Hello hello!

This is the last part for 'Where is Your Family Little One?'

In my time gone, I feel like I have grown when it comes to the way I write. At a sudden spark of inspiration, I decided to work on this chapter. I enjoy a lot writing for you again!

Also,

From now on, the reader is gender neutral since well, not all of you are female so yeah!

Have a nice read.

-PurpleTrekkie

"Thanos is coming, you can't take care of that child anymore Stephen." The atmosphere, tense. It wasn't a joke anymore, it never was. Stephen knew he had to go to battle eventually, but leaving you back... his little child, which he had learned to love as time went by... he couldn't allow you to get involved in what was about to happen.

Judgement Day, some called it.

"But (Y/N) needs me, and I need them as much as I need air to breathe." Hurt panged against his chest achingly, making him close his fist over it, stop the trembling, stay strong. Always.

"I'm sorry Strange... but war is coming, and I'm afraid you will become one of his targets." A finger nudged at the Eye of Agamotto, connected passively around his neck, sealing his destiny as protector of the Earth. An infinity stone, inmense power contained within a small rock. A power that wanted to be taken away by an evil force.

Stephen stopped breathing for a moment, feeling his world closing around him, forcing him to take a hopeless seat before his knees buckled up under him. There was no use fighting over it, he knew the right thing to do was to take you far away from him, before the deadly wave washed over Kamar Taj.

"What will they think of me? A monster probably, for leaving them behind with no real explanation as to why I am walking away. I can't- No, I can't imagine a future without them, Wong. I love (Y/N) as if they were my own child." His hands, wrapped around his torso, inconsolable, heartbroken, there wasn't anything that could describe what he was feeling now.

A hand laid on his shoulder. A reassuring squeeze. Stephen only felt worse.

"A week, that's all you have with (Y/N) before I take her to a hiding place. They will be happy, they won't know about this at all. There won't be fear in their life Stephen." He wanted to scream at Wong, to tell him how much he despised all of this. Just when he had started to have something good in his life, it had to be ripped away so suddenly.

"You'll be able to see (Y/N) again-"

"What if I die Wong?" The room went dead silent as he, the man who felt lost raised his head up high, almost daringly. "What if- I don't know, what if Thanos kills me to get the infinity stone? What will you tell (Y/N)? Would you be so cruel to tell them the truth of my whereabouts? They don't even know what happened to their parents!" His voice rose like thunder, destructive.

Wong lowered his gaze to the ground, unresponsive.

"That's what I thought."

Stephen left the room, with a part of his being lost in the void.
-

There was no third test to lose, Ancient One passed away before that could happen. By default Stephen had won, he could have you stay with him, but somehow, he felt as though he lost. It felt wrong, to win in that way.

Sometimes at night, when you slept soundly close to him, he thought he was the least indicated to take care of you. He had failed many friends and lovers in the past, he couldn't help but wonder if he would fail to protect you, to keep you happy. The only thing that brought him comfort was when you asked him if you could sleep next to him at night, claiming to be afraid of the darkness, afraid of the monsters under your bed.

"I saw it Mr. Strange, it wants to eat me and I don't want that." You had awakened him up at midnight, clutching his sleeve as your bottom lip trembled in fear. His sleep hazed mind cleared off upon seeing your vulnerability, opening up his covers in a silent invitation and letting you scramble up to him before hugging his neck like a koala.

He chuckled, laying a hand gently over your back and rubbing circles soothingly, trying to pry those tears away so they would not cascade down your cheeks. "Nothing will eat you little one." He consoled softly, letting your fear dissipate as sleep overtook you quickly. Safe, you felt safe knowing that Stephen was there, that he would protect you of every monster in the world.

"W-With magic?" Your whispered question provoked a fond smile to spread across his features. You had already seen him performing sorcery before, but your mind had comprehended it in an innocent way. You thought Stephen was a wizard that protected everyone and everything, accompanied by his kind hearted cloak. To you, he was the most fantastic hero that there could be.

But Stephen didn't know that. He couldn't read minds after all.

"With a little bit of magic of course." He replied moments later, but you were already sleeping, laying on his chest, comforted by the constant beating of his heart. Stephen pulled the covers over the both of you and looked up at the ceiling, drifting off soon after.

That night, his dreams weren't plagued with the nightmare that deprived him of a good night's sleep.

And you weren't afraid anymore.

-

Stephen had gone to a mission. Stephen got hurt. Stephen had been rushed the the medic wing as soon as possible. Stephen had died.

For a minute and a half.

The whole time you had lingered by his side, worrying shyly behind Wong who had sarted to really understand what he had meant with. 'What if I die out there?' The amount of blood that Stephen lost that day was preoccupying. And it only increased the medic's worry more when his heart stop beating all together.

Many things happened in that instant. Wong clutched you closer to him, shielding you from presencing the scene in front of them. You trembled in fear, sobbing silently in his robes as the doctor's voice became urgent, the sorcerers at his aid bustling around in a breeze of panic.

