You don't have to be grateful for the worst things that happened to you.
But you might learn to be grateful for the paths you chose in the wake of that heartbreak.
The moments that followed the battle, after the skies had cleared, were a confusing mix of elation and devastation. Elation because now Thanos was truly gone and there was no conceivable way for him to return, the monster that had destroyed so many lives finally gone. However, the losses that were felt on their side didn't start nor did it end with Tony Stark.
It felt like an eternity but was really only a few minutes of the sound of Pepper's heart-breaking crying, before she sniffed hard as if to pull herself together then spared a glance over her shoulder and let a smile pull at her lips at the small army that still knelt in honour of her husband. That acknowledgment seemed to be all that anyone was waiting for as one by one everyone rose to their feet.
Peter finally felt as if he'd regained control of himself and sniffed one more time before standing to his feet, then helping up Aphrodite. Somewhere in the back of his mind he registered that he was being hugged and cuddled by his long time 'celebrity' crush and would freak-out appropriately once the sadness in him faded, but for now he could only thank her for holding him together. He turned to check on Mrs. Stark but a different hand on his shoulder stopped him, it was Scarlet Witch he realized as she gently steered him away, followed closely by the woman from earlier with the flying horse and a big man that he didn't recognize with bright almost white hair.
Aphrodite was glad that Wanda caught her eye and took Peter away. They needed to move Tony's body.
"Ross is already on the line," Rhodes said, quickly pulling himself together, "He and Fury are sending choppers over. With emergency services."
Aphrodite nodded but it was Steve that spoke, "Can we do a sweep of the grounds, see if any of the compound survived?"
Rhodey nodded and was the first to take off, desperate to distract his mind, Sam was about to follow him, but paused, and Aphrodite immediately read into his hesitation and stepped forward pulling him into a hug, he returned it squeezing her tight into his body. "It's good to see you again Sam." She said as they pulled away and he shared a shorter put no less fond embrace with Steve.
"You too A, both of you," he cleared his throat sparing a glance around at the ruins of the compound, "Nat?" he asked although he already knew the answer.
"She didn't make it." Steve told him with a sigh. Sam took a deep breath then slowly let it out before nodding, not happy with the confirmation but there still was work to be done he thought to himself as he took off to circle the compound once again.
"Steve," a hesitant voice called and they turned to see Bucky approaching, "I leave you alone for like five minutes, and you start another war."
Steve huffed out a laugh, "Try five years, jerk." He teased pulling his oldest friend into a tight hug.
"Punk." Bucky muttered and Aphrodite smiled at the interaction before they separated. Then Bucky turned his attention to Aphrodite his offered her a smile and his hands twitched upwards and that was enough for Aphrodite to nearly launched herself at him, hugging him just as tight as she did Sam. Perhaps even tighter since she knew that his super-solider body could take it.
After they broke apart, Rhodey's voice came through the comms telling them that a helicopter had landed in a clearing a few yards away. Aphrodite and Steve shared a look before she nodded stepping closer to the newly widowed Stark.
She knelt down next to Pepper and wrapped her arm around her shoulders, "Pep," she whispered, "We have to move him." Pepper nodded and slowly removed her hand from beneath her husbands before standing.
"I got him." Bruce said stepping forward wringing his fingers together, Aphrodite nodded and stood aside letting the green man scoop up Tony's body.
"I want to stay with him," Pepper said automatically but Aphrodite placed a hand on her shoulder, "Sweetie, the girls?"
Pepper nodded, "I know, I just- I don't wanna-" she stammered.
"I know." Aphrodite said gently rubbing her shoulder, "I know. Go ahead, we'll catch up." Pepper nodded and set off behind Bruce. A few moments passed before Dr. Strange returned, he was silent for a glancing at the spot where Tony once laid. "You certainly know how to make an entrance." she said bringing his attention to her.
"Not a moment to soon." He responded with a look towards Steve.
"Stephen, I don't think you've met my husband." She introduced.
"Captain Rogers." Strange said holding out a shaking hand which Steve accepted.
"Doctor," Steve said politely, "Thank you."
Strange nodded taking a step back, "I guess it's time for people to go home."
"I suppose it is." Aphrodite said nodding but before he turned away she spoke again, "It's good to see you again Stephen."
"Same to you."
He left them and a few moments later those familiar portals opened as people were free to return to wherever they called home.
