A Difficult Choice

Serena and Peter were in their suits. Peter flung from web to web as Serena flew easily just above the rooftops of the buildings. In the first few hours of learning how to fly she had hit walls, destroyed 2 billboards and landed on 2 parked cars. Peter followed behind her as best he could but her suit had a lot more speed than he could obtain using all of his effort. Balance was the key she discovered and her suit was very intuitive. It learned as she did and compensated for what she wanted to do. Flying like this, feeling the thrust at her feet and swing the buildings and landscape race by was an exhilarating experience. No where, not even the heavens themselves was closed to her now and Peter was right there sharing it all with her. Wanting to see how high she could actually go she used her eyes on her HUD and commanded the suit for full thrust as she angled her body straight up.

“Oh, we’re doing this now?” Peter asked seeing her begin to climb at an incredible rate of speed. They had talked about doing something like this but certainly not today. “Closed systems...you need closed systems!” Peter said quickly and Serena smiled as she activated that on her HUD. “Your available oxygen supply is 98%,” Jarvis said as she continued to climb. Looking down the ground beneath was just a gray haze and she saw clouds spring up around her as she continued her ascent. She was a rocket herself as her suit continued to fly upward and suddenly she felt her escape jets cut off and the atmosphere became dark. As the moment stretched she had the feeling of weightlessness and she could see the bright blue and green ball that was Earth beneath her feet. “Can you see me waving?” Peter said and laughed as she did. The moment stretched on she took in the majesty of it all. After a few more moments she angled downward and her boot jets began to plummet her downward even faster than she rose.

Down down she flew, darting into the clouds then beyond them. The city below was suddenly just barely visible and then more visible and the larger buildings quickly came into view. “Uh...you’re coming down pretty fast...I’m, Serena, maybe slow down?” He asked as the city grew larger and larger in her vision.

Serena had dreamed of this day for years now. She had watched her father in his suit and knew that her mother’s suit still existed. Both of her parent’s had done good for this world and she wanted to as well. Sharing this moment with Peter made it that much more special. He meant everything to her and she knew that no one else would make her feel as he did.

There was definitely a learning curve with the suit. It was fast and there was a lot to figure out. She crashed a few times, but she always got back up and tried again. Peter was supportive and helpful and stayed by her side. She finally decided to really test the suit and see just how high she could go. She soared up and up until the city disappeared below her and then she could see earth under her feet. She paused there a moment and just took it all in as she floated weightlessly. It was awe inspiring and made her smile.

Finally, she oriented herself towards the ground and activated her boot jets. She kept her arms at her side as she flew back towards the earth. She kept gaining speed but just before it looked like she was going to hit she changed directions and narrowly missed Peter. He would hear her laughing. She soared past him and then came to a halt in a nearby alley. As Peter came up to her she retracted her helmet and then kissed him.

Days came and went where Serena and Peter worked together to figure out everything her suit could do. Whenever she used her powers it acted like an amplifier to them. She could make a massive shield or shoot powerful bolts of super-heated energy that could bore through trees and even an armored truck though that had been a mistake. Serena and Peter’s love and respect for one another grew and their friendship had never been better either. They were in love but they were also the best of friends.

Serena had flown, with Peter in tow to the top of the Park Avenue building. They sat there on the edge of the squared roof looking down at the city below. It was late, just past 11pm and the tall office building below them was almost completely dark which allowed them to see the lights of the city far below them.

Peter sat to her right and had removed his mask as she retracted hers. “I think you’re ready,” Peter said in a soft tone. They were so high up they couldn't hear much from down in the city. There was the wind but tonight it might as well not existed. It was warm as well but Serena’s suit had its own internal temperature control. She could go to Antarctica or deep beneath the ocean or nearly into a volcano and come out again as if nothing had happened. Peter leaned in and kissed her softly on her lips. It was moments like these he enjoyed the most with Serena. There might as well be no one else at all as far as he was concerned. When Serena looked at him like she was now. “You look amazing up there like you really belong,” he said and kissed her again. His heart was beating a mile a minute and he knew if he lifted up his hand from the roof that he’d probably be shaking. Being this close to her, thinking about the two of them doing more than just kissing always had that effect on him. “Sometimes...when you look at me like that...I wonder what you’re thinking,” Peter said softly as he smiled and kissed her lips once more.

