A/N: Guess what? I HAVEN'T forgotten this story. I'm SO SORRY that it took me AGES to get back to this. (winces) BUT, now I'm finally back, ready to publish the final chapters of this tale. Yay?

THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart, for all your reviews, listing and love! They mean more to me than you could ever imagine. (HUGS) I REALLY hope that what's to come turns out worth the wait!

Awkay, because it's LATE… Let's go! BRACE YOURSELVES, folks. It'll get a little stormy!

A Faded Flame

/ It became apparent that Lida couldn't stay at the carnival anymore. Especially because she was pregnant. Barney had become entirely enchanted by Magneto and did the unthinkable. Told the Brotherhood leader of her powers. Since then it was a race against the clock.

Because she wasn't about to surrender herself, let alone her child, to that hostile world, to those violent ideals.

Clint knew that no matter how much he would've wanted to, he couldn't go with her. The two of them would be too easy to find together. But he was determined to ensure that she and her child would get a chance.

Lida loved swimming. And when the circus led them to a huge, stormy and dangerous lake the two of them knew that it was the perfect opportunity. Everyone would imagine that she drowned. No one would come looking for her. Not even Clint.

It was ten minutes past midnight when they said their goodbyes. And for the first, and last, time ever Clint finally dared to kiss Lida. It was chaste, already full of longing. Lida and Clint would never meet each other again. Neither said a word because neither knew how to say goodbye. 'Walk away and never look back', that was the plan.

Only, not everything went according to the plan. Because the teenagers didn't know that on that very same night Jacques, one of the owners of the circus, robbed the place. They didn't know that Clint's powers would get out of control as the boy lay on the floor not much later, bleeding, entirely too close to dying. They didn't know that the circus' second owner, Buck, would do one of the very few selfless things in his life, having eavesdropped and heard of Lida's pregnancy. To ensure that the girl and her child lived, wherever they were, he told Barney that a teenage girl's charred body had been found from the circus' remains.

Only, Lida didn't live – she drowned that night, with no idea of what happened to Clint, and from the waves that came very close to actually killing her Laura emerged.

Twenty-three weeks later she gave birth to a baby daughter and, with tears in her eyes, continued on all alone. She expected to continue all alone for the rest of her life. But the fickle fate thought differently.

Because years later on one Valentine's Day Laura, a nurse, met a S.H.I.E.L.D agent named Clint Barton who had a bullet in one of his butt cheeks. /

Clichéd, perhaps, but Laura felt the moment Clint's life ended. Not only his heart and breath stilling. There was also an incredibly painful jolt inside her. Whatever tiny part of her mind was still coherent wondered if it was what getting shot felt like.

Clint left, with a final breath that sounded like a sigh.

Laura stared at his lifeless face. Barely comprehending until she did, with such force that took her own breath away. The pain flowed with a terrifying force, and all control was lost. She didn't scream, didn't have to. She allowed the world around her to do it instead.

The very building shuddered as the force of her powers began to flow. Everything – items, ashes and blood drops included – rose and began to spin around. The pressure grew until it was suffocating and the building's shuddering intensified. Soon there'd be nothing left of it.

Good.

The life they'd had together flashed before her eyes. The big moments that defined everything and the small ones that felt ridiculously real in the middle of all the insanity. Kisses. Bitter fights. A couple of breakups. Making up. Moving to the Farm. The kids.

The kids…!

Laura gasped although it hurt and grabbed Clint's limp hand into hers, squeezed as tightly as she dared to. Tried to use her voice, just like she was crying out with all her being. But in the middle of all the chaos he remained the one and only peaceful thing. And no matter tightly she gathered him into her arms he was out of her reach.

"Laura." For a treacherous second her storming mind managed to trick her into imagining that it was Clint. The bittersweet illusion only lasted for a moment. "Laura, calm down, please. Calm down." Slowly and with visible difficulty Tony was approaching her, his suit on and the brutal brunt of powers tearing at its surface. Even the metal armor would only last so long against her loss of control.

A couple of tears slid down Laura's cheek until they mixed the rest of the things swirling around, became a part of the tornado. Her lips opened. She had no idea if she managed to utter a sound.

