Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." – Winston Churchill
Dawn broke over the compound the next morning, already bustling with movement and nervous energy. Somehow everyone was excited, nervous and terrified all at once. Because today was the day, either everyone was coming back and families were coming back together. Or there was going to be another monumental failure and the effects would be felt much more deeply, and personally since this time they would be failing to complete the mission themselves. They couldn't blame it on Thanos' snap.
All outfitted in the specially made nanotech time travel suits, they strode through the hangar, Steve leading them towards the large, glass platform while the early morning sun shone through the large glass hangar doors from where it was just starting to peak over the trees. As everyone took their place around the glass platform, Bruce the only one not up there as he stood behind the control panel, making sure that everything was in order.
"Five years ago, we lost. All of us. We lost friends, we lost family, we lost a part of ourselves." Steve spoke as he looked around at his team, "Today, we have a chance to take it all back. You know your teams, you know your missions. Get the stones, get them back. One round trip each. No mistakes. No do-overs." He took a breath and looked to his wife by his side, she gave him an encouraging smile and reached out to take his hand, "Most of us are going somewhere we know. But it doesn't mean we should know what to expect. Be careful. Look out for each other. This is the fight of our lives. And we're gonna win." At that point Tony gave Steve a look, his eyebrow raising slightly, a soft smile playing on his face. Steve his look, an expression of determination on his face. "Whatever it takes." He nodded at Tony before he looked around at the team. "Good luck."
"He's pretty good at that." Rocket said, his arms folded.
"Right?" Scott jerked his thumb towards Steve.
"All right. You heard the man. Stroke those keys, jolly green." Tony called to Banner.
"Tractors engaged" Banner said, joining them on the platform.
Aphrodite took a deep breath before releasing her husband's hand in preparation for the journey, in doing so she glanced up and across the platform catching Nebula's eye who was directly across from her, the blue woman glanced down pointedly at her stomach before meeting her eyes again and offering her a single nod, to which she responded in kind. By her side Natasha was looking too elated to the thought of finally doing something right after five years spent doing nothing, at least in her mind. She didn't have it in her to deal out any last minute warnings to her best friend, practically her sister.
"See you in a minute!" she grinned wriggling her shoulders and eyebrows excitement and Steve huffed out a laugh at her enthusiasm.
The machine began to whir slightly, glowing, as the mechanism above their heads shifted and lowered. Helmets all formed round their heads, and a second later they were hurtling back through time.
The experience reminded Aphrodite of teleporting, it was similar yet distinctly different and she and her team landed in New York circa 2012, luckily she didn't feel a twinge of nausea as her quantum suit melted away to become that of her old armor, unmarred blue and gold pre-phoenix. They were only about a block or so away from the tower and the sound of fighting and terrified screams could be heard, but it was something they couldn't focus on right now.
"All right, we all have our assignments." Steve said, looking at everyone "Two Stones uptown, one Stone, down. Stay low. Keep an eye on the clock." At that moment a 2012 Hulk passed by, smashing everything in his way things that were notably not alien, before roaring and leaping off into the sky. Everyone glanced back at Bruce as put his hand on his face, attempting to hide his shame even as the Captain turned to addressed him.
"Maybe smash a few things along the way." He suggested.
"I think it's gratuitous, but whatever," Bruce muttered, tearing his shirt off. He walked over to a car and lightly punched it, making a small dent, all the while making growling noise that wasn't even close to being threatening, he then picked up a motorbike and threw it at a wall, wincing as it smashed before he continued his journey down town, Aphrodite giggled before following after the green giant.
Meanwhile on Asgard Thor was trying to make his way to Odin's wine cellar in desperate need of a drink, but was stopped in his tracks at the sound of his mother's heavenly voice approaching. He froze but hid behind a pillar as she spoke to her handmaids, moments later he thought he was clear and started to crept out from behind said pillar when a voice nearly made him jump out of his skin.
"What are you doing?" his mother questioned and he shouted, causing her to scream as well as he quickly tried to turn and hide his face within his robes, "You really ought to leave the sneaking to your brother and sister."
"I wasn't sneaking, I was just going for a walk." Thor mumbled as his mother slowly approached and he was torn between wanting to run away entirely and hug her tight and never let go.
"What are you wearing?" She gasped.
"This? I always where this, it's one of my favorites."
Frigga got close enough to him to look into his eyes and what she saw shocked her as she reached out to cup his cheek, "What's wrong with your eye?"