Serena felt connected to her mother when she wore that suit. She didn't have any memories of her mother, but she had the suit. The fact that her father had not only given it to her, but he had also made changes to it for her alone made her love her father even more. The past few days he had seemed distant and like his mind was elsewhere. He seemed...sad and it made Serena wonder if the suit hadn't brought up memories of her mother. She knew that her father had been a bit of a playboy before her mother, but never in Serena's life could she ever recall a time when he even so much as looked at another woman. It made her sad and she wondered if he could ever be happy again.

When Serena wasn't in classes or helping her father with something she was with Peter out in the city testing her suit. She now truly felt that she understood the suit and could use it to help people. She sat next to Peter atop the Park Avenue building. It was dark and all around them were the city lights. It was a breathtaking view and there was no one else she would rather share this moment with than with Peter. As Peter pulled off his mask she looked over at him and her eyes met his. She was completely in love with him and as he leaned in and kissed her she kissed him back. "I feel amazing up there and I couldn't have gotten here without Peter. You mean everything to me. I love you so much and I can't imagine my life without you."

As he kissed her again, she closed her eyes and kissed him back. The kiss slowly became deeper and Serena reached over with one hand and pressed a button on her left wrist to retract the rest of the suit, leaving her in her street clothes. She felt Peter wrap an arm around her and pull her closer. She moaned softly through the kiss and began to run her hands over his chest and abs through his suit.

Peter was lost to Serena’s touch. It was so hard being a gentleman. He wanted her even though he knew it was wrong. Her kisses made him feel giddy and he wasn’t certain even if he wanted her to stop. His hand moved and settled pin her thigh. Two of his fingers were dangerous close to someplace very indecent and this time he didn’t really care. “Oh Serena,” he breathed into her lips as he kissed her. “I..I..I want you,” he murmured breathlessly into her mouth. The issue was he didn’t really know what to do. And especially he didn’t want to do something to offend Serena. However he did feel her hands on him and his hand shifted up and settled upon her left breast.

Serena felt Peter's hand on her thigh and her heart began to beat harder and faster in her chest. She continued to kiss him and slowly the kiss became even deeper and more passionate. She moaned when she felt Peter's hand on her left breast. She began to feel waves of desire come over her. She knew then that this night was going to change their relationship forever and bring them even closer together. She pulled back slightly from the kiss and looked deeply into his eyes. "I want you too Peter."

A short time later the two of them lay together on the rooftop in each other's arms. Serena had been with two other guys before, but she had not felt what she felt with Peter with either of them. Her body glistened under the moonlight and her breathing was finally returning to normal. Though Peter had been...unsure at first about what to do he had quickly figured it out (with a little help from her). She looked up at him with a little grin after a while of them just laying in silence. "So, was it everything you had imagined?"

“Oh Serena...so much more than that,” he said softly. “I love you, so much,” Peter said as he looked up at her. They eventually settled and he held her up to him. “I read once that there is nearly an infinite amount of realities. I wonder if you and I fall in love in them all,” He said and smiled. “I...I don’t want what we have to end. I’m afraid that if we get up and leave...that this…this awesome amazing thing that is happening between us will end,” he said as he looked at her.

Serena was perfectly content to just lie in Peter's arms all night there on the rooftop. She knew that eventually they would need to leave and return to the Tower, but for now she relaxed with him. She was glad to know that it had been just as special for him as it had been for her. When he spoke about there being a nearly infinite amount of realities she looked up at him with a loving look in her eyes. "I promise you, it won't end Peter. You and I are destined to be together. I feel it...I know you feel it. No matter what reality we are in we will always end up together. You are my soul mate."

Peter held her close and suddenly had an urge to do what they just did...again. He felt...embarrassed to ask but his desire outweighed his embarrassment.

“Can We...do it again?” He asked and smiled when Serena smiled at him.

Tony was sitting in his lab with a drink in his hand. He looked at the empty armored container when he saw an odd blue light to his left. When he turned he saw Dr. Doom standing there fully clad in his armor. He had a glowing faint blue fringe around him and Tony looked at him for a moment and then began to laugh.

