "It is true that that mortals, especially those of Midgard, have some admirable traits. Even so, it is their mortality that makes them weak when compared to us. When compared to them, we have life eternal, and we are far more powerful than they will ever be."

He thought about Odin's words for a moment. He knows there is truth to what Odin said. He knows that mortals are weak in some ways, but that didn't necessarily make them lesser beings than those who dwelt in Asgard. Yet he knows he cannot condemn Odin for perhaps having such thoughts as he himself once thought of humans as being less than the dust on his boot.

"I concede your point, Father," Loki said, "Nevertheless I still see Eva as the remarkable woman she is, despite her mortality."

"I do not doubt that she is a remarkable woman, my son, as she has been able to capture your heart so completely. But you must bear in mind she is also fragile and mortal."

"I will, Father. Now if you will excuse me, I must go seek out Thor."

Odin dismissed him, and as he watched him go, his old battle hardened warrior's heart ached for both of his sons. For they both loved mortal women, and sailed in seas that had a false calm now. He knew that when the two women they loved breathed their last, both of them would find themselves lost in the raging seas of grief, to perhaps perish on the razor sharp rocks of its shores before they returned to shore.

If they ever did.

Odin prayed they would not perish.
 
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It's a typical Friday evening at Stark Industries, and Tony was very restless. He'd just finished a big deal and he was looking for a way to loosen up and wind down. Naturally not knowing what else to do, he turned to alcohol.

Tony headed back to his lab, and he pulled out a bottle of his favorite whiskey. He took a long swig from the burning drink, and then he made his way to the office of Pepper Potts. He really doesn't know **why**. Perhaps he just wanted some company. Or perhaps he just wanted to confess to something that had been on his mind from the first moment he has met Miss Potts.

Pepper was surprised when she looked up and saw Tony standing in the doorway with a whiskey bottle in his hand.

"Uh why are you here, Tony?" she asked.

"I just wanted someone to talk to is all," he slurred.

Resisting the urge to sigh, Pepper motioned for him to have a seat, since she knew better than to try to argue with him when he's drunk. Tony sat down in the chair across her desk, and he took another swig from his bottle.

"You know what I've been thinking bout a lot lately, Pepper?" Tony asked, his words slurring a bit.

"What have you been thinking about?" she asked, actually curious

"Bout us," Tony answered, actually looking a little embarrassed.


"What about us?" Pepper asked, confused.

"Well, I... I think that I'm in love with you. That's what!"

His words were even more slurred than before, so it took her a moment to figure out what he'd said. Pepper couldn't help her gasp, as her eyes widened in shock. The last thing she'd expect was for Tony Stark, the self-proclaimed notorious playboy as well as commitment-phobe, to confess his love for her. She honestly didn't know what to say, but she had to say something.

"Tony, I don't-" Pepper started to say, but Tony cut her off.

"I know, it's likely just the whiskey doing the talking but I really **do** care about you, Pep. You're they only one who has ever been able to put up with my crap for so long!"

In spite of his drunken state, there was a sincerity in his voice that was rear for her to head from him, and Pepper couldn't help her smile that arose from what he'd said.

"You know, I care about you too, Tony," she admitted, reaching over her desk to touch his hand, "But you have to realize your judgement is being clouded by the alcohol. Why don't we talk about this again after you've slept it off and sober? Hmm?"

Tony nodded, his eyes closing as if he was already drifting off into a drunken slumber. Pepper helped him up from the chair and led him out of her office, making sure he got safely into his car, and that Happy would take him home before she returned to her own work.

When she returned to her desk, Pepper could not help but wonder if it was the alcohol doing all the talking, or had Tony meant what he'd said to her? Maybe the alcohol was to blame but something in her told her Tony's words hadn't been just the ramblings of a drunken man. As she went back to work, she supposed that only time would tell the truth.

As she sat at her desk, Pepper couldn't help but wonder if Tony truly meant what he had said. Maybe the alcohol really was to blame, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that maybe there was some truth to Tony's words. Only time would tell.