Thor sucked in a deep breath as he gently took her hand off his face and cradled it in her own, "Oh my eye, its nothing. You remember the battle or Haroquin? When I got hit in the face?" he waved a hand around, "With the broad sword?"
His mother smiled and it about melted him as she ran her fingers through his tangled locks of hair, "You're not the Thor I know are you?
"Yes I am." Thor assured tensely although his heart felt like it was about to burst from his chest.
Frigga settled both hands on his cheeks, "The future hasn't been kind to you has it?"
"I didn't say I was from the future."
"I was raised by witches boy, you think I see only with my eyes?"
Thor couldn't help it anymore, "I am totally from the future," he forced out before he started to break down as Frigga cooed at him, "I really need to talk to you."
"We can talk." She said stroking his overgrown beard, "We can talk." She repeated before pulling him into a hug which he returned in earnest as he began to cry into her shoulder.
"Gotta hustle, guys. Things look like they're just about wrapped up here." Tony said.
"Got it. I'm approaching the elevator now." Steve responded
"Uh, Mr. Rogers. I almost forgot that that suit did nothing for your ass." Tony scoffed through his earpiece.
"No one asked you to look, Tony." Steve responded as he rolled his eyes.
"It's ridiculous" Tony continued.
"I think you look great, Cap. As far as I'm concerned, that's America's ass." Scott chimed in and Aphrodite couldn't help but giggle as she could imagine the look of exasperation on her husband's face.
"Well, he's not wrong." she said before cutting off that line of communication so she and Bruce could focus on their mission.
"Who gets the uh, Magic Wand?" A 2012 Black Widow asked as she nodded to the scepter in her hands.
"Strike Team's coming to secure it," 2012 Captain America responded instantly, before seeming to recall something and turning to the woman that he would one day proudly call his wife, "If that's alright with you of course?"
When 2012 Aphrodite nodded and Steve smiled, Tony scoffed but fondly remarked, "Whipped already, and you didn't even know her."
"I heard that."
The elevator dinged and he and Lang ducked out of the way as the opened and the Shield/Hydra Strike team led by Rumlow and Sitwell entered the floor.
"We can take that" Sitwell said, gesturing to the scepter, "Off your hands."
"By all means." Natasha said gratefully handing it over. "Careful with that thing." She sang as she turned to accept a drink from Clint.
"Unless you want your mind erased." Clint added. "And not in a fun way"
"We promise to be careful." Sitwell spoke
"Who are these guys?" Scott asked gesturing to the array of black fatigued clad men.
"They are Shield," Tony said carefully, before explaining, "Well, actually Hydra. But, we didn't know that yet."
"Seriously, you didn't? I mean, they look like bad guys."
"You're small, but you're talking loud." Tony said, with an edge to his voice.
"On my way down to coordinate search and rescue." 2012 Rogers spoke.
Tony watched Loki transform into Steve for a second in imitation and the Billionaire had to smother his laughter, it was as entertaining now as it was then. Then, as Loki was gagged by his sister and lead way by Thor he spotted that his 2012 self was tapping at the security pad on a briefcase which contained the Tesseract.
"All right, you're up, little buddy." he said to Lang "That's our stone."
"Alright." Lang nodded, speaking from Tony's shoulder. "Flick me."
Tony bit back the inappropriate comment he so desperately wanted to make at that, then he did as he was told, flicking the ant sized Lang straight towards the box where he scrambled up Tony's arm, to his beard and then down his top.
Tony remembered with amusement the next few moments. This was when Hulk had tried to take the elevator. Grinning he watched as his 2012 self-informed Banner that the maximum occupancy had been reached, and 2012 Thor told him to take the stairs. In a fit of temper Hulk punched at the elevator door once it was shut, before grumbling to himself as he headed to the other side of the floor to get to the stairs. With a smirk Tony backed up, threw himself out of the window, his suit reforming round him.
"I'd be careful going that way. We just had the floors waxed." A patient voice called out stopping Aphrodite and Bruce from entering through a rooftop door, they turned to be meet with a kind but stern faced woman.
Bruce glanced at Aphrodite in question and she shrugged, "We're looking for Dr. Strange."
"You're about, five years too early." She said amused, "Stephen Strange is currently performing surgery about twenty blocks that way." She said casually walking to the edge of the building and pointing out in the city, "What do you want from him?"
"That actually." Aphrodite blinked pointing towards the Time Stone encased in the Eye of Agamotto hanging around her neck.
