So, I had every intention of leaving just Evelyn and Loki as the sole characters/couple this fic calls out, given that I can't tag everyone and everything here on fanfiction like I can on A03. However, I've come to the realization that there will be people who won't like some of the endgame couples I have in mind and that they deserve to know that they're coming instead of not. So with that in mind, yes, this fic is heading towards a Steve/Tony relationship on top of others of a similar ilk. I realize that this might cost me some readers at this point in the game, and I'm okay with that. I went into this story with that endgame already in mind but haven't properly advertised it. To those of you who enjoy a good Steve/Tony relationship, I hope I do this justice in the long run. To those of you who don't, I don't begrudge you this fact. I have read many a fic with Tony paired with just about everyone under the Marvel sun and have thoroughly enjoyed every single one. I only ask that everyone be polite.

On another note, again with not being able to tag everything that I'd like, I feel I should just put out there that it's really at Age of Ultron that this fic starts veering hard in AU status for the Marvel timeline. Take anything that follows after with a grain of salt. I might end up using it, I might not. Obviously the Harry Potter timeline went wonky right when Evelyn was born, given that she's a girl. You'll be getting snippets of the differences as the story progresses, but do know that major events played out relatively the same way each year.

Now that I've gotten all of that out of the way, enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 19: Magic is a thing

There's a ringing in Steve's ears. A ringing and a hollowness that he's only really felt once before. Only this time he isn't hanging off a train in the snowy Alps screaming for Bucky while he falls far beyond his reach. No, now he's in Stark Manor being forced to watch as Tony Stark snarls at Evelyn for supposedly saving him of all things. As if continuing to live is too much for him to bear now.

He finds himself anchored in place for all that he's floundering inside. He wants to move, to take Tony and shake him for even daring to think that the world would ever be a better place without him or just hold him close to shield him from everything and everyone. Maybe both. Probably both. Shake him and then never let him go. However, he can't move.

It isn't until Evelyn turns to look at him with a watery smile that Steve finds himself able to stumble forward with Tony's name falling roughly off his lips. The genius jerks around at the sound, a raspy "Steve," coming from his own mouth as he all but throws himself at Steve. Reflexes born from fighting and living side by side for six years are what save Tony from face planting on the ground. And though Tony's years younger than Steve's ever seen him before, none of the years of hardship he's experienced etched physically into his face anymore, it's still a relief to be able to hold the man again when he'd known he wouldn't ever get the chance to when he'd hit his knees on Nidavelir.

"You stupid idiot," he chokes out while crushing Tony close, unable at the moment to come up with the words for the whirlwind of emotions rattling around in his chest. He doesn't particularly care right now, they have all the time in the world now thanks to Evelyn.

"Excuse me?" Tony immediately starts wiggling to draw back and give him an indignant expression. "Who exactly got himself so far separated from everyone that we couldn't do anything? Cause that definitely wasn't me, Capsicle."

"You were second in command on the field, Iron Man," Steve retorts. "You were—"

Tony cuts him off. "I only agreed to that with you in charge, Cap."

"Tony—"

"No, you don't seem to understand something Steve. Nat's review of me before New York was pretty much spot on, much as I am loath to admit it and the only reason I am admitting it is because she's not here to gloat, so just shut up and listen to me. I was on a path of self destruction of my own making, even with Pepper doing her damndest to keep me alive and healthy. I was straddling the line of narcissism. I might've somewhat cared about the people under me and around me, but at the time it was only because I had to. Not because I wanted to. Not really. Pepper and Rhodey and Happy were the only fucking exceptions and even then I was a crap friend on a good day. And as you found out rather quickly when we first met, I was absolute shit at playing nice with others. It took New York to completely open my eyes, to finish what Afghanistan started. It took working with you and the rest of our ridiculous gaggle of friends for me to even begin to understand the notion of working together with other people. To actually work with them, not just show off how much better I was than everyone else in the room." He barks out a bitter laugh, scrubbing a hand over his face. "I can't really kid with myself anymore, you were most of the reasoning behind me getting my shit together. The others helped, but you were really the backbone of it all. Because you were so much better than the stories Howard told me."

