A/N

I want to apologize for another delay. My husband and I just bought our first house(yey!) and the been Intense! Not to mention all the packing in preparation for our move as well as caring for my son. I'm sorry and hopefully I'll keep these update quicker.

As per usual, thank you for the follows, favorites, and reviews! You all are truly awesome!

Review Questions Answered

cardiosurgeons: As I have said before, I really do try to keep the story as true to the original as my own work will let me. I hope, without giving away what I have planned, you enjoy what I keep the same, and what I don't(I know… super vague reply, but I promise to update so you can discover my plans soon).

Cratyk rose to his feet with a rage filled cry. Ice and fire burst out from every side of him like a surge of energy. He flew from the space Furia had escaped before attempting to vibe for her.

"Furia" He yelled, unable to get even the slightest sense of where she was. "You're a fool!" He screamed. "A fool who chose the wrong side!"

He flew above the tree line with immense speed. Furia was now a lost cause. He needed to meet with his father. He needed to explain that his plan to obtain another powerful entity for his father's army had failed.

Thanos would have spared her if she'd have belonged to him, but Cratyk wouldn't waste another moment on the girl from his past. When the time came, her life would be up to chance now. Her life would soon be a gamble…..

Five Months Later

Salisbury

Natasha leaped onto the counter behind her with Steve leaning against it just to her right. A smirk began to form on her lips as she eyed him flirtatiously. "I know that look Rogers."

Steve turned to face her as if she'd just pulled him from a very deep thought. "Huh?" He said, having not really heard her.

She chuckled. "That look on your face. I'm all too familiar with it."

He raised a brow. "What look?"

"The look you get when you haven't seen Bucky or Sam in a while. Like a kid and his puppy."

Steve smiled and playfully nudged her shoulder with his own. "I was actually thinking about last night."

Natasha's brows raised in surprise. "You're gonna have to explain to me what part of last night caused such a somber expression."

Steve was quick to reassure her. "No- that's not-Everything between us was- This was about me getting after Vis and Wanda for going out in public- not- about us-"

She waved him off. "Please, I knew you didn't mean me." She answered confidently. "It's almost too easy with you, Rogers. So gullible."

Steve moved to stand directly in front of her. His had slowly moved from her knee to the middle of her thigh before he gripped it the way he'd done the night before. His other hand pointed a stern finger at her. Natasha swallowed, as the memory of their evening began to cloud her thoughts.

"I am not gullible." He said firmly. His eyes practically danced with humor as he tried to hold his serious demeanor. "Keep it up, Romanoff and I'll have to put you in line."

Natasha winked. "I certainly hope so."

Steve smile, moving to kiss her. His hands rested on her back as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Lifting her from the table, Natasha moaned into his mouth, raising his need for her before Steve pressed her back against the nearest wall of their apartment.

"Cap." Sam said over radio. "Can you read me?" he asked, bringing Steve and Natasha to a halt. They both faced their coms system, which lay on the coffee table and had been turned up for moments just like this.

Steve faced Natashed before she smirked and shrugged her shoulders. "I'll need a replay of this exact scenario later "

With a quick kiss, Steve smiled. "You got it." He promised, before the two walked toward their coms.

It had been a while since they'd heard from Sam, who had been secretly assisting Agent Everett Ross in discovering a man known as Primus(capable of shapeshifting and at one point had made himself look like Sam. This had caused Everett to do whatever he could to reach out to Falcon, believing he was not capable of killing three innocent people over a bank robbery).

"Steve, is this com still clear?" Sam said when Steve had yet to reply.

"We here ya Sam." Steve informed his longtime friend. "It's good to hear from you. I was starting to worry Agent Ross had convinced you to join his team."

Sam laughed. "With my record?" He started out. "Each of our interactions were in secret."

"Assisting a war criminal will do that to you." Steve joked, referring to himself.

"Either way we caught the guy." Sam began to say. "How's Nat?" He asked.

