"Wow." Natasha gasped in amazement at Steve. "Look at you." The Captain grinned at the spy when she noticed the sleek armor gauntlets that Shuri had made for him. "You ever miss the original?" She asked, sliding her fingers across the metal.

The soldier surprisingly shook his head. "Not as much as I thought. Besides I prefer you to watch my back." Natasha approved highly of that response. Her tone softened when she noticed the worry of Steve's face. "What's wrong?" But Natasha already knew, the thought had been on the soldier's mind ever since this whole event had started. She rested his forehead softly against his chin. "I know, I miss him too." Tony had yet to make an appearance or even a phone call, but they all certainly didn't think that he was dead. But the disappearance of the armored Avenger wasn't the only thing that was bothering the Captain. "This all feels wrong." Steve breathed deeply, holding Nat close. "We don't even have time to mourn Thor and now we're going to war?"

It was true that the passing of their friend had not been given the proper time to grieve. Natasha did find herself crying to herself on the Jet when Banner had told them what had happened, she had comforted Sigrun. The power their new enemy frightened them desperately. "He would want us to move forward. To stand tall and strong. No matter what happened I'm standing by your side." Steve gazed upon her wonderful face at her lovingly, believing every word.


Sigrun had said little to nothing since they had arrived in Wakanda. She was still mourning her love, still grieving over her lose. Once again failure had scared her body and broken her heart. "I can't do this." The warriors voice was so quiet that Banner had to ask her to repeat her words. "I can't do this." She spoke louder, clutching her stomach as if she might be sick right there. "I failed Odin when I couldn't stop Hela and now I've failed to keep my new king and my people alive. I am ill-fated, doomed to fail I'm dead." Her trembling hands rested across her quivering lips, she should have stayed on Sakkar until she finally departed the world. Banner had to admit that Sigrun didn't have the greatest track record, but if she were a true warrior than she had to be aware that not every battle ended in victory. Although this poor woman, this tragic thing had lost the most important battles in her life. Bruce was sure to take his time when approaching his friend. This were going to get much worse before they got better.

"You will always have people to rely on. So despite what's going to happen out there, we will stand with you." Sigrun had once forgotten what it had felt like to have sisters in arms, had known that feeling of loyalty and trust. And now as the world was slowly falling apart she felt that hope died with her heart once again. She turned from Banner, laying her head against the wall as he knees were pulled toward her chest. She had lost her spirit to fight. The people of Asgard called a warriors will, thire which had long since left her. Her thire had been extinguished with the pain that she had long hoped to never feel again. She would not fight this battle, she could not, she simply didn't have it in her.


They were here. The invasion had been set just outside the cities borders. So far, the protective dome had not been breached and Thanos had yet to make an appearance. He would be leaving the majority of the invasion to his Generals and once the line was broken he would make his move. It was their job to ensure that the front line was not broken, that Vision is not reached. Shuri, Paige and Wanda were confined to the lab, they would be safe with the Dora protecting them. "Sam, I think we'll be ok." Wanda protested to her friend. "I'll have no problem keeping them safe." Wilson had more than enough reason to be on edge, things were going to get messy really fast.

"Are you sure?" His voice sounded shaken.

"Go help the others, Wilson." Paige looked at Sam in such a way that made him almost feel uncomfortable. Not in fear but rather sadness when embracing him tightly. "You're my best friend. I want you to be safe out there." Tears flooded her eyes as her grip tightened, she didn't want to say goodbye, didn't want to think of a horrible outcome if it came to past. People were going to die, no doubt. It was moments like these where Wilson wished that he processed more power than just wings and a pair of guns, he hated himself for not being able to do more to protect the ones he loved. Could staying in DC, not getting involved at all have changed things? No, this conflict would have come knocking with or without his involvement. He helped Paige close as she cried. Cried for him to come home, cried for all of them to come home.

"Don't worry Shorty." He spoke calmingly, feeling confident enough to walk outside with her.

The massive monoliths that stood high above the city so far had not presented any danger, they stood frightening and dormant. The warriors of Wakanda prepared for battle while the city finished its evacuations. The tribes stood ready to go to battle, they all knew the stakes, but no idea of the outcome. Barnes felt a tremendous feeling of guilt that the African planes would soon be a war zone, they didn't deserve this. His worries were put at ease when his long-time friend joined him outside. The two stood in silence not sure of what to say. It seemed no matter what the pair was made to fight wars.