"Tony." Apparently all he's capable of saying right now is the man's name.

"So understand this, you stupid super soldier." Tony jabs a finger into his chest that Steve knows he'll complain over later. "I'd only had you for six years before being forced to watch as your sorry ass was run through with a fucking sword and not be able to do anything. I calculated our odds and they were shit. So I made the sacrifice play for everyone else to live. You, sir, crashed a weapons hot plane into the Arctic Ocean as your sacrifice play after you lost Barnes in the Alps. Don't you dare judge me for doing exactly the same as you."

Steve finds he has to close his eyes at the reminder. He had, after all, done exactly what Tony's yelling at him about. And when he'd first met the man, he hadn't trusted him. Hadn't thought that Tony Stark would be able to do the same as him, to make that sacrifice play. And now confronted with the reality of Tony Stark having done exactly that, Steve prays to every deity he can think of that Tony won't ever have to do that again. That the universe won't ever come to such a place that the loss of this ridiculously brilliant man is needed again until Tony is old and grey and wrinkly.

"I passed command over to Eve," Tony continues, his voice quieter for all that there's still steel in it. Like he's still expecting Steve to yell at him. "I waited until everyone else was clear, but I went into that final situation knowing I wasn't going to make it out and I was fine with that."

"I don't like it," Steve says softly, plowing through Tony's upset noise at his words because he isn't finished. "I don't like it anymore than you liked the notion of me crashing the Valkyrie into the Arctic for all that it ended up bringing me to you. However, I'm proud and honored to be able to stand and fight beside a good man like you."

Tony immediately scoffs. "I'm not a good man, Rogers, far from it in fact."

Steve's lips twitch into a small smile. "Well, we'll just have to disagree about that for now." Given that he's got time to work on that, he's content to let it go for the time being. Now definitely isn't the time to start trying to make Tony believe that.

"You both got it all out of your systems, then?" Evelyn drawls, belatedly reminding Steve that they aren't alone. He and Tony jerk apart, and Steve can feel his cheeks flushing. He uncomfortably clears his throat while shooting her a perturbed glare. She just grins cheekily back from where she's perched on the couch. "Right then. Tony, there are a few more facts you need to be made aware of. Specifically the current year."

Tony bounces back and forth from foot to foot. "Yeah, I'd been wondering about that. Early 2000's? I know it's before '09 because my chest is normal." He freezes, sucking in a deep breath as he eyes abruptly go wide. "JAR—"

Evelyn interrupts him. "Stark, it's July 18th, 1991."

Tony makes a wheezing noise she'd punched him in the gut.

Steve finds himself making an equally pained noise in the back of his throat. Of course the first being Tony would try and check in with would be his first AI. And while Steve might've only known JARVIS for two years, there'd been no disguising how much Tony had cared.

"That can't be right," the genius says hoarsely. "You're too old."

A rueful smile spreads across Evelyn's lips. "Only this once am I gonna let you get away with that accusation about my age." She taps the pendant in the hollow of her throat. "You're forgetting, Stark, that I have magic at my disposal."

He scowls at her. "Great, thanks, that tells me so much."

Evelyn rolls her eyes. "You'll get a full explanation in a bit, Tony, so don't get your knickers in a twist. Besides, there are some people who've been a bit worried over you ever since you fainted when we shook hands a few minutes ago." She tips her head to the side, and again Steve remembers that they aren't alone. Only now it's like a veil is being lifted from his mind and suddenly he can see Ana and Edwin again. They're staring, gazes darting between him and Tony and occasionally Evelyn in rapid succession.

"Tony?" Ana finally takes a hesitant step forward with a hand stretched out.

