I'm kinda surprised I finished a chapter for this fic before Lighthouse. Usually it's the other way around. Thank you to ScarletWitchYESSSSSSSSS and Lety11 for the favorites! Mwa to you two. Let's continue on shall we?


It was strange to think that in this situation Rocket and Groot were the diplomatic ones. But, Wanda supposed, it couldn't be helped. Eitri had gone through a traumatic event and having a strange aircraft filled with strangers show up unexpectedly certainly hadn't helped.

He'd immediately attacked, Wanda and Strange both conjuring shields to keep him from killing any of the group. Then Rocket had stepped forward and managed to defuse the situation, letting the giant know what had happened since the last time they had seen each other.

"You are the one who killed the Titan?" Eitri's voice echoed amongst in the empty walkways, gazing down at Wanda.

She shook her head, her old insecurities coming back. "No, I wasn't alone. We all defeated him."

"I am Groot."

Rocket pointed at his teenage companion. "Kid's right. That was hardly a team effort. I was there, none of us laid a finger on him."

"Steve fought him, he even held back the gauntlet."

Rocket scoffed. "Lucky shots and he held on for what, five or six seconds, maybe seven. You, Missy Magic Hands, held him back and kept him from using the stones with one hand while you destroyed an infinity stone with the other!"

"Truly?"

Wanda could feel Pietro near bursting with pride beside her but she gaped for a few seconds at Eitri's awe, her face growing warm with embarrassment as Rocket tried to explain her scarlet to the large man. "I may have helped but Okoye was the one-"

Rocket waved her words away, speaking over her. "Nope, that won't work either. Anyone could'a killed him at that point. A freaking baby Terran could'a killed him. But you were the one that put the whammy on him. You completely shut him down and left him ripe for the killing. Believe me sister, we won because of you."

Eitri suddenly stepped forward, kneeling in front of Wanda. "Lady Wanda, you and the warriors of Midgard have my eternal gratitude for avenging my people. You may request anything of me and I shall endeavor to make it true."

"I admit there are reasons we're here, Eitri." Strange stepped forward, speaking for the first time. He waved an arm toward the ship. "We've brought Thanos' gauntlet with us. We believe we can remove the stones but we don't have any kind of containment for them once removed. Would you be willing to construct something powerful enough to do the job?"

Wanda watched as Eitri went pale at the mention of the gauntlet but now she witnessed the glint of determination flare in his eyes as he stood to his full height. "I will do it but not as a request but as my duty, my debt to the realms and the universe." He twitched, looking down at his encased fists. "I already have one receptacle but the others will take some time."

"I may have a way around that. If you'll excuse me." Strange turned and created a portal, disappearing through into what looked like the ship.

"He keeps doing that, he's going to get flabby." Pietro snarked from beside her, Rocket and Groot agreeing. Another golden portal spun into existence, the caped doctor returning with a bundle in his arms. Everyone seemed slightly confuse but Wanda let her lips smile at the vague thoughts she was picking up from the older man. She kept smiling even when the others flinched away as the gauntlet was exposed.

"Relax, there's a reason for this."

Wanda, along with the others, watched as Strange did a complex hand gesture over the time stone and suddenly golden light latched around the gem. Wanda tensed, ready to create a shield if Strange's actions aggravated the gauntlet. With bated breath Strange gave a tug and the emerald orb popped free, suspended delicately in the air.

The necklace hanging around the man's neck, one of Shuri's constructs, opened and the stone was nestled inside, sealing shut.

"Pietro." The covered gauntlet was passed over to her brother for safe keeping and Strange turned to Eitri, beckoning with a quivering hand at the giant. "Your hands Eitri."

The larger man was reasonably apprehensive but with reassuring nods from Wanda and the others he slowly lifted both fists, offering them to the other man.

The Sokovian mother watched as the Doctor did another complex hand gesture, the necklace opening on its own to reveal a now glowing time stone. He did another tight turning of his hands which conjured glowing dials of green with unknown ruins. Next, he did a sweeping motion toward his right hand, the circles now moving up from his hand to his forearm. Finally he lifted the enchanted limb to Eitri's imprisoned fists and slowly spun his wrist.

Wanda let out a quiet gasp. Pietro and Rocket were more vocal about their surprise, Pietro cursing in Sokovian while Rocket let out a "Holy shit!"

The dull shine of the metal grew brighter, newer, and then Eitri let out a painful shout, his hands shaking in agony as they glowed a hot-orange, the quick scent of charred flesh curling Wanda's nose. But then it was over and Strange released his spell, the necklace sealing shut.

Nobody spoke, just watched as Eitri lifted trembling, whole hands, for inspection, moving his fingers to authenticate their return. "Oh my…"

Wanda felt her eyes mist when the dwarf looked up at them, his chin wobbling with emotion as he professed an emotional thank you to Strange but it was the slight twinkling in the corner of her eye that caught her attention.