"Sleeping with Captain America, and yourself?" She stated boldly.

Steve's eyes went wide as he tilted his head a little. Although he was used to Natasha being uncompromisingly forthright, sometimes she could even surprise him.

"Took you guys long enough." Sam said. "And Bucky and Furia?" He asked.

"Back in Wakanda." Steve started out. "Turns out she has a lunatic for a cousin who's been looking for her. He found her during a mission and tried to brainwash her through telepathy before she escaped with Wanda's help. We've been on the lookout for him but figured she'd be safest there."

"Damn, sounds like I've missed a lot."

"Sure have and we've been busy trying to take down a chain of Chitauri weapon supplies. Managed to really piss off mob leader Graham Grayson. Pretty sure he has a hit on us both." Natasha informed him.

"Well, what else is new." Sam added humoressly.

"We could use your help." Steve said smiling.

"You two always do." Sam chimed. "Now. Where can I find you both?"

Some time later

New York

Tony walked several steps behind Pepper before reaching for her hand. They'd been enjoying a beautiful morning at Central Park as he thought to himself how happy he was to have her again.

"Slow down, slow down. I'm totally not kidding." He said, trying to explain himself, as it was clear she wasn't understanding.

Pepper laughed, shaking her head. Resting her hand on his chest, she spoke before he could get another nonsensical word off. "You're totally rambling."

"No, I'm not" Tony answered.

Pepper smirked. "Lost me."

Sighing Tony spoke. "Look, you know how you're having a dream, and in the dream you gotta pee?"

Pepper gave a quick nod. "Yeah."

"Okay, and then you're like, "Oh my god, there's no bathroom, what am I gonna do?" "Oh! Someone's watching." "I'm gonna go in my pants." Tony explained.

Pepper gestured she was catching on. "Right. And then you wake up, and in real life you actually have to pee."

"Yes." He said, glad she was catching on.

"Yeah. Everybody has that." Pepper added.

"Right! That's the point I'm trying to make. Apropos of that, last night, I dreamt, we had a kid. So real. We named him after your eccentric uncle. Uh, what was his name?" Tony paused, trying to remember.

Pepper nodded, realizing where he was going with this. "Right."

"Morgan! Morgan." Tony said, remembering.

They were only a few inches apart now as he smiled at her expectantly.

"So you woke up, and thought that we were-" Pepper started out.

"Expecting." He finished for her.

Pepper smirked. "Yeah."

"Yes?" He asked excitedly.

"No." She informed him.

Tony made a scoffing sound as if slightly disappointed. "I had a dream about it. It was so real."

Untying the sleeves of Tony's jacket, that covered his chest, Pepper spoke. "If you wanted to have a kid, you wouldn't have done that."

Tomy raised a finger as if he had an excellent point to make(Pepper was a smart woman and it always took a lot of convincing on Tony's part to get her to see his side… usually unsuccessfully). "I'm glad you brought this up, 'cause it's nothing. It's just a housing unit for nano particles."

Pepper narrowed her eyes, but wore the same smirk. "It's not helping your case, Okay?"

"No, no, it's an attachment, it's not a-" He started out before she interrupted him.

"You don't need that." Pepper said firmly.

"I know. I had the surgery. I'm just trying to protect us. The future usses, and that's it. Just in case there's a monster in the closet, instead of, you know-"

"Shirts?" She interrupted again.

"You know me so well. You finish all my sentences." He added, trying to speak to Pepper's softer side.

"You should have shirts on your closet." Pepper chimed.

"Yeah. You know what there should be? No more surprises. We're gonna have a nice dinner tonight. Show off this Harry Win-stone. Right?" Tony paused to kiss her cheek as Pepper laughed. "And we should have no more surprises. Ever. I should promise you."

With a wide smile and a complete disregard for the others in the park Pepper wrapped her arms around Tony's waste ready to kiss him deeply. "Yes." She replied.