The wounded groan dragged out of Tony is the only warning Steve gets before his knees buckle on him. He scrambles to catch him as he drops for the second time today. Evelyn barks out a curse as she leaps over the coffee table between them and meets them halfway to the floor.

"Stars preserve me, I will laugh at you for years if you faint on us again, Stark," she warns for all that her hands are tender.

"Are they real?" Tony all but snarls, his grip on Steve's arm so tight that had he been any other man, Steve knows he'd have bruises for weeks. He doesn't blame Tony, having had similar thoughts when he'd first discovered the truth about Bucky.

Evelyn immediately takes the hand not on Steve's arm with one of her own. "As if I'd ever do that to you," she returns just as fiercely, her voice cracking momentarily with aching grief, and Steve's abruptly reminded that for all that Tony is getting back the family that raised him, Evelyn still won't ever be able to see her parents alive.

Tony makes another wounded noise, but does lift his head to look at Ana and Edwin with tear filled eyes. "I—" The rest of his sentence is choked off.

Evelyn rolls her eyes for all that they're as shiny as Tony's and hauls the man to his feet with her as she stands up. He sputters indignantly, but she just shoves him in Ana and Edwin's direction. "Just hug them, Stark."

Tony needs no further encouragement, surprisingly enough, and all but falls into their waiting arms. Steve's not entirely sure who's gripping who harder, but all three are crying.

"This will complicate things," he says softly to Evelyn, not wanting to disturb the reunion. However, the more people who are aware they're from the future in a sense, the more dangerous things will become for them. Well, more dangerous than they already are.

"I won't take this from Tony for the world," she returns just as quietly, "but I will admit that it helps that Ana turned out to be a squib." Her lips quirk into a rueful smile. "Or whatever more polite term Hermione ends up coming up with instead. She'd already been gearing up to shove the term 'first generation' down all the purebloods' throats as opposed to 'muggleborn' or even 'mundaneborn', given certain people enjoy twisting those two into 'mudblood'. Much more polite, in both of our opinions, because while we both came to appreciate their culture and traditions, that doesn't mean those just entering the Wizarding World don't deserve a culture and traditions of their own. It was still a work in progress when Hela snatched me away, so I never got to see just how far she'd managed to get."

"Eve." He knows what she's doing, and it's semi working, but that doesn't mean they can let themselves be distracted from the matter at hand.

She huffs, scowling at him. "Well, I can't exactly do for Tony what I did for you, Captain, given that he's not a literal man out of time like you are, to say nothing of the fact that it's only temporary." He shudders briefly just thinking about that. It hadn't been pleasant getting that particular spell cast on him, one that would make people who haven't met him before dismiss him as nonimportant unless properly introduced. "We'll figure something out. And my husband is working on something to protect your minds, because as stubborn as you non-magicals are, you're also unfortunately well aware that there are magicals who view anyone without magic as little more than cattle and they'd be more than willing to just tear your future knowledge right out of your head with little regard for the mess they'd leave in their wake."

Now it's his turn to scowl at her. "I could've gone the rest of the day without that in mind."

She just arched an eyebrow at him. "I'm sorry, I thought we were discussing how things are complicated?"

He scrubs wearily at his face. "Not in that much detail we weren't."

"Well excuse me, I was just trying to pass time, but you're the one who decided we needed to focus on unpleasant things."

"Mrs Evans?"

Despite knowing that Evelyn used her mother's maiden name today, it still takes Steve a moment to realize she's being spoken to. Then he turns with her to look back towards Tony, who's wrapped up in Edwin and Ana's arms. His cheeks are flushed pink, but he also looks more content that Steve can ever remember seeing him before.

Tony does snort in amusement when they're facing him again. "Going by that name now?"

Evelyn shoots him an unimpressed look. "I've just as much claim to the Evans name as I do my father's, Stark, so don't you even start with me. Besides, my father's name is more likely to draw unwanted attention at the moment." She blows a stray lock of hair out of her face. "Especially considering the uproar going on in England right now. Or are you forgetting exactly how famous I am, Tony?"