Steve spoke of hope for the both of them which was desperately needed. "Paige showed me the house." He finally said, looking over at his friend. Buck expected Steve's expression to be upset but surprised when he realized that Cap looked content more than disappointed. "It looks really nice."

"I wanted to tell you myself." Buck replied feeling guilty that he hadn't kept his oldest friend up to speed lately, both had been busy for the past two years. "I'm getting out Steve." Buck hung his head. "I've fought the fight and won my war. It's time for me to move on."

"Back to Romania?"

Buck nodded. "I thought you'd be upset that I wasn't going back to New York. Going back home will be good for me, the house is remote but has close neighbors and isn't too far from a small town and the city is only an hour drive away. Lots of woods for Tanzy to run around in." The way he made it all sound made Steve a little jealous. Made him think of what he could have had with Peggy years ago. "I've got a chance at normalcy Steve. I need to take it, I don't want to be fighting for the rest of my life." Back in the forties, all Steve wanted was to fight alongside Buck and now he had his first real chance. No one on the run or programmed, both of them free and ready. "I'm sorry if you're disappointed."

"Are you kidding?" Steve asked in disbelief, his hand resting on his friend's shoulder. "We survived our ordeals to find our purpose here in this new world. Mine is with the Avengers, with Natasha. You're meant to find what your purpose is out there with Paige. I want the best for you, my friends, you deserve that much and more."

Bucky smiled at Steve and his kind words. "You have a future with Natasha. Make sure you don't have any regrets." Steve knew what his comrade meant by all that, not to be the constant soldier but maybe someday a husband or perhaps even a father. He is more than the rank he carries, more than a shield, both knew this. "Who knows, maybe someday when we're ready we'll have kids and tell them what we did here to give them a beautiful and bright future." Bucky had always talked about having kids after the war, had always had an idea of what he wanted his future to be like. Steve hadn't given his future much thought at times until he started his relationship with Natasha. That lack of planning had given him some regret, but the idea of finally settling down with children felt right to him.

"Maybe someday we will. I like the sound of that."

Natasha, Paige, and Sam arrived hot on their heels. "Hey." Steve smiled at her, happy to see her beautiful face. "Everyone's moving into position."

"Cities almost completely evacuated." Sam added

"Which is why Shuri asked me to give you all these." One by one the Doctor handed each of them a two-way ear radio. There was going to be a lot of commotion, so communication was key.

"What are you still doing here?" Buck asked in disbelief. "Why aren't you on the jet?"

"Slight change of plans. Shuri's gonna need help with Vision. I can't leave yet." The white Wolfs heart pounded in his chest. There couldn't be a worse place for Paige to be. She should be back in Romania. With Nakia in the US and far away from this horror.

"You are all risking your lives for our home, I have no reason to do anything less." To Bucky that sounded all too familiar. Reminding him of a scrawny kid from Brooklyn who just wanted to play his part and fight a war.

"You've been influencing her, haven't you?" He glared over at Rogers with a smirk. The idea of arguing with Conrad seemed pointless and Barnes figured that as long as she remained in the palace she would be safe from harm. "Please be careful." He breathed, hugging her as the transports arrived with the heavily armed Kings Guard. They stood proud and ready to go to battle.

"Me, are you kidding?" Paige was speechless. Even with everything that was about to happen James was about to go back into the fight, something he swore to never do again and he was more concerned of the little danger that she was placed in.

"I'll be fine."

"You better." Paige replied quickly fighting back tears for her new family. "You better all come back home." She commanded to the Avengers. "And when you do we're having drinks at the new house." It was naïve of the doctor to trick herself into thinking that everyone would come home when the sun would set, but hope was in her soul and she refused to let it die. "I'll be right here." The time had then come to finish their goodbyes, for how long it would be until this was over none of them knew. Thanos wasn't going to go down without a very violent fight, they all knew what had to be done and knew what was at stake. If they failed half the universe would fade from existence while the other had to suffer under a mad tyrant's rule. Unity was called for and the war drums were sounding, the whole world wouldn't be watching, but would knew for generations of what was about to take place. The war that would change everything.

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