"I will" Tony said, as they began to kiss.

Without warning, a soft hiss filled the air; like a sparkler being lit or the fuse of dynamite trickling its way down before it explodes.

With Pepper still in Tony's arms, neither of them cared to look at the portal Dr. Strange had created before stepping beyond it.

"Tony Stark, I'm Doctor Stephen Strange. I need you to come with me." Dr Strange started out, not holding back his urgency. "Oh, uh, congratulations on the wedding, by the way." He added, trying to sound polite.

Tony and Pepper stares at him in surprise before Tony finally spoke. "I'm sorry, you giving out tickets or something?"

Strange sighed, but managed to keep his cool. "We need your help. Look, it's not overselling to say that the fate of the universe is at stake."

Tony's brows furrowed together while Pepper gripped his hand. She could feel her nerves begin to rise like they always did when Tony was called to protect the world(and apparently the universe this time).

"And who's "we"?" Tony asked.

With a soft gasp, Pepper's eyes went wide as she saw their old friend Bruce Banner emerge from behind Strange.

"Hey Tony." Bruce said, somberly. He knew how long it had been, and he knew there was likely pain from several of his old friends that Bruce had left behind. But none of them had the luxury to explore it. There were far more important things.

Bruce made his way toward Tony. The weight of his last few hours weighing heavily on his shoulders. In his heart, he knew Thor was likely dead and the idea killed him.

"You okay?" Tony asked, seeing Bruce's distress.

Giving Tony a desperate hug, Bruce could feel his emotions taking over him as he tried to hold back tears. Something inside him feared that no matter their efforts they wouldn't be able to stop Thanos. Still, Bruce knew they'd have to try.

Sanctum Sanctorum

New York

As soon as Tony, Bruce, Dr. Strange, and Wong had arrived at the Sanctum, the two sorcerers were quick to begin their explanation of the stones.

Creating an image of the galaxy above their heads, Wong spoke. "From the dawn of the universe, there was nothing. Then, boom! The Big Bang sent six elemental crystals, hurtling across the virgin universe. These Infinity Stones each control an essential aspect of existence."

Each stone began to light up at the mention of their names by Strange. "Space. Reality. Power. Soul. Mind. And Time." Having mentioned the time stone, which was not among the otherw revealed above their heads, Stephen performed the spell to open the Eye of Agamotto. Inside the emerald stone began to light up.

.

Tony, holding back his fear, looked at the others attentively. "Tell me his name again."

"Thanos. He's a plague, Tony. He invades planets. He takes what he wants. He wipes out half the population. He sent Loki. The attack on New York. That's him." Bruce explained desperately.

Tony began to pace the room. His mind began to race over the last few years. Everything he'd done and created had been for this. Every piece of tech and been for this. To stop his vision from coming true. "This is it." He said aloud to himself. Turning to face the others, Tony spoke. "What's our timeline?"

"No telling. He has the Power and Space Stones, that already makes him the strongest creature in the whole universe. If he gets his hands, on all six Stones, Tony." Bruce paused, searching for the right words. This was possible destruction that none of them had ever faced before. Nothing. Not Ultron. Not the Chitauri or anything else they faced compared to this.

"He can destroy life on a scale hitherto undreamt of."

Tony leaned against a nearby cauldron. He raised his leg, stretching it as of he was about to go for a run. Despite the fear he felt, he concealed it with humor as he often did. "Did you seriously just say "hitherto undreamt of"?" He asked Strange.

Strange narrowed his eyes on Tony. "Are you seriously leaning on the Cauldron of the Cosmos?"

Tony smirked. "Is that what this is?" He asked, sarcastically. He po paced his hand on the cauldron smacking it for good measure before s red cloak, floated toward him. The material slapped Tony's arm before his eyes grew large.

"I'm going to allow that." Tony announced, holding back his anger. "If Thanos needs all six, why don't we just stick this one down the garbage disposal?"