No matter how hard it was Tony continued to approach until the pressure became too much even for him. There were visible cracks on his suit. "Laura." He considered for a long moment. Then, miraculously, found the only words that could possibly reach her. "Please, let me help." He sounded so intensely desperate that it would've shattered anyone's heart, even hers if it wasn't already in a million pieces.

Something about those simple, earnest words ended whatever there was left of Laura's fighting spirit. With a moan of grief that came from the bottom of her soul she let her shoulders slump. Everything fell with a one last hiss and the building stopped shuddering.

Tony waited for a few more seconds, just to be safe, before he dared to approach Clint. The billionaire's hand was far from steady while the man searched for the archer's pulse. Time and time again the fingers moved, only to find nothing. Only to end up falling limply to Tony's side when the unimaginable truth finally sunk in. Laura couldn't bring herself to meet his face, couldn't bear the thought of encountering his grief on top of her own. Instead she stared at Clint, no matter how badly she would've wanted to look away.

Before dying out the fire inside him had melted the ice which sealed his fate. And his dark attire hid a lot of the blood. It almost seemed like he was sleeping, only his bluish lips and the lack of breath gave away the truth.

More steps approached, and from the corner of her eye Laura saw Wanda and Steve. No one said a word because no words would've done any good. For a long, painful while Wanda's pained gasp was the last thing heard in the whole room.

Until there was a strange sound, almost like hissing. They all looked towards the disturbance, wondering if it was a one more nasty surprise from Barney. Instead they discovered a bizarre, beautiful golden glow. And through it stepped a man dressed in a blue outfit and a red cape. The arrival's jawline tightened when he saw Clint's body. "So I was too late", he murmured.

Steve, always the Captain and protector, took a stance in front of the group. There was a grim expression on his tense face. "Who are you? Did Barney send you?"

The stranger responded with an irritated look. "I have no idea who this Barney is you're talking about. I came because there's been… a disturbance." He looked towards Clint, causing Laura to move to shield her husband from the prying eyes. "Someone's been trying to alter the course of fate. If we act quickly we may still have a chance to fix the damage. Are we going to do something or continue with this pointless chitchat?"

It was fool's hope. They had no proof that this man wasn't a lunatic or a villain. But her husband was dead in her arms. To Laura any hope, no matter how feeble and pointless, was better than none.

The building around them shuddered and groaned, giving some of its final moans. Laura gritted her teeth, using up all her willpower to pull herself together. If anything about this went according to plan Natasha was rescuing the kids. She'd have to stay strong and focused, for them, for Clint. Just a little bit longer. "Are you saying that you can bring him back?"

"Yes", the arrival confirmed with a nod.

"Then you'll do it", Laura commanded in a voice no on in the world would've dared to object. Her blood was fuming and rushing, and she wondered if this was how Clint felt when his powers activated. Pieces of debris rained down on them. "But first we need a safer place."

"There's only one place safe enough", Tony commented uncharacteristically seriously.

Natasha's heart raced madly, about to break, as she stared at the iced Farm, a hellish searing sensation filling her eyes.

She'd been too late, from the start. Barney, he'd already… Clint's kids…

She failed.

"Auntie Tasha?" The voice was so quiet that at first she thought it was the wind. Then she heard the faint rustling. "Auntie Tasha, you came!"

Barely daring to believe, Natasha turned slowly. The surreal sight she encountered made her knees go weak from relief. She'd never, ever admit to emitting the kind of a noise she did right then.

Cooper emerged from the nearby forest, supporting baby Nate with one arm and one firm hand holding a visibly scared Lila's. The kids were hungry, and she could see how they were trembling from cold. But they were alive, and as far as she could tell unharmed.

"Dad… Be built three emergency routes out of the Farm", Cooper explained hoarsely. "Barney only found two before the house was completely frozen. I… I got us out, aunt Tasha. We got out." His eyes were far too old for someone of his age. Just like his dad's, and it broke Natasha supposedly nonexistent heart because she knew that it was the last thing Clint would've wanted.

No one was there to see. And in full honesty, Natasha wouldn't have cared even if a million people saw. She opened her arms, and when the exhausted, traumatized and overwhelmed children ran to her she folded them to such a tender embrace she hadn't imagined herself able to offer.

Lila clung to her tightly, as though to a lifeline. It took a long time before she finally found her voice. "Aunt Tasha?" the girl whispered, her voice cracking. "Can you take us to mommy and daddy? Please?"