"Ah," she said also looking down at the stone, "I'm afraid not."
"Sorry but we weren't asking." Bruce said stepping up and around Aphrodite.
"You don't wanna do this." She warned.
"You're right I don't," Bruce responded approaching her anyways, "But we need that stone and we don't have time to-"
"Bruce wait-" Aphrodite began to say but the Ancient One cut her off when she pushed Bruce hard, the Hulk's body falling to the ground, and Bruce Banner's astral form was left floating there.
"Let's start over."
"Stark, what's going on?" Steve growled into his earpiece but he got no response. "Tell me you've got that cube." He quickly rounded the corner to the walkway and came face to face with himself and groaned. "You've got to be shitting me."
2012 Captain America approached Steve confidently, staring him in the eye as he called the other Avengers over his comm, "I have eyes on Loki. Fourteenth floor."
"I'm not Loki," Steve warned, slowly setting down the silver case holding the sceptre. "I don't want to hurt you."
With a scowl 2012 Captain America engaged shield, Steve raised his own shield, the clang loud as the Vibranium discs clashed against one another. There was a short bout of back and forth with Steve not wanting to hurt his past self too badly, and his past self wanting to hut him very badly. Before he was abruptly thrown backwards, he groaned quickly rising up to a knee
2012 Captain America looked down at him with a smirk, "I can do this all day."
"Yeah, I know." Steve sighed, shaking his head as he waved him away whilst he stood up again "I know"
With a hard toss Steve threw his shield toward 2012 as he did the same, the Vibranium discs ricocheting off one another. Without their shields the men began to fight, hand to hand. A kick was blocked and rebounded into the case the housed the sceptre that went through the glass of the walkway and fell many stories to the ground below. That was followed up by both versions of Steve Rogers when he tried to flip his younger self onto his back, and that result in them both tumbling over the edge and falling many stories and hitting many staircases and dividers as they went.
Wincing Steve managed to push himself up, taking a deep breath he swayed slightly and looked up as 2012 Captain America was brandishing his compass at him, his mouth open and brow furrowed. 2012 won't have even gotten the compass back yet, and he wouldn't do until the two years later when he and his Aphrodite visited the Smithsonian to approve of the Captain America exhibit, that compass also still had a picture of Peggy Carter in it. This one did not.
"Where did you get this?" 2012 Captain America demanded, his voice low before glancing at the inside and frowning. "Why does it have a picture of me and Aphrodite in it?"
Steve didn't answer, because he couldn't, instead he ducked trying to grab the sceptre, but 2012 Captain America was quick and he placed his foot on the sceptre, throwing Steve off balance slightly. In a flash 2012 was behind him, putting the older Soldier into a choke hold. Steve threw all his weight backwards hoping to dislodge only to end up, throwing the pair of them to the ground where they began to writhe along the floor, both trying to get the upper hand, Steve trying to reach out to grab the sceptre. Unfortunately for Steve, 2012 was just as clever and as he reached out with his right hand the younger man jerked him backwards, his legs round his waist, arms tight round his throat.
Steve was fading so he knew he had to do to something, drastic, quick, "Bucky…is…alive…" he rasped out, then immediately felt the grip around his neck release, and he fell forward coughing.
"What?" 2012 Steve asked in shop, but he never got his answer as Steve punched him right in the face with his right hand dazing, before he grabbed the sceptre, pointing the tip of it at his chest. 2012 Steve froze in mid-air before collapsing. Steve let his head fall back in relief, as he stumbled to his feet holding the sceptre in one hand and grabbing his compass stowing it away back into his pocket.
He looked down at his unconscious younger self, giving him a once over before nodding to himself, "That is America's ass." He mused before walking away as he banked a cover he heard the sound of rushed footsteps and a familiar voice called out in concern.
"Captain Rogers?" he heard 2012 Aphrodite, and paused peering back around the corner, she leaned down and gently shook him. 2012 Steve jerked up and awake glancing around wildly, "Captain," she said placing a hand and his cheek and Steve saw himself just about melt, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." He said, taking her hand and lowering it, "Loki got away."
"With the Tesseract as well." She told him.
"What?"
"Come on Captain," she said helping him to his feet, "I'll explain on the way."
2012 nodded before stopping her with a gentle hand on her arm, "You know, you can – You can call me Steve."
Steve shook his head around the corner as he watched the scene play out, "You are whipped."
