Prelude
“Everybody wants a happy ending, right? But it doesn’t always roll that way. Maybe this time…..I’m hoping if you play this back, it’s in celebration. I hope families are reunited, I hope we get it back, and something like a normal version of the planet has been restored. If there ever was such a thing. What a world…..Universe, now. If you told me ten years ago that we weren’t alone, let alone, you know, to this extent, I mean. I would’t have been surprised. But come on, you know? The epic forces of darkness and light have come into play. And, for better or worse, that’s the reality Morgan’s gonna have to find a way to grow up in.”
Alya sat as still as a statue listening to a hologram of her Uncle Tony as it gave a grand speech.
So much happened since the day Thanos invaded and she hadn’t been awake for half of it.
Part of her wished she wasn’t even awake right now.
If she was still asleep, or wherever she was before this, then Tony would still be alive.
And more importantly, her mother would still be alive.
Waking up to the news that Natasha was no longer here, was the equivalent of someone waking up to find out that their worst nightmare had just come true.
Losing Karasi was one thing, but losing Natasha….
She felt like a part of her died with her.
Her body felt numb from the inside all the way out. She hadn’t cried, not even when she was initially told.
Her eyes went blank and she blinked slowly, but she didn’t cry.
Alya didn’t think she had it in her.
If she started crying, she might never stop.
If she cried, it might kill her.
“So, I thought I’d probably better record a little greeting….In the case of an untimely death on my part. I mean, not that death at any time isn’t untimely. This time travel thing that we’re gonna try and pull off tomorrow, it’s— it’s got me scratching my head about the survivability of it all. That’s the thing. Then again, that’s the hero gig. Part of the journey is the end. What am I even trippin’ for? Everything’s gonna work out exactly the way it’s supposed to.” The hologram version of Tony then leaned down, looking straight at Morgan. “I love you, 3,000.” He said before the visuals were cut off.
Alya glanced over at Morgan and felt sad for her.
She obviously only recently found out that Tony and Pepper had a daughter. The six year old looked exactly like Tony and Alya could see that she loved and missed her father very much.
And it looked like she was at an age where she didn't really understand what was going on right now, which made it worse.
She stayed seated as everyone flooded out of the house Tony and Pepper used to share. Everything seemed to be moving quickly while she was left standing still.
Eventually, she did stand up, gathering up the courage to move outside, but was stopped when the holographic device began to blink.
Pressing down on the power button, another hologram of Tony popped up.
“Hey, Bambi.” Is what he said. “I knew you would be the last one out, but I wanted to tell you something. The day you walked into the Tower, was the day all our lives changed forever. You made everything so much better. Which is why I’m so sorry that I ever made you doubt that. The things I said were wrong, and I hope I get the chance to tell you this in person. You are one of the people I love most in the world and when I see you again, I’m gonna hug you and kiss you until you’re sick of me. I know your mom will, too. She’s been missing you something fierce, kiddo……So this one’s for you, my love.”
Alya had to take a deep breath to keep from breaking down. The tragedy of it all, was she never did get those hugs and kisses from Tony. There was no time for it in between all the fighting and trying to stay alive.
They did manage to exchange ‘I love you’s’ with one another and Alya was glad that the man didn’t die thinking that she hated him.
But she wished he was here.
“There room for one more?”
Alya looked up to see Clint standing near her and nodded, turning her attention back to the water in front of her.
The are Tony chose to build his house in was very peaceful and serene. Alya didn't even know how long she'd been sitting by herself before her uncle came to see her, but she was so calm that it didn't matter.
Clint sat down beside her and hesitated before pulling her into his side. “I’m sorry, kiddo. I really am.”
“Were you there?” Alya’s voice sounded so foreign that if Clint wasn’t directly next to her, he never would’ve thought she was the one speaking. “I asked Uncle Steve what happened….he won’t tell me.”
“I was there.” Clint knew that Steve was just trying to protect Alya by not telling her, but his method could do more harm than good. “We were both after the Soul stone……on a planet called ‘Vormir’. To get it, we had to make a sacrifice…..Alya, I tried…..” Clint’s lower lip quivered.
He knew that his days and his nights would be haunted by how this all turned out, but it would be nothing compared to the agonizing pain Alya would now carry with her.
Alya’s eyes widened when she began to realize that her mother didn’t die in battle, but the woman gave her life willingly.
She didn't know whether or not to be sad about that, or pissed off because the woman chose not to be there.
Ultimately, she decided that being angry was a lot better than being sad.
“I wanted it to be me.” He continued. “It should’ve been me.”
The twelve year old’s jaw clenched and, rationally, she knew it wasn’t Clint’s fault, but she needed someone to blame. She needed somewhere to place all those heavy feelings because if she held onto them by herself, she was sure she’d die.
“I’m so sorry.”
Before she could think about what she was doing, Alya shoved his arm off of her shoulder and stood up, giving him a withering stare before walking away.
She felt like she should feel bad for the way she’d just treated him. He had to be grieving, too.
But she couldn’t find it in herself to care.
Natasha was her mama.
And that, to her, was more important than whatever anyone else thought they were feeling.
“Hey.”
“What?” Alya uncharacteristically snapped at Steve, but the man didn’t take it to heart because he knew how much she was hurting right now.
“I just wanted to tell you that I’m headed to put the stones back.”
It was a necessary task and someone had to do it before the alternative timelines they created got out of control.
“Fine.” Alya shrugged, unable to see past her own grief. “Go, then. I don’t care.”