"No can do." Dr. Strange informed him, as if that could never be an option.

"We swore an oath to protect the Time Stone. With our lives." Wong said.

Tony gave them both an incredulous look. "And I swore off dairy, but then, Ben & Jerry's named a flavor after me, so."

"Stark raving hazelnuts." Strange said, like he didn't care about Tony's point.

"It's not bad." Tony admitted.

"A bit chalky." Strange added.

""A Hunka-Hulka Burning Fudge" is our favorite, Wong mentioned.

"That's a thing?" Bruce asked them, surprised.

"Whatever. Point is, things change." Tony said, trying to get them back on topic.

"Our oath to protect the Time Stone cannot change. This Stone may be the best chance we have against Thanos." Strange explained.

"And still conversely, it may also be his best chance against us." Tony chimed. He couldn't believe this guy wasn't getting his point.

"Well, if we don't do our jobs." Strange explained, frustrated but still calm.

"What is your job exactly, besides making balloon animals?" Tony asked condescendingly.

"Protecting your reality, douchebag." Strange said, feeling his own sarcasm jumping to beat Tony's.

"Okay, guys, could we table this discussion right now? The fact is that we have this Stone. We know where it is. Vision is out there somewhere with the Mind Stone, and we have to find him now." Bruce said, determined.

Tony scratched his head, realizing just how much Bruce didn't know about.

"Yeah, that's the- thing." Tony began awkwardly.

"What do you mean?" Bruce asked.

"Two weeks ago, Vision turned off his transponder. He's offline." Tony admitted.

Bruce's eyes went large. What? Tony, you lost another super bot?"

"I didn't lose him. He's more than that. He's evolving." Tony said, still avoiding the full explanation of things.

"Who could find Vision, then?" Strange asked.

Tony sighed, his eyes looking away from each of them. "Shit." He said quietly to himself before speaking to them. "Probably Steve Rogers."

With an exasperated sigh, Strange rolled his eyes. "Oh great." He said, aware of Steve being on the run and knowing it wouldn't be easy to find someone so good at remaining hidden.

"Maybe. But-" Tony could feel himself wavering. Trying to find Steve wouldn't be hard. Tony still carried the phone Stebe had given him around. Still, it wasn't that simple.

"Call him." Bruce said, frustrated. He didn't understand what Tony was waiting for.

"It's not that easy. God, we haven't caught up in a spell, have we?" Tony asked, though he knew the answer.

"No." Bruce admitted.

"The Avengers broke up. We're toast." Tony admitted.

Bruce's mouth dropped . Each of them could see both his surprise and disappointment. "Broke up? Like a band? Like The Beatles?"

"Cap and I fell out hard. We're not on speaking terms." Tony said, thinking back on the Accords and what happened to Rhodey.

Bruce shook his head. He never would have considered such a thing but knew whatever had happened it didn't matter now. "Tony, listen to me. Thor's gone. Thanos is coming. It doesn't matter who you're talking to or not."

Tony hesitated, before pulling out the flip phone he'd carried everyday since Steve had mailed it to him. With a deep breath, his finger rested on the call button before an unusual rumbling began to form under his feet.

"Say, Doc, you wouldn't happen to be moving your hair, would you?" Tony asked.

Strange looked to the strand of his hair now fluttering before answering. "Not at the moment, no."

The ground beneath each of them continued to rumble as a wary feeling moved between them. Tony looked to hold Bruce and created before they all looked to the door.

The sound of muffled screams began to fill the air as Tony headed for the door. Pulling it open, chaos ensued before him. People ran with fear in their eyes as they pushed and shoved one another out of the way. Cars became entangled, all attempting to head in one direction as a wind blew dust across the scene like a violent storm.

Tony stepped outside as a woman fell nearly at his feet. "You okay?" He asked, helping her up. Saying nothing she ran, screaming in terror.

