Tony shifted back and forth on his feet, tears shining in his eyes as Peter was lifted up and carried from his sight.

It seemed that just moments ago he was crumbling to dust in his kid's arms, and now Peter was gone? Was their life supposed to be a joke?

Did the God of life or death or whatever think it was funny? Because Tony sure didn't.

Ironic maybe, a little bit morbid, but God no it wasn't funny. The second he saw Strange raise his hand, the second he saw the look on his face, he knew exactly what Peter was planning on doing.

And God if he hadn't tried to beat him there. But the spider kid was simply too fast. Too fast and too driven. There had been no stopping him.

And they won. Thanos and his army were dead. But at what cost? Why did winning mean that he had to lose the kid, his kid?

"Tony." His wife's voice cracked. Her hand was in his and there were still tears trailing down her face.

"He's really gone." The billionaire whispered. It wasn't a question. No, it was more of a resigned statement.

Pepper's lips were pursed as she nodded. "We need to go home. There's someone you need to meet." She said finally.

"But, Pe-" Tony cut himself off, sucking in a sharp breath. "We can't leave."

The ginger blinked back tears. "Tony, Honey, please. You can see him again soon, just-just come home." She begged softly.

Slowly, Tony nodded. There was nothing for him here anymore. "Alright. Alright. Let's go."

With his arm firmly around his wife, they turned to Strange, who had a sad smile on his face as he opened a portal for them.

And Tony stepped forward, feeling his heart crack as he left behind the place that once was home, a place that he'd once walked with Peter.

The portal closed behind them and Tony found himself looking around in confusion. "Where are we?" He murmured.

"Home." Pepper's voice broke as she stepped forward, out of her husband's hold.

There was a loud exclamation of excitement behind the door of the cabin Pepper and Peter had made a home, and suddenly the door was flying open.

"Mommy!" Morgan shouted, then turned her head. "Uncle Happy! Uncle Happy, Mommy's home!"

Tony froze.

Pepper crouched down to embrace her daughter as the four year old darted into her arms.

"Petey said that's a birthday present, Mommy. Did you snoop in the garage too?"

The woman's face crumpled as she nodded. "Yeah, Sweetheart."

Happy then stepped out of the cabin with wide eyes.

"It worked?" He breathed, eyes wide as he took in Tony.

The billionaire's eyes were still glued on Morgan. "Wh-who?" He managed to gasp.

"Morgan, sweetie, do you know who this is?" Pepper murmured softly to her daughter.

The toddler tilted her head curiously, then gasped dramatically. "Daddy? But Petey said he's up in the star chasing all the bad dreams away!" She cried, clutching her mother tightly.

"Well, I'm back." Tony said finally, regaining his composure.

Morgan smiled shyly, then hesitantly reached for him. Gaping, he took her into his arms. "Morgan?" He questioned.

"Yep! Morgan Hope Stark!" She exclaimed with a smile, "Mommy said that Petey helped pick out my middle name because that's what I am to him. I don't know what that means, though because how can I be his Hope if I'm his Mo?" She ranted, throwing her hands out in wild, giddy gestures.

Tony smiled painfully, tears rolling down his cheeks. "Yeah?" His voice cracked.

Pepper's hand was clasped firmly over her mouth as she struggled not to cry. "Why're you sad? Mommy? Daddy? What's wrong?" Morgan looked between them in confusion.

Pepper stepped closer, brushing Morgan's hair behind her ear. "Baby, you know how Daddy was with the stars?" She asked softly.

Morgan nodded slowly, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Well, Petey had to go up to the stars and take Daddy's place once we got him back."

Morgan frowned. "Well, when's he coming back?"

Pepper shook her head, tears welling up again as she caught Happy's pale, devastated face.

"He's not, Baby. He's going to stay. But he said to tell- to tell you that he's going to the stars and he's going to watch over you, okay?" Pepper choked out, weeping softly.

Morgan's face crumpled. "B-but Daddy came back. Why can't Petey?"

The adults didn't know what to say, both crying heavily.

Morgan let out a cry, beating against her dad's chest. "I want Petey! I want my brother! I want my Petey!" She sobbed.

Tony and Pepper held her close as they all cried. But standing there, holding the child he didn't know he had, the crack in heart mended, just a bit. He supposed that like Peter, Morgan was his Hope.

||

Tony stood, face blank as he held Morgan in his arms, and his wife to his side. Only Pepper could feel the slight tremble in his hands as he stared out at the water.

There were countless people around, but he couldn't find it in him to care. He noticed May, red-faced and blotchy-eyed, leaning against Happy, who had a stoic look on his face.

Beside them were two teens that Tony recognized as Ned and MJ. Peter's friends.

Feeling his eyes stinging once again, he blinked back his tears, carefully handing Morgan to his wife.

Crouching down, he placed the mask in his hands onto the floating wreath, then with a final, shuddering breath, gently pushed it away.

Everyone stood and watched as Spider-Man disappeared. He was really and truly gone.

||

When FRIDAY told them that Peter had recorded a message, Tony almost broke down. The kid knew he could die, hell, prepared for it.

They all sat in the cabin, Morgan's tearful face buried in her mother's side, as the video played.

"I hope that there won't be a reason for this video to be played, but I figured, hey, why not?" Peter's voice rung out and the young man appeared to have been sitting backwards on a chair.

"But, well, if anyone is watching this, then I guess things didn't go as planned."

The sound of his son snapping rang in Tony's ears.

"If we won, though, if I got them all back, then it has to be worth it. Aunt May," said woman gasped, "after I lost my parents you and Uncle Ben treated me like your own son. And I'll always love you for it."

May's face crumpled as tears rolled down her cheeks and she looked to the ground.

"Ned and MJ, you two are the best friends I could ever ask for, and I don't really know what else to say besides I love you guys. Ned, you'll always be my guy in the chair. Look out for MJ, will you?" Peter's eyes bored into theirs as if he was really there, and the teens held each other sadly.

"Mom, Uncle Happy, I know I was only really family these past five years, but I feel like it's been a lifetime. And for me, that's enough." Peter's tone was soft, and it was obvious that everyone in the room was barely holding it together.

"I've got a great family, I've got a great career, and I help people every day," he said, but by the waver in his tone, they could all tell there was a 'but' coming up.

"But," sure enough, "knowing that I can do something about it, I can't sit back and watch as people mourn for their friends and family that I could bring back."

There was his self-sacrificing self.

"If I could give Mo her father back, then it's not really a choice at all, is it?" Peter asked sadly.

Tony gaped with tears shining in his eyes for what seemed to be the millionth time. Him? Peter did this for him?

"For Dad, for all of you, I can't not do this."

They were all sniffling quietly now.

"Ah, who am I kidding? Everything will work out just like it's supposed to."

Wrong. He was so, so wrong.

"I love you a million baby sis. FRIDAY, end recording."

And he disappeared from view.

"Its the biggest number in the whole world." Morgan whispered, a tear dripping from her eye.

And to her, it was.