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Once in the land of Asgard, Loki was spending some exquisite time with his beloved daughter, Sigyn. They were on their rare visits to the Palace, and were spending some time walking through the gardens. Sigyn loved and was delighted by the colorful flowers and the fragrant smells.

"Father, why do some flowers grow taller than others do?" Sigyn asked, as she craned her little neck to look up at them."

Loki's grin contained mischief as he answered, "Well, little snowflake, it's all a matter of how much they've grown as nature dictates. And nature dictates that some flowers are destined to grow bigger and stronger than others." 

Sigyn wrinkled her nose that was so like her mother's, in thought, "But what does nature have them grow at all??

Loki chuckled, "Well, it is nature's way of ensuring that everything and everyone can survive and thrive. Some things grow to be big and tall, while others will stay small and delicate."

His daughter scowled, deep in thought, "But what about me, Father? Will I grow big and tall like the flowers do?"

Loki knelt down beside her, his expression going soft as he looked up into her eyes, "Of course you will, my little snowflake. You grow up to be very strong and as brave as your mother.

Although she'd never known her mother, Sigyn beamed with pride at the mention of her mother. As they continued to walk, she continued peppering her father with question after question. Loki could not help but marvel at how much his daughter had grown in both physical and intellectual.

"Boy, Father, grown-ups sure so know bunches and bunches of stuff, don't they?" the little girl remarked, her gaze holding adoration for her father.

Loki smiled at her, "Yes, we certainly do. But do not worry, my little snowflake. Even when you all grown-up and a beautiful young woman, I will always be here to teach you new things."

Then with a sigh of contentment, father and daughter continued their walk hand-in-hand, basking not in the warmth of Asgard's sun, but of each other.
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Although Loki and Eva had been together for years now, it wasn't until recently that he had come to realize that she had completely enchanted him. He had always been a mischievous trickster, leaving chaos behind him wherever he went, and apparently Eva was the only one who could keep up with him.

"Eva minkjære, have you ever stopped to consider how you have enchanted me?" Loki asked one day as they worked in their garden together.

Eva raised an eyebrow, and wiped her forehead, surprised by the sudden question, "You find me enchanting?" she asked as she gestured to the dirt in her face. "Looking like this?"

Loki stepped closer to her, "I mean it, minkjære. In the most literal sense. You have cast a spell over me, and I am hopelessly bewitched by the power you hold over me."

Eva laughed, "What makes you think that?"

He smiled, "It is simple, my love. I cannot get enough of you, and every time my eyes behold you, I become all the more entranced. Your unparalleled beauty, your razor sharp wit, and your intelligence are all more than I know how to handle."

Warmth spread throughout Eva, "I never dreamed I would be able to enchant such a notorious trickster."

"And I never dreamed I would fall in love with a woman of Midgard. But I have, and I never ever want to be freed from your spell, minkjære. My heart would stop beating if I ever am. Be mine forever?"

Eva looked into his eyes, "Of course, minkjærlighet. Of course, I will! My heart stop beating too if I were to lose you!"

A bird's nearby call shattered the moment, and Loki said, "Come, we have worked enough for today." He held out a hand towards her.

Eva considered arguing for a moment, then took his hand with her hand covered one, and together they returned to the inside of their cottage.
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Loki had never expected to ever visit Earth in way that wasn't a brief visit to the planet — not after what he did to their city of New York. It did not matter that twenty of their years had gone by or that he himself had spent many of those years imprisoned on Asgard by Odin's orders. Although he'd set foot on the world many times since, those visits had always been fleeting and he knew they must remain always so.

So when he spends two weeks on Midgard, exploring one of its countries with his wife, he cannot help but feel the wonder of being on Earth each and every moment he shared with Eva. They'd been married almost three years when she asked him if it would be possible for them to have a honeymoon together on Earth in England. At first, he'd said no it would be impossible but then he had talked with Frigga about how he could use his limited magic to bring it about.

Frigga had agreed to help him, and after long talks with Odin, the visit on Earth with granted. Loki would be free to disguise himself to those on Midgard, but only if he agreed to allow Heimdall to watch him at all times. At first that seemed an invasion of privacy, but Heimdall swore an oath he would honor Loki's privacy when it came to certain matters.