Suddenly a vehicle crashed into a nearby pole just as Bruce, Wong, and Strange had made it outside.

"Help him!" Tony yelled. "Wong, Doc."

"Go! Got it" Bruce said, before Tony headed down the street.

Putting on his sunglasses, Tony spoke. "FRIDAY, what am I looking at?"

"Not sure, I'm working on it." She answered.

As he continued down the street, Dr. Strange followed him. Turning to look at Strange, Tony spoke. "Hey, you might wanna put that time stone in your back pocket, Doc."

As a band of spells formed around both hands, Strange replied. "Might wanna use it."

In the distance the mechanical hum they both heard grew louder with each step forward. Turning the corner of the intersection their eyes fell on the massive circular ship floating above the street.

"FRIDAY evac anyone south of 43rd Street, notify first responders." Tony requested.

"Will do." She answered.

Trying to stop the storm, Dr. Strange used the winds of Watoomb spell, casting it over the street. As things began to calm, Strange winked at Tony who looked begrudgingly amused.

Grabbing their attention a blue transmit emitted from the ship. Their names still unbeknownst to both Tony and Dr. Strange, Ebony Maw and Cull Obsidian stood before them.

"Hear me, and rejoice. You are about to die at the hands of the Children of Thanos. Be thankful, that your meaningless lives are now contributing to-" Ebony started out before Tony interrupted.

"I'm sorry, Earth is closed today. You better pack it up and get outta here." Tony readied himself for the battle to come. He could sense that both of these aliens would be tough opponents and was glad his newest tech packed quite a punch.

Ebony looked to Strange. His eyes fell to his necklace before he spoke. "Stonekeeper." Ebony paused as he gestured to Tony. "Does this chattering animal speak for you?"

"Certainly not. I speak for myself." Magic shields formed on his hands as Strange stepped forward. "But you're trespassing in this city and on this planet." He finished with Wong emulating him.

"It means get lost, Squidward!" Tony said, amusing himself.

"He exhausts me." Ebony said, turning to Obsidian who began to step forward. "Bring me the stone."

The large alien began to move toward them; the menacing hammer in his hand scraped across the street as he grunted.

"Banner, you want a piece?" Tony asked.

"No, not really, but when do I ever get what I want?" Bruce grumbled.

"That's right." Tony said, feeling confident Hulk would take this dude down easily.

With a deep breath Bruce attempted to bring forth the Hulk, with only his neck turning green.

Not noticing Bruce's struggle, Tony spoke. "Been a while. Good to have you, buddy."

"I just- I need to concentrate here for one second. Come on, come on, man." Bruce clenched his jaw in frustration as the large alien now was getting dangerously close.

Tony raised a skeptical brow. "Where's your guy?"

"I don't know. We've sort been havin' a thing." Bruce replied.

Tony's eyes meet Obsidian was grunts again, still dragging his massive weapon. "There's no time for a thing."

"I know." Bruce answered, annoyed, both at the Hulk and Tony.

Tony pointed at the alien. "That's the thing right there. Let's go."

With a loud grunt, Bruce tensed doing everything to release the rage of the Hulk with no avail. Strange glanced between Bruce and Tony in disbelief.

"Dude, you're embarrassing me in front of the wizards."

"Tony, I'm sorry." Bruce stammered. "Either I can't or he won't-"

"It's okay." Tony started he looked to Wong. "Hey, keep an eye on him. Thank you."

Bruce moved toward Wong feeling defeated and useless. "I got him." Wong said, still producing his shields.

Moving forward, Tony looked toward Cull. As their eyes mett, Tony's nanotech moved across his body until his Iron Man suit now surrounded him in the span of three steps. With a shield in one hand and a blaster in the other, Tony suddenly fired causing Cull to be thrown back.

"Where'd that come from?" Bruce asked, surprised.

