A/N: so, I'm back from hiatus. Thank you all for the continuing support for this story. Make sure to stay tuned for the author note at the end of this chapter because I have a few announcements that I need to make. I hope you enjoy this new chapter!!

They had been waiting for days for something, anything to happen. Peter's Quill and Parker, Drax, Mantis and Doctor Strange all sat around the orange landscape for god knows how long before anything actually happened. They were all worried about everything, but chose not to speak of it.

They worried for themselves, the people they love, the state of the universe after the disappearances of half of it. Peter Parker thought about his aunt, and how distraught she'd be if she were left out of the snap when he didn't come home for dinner that night. Doctor Strange wasn't really one to worry, as this was the way this was supposed to play out, this is the only way they're going to defeat the mad Titan, but still, he couldn't help but wonder about what Wong was doing. Drax and Mantis pretty much worried for the same things, all those left standing around the universe and who out of their team, their small family, was still out there. Quill worried for that also, but being their leader made it harder to process, he was also hoping that he would get to see the love of his life again; he and the guardians had made so many plans for the future, for when Groot was older, but now they all doubted whether they would get to do any of them. Everyone was worried, but still, they never spoke of it.

Over in another part of the stone; Wanda, Groot, Bucky, T'Challa and Sam were a bit more active, shall we say. They decided that if they walked here to find each other, then there's gotta be more people they know and that they can find. It was Groot's idea, he told the rest of the group by hand gestures and charades on his part, and a great deal of patience on their part. But even though it was Groot's idea, he didn't know where it came from, it was like it just suddenly popped into his head. So, off they walked. It was quite fast since they didn't have to eat in the stone which meant not having to take food breaks. Although, they did occasionally stop when they got too tired to walk any more. It took a few hours, maybe days. No one, unsurprisingly, really had a good concept of time in there anymore. But eventually, their efforts to explore were well paid off when they saw five figures sitting on the ground (or lack thereof) in the distance.

The group all stood, frozen, as if they thought that the figures would disappear, as if they weren't there at all and their sleep deprived, grieving, confused minds were finally getting the better of them. Sam was the first to speak as if he was reading the minds of the rest of the group.

"Do you guys see them too?" He asked, they all nodded their agreements. "Ok, good."

"HEY!" Bucky shouted, they all drew nearer to the figures, still aware that the people may not be friendly. They were all on their guards but still took after Bucky's lead and started shouting to the figures to grab their attention. The distant shadows seemed to turn in their directions as they shouted and stayed put as they neared. As the figures slowly came into view, Bucky realised he didn't recognise any of them except the spider kid from Germany and hey, is that a wizard?! By the looks on their faces; Sam, T'Challa and Wanda felt the same. But looking over at the teenage tree, Bucky saw a look of happiness that he had never seen on the kid before as he shouted at the top of his lungs to the people in the group.

"I am Groot!" He shouted, three of the group in particular looked up immediately.

"Groot!" They shouted.

One of the men got up and almost ran over to Groot, by his looks, Bucky assumed he must be human. The other two, who were clearly alien followed, behind.

"Groot, I'm so glad your ok buddy." The human said, the two aliens followed suit. Everybody watched in awe at the reunion.

The humans eyes darted around the group, Bucky looked around nervously. He seemed to be looking for something, or someone...

"Where's Rocket?" He asked suddenly. Groot looked at his feet as he slowly shook his head. "He's not here?" Groot shook his head again.

"I am Groot." 'He's still out there.' Groot replied.

"Well, isn't that good news?" Asked the alien bug lady "Rocket's alive!"

"I am Groot?" 'And we're not?' He replied, they all went silent. Bucky thought of this as his opportunity to ask them a question.

"You can understand him?" He asked, the human man nodded.

"You're his team, aren't you?" Asked Wanda.

"Yes that is us." Replied the alien man, he reminded Bucky of those guys Steve used to pick fights with and end up getting beat up by in alleys. Steve... Bucky hadn't thought, hadn't tried to think of him since they were separated.

"Sorry." Said the human man "my names Peter, Peter Quill. And this is Drax and Mantis. Looks like you've already met Groot." He gestured to his other two teammates and then the young tree.

"Yes we have." Said Sam "he's a good kid."

"I'm Bucky." Bucky said, then went around the others "this is Sam, Wanda and T'Challa. It's nice to finally meet you guys."

"Hi guys. I don't know if you remember me." Said Peter Parker shyly.

"Germany right?" Asked Sam.

"Yeah..." he replied "It's Peter by the way."

They all reintroduced themselves and so did Strange. The new five sat down on the makeshift ground and began talking to the others.

Groot was confused. Yeah, he was ecstatic to be back amongst his family, back where he felt safest; now he could actually talk to people! But something, no, someone was missing. He wondered why they weren't mentioning her, the more he thought, the more worried he got. Where was Gamora? From what he saw of the transmission from Earth she wasn't there, but maybe he was wrong. Maybe it was wrong. Maybe the guardians knew where she was. Knew she was safe. He frantically scanned the group again. Just the same people that were there before. He turned to Quill, who was sitting next to him, cutting off the conversation the others were having.