"Yes," he returns blandly, but Steve can see amusement lurking behind the feinted forgotten knowledge. All of them had gotten a bit of a shock during Sokovia when Evelyn had managed to rally a people none of them had been aware of just by announcing her name and asking for help. It got even worse when Evelyn mentioned in passing the fact that she'd never really traveled all that far from England during her childhood and early adulthood years.

The unimpressed look persists. "You are so lucky I like you." She reaches up again to touch her pendant. "So, you mentioned my being too old for it to actually be 1991 earlier."

He narrows his eyes at her. "And I thought you were going to let that slide."

"I am, but I didn't explain beyond saying that magic was in play." She draws in a deep breath before squaring her shoulders. "Mr and Mrs Jarvis, I apologize for the deception, but Rosalie Evans isn't my birth name. I'm actually Heiress Evelyn Rosalie of House Potter."

Both older adults blink, but it's Ana who speaks. "You are much too old to be the missing Potter Heiress."

With a rueful laugh, Evelyn unclasps her necklace and shrinks down to her child self. Tony and the Jarvis' all inhale sharply at the change. "Not like this I'm not," Evelyn says softly, stowing the necklace away.

"What Dark magic did you delve into, child?" Ana whispers, clutching at Tony who's staring intently at Evelyn as if he's trying to figure something out that's just beyond his grasp.

"None, actually," Evelyn returns calmly, but Steve can see the fine tremor in her hands. "However, this situation is the result of my husband and I being backed into a corner with nothing left to lose, which led to my husband using Soul Magic on me so that we might have a chance to do better." She sucks in a shaky breath, and Steve finds himself dropping to a knee so that he can wrap an arm around her shoulders in support. "Of course, as with all things in my life, Potter Luck struck in the midst of everything, so more people remember the undone years than ought to. I'm very sorry for all the chaos this will bring into your lives, but I just wanted my family back." Again her breathing hitches, and she presses back into Steve. He in turn holds her even closer to him. She always seems so in control of any given situation, much like Tony, so it's always jarring at first whenever they admit to weakness in any way for all that said weak moments are cherished because that means they're trusting.

"You're supposed to be ten, right?" Tony abruptly cuts in.

Evelyn inclines her head to him. "I turn eleven at the end of the month. Why?"

Even with the room between them, Steve can still see Tony's nostrils flare as he exhales explosively before he gets himself back under control. "Nothing." Steve knows Tony, though. He knows with utter certainty that certain people on the other side of the Atlantic are going to feel the wrath of Tony Stark sometime in the future, because even though Evelyn had mentioned in passing just how bad her childhood was a time or two, knowing is very different from seeing it. And while Tony and Evelyn shit on each other all the time, they're both fiercely protective of anyone they've claimed as theirs. Steve despairs for the time when they end up defending someone together. Whatever it is they're up against won't last long, and he wonders just how big the radius for said explosion will be.

Of course, Evelyn knows Tony's habits just as well. "You don't ask questions like that and then just say 'nothing', Stark. What exactly are you planning to do to my aunt and uncle?"

"Nothing," he repeats, gently but firmly tugging himself out of Ana's grip. "I've got absolutely nothing planned."

Evelyn appears not all that impressed with his poor attempt at denial. "Tony, their reputation's already taken a major hit, given that I accidentally blew up their staircase and then absconded with my cousin shortly after that. They thrive on being 'normal', and I rather dashed that to smithereens."

He grins bright and vicious. "You blew up a staircase?" Because of course that's what Tony focuses on, the explosions.

"When my soul settled in this time."

"This is all ridiculous!" Edwin finally sputters indignantly. "Now will someone kindly explain the truth of what is going on?"

Evelyn shoots an incredulous look at Ana. "You didn't tell him?"