"It's nano-tech. You like it? A little somet-"

Before Tony can complete his explanation Ebony created a spike of earth rise beneath Tony's feet, sending him flying way above their heads. Setting his sights on the rest of the team, Ebony unearths several trees and debris, throwing it toward them.

Using the Shield of Seraphim to protect them, Wong deflected Ebony's attack while Dr. Strange turned to Bruce.

"Dr Banner, if the rest of your green friend won't be joining us." With a pause Strange created a portal before sending Bruce and half a taxi to a nearby park.

Finally back in the fight, Tony soared beside them pushing a car thrown by back toward him. With ease, Maw cut the vehicle in half as both pieces soared passed him.

"Gotta get that stone outta here, now." Tony demanded.

"It stays with me." Dr Strange replied sharply.

"Exactly. Bye." Taking off, Toy dodged Maw's obstacle course of objects before Cull suddenly slammed his hammer into Tony's side, throwing him into a nearby building as he soared out the other end, plowing into the ground as he ended up against a tree.

Rushing to his side, Bruce leaned down. "Ypu okay?" He asked worriedly.

"Really, really good. Really good. Do you plan on helping out?" Tony asked, sounding slightly annoyed.

"I'm trying but he won't come out." Bruce replied.

"Hammer." Tomy said, quickly shoving Bruce out of the way before Cull's weapon either of them.

Blasting an energy beam, Cull used his shield to deflect it, causing the beam to strike a tree. Bruce dived out of the way, just as one almost crushed him.

Crawling out from under the branches, Bruce began to yell. "Come on, what are you doing to me?" He slapped himself in the face several times before speaking again. "Come out! Come out! Come out!"

Suddenly half of Bruce's face turned green as the Hulk slightly emerged. "No!" The hulk yelled before disappearing.

Bruce fell back, as he took a deep breath. "What do you mean no?" He yelled, feeling frustrated.

Still taking on Cull, who had finally managed to knock Tony down, Cull raised his hammer to give Tony a decisive blow. Jumping into the fight, Peter Parker caught hold of Cull's hammer before it could crush Tony.

"Hey, man. What's up, Mr. Stark?" Peter said, smiling behind his mask, thankful he could help Tony.

"Kid, where'd you come from?" Tony asked surprised but glad for the help.

"Field trip to MoMA." He answered as Cull Obsidian tossed Peter aside.

Tony immediately continued his assault against Cull, soaring around as he blasted him with strong energy beams.

"What is this guy's problem, Mr. Stark?" Peter asked, moving toward the pair once more.

"He's from space. He came here to steal a necklace from a wizard." Tony answered vaguely.

Back on Bleeker, Dr. Strange and Wong continued to fight Ebony Maw. With his hand, Maw drew several bricks from the ground, molding them into sharp points. With a flick of his wrist, Maw sent them soaring for Strange and Wong. Making portals, the deadly brick enter Dr Strange's portal first, before reappearing through Wong's, as they quickly soared back toward Maw.

Moving a car to protect himself, one shard if brick sliced Maw's face, leaving a nasty cut. Angered, Maw used a broken fire hydrant's water stream to throw wong back. Flying several meters through the air, Wong hits the ground with a painful thud, rendered unconscious.

Strange snapped a whip of magical energy to bind Maw's hands and yanked with all his strength, but Maw flew forward with the pull and pinned Strange upside-down against a building, using the bricks to trap him.

"Your powers are quaint. You must be popular with children." Maw said, mockingly.

Maw reached for the necklace before suddenly being burned. He winced at the pain as a blister quickly formed on his palm.

Still dangling upside down and surrounded by bricks, Strange spoke. "It's a simple spell but quite unbreakable"

Maw's eyes grew dark as he began to speak vehemently. "Then I'll take it off your corpse."

Throwing Strange to the ground, he quickly stood. His hands began to form the spell to open the Eye of Agamotto, as Maw forced utility cables around his wrists. With the spell now interrupted the Eye began to close shut, while a third cable wrapped around Dr Strange's torso moving toward his throat before tightening.

