"Are you sure you'll be alright?" asked Steve and Alison nodded.

"Robert is coming with me. If he….well I just have to know. It shouldn't take that long with the jet," said Alison.

They were still trying to figure out who was alive and who was gone. It had only been a day and they were trying to regroup quickly. Rhodey had gotten in touch with a few of his family members and Pepper, but cell service was still spotty. Natasha was already on her way to the Barton farm and Alison was getting ready to go to Boston to see if Franklin was alright. Steve was staying in New York to see if he could locate Nick Fury. Thor and Rocket...Jesus I was so out of it yesterday I didn't even notice a raccoon on the jet were trying to locate anyone from Asgard and bring them here. Bruce was staying at the compound in case anyone contacted them. Alison had tried calling Sophia, Renee and even Sarah with no luck. I have to tell them Sam is gone. Her calls to Boston had also gone unanswered. It was a hard choice, but she had to see if Franklin was alright. Afterall the man was getting into his late 60's and who knew what this was doing to him. God what if he had a heart attack or got into a car accident. I left him with my dog and I just need to know that something I love other than...I just need to know.

Alison swallowed hard and looked at Steve. He looked beyond tired and worried and Alison had to gather her thoughts. He was there when Bucky died. He was there when Thanos snapped his fingers. I can't tell him now.

"It shouldn't take more than an hour to get there and well if he's there we'll bring him back with us," said Alison.

"Just be careful. Please," said Steve. Alison could see it clearly in Steve's eyes. You are the wife of my best friend and now he's gone and even though I know you can handle yourself I need to make sure nothing happens to you because if it does it's going to be my fault. That look from Steve cemented Alison's decision to not tell him she was pregnant yet. Just not now. I have to do this first.

"We will," said Alison. She went to hug Steve and pulled her into a bear hug. It took everything in Alison to not start crying. She eased away from Steve and went to go get her supply bag. She was double checking it when Bruce came in.

"So how are you this morning?" asked Bruce and Alison shrugged.

"I'm just trying right now. I gotta head out," said Alison and Bruce blocked the door. Alison gave him a look. "I'm going to Boston and you're in my way," said Alison.

"I'm not going to stop you from going, but….you really should see a doctor," said Bruce.

"Well my last shrink turned out to be a former Hydra doctor so I'm not sure if she's taking patients right now," said Alison and she went to step around Bruce.

"I meant an OB," said Bruce and it stopped her in tracks. "Ally...if your math is right you are almost through the first trimester. I sort of know a little bit about obstetrics, but it would be better for you see someone who is trained professional in it. I know you're freaked out right now," said Bruce.

"That's a goddamn understatement," snapped Alison.

"I know," said Bruce calmly and Alison took a breath to calm herself. "If anyone right now has a reason to be beyond freaked out...scared….worried...you have it in spades. You need to take yourself though. You don't want to take unnecessary risks right now. I'll see if I can find a doctor while you're out," said Bruce.

"I can't tell anyone right now. I can't...they...I don't think this is going to be good news right now," said Alison and Bruce sighed.

A part of Bruce hated to admit that she was right and this really was not the best news right now. He had been gone during the mishap with the Accords and the fallout from it. He had been told though that Bucky and Alison had gotten married, well the most married they could get. Bruce didn't know if Bucky and Alison had planned on children, but now it was in the cards and it was a cold slap in the face of how badly they had failed. He's never going to hold his child and she's going to have to bring their baby into world that's half dead. We failed them and how many others like Alison and Bucky did we fail the other day?

"Alright. I'll see what I can do while everyone is out. Just...pick up some vitamins at least," said Bruce.

"Thank you," said Alison. She left the room and Bruce fought the urge to throw something. She was right it wasn't good news and it wasn't fair to her or anyone right now.

…..

"So when did you find the time to learn how to fly?" asked Robert.

"It was part of the training program when I joined the staff," said Alison. It was only sort of a lie. Steve and Natasha had trained her after Bucky had left and she had been breezing through her classes. She and David had been the only two to be trained how to fly the jets just in case something really bad happened. Oh god did David make it. Where is he right now?