It had taken him a lot of time to find the specific time and place he needed to be. It took a lot of effort and energy but Victor has finally discovered when and where he needed to appear and to whom in order to change Victors death in another reality. With the far reaching powers of the Beyonder in him he could see every reality and at every time. Yet, in one specific reality he was closer to stopping Mephistopheles from immeasurable horrors and saving his mother from him once and for all. The problem? He was already dead and only one man could change what happened.

“Tony Stark..I am Dr. Doom and I have a proposition for you. I require your assistance and for your aid, I shall make certain your wife survives,” he said as he looked at him. Tony was taken aback and at first he thought that this was some kind of joke but there was no one else there.

“So your Dr. Doom...from ...what, some ‘other’ reality have come back in time for recruit me to help you?” He said then proceeded to laugh uproariously.

Doom just looked at him as if he wished he was someplace else right then.

“You have a book and a block of Uru, Kate Blackwell killed...the doom in your own timeline and I am offering you a way to save Isabella,” he said and Tony was no longer laughing. Doom continued to explain his plan, long into the night.

Tony has wanted to talk to Serena but she had not been home that night. She had been spending a lot of time with Peter and he wanted to give her space. He heard her come in and as she walked across the living room he stood and the lamp near him suddenly turned on.

“I need to talk to you Serena,” He said and noticed her odd expression. “Is...everything alright,” he asked her.

Serena grinned at Peter when he asked if they could do it again and that was all it took. Peter was becoming more confident and she liked that in him. An hour later she finally dressed and headed home. She was deliriously happy and was singing softly to herself as she walked inside. She was not expecting her father to be there and was a little startled by his appearance.

“Yeah...everything’s fine,” she responded but knew immediately that something had happened. “What is it Dad? Did something happen?”

To prove to Tony who and what he was, Doom...this version of him anyway...Victor, had told Tony things he could not have possibly known otherwise. Things he had never said to anyone and even things he had been planning to do and had not done yet. The impossibility of it made him sick to his stomach and yet...could it be true? He wondered. When he heard Serena come in he noticed he had not even touched his drink.

For hours he just sat there going over the possibilities. Having Isabella back. Giving Victor the book and the Uru, the damage to the timeline form the moment she died to now. The love he had for his daughter. And her own happiness. Changing the timeline could upset all that. And Tony knew he had always been selfish. Well, before he met Isabella he was anyway.

“Out with Peter again?’ He said woodenly and watched her expression change. He thought it amusing that she thought he didn’t know what she does...he supposed most children thought that of their parents. Tony knew and had made a decision early on never to call her on the decisions she made. They were her own and he could only supply guidance when she asked for it. And now here he was about to ask Serena. ‘Ask’ if he should do this….this insane thing.

“Sit down Serena...we need to talk,” he began and laid out everything to her at what Victor had said.

“I can see that you are excited as I am about what this could mean. Having your mother...having Isabella back...but there is alot we don’t see. “You are who you are because of how things played out. It could all change. “Perhaps even you and Peter. I’m not certain I like the prospect of you losing what you already have. I know there is no guarantee you won’t find one another again. But there’s a chance you may not,” He said. “That and giving Victor the book and the Uru...god knows what that would do,” he said.

Serena could tell that whatever her father was about to tell her was serious...very serious. She sat down in a chair across from him and listened as he began to explain what this Dr. Doom had told him. Serena could not hide the look of shock, worry, and excitement on her face. She could have her mother back! She could grow up having both of her parents. The thought nearly brought tears to her eyes. And yet she knew that there were consequences to consider...particularly what Dr. Doom was going to do with the book and the Uru.

Serena was quiet for a long while as she thought about everything before she finally spoke. "Dad...Peter and I are in love. We're meant to be together. I feel it and I know he does. If he and I meant to be together in this reality then I feel strongly it will be the same no matter what reality we are in. I've watched you my entire life and I can see how lonely you are without her. You try to hide it...but you are heartbroken and lonely and it tears me apart to see you like this. I want you to have Mother back...but what are you going to do about the book and Uru? If you let him take it...will you try to take it back?"

“I don’t have any answers Serena only that I believe Victor...for some reason. And not just because I want to believe him. If I do this, you won’t remember we had this conversation. Only I will...I think,” he said. He stood quickly and as she did he took her up into an embrace. “Oh I don’t know what to do...I miss her...so much,” he said as tears fell from his eyes. He owed her so much as well. Much more than just risking his own life. But this was the entire world. And no one besides Serena and himself, would ever understand. “He said he would come tomorrow night, with my answer,” Tony said. “So I will ask you once more,” he said and he pulled away enough to look into her eyes. “Do we do this?” He asked.

