A Fresh Start
for @calliskylina-odison
Just like nothing ever happened... Tony woke. He was aware he was no longer dreaming and things felt real. that had to be the weirdest dream ever. Yet there was no time to ponder it as the day was here and there were things to do.
Sitting up, he ran a hand through his hair and turned to see Calli. He'd seen her just last night, right? He had to shake the doubt away before he leaned over and gently kissed her cheek. His Asgardian princess. Luckily, Thor wasn't going to murder him, or at least hadn't.
"Calli, love? good morning." He muttered to her ear, kissed her cheek again, and then scooted from the bed.
She awoke, herself feeling groggy like she slept way to long. Had it really been a bad dream? She couldn't believe everything in her dream was real. She opened her eyes, okay she was in her room, Tony was there. A smile on her face.
"Tony...love?" She speaks softly. "Good morning" She sat up looking at him
He was up, with sunlight streaming in from outside. Their star was on the horizon, throwing golden rays on steel and glass. Tony flicked a hand towards his dresser, summoning clothes to him. "Weird night, huh?" he asked, shoving legs into pants.
She sat up stretching. "Very werid night." She says she stands up and moves to their closet grabbing a beautiful blue dress out.
She started taking her nightgown off, the smile creeps back on her face. "Did you have just as werid of a night as me? Was it an alcohol induced dream?" She said softly. "Either way I'm so glad it was just a dream." She pondered the dream, it felt soo real almost like she was trapped in there.
Tony secured the button on his pants, adjusting the waistband as he thought. "You know I don't drink. I'll make a check of the filtration system, see if anything is off." He turned and picked up his shirt, giving it a flick to dispell wrinkles before pulling it on. Something about his appearance in the window drew his attention and he hurried over to check the reactor. Shirt hem held in his mouth as he checked the device. The center was wrong. "Damnit." He grumbled before letting the shirt drop. He called up a display, checking the reactor replacement history, yet he hadn't changed it for many years primarily because any other he made wouldn't connect with the primary source. This one was different, an upgrade. It brought up far too many questions.
"It may be a good idea to check." She says as she pulls her nightgown off replacing it with the blue dress. She turns at hearing him move quickly.
"Love, is something wrong?" She looks at him as she pulls the tie strings around in front of her to tie them. "Everything okay?"
Wrong? Okay? Tony turned back to her, letting part of him delight in seeing her in a dress. "Nothing is wrong, just unexpected. Everything still functions properly--" He took a step back from the window and called up all his displays, filling the air around him with the same displays he usually kept to a HUD as to not disturb people who didn't understand what he could do. He filled the air with everything he could, pushing the power draw as far as he could. The Reactor glowed brightly, yet didn't stop. A window showed a status for the reactor, and not a single factor went out of spec. He closed it a moment later. "Yeah... better than before." He turned his attention fully on her, smirking. "I should be questioning it, yet I don't want to. I'm upgraded, I didn't do it, yet there is zero harm, if not more powerful than ever."
She watched him test his limit. "Tony, love that's amazing."She smiled with such excitement. "I'm glad it didn't cause harm. Tho who did it?" She ponder
"I'd like to thank them." She spoke softly. She turns to him, with a soft smile. "Let's go see our kids." She walks toward him, lays a kiss on his cheek and heads out the door.
"Good morning Jarvis. Are the kids awake?" She speaks out.
Tony motioned for her to lead the way out of their room, though stopped when a message appeared on his HUD. It had opened a display on its own, and processor pull was nil.
[You're welcome.]
Was someone watching them? Watching him? As he trailed behind, he typed to a display. [Who are you?] Was it the person that upgraded his reactor?
After a few seconds, there was still no answer. Not one to let something like this truly go, Tony snorted softly and picked up his pace. He would circle back to it and pry the data apart.
"Indeed, Mrs. Stark." the AI replied as they approached the hall leading to the children's rooms.
"Thank you, Jarvis." She smiled and walks toward Belle's room. She stops before entering the room and turns to look at Tony. She walks over to him and plants a kiss on his lips softly. "I love you, Tony."
She turned and walked into Belles room. "Good morning Belle." She says with a soft knock on the door.
Upon hearing the knock, Belle came running to the door. "Mommy, daddy... my dreams...were..." She turned to Tony and hugged him tightly. "Scary. Daddy was missing." She said in a half cry whisper.
Tony shared the chaste kiss, smiling at they parted and headed into their oldests room. It looked exactly like it was supposed to, yet at the same time felt new and foreign. Whatever made this reality seemed to have done a slap-dash job of it.
Tony knelt for Belle, enveloping her in a hug. "They were just dreams, hon. I'm here now." Yet he looked over her and up at Calli. It was too similar to the dream he had, where he was removed from his family, removed from everything he knew. It was too conveinent, too much a coincidence between Belle's simple description of her dream and what he recalled.
