Secrets And A Spider

-32-

"She's unstable, I don't know how much longer I can keep her alive." I groaned, my eyes opening to darkness. I tried to move, but I was in so much pain. The memories flooded back, bringing tears to the surface. "Help! Somebody, please! I don't want to be alone!" I called out, and I watched the world light up.
"Riley! It's alright, Princess, I'm with you." I could hear Rhodey's voice, but I couldn't see him. I sat up, wincing in pain as I did, spotting Rhodey at the other side of the room as he rushed over. "You can't be up, you need to rest, young lady."
"No, I can't. Not after what just happened, I need to..." I tried to stand, but instantly crumbled into Rhodey.
"No, stay here."
"You should know by now you can't get me to listen, I have the Stark..." I took in a sharp breath, before talking to my suit.

"TUESDAY, how long was I out? Take me out of here." I stood up before she could answer, staggering towards the main room with the help of her balancing mechanisms. "Riley, I must insist you sit down, you're in no shape to be moving!" TUESDAY pleaded, I didn't listen as I saw Steve stood by a small device.
"Riley Listen to her!" I heard Rhodey plead behind me, but still, I kept moving.

"What is that?" I asked, walking over to Steve. He looked up, his eyes going wide. "Riley!" He instantly hugged me, as I stepped out of my suit, taking the device. "We don't know, it was found near Fury's vehicle, he..." Steve faltered, and I knew exactly what had happened.
"Is he back?" I asked. Again, Steve remained silent. I looked to the device, then at a nearby computer. That's when I felt another wave of pain run through my body, and Steve quickly caught me as I stumbled. "We need to get you help. TUESDAY."
"Contacti..."
"No, TUESDAY, give me access to this thing's coding." I cut her off, using Steve to lead me to the computer nearby.

"It's sending some sort of signal, but...it's going out of the earth's atmosphere, TUESDAY?"
"I can't get an accurate reading, but it does lead out of our solar system." She informed. I thought for a moment, looking around, before typing into the coding. "Maybe..." I pressed a button, before speaking into the device. "SOS, this is Riley Stark, emergency broadcast. We need help, find Tony Stark, last known location, the planet Titan. Find the Ironman, and bring him to Earth...find iro..." I drew in a sharp breath, sending the message as soon as I could, before falling to the ground.
"What did you do?" Steve asked, pulling me up.
"I gave him a chance."
"Critical condition. Captain Rodgers, she must enter her suit!" TUESDAY warned, the metal stepping closer.
"No! No, I don't want to be alone again, please Steve, don't make me go back to sleep, ple..." I fell down, crying out in pain as he hoisted me up. Rhodey entered, lifting my other arm around his shoulder, worry in his eyes. "No! I don't want to go in, please, I'm scared." I begged, seeing the pain they both had in doing so. The suit walked over, attaching itself to my body. "We'll be right here, Riley. I promise, okay? You won't wake up alone." Steve assured. I cried more, before feeling a cold sensation taking over.
"TUESDAY, don't let me leave this facility." I whimpered, afraid of waking up alone.
"Activating Cyro Life Support." That's all I Heard, before I was lost to the darkness once again. Now knowing, if my dad was alive, but he would be found, even if it's the last thing I did in my life...

————4 years later————
"Riley, come on, wake up. Please, wake up." I heard a tried voice talking beside me, and my eyes shot open. I looked around, only seeing darkness and I instantly remembered the last time I'd woken up. "Auntie Nat? Is that you?" I asked, my voice croaky from it's lack of use.
"Riley?" My suit allowed me to see again, and my hand flickered across to hold Nat's.
"Oh my god, Steve! Steve!" As she called out, heavy footsteps sped towards us and I tried to sit up.
"What happen...Riley?!" I looked over at him, and he ran over, the two of them with tears in their eyes.
"TUESDAY, status report." I spoke slowly, feeling slight pain from the stiffness throughout my body.
"All wounds healed, arm status: functional." She replied.
"I don't understand." Nat spoke up, and I saw she had been crying.
"Shuri." I whispered, smiling as I thought of the friend. That was when I finally noticed the two of them, my helmet drawing back as the suit packed itself away.

"Nat, your hair...it's stunning, but, how is it so long?" I asked, growing worried when the two of them avoided my gaze. "Guys, how long was I out?" They were silent again, until Steve crouched down in front of me, taking my hand. "Riley, it's been 4 years." He spoke slowly, and I stared back.
"Thanos?" I asked.
"Dead." Natasha replied, making me smile.
"You fixed it? Where is everyone?" I stood up, but soon realised I was wrong as they shook their heads.
"He destroyed the stones, Thor killed him for it, but..." Steve informed.
"How many did we lose?"
"Exactly as he said, 50%." Natasha sighed.
"Who?"
"Bucky, Wanda, Shuri, T'Challa..." she listed.
"Sam, Strange, Fury..."
"What about my dad, and Peter?" I cut Steve off, fear filling my heart.
"Your dad is alive."
"And Peter?" Nat met my eyes, and I knew the answer, immediately breaking down into her open arms. "It's gonna be okay, hun, I promise." She whispered, rubbing my back as I cried. I had lost the only person who truly understood me, my best friend and my boyfriend, both lost. "Where's my dad?" I asked.
"He's got a cabin, look, he didn't leave you here on purpose. Your suit wouldn't let us take you out of the facility." Steve explained. I nodded in understanding.
"Because I gave the order. T has my back, she always has." I stated, walking towards the door. "How bad is he?"
"Getting better, and I think seeing you will do him a world of good."
"I'll come back, I have a feeling you've got a lot to tell me." I promised, running and hugging them both, before wiping the tears and heading outside.

"TUESDAY, take me to him." I requested, watching the world below as she flew me to my father. It was like watching an apocalyptic movie, except you couldn't just turn it off, this was real life, and the world was a dark place. Then I spotted the lake, my suit lowering itself outside the cabin. "This is it?" I asked.
"Yes, is everything okay, Miss Stark?"
"What do I say, T?" I stared at the door.
"I'm sure you'll figure it out, you always have in the past." She replied, packing the suit back into my necklace. I sighed, taking a deep breath and walking up to the door. I raised my hand and knocked, watching through the window for any signs of life.

Then I saw Pepper. She froze, tears in her eyes as she made her way over, opening up the door. "Hey, Pep." I smiled, as she began to cry, placing her hands on my cheeks.
"Who's at the door?" I heard his voice ask. Pepper moved aside, and he instantly ran over, pulling me close. We remained silent for a moment, and I felt tears falling, his warmth providing comfort I didn't know I needed. "I thought you weren't going to wake up, I'm sorry, I failed you, I couldn't save him. I failed.." I buried my head into his neck, knowing the last time I'd seen him I thought he was going to die. "I know, dad. I did too,"
"Daddy, why are you crying?" We pulled apart and I looked down, seeing a girl, no older than 4 standing at Pepper's side.
"Morgan, this is your sister, Riley." My dad said, before meeting my eyes. I looked down at her, wiping my eyes, before crouching to her height.
"Hey there, Morgan. Have you been keeping him in check for me whilst I was asleep?" I asked, she smiled and nodded. "I bet you did a great job." She walked forwards, wrapping her arms around my neck as I picked her up.
"Daddy showed me pictures of you, he always says I'm just as cheeky as you."
"Well, we get it from the best." I replied, as my Pepper and my dad stepped forwards, his arms wrapping around the three of us.

We were a family again, and it was my responsibility to make sure Morgan was safe in this new world...