Whatever It Takes

~ 1 ~

Thea's POV

It's been 10 years. Ten years since it all happened. Ten years since he passed away. Ten years since its just been Mom and me. Sometimes Peter will stop by to check on us or Rhodey will. Other than that I don't really hear from many people. I go to school and I have some friends.

Its been harder, just a little bit.

Mom has kind of moved on. She'll go on dates. She'll go out and have fun. But she has to come back, see dad's work, see me. I bet it's harder for her too.

Friday is still here. Still up and running. She'll give me practically anything I need or want. She'll drive me places if my mom isn't feeling the best or working. Friday talks to be if I'm sad or going through something. She'll tell me all about him.

It makes me miss him more.

I walked downstairs. The time was about 2 AM.  Often in the recent months, I haven't been able to sleep. My mind just races and races. What if things were different? What if my father didn't sacrifice himself? What if Thanos comes back?

"Theodora? What are you doing up?"

I jumped as I looked to the table which had been lit up, "Friday, I've told you not to scare me like that. Especially at this time of night."

"Actually it's early morning, and you shouldn't be up anyways. What's troubling you tonight?"

I sighed, "Can't sleep. Could I watch the video again?"

"How about you go and get a popsicle and head to bed? You have school tomorrow."

"I know, but-"

"No 'buts'. You know what your father would say."

I nodded. I grabbed a popsicle and headed back upstairs. I went back to bed but woke up a few hours later, needing to get ready for school. I left and went to school.

•••

Third Person POV

About mid-afternoon, Pepper was making a snack for Thea when she came home. She knew her daughter well enough to know she'd be a bit hungry after school.

A glint of light hit her eyes. She looked over to see the picture of her family: Tony, her, and Thea. She gave a little smile, before going back to the snack.

A knock came from the front door. Surprised, she wiped off her hands and headed towards the door. She opened the door, "Hello, Mr. Strange. What are you doing here?"

Dr. Steven Strange was standing at her door. The stone and his cape were with him also. Pepper could only guess that it was business.

"I'm here to talk to you and Theadora, Mrs. Stark."

"Okay, yeah. Come...Come on in," she moved out of the way. Strange went inside, and Pepper closed the door.  "So what are you here to talk about?"

"There may be a way to bring Tony back?" Steven told Pepper everything that needed to be done to bring him back. She was, to say the least, confused.

"So, you want me to send my only child back in time to save my husband? And I can't go?"

"Exactly."

"What's the likely hood she'll come back alive and well?"

"90 of 100."

Pepper was thinking long and hard. She didn't want to let her child go without her, but what if it worked? What if she gets the life she wanted? "What's the likely hood of my husband coming back?"

"30 of 100."

"That's not a lot,"  Pepper looked at him with suspicion.

"Which is why I'll be there to help her out and lead her."

"Wait, so you can go, but I can't?"

"If you go, it won't happen the way we want it to. Also we only have enough for two people and I have to be there with to help," Strange explained. "I also know more about time than you do."

Pepper nodded, "I'm going to leave it up to Thea. She can decide whatever she wants."

As if on time, they both heard the car pull into the drive. Thea came up to the door, book bag in hand. Not necessarily smiling but not crying either. She opened the door, "Heya Mom. I'm hom...oh."

She looked to Strange then to her mother, "What's going on?"

"Dr. Steven Strange would like to talk to you," Pepper nodded to him.

Thea slowly walked towards the couch. She set down her bag and sat in the nearest chair, "What about?"

Pepper took a deep breath, "I'm going to go get some snacks." She got up and left Thea with Strange.

"Theadora, I am Steven Strange. Holder of the time stone and, as you father used to call me, a wizard. I have something you might want to hear."

"Okay."

"You have the option to bring back your father."

For Thea, everything stopped. Her heart beat, Dr. Strange, and the world. She reheard the words echo in her head. Did he really just say that? "Wait, save my father?"

"Yes. We could save your father. The ten years that you've been alone will be gone. And if it works, we could save more than your father."

"Who else?" Thea leaned in.

"A bunch of other Avengers who could be alive today."

"So, I could save the Avengers? How?" Thea furrowed her eyebrows.

"That I cannot tell you. All I can tell you, is that we will be going back in time."

"Excuse me?"

"We will be going back in time," he explained. "Like Back To The Future. Like The Magic Tree House books."

Thea nodded. Could she actually get back the one things she's been missing forever? "What if we fail?"

"We won't. I won't let that happen. I need him back for something else." Strange stood up. "You don't have to, but you could help more than you imagine. Think about it, and get back to me."

"Okay, what's your address?"

"You won't need it," he nodded. "I think Friday knows the way." He walked towards the door. "Thank you, Mrs. Stark for having me," he yelled before leaving the house.

Pepper walked in to room, "Are you going to do it?"

"I don't know."

"Well, you don't have to, but I want you to be able to sleep at night. I think it would help you."

"Okay...I'll think about it. Can I have a snack now?"