Family Matters CHAPTER 25

Picking up her pace she ran to see that the Avengers had assembled to fight Thanos who was a giant purple alien he looked to be made of pure muscle. She saw Clint next to Natasha both on the ground slowly getting to their feet. Steve was busy going one on one with Thanos, Stark was trying to get out of his armour which she saw was dented enough that it was crushed. Grace didn't stop running even when Steve was thrown back into Bucky, even when Clint shouted at her stop, not to do this but she ignored him. She yanked his hand back with her powers then using her fist she punched him in the face with the added protection of a wall of air around her fist. His head jerked up giving her enough time to grab at the golden glove which currently had all the infinity stones she looked over to see the Black Panther on the ground his suit ripped apart. She sort of climbed up him so that she could grab at the glove only for him to toss her aside like a rag doll.

"Grace!" Clint shouted to his horror she got back to her feet she looked unharmed at the moment he dreaded how long that would remain the case especially against someone as powerful as Thanos. However instead of going for Thanos again she turned and ran in the other direction. Clint for a brief second was happy, then realization dawned and he knew Grace would not intentionally run away, that was not in her nature. He realized what had happened at the same time as Thanos, he was fuming mad as he shouted at her the golden fist in the air now held no stones. He knocked Bucky back ho had taken this moment to try to stop him to buy her enough time to get away; that failed as he gave chase after Grace.

Grace knew this plan was crazy, hell it wasn't even a plan it just sort of happened. Now she had to think of what to do next. So far all she came up with was run, to get as far away from Thanos as possible. The stones each one held in place by air so that she wasn't technically touching them she made it so they stayed on her bracelet a gift from her mother bet she never imagined it would be used for this. She shook away those thoughts right now was not the time to be thinking about her family or if they were safe right now she had to focus on her own survival. As she ran she noticed a lady that looked part elf was running towards her she had the look of evil Grace knew she was not a friendly. So she changed direction she could feel Thanos was closing in behind her it was taking all her power to hold the stones in place so she couldn't use her gift to stop them that was when it hit her. She stopped running and turned to face him.

Clint was running after Grace and Thanos with Natasha and Steve he had to admit Grace was fast she covered a lot of distance that she was now away from the main fight only for her to stop and turn around to face Thanos who was way too close to her for Clint's liking. Thanos closed the distance as did one of his lieutenants who came up behind Grace with her weapon raised things for Clint at that moment slowed down he grabbed an arrow but deep down he knew he wouldn't make it. Time seemed to stop as he could only watch in horror as Grace was stabbed through the back at the same time as what could only be caused by an explosion sent everyone flying back.

Clint ignoring his own pain climbed to his feet, stumbling his way over to Grace who was lying on the ground. He noted that Thanos was on the ground and he couldn't see the lieutenant anywhere but his attention was solely on Grace. She was still conscious as he pulled her up, he could see blood, her top was coated in blood and dirt but the blood was more distinctive. She traced his name on his hand as she looked him in the eyes.

"What did you do Grace?" he asked trying to stop the bleeding he noticed that her left arm was burned she only gave him a weak smile in return.

"I was only trying to help." A deep voice off to his left made him look up to see Thanos sitting there he looked defeated. "It was my destiny." He mumbled just then he started to turn to ash and Clint looked down at his sister understanding exactly what she had done. She once again gave him a sad smile writing the word safe on his arm she took a shaky breath and he felt her tremble in his arms.

"I need a medic!" Clint screamed looking around wildly he went to pick her up at this Grace grabbed his hand making him look down at her he could see in her eyes that she has accepted this. "No! you hang on you hear me, help is coming." He stated Natasha was next to him now looking down at Grace she could see that there was a lot of blood and understood what that meant she met Grace's eyes and had to blink back tears. Grace was like her little sister.

"Oh Grace." Natasha mumbled under her breath she shared a look between Natasha and Clint it being clear what she wanted before she turned to look at Steve who had knelt down on her other side his eyes wide as he looked her over she gave him a smile as her breathing became more labored she kept looking at him even as she took her last breath.

"Grace?" Clint shouted and began to shake her trying to wake her up, but it was too late she was gone. Natasha placed her hand on his shoulder as he openly cried clinging to his little sister he held her to his chest. Steve sat back not believing it, they had won but at a terrible price. The other Avengers made their way over to them bumps and bruised Pietro had a nasty scratch but nothing life threatening. Bucky moved to Steve to offer him support he knew how Steve felt about her they had spent some time talking about Grace and his feelings towards her. He didn't care that she was gifted or that she hid the fact from him, he loved her for who she was…he loved her, he never told her those words and now he would never get the chance. He got up dazed and confused pushing Bucky away as he came to terms with his feelings in this moment he could still hear Clint's cries.

Things happened in a blur after that, Clint remained with Grace he didn't want to leave her alone. He knew that the clean up had started but right now he could only focus on one thing that his baby sister was gone. They had moved her body back into the palace, the Wakandans offered to clean the blood off her, he was numb as he watched them wipe away the blood and dirt. He now sat on a chair just staring at her, part of him hoped that this was just some dream and that she would wake up or he would wake up and find them at the farm. Natasha was keeping an eye on him, she had informed Nick to send Maria she couldn't bring herself to say it over the phone. She also told him to get May but she was still on mission with Coulson and they haven't heard from them. He was going to get information on their case. Steve was in the gym punching away at the bags, Bucky was keeping an eye on him. The mood amongst the Avengers was sullen as the victory parties began outside, the Asgardians being particular loud, Thor knowing that they were mourning but he tried to comfort them saying she died a good death, how she will be in the halls of Valhalla. Stark was busy working with T'Challa and Suri making sure that the aliens were really gone. Captain Marvel had already left earth knowing that with Thanos's defeat there would be chaos in the outer galaxies.

Maria was the first to arrive she had already figured that somebody had died, for some reason she had thought it'd be Clint but when she saw him sitting next to Grace she broke down. First she didn't believe it, then she was angry hitting Clint for not protecting her although she knew it was not his fault then the grief struck and she was silent. That was scarier than her shouting…Clint pulled her in for a hug.

"Where's mum?" Clint asked after a long time in silence with just them sitting there.

"She was on a mission, after Quin." Maria replied she was holding Grace's hand. "She's still warm." She mumbled

"Did they get him?" Clint asked

"I don't know, the last I heard they realized they were dealing with gravitonium, so were taking it cautiously. Nick was…he's finding out more." Maria replied

"I'm sure they're fine, its mum." Clint stated but it was like he was reassuring himself more than Maria. "She's going to kill me." He mumbled this made Maria look at him.

"It wasn't your fault." Maria stated

"You were blaming me earlier, you were right." Clint retorted

"No I wasn't…I didn't mean it…if anyone is to blame…I could have stopped her, I had the opportunity to stop her and I didn't. I should have stopped her." Maria was blaming herself just as much as he was.

"You wouldn't have been able to stop her anymore than I could. Once Grace makes up her mind, she stuck to it. Its just who she is…was." Clint didn't think he could shed anymore tears but just thinking that had tears once again in his eyes. "I'm sorry." He did not know why he was apologizing but that was all he had been doing since Maria got there.

"Stop saying sorry." Maria was annoyed but she did not say anything else, she didn't want to fight with Clint, not now. They once again drifted into silence, Natasha staying in the back of the room a silent witness to the May siblings grief.

AN: Hey there so what do you think? is May and Skye okay? How will they react when they find out? the next chapter is going to be from May's point of view. tell me your thoughts by leaving a review until next time thanks for reading.