Author's note
This is my first-time publishing fanfiction. Any reviews are welcome.
This story contains my OC Nia. Nia was very young when she was recruited by Shield and was given Black Widow as a mentor. She was on Tony's side in civil war and didn't have to go on the run. She also wasn't snapped and spent 5 years helping Natasha and the various people left behind.
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This is a story about what happened after Endgame. About how the world readjusted to having 3.5 billion people pop back into existence. How the world remembered those who sacrificed themselves and those who fought to bring everyone back. After many reunions, tearful and joyful, the world settled down a little. Governments got a semblance of control and countries seemed to gain some of their structure back. Wakanda had more healing than most to do but their King had returned to them, so people worked day and night to restore the kingdom to its former glory and help others around it.
The Avengers were welcomed with open arms, proclaimed champions of the world. There were tributes for the fallen; Tony Stark, Natasha Romanoff and Vision. There was appreciation for the ones still standing. Everyone tried to gain a sense of normality, but nothing would be normal again, nothing would be as it was before. The Avengers weren't the same as before. There were people who had lost five years of their lives and there were people who had suffered for five years of their lives. Some people were getting their family back, but others were coming back to no family.
Such was the situation for Clint Barton. He got two of his children back. But Lila and Nate came back to find that they had lost their mother, brother and Auntie Nat. Every time they asked him why the others didn't come back like everyone else Clint didn't have an answer. It broke his heart to see the confusion on Nate's face and the sorrow in Lila's eyes. It hurt him seeing Nia sulk around while trying to shoulder the weight of the world and her new responsibilities. Clint couldn't watch as Wanda broke a little more each day but put on a brave mask for his children and everyone else.
There was much to do after the war; after the funerals and the farewells there was so much to work on. Clint returned to the farm and devoted every minute of every day to his children. He refused to rest, to allow the memories to catch up because if they did, he'd be haunted by them forever. He cursed the moment he let Laura drive Cooper to soccer practice. He cursed himself for being under house arrest. He should've been with them that day. He should've protected. But how can you protect someone from colliding head on with another car because the driver turned to dust. Clint was grateful for two of his children being alive, so grateful because they were the only thing keeping him alive right now. He'd never forgive himself, but he'd focus on his children for now.
Nia stayed in New-York. She managed the orphanage that her and Natasha had built together. She strived to get the children back to their families or find new ones for those who didn't have any. Now that Black Widow was gone people expected her to fill her role and how could Nia defy expectation. So, she put on a brave front and stepped up. She liaised with governments, coordinated with the Avengers and took down bad people all the while maintaining a cool front. Some nights she would meet up with Peter and they'd sit in silence on an isolated rooftop looking down at the city. Peter understood her, he was in the same situation as her. People wanted him to be the next Ironman. They were both thrust into the limelight and told to shoulder impossible weights. They knew the shoes left for them were too big to fill so they didn't try. They tried to do as much as they could while still being themselves.
Wanda joined the others at the Avengers Facility. Every room and every hallway haunted her; threatened to close in on her. Everywhere she looked she was reminded of him; everything she did she was reminded of her. She tried to stay out mostly, going on every mission she could get on (especially long-term ones). She fought with the voices in her head struggling to keep afloat. She'd lost her brother. Vision's death still tore her heart into a million pieces and now Natasha.
The girls visited the farm whenever they could. Spending time with Lila and Nate calmed their restless souls. They could get lost in Nate's laughter to forget their burdens and they could get swept up in Lila's chatter to forget the outside world.
It had been a month since the incident and the world was slowly adjusting. Bruce had finally fixed the quantum tunnel and so Steve Rogers was going to return the infinity stones. Wanda and Nia were back on the farm taking a break.
Nia was outside on the porch swing enjoying the morning sun when she heard a quinjet touch down not too far from her. She got up to se who it was when a very familiar re-head descended the opened ramp. Nia's mug of tea clattered to the floor as her body became immobile. The occupants of the house filed out to see what was happening and promptly froze in shock. The youngest was the first to break free and flew straight to Natasha diving into her open arms for a hug. Wand and Lila followed suit.
Clint took tentative steps and reached out to touch Natasha's face, checking to see if she was real or a figment of his imagination conjured by his desperation. Once he made sure he wasn't dreaming again he gathered her into his arms as a broken "Tasha" escaped his lips. Natasha's body stiffened for a second but then melted into his hug as he placed a kiss on her temple.
"How?" he asked, checking her over and looking into her eyes.
"Steve" was all she replied with.
Nia remained frozen in her spot. Natasha walked over to her and wrapped her in a hug. Nia hugged back but then pushed her away.
"Why did you do it? How could you jump off like that?! You left me. Again." Nia's voice grew in volume and cracked at the end. Her body trembled and tears filled her yes. She wiped at them furiously trying to hide them.
From the corner of her eye Natasha saw Clint ushering everyone else inside. She stepped closer to Nia and put a hand on her arm.
"You know why I did it. I did it for you. I did it to bring everyone back…whatever it took."
Nia's legs gave out and she fell on her knees. Natasha gathered her in her arms and rocked her back and forth. Nia had seen Natasha jump off that cliff on that god forsaken planet. She had seen it again and again every night since it happened. The scene haunted her and tormented her. Even now she was transported back to that place; she felt the same helplessness and anguish she had felt then. She had kept it all in. She cried a few tears at the funerals, but she was an agent and an Avenger. She had to be strong. Yet now, here in Nat's arms, Nia slowly let it all out. She gradually let the relief of having her sister-like mentor back take over. Nia's sobs subsided and her body stopped shaking.
"Better?" Nat asked.
Nia nodded, composed herself and stood up.
The two walked in as if nothing had happened. That day everything felt a little normal. They laughed, talked, and ate together; enjoying each other's presence. They felt like a family.