Across the hall, Aiden toddled out of his room, grumpy and frowning as he forced himself to walk. He knew how to walk, and now he was stuck in this body? He'd been a warrior of Asgard in his dream, safe and sound among them while enjoying a life there. Now he saw his father and mother standing there, like nothing had happened. He remembered, he knew that something had happened to his father that resulted in him being left on Asgard. "No they weren't." He spoke carefully, since even his mouth wasn't strong enough or had the same memory he did. "It was real. You were gone. Belle and I were on Asgard for years."
She turned and looked at Aiden. "This is too weird, Tony. In my dream, you left for something. Aiden chose to go stay with his sister, Belle on Asgard so she could take the princess role. I was here... alone." She shook a little. Everything. It was too real.
Belle looked at her mother, "mom, loki was still in jail.... right?" She said shakingly. "Grandpa thor was helping me... but it was werid."
Calli turned to Belle. "I know, it's okay my sweet girl." She looked at Tony "what do we do?" She questioned.
Down the hall an infant Charissa begins to cry. Unsure of where she is, and why she is there. She was alone in a dark realm unsure of where she was moments ago in the dreamscape. "Maaaaaaaaaaaaamaaaa"
It was too weird, even though everything now told him this was real, this is where they belonged. He took a deep breath. "We aren't dreaming anymore." He spoke loudly, looking to Aiden. "Because that is all it was, a dream. You kids have an extraordinary heritage, so I expect weird things to happen from time to time. That includes weird dreams that ... all of you share." The last bit was said softly, as though he didn't want to believe it, no matter how true it was.
Waking up and being reminded that he had four kids, each of them unique and powerful in their own rights, was rather sobering from his own dream where he'd been alone, drifting through space and meeting millions of people.
He let Belle go, giving her a smile. "Get dressed, sweetie, the day's beginning."
Aiden wasn't buying it, small hand gripping the door frame while he glared at his father. He recalled lessons from his grandmother about magic, and could recall it now. He could tap into that energy and when he turned it on his father, he could see something else, something that Grandmother would have called an extra spirit. It was hovering around his father, invisible to human eyes, and likely anyone that wasn't trained by a Norn witch. He could recall his whole life in Asgard after his father Vanished. Was that extra spirit to blame for all of them dreaming?
At Charissa's cry, Tony turned towards the sound. The twins... Time to get the kids up for the day, as well. He looked up at Calli. "No time to think about it now. Stuff to do."
Something was off. She could tell. Living her life without her family? They were all grown, all on their own... what happened? Why did it happen? She turned to Aiden. "My sweet prince, I know you remember everything perfectly. I know your having a hard time believing it wasn't a dream..." She spoke again softly. "But, if it wasn't a dream, that life is no longer. We are here as a family. Dad is home safe, your siblings are safe. You are safe." She said almost as if she was reassuring herself.
Belle nodded and let Tony go. It really did feel like that 'dream' was too real. She could see a figure around Tony and it concerned her. She was 10 and her abilities were strong, stronger then she could remember them being. "Yes, daddy." She ignored it. Pushed it down and turned getting dress.
Charissa cried. How was this possible? She could vividly remember wandering through space, seeing thousands of worlds. Her brother? Yes her brother. He was there. "Waaaaaaaa, maammmmaaaa, daaaadaaaa" She cried out.
Calli hugged Aiden, and smiled at Belle. "It will be alright, I promise. Can we get dressed, please Aiden?"
Aiden huffed and gave his mother a hug. "Very well. And, mother, please don't read my thoughts back to me. They are mine, and mine alone."
Tony entered Charissa and Tristian's room, though was taken aback for a moment upon seeing how young they were. Couldn't walk, but were talking? Charissa was flailing around, balling her eyes out. Tristian was sound asleep, laying on his back and head turned to the side. Since only one of them needed immediate attention, he went over and scooped his baby girl up. "Shh, shh, daddy's here."
Calli hugged Aiden and looked down at him. "You know you shouldn't be taken that attitude with me right?" She said. "I will always read your mind. But I won't say it out loud unless I need to."
Belle got dressed. She had picked out a yellow flowered dress.
Charissa upon seeing dad smiled. "Dada" She said. Yes she was an infant again but since she was a grown witch a moment ago and now a baby. Certain things felt natural. Stupid baby body, she could walk moments ago..now she can't?
"There is never a need to." Aiden replied, staunch in his decision. "All of us will have to come to terms with what happened, and that will take some time."
Tony was most delighted by his daughter. Even though yesterday's memories were fleeting, he could recall how much he loved her. To himself, he loved Charissa more than Belle, yet would always treat them equally, at least the best he could. "I missed you, kiddo." Then the reactions of Aiden and Belle came to mind. "You probably have memories of your old life, the one you were just dreaming about. We're all in the same boat. Adapting to life is going to take some time, but don't worry, you aren't alone. Aiden is grumpier than ever."