"I'm not usually one for begging, but I'm begging you at this point." Aphrodite pleaded following the Ancient one across the rooftop while the body of the Hulk rested comfortably in a lounge chair and Bruce astral formed begged as well.
"Please, please."
"I'm sorry, I can't help you, either of you." She said sounding truly remorseful, "If I give up the Time Stone to help your Reality, I'm dooming my own."
"With all due respect, I'm not sure the science really supports that." Bruce added and Aphrodite pointed to him as if to say 'what he said'.
She turned to them and conjured a projection of the flow of time that ran the length of the city, in between them the Infinity Stones circled the line, "The Infinity Stones create what you experience as the flow of time. Remove one stone and that flow splits." She flicked the Time Stone projection away and the stream blackened, "Now, this may benefit your reality, but my new one, not so much. In this new branched Reality, without our chief weapon against the forces of darkness, our world will be overrun. Millions will suffer. So, tell me, Doctor, can your science prevent all that?"
"No," Aphrodite answered slowly, "But we can erase it."
"She's right," Bruce continued, "Because once we are done with the stones, we can return each one to its own timeline at the moment it was taken. So, chronologically," Aphrodite took the the Time Stone projection and placed it back into its spot bringing the light back to the stream, "in that reality, it never left."
"But you are leaving out the most important part. In order to return the stones, you have to survive."
"We will. I will. I promise."
"I can't risk this Reality on a promise. It is the duty of the Sorcerer Supreme to protect the Time Stone."
"Then, why the hell did Strange give it away?" Aphrodite snapped.
"What did you say?" the Ancient One asked in shock.
"Strange, he gave it away." She elaborated, remembering how Tony had explained how Thanos acquired the time stone, "He gave it to Thanos."
"Willingly?"
"Yes."
"Why?" She asked after a short pause, still shaken
"I have no idea." Aphrodite told her honestly.
"Maybe he made a mistake." Bruce suggested.
"Or I did." She looked down before returning to Bruce control of his Hulk body and opening the Eye of Agamotto, revealing the Time Stone, "Strange is meant to be the best of us."
"So he must have done it for a reason." Aphrodite surmised.
She took the time stone out of its casing and held it up reverently, "I fear you might be right." She said before passing the stone over, which Bruce carefully took.
"Thank you."
"I'm counting on you, both. We all are."
"His head was over there," Thor said gesturing to a random spot on the floor while he sat on a bench telling his mother of all his failures, "His body over there. What was the point? I was too late. I was just standing there. Some idiot with an axe."
"You're no idiot. You're here aren't you? Seeking counsel from the wisest person in Asgard."
"I guess, yeah."
"Idiot? No." she said sitting on the bench next to him and stroking his hair, "A failure? Absolutely.
Thor scoffed, "That's a little bit harsh."
"You do know what that makes you? Just like everyone else."
"I'm not supposed to be like everyone else, am I?"
"Everyone fails at who they are supposed to be, Thor. The measure of a person, of a hero, is how well they succeed at being who they are."
He nodded, "I really missed you, Mum." He told her before pressing his forehead against hers as she nodded as well. They rose to go back into the hallway where Thor stared out into the golden city, admiring his home for what it once was, "Ma, I have to tell you something." he said quickly as he knew time was winding down.
"No, son. You don't. You're here to repair your future, not mine."
"But this is about your future."
"It's none of my business."
Then Rocket burst into the room out of breath and holding the extracted aether in the tube in his hands, he paused to look up at the pair of them. "Hey. You must be Mom." He said and got a quick wave in return, "I got the thing. Come on, we got to move."
"I wish we had more time."
"No, this was a gift." She said happily taking his hands in hers, "Now quickly, tell me of your sister what becomes of her?"
"She's amazing mum, she'd married now, has the most beautiful little girl. You'd love her."
Frigga nodded, "And you too, are going to be the man you're meant to be."
"I love you, Mom."
"I love you." She said before pulling him into a tight hug, "Give your sister my love," she told him as they pulled away before adding quietly, "And eat a salad."
"Come on. We gotta go." Rocket reminded him.
"Goodbye." Frigga whispered with her hands clenched in front of her.
Rocket had already entered the coordinates on his GPS and was counting down before Thor stopped him, holding out his hand dramatically.
"Wh- what am I looking at here?" the raccoon asked of the queen who smiled before she responded.
"Oh, sometimes it takes a second."
