The flash of light faded, and one by one we all returned to the compound, our suits hissing as they powered down. The air was heavy- thick with exhaustion and the strange hum of something almost finished.

"Did we get them all?" Bruce asked, his voice low, almost afraid of the answer. 

"Are you telling me this actually worked?" Rhodey asked, disbelief painting every word.

I was just about to breathe- maybe even laugh- when the sound hit me. Someone collapsing. O turned. Clint was on his knees, face pale, empty.

And nat-
Nat wasn't there.

"Clint?" Bruce asked.

"Clint, where's nat?" My voice cracked before I could stop it. The tears came fast.

He lifted his head, eyes shining with grief, but he didn't speak. He didn't have to.

My knees gave out. I hit the floor beside Bruce, the sound leaving my lungs.
"No" I whispered.

The silence after that wad unbearable.

Later, the sun was dim. No one spoke for a long time until Tony finally did.

"Do we know if she had any family?" He asked

"Yeah, us" Steve replied quietly.

"What?" Thor cut in.

Tony glanced up.
"What are you doing?" Thor demanded

"Just asked him a question" tony said quietly.

"Yeah, no. You're acting like she's dead. Why are we acting like she's dead" Thor said

Before anyone could speak he continued.
"We have the stones right? As long as we have the stones, cap we can bring her back isn't that right" Thor said

"Stop this shit. We're the avengers. Get it together." He said, his voice almost breaking.

"We can't bring her back" I said. My voice came out quieter than it meant to.

"What?" Thor asked.

"It can't be undone. It can't" I said

Thor let out a laugh.
"Look I'm sorry no offense. But you're all very earthly beings ok? And we're talking about space magic. And can't seems very definitive, don't you think?" He said

Clint's voice broke through, flat and hollow.
"Yeah, look- I'm way outside my paid grade here. But she still isn't here, is she?" Clint said

"No, that's my point" Thor started

"It can't be undone or that's at least what the red floating guy had to say. When you want to go talk to him, ok? Go grab your hammer and you go fly and talk to him! " Clint yelled.

Then his voice cracked.
"It was supposed to be me" he said

He looked to the ground.
"She sacrificed her life for that damn stone. She bet her life on it." Clint said

Bruce let out a sound- half roar, half cry- and hurled a bench across the lake.

Then he turned to us.
"She's not coming back. We have to make it worth it" he said

I nodded, wiping my eyes.
"We owe it to her to try" I said

Steve's voice was steady.
"We have to. We will" he said

"Question is, who's going to snap their freaking fingers?" Rocket said.

"I'll do it" Thor said immediately.

"Excuse me?" Tony turned to him, alarm flashing in his eyes.

"It's okay." Thor said stepping forward.

"Stop, stop, stop- slow down" Tony said, hand out. Steve joined in.

"Thor, just wait. We haven't decided who's going to put that thing on yet" Steve said

"I'm sorry, what, we're all just sitting around waiting for the right opportunity?" Thor asked.

"We should at least discuss it" Scott spoke up.

"Look sitting here staring at the thing is not going to bring everybody back" Thor argued.

"He has a point" I muttered under my breath. Tony sent me a look.

"I'm the strongest avenger, okay?" He said

"Excuse me?" I said, one eyebrow raised.

"So this responsibility falls on upon me" he continued.

"Normally you're right" tony said carefully.

"It's my duty" Thor added

"It's not about that. It's not that" Tony said

"Hey buddy" Tony started.

Thors voice cracked.
"Stop it! Just let me. Just let me do it. Just let me do something good, something right." He said

Tony shook his head.
"Look it's not just the fact that that glove is channeling enough energy to light up a continent. I'm telling you, you're in no condition" he said

Thor's eyes flashed.
"What do you think is coursing through my veins right now?" He asked

"Cheez whiz?" Rhodey said

"Bloody Mary's?" I added.

Thor pointed at us both.
"Lighting" he said

"Yeah" tony said dryly.

"Lighting" Thor repeated.

"Lighting won't help ya pal. Its gotta be me" Bruce said

We all turned to him.
"You saw what those stones did to thanos. They almost killed him. None of you could survive" he said

"How do we know you will?" Steve asked.

"We don't. But the radiations mostly gamma. It's like... I was made for this" Bruce replied.

Tony stepped forward.
"Good to go, yeah?" He asked

Bruce nodded.
"Let's do it" he said.

"Okay, remember. Everyone thanos snapped away five years ago, you're just bringing the back today now, today. Don't change anything from the last five years" tony said

"Got it" Bruce nodded.

We all suited up. I focused, pulling a glowing shield around us with my powers. Tony sealed the compounds doors.

"Everyone comes home" Bruce whispered.

He slid the gauntlet on. The second it locked, his whole body jerked. The sound of his scream filled the room.

"Take it off! Take it off!" Thor shouted.

"No, wait. Bruce, are you okay?" Steve asked

"Talk to me banner" tony called out.

"I'm okay...im okay" Bruce groaned.

He lifted his trembling hand- then snapped.

A blinding light. A rush of sound. Then silence.

The glove fell off. Bruce slumped to the floor.

"Bruce!" We all shouted.

I used my powers to drag the gauntlet away from him.

"Don't move him" tony said, spraying his arm with coolant.

"Did it work?" Bruce gasped.

"We're not sure yet. It's okay" Thor said

The doors cracked open. Sunlight streamed in.

A phone rang. Clint picked it up- and smiled through tears.

"It worked" I whispered.

But then- my stomach dropped. The air shifted. Something was wrong.

"Wait-" I started, but the explosion hit before I could finish.

Everything turned to fire and sound.

When I woke, my ears rang. My head throbbed. All around me was rubble- twisted metal, smoke, silence.

I forced myself up, my body screaming in protest.

Then I saw them- Tony, Steve, Thor- standing against thanos. Three men facing the weight of the universe.

Thanos voice was calm, cruel.
"In all my years of conquest, violence, slaughter, it was never personal. But I'll tell you now..." he said

I stepped forward, my powers flickering in my palms. Steve came up beside me, shield cracked but ready.

"What I'm about to do to your stubborn, annoying little planet. I'm going to enjoy it. Very, very much" thanos said, raising his blade.

And then his army arrived. A tidal wave of death and metal filling the horizon.

Steves grip tightened. My hands glowed brighter. We stood side by side, ready to die fighting.

Then-

"Hey, cap, Elizabeth- you read me?"

Steve froze.

"Guys, it's Sam. Can you hear me?" Sam spoke again.

The comms cracked.
"On your left" he said.

We turned.

A golden circle opened behind us. A portal- bright, alive, impossible. Through it stoped out the king of wakanda. Then Sam, soaring overhead. Then hundreds more.

Portals erupted across the battlefield- everywhere.

And through the chaos, I felt them. Wanda. Peter. They were back.

I bit my lip, tears stinging, but I didn't move.
There'd be time for that after.

Steve looked at me, as our army stood behind us- ready for battle.

"Care to say the first part?" Steve asked.

I smiled, fire burning in my chest.
"Thought you'd never ask" I said

I stepped forward, voice strong, power crackling behind me.

"Avengers! " I roared.

Steve raised his shield, meeting my gaze.

"Assemble" he said