"I am Groot?" 'Where's Gamora?' He asked, worried and confused that she wasn't here. The Guardians all looked to one another, which only made Groot feel worse. Had something happened while he and Rocket weren't there? So again, he asked: "I am Groot?" 'Quill, where's Gamora?' Quill looked away from the young tree, he shouldn't have to put up with this, he was still so young. All of the grief that Quill felt was flooding back and he couldn't look at anyone, he just buried his face in his hands. Mantis and Drax took this as their opening and mantis spoke softly before beginning to cry herself.

"She's gone..." she almost whispered, but Groot heard it perfectly, he was used to Mantis' quiet tone. Groot was more confused, gone? What did she mean gone? Was she still on Knowhere? Did Thanos get her? He wanted to know but he really didn't want to know just in case it confirmed the bad stuff he was thinking.

"Gamora was murdered. By Thanos." Drax spoke suddenly, and with a certain air of rage toward the mad Titan and grief for his teammate and friend. Groot was in shock. Anger, grief and rage filled his body and mind. He just sat there, his head spinning, his mind all over the place.

Only then did any of them remember the other people around them, probably with similar experiences to them, Drax thought.

"Sorry, who's Gamora?" Asked T'Challa.

"She was a part of our team. Our family. She was killed recently, by Thanos." Drax explained sadly.

"Why did he kill her?" Asked Wanda, Drax looked around at his team who were too incapacitated to join the conversation

He decided he must speak for the team.

"She was his daughter. He killed her in order to retrieve one of the stones, or so we were told." He explained.

"We are sorry for your loss." Replied T'Challa "We all know what it feels like to lose family. My father passed two years ago."

"My brother perished in battle around three years ago." Wanda said "And I also lost someone to Thanos. My love, Vision."

They sat around for hours and talked about their lost loved ones, sharing experiences that have made them who they are. And so the transfer was made; from allies to friends, because what better way to make friends than fighting alongside them. They were all working toward the destruction of the mad Titan named Thanos, albeit for personal reasons each, and so they needed to work together to defeat him, though no one knew how.

Eventually, their talks had moved topic to one that no one had actually thought to mention until now. What had happened to them all since they got here. The idea to have the conversation suddenly came into Quill's mind, although he had no idea as to why. So, one by one they explained to each other what they saw before they found anyone. T'Challa explained how he had seen his cousin, Erik Killmonger for the first time after their dispute and how they had talked of Wakanda; Killmonger had even told him that were he there himself, he would help in the fight against Thanos because he felt for all the children who would have to be separated from their families because of it. Doctor Strange told the group of his meeting with the ancient one, how she had explained that she had been watching his progress over time and just had to comment on how he's "working better with actual people". Wanda shared her tale of seeing her twin brother again after too long separated from him and how she was so scared to let him go again. Quill was reluctant to tell his story but did nonetheless and so shared with the group about his encounter with his lost love, not complete without utterly breaking the hearts of the other members of the group as he recounted his experience. Sam explained how he has met up with his wingman, Riley, from his time served in the United States Air Force, how much seeing him alive had been an utter relief and a major trauma at the same time. Bucky told them about how he had been found by none other than Agent Peggy Carter, the girl that Steve had saved a dance for for over 70 years and how she had preceded to talk to him about Steve and how he needed to "go win this fight and get back to Steve." He still didn't understand how. Drax had then explained how he had a visit from his wife and daughter, who gave him some very good, and very needed advice. Peter Parker had sadly recounted his story of seeing his deceased uncle and getting to learn how proud he was of him. Groot has willingly shared his story of seeing Rocket watch the Benetar arrive in Wakanda just to see if anyone else could at least try and help him figure out why he saw it. Mantis recounted her quite eerily lonely tale of feeling all the other people around her but not having someone to come see her. After that, they were all flustered. They were still no closer to figuring out how to get out of there. But hearing that most of them had heard the same things, gave a slightly more reassuring sense of hope that yeah, they will get out of here and kill that big pruney son of a bitch.

"I've missed you sister."

"I have to go Peter."

"Go be Spider-Man and do it for as long as you can."

"Just continue along the same path. You'll find what you're looking for. And once you find it, you'll know you have."

'The look on Rocket's face said it all,'

'She simply smiled to herself at all of these reunions of lost love and lost life.'

"Now, go win this fight and get back to Steve. That's an order Sergeant Barnes."

PLEASE READ BELOW:

A/N: so, I hope you liked this chapter. After much deliberation I have decided that this is NOT the final chapter so you can all stay tuned for another one as soon as I've finished it. My other announcement is that after this story does come to it's end, I will be posting a sort of sequel to this series formally named 'Outside the Soul Stone', it will focus on everyone who was left behind on earth and in space.

I wonder if any of you have figured out why they're all there, and what or maybe even who brought them together. I would also like to know if you want me to update the snap numbers or if you do not want any spoilers for ant man and the wasp.

Feedback is much appreciated.

Thank you my readers! Stay tuned!