Now, on this day in the middle of their two week honeymoon in the country of England, they found themselves strolling in the lush, vibrant green countryside. The landscapes were breathtaking he had to admit, and the quaint stone cottages fascinated not only him but Eva. On this day, Eva wanted to see the ruins of an old castle.

As they neared the castle, the air was thick with an air of mystery. Moss covered the walls, and the remnants of the castle's once strong towers stood as testaments of a forgotten era. The sun's fading light filtered through the trees, casting an ethereal glow on the ruins.

Eva, so adventurous and inquisitive like her father, turned to Loki with a playful gleam in her eyes, "I've heard the local says this is a haunted place. Do you believe in ghosts?"

Loki regarded her with a smirk, his eyes twinkling as he answered her, "Oh, my dear Eva, it's a mere matter of perception when it comes to ghosts. As a trickster and conjurer or magic, I've encountered much supernatural phenomena, but ghosts... well I suppose they have their own elusive charm."

Understanding her husband's ever-curious nature, she smiled. She took a hold of his hand, and then led him deeper into the ruins of the castle, with its forgotten grandeur. The wind whistled through the cracks, bearing on it echoes of the past.
 
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Tony was just finishing up making breakfast for his family when his daughter Eva walked into the kitchen wearing a pair of brightly colored socks. The socks caught Tony's eye, and when he looked down at his own feet, he was surprised to see his socks matched Eva's perfectly. He grinned and lifted her up and they showed off their socks to each other, happy to have matched each other without meaning to.

Pepper walked into the kitchen next, and caught a peek at their matching socks. She shook her head and said with a smile, "Look at you two! Matching socks and everything!"

Later in the day, while Tony and Eva are watching a movie together, Ethan came walking through. He'd spent the night on his Uncle Jimmy's floor, and had yet to see their socks. He stopped, and looked at their matching socks, then asked, "Are you guys seriously wearing the same socks?"

Tony glanced at his daughter, and they burst out laughing. He wrapped his arms around Eva, and informed his son, "You know what they always say - the family that wears matching socks stays together!" Ethan rolled his eyes as they laughed again.

"Oh you guys are so silly!"

It was from that moment on, Tony and Eva always made it a point to wear matching socks whenever they could. It was a small tradition they'd started by accident on Sunday morning, but it was one they are happy that got started as it brought them closer together. They don their matching socks whether they're getting ready for school or just lounging around the penthouse, they always had on a fun pair of colorful socks. And each and every time they wore them, they were reminded of their special bond they had together as father and daughter.
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Ethan seated himself at the small table at the window, then placed a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of coffee in front of his father with care. He hated to admit to himself how fragile his father looked these days, what being wheelchair bound. But at least Ethan could smile at how sharp his Dad's mind still was.

Sharp as ever!!!

"Morning, Dad!" Ethan said with cheer.

"Morning, Ethan," Tony replied, carefully taking a sip of his coffee. "What's for breakfast today?"

"Just some oatmeal. It's good for you," Ethan said with a smile.

Tony rolled his eyes. "Since when did oatmeal become gourmet cuisine?"

"Since you became a health nut a few years back!" Ethan teased, remembering when his father's obsession started and how much it'd increased along with his age.

Tony chuckled, "Touché. So, what's on the agenda for today?"

"You've got a doctor's appointment at eleven. Remember?" Ethan said as he flipped through his Dad's caledar

"Oh, that's right! I remember now! My memory's not what it was once upon a time!" Tony sighed.

Speaking of memory... "Hey, Dad, do you remember that Avengers cereal they used to have when Eva and I were kids?"

Tony's brow furrowed. "Avengers cereal?"

"Yeah, it had all the little marshmallow shapes in it," he said, and laughed, "Eva and I used to fight over who got the Iron Man one after she started eating that kind of cereal too!"

Tony thought about it a second then his face lit up with the memory, "Oh yeah! I remember it now! Your Mother always fussed when I used to give you and your sister that cereal without any fruit in it!"