Calli shook her head. "Oh, Aiden. Go get your butt dressed." He would never understand...why she did it. Though it was new to her. She did it in her dream but was it something Dad taught her?
Charissa looked at Tony. "Dada" She said watching him. Did she not know any more words? The other day she could even speak in full sentence, what was going on? She reached her arms up and touched dad's face.
Belle was dressed and waking downstairs. "Mama, I'm gonna go down stairs"
Aiden nodded and returned to his room to get dressed. There was a plethora of questions, and he knew that Jarvis was here and could be talked to. Maybe that is what he needed to do: talk to something that was entirely unbiased.
Tony nodded, assuming that Charissa was similar to all of them in what her dream contained. "I know, kiddo, I know. Just be patient, okay? And don't forgot what happened. We can do yes and no questions if that helps?"
Tristian was awake, flailing wildly and looking around the room, eyes wide as he took in the space. He hadn't been here in... so long. But it was home! He was finally home.
Calli sighs and goes into the twins rooms. "Oh boy. What happened?" She questioned. Everything was different in a way. "Is she okay?" Calli says as she picks up Tristan. "Good morning little man" She says to tristan.
Charissa nods. Watching her daddy
Tristian gurgled when Calli picked him up. "Mama!" he chirped and nestled against her. mmm, boobs. Since he couldn't talk very well, it seemed that he would just get to enjoy life all over again.
Tony nodded back, then looked at Calli as she strode in to pick up the other baby in the room. "She's okay, and looks like the little man is, too. No adverse effects of whatever happened." He then looked back to Charissa. "Did you learn a lot in the place you went to?" he asked.
Charissa nodded. Oh she learned soo much stuff. But she was stuck. Stuck in a black place.no life.
Calli smiled. "My little wizard." She nuzzle him. "I missed you." She giggled a little. "I know you remember alot and probably think I'm dumb for acting like I haven't seen you." She whispered.
Tony smiled. "I can't wait to learn about it." He cradled his little girl and turned to Calli as she snuggled their son. A mental tally was being kept, and he felt like someone was missing. Belle, Aiden, Charissa, Tristan... he felt like he had a fifth somewhere in there, though the feeling was faint, as though that person wasn't supposed to exist at all. If it mattered, he'd probably come across a log or they would show up. Part of him hoped they never did, because four kids were going to be handful enough.
Tristan closed his eyes and settled into her embrace. This was fine, all good. Not that he wanted to remember since this was a fresh start. What had his friend called it, isekai? that would take some experimenting, yet he wanted to believe that he had been isekai'd back to his younger self with all his memories. Though, that might also be called something else and he just didn't know. Yet he knew one thing: his mom wasn't dumb. as far as he knew, it had been a very long time since they had seen each other. Yesterday felt like a series of planted memories, so easily dismissed for what he remembered of his dream. Eventually, he would get his mouth working properly so he could speak. "Mama." he answered her, unknowingly sharing his sister's upset attitude at being unable to say more.
Calli acknowledged tristans movement. "Your a smart little man arent you?" She spoke to him as she turned to face Tony. "Our family, again. I'm still confused as to what happened but we are all here." She kissed Tristan's head and a faint smile played in her eyes.
Charissa cooed. Her mom and dad were here. She was no longer in danger. Something was missing though. Did mama have another baby? Or did daddy? She wondered in her mind. She nuzzled into Tony's chest.
"That's all that matters. We are here, safe, and together." Tony confirmed. "Come on, let's get the troops fed." he encouraged as he turned and headed out.
Aiden stepped out of his room, dressed, and with a toy sword at his side. It was a small Asgardian-made training sword, befitting of a young prince. He still had the scowl, choosing to be moody until he found a reason to have a better mood.
Calli smiled. "Yes. Let's get our troop fed." She looked to the twins. And started walking out of the room. "Jarvis, can you help Belle warm two bottles up?" She asks as they walked.
Belle sat at the table her journal now infront of her. She was frantically writing her memories out, they seemed to be fading. She wrote about her training as a princess by grandma and her warrior training by grandpa. She loved grandpa thor, but honestly when grandma sif taught her she loved it more. She wanted to be a valkyrie.
Tony paused only a moment to scoop Aiden up to his other hip before leading the entourage down. The lower level was perfect for the family, and looked oddly clean as though they actually picked up the night before. He didn't know if that was true or not, so didn't give it more thought. Once down the stairs, he set Aiden back to the ground and let the oldest boy tromp off to join Belle. with a hand free, he raised it towards the kitchen and then... frowned. He didn't know what he wanted to have happen, or how he would make it work, yet at the same time, he had those answers and the doing was the easy part.
With a huff, Tony found the spell he wanted and launched a burst of blue light towards the stove. The light splashed as it hit, curling smaller orbs around different areas as the cooking began. "Pancakes, right?" he asked aloud, directing his question to the herd of children.