"You picked it up real quick. You're mother was a fast learner too...well maybe not this fast," said Robert.

Alison twisted her necklace and tried to control her thoughts. For some reason the universe had screwed her life up repeatedly. It had taken both of the men she had planned to spend her life with, taken several of her friends and so much more from her and thought it was fair to leave her with a father she didn't know and a pregnancy that she was terrified of and yet now she wanted it more than anything. There was no easy way of trying to deal with this because of who she was now. She didn't think if had been wrong of her to consider all her choices about it since it was her life on the line and she hoped Bucky would have understood that. I was going to tell him. I wanted to lay it all out for him so we could decide together and….

"Hey...hey….do you need me to take over?" asked Robert. Alison shook her head and quickly wiped her eyes. She had been crying for almost a minute and was on the verge of sobbing without realizing it. Yep the hormones are just awesome right now.

"I just...this guy is a really good friend. I want him to be okay, but I just have this gut feeling that he didn't make it," said Alison. Well that's another half lie on the pile.

"Sofia told me you got to know each other when you were in the hospital," said Robert and Alison nooded.

"We looked out for each other," said Alison.

"He did not like me in the slightest and for good reason. He said I didn't deserve to have you for a daughter," said Robert and Alison looked at him.

"When did you meet Franklin?" asked Alison puzzled.

"Sometime in January when Nelson and Murdock were looking for character witness on your behalf. We got pointed in his direction and he refused to do it. Wouldn't go along with the story they had about you being crazy or being taken and held. He knew you had your head on right," said Robert. It was still hard for Alison to realize how much of her life had been picked over by lawyers and her own father. At least I still have some secrets left.

"He was right you know. Did you real think I was crazy or being held in hole somewhere?" asked Alison.

"I didn't know what think. I knew you weren't a terrorist and something in me knew you were out there somewhere. I was worried and...I owed you...maybe that isn't the right word….but it was the least I could for you after everything I did and didn't do for you growing up," said Robert.

"I'm still sort of mad at you," said Alison trying to not cry.

"I would think you're crazy if you weren't," said Robert and Alison let out something between a laugh and a sob.

"I know that just because all this happened doesn't change some of where we were. I know you're trying your best now. Before this happened...I know how much he loved you and well...he told me how much I really had hurt you. So yeah I don't expect this to get better overnight. I was stupid to think it would. I know I've bailed in the past when things have gotten hard and well if this is not the hardest thing for you right now I don't know what can top this, but I'm not bailing this time," said Robert.

"I'm pregnant," said Alison flatly. She didn't know why she was telling him right now, but there was no taking it back now. Maybe to be sure he's really going to stay for the hard stuff or maybe because I'm tired of trying to keep it all to myself and I just need to let one other person know who isn't going to breakdown.

"I know," said Robert just as flatly and Alison was thankful the jet was on auto or she might have crashed the jet. "Your mother hated apples until she got pregnant. After that it was the thing I had to try to find a 4 am in Texas. I thought you two couldn't though," said Robert.

"Well someone screwed up on his end. I really don't know if I should call it a screw up now," said Alison softly. It's all you have left of him.

"You loved each other and that wasn't a screw up. Does anyone else know?" asked Robert.

"Bruce. He caught me doing my own ultrasound. It's just a lot right now for me to make sense of. So I can only imagine what it's going to be like for everyone else," said Alison.

"You do what you feel is best for right now. I'm not planning on jumping ship this time. It means a lot that you decided to trust me with this. You're putting on the bravest face for them and you're going to need someone you don't have to brave with," said Robert.

"Thank you," said Alison and for the first time in years she gave her father a hug.

There was an empty tea cup on the counter and a kettle in the sink that was about to filled. Alison shut the water off and quickly wiped her eyes. There was a fine layer of dust on the floor. Clearly Franklin had been about to make his morning cup of tea when it happened. She heard a soft whine behind her and turned to see that Bailey was sitting on the stoop outside. He must have let her out and went to make his morning tea when it happened. Alison opened the door and let the dog back in.

