Chapter 1
The funeral for both of the fallen Avengers was over and Pepper had invited everyone inside, even though the Guardians tried to patiently declined, saying that they feel as if they are in the way and they should leave the family alone, but Pepper brushed them off with a small smile, “You’re part of the family now too.”
So that is how everyone ended up in the living of the cabin, in silence, with the adults drinking Vodka in honor of Natasha, but even then, no one was in the mood to drink.
Cassie, Lila and Wanda were sitting in a corner talking quietly to themselves but that was about the only sound throughout the room.
“Mommy I can I go walking by myself on the trail that daddy made for me?” Morgan asked with pleading eyes.
“I would like if someone went with you sweetheart.” Pepper told her daughter gently. Morgan give her a little pout, the same one that Tony use to give her when he couldn’t talk his way out of board meetings.
“I’ll go with her.” Peter offered. Aunt May give her nephew a questioning look in which he shook his head.
It was no secret that losing Tony and Natasha hurt Peter in ways that could never be put into words, they were the ones who looked after him when May went Europe, Tony was the one who spent time with him by upgrading the suit, showing him the ropes of the superhero life, and basically becoming his father figure.
Natasha was the one who helped him through Uncle Ben’s death anniversary when May was away, trained him, and handled Flash when she was tired of Peter coming home upset; she was his spider-mom as everyone liked to joke.
“Yeah, can I walk with Pete?”
“Okay, just be back before dinner.” Morgan nodded happily and quickly took Peter’s hand and led him outside.
“Daddy made me a trail that leads back to the house so I can’t get lost.” Morgan said as she led the teenager down the leafy path.
“Have you walked down this path by yourself before?”
“No daddy and I always walked together, especially at night so we can see the stars,” she said with a little smile, “I’m going to miss him a lot.”
“So, I am Morg, but you know that I’m going to come visit you every chance I get to make sure that you and your mom are okay.”
“I know Pete.” The four-year-old said with a smile towards him. As they walked Morgan would point out different flowers, leaves, trees, and birds to Peter and would tell him a fact or two about everything. Long before they knew they were standing on the shoreline of the creek looking into the distance.
“Is daddy and Tasha okay?”
“I’m pretty sure they are watching over us.” Peter said as he looked down at his shoes. Every time Morgan asked about her dad being okay the young man just wanted to cry. He knew what it was like to grow up without a father at a young age and he hated that she had to stuffer the same fate.
“Pete look at the water!” Peter snapped his head up and looked into what Morgan was trying to show him. In the water there were two figures, one was in red and the other in black. They were face up and floating next to each other.
“Are they people? What are people doing in our creek?”
“I’ll see, you stay here.” Morgan nodded as the spider boy walked to the other side of the creek. Peter could tell that it was two people in the creek, but how they got there was a mystery. From what he could see it was a man and woman, both seemed at peace, but then it was the floating of red hair that had Peter’s breath caught in his throat.
“Pete? What is it? Are they okay?”
“Morgan go back to the house and get everyone now! I think it’s Natasha and Tony!” Morgan could only nod, in shock, before her little legs carried her back to the cabin.
Inside everyone was still in silence with Sam gripping Clint’s shoulder in a comforting way. He knew what it was like to lose his best friend and he made it his goal to be there for the entire Barton family.
“I was thinking maybe chicken for dinner. It’s quick and easy.” Laura told Pepper and Hope in a quiet voice. The other women nodded and stood to make their way to the kitchen but was stopped when Morgan ran in the house.
“Morgan!” Pepper said as she quickly ran to her child and dropped to her level. Everyone stood up in concerned for the young girl was breathing hard.
“Where’s Peter?” Steve asked.
“He- He’s by the creek. We were walking the trail and then we got to the creek and there was two people in the creek and Peter went to go look and he said it was daddy and Tasha! Daddy and Tasha are in the creek and we have to get them!” she said looking between all of the adults.
The adults were confused as they looked at each other. Of course, they understood both kids missed the fallen Avengers, but to say that they were floating the creek was beyond unreasonable.
“If I may?” Mantis asked as she came close to the young girl and her mother but stood at a reasonable distance just in case Pepper told her no. Rocket explained that Manis could tell one’s feelings for whoever by touch and she was starting to use her powers to see visions as well.
The strawberry blonde looked at the alien before nodding her head and standing up, allowing her to take her place in front of Morgan. Mantis smiled at the young girl and held out her hand, as Morgan smiled back and give her hand. Mantis took a deep breath and tried to channel her energy into finding Peter.