"Yeah, that's the one!" Ethan said with a smile, but a wisp of sadness overtook him thinking about his late Mom, "It's funny how thing stay with you, you know?" He raised the spoon of oatmeal to his Dad's mouth.

Tony nodded, lost in the memories of those days long past, his dear Pepper gone for several years now. He couldn't help the sadness he felt now because the past was forever in the past. His life had been filled with so much adventure, and excitement then, but now he was in a wheelchair, dependent on hos son and daughter for his daily needs.

At the same time though, he was grateful to his kids for their devoted love and care of him. He might be quite old now, but he still had so much love to give and experience.

"Don't worry, Dad. We'll make sure you get some Iron Man marshmallows in your cereal tomorrow," Ethan said, sensing his father's somber mood.

Tony's face brightened up, "Sounds like a plan."
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"Sigyn, sweetheart, are you all packed up?" Pepper asked as she entered her granddaughter's room.
 
"Almost, Gam Gam!" the little girl answered her.
 
Pepper paused when she caught sight of Sigyn's fiery red hair, its vibrant hue lighting up the room.
 
She was so focused on pushing something into one of the knapsacks that had accompanied her from Asgard two weeks ago, and she hadn't noticed her grandmother entered the room. This allowed Pepper to observe silently.
 
She's so much like Eva when she was that age!, she thinks as she watches her granddaughter. Sigyn stuck out her tongue in concentration, just as her mother used to when faced with a challenging task. Pepper couldn't help but smile, reminded of her daughter's playful spirit. Eva lives on this little wonder she made with Loki....
 
"Gam Gam?"
 
Pepper blinked and realized that Sigyn had stopped what she was doing.
 
"What's wrong, Gam Gam?" Sigyn asked, sliding off the bed, and coming over to her.
 
She brushed aside a lock of the little girl's hair, and forced a smile, "Nothing, sweetie."
 
"You sure, Gam Gam? You look sad."
 
"I do?"
 
"Yeah."
 
Pepper's heart sank, a pang of longing washing over her as memories of her daughter flooded her mind. She forced a smile, not wanting to burden Sigyn with her sorrow. She wrapped her arms around the little girl. "I guess I am just a little sad. You look so much like your Mommy when she was your age that I started to think about her, and thinking about her made me miss her."
 
"Oh."
 
"Yeah."
 
Grandmother and granddaughter stay that way for a moment or two before Sigyn wiggles out of Pepper's arms, and returned to the bed. The moment has passed, and Pepper shook off the residual feelings before she walked over to the bed where Sigyn has resumed her struggle.
 
"Here, sweetie, let me help you with that," Pepper said, pulling the knapsack over, "What's all this you're trying to put back in here?"
 
Sigyn watched as her grandmother pulled out the contents of her bag, "It's all the  new things you and Pop Pop have given me while I've been here on Mid... Earth! I want to take it back to Asgard with me!"
 
"Oh, I see," her grandmother responded with amusement, "Well, let's see if I can't help you get it all packed so it'll fit. Okay?"
 
"Okay."
 
Pulling out the contents of the bag, she placed the items on the bed. Despite the difficulty of getting them packed, they'd only gifted the little girl with a few items. They had known she would want to take them back to Asgard with her when her father arrived to take her back home, and they didn't want to over do things. Mostly what they'd given her were some books, three games, and a few toys that Pepper doubted could be found on Asgard. The packing of Sigyn's knapsack went more smoothly with Pepper's experience of packing luggage, and soon there were only two items left on the bed. 
 
"These too, Gam Gam! I want to take these with me too!" the girl proclaimed, holding up the items.
 
What she was holding up were two long red gloves that had been decorated by a child to resemble Iron Man's gauntlets. They were kinda faded, and the frayed around the edges, and Pepper had been sure Sigyn would even want them before she had presented them to her granddaughter.
 
She took one from the child, and asked, "Are you sure you want to take them to Asgard, Siggy? I mean they're a bit faded and don't look all that Asgardian."
 
Sigyn would not be discouraged, "No, they don't, Gam Gam, but that's why I like them. But I want them because they were Mommy's and you said I could have them."
 