'You'll find- removing a dead man's spell- troublesome." Dr Strange said, straining to breathe.

"You'll only wish you were dead." Maw hissed as Strange fell to the ground; his eyes closing from lack of oxygen. Breaking a chunk of the road that Strange laid on top of, Maw used the piece as a carrier but the Cloak of Levitation worked its' master free of the bonds before swiftly carrying him away.

"No!" Maw yelled as Strange began to escape.

Still fighting Cull, Tony's eyes catch Strange and he floats by before speaking. "Kid, that's the wizard. Get on it."

"On it!" Peter yelled, tossing his web to soar toward the wizard to help.

Behind Strange, Maw floating above burbling debris, as Peter moved to catch them both. With a sneer, Maw tossed a billboard at Peter to be rid of Strange's apparent help. He was growing tired of these So-called Avengers and knew Thanos would grow impatient if he didn't bring him the Time Stone soon.

Stunned by the sudden large object striking him, Peter untangled himself from the mess. "Not cool!" He called out, taking off to catch up with them again.

Maw began to bed light poles in an attempt to catch the loyal cloak, before it finally snagged against one, ripping it loose of its' master. Peter, finally caught up, grabbed hold of Dr. Strange seconds before he hit the pavement. With a toss of his webbing, Peter tried to get to safety when a blue beam suddenly surrounded him. Lifting upward, Peter tossed a web at a nearby light pole to keep himself and Strange ground, but Maw quickly uprooted it. As Strange and Peter now ascended toward the ship, Peter cried out over coms for help.

"Uhh, Mr. Stark? I'm being beamed up!"

"Hang on, kid." Tony replied still throwing blows with Cull. His hammer suddenly doubled as a claw, pinning Tony to the ground as it caused his suit to short. As Cull jumped toward Tony, his blades out and ready the fight, a portal appears sending him through it.

Glancing around Cull realized he now stood on foreign ground up at the still open portal. Jumping for the portal, Wong quickly closes it on Cull, with only his hand maganing to get through, severing it entirely. As it lay im the gross before Wong's feet, Brice kicked the hand aside disguit.

Tony, freeing himself from Cull's weapon rose to his feet. Looking to Wong Tony spoke. "Wong you're invited to my wedding." Soaring upward, Tony headed for the ship. "Give me a little juice, FRIDAY." Tony asked, before his feet thrusters morphed together into a single jet increasing his speed considerably."

Inside the ship, Maw moved toward the controls with Strange's body floating behind him, still unconscious. With several clicks the ship began to leave Earth's atmosphere as Tony still pursued it.

"Unlock 17-A." Tony tells FRIDAY causing a pod to launch from the upstate Avengers headquarters with impressive speed.

"Pete, you gotta let go. I'm gonna catch you." Tony demanded calmly.

Peter, who held tightly to the ship felt his heart race as he couldn't believe how high they now were. "But you said .wizard!" He gasped for air as his hands began to tremble. Pulling off his mask, Peter tried to catch his now faint breath. "I can't breathe." He said, feeling panicked.

"You're too high up. You're running out of air." Tony answered.

Nodding his head, Peter spoke. "Yeah, that makes sense." With every word, Peter's voice grew faint, until he could not keep hold of the ship any longer. Passing out, Peter began to free fall, until the pod finally reached him. It attached itself to him, becoming the Iron Spider suit. Now being able to breathe, Peter landed on a bottom part of the ship, standing up heroically.

"Mr. Stark, it smells like a new car in here!" Peter yelled, enthusiastically.

Having reached the ship himself, Tony spoke. "Happy trails, kid. F.R.I.D.A.Y, send him home."

"Yep." She answered as a large parachute suddenly emerged from the back of Peter's suit, snatching him free of the ship's hull and sending him spiraling back to Earth. "Oh, come on!" Peter yelled as he disappeared from Tony's sight.