Natasha nodded. Barely able to resist the urge to kiss the top of the girl's head. "Yeah, kid. I'll take you to your mom and dad." She could only hope, from the bottom of her heart and soul, that she'd be able to keep her promise. That both parents were still alive.

The ride to the Tower was full of tense silence. They had a dead friend and a possibly dangerous stranger traveling with them. That situation… wasn't ideal.

The entire time Laura refused to let go of Clint. Even though he became colder and colder by each passing second, the fire of life she'd always associated with him having left him. She followed him, their new ally and Steve as they took Clint to a fireproof chamber at the Tower.

"Are you sure that this is fireproof?" The man in a red cape looked around critically, a frown on his face. "When he comes back so will his powers."

"Stop fretting, Doc. It'll hold", Tony assured the man. "Just… Just bring him back. Do your… wizardly mambo jambo."

"I'm a doctor and a sorcerer", Doctor Strange commented while inspecting Clint, then beginning to prepare himself. It was impossible to tell if the man was irritated or amused. Perhaps a little bit of both. A common combination around Tony. "You make me sound like something out of a 'Harry Potter' book." The inventor's lips opened but the doctor was faster, even without taking a glance towards the other. "Let me focus, because I know a few dimensions that aren't exactly friendly and I'd hate to send you to one of those on accident."

Tony muttered something very dark under his breath, then resumed his pacing. Always on the move, especially when worried. Wanda took a one more step closer to them, the frown on her face deepening. Steve's eyes didn't stop keeping an eye on Doctor Strange for even a second, the soldier's whole body prepared to defend his friend if necessary. Laura felt a splash of warmth at the loyal group her husband had found.

Her attention was drawn sharply, almost painfully, to the present when Doctor Strange truly started his work. The man closed his eyes and began to murmur so softly that it was impossible to hear the words. She highly doubted that they were even English. It seemed to take an age to her racing, strained heart before a glow took over his hands. It was golden, almost like fire. Or a heartbeat. Life itself, there in his hold, in his command. Under different circumstances she might've been impressed. She held her breath when the light jumped from the doctor's hold, right at her husband. It twirled around for a few seconds before digging through Clint's skin. It nestled to his chest, made a home and… disappeared. The archer was still every bit as lifeless as he had been. No breath, no heartbeat.

Laura felt her own heart skip a couple of beats. What happened? Did it fail?

"What the hell was that?" Tony cried out, with all the despair she didn't dare to let herself unleash.

"A chance." Doctor Strange appeared exhausted but hid it well as he rose, back straight and aside fatigue no trace of vulnerability on his face. "It will take a while but it'll work. And when it does, stay away from him until he's settled. I'd hate to cause another disturbance to the timeline while trying to fix another."

Steve's jaw tightened while the soldier folded his arms. Obviously chewing over something. "Why did this happen?" Wasn't it what they were all wondering? "So someone urged Barney to hurt him, to…" The Captain cut himself short. "Why?"

Doctor Strange mused over his answer for a very, very long time. Wondering how much was safe to reveal, probably. "Because when he does die… It'll make a difference. Clearly someone knew and decided to prevent it. To cause a death that wouldn't make a difference to the world."

"Who?"

Doctor Strange lifted his chin, his eyes narrowing. "I don't know." And he clearly didn't like it. "But I'm about to find out."

They were all so tense, waiting for something to happen, that they shuddered when something did. Unfortunately it wasn't Clint coming back. Laura received a text message. She'd imagined that it was impossible to tense up further until she did upon discovering that the text was from Natasha. "I'll be back soon", she announced, unable to keep her tone from becoming sharp. She squeezed Clint's hand so hard that it would've hurt if he was able to feel it. "Keep an eye on him."

"We will", Steve swore, and she knew that he meant in.

Safely out of everyone's sight, Laura finally opened the message. The first thing she saw was a picture of all her three children, sleeping soundly and safely on the backseat of a car. 'On their way to mommy and daddy', Natasha had typed.

At that moment all the stress, pain, terror and emotional overload finally crash-landed on Laura.

Having been kidnapped… Realizing that her children were in danger, too… Facing Barney and all those memories again… Losing her husband… This new hope…

Unable to hold it in for another second she broke down to loud sobs that came from the bottom of her heart.

