Steve had seen all of the others gather in the lab, waiting for him to come so that they could focus on the snap to try and bring everyone back. He had told Tony that he would just be a minute as he saw his wife and daughter off in the car. Rosalie had let Steve be the one to strap Grace into the front seat. He knelt down by the open door and moved a hand down her hair, stroking it softly. Grace was still upset, devastated at the fact that she could not see her Auntie Nat anymore. Steve knew that it would take time for her to understand, but fortunately they had time. He bent down and kissed the top of her head.

"I will be home soon," he said to her.

"Why can't you come home now?" she asked from him, pouting intensely as he shook his head.

"There is something that I have to do," Steve said to his daughter. "But I will be home in an hour or so and we can go to the park, okay? Me, you and mummy can go and feed the ducks. We can even see if the ice cream place is open."

Usually Grace would have shrieked in happiness at such a plan. But this time she was silent. She simply nodded her head and continued to look downcast. Steve didn't know how he could cheer her up. So instead he simply kissed the top of her head one more time and whispered to her.

"I love you, Gracie, I love you so much."

She peered up at him with those eyes that made his heart melt. "I love you too," she responded earnestly and he smiled sadly, standing up and shutting the door to the car.

Rosalie was stood to the other side, car keys dangling in her hand by her side. She watched him sadly, sunglasses on top of her head so that she could pull them down when driving directly into the afternoon light. Walking to his wife, Steve felt her place her free hand on the side of his neck. Leaning in, she kissed him tenderly. He cautiously dropped his hands to her hips, bending down so that he could reach her with ease, despite the baby bump between them.

"Come home," she whispered to him, forehead brushing his. Looking at her, he let his eyes roam over her features, drinking in every last detail. He had done the hard part. He kept telling himself that. They had found the stones ad that had been the difficult bit. This was the crunch moment, however. This was when they discovered if what they had done had worked. He longed for it to be so. He needed it to be the case.

"I will," he said, but he did not know if it was an empty promise. He hoped to God that it wasn't. "I love you, Rose."

"I love you too," she replied.

"Hey, Cap!" Scott's voice suddenly shouted from the entranceway. "We're preparing to lock the building down. We need you in here now."

"Coming," Steve said.

"Go," Rosalie urged after he made no move to drop her hips from his hands. She reached up to stroke his cheek, kissing him once more and then moving from his grip. "I will see you at home," she said, trying to act as if everything was normal.

"Yeah, see you at home," Steve agreed and began walking backwards towards the main entrance. He stood next to Scott and watched Rosalie start the ignition and drive around the complex, one small wave going back to her husband that both he and Scott reciprocated.

Steve arched a brow and peered down to Scott.

"Just being polite," he shrugged. "You ready for this?"

Steve sighed, hands on his hips. "Honestly, Scott?" he checked with him. "Not at all."

….

Rosalie had been driving up the long and winding road away from the facility when she saw it. Out of a reflex, she hit the brake and the car skidded to a stop. Her eyes widened as she looked out of the front window and into the sky. Her stomach sunk and she shook her head back and forth. This wasn't possible. This couldn't be possible. Grace jolted forwards with the movement and looked up to her mother, eyes wide and inquisitive.

"Mommy," she spoke softly, "are you okay? Is it the baby?"

"No, sweetie," Grace said. "I just…just need to call daddy."

Reaching into the small cup holder where she had deposited her phone, Rosalie grabbed it and started to scroll for Steve's number. Unfastening her seatbelt, she climbed from the vehicle as she pressed the phone to her ear. Looking to Grace, she spoke to her as the phone began ringing.

"Just stay here for a minute, darling," she encouraged her.

Standing in the middle of the road by the gate, Rosalie paced nervously, her eyes never leaving the advancing object that was floating above and closer towards the facility. She looked back to the building in the distance, but Steve wasn't picking up. His phone went straight to voicemail and Rosalie cursed under her breath, shaking her head.

She tried calling him again, but she knew that she had to make a choice. Whatever that thing was floating in the sky was dangerous. She would be a fool to think any differently. She had seen an alien invasion before. She had seen the destruction it had caused. As the baby in her stomach kicked at her, she looked back to Grace and made her choice. She had to get away from the facility. She had to protect their daughter and unborn child. She called Steve again as she climbed back into the car, putting the phone in the phone holder and placing it on speakerphone.

"Mommy, what is that?" Grace asked, but she sounded bemused more than scared.