"We were unable to have children," Ana whispers, "so it never came up. And I was quite content to leave behind a world that wanted nothing to do with me."

This has Tony spinning to look at her in shock, backing up a few steps as he does. "Wait, wait, wait, wait." He points an accusing finger at the woman. "You know about magic? You've always known?"

"Tony, I know I explained just how much pureblood magicals tend to loathe those without magic," Evelyn interjects, obviously trying to stop Tony from saying something that he'll end up regretting later which Steve appreciates, even though Tony definitely doesn't considering his expression. "Fifty years ago that mindset would've been at a peak because of Grindelwald and his ideals of subjecting all non-magicals, even those born in magical families. Given that those who resisted tended to end up dead, her silence probably saved her life." She huffs out a weary sigh, shooting a semi-apologetic look at Ana. "And a silence of that magnitude is rather hard to break once started."

"Ana?" Edwin lays an almost hesitant hand on his wife's arm. She, in turn, covers it with her own trembling hand, entwining their fingers together.

"Edwin my love, I've not been entirely truthful about my past," she begins with a shaky inhale of breath. "Nothing I told you was false, I truly was a Jewish hotel tailor when we first met. However, I was not born a Levitz. I was adopted by them when I was twelve as my birth family wanted nothing to do with me. I was instead born into the prominent family of Miklos, and they are one of the reining magical Houses in Hungary still to this day."

Evelyn lets out a low, impressed whistle. "She's lucky they didn't just kill her," she mumbles under her breath, causing Steve and Tony to look at her sharply. Edwin doesn't, but Steve sees him twitch.

A watery laugh escapes Ana. "I ran away before they could. Papa found me wandering around, half starved, and took me home. He and Mama hadn't been able to have children, so I was something of a blessing in disguise for them. They were a blessing to me as well, as they believed my rambling tales of magic despite not being able to provide a single thing of proof and taught me to overcome the prejudice my birth parents had installed in me. Even after they died, I never once attempted to reconnect with my birth family, too scared of what they might do to me in retaliation for surviving."

"Ana, I don't…magic?" Edwin weakly repeats, appearing as though he desperately wishes to believe his wife but struggling to do so.

Ana turns tear-filled eyes to Evelyn. "Heiress Potter, is there anything—"

Evelyn bows her head, inhales in deeply, and as she breathes out whispers, "Expecto Patronum." Light gathers in her palms before jumping out and forming the silvery stag she'd used as a messenger so often during the war. It tosses its head and stamps its hooves before bowing to her. "Hi again," she murmurs, lifting a hand to stroke its neck. It bumps its muzzle against her forehead, then raises its head to regally gaze at the dazed Jarvis'.

"Lord Almighty," Edwin breathes in awe.

"That's a Patronus," Ana says hoarsely through the tears silently rolling down her cheeks. "An actual, true Patronus."

"Yeah, it is," Evelyn agrees with a fond smile. "Saved my bum quite a few times." She drops her hand and the stag fades away. "Of course, a more practical demonstration would be that bag." She nods to the bag sitting innocently by the couch where Steve had dropped it earlier and had subsequently left it with all the chaos Tony had caused. "Captain, if you would?"

Deciding it's not worth the hassle to call Evelyn out on her dramatics, Steve retrieves said bag and walks back over to her. "I'm assuming you want me to take my shield out?" he inquires just to make sure. She inclines her head in the positive, so Steve opens the bag and sticks his left hand into it. It takes a moment, but then the charms applied to the bag kick in and his shield smacks into the palm of his hand. He hefts it out, letting the bag fall to the ground and proudly displaying the red, blue, and silver shield to everyone in the room.

There's a beat of silence before recognition slams into Edwin. He gasps, pointing a finger at Steve. "Good Lord, you're Captain Rogers!"

If anyone's still worried about the elder Starks, please note the date that Evelyn gave

As usual, comments make me happy!