ATTENTION: I have posted 5 chapters at the same time. Please read chapter 12, 13, 14, and 15 first before reading this chapter!

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At first, nothing happened. Nat wondered what would happen anyway. Would there be a big bang? Would there be a flash of light? Banner was on the floor in pain from the entire effort. He was hanging onto Steve's arm now.

"Did it work?" he asked.

Natasha pulled out her phone, finding Clint's number and dialing it. Her hand was shaking, and she felt very emotional.

"Nat?!" Clint answered. "Where are you? What is going on? Why do I remember disappearing like ash?"

"Oh my God," she gasped.

"What? What?" Clint asked, confused.

"You're alive," Nat whispered.

"I think it worked," Scott commented, gesturing.

"What the hell happened?" Clint demanded.

"An alien named Thanos wiped out half of the universe. We just brought everyone back," Nat explained. She left out the part about five years passing. She'd tell him that later.

"Where are you?"

"At the Avenger headquarters."

"I'm coming."

"No, stay there," she urged. "I...I don't want to risk losing you again. I'll be home soon."

"Okay. Hurry," Clint said.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

She hung up, feeling relieved and thankful and happy. Steve came over to put his hand on her shoulder, giving her a nod and a squeeze because he knew how much she wanted them back.

Then, everything around them exploded.

...

Clint did not have a good feeling suddenly. He had finished calming down Lila, who vividly remembered fading away. Cooper was just as rattled, but he was hiding his emotions about it.

"I'm going to go find Nat," Clint said to them. "I think something is wrong."

"Where is she?" Lila asked, following him as he went inside.

"She's at work."

"Like old work?"

"Yea."

He rummaged to find his gear. Lila watched, scared.

"You're coming back, right?" she asked.

"That's the plan, sweetheart," Clint answered, moving to hug her. "Stay here with your brother. Call Aunt Cass if you need her."

Cassie. He stopped in his tracks. Had she disappeared too? He checked his phone to see a text from her asking if he was okay. He replied and said he would talk to her later. He was about to head for his car when a fiery line cut a circle in the air. Clint stopped in his tracks, staring.

"Dad?" Lila called from the porch. "What is that?"

Clint pulled his bow, aiming is arrow at it.

"I dunno. Get inside."

"Relax," a man said, stepping through the hole. Clint almost jumped back from shock. He could see a different landscape inside the circle. He was so confused.

"Who are you?" Clint asked.

"Dr. Strange. You need to come with me."

"Why?"

"The Avengers need us," Strange said. Clint lowered his bow and arrow.

"You know them?"

"Yes. Are you coming or not?"

"I'm coming," Clint answered. Strange went through the hole, and Clint hesitated at the entrance. He turned to look back at his kids, who were staring in shock.

"Today, Barton," Strange said. Clint stepped inside, finding himself in front of a whole group of people. He gripped his bow, bracing himself as Strange made another hole.

...

Nat coughed as she sat up. Her head hurt. Her body hurt, and she was pretty sure she had broken something. A rib maybe. She turned to see the gauntlet lying there, so she reached to grab it before getting to her feet. She sensed something, then, and realized she was not down there alone. When she heard a low growl, she ran for it, barely managing to escape the aliens.

Eventually, she stumbled across Nebula.

"Here," she said, giving her the gauntlet. "I gotta go help them." She could hear something happening outside now. Nebula took the gauntlet, and Nat suddenly had a weird feeling based on the expression on Nebula's face.

"Father," she said into her comm. "I got it."

"Oh, whoa! What?!" Nat shouted. She leaped onto Nebula, not waiting for an answer, and the two of them fought. Nat managed to smack the gauntlet out of her hand, and she had her in a leg choke hold when Nebula managed to break free and kicked her across the chest, sending her sprawling. The pain in her rib was greater now. Nat looked up to see a gun in her face.

She was going to die before seeing Clint again. She couldn't allow that. She was making a plan of attack when the real Nebula and a woman Nat assumed to be her sister, Gamora, appeared.

They got into an argument, and Nat slipped away to get the gauntlet while the bad Nebula was distracted. Then the real Nebula shot and killed the bad Nebula before Gamora could be killed.

"Well, that takes care of that," Nat said, looking at them.

"You better get moving," Nebula said. Nat nodded and took off.

...