It didn’t take long, and Manis could see the young man stripping out of his black suit and diving into the creek. As he got closer, they both could see Natasha and Tony.
“Oh shit! Nat! Tony! Wake up! Okay clearly, you’re breathing. I’ll try to get you guys out until the others come. How did you guys get here? We thought you guys were dead!”
Mantis opened her eyes and smiled at the others.
“Your friends are alive.”
By the time the others came down by the creek Peter managed to drag both adults to the surface and all three of them were on their backs.
“I don’t know if they swallowed water or not.” Peter said as he was breathing hard and nodded his head in thanks to Carol, who wrapped him in a towel.
“You did good Pete.” Bucky said as Clint and Rhodey started CPR and chest compressions on the two adults.
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Natasha could feel pain in her head and chest as her eyes fluttered opened, she was in water, but she was still on Vormir with a bright yellow light shining in her face.
“Natasha, daughter of Ivan.” A voice said, but it wasn’t Red Skull’s it was something deeper.
“Um, yes?” she asked as she stood up, the pain making it next to impossible to do so.
“I am the soul stone.”
“It is nice to meet you.” Natasha said as she held her side tightly, but she was confused. No one ever mentioned that the stones could talk or maybe she was hearing things.
“I have seen the sacrifice that you have made for your family. I have never once seen two individuals fight for the sacrifice in all of my time. I have witnessed a father throw his own daughter off of a cliff for me.” Natasha shuddered at the thought of what Nebula told them of how Thanos and Gamora came to Vormir together, but when he was seen again on Titan, he was alone.
Natasha could only shake her head from the thought before answering, “Yeah, well he needed to be with his family, and we needed to get everyone back. You know get the world back together.”
“I see. I have never done this before for I have never seen a reason to. I am going to grant you back to your family. You and Anthony, the son of Howard.”
Natasha’s breath hitched in her throat at the mention of Tony. He had died. When? How? What the hell was he doing to end up dying? That idiot!
“I am sensing your distress of your friend. He sacrificed his self during the battle with Thanos. I can assure you that I will keep my promise of returning you to your family if you can promise me one thing.”
“Yes, yes, anything.”
“Have your family return my brothers, sisters, and I to our original time. You have used us for your purpose and now we would like to rest.”
“Of course. I’ll make sure it happens. You have my word.”
“Good luck Natasha.” The voice hummed in agreement, before Natasha’s world when black.
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Natasha’s eyes snapped open and she rolled over to throw up all the water that she swallowed from the creek. She was breathing heavy and tried to claim herself down before she choked, and it didn’t help that her head and chest were still in pain and throwing up did not make anything better.
“Nat?” she heard a voice ask. She turned her head and saw Clint looking at her in concern, but there were tears forming in his eyes. Everyone stopped and stared at the Russian in awe that she was alive. She smiled at her best friend before he wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug, one arm around her waist and his only hand buried in her red and blonde braid.
Laura let the tears freely fall as she sat in the sand and joined the hug and soon the Barton kids, Wanda, and Steve all joined in as well.
“Don’t ever do that shit again you pain in my ass.” The archer said in Russian.
“What happened to “See you in a minute?”” Steve asked as he pulled back and checked for any injuries in the crowd of people hugging the red head.
“I’ve missed you too, but my chest hurts.” She replied back in the same language. Everyone quickly let go when Clint said too, looking at her in concern and let Natasha roll back onto her back.
“Auntie Tasha!” Morgan screamed before flopping herself on her godmother. Even though her chest was hurting, she was willing to put up with the pain to hold her godchildren again.
“Hey baby.”
“We thought you were gone.” Nate said taking the other side of her.
“Yeah, Nat what happened?” Sam asked, helping Shuri get the burnt glove off of Tony’s hand as Rhodey continued to CPR and chest compressions.
“It’s a long story.” She said breathlessly. Peter quickly noticed and picked Morgan off her chest to allow her to breathe somewhat better.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?” Steve asked with concern in his eyes.
“My chest and head.”
“We need to get her in the house so I can do a medical exam.” Dr. Strange said. Clint and Steve both looked at each other before nodding at the former doctor. The archer carried the Russian bridal style into the house with the kids, minus Morgan and Peter, following suit.
“Wake up Stark,” was her last thought before blacking out for good.