Wong had watched in horror, had watched how Stephen had stared emptily at the roof, the body that laid on the table a poor comparison of who he used to be. And Wong had feared for a moment that it would stay that way. A used to be that would be tagged with Stephen everytime that anyone spoke about him. He held his breath, completely frozen and wishing that this moment would never repeat itself again.

That the day where Stephen Strange died in front of him would never repeat itself again, no matter how arrogant the man could sometimes be. And as that thought finished formulating in his mind, Stephen suddenly jerked awake, chest heaving rapidly in an attempt to channel oxygen through his organism.

Wong thought scenes like that seen in movies and TV couldn't compare when one was experiencing it with their own eyes.

He had to remind himself to breath once again.

That night, you didn't dare to leave his side, staying impossibly close to him and always keeping any form of physical contact you could manage to get. When Stephen regained consciousness, his mind had little time to process the mass of concerned child that avalanched over him. He bit back down a grunt of discomfort at the sudden pain shocks that ran throughout his being so as to not scare you further more.

He could only assure you silently, placing a hand over your small back, and then reaching up to thread through your hair, well-known now that it was soothing for you, especially when nightmares brought tears out in cascades. He felt a pang of regret seeing you visibly shake, eyes glossed over in unshed tears and a mouth pressed in a thin line in an attempt to stay strong in front of him.

No matter how much he hated to have you playing with his hair, he couldn't help but settle you behind his neck, legs draped around his neck loosely as curious and admiring little hands explored the expanse of the brown locks on his head.

Stephen and Wong both locked gazes and silent understanding was exchanged in between each other. The grim atmospher soon brightened up by the sound of a child laughing happily.

-
"I'm afraid, this is what's best for you (Y/N)."

"But... Mr. Strange... Are you leaving forever? Just how mommy and daddy did?"

Some would find the absurd height difference in between him and you quite amusing, in other scenarios, this time, none of that mattered, Stephen had finally gained up the courage to take you to that safe place, tell you the situation, bid you goodbye... By the end of that day, many things will have ended and started simultaneously.

Young eyes met older ones, but both were equally intense.

Stephen helped you with your coat, holding the sleeve up for you and allowing you to move your arm through, repeating the same with the other sleeve. Pull back, thread through, adjust. He made a show with the buttons to extend the time you had left together.

His frown transformed into a scowl as he nudged you gently. His response was meant to be angry, but he could never really hold that feeling altogether for long, it always drifted off into the wind in the matter of seconds. "Of course not, little one, I would go mad if that were to happen. It's just a... temporary solution. Think of them as vacations."

He wrapped an arm around your waist and lifted you high in the air. You giggled uncontrollably, hiding your face in his shoulder, reluctant to let go of the warmth that Stephen always radiated. That was one of the main things that lead you to cuddling with the man 24/7. Not only he was a tall teddy bear, his warmth couldn't compare to your favourite winter blanket.

"Are you going to fight a villain?" Your questioned came out muffled through the layers of clothing, and soon you found yourself moving together with Stephen, taking you to that place he had talked to you about.

"Why yes... A very bad bad villain..." His statement meant more than it sounded like, and he for a moment, stilled at the thought of what laid ahead of him. He resumed his trek once again before you noticed the change in demeanor.

The portal was getting impossibly closer. On the other side, your safe haven, a place Stephen made sure Thanos would not find no matter what he did. It is forthe best, he kept repeating himself, even as he stepped in the portal slowly, appearing in the small sanctuary in the middle of- Well, that's a secret. The place was beautiful, nature surrounding beautifully the sanctuary that had been adjusted to hold a hyperactive child apprrpriately and without dangers.

He almost turned back around but instead forced himself to place you down. He went to kneel down in front of you before handing you your backpack.

"Now, I want you to be good with Mrs. Cassey alright (Y/N)?" He ruffled your hair fondly, sighing at the pouty plea he got in response. "Okay Mr. Strange..." You muttered softly.

He brought you in for a tight hug, raining your head with kisses, peppering kisses on your face and small hands, anything that would bring out a smile on your face. He knew his attempts were successful as you squirmed in his hold, giggling at the shower of affection. "Your beard tickles Mr. Strange." You pressed a hand on his jaw to stop the incessant kisisng.

"I will be back, okay kiddo? Don't get sad just because I am not here." This time, his hug tightened a bit. Just a bit longer, he thought to himself. Just a moment longer with (Y/N)...

"Mr. Strange, I think you are the one sadder right now." You poked his cheek repeatedly, placing both hands on his shoulders before scrunching your nose in your bossy-like way.

"I hope the villain gets scared."

Stephen's eyes glossed over, smiling genuinely, happily, proudly, missing you already even if he still hadn't left.

"Oh believe me (Y/N). The villain will be scared."

"Good."