"Everyone ready?" Strange asked. There was a chorus of yelling. The circle finished, and they stepped through it, finding themselves on a battlefield.

"Holy shit!" Clint exclaimed.

"Go, go, go!" people were yelling. Clint hurried forward, shooting the enemy quickly as he went.

...

Nat was still running. She had no idea what to do with the gauntlet. One person said take it far away, and another said they had to return the stones. She ended up running from a group of Thanos's creepy looking brutes, and she saw a man in a panther suit approach.

"I'll take it!" he shouted. She tossed it to him, and he ran with it. She swiveled to see so many people pouring through the holes in the air. Her heart stopped when she recognized one.

...

Clint was searching for her everywhere. He hoped she wasn't dead. He had no idea what was going on, but he wasn't about to let that get him killed. He shot his arrows and took down his enemies. Then, he saw her.

"NAT!"

She was already running towards him. Not even caring that they were in the middle of a battlefield, she leaped into his arms and held him tight, sobbing.

"I never thought I'd see you again," she said.

"How long were we dead?" he asked.

"Five years," she answered, pulling back to look at him now.

"Five ye-Oh my God," he said.

"We gotta finish this," she urged.

"I'm right behind you," he promised. They surged ahead, taking down more enemies as they went.

The rest was chaos. They fought. They watched Carol Danvers destroy an entire ship. They saw Steve, Tony, Thor, and Hulk fighting with Thanos. They watched in despair as somehow Thanos got a hold of the gauntlet again.

"I am inevitable," he said, sneering.

Nat grabbed Clint's hand, waiting for it to be all over. He pulled her into his arms, squeezing his eyes shut and waiting for the worst.

It didn't happen.

They both looked to see Tony standing in front of Thanos with his own gauntlet.

"And I...am...Iron Man," Tony said. Then he snapped his fingers.

Every one of their enemies began to disappear. Thanos was last, the look of shock and despair in his eyes. Then he was gone.

"Hurry," Nat said, rushing forward towards Tony. He was propped up, looking at them but not really seeing them. They stopped a few feet away, unsure of what to do.

"Is he dying?" Clint asked.

"I think so," Nat answered. "No human can survive the power of the stones."

Peter Parker landed beside Tony, telling him they had won. He started to cry after realizing what was happening. Then Pepper came and had a private moment with Tony before Tony's light went out on his suit.

"Did that seriously just happen?" Clint asked Nat. "Did we just lose Tony?"

"Yes," she whispered.

Whatever it takes.

She sank to her knee like everyone else did, Clint following suit. It had cost them, but they had won.

She didn't really know what to feel in that moment.

A Day Later

Clint awoke to Nat staring at him. He smiled.

"What?" he asked.

"I just keep thinking you're going to disappear again," she said.

"That must have been very hard on you. I know your biggest fear was losing all of us."

"But I got you back," she said. "I got you back, and the next person who tries to take you away from me will get the same treatment Thanos got."

"That's one of the reasons I love you," Clint grinned, kissing her. Then he remembered. "Hang on a moment." He got out of bed and went to find what he was looking for. He had originally wanted to do it in a fancy way, but now he didn't care. He knew she wouldn't either.

He found it and went back to her. She sat up, looking at him.

"You know I love you no matter what, right?" he asked. "It's taken us quite a journey to get here, but it was worth it. I'll do whatever it takes for the rest of my life to make you happy. You're an essential part to this family, and we never want to lose you." He opened the ring box, and she smiled. He studied her carefully.

"You've already seen it, haven't you?" he asked.

"I never put it on," she promised. "But I did look at it."

He laughed then, taking it out and holding it up while looking at her.

"Nat, will you marry me?" he asked.

"I thought you'd never ask," she answered. "And my answer is yes."

He put the ring on her finger, and she pulled him in for another kiss. Then they went out and found Lila and Cooper having breakfast. Lila was very excited upon hearing the news of their engagement.

"Does that mean I can call you Mom now?" she asked.

Nat looked at her, surprised.

"You want to call me that?"

"You've felt more like a mother to me since I can remember," Lila answered. "I don't really remember my biological mother. I have fragmented memories, but I remember you."

"If you want to call me that, you can," Nat said. "I'll leave it up to you."

