It was late when he snuck out of the complex. He had stashed the necessary equipment out in the forest over the last few days. He kept his mission quiet, telling no one, they wouldn't let him go through with it if they knew what he was going to do.

He knew the risks, he knew what was hanging in the balance. Anybody else and he would also be cautioning against this idea.

It was easier to get around the base quietly now that he was back to his usual size of a human being again. His interactions with the ancient one on top of that building where she had briefly separated him from the hulk seemed to have had a more permanent effect then he had originally thought. He had woken up after the first night off sleep after everything had happened to find that he had somehow separated from his greener self during the night. The last four years as a mix of the two left a still very intelligent and smaller sized professor hulk lying snoring on the mattress. Realising something had happened Bruce had rushed to the nearest display connected to the avenger's facility computer system and had requested Friday show him the video footage from the night before.

He had stared at the display and watched with amazement and confusion as a green glow seemed to light up the room. Bruce was astonished when he saw his current form roll out from where professor Hulk was sleeping as if he had rolled over in his sleep and left most of himself behind. The recording speed up to show a fast version of the rest of the night with the two bodies lying next to each other asleep as though nothing had happened. It had been a very weird conversation when Professor Hulk had woken up and realised something else was missing from him.

it was late at night a few days later that he left his room and set out for the clearing in the woods. Old Steve was spending a few nights at the complex to debrief what was left of the team and to be able to spend time together with his friends again.

Everyone had spent a few days together to debrief the teams about what each team had done and give more details. Hearing about the way Natasha had scarified herself for the sake of the universe and especially Clint and her family had been hard to sit through. He had never been so relieved to be a small person in a room full of teams so that he could seemingly hide and then slip away when it all become to much. He had retreated to the room that she had directed him to after Thanos' snap and locked the door behind him. It was a small living space that was not to far away from the one she had used all that time ago. After separating from the Hulk he had escaped to this room to call his own until he cared enough again to move onto another place. Here he had sat and for the first time let himself completely break down. For once in a very look time the human version of Bruce Banner let his rage consume him and destroyed his surroundings. He had flung his possessions against the wall, flipped his bed and swiped everything onto the floor that had been sitting on the desk.

It was the same room that he had snuck out of tonight and the same room where, sitting on his knees on the floor surrounded with papers and broken glass that he realised what he had to do.

Walking down the corridors towards the elevator Bruce paused to listen for any sound before he pushed the down button. The doors opened and started to close when the hatch at the top opened and Clint jumped down into the elevator. Bruce was surprised to see him thinking that he had left for home a few hours ago.

Clint stared at the side of Banners face. A few years ago, that would have made him squirm and wring his fingers. But now in this frame of mind clouded by grief and sorrow he couldn't care less. If Clint wanted a dialog, he would need to start it. As usual Clint used glares instead of words and stared at the side of the Doctors face for about five floors before Bruce gave up and whispered a quiet answer to his silent question.

"You're not going to stop me, Clint"

"I can't let you jeopardise everything she died for Bruce." Clint sad sternly with a hint of sadness behind his words.

At this Bruce turned and stared at the archer with disbelief and offence.

"Clint" Bruce started "I would never do her that injustice."

Clint looked at the Doctor and shook his head

"Bruce, I know you loved her, but she died for a reason. You can't stop that Bruce, please don't stop that…she wouldn't want you to and if you do that is exactly what you would be doing." Clint sad sadly. "I don't know if she told you, but was proud that you had managed to do so well the last five years. I know you blame yourself for not giving you guys a change, but she didn't want to get in your way. She had allowed everything that had happened to affect her."

Bruce stayed silent and let tears run down his face as he listened to what Clint was saying

"On the ship she told me that she couldn't hold you back…not after everything you had achieved. Not after finally finding comfort with who you were." Clint continued

"Steve told me she had had depression for the last four years. I didn't know. She was always putting on a front for me I guess. Why didn't I see it? I would have come back. I thought she was happy. I thought she was just happy with Steve."

"Steve? What are you talking about?"

Banner stayed silent

"Bruce, Natasha and Steve weren't together" Clint said "they weren't even living in the same building, he went home to what's left of queens. She told me he popped by weekly after some support group he was running."

"She was along here? All that time?" Bruce said wringing his hands in regret and sadness for the woman he loved. She was alone, depressed and not coping all that time when he thought she was happy.

"Bruce…don't beat yourself up okay, Natasha was a really good actor, she had to be to have survived what she went through in life." Clint placed a hand on Bruce's shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

"Please don't undo everything she died for"

They both remained silent for a while, then Bruce spoke

"I was never going back to save her Clint." Bruce said

"Then why are you going back?"

"I can't just leave her there, Clint. I have to go get her…bring her body home." Bruce said quietly.

Clint remained silent. They had been at the bottom of the elevator shaft with the door open for a while now.

"I'm going back to retrieve her body, the moment after you left the planet." Bruce explained "it won't affect anything that's happened. I can't hear her voice or see her smile or hear her tease you anymore, but I can do this for her. I can't change what happened, but I can do this for her. I will do this for her. Please don't try to stop me."

Clint was silent a moment longer

"Are you certain it won't change anything?" Clint asked

"I made certain. I've triple checked everything." Bruce reassured

Clint paused again before closing his eyes for a second a letting a tear fall down his cheek.

"Bruce, are you going to be able to cope, seeing her like that?" Clint said softly

"I can't Hulk out anymore Clint, remember?"

"that's not what I meant. You loved her and even from up high it was not a sight that I could deal with. She fell a long way Bruce. She fell from the top of the mountain."

"Probably not, no. but I have to do it anyway. I have to bring her home so we can say goodbye. Like we did for Tony. She deserves that."

"your right she does"

"bring her home Bruce"

Bruce turned to look out the elevator door to see most of the avengers had quietly crept out of the shadows and had been listening to the conversation. Including his greener self.

His eyes fell on old Steve as he stepped forward and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"bring her home. we will start to plan something for her." Steve repeated and lifted his hand.

"thankyou. All of you" Bruce said

"do you need me to come with you?" Clint asked

"after the complex taking the fire from Thanos' ship there were only three suits left that went damaged beyond repair. Our Steve used that one and didn't bring it back so that just leaves two. I have to go alone." Bruce explained.

"why do you need two suits for that?" Bucky asked

"because I won't be able to bring her body back without a suit." Bruce said softly

Everyone was quiet.

"Alright Banner you have a go." Fury said "Bring my girl home"