The others were focused on Clint and didn't even notice their strange visitor beginning to leave. But Wanda, who'd been haunted by a certain question since the beginning, saw her chance and decided to react before it was too late. She made sure that no one else noticed before moving determinedly but soundlessly to follow Doctor Strange.

"You said that he wasn't supposed to die this way. That his death would make a difference." She wasn't sure which one of them tensed up further when he froze, his back to her. "Have you…?" She swallowed thickly, on the brink of losing her courage. "Have you seen it, in the future? How he dies?"

"Yes", he admitted, blunt and honest.

Wanda nodded slowly to herself. Her eyes felt moist for a few seconds before she blinked it away determinedly. "How…?" How is it going to happen? And how long from now?

Doctor Strange peered at her over his shoulder. His sharp eyes seemed to see far more than they should've, right into her soul. "If I answered, would you be able to resist the temptation to try and change things? Would you be able to let it happen as it's supposed to?"

Wanda's mouth opened, then closed. Pietro… Her parents… She'd lost far too many people she cared about. If she knew, this time… Would she be able to stand by and watch?

The doctor saw the answer as clearly as she did. He nodded, something that wasn't quite sympathy in his eyes. "Few people would be able to. And that's why I'm not answering you, because you already know too much." With that as his final verdict he began to walk away, a portal already forming in front of him.

Wanda had no idea what she was planning, because she knew that he wouldn't give her any more information. But she charged forward and grabbed his wrist. "Wait…!" All words froze into her throat, as did her very breath, when the storm of his busy mind slammed at her with full force. From the chaos one word stood out, loud and clear.

'THANOS'

His eyes were even sharper than before when she broke her hold and staggered a single step backwards. Wondering just what she caught a hint of. "Look after yourself, Wanda. And keep in mind that whatever is to come, it isn't your place to temper with it." One of his feet was already through the portal when he went on. "Oh, and whatever you do… Don't touch the muffins." He disappeared before clarifying those baffling words.

Wanda wasn't sure how long she stood there, staring, before Vision's voice startled her to reality. "Is everything alright?"

"Not exactly." To banish the mental image of Clint's lifeless body she looked towards her friend. And blinked. "Is that… baking flour on your face?"

Vision shifted, appearing almost embarrassed. "I… began to feel useless, so I decided to bake. Would you like to try a pineapple muffin?"

Hours upon hours meandered by. Tony never once stopped pacing. Every five seconds he stole glances towards where Clint and Laura were.

They'd tried every single trick in the book to coax her away from her husband, dreading what'd happen when he eventually did come back. But she was just as stubborn as Clint. Of course she was. They had no other choice but to leave her be. And so she sat there beside him, squeezing his hand so hard that her knuckles were white, whispering in his ear with her eyes closed. What she was saying was anyone's guess. But whatever it was she said to beckon him back… It didn't seem to be working. Clint was still lifeless. Gone. The new life Doctor Strange gave him nothing but a memory.

"Who was that guy, anyway?" Tony huffed, frustration and far more worry than he was comfortable with rolling through him in waves. He grabbed his hair. "Doctor Strange… How do we know that he isn't some kind of a supervillain? That name…"

"Stark." Steve's tone was more than enough to catch all his attention. "Look."

Tony did and felt something jolt inside him. His eyes widened. "Holy…!"

At first it could've been a trick of imagination. A tiny, barely visible flicker. But then there were more. Faster, stronger. First on Clint's chest, then all over the man's body. A flame within coming back to life.

Tony took an instinctive step forward. "Laura! Get the…!"

But it was too late. After getting started the flames grew at a dizzying speed. First golden. Then ruby-red. Then, through several shades of blue, they became a blinding shade of white.

Laura, however, wasn't in any danger. Her powers caressed the flames, made them dance, and in return they stroked her skin gently, like a million little kisses. With their help the tears on her cheeks shone like diamonds, made her baffled, disbelieving smile even more beautiful. She didn't stop whispering, not for even a second. Her voice clearly enforced the new flicker rising within the Hawk.

Finally the blinding glow reached their joined hands. It caressed Laura's skin with utmost affection, as though trying to give her some strength as well. On most days Clint didn't wear his wedding ring for safety reasons. Now he did. And their rings lit up to a majestic glow as they brushed together, a hiss of metal joining Laura's whispers and the soft humming of the fire.