Aphrodite turned to her husband and reached up pulling the cowl from the top of his head, making the dirt on the bottom half of his face more pronounced now that the top of his head was free, his sweaty hair matted down on his head.
"You're filthy." She pointed out tucking the cowl under her arm.
"So are you." Steve shot back moving to wrap his arm around her before he suddenly winced. She immediately took a step back and took his arm in her hands looking over the long gash on his forearm beneath the strap of his shield, his broken shield. "I'm fine," Steve said wrapping his other arm around her, "Already healing."
"Your shield." She said lamely.
"Better it then me." He shrugged, "Gonna be a little harder to hand it over now." He joked.
"You'll figure something out." She said pressing a kiss to his dirty cheek.
Steve sighed and it looked like it took his entire body to do so, "The girls."
"Yeah." She nodded, "One step at a time. C'mon."
She led him over to the clearing where a helicopter waited, Pepper was already inside along with Rhodey who was in the pilot's seat, outside waited Wanda, Sam, Bucky, Clint and Scott.
"I want to come with," Clint began when they approached, "But, Laura, the kids-"
"It's alright Clint," Aphrodite said cutting him off, "She'll understand."
He sighed in relief, "Thank you."
Aphrodite stepped forward pulling him into a tight hug, "We'll talk to you soon okay?"
He nodded and shook hands with Steve, before nodding to the others then leaving to catch one of the few remaining Kamar-Taj warriors to help send him home.
The rest of them silently boarded the jet, the three that had just been snapped back into existence weren't exactly sure whether or not they were welcomed but one look from Steve silenced those thoughts. Steve strapped into the co-pilot's seat and Aphrodite took a seat beside Pepper taking her hand.
The stillness of the Stark lakehouse, was broken by the helicopter landing in a clearing not too far off from the house itself. Not a moment later the backdoor opened and the occupants of the house spilled out, it was past the kids bedtime but this time they would let it slide. Cassie was holding Arina on her hip and Happy held Morgan.
The door slid open and the group of them started towards the aircraft Morgan and Arina wiggled down and took off in a run followed by Cassie, Happy hung back.
Steve dropped to his knees when she was close enough and Arina slammed into him full speed, wrapping her arms tight around his neck. Steve took in a deep breath squeezing his daughter tightly before standing carefully with her in his arms. Aphrodite pressed a kiss to the side of Arina's head and she reached out wrapping her arms around her neck. When she pulled back she rested back in Steve's arms and cast a glance around pausing at the somewhat unfamiliar figures watching curiously from helicopter, to Pepper who was crouched at eye level with Morgan, Happy and Rhodes standing close by.
"Where-" She paused her powers reading the emotions that surrounded her, "Where's Auntie Nat?"
"Wanda's all set up in Cassie's room, Bucky and Sam are gonna draw straws for the guest room downstairs." Steve explained to his wife after he found her in her closet fresh from the shower wrapped up in her robe.
"I'd hate to see the argument over who ends up on the couch." Aphrodite joked turning around and leaning back against a low shelf.
"I'm sure they'll be fine." He said with a low laugh. "You okay?" He asked carefully looking her over and seeing how tired she looked.
She considered for a moment, lying to him but quickly nixed that idea. Steve was one of the only people left that knew her better than she knew herself, "I can't stop thinking about it you know? It happened so fast."
Steve sighed dropping his gaze to the floor "I know," he muttered before glancing back up, "How's Pepper?"
"She's getting there, Morgan's young so it's a bit easier for her to bounce back. Hopefully." She added with a sigh.
"Arina seems to be getting on alright."
"For now. She's strong, gets that from her father."
"Her mother," Steve said, looking down slightly before back up and catching his wife's eye, "What?"
"Come here." Steve immediately did as asked and pushed himself from the door moving to stand before his wife.
Aphrodite stared up at him for a moment before placing her hands on his hips and leaning up to connect their lips, Steve responded instantly raising his hands to the side of her face holding gently as he ran his tongue along hers. A few moments later she slid her hands upwards dragging his shirt until he got the hint and pulled back slightly to reach behind himself and tug his shirt off completely. Then he opened the sides of her robe as he dove for the skin of her neck while pushing it down her arms and off of her body.
