Explaining those we lost to Gracie was one of the hardest things Steve and I had ever had to do. And we had had our fair shares of impossible odds against serious villains.

While there were a few that I wanted to give proper funerals for, not all who showed up in the final battle knew them. The rest of the Avengers agreed that we would do separate services for Natasha and Todd in the near future, for those who truly knew them.

They missed out on the biggest fight of our lives. They should've been there right along with us. They should've been somberly celebrating with us.

In the days following Tony's passing, Pepper took the time in mourning and to arrange a private service for him at their cabin. While his body wasn't to be sent off into the lake, she had an arrangement made with a special reminder of Tony that would sail onto the water.

When the dreaded day had come, heroes who had never crossed social circles before became acquainted with each other. It was a sad circumstance that people who we could work with down the line had to come together for.

Those in attendance for the service were gathered outside of the cabin. A select few of us remained inside, called on by Pepper. She'd apparently found a message recorded on Tony's helmet and she felt that a few had the right to see it for themselves.

In addition to the two Starks, Steve, myself, Gracie, Rhodey, and a man named Happy Hogan gathered in the living room of the cabin to watch this play out.

Seeing Tony pre-Snap had certainly been a shock to the system. Hologram or not, it sent a fresh wave of pain. He'd recorded the beginning half sitting down, the way the projection showed.

"Everybody wants a happy ending, right? But it doesn't always roll that way. Maybe this time. I'm hoping if you play this back, it's in celebration. I hope families are reunited, I hope we get it back, and something like a normal version of the planet has been restored. If there ever was such a thing. God, what a world. Universe, now.

"If you told me ten years ago that we weren't alone, let alone, you know, to this extent, I mean, I wouldn't have been surprised. But come on, you know? The epic forces of darkness and light that have come into play. And, for better or worse, that's the reality Morgan's gonna have to find a way to grow up in.

"So I thought I'd probably better record a little greeting...in the case of an untimely death on my part. I mean, not that, death at any time isn't untimely. This time travel thing that we're gonna try and pull of tomorrow, it's—it's got me scratching my head about the survivability of it all. That's the thing. Then again, that's the hero gig. Part of the journey is the end."

Hologram Tony rose from his chair perch, seemingly walking towards the camera. "What am I even trippin' for? Everything's gonna work out exactly the way it's supposed to." He leaned down, almost as though he was looking right at Morgan, who was curled into her mother's side, an uneasy look in her eyes. "I love you three-thousand."

He's always got to have the last word about things. It brought out a somber smile in me. I'd imagined that when this worked, when everyone was brought back, that Steve and I would reconnect with Tony and Pepper. Allow Morgan and Gracie to become friends, tight as ever.

Well, part of that reality could still happen, it just wouldn't include Tony.

When everyone had gathered themselves, it was time for the service.

Pepper and Morgan lingered inside, Pepper probably getting the wreath she had made. She'd allowed me a glimpse prior. I couldn't look at it longer than a few moments in fear of bursting into tears. While Tony Stark was not my husband, he was a damn good friend. Someone who I hadn't expected to become so close to. And now, he was gone.

Everyone dressed in traditional black for the event. Steve and I were close to the lake as we could get. Gracie stood between us, currently gripping Steve's hand. She'd never even met Tony. He would've loved her, and oh, she would've loved him too.

After a time, Pepper and Morgan emerged. Everyone paid their silent respects as the two, accompanied by Happy Hogan, walked to release the wreath in memory of Tony. The water took hold of the wreath, laying in it an old arc reactor of Tony's. It was framed with the words Proof that Tony Stark Has a Heart. The words sent silent tears down my face.

Aside from the quiet bug chatter, all who gathered watched as Tony Stark was sent into the afterlife on our terms.

This is truly it, then, I thought somberly. One of the greatest heroes of our time. One of my best friends. You knew the cost. You must've made peace with it, otherwise you wouldn't have done it. You wouldn't have asked me to help. Oh, if I had known...

Kiara.

I winced at the sudden intrusion from Steve. Yes?

Your thoughts are practically being shouted.

I looked down at Gracie, hoping she would calm my nerves. It's a lot, Steve.

I know. We'll all miss him.

We're not done with saying goodbye. We still have Nat and Todd.

Let's get through today first.

Right. I nodded. Today first.

After a time, groups dispersed. Some lingered. There were those in attendance I hadn't noticed the first time around: former director Nick Fury, Agent Maria Hill, Carol Danvers. A kid who I had never seen before in my life. Tony Stark had been inspiration to a lot of people, but if we had invited the whole state of New York, there would've been no room to stand. This teenager I saw, Tony had to have known him personally. He wouldn't have been here otherwise.

He had no idea, the impact he had on the world. On lives.

"Kiara." Pepper approached. "I need you to check something out for me."

"Okay." Confused, I followed the redhead, with my family in tow.

Pepper made sure that the cabin was devoid of funeral guests before she went to Tony's helmet. It hadn't been moved from his initial message.

"Pepper, I'm not sure what you expect me to do," I said. "I don't deal with tech."

"I know." She gave a sad smile. "When I went through the recordings, I found one other. For you."

"Huh?"

"It's queued up for you. Once I start it, it'll take a few seconds."

Steve and I looked at each other as Pepper did a few things on Tony's helmet. We kept eyes on her, baffled, as she walked away. The projection came to life through the helmet, once against showing us Hologram Tony.

"Hey, firefly." Those words nearly had me sobbing all over again. "I know I just said goodbye to everybody, but I needed to do this separate. You can show your hubby if you wish, but he's the only exception that gets to see this. That little girl that you met, my Morgan, well...she's your godchild."

"What?" Steve floundered.

"I knew with the...impending doomsday situation it needed to be hashed out just in case the worst happened. Pep fought for you and Captain Spangles to be godparents, I was willing to accept you. You're one of my best friends, Kiara. I knew without a doubt you would give my little girl the best life she could ever have. I knew we'd never get the time alone for me to ask, so I bestowed it upon you.

"Steve didn't know it, but he convinced me to make him godfather. Again, there wasn't going to be a good time, so...he has that honor bestowed upon him too.

"Only Pepper knows, so...keep it under wraps, or don't. Either way, while I'm gone, my little girl is in good hands.

"Oh, and, one more thing: at least consider my name for your second born. Doesn't matter if it's first name or middle. You can tweak it if it's a girl."

I couldn't stop myself from crying. They were sad tears, yes, but also happy on some level.

"I'm guessing you didn't know," said Steve.

I shook my head. "No way. I could've never...Godparents, Steve!"

"Mommy, who was that?" asked Gracie. I'd been so enveloped in Tony's final message that I had forgotten she had come along.

I scooped Grace into my arms. "That's one of Mommy's closest friends. We had to say goodbye to him earlier. He's...you would've liked him. That's Morgan's daddy." Bloody godparents. Tony, are you secretly trying to punish me beyond the grave? I will gladly take Morgan as a godchild, but...honestly.

I supposed I could accept the fact that at some point in time Morgan would be calling me Aunt Kiara.

**Who else still bawls their eyes out with this??**