Clint's eyes opened.

/ Barney Barton had long since lost track on how many shots he'd downed at the most isolated table of a tiny, far from inviting bar. His hazy, drunken eyes rose towards a TV-screen and hardened at the news report of a yet another Avengers mission. He squeezed the glass so hard that it broke, a couple of shards digging through his skin. He didn't even notice.

"Are you certain that drinking is the most efficient way to resolve your problem?" All of a sudden he wasn't alone anymore. A pale-faced man with long black hair sat on the other side of the table.

Barney's eyes narrowed. "If you understand what's good for you… Get lost."

The stranger smiled in a manner that chilled him. "Oh, I don't think you really want me to do that. Because I've heard rumors that you want to take down Hawkeye as much as I do. And I have some information that may help you."

Barney arched an eyebrow. He was tempted, he could admit that. "Then why not go after him yourself?"

The stranger shrugged. "Because there are far more important matters which require my attention." Those eyes, what was their color anyway, traveled to his broken glass, unimpressed. "You don't appear to have the same problem."

Barney gritted his teeth, his fists balling. Slowly he was becoming aware of the pain. "Fine. Let's assume for fun that I decide to believe the crap I hear from some guy in this shithole. How do you imagine I'd get anywhere near him through the Avengers?" Because that was the most essential problem whenever he fantasized about tormenting and eventually killing his brother. Clint alone was a tough opponent. Surrounded by gods, super soldiers and men in iron suits…

"You don't need to go through the Avengers to get to him. I've been to his head. Saw things he has no idea I witnessed." The other leaned closer and all of a sudden those eyes seemed far more blue. "There's something infinitely more important to him in this world you can use to lure him to you."

Over the next fifteen minutes Barney learned about the Farm. And about Clint's secret family. He also heard that there was a man named Stryker, eager to go after anyone… different. And in an instant a plan began to form.

Barney would destroy Clint's so-called career as an Avenger, force the man into outing himself as a mutant. As a freak. And then he'd go after that precious family of his. Everything Clint had managed to build, everything his brother cared about… He'd turn it into ice. And then he'd finally kill his brother.

"Fine", he conceded, staring at the shards and droplets of liquid on the table. "You've got my attention. Who are you, anyway?"

When there was no response he lifted his head, only to discover that his mysterious companion was gone. /

Steps echoed painfully loudly against a stone floor. They were sharp, full of barely repressed rage. "The future is once again unchanged. Which means that Hawkeye is still alive. Your little plan failed."

A wicked smile appeared, revealing a row of perfect, white teeth. "Of course it did. Did you really imagine that fate can be altered without it causing a ripple? Without anyone noticing?" A sharp pair of at the moment blue eyes narrowed at the arrival. "And did you really imagine that I was going to let you have all the power in the universe?"

The air between them was hard and loaded with electricity. A hiss could be heard. "You're a fool, Trickster. The things they're going to do to you…"

The other shrugged, the color of his eyes changing closer to green as he stared through a window into the night. "You shouldn't worry about me so much. I have my tricks. Besides, I stopped caring about what will happen to me a long time ago. But you…" He chuckled, the sound bubbling through his sore throat. "I've seen the future, too, don't you remember? There will be nothing left of you once my brother and his friends are done."

"Not all his friends are going to live to see it."

"War always comes with casualties." A sickeningly pleasant smile appeared, somehow making the speaker's face appear sinister. "And somebody always loses."

TBC, for a one more chapter

A/N: So. Loki. AND Doctor Strange. Did anyone see THIS coming? And let's play 'catch all the 'Infinity War' hints. (grins)

Sooooo… Was that worth the wait at all? Any good? PLEASE, do leave a note! I'd LOVE to hear from you!

Awkay, high time I get to bed. Until next – and last – chapter! I REALLY hope that you'll all stay tuned for that one.

Take care!

WTF: It's been ages, hasn't it? I really hope that you'll enjoy the next one!

HUGE thank yous for the review!

Rangergirl3: Intense it was! (gasps) GOSH, those poor things! Let's hope that there can still be a happy ending.

Massive thank yous for the review! Until next time.

Guest: And I'm FINALLY coming back to update. Yay? (smirks sheepishly) Fingers crossed for a happy ending!

Colossal thank yous for the review!