"Hey girl. You remember me?" asked Alison holding out her hand for Bailey to sniff. Bailey sniffed her and a second later her tail started wagging and she pounced on Alison licking her face while whining. "Oh I missed you too sweetie. I missed you too," said Alison hugging the dog.

"I'm sorry about your friend," said Robert bending down to rub Bailey's head.

"I really hate being right sometimes," said Alison. The only family he really had was you and he died alone. Alison wiped her eyes again and she started looking for something to put the dust in. It was the least she could do for him. Everyone else blew away. I have nothing to bury for Bucky or Sam. She emptied out a jar of tea leaves and carefully put the ashes in the jar. Somehow I think Franklin would find it fitting to be in a tea jar. They took a few minutes to gather up some a Bailey's things and few momentos of Franklin. Alison also found her laptop and Bucky's notebooks in a closet in a box that had his son's personal effects in it. Thank you for keeping these safe. I'll try to return the favor. She took the box down and put it in a bag. Goodbye old friend.

On their way back to the jet Alison let herself into a pharmacy and grabbed four bottles of prenatal vitamins and hid them in the bag.

…..

"Clint was the only one to survive," said Natasha and it felt like a kick in the gut to Alison. She only met his family once, but she had gotten to know Clint during their time in hiding. He was a kind man and a loyal one too. If only Shuri and I could have worked a little faster. Not been ambushed. We might have stopped this.

"Where is he now?" asked Steve.

"I don't know. He's not ready to come in yet," said Natasha. She got up from the table to look out the window while Rhodey gave his report.

No one knew where Scott Lang or Hope Pym were. The same went for Tony, Spiderman and Dr Steven Strange. God Spiderman. He's a child by the name of Peter Parker. Who would have thought that arrogant jackass Strange would become a wizard. Alison had to shove back an insane fit of laughing over that thought. Bruce had spoken to Darcy and it seemed that Erik and Jane had also been taken. Steve sat down what looked like a pager and said he found near the last known location of Nick Fury and Maria Hill. It was flashing and odd red and blue pattern with a gold star in the center.

"Who was he trying to call?" asked Alison.

"We don't know," admitted Steve. He handed it to Bruce and asked if he could take a better look at it. Bruce left the room with it and Rhodey went to try and make some more calls to see who they could still reach out to.

"I'm sorry about your friend," said Steve and Alison nodded and she rubbed Bailey's head.

"I think...I just need to go lie down for a bit," said Alison and she left the room before Steve or Natasha could say anything. It was odd to be in her old room again back at Headquarters. It was like she had never left. Everything was still in its place. It had been kept clean though and Alison crawled into the bed. Bailey went over to the door that separated her room from Bucky's room and whined at the door.

"No girl. Come here," said Alison and she suddenly felt a chill. AC must be kicking on. Bailey settled at the foot of the bed and Alison pulled the covers around her tightly trying to warm up.

…..

"Stop doing that," hissed Jillian has Bucky went to touch Alison's hair and Bucky glared at her. Alison shivered and called Bailey over to the bed. It hadn't even been a day and he was already tired of this woman telling him what to do. She's your mother in law. You're dead and stuck with your mother in law. Bucky had quickly realized that while he couldn't be seen or heard, he could be felt by Alison. He couldn't help it though. He knew he was dead and yet he so badly wanted to hold Alison and tell her how much he love her and beg her to explain why she hadn't told him about their baby.

"Can you leave us alone or at least leave me alone?" asked Bucky sitting on the edge of the bed by Alison.

"I've been here since she was five and I have no plans to leave now. Stop trying to touch her it's only going to make it worse," snapped Jillian. Bucky laid down next to Alison and he watched as she pulled the blankets around her for warmth.

"I'm not going either," said Bucky and he tried to touch Alison's hair. I love you so much and I can't go. I can't leave you behind.

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