Ah, there was the real reason Pepper didn't want to pack them to be taken away with her granddaughter. The two Iron Man gloves had belonged to her own little girl once upon a time. Eva had spent hours playing with her brother and cousins, insisting that she was Iron Man when they said she couldn't be because she was a girl!
 
"Gam Gam? Please can I take them with me, Gam Gam? So I can have something with me that was my Mommy's?" Sigyn begged.
 
Pepper swallowed, took a deep breath, and nodded, "Of course, you can take them. Just promise me that you'll be careful with them and look after them."
 
"I will, Gam Gam, I promise."
 
After one last look at them, Pepper folded the gloves and placed them into the knapsack.
 
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"Are you ready to go, Sigyn?" Loki asked as he stops outside the closed door of his daughter's room.

"Almost, Father!" Her muffled voice responded.

"Darling, what are you doing?" He asked after hearing a series of slamming going on.

"Nothing!"

"If you are doing nothing, snowflake, then pray why am I hearing such—" The rest of his inquiry was cut off when his daughter's scream was followed by the sound of something of a fair size hitting the floor.

Upon hearing the crash, Loki quickly turned the doorknob and pushed open the door. The scene before him was a whirlwind of chaos. Clothes lay strewn across the floor like a colorful tapestry, with his daughter at the heart of it, half covered with more of her garments.

His eyes widened in disbelief as he took in the disarray even as amusement tugged at the corners of his mouth. Since her head was covered by one of her cloaks, he crossed the room, and lifted it from her face, "Sigyn, what happened here?"

"I...I.." the little girl, then dropped her head.

"You were trying to fetch something off of the top shelf of your wardrobe again, weren't you," He stated without asking.

"Yes, Father, I was," she murmured quietly.

"Stand up please."

His daughter got to her feet.

"What have we discussed about this, Sigyn?" he asked solemnly.

"That... that I'm not to climb on the shelves in my wardrobe because it's dangerous. They could break or I could lose my grip and fall and get hurt," she answered still looking down.

Loki lifts her chin up, and looks her in the eye, "Yes, you mayhap be hurt if either should happen. I do not want you to ever do it again, Sigyn. You are to ask me to help you if there is something that you want and cannot reach. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Now, as for the matter of your disobedience in this, your punishment shall be for you to muck out, on your own, Drifa's stall for an entire week after we return from Høstgudstjeneste. Do you understand this, Sigyn"

Her eyes are bright with tears as she nodded her head, "Yes, sir."

He allowed the decree to sink in for another moment, then he asked, "Now tell please me what you were trying to find when this happened?" He waved his hand over the mess in the room.

"I was trying to find the gloves Gam Gam gave me on Midgard. I want to take them with me."

Ah, the gloves her grandmother the Midgard woman had given her. Sigyn had told him the story of them belonging to her own mother when she was a child the first time he'd seen her playing with them on. He certainly approved her of her having anything that once belonged to his beloved wife, but the fact they were made to resemble the gauntlets of his once enemy were a bit much.

"I am sorry, snowflake, but you will have to leave them here," Loki informed her.

Her lips turned down in a frown, "But why, Father?"

"Well for one thing, you do not know where they are at this moment do you?"

"No, Father."

"Then there is your reason why. Now, come let us—"

"But I want to wear them to the Gratitude Ball, Father!" Sigyn said, crossing her arms, and stomping her foot.

Loki frowned at her now as she was close to a tantrum, and in the most serious tone he replied to her, "Sigyn, I have told you that we do not have time for you to look for them. If you wanted to take them with us, you should have located them before the day and hour of our departure. Now, come with me outside to await our ride to the city."

She opened her mouth.

He held up a finger, "Not another word, Sigyn, or you will be mucking out Drifa's stall for two weeks. Am I understood?"

Sigyn clearly was not happy, but she nodded her understanding.

"Alright, please pick up your bag of the other things you wish to take with you, and let us depart." The mess of her room would have to wait until they came home to be picked up.

