I opened my eyes to nothing but black. Cold, empty silence.

"Hello?" My voice echoes back at me, small and uncertain.

"Lizzie?"

I turn fast. That voice- id know it anywhere. Standing there, older, taller, eyes bright with warmth- was Alexander.

"Alex?" My voice cracks.

Then another.
"Liz?"

"Pietro?" My heart stops, then speeds up all at once.

Before I can even take a breath, I hear another familiar voice- soft, steady, and kind.
"Elizabeth, what are you doing here so soon?"

"Nat?" Tears spill before I can stop them.

They're all here. Alexander, Pietro, nat.

"What are you doing here?" Pietro asked.

"I- We were fighting thanos." I start, my hands shaking.
"And I knew I had to snap for us to win and-" I start

"Well, did you?" Alex asks with a half-smile.

"Did I what?" I ask

"Win" he said

I can't help it- I laugh through the tears.
"Yeah. Yeah, we won" I said

"Good job, Lizzie" nat says, smiling that soft, proud smile.

But then her expression shifts.
"But you can't be here yet" she said

My smiles fades.
"What? What do you mean?" I ask

"It's not your time, Liz" Pietro says gently.

"You still have more to do" alex adds, his voice full of something like love.

"What? No, no" I whisper, my confusion turning into something else.
"What are you talking about?" I adk

"Elizabeth." Nat says, stepping closer.
"You need to go back. Go live your life" she said

"Wake up" alex tells me.

"Come on, Liz- you can do it" Pietro says, his voice growing distant.

"You got this, Elizabeth" nat adds softly, and it's the last thing I hear before the world goes silent.

A faint beep. Then another. Then another.

I blink awake, my eyes fluttering against the brightness. The light hurts. Everything hurts. I blink until the room comes into focus- a hospital. Machines. Monitors. Tubes.

Everyone's here. Wanda. Steve. Bruce. Sam. Peter. They all look exhausted, and like they are about to leave. I hold back a grin.

Then-
"I lived mother-truckers" I said

Every head in the room snaps towards me. Their faces are priceless.

"Lizzie!" Peter practically flies across the room, hugging me tight.

"Hey, Peter" I whisper, hugging him back.

"You're okay- You're alive! I-I can't believe it!"
he said

"You can't get rid of me that easily" I laugh, even though my chest aches.

"Oh, lizzie" Wanda says as she rushes over, tears in her eyes. She hugs me so tight I can barely breathe.

"I missed you so much" she murmurs.

"I missed you too" I whisper.

When she finally pulls back, i look around at all of  them, smiling weakly.
"So, how's everyone doing?" I ask

Wanda blinks.
"You just woke up from a two month of a coma and that's what you ask?" She said

"Two months? Oh" I repeat, jaw dropping.

They laugh, and it feels good- normal. But when the laughter dies, i notice who's not there.

"Wait- where's Tony?" I ask

The room goes quiet. Steve sighs.
"Tony's still in a coma. The doctors said he's in better shape than you were, but....he hasn't woken up" he said

My chest tightens. I swallow hard. If is gotten to him sooner- if I'd just-

"Did you get the stones back?" I ask softly.

Steve gives a tired chuckle.
"Not yet. We don't exactly have a Time Machine anymore" he said

I managed a smile.
"Then I'll make one" I said

"Remember, you have to return the stones to the exact moment we got them or you're going to open up a a bunch of nasty alternative realities." Bruce says, checking the machines.

"Don't worry, Bruce. Clip all the branches" Steve says calmly.

Bruce exhales, then looks at him.
"You know I tried. When I had the glove, the stones. I really tried to bring her back." He said

"I did too" I say quietly, the ache in my chest still there.

"I miss her man" Bruce admits.

"Me too" Steve says.

Sam steps forward.
"You know if you want I could come with you" he said

Steve smiles softly.
"You're a good man Sam. This one's on me though" he said

He walks over to Bucky next, then I realize it. He's not coming back. He doesn't say it, but I can see it in his eyes- he's done fighting. He wants a life.

He deserves one.

"Ready, cap?" I ask

He nods.
"You bet" he said

"Going quantum. In 3.... 2... 1..." Bruce counts down.

Steve disappears.

"And returning in 5...4...3...2...1..." he hits the switch.

Nothing.

"Where is he?" Sam asked.

"I don't know. He blew right past his time stamp." Bruce stammers.

I glance at Bucky. He knows. We both do.

"He should be here" Bruce mutters.

Bucky and I start walking toward the water. And that's when we see him.

Old. Peaceful. Sitting on a bench.

"Get him back" sam says

"I'm trying" Bruce snaps.

"Get him the hell back" sam almost yelled.

"Sam" I call softly.

He turns. I nod toward the bench.

Bucky says quietly. 
"Go" he said

Sam hesitates, then walks over to Steve.

"See you around, Bucky" I whisper. He gives me a small nod.

Later, I sit beside Tony's hospital bed, holding his hand gently.

"Hey, Tony" I say softly.
"Steve went back to Peggy." I said

I pause, wishing for a reaction.

"He was returning the stones and decided to try something different. Everyone else had their lives now. I don't know what I'm doing, honestly. Everyone gone and I-" my voice cracks.

"....I need you, tony. Please wake up soon. I miss you" I said

A knock interrupts me. Sam stand in the doorway.

"How'd it go?" I ask

He smiles.
"He gave me his shield. Said I was the next captain America" he said

"Saw that coming a mile away" I grin faintly.

He laughed.
"Yeah, yeah. Well- he wanted me to give you this" he hands me a folded piece of paper.

"What is it?" I ask

"Something he and Tony wrote up before the battle. Just in case." He said

"Thanks" I say quietly, taking it.

"You going to be okay?" he asks

"I'll manage" I tell him with a small smile before walking out.

That night, I sit on the rooftop of my new apartment, the city stretching out beneath me. I unfold the note, my hands trembling slightly.

"Dear Elizabeth,

We're writing this to tell you a few things, just in case we don't get to after this is all over.

We are both so proud of the person you've become. From where you started to where you are now- it's something neither of us could've done. You're stronger than all of us. You never backed down from a fight. That's a real leader.

Which leads us to this- If anything happens, if another war or battle comes, we want you to lead it.

It's a big responsibility, but we know you can handle it. We know you'll do great. We both hope we'll still be around to see it. You're our family, Liz. Don't ever forget that.

Sincerely,
Tony and Steve."

I sat there for a long time, staring at the paper as the city hums below me. They wanted me to lead.

Me.

When I finally walk inside, I hear Wanda calling from the kitchen.

"Liz!" She yelled

"Yeah?" I answer

"Come help me make dinner!" She said

"Coming!" I yell

She looks at me as I walk in.
"What is it? Whats got you smiling like?" She asks

I hand her the letter. She reads it, her eyes widening, and when she finishes, she practically screams.

"Liz! I'm so proud of you!" She yells

She hugs me, laughing and crying at the same time.

I laugh too.
"Now...what's for dinner?" I ask

She grins.
"Whatever we want" she says

I don't know what's coming next- but I'll figure it out.

It's what leaders do.