Year 1986
New York, Stark Mansion
"Howard! Jarvis!"
A woman's voice echoed sharply from downstairs, strained with pain and irritation.
"The man is never present when I actually need him!"
Maria Stark clutched the edge of a shelf, breathing unevenly as another wave of discomfort washed over her.
A tall man in a butler's uniform hurried over at once, steadying her with practiced care
"Madam, please sit," Jarvis said calmly. "Mr. Stark is preparing himself and will be with you shortly."
As if on cue, the door swung open.
"Maria, my darling!" Howard Stark strode in, adjusting his shirt and forcing a reassuring smile. "Are you still trying to blame me? I already told you it wasn't my fault. If you want to blame someone, blame God, because only He—"
He stopped.
Maria's glare was lethal.
Howard swallowed and cleared his throat. Experience, hard-earned and painful, told him that arguing at this moment would be suicidal.
He shut his mouth and nodded along instead, instantly demoting himself to a yes-man.
Maria rolled her eyes.
"I think my water just broke," she said flatly.
Howard stiffened.
"Jarvis!" he barked. "Get the car ready. Now! I'll help Maria outside."
"Yes, sir."
******
New York Hospital
Howard Stark paced outside the delivery room, his usual confidence nowhere to be found.
Running a hand through his hair for the tenth time in as many minutes. He looked exhausted, more than he cared to admit.
His hands trembled faintly as he clasped them behind his back.
Jarvis stood beside him.
Sensing his unease, Jarvis spoke gently. "Sir, you needn't worry. You hired the finest doctors available. Mrs. Stark was diagnosed as perfectly healthy. There should be no danger during labor."
Howard exhaled slowly. "I know. I do." His voice dropped. "But Maria's not young anymore. If something happens to her…"
He trailed off.
"I wouldn't forgive myself," he finished quietly.
Uncomfortable with the silence, Howard changed the subject. "Did you manage to reach Tony?"
"I'm afraid not, sir. Young Master Tony's phone is currently out of range."
Howard scowled but said nothing.
Jarvis wisely changed the subject before Howard could spiral into complaints. Despite his pride in Tony's brilliance, his son's behavior often tested his patience.
Moments later, the delivery room doors opened.
The doctor stepped out, smiling broadly.
"Congratulations, Mr. Stark. You're a father again. Both mother and child are healthy. Mrs. Stark has given birth to a baby boy."
Howard released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
"That's… that's wonderful."
He shook the doctor's hand and hurried inside.
Maria lay propped up against the pillows, exhaustion softening into joy as she cradled a tiny bundle. Howard carefully took the baby into his arms, awe washing over him.
For the first time in years, he felt something tighten painfully in his chest.
"What should we name him?" Maria asked softly.
Howard thought for a moment. "Ethan."
Maria rolled her eyes. One look at the determination in Howard's gaze told her this battle was already lost.
"Fine," she smiled. "Ethan Edward Stark."
******
MIT, Dormitory
Tony Stark woke to the relentless buzzing of his phone.
Groaning, he checked the screen.
Missed calls: Jarvis.
Opening the most recent message, he read:
Young Master Tony, the Stark family has welcomed a new member. Mrs. Stark would greatly appreciate your presence.
Tony stared at the screen, conflicted.
He hadn't been home in over a week. After a blowout argument with his father, he'd been crashing in the MIT dorms with Rhodes. But his mother…
With a reluctant sigh, Tony dragged himself out of bed. On his way to the bathroom, he nudged the lump on the couch with his foot.
"Up," he muttered. "We're going out."
Rhodes groaned. "Why?"
"My mom gave birth."
Rhodes blinked. "And you're telling me now?"
Tony snorted. "Get dressed. At least Dad won't give me the death stare if I bring backup."
Rhodes rolled his eyes, already resigned.
The hospital visit went about as expected.
When Tony arrived at the hospital, Howard gave him an earful. The tension only eased when Tony introduced Rhodes.
Howard was genuinely surprised. This wasn't a party friend. This was… real.
While Howard dragged Rhodes off for a conversation, Tony headed toward Maria's VIP room. His hands felt oddly stiff when his mother placed the baby in his arms.
When Tony finally held the baby, he frowned.
Tony squinted at the tiny face. "He looks like an ugly goblin."
Maria laughed softly. "You weren't much better."
******
Maria was discharged a week later. Tony returned home under the pretense of vacation.
"The weather's been strange lately," Maria said, gazing out the window. "It feels… wrong."
Howard waved it off from the sofa. "Just an energy storm. Worst case? A global blackout."
The sky darkened.
Thunder cracked.
The mansion shook as an earthquake rippled through the ground.
Maria paled. "Ethan—!"
Howard reassured her calmly. "The mansion's reinforced. We're safe."
She didn't wait.
Maria rushed toward Ethan's room.
Relief washed over Maria when she saw Jarvis holding Ethan, still asleep.
Tony arrived moments later,
He was annoyed after his work in the basement was interrupted, scowling. "Jarvis, what did you give him? He's sleeping through an earthquake."
Before Jarvis could respond, Ethan cried.
The mansion trembled.
Across the planet, power grids failed. Satellites went dark. Mystical and technological systems alike fell silent.
The Earth absorbed only a fraction of the storm's energy.
Humanity absorbed less still.
The rest, all of it.
Flowed into Ethan Stark.
No instrument could measure it. No spell could track it.
******
Kathmandu, Nepal
"Ancient One!"
Master Sorcerers rushed into the chamber, panic evident on their faces.
The Ancient One sipped her tea calmly. "No invasion. Merely a cosmic storm."
She glanced into the Time Stone.
Minor mutations. No significant timeline deviation. Manageable.
Her gaze lingered, just briefly, on New York.
Then she smiled and returned to her tea.
******
Stark Mansion
Ethan hovered in the air.
Maria and Jarvis watched in horror.
Tony and Howard watched in stunned silence.
The baby's eyes shifted, black and white with blue sparks… crimson with spinning tomoe… gold marked by a rotating black wheel.
The storm faded.
Gravity returned.
Tony lunged forward, catching Ethan just in time.
"And that," Tony muttered, forcing a grin, "is one hell of a birth announcement."