With that, father and daughter stepped out of their cottage home to await the skiff that was to take them to the Palace. Loki tried talking with his daughter as they waited, but Sigyn was more interested in moping over her favorite gloves. After they were waiting more than ten minutes, Loki almost gave in and told her she could go look once more for them as he hated to see her unhappy. But he kept his silence as he knew it was better not to let her have her way. He also knew after they were departed for the city, her spirits would brighten, and by the time the' reached their destination, she would be the easygoing child she had always had been.

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With the vast blackness of space stretched out in every direction before them, both Gamora and Nebula who are sisters not by choice by the machinations of Thanos, stood by one another on the deck of the Benatar. Wounds, they had so many open wounds of the past between them that thanks to recent events, they had finally started to close. They were slowly becoming friends instead of adversaries.

As they looked out upon the beauty of space, a somber quiet filled the atmosphere. Finally, when she could take the tense silence no longer, Gamora turned to her sister, "Nebula, we've come a very long way since we were children and warriors under Thanos. We've been through a lot on our own and together. I don't know how you feel but I feel as though we're stronger together than when we are apart."

Nebula nodded, a glint of sadness tempered by resilience in her cybernetic eye, "Yes, Gamora, we have learned that we are more strong joined together than when we're fighting each other or when we are just alone."

With conviction in her voice. Gamora went on, "Alone we can do so little, but when we're together, we can and will be able to accomplish great things. I believe we even have the ability to change the course of the galaxy and make a difference."

Nebula turned away from the port, "You know, I never thought I would find solace in anyone else, especially not you. But through you, I realize that I can make my own choices, follow my own destiny. Thanos does not own me."

Nebula's gaze shifted from the stars to her sister. A flicker of gratitude shone in her eyes. "I never thought I would find solace in another person, especially not in my own sister. But you've shown me that we can choose our own destiny. Let's make a promise to each other that no matter what challenges we face ahead, we will always face them together."

Gamora nodded in agreement, "Yes, let's promise that. Let's also promise to lay down our past forever. Never again will we let it come in between us. Together, we can be a force to be reckoned with. We can be unstoppable."
 
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Pepper gasped as she looked out, "Wow, Tony, look at the view!"

Tony smiled but his eyes are not looking at what hers are as they're firmly turned to her, "How could I not look? This is the... one of the most beautiful sights I've seen in a long time."

She continued to be oblivious of his gaze, or does she? Her eyes are still glued to the city below, "Did you know this only took them two years to build it? Amazing, isn't it?"

"Absolutely incredible!" Tony replied, his voice dreamy.

Pepper noticed, and she turned to look at him with that foolish look on his face, "Tony what—"

Suddenly in the distance came a loud disturbance, shattering the moment. Once Tony turned to see what it was, he didn't hesitate to jump off and deploy his Iron Man suit.

As he flew off towards danger, Pepper didn't know whether to be happy that the interruption had come or disappointed because never had she seen Tony Stark look at her in such a way before.

 
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Pepper was hard at work in her study, reports and other paperwork related to the founding of a new company littering her desk top. She'd spent enough time as CEO of Stark industries to have grown accustomed to the demands of such work but she had no idea that laying the foundations of an entirely new company would be so challenging. As soon as she finished writing the sentence she was currently on, Pepper turned her eyes away from the screen, and immediately they fell upon the picture of her daughter.

Eva was five years old now with more curiosity and wonder than either she or even Tony sometimes knew what to do with. She's a perfect combination of both of her parents with her mother's feisty spirit and Tony's brilliant mind. Pepper loves Eva beyond any boundaries or measure, and she treasures each chance she gets to making unforgettable memories with her daughter. 

On a day where the sun was shining so brightly, Pepper received an invitation to attend a charity ball that was being hosted by the Maria Stark Foundation — an origination that Tony had founded in honor of his late mother. As she opened the invite and read, she soon realized it was a girl's only invite. The theme of the charity ball was "Pearls and Lace", which was a nod to Maria Stark's exquisite taste in both jewelry and fashion. With a smile, she accepted the invitation, knowing it was the perfect occasion to share a special night with her daughter.  