Serena wasn’t sure what the right answer was in this situation. There didn’t seem to be one. Either they took this huge risk together and got her mother back or they didn’t. She knew that her father wasn’t going to do anything without her saying yes. This had to be a mutual decision and she greatly appreciated that.

She hugged him back and thought for a long while before looking up at him. “It’s a big risk, but I think we need to take it. We may never have another opportunity like this again. Things will work out as they are supposed to.”

Tony doubted if he ever could be certain about any of this but with Serena behind him, he had made his decision. That night he waited and he assumed Seren did as well. Just as he said he would, Victor came and Tony was ready for him in one of his best suits.

“I already know your answer Tony Stark...a word of warning, Do only why you must to save Isabella. Once you have achieved that activate the homing beacon in your suit. You will travel into the past Tony Stark and you might be seen by your former self. What I require of you is in your future and so you will remember,” he said and raised his hand. Tony felt..an odd sensation wash over him and then Doom lowered his hand.

“It is done and I shall take you back. Back to just before Isabella dies,” he said and in an instant Tony was in another place.

The Large , flying creatures were actually transports for the smaller aliens that jumped from them onto the ground. New York was a war zone and police, Army and the National Guard were being hard pressed by the aliens, bipeds that rode on strange air sleds or ran in packs on the ground. Isabella and Tony has gotten separated when he went with The Hulk to take down one of the large transports. Sam Wilson was with her and together they rained down he’ll upon a large group of aliens. They had some sort of energy weapons but their mobility made it difficult for them to have a target to return their fire. Sam sent down a wide barrage but one of the air sleds had ran right at him. Isabella saw it coming and just before it hit him she extended her shield over him in a pale glowing bubble. The sled and Sam collided but the shield held and Sam was able to stay in the air. Reflected violet energy struck Isabella in the back. Her shield held but some of her internal electronics suddenly stopped working. Her HUD went down for a moment and she suddenly saw that she was being attacked by 3 air sleds, each with several aliens on them. Two of them had massive guns on the sleds and it was all Isabella could do to dodge and evade them. Her shields were hit again and once more in quick succession and her avionics cut out at she saw a sudden drop in power. One more hit and she knew she’d be done for.

“Isabella...talk to me babe,” Tony’s voice came over her comms. “I’m trying to get to ya,” he said but she was completely defensive now. Rolling, dodging and flying for all she was worth.

Isabella and Tony had both taken a hiatus from the team after Serena was born. They had wanted to spend as much time with her as possible and knew that their job was dangerous. Serena was three now and she and Tony had been talking about having another baby. The only reason she and Tony were here now was because they were truly needed. Isabella and Tony knew that if they didn’t help they would regret it. Leaving Serena with Happy had been difficult for Isabella and she prayed that she was safe.

Isabella had gotten separated from Tony during the fight but she didn’t have time to figure out where he was. She and Sam were working together to take out as many aliens as possible. She had her shield up to protect Sam and herself from the sudden onslaught. Her shields took a hard hit and some of her electronics went down. Thankfully her HUD came back up. She found herself surrounded by three air sleds and it was all she could do to dodge and avoid the fire from the guns. She was trying to remain calm but panic started to take over as she was hit again. She heard Tony’s voice over her comm and she was glad to know he was alright.

“I’m surrounded right now. I’ve been hit twice and my power is at 20%. These things are everywhere.”

“Hang on...Im…” And then static over the comms. Tony got hit and one of the flyers jumped onto his back. He went into a barrel roll to knock it off but he took 2 more energy hits and just like Isabella, his avionics went completely haywire. He knew he wasn’t that far away from her but there were so many aliens. As if they were herding them apart. Divide and conquer tactics. Divide them and then attack them in groups to bring them down.