"I don't know," Rosalie answered her honestly as Steve's phone kept ringing and she started the ignition. Pushing her foot on the gas, she felt the car lurch towards the main gate and she drove as quickly as she could. Steve's phone went to voicemail again and Rosalie looked to call again.

"Mommy…" Grace whispered and Rosalie looked down to her. She was peering out the back window now, turned around in her seat and staring intensely. Rosalie's eyes widened as she saw the sight that Grace saw.

"Keep your eyes on the front," Rosalie demanded from her daughter, speeding even faster. Grace ignored her and Rosalie huffed loudly. "Grace, front, now!" she snapped.

Rosalie looked in the rear view mirror as the lights from the bright missiles shone down on the facility. She felt a tear fall down her cheek at the sight as she kept on calling Steve's phone, but he didn't answer. It was only when the missiles hit did she feel the ground shake beneath the car. Grace yelled loudly as Rosalie tried to maintain her grip on the vehicle and keep it on the road. She twisted the wheel left and right, trying to straighten up but it was no use.

The last thing she heard was Grace's yell of 'mommy' as the car came to a sudden stop against a giant tree.

…..

Grace was scared. She was terrified. She had been jolted forwards in her chair when the car had made impact with the tree. She undid her seatbelt and reached across, grabbing her mother by the arm and shaking her. Rosalie leant back in her chair, head tilted back and blood trickling down her forehead. She had her eyes closed and her lips were parted.

"Mommy," Grace whispered softly. "Mommy…wake up…" she begged from her. She began crying as she kept on shaking Rosalie, but she didn't move. She was completely still. Grace was about to reach for her face, but she heard a sudden noise outside. Freezing in fear, she turned her head over her shoulder and shrieked loudly at the sight of some awful looking creature standing by the car window with a sinister smile on his face.

….

Steve had managed to stumble out of the rubble with Thor and Tony beside him. The entire compound had been destroyed and they had no idea where the gauntlet was. They were all covered in dirt and Steve could feel a slight rip in his Captain America outfit. But that didn't concern him. What concerned him was the sight he saw in front of him. Thanos was stood in the middle of the destroyed land, but behind him was his daughter. Grace was stood behind him and Steve felt himself sicken.

"What is he doing?" Tony wondered.

"He's just sat there," Thor said.

"He…no…" Steve aid, unable to form words. If he had Grace then where was Rosalie? Where was his wife? Steve looked to his little girl and Tony nodded, jaw stubbornly sticking out as he felt anger inside of him.

"He won't touch her," Tony said, noting the fear on the little girl's face. Her cheeks were covered in muck and her hair was completely mussed up.

"We will make sure of that," Thor said, reaching to the sky and thunder striking down, his axe and hammer suddenly in his fingertips. "Let's kill him properly this time."

They advanced down towards Thanos, Steve keep his eye on Grace as she stood silently. He gave her a small nod, hoping to silently convey that everything was going to be fine. He would make sure of it. Thanos remained where he was, looking between the three of them approaching.

"You could not live with your own failure," he spoke in a low voice. "And where did that bring you? Back to me. And I realised that as long as there are those who remember what was…there will always be those who won't accept what can be, no matter having it all."

He turned back to look at Grace and Steve felt his heart pound against his chest as that monster reached for his daughter and took hold of her by the shoulder, pushing her forwards but keeping her in his grip. To Grace's effort, she tried to wriggle away, a look of anger now on her face.

"You had a family…and you risked it all," Thanos said to Steve. "And because of your actions, I will tear this planet apart. I will create a new one that has life that appreciates what I give it."

Thanos let Grace go then and she wasted no time in running towards her father. Steve kept hold of his shield and grabbed his daughter, picking her up into his arms and holding her as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Enjoy your final moments with her. She will be here to witness what you have done. She will know that her fate was caused by all of you, as will the rest of the earth."

Thanos reached for his weapon and Steve shook his head. Looking to Tony, he silently exchanged glances with the man before he turned around and Thor used his powers, lightning shooting down from the sky as he roared loudly. Steve ran back towards the abandoned facility with Grace in his grip. He placed her down in a hidden alcove, bending down to check on her. His hands held her cheeks softly.

"I need you to stay here," he urged from his daughter, knowing that he was needed in the fight. "Where is mommy?"