Excitement danced in the air when Pepper showed the invitation to Eva. Her daughter's eyes twinkled with ardor, "Mommy, will I have a beautiful dress too?" Eva asked, her voice teeming with enthusiasm.

Pepper gave her a warm smile and replied, "Of course, you may, sweetheart. Now, let's find the perfect dress for you that'll match the ball's theme." After making sure the guys in their aka Tony and Ethan would be okay without them, they left to go on a shopping adventure, and visited the city's most upscale boutiques.

It was in a small boutique tucked away on a charming street where they discovered a breathtaking dress. It was adorned with delicate lace patterns and shimmering pearls, the epitome of elegance. As Eva twirled in front of the mirror, her laughter filled the room, making Pepper's heart nearly burst with joy.

Finally when the night of the charity ball arrived, Pepper watched as Eva fluttered about the penthouse, eager to have her turn to get ready. Then the moment came when they were both standing in front of the full-length mirror, and Pepper couldn't help but marvel at their reflections. She was dressed in a gown that stunningly highlighted her poise and grace, while Eva was vision in her tiny pearl and lace dress.

Eva clasped her Mommy's hand as they descended the grand staircase, stepping into a world of glamour tempered by the philanthropic reason they were all here for the night. The ballroom was dazzling with bright chandeliers and tables adorned with shimmering pearls and lace.

While Pepper mingled with the other attendees, she couldn't help but take note of Eva watching her interactions with pride. But watching her Mommy with interest only last so long with the little girl, and soon she was talking to the ladies in the room on her own. One thing she was not as Tony Stark's daughter was shy!

In the midst of the elegant affair, Eva's eyes turned to a quiet corner of the ballroom where an elderly sat alone. As she watched the lady for a little while, Eva began to wonder why she was alone. She thought the lady looked sad, and so she ventured across the room.

"Hello," the little girl said sweetly, "Would you like me to stay with you and talk to you since you don't have anyone to talk to?"

The lady's eyes brightened with gratitude, and she nodded at Eva, "I'm Mrs. Montgomery, dear. What's your name?"

"My name is Eva. Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Mont...Monty!"

The woman smiled, as she realized that the child didn't quite know how to pronounce her name.

Later, that evening when they were on their way home from the ball, Eva exclaimed, "Tonight was so fun and magical, Mommy!"

Pepper leaned over and kissed the top of Eva's head, "Yes, baby, it really was. And while pearls and lace might be beautiful, it's the kindness and love we show others that makes life truly remarkable."

"You mean like me and Mrs. Monty?" Eva asked.

Placing an arm around her daughter's shoulders, Pepper murmured, "Yes, my love, like you and Mrs. Monty."
innitmarvelous_og: (Default)
[personal profile] innitmarvelous_og
James Rhodes, highly regarded as War Machine to the world, has been so much throughout his years of service. Years ago, he'd been paralyzed from the waist down at the German airport, and while some would have let that be the end of them, he didn't. He had fought back to return to walking, and thanks to a little help from Tony's special apparatus, he had walked again. Yet, with every battle and every victory, that had followed especially after the loss of Tony, it had all started to feel hollow to him.

Rhodey had been thinking about retiring from not only being War Machine, but also from the military. At his age, the constant battles have taken its toll on his body, and he knew he just couldn't keep fighting forever. Tony's death had rocked him down to his very core, and he been questioning if this life was really worth it anymore.

One day, when he was in his quarters of the rebuilt Avengers Compound packing, he heard a familiar voice behind him ask, "Going somewhere?""

He turned around, and saw the holographic version of his late best friend, and a pang of sadness hit him again, "Yeah, I just retired."

The Tony-hologram chuckled, but it was a chuckle without mirth, "You know, I really thought that the two of us would retire together. That we'd be old men, sitting on a beach somewhere exotic, and we'd be downing Mai Tais while we talked about the days we were out here kicking bad guys butts!"

Rhodey couldn't help but smile as he thought about the absurdness of getting to live a quiet, retired life together with Tony. Then the sadness that would never happen now hit him. He sighed, "Yeah, that would have been nice."

