September 2023
Tony Stark's Funeral 

"Everybody wants a happy ending right?" 

The hologram Tony had recorded played out in front of them, "But it doesn't always roll that way." 

Noah was slouched into her seat, her eyes red and puffy, the black dress that belonged to her mother hanging slightly off her frame. "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."

Noah wanted yell at Tony...or hologram Tony. Her family wasn't reunited, her family was torn apart.

"God, what a world. Universe, now. If you told me ten years ago that we weren't alone...let alone to this extent I mean, I, I wouldn't have been surprised...but come on, who knew? 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."

Noah looked over to Morgan, the young girl deserved so much better than this, she deserved to grow up with a father.

"So, I thought I'd probably better record a little greeting...in 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 off tomorrow...it's got me scratching my head about the survivability of it all. That's the thing. Then again that's the hero gig, right?"

Unfortunately, it was, Noah had known both sides of the whole hero thing now, no matter if you were the villain or the hero. There wasn't really such thing as a happy ending, not for her anyway.

"Part of the journey is the end." Tony paused, and then stood up from his chair, "What am I even tripping for? Everything's gonna work out exactly the way it's supposed to."

Tears poured out of Noah's eyes, she used to be better at the whole masking her emotions thing. In her defense, though it had been a rough week.

"I love you, 3000."

Noah couldn't handle it, she brushed passed Maria and exited out the back door, and she found herself once again alone with her thoughts. She would almost rather be there than let other people see her cry though.

"Hey," 

"Go away. I just wanna be alone." Noah bite out but then quickly backtracked, "I'm sorry Aunt Laura, that was really rude."

"It's okay, Noah. You're grieving, I get it." the woman said gently, sitting beside her. 

"Why do you think she did it?" Noah whispered, "Why do you think she chose to sacrifice herself?"

Laura frowned, "I think that all she wanted to do was save you, and her family."

"But she then she left me here. What am I even supposed to do with that?" Noah asked, wiping away the tears as they fell.

"I think she only left you here because she knew you still have so many people who love you. She knew that'd you would be okay." Laura spoke.

"Well, I'm not okay though. Mama is dead, and there's no way of getting her back."