A/N: This was legit just self-indulgence because, as much as I love the drama of that ending, I couldn't leave my precious babies like that. Also, get ready for a small dose of Stephen feels here.

Even as he poured everything he had into fighting Proxima, Stephen could hear Stark. Everyone could. The battle's first casualty was the battle's only teenager, and of all the screams of pain Stephen had heard, Stark's was the worst. Stark's was the scream that made him understand why Christine would sometimes wake up in the middle of the night with a gasp, covered in cold sweat and tears.

Stark's was the scream that made him remember in crystal clarity the day his sister died.

Stephen's magic flickered as Thor and Quill faltered too. Maximoff screamed a little, probably overwhelmed by Stark's emotions.

Proxima just laughed.

Stephen snarled and flung a spell at her, which she dodged with ease. But Thor flung Mjolnir at her as Quill shot her, and one of them landed a blow. She stumbled backwards, her laughter twisting into a snarl. Stephen smirked and flung more magic at her, hope daring to flicker inside him as he landed more hits. Until Stark spoke again.

"You should not have killed my son."

There was a roar from above, this one holding naught but rage. Missiles and lasers and flames rained down on Proxima, who jumped aside and looked up and laughed again, bringing her weapon to bear. Stephen jerked his gaze skyward and saw Stark racing towards her, vengeance emanating from his every movement.

Oh God. He's going to-

"Stark, no!" he yelled. "Tony!"

The billionaire ignored him.

Stephen threw up a portal, redirecting Stark to the empty sky just before he crashed at full speed. He skidded to a halt and whirled around – the mask seemed to glare right into Stephen's soul.

"Why did you stop me?" he demanded.

"Because I can save him," Stephen gasped. "I can bring Peter back."

Abruptly, Stark froze. "You can… you can what?"

"I have a way," Stephen promised, shooting a glance at Thanos. "Just get through this and get me that green Infinity Stone."

Stark hovered for a moment, probably wondering if Stephen was just making stuff up to save his life. But then he nodded sharply, returning to the battle against Proxima at a far less reckless speed. "Don't die, Strange."

Stephen let out a laugh of mingled mirth and relief. "Deal."

-MCU-

Somehow, they both survived. Tony and Strange walked off the battlefield, exhausted and bloody and limping – but alive. Tony stumbled straight to where Peter's body still lay, his upturned face white and lips blue. His armor sparked, the only hint of movement on the kid.

"I'm sorry," Tony breathed, taking off his mask and gloves again. His hands still glistened red with Peter's blood. "I never should've brought you here."

Suit shards crunched beneath Strange's feet as he approached. "I get the feeling he would've hated you for that."

Tony flashed a glance at Strange, wondering just how he meant to follow through on his promise. "At least he would be here to hate me."

"And he will be," Strange promised, kneeling down beside him. "Stand back."

Reluctantly, Tony obeyed, watching the sorcerer closely. Strange closed his eyes and took a steady breath before lifting his trembling hands. The weird necklace glowed green in response to his hand motions as he waved them at Peter's body. A circular spell appeared and Strange twisted his hand as if turning a dial.

Slowly, blood began pouring back into Peter's body.

Tony leaned forward, gripping the boulder tightly as color returned to Peter's face. The two gaping holes began to close as the last drops of blood disappeared back into them, even the ones from Tony's hands. As they closed all the way, Peter sucked in a gasp of air. Strange slumped back, closing his eyes and letting out a breath of relief.

Tony scrambled forward, cupping Peter's face with one hand as he patted his stomach with another, checking that the wound had truly healed. "Peter?"

Peter coughed and his eyes flickered open. He squinted, looking around in confusion. "Wha…?" His eyes widened and he slapped a hand against his stomach, sitting up to look down at it. "What the- I was- I was- But now I'm- What the f-"

Tony swept the kid into the tightest hug he'd ever given, muffling Peter's ramblings against his shoulder. "Thank God," he rasped. "Oh thank God."

Peter shifted his head so he could breathe, but he returned the hug, his grip tight enough to squeeze the metal of Tony's suit. "This is weird," he whispered. "This is so weird. I mean, I was- I was-"

Tony patted his back and held the back of his head as Peter started shaking. "We'll get through it, Pete. We will. But for now, let's just go home."

Peter nodded faintly, more than happy to let Tony help him up and guide him to the portal Stephen opened to the compound. "O-ok."

As Barton came up to support Peter from the other side, the archer's other arm around Wanda, Tony glanced back at Strange. "Thank you," he mouthed.

Strange flashed a bittersweet smile, memories flickering through his eyes. "You're welcome," he mouthed back.

A/N: I also wrote this to indulge canon. Peter's got more movies to star in after Infinity War, after all. Thank goodness. I considered killing Tony in chapter 1 cause he doesn't have the same protection, but I just couldn't. I nearly cried writing Peter's death, let alone Tony's death. If Tony dies in canon... for real, Pietro style... I can't even.