"You can rest now..." Pepper says, softly stroking Tony's cheek as he inhaled his last breaths. The light in his chest slowly blinked out never to shine again. She looked down trying her best not to lose it entirely, listening to the deafening silence all around them.

Everyone stood in shock for a moment not daring to move, not even daring to breath, as if doing so would make this moment real. Rachael was the first to break the frozen atmosphere, running to pull Peter into a desperate hug, crying into his chest.

He pulled her flush against him in response, holding onto her as if he's life depended on it, hiding his face in her hair, tears falling free. They both shook from the ragged movement of their chests, slowly sliding to the ground not daring to let go of each other.

Everyone watched the small family in shock, no one seemed to know what to do or how to respond. Rhodey took to Pepper's side, kneeling beside her and resting a supportive hand on her shoulder. The moment was silent and the air was thick. This moment felt never ending.

—

The team retreated back to the cabin since the compound had been destroyed, and everyone tiredly stalked towards the house.

Rhodey and Pepper walked arm and arm towards the house, the front door swinging open aggressively to reveal two little girls sprinting out to meet them.

They both started shouting excitedly and babbling words no one seemed to be able to understand. Morgan was the first to spot Rachael and Peter walking hand in hand towards the house seemingly lost in their own world. The small child practically ran over to them startling the pair. She recognized them from all the photos Tony had around the house.

Rachael almost jumped into Peter's arms, both of them seemed absolutely horrified to see her, but she didn't really care all that much. Morgan reached out to grab Rachael's arm, but she took a dramatic step back into the safety of Peter's side, his arms slipped around her waist protectively. They both eyed Morgan in terror, confused by her presence.

Pepper walked up beside Maria, kneeling down to her height. "Hey, sweetie why don't you head inside? Maybe Uncle Rhodey will get you a juice pop."

"Okay!" Morgan's eyes lit up and she immediately ran towards the house giggling.

"How did-?" Rachael mumbles, watching Morgan run away.

"I-I there's a lot that happened while you were gone..." Pepper sighs. "I know Steve already mentioned it's been five years since... But keep in mind it was five years no one was expected to see any of you again, everyone kinda moved on..."

"You started a new family?" Rachael mumbles, leaning into Peter's chest more.

"No! No... We-we just-... added to it." Pepper says, ringing her hands together as Steve steps up beside her.

"We all moved on, kid. Everyone did their best to get through what had happened. We couldn't live in a world that festered on the past." Steve says, trying to help Pepper out.

"So you replaced us?" Rachael asks, her words coming out more as a small squeak.

"No! No, God, no! Rachael- We could-we could never! We just-... moved on and worked with the cards we were dealt. They were the cards we were dealt." Pepper says, looking back towards the house slightly.

"Your lives are... so different now is there even room for us now? For me?" Rachael asks.

"Of course! We never gave up hope that you would be back one day. Tony made you a room and everything when we bought this house. Everything in this life was made with you in mind, it was even built on the fact that we lost you. Not a day went by where we didn't think of you or wonder at how you would be in a certain situation. This life was made for you." Pepper says, trying her best to hide her pain.

Rachael peeled herself from Peter's side for the first time all day and enveloped Pepper in a warming hug.

Pepper held her closely, smiling slightly at the thought of finally having the kids back and all together this time. "It's okay, we'll figure this all out together. I know it's overwhelming, but you're not going through this alone."

She smiled at Peter, knowing he's the only other person alive to truly understand what Rachael was going through right now and welcomed the thought of them figuring this out together, warming her heart just a little. Rachael pulled back reaching behind her for Peter's hand again, finding that she needed some form of reassurance at all times, worried she might spiral without it. He took it eagerly, a warm understanding flowing between them which seemed to put all negative emotions at bay.

"Why don't we head inside? I'm sure Morgan and Maria are dying to meet you both." Pepper smiles slightly.

Peter and Rachael exchanges cautious glances, before nodding apprehensively. "Okay."