She moaned lowly in his ear as he laved attention on the spot where her neck met her shoulders. Her hands worked on undoing his pyjama pants and pushing them down his hips while his slid from cupping her backside around to her front where he gently held her stomach. He pulled away from her neck and locked eyes with her as he pushed his pants all the way off, he kicked them away before dropping to his knees in front of her. Pressing her hands to either side of her stomach, now that he was looking, actually looking he could see the slight bump and ran his hands all along her stomach before pressing a kiss to it right above her navel.
"I was so afraid I'd lose you," he admitted quietly tracing his thumbs on the outside of her stomach, "Both of you." he added pressing soft kisses to her stomach.
"All of us." Aphrodite gently corrected. Steve gave a pause raising his head and shifting his grip to her legs so he could help ease her down onto his lap until she was straddling him, she smiled pressing a hot kiss to his lips before answering his silent question, "Twins."
His eyes lit up even more as be pulled back, "Really?" Aphrodite nodded biting back her own smile as he dove for her lips again kissing her with new urgency at this admission. The heat between them continued to grow as their tongues slid against one another. Aphrodite buried her fingers into her husband's hair tugging at the longer strands, while his hands were everywhere, over her breasts teasing her nipples for a moment before sliding lower slipping between her lower lips grinning at the wetness he found gathered there. He teased her for only a moment before lifting her with one arm while the other lined himself up with her entrance.
She pulled away from their kiss to suck in a sharp breath as she slowly sunk down onto him, Steve let her begin to set the pace rolling her hips against him while he chained wet kisses along her chest and shoulders.
"I love you," he mumbled into her neck, "I love you so much."
After they'd finished, Aphrodite suggested that it might be best for Arina to stay with them that night, so Steve went to fetch her, and he found her exactly as he'd been imagining, meticulously arranging her stuffed animals on her bed, while Loki lounged in the window watching her, though the cat did perk up when he entered the room leaning against the door, getting up the stretching like he knew what was coming next, "Hey," Steve called getting his daughters attention as she looked back at him, "Why don't you come sleep in our bed tonight?"
"Why?" Arina asked tilting her head.
"Just- Come on, we want you close." He explained and the little girl shrugged before reaching out and attempting to gather up all her stuffed animals in her arms, he stopped her with a laugh as Loki weaved between his legs and made his way to the master bedroom, "Just one." Steve instructed and his daughter pouted again before reaching for her favourite stuffed bear, the pausing reaching instead for the red and black dotted bear that Natasha had given her a couple birthdays ago and accepting her father's hand as he led them from the room.
When they entered the master bedroom Loki was already on the bed with Aphrodite rubbing his body along her stomach as she lounged against the headboard. Arina climbed onto the bed from Steve's side and crawled to the middle.
"My girl," Aphrodite cooed affectionately as Arina snuggled up to her side, "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine." Arina said easily and Steve crawled into bed.
"You sure?" Steve asked carefully.
"Yeah," their daughter nodded, "I'm sad but, everyone gets sad sometimes. I know that Auntie Nat and Uncle Tony are together, so that makes me feel better."
"That's good, and you know that wherever they are, they'll always be watching over you," Steve told her, "And Morgan."
"I know," she said looking down as Loki climbed into her lap, "Are they really gone?" She asked shyly.
"Yeah," Aphrodite said running a hand over her daughter's head, "They are."
"Are they gonna come back?"
"I don't think so, love."
"But Mr. Scott was gone, and he came back. So did my Uncle Bucky and Uncle Sam, and Auntie Wanna, they all come back after they were gone."
"Yeah but, this time is different."
"Okay," Arina sighed, "I miss them."
Steve pulled her onto his lap and Aphrodite tucked herself under his arm, "We do too." He said before kissing both their heads. Arina curled up in his lap resting her head on his chest, and a few tears slipped out, Aphrodite sighed running a hand up her back.
"I think we have something that might make you feel better."
"What?" Arina asked softly drying her eyes by rubbing her face along Steve's shirt.
"You remember on your last birthday, what you asked for?"
"A little sister." She answered with a nod.
"Well we don't know yet if they're gonna be boys or girls, but mommy's gonna have two more babies."
"Really?" She asked perking up.
"Yeah." Steve said kissing her head again. "You're gonna have two little brothers or sisters."
"Wow." She said in awe, "Where are they?"