Isabella could feel them behind her. Could feel the imminent threat of her own destruction. She saw violet bolts of energy fly past her face and she stealed herself for what was going to happen. As she took another hit however, it was only one and though her HUD went down again she looked back and saw that Tony was suddenly there. They were hitting him over and over but their shots didnt seem to phase him and he returned fire, an odd group of tiny missiles that fanned out and struck them all There were several small explosions and the air sleds pitched downwards and crashed onto the street below. Tony came up to her as she flew and took hold of her bodily then pitched straight up into the air. They bounded over a tall building and he headed up to the top of the next one which was even taller. They landed on the roof, the odd violet portal clouds were overhead but for the moment there were no creatures near them. Tony activated her face mask retract externally and his did the same

“Isa bella, are you hurt?” he asked urgently as he looked her over. She had fractures in her suit and he did something with his wrist and he was using some kind of welding beam to repair them. Something was odd though, she had never seen this particular suit before. That and he definitely looked a little older. His beard definitely had a little more gray in it than she remembered and he had aging lines beside his eyes. Isabella was not a fool, she knew something about him wasn’t right but he certainly talked and acted like Tony. When she said she was alright he ejected the weld medium cartridge then took hold of her and began kissing her over and over and over. “Oh god...I’ve missed you...I love you so much Isabella,” he said with tears in his eyes. It was her, Isabella, alive and breathing. He was so happy he wanted to weep.

Isabella felt slightly disoriented as she and Tony landed on the rooftop. She could hear the fighting still going on but she knew she wouldn’t be returning to it. Her suit was damaged and she knew she was lucky to be alive. She didn’t want to think about how things might have ended if Tony hadn’t come to help her.

As Tony retracted his face mask Isabella blinked. Tony looked...different. He looked older. Had she just not noticed the grey in his hair? And his suit looked different than she remembered. Perhaps he had just upgraded it recently. When he suddenly grabbed her and began to kiss her over and over she became more concerned about what was going on.

“Tony...are you alright? What do you mean you missed me?”

To see her again, to feel her in his arms...again. There was no greater gift he could have ever received nor wanted. “Shhh, shh,” he said trying to settle her questions. “Just let me look at you,” he said and touched her face. It had been so long! “I’ve got to go...now and you have to return to the tower,” he said. When she looked to say something or argue, he did not now which he placed a finger over her mouth.”Please, promise me you’ll go back. Please Isabella, if you ever loved me, please promise me this,” he said. As he did a squelched voice came over the comms. “Is...bel...I...can’t...Isa..la?” And she knew it was Tony’s voice. “I love you...my darling,” Tony said.

Isabella looked back up at Tony and into his eyes. Her eyes reflected the undying love she felt for him. He wasn’t just her husband. He was her companion and partner. She didn’t understand what was happening but she knew it was serious. When he told her to promise him that she would go back to the Tower she started to argue but he wouldn’t let her. She finally just nodded. In that moment she heard a voice come in over it comm. It sounded like Tony’s voice but it couldn’t be. He was right here with her. She blinked but then reached up and gently touched the side of his face. “I love you too.”

Tony did not want to leave. The love of his life was right in front of him. Warm and alive and beautiful. It was the hardest thing he ever had to do in his life, he took a step back from her. And let her go. With one last look into her eyes his jet boots launched him into the air. Before he went very far at all, he hit the homing beacon and a bright light consumed him.

Tony finally located Isabella, she was straight ahead on above him. He saw the skyscraper and headed straight for it. There was a bright light above but it was gone in an instant. He landed on the roof and was relieved to see that she was alright.

“Hey, are you alright?” He asked and retracted his face mask. “Your suit’s a mess, can you fly?” He asked as he tilted up his forearm and began a diagnostic on her suit. “Yeah, you took a pounding alright, but you appear to have enough power to get back,” Tony said. But as she looked at him she noted the differences. The differences she’d know would be there.

Isabella watched as Tony flew away. Something in her heart told her that something very important and special had just happened. She watched until she saw a bright light in the sky and then he was gone. A moment later Tony, her Tony, landed beside her on the rooftop. She knew she would never be able to tell him what had just happened.

“Yeah, I’m alright,” she told him as he ran a diagnostic on her suit. “I think I’m out of this fight though. I am going to head back to the Tower.” She gently took his face in her hands and pulled him to her and kissed him. “Be careful out there.”