Wanda and Pietro were so consumed with it that after the funeral, they both left. Whether it was together, or on their own, Alya didn’t know and she couldn't find it in herself to care.
She wished everyone would just leave the way they did.
Maybe then she’d get some peace.
Steve’s heart clenched at her words, but he placed a gentle hand on her head regardless of how callous she was.
Deep down, Alya didn’t want him to go because she was afraid that something was going to happen to him, but she didn’t want to appear as if she were weak, so she opted to act indifferent to the whole thing.
“Okay…..I’ll see you later, Buddy. I love you.” Steve hesitated before walking away from her.
Alya shrugged, watching him step towards the platform nearby. If she understood correctly, that platform was pretty much a gateway to go back into the past. It was what they used to get the stones and bring her and everyone else back in the first place.
But she found herself wishing they'd just left well enough alone.
“Now remember.” Bruce gave Steve a pointed look. “You have to return the stones to the exact moment you got them. Or you’re gonna open up a bunch of nasty alternative realities.”
“Don’t worry, Bruce.” Steve nodded. “Clip all branches.”
“You know, I tried….” Bruce hesitated. “When I had the gauntlet, the stones…..I really tried to bring her back. I miss her, man.”
“Me, too.”
“You know, if you want.” Sam spoke. “I can come with you.”
“You’re a good man, Sam.” Steve shook his head. “This one’s on me, though.” He smiled before walking over to where Bucky was standing in wait. “Don’t do anything stupid ‘till I get back.”
“How can I?” Bucky shot back with a smirk before bringing him in for a hug. “You’re taking all the stupid with you. Be careful.”
“I’ll be alright, Buck.”
Alya had the option of going inside the house to be with Pepper and Morgan, but she found that her feet were pretty much glued to their spot.
“How long is this gonna take?” Sam asked as Steve got ready.
“For him? As long as he needs.” Bruce answered. “For us? Five seconds. Ready, Cap?” At the man’s nod, he continued. “Alright, we’ll meet you back here, okay?”
“You bet.”
“Going quantum. Three, two, one—”
And with that, Steve disappeared into the portal.
Alya held her breath, unsure of what was going on, but unable to take her eyes off of what was in front of her.
And suddenly, a terrible thought entered her head.
Steve was from the forties, just like her father. He now had the opportunity to go back....and stay there.
And Alya didn't even say goodbye.
He told her that he loved her and she didn't say anything in kind.
Would that make him leave? If he didn't think that he loved her, maybe there was no reason to come back.
“And returning in five, four, three, two, one...”
But nothing happened.
"Where is he?" Sam quirked a brow, one step away from panicking.
"I don't know." Bruce did panic as he fiddled with the machine. "He was supposed to be here."
"Well, get him back!"
"I'm trying!"
Alya's watched as the two men scrambled to find Steve, the fear evident on her face.
But to her relief, Steve suddenly reappeared in the same place.
Alya didn’t even wait for him to regain his bearings. Before she could stop herself, her feet were taking her right to him, moving as fast as humanly possible. She only stopped once she barreled into him, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her face into his chest.
“It’s okay.” Steve would be a liar if he said some part of him didn’t sag in relief at her reaction. “I’m okay, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere, I promise.”
Those were the longest thirty seconds Alya had ever been through, and, to think, she could’ve lost him without even saying goodbye.
The thought alone was enough to break her.
Pressing a gentle hand to the back of her head, Steve untangled himself out of her grip and lifted her up to hold her even closer, as if to prove that he really wasn’t going anywhere.
Leading her away from everyone else for privacy, he stopped walking once they were far enough away to have a real conversation.
He sat down and very gently placed her on his lap so that he was able to look her in the eye. There was a conversation that they needed to have, but he couldn't bring himself to open it up.
He just wanted to hold her and make up for all the time he missed during those long five years.
“I thought I was never gonna see you again.” She admitted, her voice coming out very shakily. “I thought you were gonna leave.”
Steve knew she had more to say, so he just took her hand in his own and listened.
“You went back in time…..you coulda stayed there with Miss Peggy….I know you still love her.” She rambled. “Why did you come back?”
“I couldn’t leave my best girl behind.” He traced his thumb on the back of her hand.
“Cause I need you?”
“You ever think that I need you just as much as you need me? You mean everything to me.”
Alya’s eyes widened and she threw her arms around his neck once again, this time, unable to stop her tears from falling freely.
But this time, she didn’t feel like anything bad would happen to her if she didn’t.
“I love you.” Steve pressed a kiss the side of her head, his resolve cracking to the sound of her sobs. But he knew that in order to heal, Alya had to let it all go. This was just the first of many. “So much.”
"I love you, too." She made sure she responded this time.
"Besides, I couldn't come back without this."
"Without what?" she sniffled, being the first to pull away.
But when she did, she heard a soft meow coming from Steve's chest.
With a gasp, she unzipped his quantum suit to find a familiar black cat curled up and licking her paws.
"Is that...?" She didn't want to get her hopes up, but the cat looked exactly like Mischief.
"It's her, Baby." Steve confirmed, handing his niece her beloved companion. "When I was time traveling, I took her right before the Compound could collapse."
"But what about the other timelines?"
"It didn't change anything." He promised, knowing that he planned it out perfectly. "She would've died anyway, but I thought it was better this way."
Alya began to cry all over again, hugging Mischief to her chest and kissing her all over her face.
Mischief missed her just as much. The feline meowed and purred happily, nuzzling up to the little girl as if she were afraid she'd disappear again.