"In here," Aphrodite said nudging Loki away and taking her daughter's hand placing it on her lower stomach.
Her daughter's brow furrowed, "I can't feel anything, how'd two babies get in your belly mommy?"
"We'll tell you when you're older." Steve joked.
"They're in here, they're just very small. And in a couple months, my belly's gonna get really big and round and then a couple months after that they're gonna come out and our family's gonna get even bigger."
"Cool." Arina said with a big smile, "I love you mommy."
Aphrodite smiled nudging her forehead before kissing it, "I love you too sweetheart."
"I love you daddy." She said settling back down in his arms, apparently content to fall asleep that way
"I love you too." Steve said kissing them both again before he settled down in the bed draping his arm around his daughters back as she was already starting to drift off, his other arm hooked around his wife's waist and held her close to his side as she rested he head on his shoulder, after he felt Loki brush across his arm as he settled behind Aphrodite on the other half of her pillow did he follow his family into a much needed restful sleep.
When Aphrodite woke the next morning it was to sunlight streaming in from their bedroom window, she sighed rolling over to find her husband sprawled out on his back, he wasn't producing his normal soft snores so she knew he would be awake soon. However there was a toddler missing from in between them, along with a certain black cat. A quick glance around the room told her that they weren't anywhere nearby so she carefully stood from the bed and pulled on her robe before exiting their bedroom.
A peek into Arina's room told her that the pair weren't in there either, curiously though Cassie's room was also empty of a Sokovian, the sheets looked mused slightly but not slept in and there was a pillow missing. Moving downstairs did answer a few of the questions she had.
Wanda was snuggled up on one half of the L-shaped couch with a blanket wrapped around her, and sleeping quite peacefully by the looks of things. On the other half of the couch slept Sam wrapped up in the sheets she recognized from the guest bedroom's set, there was a pallet of blankets and a pillow set up on the floor just in front of the couch but was missing a certain centenarian.
Aphrodite did find Loki though, perched on the arm of the chair where Wanda slept, looking like he was ready to pounce on the girl's red hair, if Loki was present at least that meant Arina wasn't far. But first, "Hey," she quietly snapped scooping the cat up into her arms, "None of that." She scolded and the cat turned its unamused green eyes to her before snuggling up into her chest, and she held him close as she picked up the sound of hushed voices coming from the kitchen.
"This is a pop-tart, my uncle Thor bought it." She heard Arina explained as she stood in the doorway silently observing Arina interact with her uncle, Bucky sat on a barstool at the island in the centre of the kitchen and Arina knelt on the one next to him, an open box of pop-tarts on the counter before them.
"Does your mom let you eat this in the morning?" Bucky asked softly.
"Yeah," Arina answered absently, which wasn't untrue, "Can you help me?" she asked holding out the packet to Bucky who easily tore it open, "This one too?" she said offering him the second packet which he also opened with ease.
"What are they?" Bucky asked peering down into the foil packet, Arina immediately jumped up to explain wobbling the stool beneath her slightly, which Bucky was quick to reach out and steady before placing a supporting metal hand on the little girls back.
"You got the chocolate one," Arina explained not at all concerned about the metal appendage at her back nor the accident that almost befell her.
"Did you just pinch my food?" Bucky asked amused.
"These are-"
"You're sticking your entire finger in my food. Please tell me again what they are." He teased with a small laugh.
"They're a breakfast candy bar." The little girl concluded sitting back in her own seat.
"Breakfast candy bar." He repeated with a nod.
"Look," Arina said tilting her bag towards him before sliding out the pop-tart and taking a big bite out of the sugary bar.
"On a scale from 1 to 10 how good is this pop-tart?" Bucky asked not looking very excited at the prospect of having a bar of sugar for breakfast.
"It's good."
"It's good?"
"Mhm."
"Thanks for sticking to the scale kid." Bucky mumbled before taking a bite out of the pop-tart and Aphrodite could see the moment he regretted it, "It's so sweet." he exclaimed.
"Yeah." Arina said with a shrug.
"Want some coffee to wash away some of that sugar?" Aphrodite asked by way of announcing herself as she entered the kitchen fully.
"Please."
"Here, I'll trade you." She told him, handing over her cat and taking the pop-tart from his other hand, Bucky scrambled to hold the cat somewhat comfortably but Loki was not deterred in fact settling himself quite nicely along the metal arm rubbing himself against.
