After dealing with cyborgs in L.A and chasing centipede to Malta, Kyra was back in New York in time for a white Christmas. The holiday was still a few weeks out, but most of her loved ones were presently unaccounted for. Steve's disappearance was intentional, but Tony's absence was the result of illegal activities, and he was better found than left alone.

While Kyra was diligently hunting for Tony, she was deliberately leaving her other genius alone. She'd heard that Stephen had since returned home, but still hadn't given up on trying to find a fix for his broken hands. The disappointment was hurting his ego, and if he was insufferable before, now was something else entirely.

The empty tower was getting to her, so she packed her things and took a ride to New Jersey. She called for a ride and Pace came to pick her up, driving her to the gym. It was packed with the pre holiday crowd, but her usuals were still around.

The workout got her feeling better than she had the past few days, and after closing, the gym gang went out for drinks. Without her magic, she was still not Midgardian, and had to pretend to tap out before she drank the whole bar under the table.

The night ended with Kyra driving Pace back to his house. Katie opened the door for them and once Pace was settled inside, she hugged Kyra in a simple welcome home. Kyra, however, held on for much longer.

"The holidays can be a rough time to be alone," Katie acknowledged as they sat down in the living room.

"It's tough when you don't even know where they are," Kyra picked at her pants.

"Still no word on Mr. Stark?"

"Not for a lack of trying."

"Hmm. But he's, him, you know. I'm sure where ever he is, he's making the best out of it."

"Yeah. Not a genius for nothing," Kyra joked.

Katie chuckled. "How's your dad? And your uncle?"

Kyra looked up to see Katie eagerly waiting a response. She laughed. Thor was surely more than just the god of Thunder.

"They're fine. Still working on the house case last I checked."

"Ah, it's just been some year for you, huh?"

"Yeah, seems like it. My stars are hella outta line."

"Well, there's only a few days left. Maybe it'll pass soon. Why don't you go on up and get some sleep?" Katie rubbed Kyra's back.

"Hmm, I will. Good night," she hugged her best friend's mom, keeping her head on her chest for a long minute till she calmed down some.

"Good night," Katie kissed her head, and Kyra went up to sleep.

Lindsay was lights out in the bed as Kyra snuck in on the other side. She took off her hair catcher and put it on the bedside table before slipping down on the pillow. Lindsay turned and wrapped her arm around her, holding her tight. Kyra cuddled close with her best friend, happy to have one loved one close by, and went to sleep.

In the morning, everyone sat together for breakfast. With a table full of family-dad asking everyone's plans for the day while mom doled out delicious breakfast food- Kyra was having a really good time. Afterwords, people went out to work or school.

Kyra went with Katie to the bakery. She helped man the counters until people started coming in for their shifts, and then she and Katie went gift shopping. Thank god for Macy's being a one stop shop. Katie had a list of things her family had made preferences for, and they went around marking things off.

They took a break from the checklist and went free roaming. Kyra happened to be grazing through the men's section when a salesman caught her.

"Need a gift for a special someone?" He asked her, anticipating a yes.

"Oh, I'm just looking for now," Kyra politely smiled.

"Well, before you walk by, let me have you take a look at these," he referred to the display of watches he was leaning over. The rotating displays got her attention and she walked over.

"Alright, show me what you got," they perused through many watches in the case, but none of them stood out. Except one section.

"Now these are in just for the holidays. You'll never see these at a department store again," he brought out the tray of rotating displays of fancy watches.

"These are JLC brand, top class in the watch world," he pulled off the one she was eyeing. "This one is the master ultra thin perpetual. Stainless steel automatic, leather band with a tang buckle clasp."

He gave her the watch to look over while he told her the rest of the specifics.

"If you get it today, we throw in a free engraving on the case," he added with a smile.

Kyra looked up with a smile and returned the watch. "Thanks, I'll think about it. I'll still be in the store for a few hours more."

"Sounds good, hope to see you back soon!" The salesman put the display back.

Kyra went back to Katie and they went around some more.

"Hey, happy holiday!" Kyra replied to Christine when she called.

"Ahh, I wish," Christine sighed.

"Everything alright?"

"It would be if he'd just give it a rest," she didn't need to clarify who. "I'm, I'm at my wits end."

"Why don't you tap out, hmm? Let's just let him go through whatever it is he needs. I'll go see him soon."

