Countdown to the End of the World

“Mommy, I don’t feel good,” Morgan lied as soon as her mother came to wake her up for school. Her mother sighed.

“You do feel warm,” He mother said as she put her cool hand against Morgan’s face.

“Can I stay home?” Morgan mumbled pulling out her best sick voice.

“I have work, and you shouldn’t be home alone,” Her mother replied rubbing her back in gentle soothing circles.

“But daddy is home,” Morgan reasoned.

This had to work. She had plans that needed to be carried out.

“I don’t know how-”

“I mean we’ll both just be asleep all day, and I really don’t feel good…” Morgan added a little bit of an extra whimper to the last part. She had to sell this.

“Fine, alright. I’ll be sending uncle Rhodey to check in as soon as he is up,” Her mother agreed with a sigh, and got up, “Be good while I am gone, and don’t bug your dad. He had a rough night.”

Morgan knew. She knew the night had not been kind to her father. She had lain in the dark of her room, and she had heard him scream. A shiver crawled up her spine as she remembered how cold a terrifying the cries had been. She wished she could forget, but she couldn’t, so she would just fix it. She had a few ideas.

“I don’t feel like getting out of bed anyway,” Morgan lied.

“Alright baby, sleep well,” Her mother kissed the top of her head, “I’ll set some medicine out for you if you need it.”

“Bye mommy,” Morgan mumbled as her mother closed the bed room door.

She waited until she heard her mother’s car pull out of the driveway to get out of bed. She had honestly been expecting the heater vent trick to fail. She thought it was only the stuff of legend. Morgan slipped down the stairs, and stopped by the kitchen to retrieve a snack.

“Alright kiddo.”

Morgan nearly jumped out of her skin.

“What are you planning?”

Morgan closed the refrigerator door, and faced Happy who was standing with his arms over his chest. She hadn’t been expecting him to show up this early.

“I am going to make my dad better,” Morgan stated. The family body guard raised a skeptical eyebrow.

“This should be good.”

“It will be, and it will work.”

Tony woke to a small hand shaking his arm.

“Daddy, wake up.”

He opened his eyes to find Morgan’s face about two inches from his.

“Shouldn’t you be at school kiddo?” Tony groaned and closed his eyes again.

“She lied to her mother so she could stay home and try to get your depressed ass out of bed.”

Tony jerked his head up at the sound of Happy’s voice.

“It’s been four weeks Tones. It was about damn time we try to get you on your feet again,” Rhodey slipped into the room behind Happy.

“Rhodey we both know I’m not walking again,” Tony laughed coldly. He was not in the mood for an intervention right now. After last night he didn't want to do anything.

“Funny thing, when I broke my back I thought the same thing, but yet here I am.”

Tony scoffed. Physically the leg prosthetic took more energy and strength then walking normally. They took a strength that Tony just did not have anymore.

“I can’t guys. I’m sorry,” Tony said weakly. He knew he was letting them down, but he just could not do it.

“Tony-”

“Rhodey, please. Just don’t,” His voice cracked. They were only making the situation worse, “Please don’t argue. I can’t do it. I just don’t have the strength to do it- I’m- I’m sorry...”

“You can-”

“Rhodey please?!” Tony almost shouted.

“But-”

“Nothing out of you Hap.”

“Tony-”

“Please leave,” Tony’s order surprised him almost as much as it surprised his two friends. To his surprise they both did as he asked and left the room; Morgan followed them out, her head drooped.

Tony wished he could be strong enough to try to get on his feet again. He wanted to walk again. He wanted to try, but if the leg braces didn’t always work, and if he tried-if he let himself hope- and then it failed he was pretty sure he would lose it and probably end things. He didn’t want that, so instead he would sit here with knowledge that it might work. The knowledge that something might work was enough to keep him going, but the knowledge that it might not was also enough to keep him from failing.

Morgan watched angrily as Happy and Rhodey left. Both of them grumbling something about getting a drink. Her uncle did however leave behind the prosthetic walking braces. Morgan frowned at them.

Her dad had said he wasn’t strong enough. She didn’t believe him. He had fought a mad titan, and he had survived being stabbed and then spending close to a week with no food or water. He had come home and promptly turned right back around and fixed the broken world, and wasn’t even the half of crazy things he had lived through. Morgan hadn’t been alive for all of that, but she still knew it had been hell on him, and she also knew that it was completely unacceptable for him to give up now.

Morgan straightened herself up, and marched back to her parents’ room. Her dad was sitting up in bed staring up a the ceiling. She climbed into the bed next to him, and it wasn’t until she nestled close to him that she realized he was crying.

“What are you doing kiddo?”

“Don’t know,” Morgan admitted. She wanted to convince him to try to get back on his feet, but she wasn’t going to try just yet. She needed a game plan.

“Me to kid,” Her dad tucked his arm around her.

They sat in silence for a longtime. Morgan didn’t mind. She liked the peaceful quiet, and even more than that she liked sitting with her dad. He made her feel safe.

“Daddy?”

“Hmm?”

“What are you so afraid of?”

A heavy sigh escaped her father and his arm squeezed her a little closer to him.

“A lot of things,” Her father admitted.

“Me too."

At this her father chuckled. It wasn’t cold and hallow. It was genuine.

“What happened last night?” Morgan felt him stiffen next to her at this question, “You don’t have to answer.” Morgan added.

Her dad smiled down at her weakly, “Just a nightmare.”

For him nightmares were never just nightmares.

“Did I- Did I wake you up?” Her father asked, guilt thick in his tone. Morgan wanted to lie, and say that he didn’t, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it, so she nodded a little.