"Didn't take you or Steve for cat people?" Bucky admitted staring down at the cat who had now began purring as he rolled over his metal arm.
"He sort of came with the place." Aphrodite joked, "Looks like you all had quite the slumber party."
"Yeah," Bucky responded glancing over his shoulder, "Coming back like we did, I guess none of us really wanted to be alone."
"I understand," she said honestly, "What was it like? If you don't mind." She quickly added.
"Quiet," he answered after a short moment of contemplation, "It was weird, it didn't feel like," he glanced at Arina, "Death, it just felt like nothing."
"I can imagine what that must have been like for you." She said placing a cup of coffee in front of him as well as the sugar and creamer, only mildly surprised when he didn't accept either, preferring it black just like Steve did.
He nodded his thanks, "Then we all came back, right back in Wakanda. At first it didn't seem like anything had changed, but we all knew something was different. Then that Doctor came outta nowhere, told us what was going on. Then, it was right back into the fight."
"The fighting's over now." She told him in earnest.
"For now." He gently corrected, "Besides, looks like you and Stevie kept yourselves busy while we were gone."
Aphrodite sighed but smiled looking over her daughter as she finished up her pop-tart, "She is quite the handful, looks like this time around it'll be double trouble."
Bucky paused with his cup halfway to his mouth and she could practically see the gears turning in his mind, "You're pregnant?" He asked in shock.
"Congratulations." He beamed coming around the counter to pull her into a hug.
"Thank you."
"Hey," Steve's amused voice called as he entered into the kitchen, followed by Wanda and Sam who had apparently woken up, "Hands off my wife jerk."
"Congrats to you too punk." Bucky said clapping him on the shoulder.
"On what?" Sam asked curiously, the only one still left out of the loop. Arina was all too happy to fill him in.
"My mommy's got two babies in her belly." she announced proudly standing up on the counter so that she would be both seen and heard by the group.
Steve scolded her quickly before pulling her down and into his arms while Sam came around and gave her a big hug as well. Wanda, who already knew still hugged her druga mati, all the same.
BrittStar1199: I am planning to continue the story somewhat into WandaVision and Falcon and the Winter Soldier if the opportunity presents itself, since it looks like Wanda will be going through it, it only makes sense for Mama Bear Aphrodite to make an appearance. However it probably won't be in this book, it'll most likely be in a separate book. Yesssss honey, twins.
Ivana Bocanegra: Twins baby! Yes mama bear came out in full force that time. Of course I had to use that deleted scene it was beautiful.
GelMarie: Aw, thank you! Twins!
Love. Fiction. 2019: Yeah :''(
BlueBloodsSVUOrder: Watching Endgame was the first time I remember crying in a movie theatre.
Daninuyasha: Thank you! I look back at those earlier chapters of a Phoenix is Born and I cringe at how bad my writing was, but I'm happy you enjoyed it so much. I haven't watched Agent Carter, but I know the moment you're referencing so thank youuu. The more I think about Steve's ending in Endgame the more I'm annoyed by it, even though in theory I understand why they did it. The helicopter scene is what we should all take away from Civil War, not the blasphemy that took place moments after.
LadyGely92: Heyy, thanks for checking in, I know its been a while. But I am safe and healthy and sincerely apologize for the unnecessarily long wait.
Wonderwomanbatmanfan: Thank you soooooo much, I've read far too many stories that have that exact type of OC and tried my hardest to make Aphrodite fit into the established world and not the other way around, so this made my day. Yup, twins, not sure their gender yet but they will be a couple of misfits. Guess you'll have to wait and see ;).
Babyi.G: Thank you!
only Black lover: Thank you! OMG that would be so cute.
Hey folks, once again I apologize for the extremely long wait on this chapter, these are trying times that were living in and it had really been taking a toll on my mental health. I've lost so much motivation for the things I love doing but I'm slowly starting to get it back.
With that being said, there's probably only two more chapter left in this book before we close if for good. Like I responded to in an earlier comment, I'll most likely have Aphrodite pop in on WandaVision whenever the series is released if I see fit, and probably Falcon and Winter Soldier as well, but those will be in a different book and will more than likely be One-Shot style stories rather than a continuous storyline.
As always let me know what you think and what you'd like to see in the near 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.
Continue staying safe everyone.