Tony woke up with a start and sucked in air as if he had not been able to breath. The woman beside him work up suddenly, worried that something was wrong with him. He heard her voice and turned to face her. The sheets had dropped down to their waists and he saw she was clothed in a sheer dark blue nightgown that she usually wore because...he knew because she knew he liked her in it. Memories flooded into him just then. Memories of his life...with Isabella. She hadn’t died though he could recall those memories too. She was there, beside him. Worried for him. He turned and wrapped his arms around her. “Oh god, it was just a dream,” He said though only for her benefit. He knew better but she was there. Warm and alive and beautiful. He kissed her soft lips and remembered what they felt like on his own. He remembered and missed them as well. Missed her. He smiled and only just managed to keep his eyes from tearing up.

“Its alright...everything is alright now,” he said as he scuttled back down onto his pillow. She did as well and rested her head on his chest like she always did. Like she always did…

The next day Tony could hardly let her leave his sight. Serena was there with them from MIT and her and Peter had been hanging out together quite alot lately.

“Hey there Mrs. Stark, is Serena up yet? I don’t think I want another coaster thrown at me for going into her room and waking her up,” he said with a grin. “Did ya ask em yet...Mr. Stark I mean, you know about the...suit,” He asked softly. Peter had been helping Serena learn how to use her powers but she gets exhausted to quickly to make a serious day of it. She had asked Isabella to talk to Tony about making her a suit that can amplify her powers.

Isabella was still as beautiful as she had been the day she and Tony had met. Her hair was shorter now, about collar bone length, and fell in it's natural loose curls. She kept in shape between her training schedule and regular exercise routine. After the attack on New York, she and Tony had officially rejoined the team at Steve's request. There were now new dangers that the world faced and the team needed all the help they could get. Isabella had still made time to spend with her daughter though, whom she adored. Serena was the center of Isabella and Tony's lives and they made sure that she still came first. They had hoped to have another child, but she suffered a severe injury during a battle that made it impossible for her to conceive again. She had not known it at the time, but she had been pregnant. The unborn child though was lost. That only made them love Serena even more and they took special care of her.

Isabella liked Peter Parker. He and Serena had been best friends since the first day of school and Isabella sensed that something more was growing between them...if not already there. Isabella had almost become like a mother to Peter since he had lost his parents when he was young. Tony was rather protective of Serena and she sensed that Peter was rather intimidated by Tony because of that. That morning Isabella was in the kitchen making some fruit and vegetable smoothies for Tony and herself. She and Tony tended to eat rather healthy, though they occasionally ate rather un-healthy things as well. Isabella had a sweet tooth, particularly for pastries, and Tony would bring home her favorites every so often.

"Good Morning Peter," she said with a smile. "I think I heard her get up a few minutes ago." She began to make a smoothie for him as well since she knew he liked them. She glanced at Peter when he asked her if she had spoken to her husband yet about the suit he and Serena wanted him to make for her. "I haven't gotten a good opportunity yet. I will today though. I promise."

She poured the smoothie into a glass and put a re-usable straw into it before giving it to Peter.

Peter accepted the smoothie thankfully.it would likely be the best meal he’d eat today...like most days unless he ate with Serena at the Tower. “Uh, Thanks Mrs. Stark,” He said but he didn’t drink it yet. He always waited for Serena. “Any chance Peter had to hang out with her he took. He loved her though he had never said anything yet. She had the wonderful hair that was brown as well as other colors and she had these large dark eyes that sometimes looked at him as if she were looking into his soul. She was his soulmate and that was all there was to it. When she finally came down Peter waved to her. She had actually taken the time to dry her hair. Peter had spent some money on new clothes. He had black jeans with a light blue t-shirt and a tan leather jacket.

Tony came out of his lab and stopped and leaned up against the wall as he looked at them together. Serena, Isabella and Peter. He knew Isabella saw him watching them but he didn’t care. He got her back and he would pay the cost...no matter what it was.

He stepped up to the table. “So what’s on the agenda today kid?” he said to Serena as he slid up to Isabella and leaned over her shoulder to retrieve his smoothie. He kissed her cheek as he picked his up. “That’s 3 parked cars that I’ve bought in the last 2 weeks. Can we avoid burning them into slag on the street...hmm?” He said. “Oh Mr. Stark...that was totally my fault. We were testing out...things and I didn’t see the car there until it was to late,” Tony just grinned at him politely but knew better. Serena likely did to...and Isabella. But that was Peter always willing to stick up for his girl...now if she only told Serena she ‘was’ his girl.

“You look great Serena,” Peter said and Tony smiled as he looked at Isabella.