“I’m sorry kid,” Her dad apologized and pulled away from her slightly as if he thought putting some distance between them would protect her, or make up for him scaring her.

“It’s okay,” Morgan assure him and covered the gap between them that he had made. She leaned her head against his chest, “Bad dreams aren’t any fun.”

“Tell me about it.”

He hugged her a little closer to him, and stroked her hair.

“You know it wouldn’t hurt to try walking again,” Morgan ventured after a few minutes of silence.

He twitched nervously

“I can’t Moe. I’m sorry.”

“Why not?”

He sighed, “Because what if it doesn’t work?”

Morgan frowned. That was a lame excuse, but she still understood it.

“But what if it does work?” Morgan countered.

Her dad just shook his head.

“Please try,” Morgan pleaded.

She held her father’s gaze for a long time, using her eyes to plead with him. He would never get emotionally better if he didn’t try, if he didn’t do something.

He looked at her and nodded his head slightly a few times, “Alright. Alright Morgan I’ll try.”

Tony buckled the last strap on the leg braces, and gave his daughter an affirmative nod. All he had to do now was pull himself up. That would be it. It would either be a new path for him to take, or it would be the end of the line.

“It’s okay daddy,” Morgan patted his shoulder as she stood loyally beside him.

What if-

Tony cut off the doubts trying to claw their way to the surface. No more what ifs. He had come this far. He could try to go a little farther. He would do it for Morgan.

“Alright kiddo. Here I go.”

For the first time in four weeks Tony Stark stood up.

Pepper came home to the sound of laughing coming from the basement. She wondered briefly as she walked down the stairs if she was day dreaming. It was Tony’s laugh rising from the basement, and that was the last thing had expected to hear upon her return home. It was almost to good to be true.

Pepper found Tony sitting up right on the floor with his legs spread out; he had on a leg brace very similar to the one that Rhodey wore. Morgan was rolling on the floor next to him giggling uncontrollably. Neither of them seemed to notice that she had come in.

“Dum-E I swear if you did not get that on video I am going to actually donate you this time!” Tony laughed pointing at one of his bots.

“You should have seen the look on your face!” Morgan cried tears rolling down her face, “And the noise you made!”

“I know!” Tony laughed.

“Morgan I see you are feeling better,” Pepper said with pretend disapproval. They both clapped their mouths shut and looked up at her.

“Oops,” Morgan gulped and scooted a little closer to her father, who simultaneously scoot a little fearfully away from Pepper.

“Before you yell at us I gotta show you something,” Tony said holding up his hands dramatically.

Pepper had no intention of yelling at them. The thought had not even crossed her mind, she was to flooded with joy because she had actually just heard her husband laugh.

“Alright Moe, help me out,” Tony grunted and maneuvered himself on the floor.

“Right!” Little Morgan hopped to feet and braced herself as her father used her and Dum-E to haul himself to his feet.

He was on his feet. He was standing up. Pepper could no longer contain her joy, she crossed the distance between her and him; she slid her arms around his waist and pressed her lips against his. He seemed to lose his balance for a second, but then leaned in and kissed back. Pepper closed her eyes and scooted a little closer in. Tony moved closer in. He tucked his strong hands around the back of her head, and leaned into the kiss even more. Pepper never wanted it to end.

“Gross!” Morgan cried in dismay.

“Zip it kid!” Tony said around their kiss, barely breaking off before going in for more.

After who knows how long they both lost steam and broke off from their kiss and then just hugged. Pepper leaned in closer to her husband as he wrapped his strong arms around her. A smaller pair of arms wrapped around her upper legs. Pepper smiled and scooped Morgan into her arms. The Three of them hugged, and Pepper go the urge to kiss Tony again.

So she did.

Peter lay on his bed. He didn’t feel like patrolling or really doing anything at all. He clicked his phone on hoping for some message from Tony, but just like the last thousand times there was  nothing. He sighed and clicked it off. Maybe he should go visit him. No. Tony was probably mad at him for walking out. He couldn’t go back. He would have to live with this one. He had abandoned his father- no he couldn’t call him that anymore, he didn’t deserve to.

Someone knocked on his bedroom door.

“Not now Aunt May, please,” Peter said and sniffled. He had been trying to avoid another crying fit. His door opened all the same.

“Aunt May ple-”

“Sorry kid. Not Aunt May.”

Peter’s jaw dropped at the sight of Mr. Stark standing in his doorway with his arms wide in his signature stance.

“Mr. Stark?!” Peter sat bolt upright and sprang to his feet. He cleared the room in a second and jumped into Tony’s outstretched arms. He didn’t care that he probably wasn’t his son anymore, he was going to hug the man damn it! He was okay!

“Hey kid.”

Tony wrapped his arms around Peter.

“I am so sorry Mr. Stark!” Peter cried. He could feel the tears coming, “I am sorry!”

“Nonsense son. I don’t blame you,” Tony pulled Peter a little closer.

Son. He was still his son! Tony was still his father. Peter was overjoyed, but how was he not the one to blame?

“But-”

“Peter. None of that now. I made my choices, and the only I would have changed would be letting you leave. I should have called you. Told you I still care.”

His father- yes Peter thought he was his father again- hugged him tighter.

“I love you kid, and don’t you ever think about blaming yourself for this,” His father’s tone was firm and loving, “Plus, I can walk again!”

Tony stuck out a leg for Peter to see the leg brace.

“I’m glad you’re okay, and I love you too dad,” Peter hugged his father back

Tony smiled as he hugged his son. Now. Now, this time he was sure that everything would be okay. For the first time he truly believed what Pepper had said when he had first woken up.

They would make it work.

They would figure it out.

Everything would be okay.

Tony believed every word of it.