"In the car," Grace said, sniffing loudly. "It crashed and I couldn't wake her up…he took me…she is still there…daddy…"

"Everything will be okay,' Steve said, wanting to do nothing more than go and find Rosalie. But he had bigger problems right now. If he didn't fight his way out of this then he wouldn't be able to get to Rosalie. He shook his head and kissed Grace on the top of her head.

"I will be back," he swore to her. "But just stay here, Grace…please…"

She nodded and Steve moved away from her, shaking his head in disbelief as he held his shield tightly and prepared for the fight once more.

….

Grace remained where she was, hidden in the crevice of three rocks. She could see her father in the distance. She saw him fighting the purple creature with Thor and Tony and she let her tears fall freely down her cheeks. She wanted to get away from there. She wanted her dad to go and get her mother and then everything would be okay.

Steve kept looking back whenever he could to make sure that Grace was still where he had told her to stay, but he soon found himself being pummelled to the ground by Thanos, his shield breaking as the titan continued to hit against it. On the floor, Steve thought that was it. He turned his head and looked back to his daughter as she clutched the rock next to her and looked at him. But Thor was just as quick. A blast of lightning pushed Thanos away and he moved to his feet then, holding the remnants of his shield and shaking his head as Thanos easily dealt with Thor and pushed him away.

It was then when Thanos raised his hand and before they knew what had happened, his entire army had appeared behind him. Steve could barely comprehend what he was witnessing. How could they defeat all of those that were advancing towards him? His eye met Thor's and Tony and the three of them all had the same thought. They couldn't do this.

"Go and get her and run," Tony said to Steve through his earpiece.

"No," Steve said. "There is nowhere to run to…we wouldn't get far."

"You have to try," Tony responded.

"No," Steve said again.

But before he could continue talking, his earpiece buzzed once more and he pressed his hand to it. He wasn't sure that he had heard the words, but then he spoke them again. That familiar voice spoke them again.

"On your left."

Turning around, Steve's eyes widened and he struggled to comprehend what he was witnessing. There was a gleaming portal appearing, the sight of Bucky and T'Challa coming into his eyesight. Steve would have sobbed with relief if he could have. It had worked. What they had done had worked. Sam suddenly flew above them, Shuri coming into vision alongside Okoye. Steve could see the familiar landscape of Wakanda behind him and he had no idea how it was possible, but he didn't care. More portals opened up and more individuals appeared. Some he knew, but others he didn't recognise at all. He knew what he had to do and he had to move quickly.

Steve looked to Grace and he motioned for her to come to him. She ran quickly, clearly in awe at what she was witnessing. Picking her up, Steve moved backwards towards where Bucky was stood. His best friend looked perplexed for a moment at the little girl in Steve's arms, but then he remembered. Rosalie had been pregnant. Clearly she hadn't been taken in the snap. And that little girl was the exact image of Steve.

"Captain," T'Challa spoke in a clear voice.

"I…you're here," Steve said in a low voice, looking between them all.

"And we are ready to fight," Shuri said.

"Thank you," Steve said with a nod. "But I need…I need a favour…"

"Yes," T'Challa said, knowing exactly what it was that Steve was going to ask. "I assume this is who I think it is?"

"Our daughter," Steve said. "Please, I need her away from here."

It was at that moment when Wanda suddenly landed besides them as other people continued appearing from the portals. T'Challa called for a guard to come and help. Steve kissed Grace once more on the top of her head as she cried, begging for him to come with her.

"You will be safe. I need you to just be brave for a little while and then I will come," Steve promised her in a whisper as the guard took her from his grip. Grace nodded and continued to stare back at Steve as she disappeared back through the portal.

"She's the spit of you," Bucky commented and Steve nodded, trying not to tear up at the sight of all of his friends.

"Where is Rosalie?" Wanda was the one to ask.

"I don't know," Steve responded. "Grace said that she wouldn't wake up…she is in the car somewhere on the other side of this wasteland."

The three of them looked at the wasteland together as Wanda nodded.

"And we have to get through it," she spoke.

"So an army stands between you and your wife and the end of the world? I'd say we've faced worse odds," Bucky said and Steve managed to look at him, noting a small smirk on his face.

"You're with me?" he checked with his two friends as T'Challa rallied his army.

"Always," Wanda said and the red orbs flew from her hands.

Bucky nodded and adjusted his gun in his hand: "Till the end of the line."

….

A/N: Do let me know what you think! A bit of a cliffhanger before things are wrapped up!