"But of course the universe had other plans," Tony-hologram said, flicking a second, "But I'm glad you're retiring, Rhodey. You've done more than enough for the world. It's time you looked after yourself first!"

Rhodes felt a weight lift off of his shoulders, "Thanks... Tony. I'll miss you." Even if you're not the real deal, you're the closest I've got now.

Tony-hologram gave him a warm smile, one of satisfaction and the knowledge that Thanos had been stopped once and for all time. Then the hologram smirked, "I know. But I'm always going to be with you, in some way or another."

With that, Tony-hologram vanished leaving Rhodey alone to finish packing which he did. Once he was finished, he took one last look around the room, then walked out of the door to get started on whatever the rest of his life would be. This might not be the retirement he'd dreamed of, but whatever came next was a new chapter of his life, and he was eager to get it started.
innitmarvelous_og: (Default)
[personal profile] innitmarvelous_og
Tony was in his workshop with dozens of holographic displays lit up showing various projects he has been working on when Rhodey entered the room. When he took a quick glance over, he noticed that his BFF had on his War Machine armor.

Rhodey took off his armor, leaving it to be a silent sentry with the rest of its metal brothers, and then he walked over to Tony, "Hey, Tony, I don't know why but I've been thinking about our recent victories a lot. It's unbelievable what we've been able to do together."

When Tony glanced up from his work, Rhodey thought his friend looked wearied, and when Tony actually spoke, he confirmed it.

"Yeah, I know we've have some big successes, but you know what they say, Platypus: Success is not final."

Rhodey gave a nod as he understood the sentiment that went behind Tony's words, "You know, you're right about that, Tony. I mean success is just a passing moment in time, right? It's what we do next that actually matters."

Tony leaned back, and stretched out his legs, lacing his fingers behind his head, "You know, we have saved the world so many times, but there will always be a new threat coming down the road in the future. We can't stop to rest on any kind of applause we might have gotten for our heroics. No, we have to keep looking forward, and try to be ready for whatever might come."

Rhodey nodded, and after a few seconds of silence, he motioned for Tony to get up, "Now if we're all done philosophizing, I need you to take a look at my armor. I'm having some issues."

With another stretch, Tony got up, and gestured for him to lead the way, "You started it, you know."

"What? Started what?"" Rhodey said on his way back to his armor.

"The philosophizing!" Tony retorted, making air quotes with his fingers even if Rhodey wasn't looking at him right then.

"I did not!"

"Did too!"

"Yes, you did!"

"No, I didn't!"

Yes, you—"

Rhodey threw up his hands, "Okay, maybe I did! Can we please just get on with looking at the armor?"

Tony smirked at him, and said, "So tell me, what seems to be the problem?"
innitmarvelous_og: (Default)
[personal profile] innitmarvelous_og
T'Challa had just returned from his journey to the ancestral planes, where he had met his father, T'Chaka. He was sitting in his private chambers, staring at art images that represented both Bast and Sekhmet.

"Baba, you know I am not like Shuri, who scoffs at many of our traditional ways. I must admit that for the longest time, I did not truly believe that we are embraced by Bast after we die and we live on on the ancestral plane after we live life here. But now that I have seen you, I know it is, and we do live on. You live on!" T'Challa said out loud, speaking to the empty room.

A voice answered him, but not that of his father. Instead, the voice was that of his mother, Ramonda. "But of course he does, my son," she said, stepping out from the shadows. "Do you think that the bond between parent and child ever truly ends when death claims one of them?"

"Mother, I did not hear you come in," he said, standing up to greet her.

Ramonda gave him a warm smile, "I came to see how you were doing, after your journey to the ancestral planes," she said. "It makes me happy to see that you are in good spirits."

T'Challa returned her smile, "I am more than just in good spirits, Mother. I am overjoyed. I cannot express the relief I feel now that I know that Baba has not passed into nothing and that he lives on."

Ramonda nodded, understanding the depth of her son's emotions. "Your father was a great man, T'Challa. And he is not only to be found on the ancestral plane now but..." She laid her hand over his heart, "He is also here in your heart. For always. He is always with you, my son. You have only to look there if you are in need of him."

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