Latched onto the hull, Tony cut open a hole and cautiously entered the ship. Looking around, Tony retracts his helmet.

"Boss, incoming call from Miss Potts." FRIDAY announced.

'Tony? Oh, my God. Are you all right? What's going on?" Pepper asked, unable to hold back her own fear.

Still glancing around the ship, Tony took a deep breath before speaking. The last thing the woman he loved needed was to hear him scared. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just think we might have to push our 8:30 res."

"Why?" She asked, alarmed.

"Just 'cause I'll- probably not make it back for a while." He answered.

"Please tell me you're not on that ship." Pepper asked, her voice trembling.

"Yeah. Tony said, somberly.

"Oh god. Please tell me you're not on that ship?" Pepper began to cry, the panic in her voice growing with each word.

"Honey, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I don't know what to say." Tony felt his heart sink. He hated to cause Pepper pain, but knew what he had to do regardless.

"Come back here, Tony. I swear to God" Her voice began to fade as the signal began to weaken.

"Come back here right now! Come back." Pepper's voice cracked through the coms as Tony could now barely understand her words.

"Boss, we're losing her." FRIDAY informed him just as the signal finally died out.

Outside the ship, Peter managed to toss a web that attached to the ship keeping him in the fight. Clambering inside a now closing chamber, Peter took a glance toward the rapidly receding planet behind him.

"I should have stayed on the bus." Peter admitted, with an ominous breath.

With his hand engaged on the ship's acceleration control, Maw moved the handle, causing them all to move into hyperspace, with Earth now light years behind them…

Back in New York, Bruce leaned down, reaching for Tony's flip phone that lay amongst the debris of the street.

Beside him, Wong opened a portal back to the Sanctum.

"Where you going?" Bruce asked, curiously.

"The time stone has been taken. The Sanctum remains unguarded." Wong started out. "What will you do?"

Bruce looked to the phone in n his hand thoughtfully before he answered. "I'm gonna make a call."

Wong nodded, understanding Bruce's words before the portal closed behind him. Pressing the button, Bruce takes a breath, hoping he can reach his old friend…

Wakanda

"Pay up." Bucky laughed as he set the rifle to his side.

Shuri cringed, pulling a few coins from her pocket. "I suppose you truly are the best shot in all of Wakanda." She begrudgingly admitted, having lost their bet.

Furia chuckled, wrapping her arm around Bucky's waist. "I told you he could make the shot." She said to Shuri who shook her head.

Bucky's target had been just under three thousand yards away and Shuri had been certain that not even a great marksmen like him could make such a shot. Though now, as she lost the bet, she knew she would never doubt the White Wolf again.

"I can't believe I lost fifty dollars on you." Shur said, jokingly. As a princess, such a small amount was of little consequence.

As the three of them continued to laugh amongst themselves, Furia's expression suddenly went dark. Bucky, who was quick to notice, recognized the fear in her eyes as a bad vibe.

"Doll, what is it?" He started to ask. "What did you vibe?"

"Tony- He- Ironman's in danger." She said, feeling something truly awful was about to happen to him. "A-and Peter Parker."

Over communications, Okoye projections formed atop Shuri's Kimono beads. "An alert just came from New York City. A ship entered the atmosphere before quickly leaving, with Tony Stark aboard." Okoye informed them. "The three of you must report to the Citadel at once."

Shuri, Bucky, and Furia glanced amongst themselves before immediately heading out. Bucky gripped Furia's hand as they walked, with his eyes fixed on hers.

Whatever was taking place, it felt destructive, Furia thought herself. Facing Bucky, Furia's furrowed her brows.

It's bad, she admitted vibing him.

How bad? he asked, inside her mind.

End of the world bad. She answered.

A/N

I feel as if the next few chapters will feel quite dark, considering the tragedy yet to come. Please leave a review if you like :D