Pietro was talking with the others, holding the gauntlet in his arms but he didn't seem to notice the winking glow from the soul stone. The mystic words at the start of their trip echoed in her mind.

She turned slightly to the caped man, keeping an eye on the gem. "Strange."

The talking ended and she felt him step up next to her, the entire group silent as they warily watched the stone give off thrumming pulses of light.

Wanda glanced over at Strange, their eyes meeting for a second before they both turned away, her to the calling gem and him back to the newly healed man.

"Eitri." The doctor started. "If you please, could you take us to your fallen?"

~~~Ascension~~~

Ever since Bucky had let it be known what Wanda was attempting to do Thor seemed to have made it his life's mission to help the soldier in anything he might need. A sparring partner, a chef, even a babysitter. He wasn't too upset about that last one. The kids genuinely seemed to like him and Thor was quite happy to spend time with them, even remarking how tiny Jamie had been when he first met her years ago.

Once he'd seen how advanced they were for their age he'd congratulating Bucky on his children and how they would make him proud, which didn't take much if he was honest. Bucky had even let the woman, Brunnhilde, train Jamie a little. His oldest thought it was fun to throw the mocha-skinned woman around with her telekinesis.

Thor had also made a comment about his family being under Asgard's protection for generations to come. It was one thing to hear it from T'Challa but another to hear it from an alien king whose subjects were on par or maybe even on a higher level than a super soldier.

In fact Thor wasn't the only one who was helping Bucky with the kids. Sam took Jamie on quick flights, much to Bucky's chagrin but with his daughter whooping in delight he was hard pressed to stop it. Steve had been commandeered by all three, following him around and clinging to his friend's legs. Shuri took it upon herself to keep them busy with the new toys she'd make, the kids running around outside with the inventions. Even M'Baku and Okoye joined in, chasing the children around in a game Shuri called Zombie, play snarling after them.

He appreciated the help everyone supplied. It distracted his kids but usually right before bed all three would ask when Wanda was coming home. Jamie was more clever about it, waiting until the twins were asleep and they were alone. But she knew what Wanda was trying to do so she was understanding of all that was going on. It didn't mean she wasn't missing her Ma.

So far it was quiet but every moment had a tense atmosphere simmering underneath, mostly because of what had happened toward the end of the first day Wanda had left.

It had been late, the kids already asleep and Bucky had been with the others, just trying to calm down after everything that happened mid-morning, when Steve's flip-phone had wrung.

It'd been Stark and he'd had news for all of them.

"Better get your asses in gear. Ross is reaching out to the UN, trying quietly might I add to amass a task force, intent on going to Wakanda. He knows you're there."

Bucky had had a near heart attack, seconds from packing up the kids and disappearing. Maybe see if Thor would be willing to take him and his family off Earth somewhere. But it hadn't come to that.

T'Challa had immediately told the room at large that they were safe and he would see to their dilemma. Then he'd disappeared out the door, but not before Bucky heard him in Xhosa calling for his legal team. He'd come back half an hour later just as calm but hadn't told them what had happened. But he didn't need to as Stark had called them back the next day, laughing.

"A certain someone sent some very interesting reading material to all the right people. You guys should be safe for now as Ross will be a bit preoccupied, seeing as he's being investigated by a few organizations, my favorite being ICC." Stark had fallen into another bout of hysterical laughter at that point.

Apparently T'Challa had had his legal team send out folders upon folders of information showing what Ross had done in the past, but also the present, to different legal organizations, most importantly to members of the International Criminal Courts. While it was good if Ross got charged and tried, it would highlight Bucky, letting the world know he was still out there somewhere.

So two days later he was sitting with T'Challa, his legal team, and Bucky's doctors. And they were staring at him in disbelief.

"Barnes, no, James," T'Challa intoned. "This is not something to take lightly."

Bucky nodded, hands wringing themselves. This could go so badly for him but he was sure about this. "I don't take this lightly, I have people I care about, people who count on me but this is the only way to start over, have a clean slate."

"You're serious then?" Mr Pityana asked. He was one of the main lawyers T'Challa had called forth when Bucky had first approached him about his plan. His specialty was human rights.

"Yes." Bucky made sure to sit up straight, eyes firm and trained on the men and women in front of him.

Pityana studied him for a second before he seemed satisfied by whatever he saw in Bucky. The suited man turned to T'Challa. "We'll begin immediately."

Bucky let out a breath, standing up as T'Challa did, shaking Pityana's hand. "Thank you."

"You are a brave man. Doctors?" The last part was said to Doctor Mayosi and Doctor Tom, the two that had taken care of him since the beginning. They both gave smiles, Mayosi going so far as to give him a hug before they both left with Pityana.

Once alone T'Challa looked over at him. "No matter what happens, when the time comes, Wakanda will support you, brother."

Bucky smiled. "Thanks. Let's just hope Wanda gets back before the whole thing goes down. And she's in a forgiving mood."


Kinda don't like the ending. But what can you do? Tell me what you people think. Talk to you later. Peace out. -Mez