And half a second later Mjölnir flew into his hand, Thor gasped and tears immediately sprung to his eyes, "I'm still worthy.
"Oh, boy." Rocket groaned rolling his eyes.
"Goodbye, Mom."
"Goodbye." Frigga whispered before they disappeared.
Aphrodite and Bruce carefully made their way to the rendezvous point, avoiding the leftover wreckage from the battle as well as emergency services and cleanup crews. As they got closer to the alley way they could hear the raised voices of yelling.
"No, no, no. There's no other options. There's no do-overs." Scott said loudly, and they turned to corner to see him slam closed the door to a car as he continued ranting, "We're not going anywhere else. We have one particle left. Each that's it, alright? We use that– Bye, bye. You're not going home."
"Yeah, well if we don't try, then no one else is going home, either." Steve stressed.
"What happened?" Aphrodite asked loudly bringing their attentions to her and the green giant by her side.
"Loki got away with the Tesseract." Tony explained with a sigh from the front seat of the car, before she could respond he added, "Don't ask."
"You have any idea where he might have gone?" Steve pleaded.
Aphrodite shook her head, "This isn't my Loki."
"Yeah, well now we're down a stone and we don't have enough Pym Particles to try again." Scott snapped.
"Let's just go back and get some more." Aphrodite said simply.
"What?" Scott frowned.
"We can all make one more trip, there has to be some point in time that we can go to get more particles," she explained with a shrugged, "We can do that, then make another try for the Tesseract."
"I can do you one better than that." Tony said, scrambling out of the car tossing the Shield armor behind him, "There's a way to retake the Tesseract and acquire new particles at the same time." he looked at Steve "Little stroll down memory lane. Military installation, Garden State."
"When were they both there?" Steve asked following his train of thought.
"They were there at a-" Tony paused "I've a vaguely exact idea."
"How vague?" Aphrodite cut in.
"What are you talking about? Where are we going?" Scott frowned while Bruce just hung back and waited.
"I know for a fact they were there-"Tony continued all of them pretty much ignoring Scott, "Who's they? What are we doing?" Scott's voice was gathering pitch as he got more and more frustrated.
"And I know how I know." Tony finished
"Guys, what's up? What is it?" Scott demanded.
"Well, it looks like we're improvising" Steve told Tony.
"Right." Scott nodded before asking, "What are we improvising?" Steve turned to him, handing him the Scepter.
"Scott, get this back to the compound. You too Banner."
"What's in New Jersey?" Scott tried again.
But was once again ignored as Steve turned to his wife, "No." she said immediately.
"Honey, go back with Scott and Bruce."
"No, it was my idea and I'm coming with you."
Steve stared at her for a beat before sharing a look with Tony who could only shrug knowing that nothing he said right now would help. Steve sighed but relented and they stood next to Tony as he told them to coordinates to where they needed to go next- 4th April 1970.
"Are you sure?" Scott asked again, before he stepped forward "Cap. Captain. Steve, sorry, America. Rogers. Look, if you do this, and this doesn't work, you're not coming back."
Steve swallowed as Tony glared at him and Aphrodite raised a brow. "Thanks for the pep talk, puissant." Tony mocked.
"Be careful." Bruce said offering his own bit of advice.
"Do you trust me?" Tony asked staring at the married couple
Steve shared a glance with his wife and when she nodded he did as well. "We do."
"Your call."
Steve took a deep breath and against every bit of better judgment he had in his body he nodded again "Here we go…"
Sinner2016: Seems like most people wanted this, but remember Aphrodite already had that closure with her mother when she died back in Infinity War.
BrittStar1199: You were right ;), hope you like what happened.
BlueBloodsSVUOrder: Thanks!
Love. Fiction. 2019: Thanks.
This chapter was really fun to right, I really wanted something different for Aphrodite since most other Steve/OC stories when it comes to this part always have their OC flirt with past Steve to distract him, not that there's anything wrong with that, but I didn't want that for Aphrodite. Since she had, had some interaction with Strange in the past I decided it would be fun and different for her to go for the time stone with Bruce, hope y'all enjoyed it. As well as everyone's reactions to their past selves and Thor on Asgard.
What do you guys think will happen now the Aphrodite's gone with the boys to 1970?
Also hope everyone is staying safe during this pandemic, washing your hands staying six feet apart and all that good stuff.
As always let me know what you think and what you'd like to see in the future. Leave me a review too, as you can see I'll be answering/responding to the ones can. So feel free to say or ask me anything.