"Good luck. Happy holiday," Christine hung up.

It happened that their way out crossed through the jewelry department. The salesman caught her eye, making an inclined face to hopefully bring her back.

"You know what? I think I forgot one more gift," she walked back to the watch display.

"So? Can I wrap one up for ya?"

"The engraving's free, right?"

"Anything you can fit on the back of it," the man nodded.

"Cool. How long will this take?"

The salesman shrugged. "Time will tell."

Katie laughed at the watch salesman's joke. "I'll wait in the car. Take your time," she winked, and headed out.

"Which watch was it?" The salesman asked.

"Umm," Kyra hovered over the display, "the ultra thin one."

"Excellent choice," the man took the watch out of the display.

"You took your time," Katie commented when Kyra got back in the car.

"Mmhm," Kyra held up the gift bag, "got it right here with me! Sorry, did I hold you up?

"No, you're good. The kids were asking for takeout for dinner. You in?"

"Yeah, sounds good to me."

They got the good kind of Chinese food on their way back. The night was fine too, just like a normal family. They chatted during dinner, laughing and teasing. Then ended the night with board games and holiday movies.

The next morning didn't go off on a good start. She was making holiday calls, and dialed Pepper. Tony was still missing and she wasn't doing so well. At least her crazy uncle Morgan was trying his best to keep entertained.

After that call, Kyra was sorting through her holiday shopping when she came across the watch bag. Might as well get it over with. She grabbed the bag and took transport back to New York.

"What you want from me is impossible, Stephen," the man on the screen was saying, echoing what many others before him had said. 

"Come on..." Stephen pleaded.

"I've got my own reputation to consider."

"Etienne, wait," Stephen jumped to the screen, as if going to physically hold him in place.

"I can't help you..." the screen turned off.

"No. No, no, wait!" Stephen smashed the computer.

"Hi," Kyra called his attention. He didn't respond. "He won't do it?"

Stephen shook his head. "He's a hack," he got up to pick his things up off the floor. "There's a new procedure in Tokyo. They culture donor stem cells and then harvest them and 3D-print a scaffold. If I could get a loan together, just..."

"Stephen..." Kyra tries to implore, putting her bags down as she cautiously approached him.

"...A small loan, 200,000," he chose not to hear her.

"Stephen. You've always spent money as fast as you could make it but now you're spending money you don't even have. Maybe it's time to consider stopping."

"No. Now is exactly the time not to stop," he was literally shaking with fervor. "Because, you see, I'm not, getting, any better!"

"But this isn't medicine anymore. This is mania," She had hoped to never have to say what she said next. "Some things just can't be fixed."

"Life without my work..." Stephen moaned as he looked out the window.

"Is still life!" Kyra echoed words she had meant for herself. "This isn't the end. There are other things that can give your life meaning."

"Like what?" Stephen finally turned to face her. "Like you?"

She wished he'd hadn't. Here she was with everything on the line for him and he dared to snark at her.

"And this is the part where you apologize."

"This is the part where you leave," Stephen spat back.

"Fine. I can't watch you do this to yourself anymore," Kyra turned on her heels.

"Too difficult for you, is it?"

"Yes. It is," she stormed back to say. "And it breaks my heart to see you this way."

"No. Don't pity me," Stephen called her out.

"I'm not pitying you," she spat back.

"Oh yeah? Then what are you doing here?" For the first time since she'd been here, Stephen walked up to her. "Bringing cheese and wine as if we're old friends going for a picnic? We are not friends, Kyra. I'm barely your mentor... You just love a sob story, don't you? First Stark, now me."

"Stop," Kyra whispered, when his words started to hit the right spot.

"Is that what I am to you now? Poor Stephen Strange, charity case. He finally needs me. Another dreg of humanity for you to work on. Fix him up and send him back into the world, heart is just humming... You care so much! Don't you?!?"

"Yes, I fucking care, damn it!" Kyra shouted back, hands thrown up. "Do you have any idea, what I've given up for you? So you could live?!" She pointed fingers at him.

"So I could live?!" Stephen splayed his hands around, drawing her attention to his present situation. "This is not living. I would've rather have died than have this."

Kyra popped her cheek and walked back calmly. "You're right, You should've. I made a mistake. Goodbye, Stephen." She slammed the door on her way out.