"Can I just call you Nat?" Cooper asked. "I'm not ready to call you Mom, and Aunt Nat feels weird now."

"I'm fine with that," Nat nodded. She hugged him too, and he had a small smile on his lips. Clint was grinning as he joined them.

Nothing could ever be so perfect.

Days Later

Tony's funeral was a somber event. Everyone was there, and Nat stood with Clint, Lila, and Cooper as they watched Pepper, Morgan, and Happy go down to the water to release the wreath.

"Did you have a funeral for us?" Clint asked Nat.

"No," she shook her head. "Because I knew you were coming back."

"Thanks for not giving up," he said, squeezing her hand. They had spent the last few days in their house. Natasha had explained everything to him after he had proposed to her. She was afraid to let him out of her sight.

"You wouldn't have given up on me," she said back.

They spent the rest of the funeral mingling and talking in hushed voices.

"We're taking the stones back later today," Banner was saying. "Steve's gonna do it."

"I'll swing by," Nat said.

Steve said nothing. He was busy thinking about Bucky. He had had his own memorial service for his friend, but he still felt the pain of losing him.

"Well, this is it," Thor said, approaching them all. "I'm outta here."

"You're what?" Nat asked.

"I've got a ride, and I've decided I don't want to be a king. Valkyrie's got it under control."

"Are you coming, doughboy?" Rocket called.

"He thinks he's funny," Thor smirked. "Take care. All of you."

He turned to leave, waving goodbye over his shoulder before disappearing for good with Rocket and the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Banner, Steve, Sam, and Nat waited until everyone else was leaving (Clint was going to take the kids home). Then they got to work.

...

Nat watched Steve as he donned the suit and got ready to take the stones back. She could tell there was a resolve about him.

"What are you doing?" she asked him. The others were out of ear shot.

"I'm taking the stones back," he answered. "Remember?"

"No, there's more to it," she shook her head. "You're up to something."

Steve hesitated, looking at her. He knew he could trust her.

"Okay," he admitted. "I'm not coming back."

"You're going to have that dance with Peggy," Nat nodded. "Good for you."

"That's not all. I'm going to find Bucky, and we're both gonna live a normal life, you know? He deserves it."

"I really hope you succeed," she said.

"I will," Steve promised. He took her hand and squeezed it. "It's been a pleasure, Nat."

"You too." She hugged him quickly.

He smiled and released her, going towards the platform. Banner stopped him.

"I did try," he said.

"Try what?"

"To bring Bucky back," Banner answered. "I really tried."

"It's okay," Steve assured him. "But thank you." He stepped up onto the platform then. Nat stood back and watched him go. She was proud of him. When he was gone, Banner counted down and went to bring him back, but nothing happened.

"Wait, where is he?" he asked, sounding panicked.

Sam pointed to a bench that was a little ways from them that had a man sitting in it. Nat just knew who it was, so she hung back to give Sam some space. Sure enough, the elderly man pulled out Captain America's shield and handed it to Sam. Older Steve turned to see Nat standing there, and he smiled. She saw the wedding ring on his finger and knew he had gotten what he wanted. She went over to him while Sam was still standing in shock holding the shield.

"Did you succeed?" she asked.

"In more ways than one," Steve answered, giving her a knowing nod. His message was clear. He had also saved Bucky.

"I'm glad it worked out for you," she smiled.

"Me too."

Six Months Later

Nat and Clint walked out of the church holding hands. They had just gotten married, and they were giddy beyond belief.

"Where to, Mrs. Barton?" he asked.

"Anywhere in the world, Mr. Barton," she answered.

"Well, we gotta do the reception first," he said logically.

"Okay. Then we can go anywhere in the world," she nodded.

"Deal."

They laughed as they headed to get their photographs taken. Banner was their best man while Cassie was Nat's maid of honor. They laughed at how much Banner dwarfed them all in the pictures. He goofed off and sat on the ground for some. Then they made their way to dinner, and there was dancing after. Every one of their friends was having a good time. Lila and Cooper were as well. Nat was so glad to be in their family, to make them her family. Clint spun her in a dance move then, and she laughed. It was one of those nights you just never wanted to end. Nat couldn't have been more happy in that moment. She had the love of her life, Lila and Cooper who she pretty much called her own now, and friends that had been by her side through thick and thin.

It really didn't get much better than this.

The End


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