Hello!

Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel. I own Addison Carter.

RATED M

ENJOY!

30th May, 2018, on the Benatar

"So, that guy's alive, that's great, but why did we pick up the corpse of that chick?" Rocket asked the team, pointing at the female body on the floor behind them.

"He wouldn't let her go, the least we can do is to bury the body of his friend once he wakes up," Gamora replied.

"As long as we don't bury all the bodies…" Rocket muttered.

"It's like a pirate had a baby with an angel," Drax whispered in awe.

"He's anxious, angry, and feels a tremendous loss and guilt," Mantis stated calmly, her hand on Thor's forehead.

"It must be because he's quite beaten, no matter how… 'wonderful' he is," Quill muttered angrily.

"It's like his muscles are made of Cotati metal fibers," Gamora whispered, touching Thor's arm.

"Stop massaging his muscles." She let go of the arm, which fell harshly on the table. "Wake him up." Mantis obeyed.

Thor woke up and jumped to his feet in panic. He was panting, blinking rapidly in this new environment. He looked down, seeing the body of his teammate and the red stain on her chest.

He had failed everyone. He wouldn't be able to face the Asgardian survivors and he wouldn't be able to face the Avengers.

He only hoped Hulk and Loki had reached Earth safely to warn them, although Addison knew about Thanos coming so hopefully, they had started to get ready even before that.

Sensing a threat in his back, he slowly turned around, his remaining eye looking at each of them.

"Who are you guys?" Thor asked in a raspy voice.

"Us? Who the hell are you!?" Quill replied, his gun on Thor.

"You should lower your weapon."

"You're on our ship, if anything…"

"We are the Guardians of the Galaxy," Gamora interrupted Quill, who shot her a disbelieved look. "We picked up a distress signal from your ship, but unfortunately we were too late to help." Thor gulped and nodded.

"Well thanks anyway. My name is Thor, from Asgard."

"Asgard? From the Nine Realms?" Thor nodded at Rocket. "Bunch of crazy weirdos…" This went unheard by the God of Thunder.

"What happened?" Mantis asked him.

"We were attacked by Thanos, that's what happened, and half my people are dead." It sent a shock among the Guardians who went stiff.

Thor knelt and placed two fingers on Addison's neck. There was no pulse.

Nothing.

He sighed deeply and placed her on the seats.

"We were thinking of burying her on the next planet we go to," Quill told him more sympathetically.

"Bury her?" Thor repeated, standing up with a frown.

"It can wait."

"What? I don't want some girl's body in my ship!"

"There have been worst things on that ship," Drax said.

"I am Groot!"

"I already told you there never were such things!

"Peter!" He looked at Gamora. "We have more urgent matters right now." She took a deep breath. "Mantis, give him food."

Gamora proceeded to explain everything she knew about Thanos, his plan, how he was going to execute it.

"You seem to know a great deal about Thanos."

"Gamora...is the daughter of Thanos." Thor raised his head from his bowl.

"Your father killed my people."

"Oh boy. Stepfather technically, she hates him as much as you do," Quill pointed out as the Asgardian walked to Gamora. He stared down at her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I get it, family can be complicated. Before he died my father told me I had a half-sister imprisoned in Hel and I had to kill her recently. She took my eye when she returned home and then I destroyed...my home to destroy her. That's life I guess. I feel your pain."

"So do I," Star Lord said, going between them.

As Quill started to rant, Thor looked at his spoon thoughtfully. He went to the pod and tried to unlock it but to no avail.

"Thor, we don't even know where he's going!" Gamora reminded him.

"Knowhere."

"He must be going somewhere."

"No, no, Knowhere. It's a shit hole, we've been there," Quill explained. He saw Thor stealing their food. "It's our food!"

"Not anymore."

"Thor, why would he go to Knowhere?"

"Well, because there are six Infinity Stones. Thanos already has the Power Stone after decimating Xandar, and now he's got the Space Stone from my ship. The Mind and Time Stones are on Earth with the Avengers…"

"The Avengers?"

"Earth's Mightiest Heroes."

"Like Kevin Bacon?"

"He...may have joined the team, I haven't been there for a while. No one knows where the Soul Stone is and the Reality Stone was safely with the Collector."

"The Collector? The guy's crazy, only an idiot would leave the stone with him!"

"Or a genius."

"You said it 'was'," Rocket pointed out.

"Yeah, it kind of got stolen a few months ago. However, the thief made sure to make a replica with the exact energy signature of the stone and hid the real one's signature."

"Then how can you be so sure Thanos is going to Knowhere and not where the real Reality Stone is?" Quill asked him.

"Because he left my ship with the Space Stone, and left the Reality Stone."

"You have the Reality Stone?"

"I don't. She does," Thor said, pointing at the body. "The Reality Stone attaches itself to living organism and acts like a parasite but Addison handled it."

"You mean there's an Infinity Stone inside your friend's body!?" Quill yelled.

"We need to go to Knowhere. Did she tell you what the replica could do?"

"She just said it was like the Reality Stone but way weaker, only it gave off the impression it was just as powerful. Anyway, we need to go to Nidavellir."

I fell in water, but it was not cold, nor warm. It...didn't feel like anything at all. My feet touched the sidewalk, but it just felt smooth. I looked down at myself.

I was dressed...casually, like on Earth, if not for the blood stain on my chest. I looked around me. Behind was totally black. However, in front of me was a familiar street, and a familiar house. I gulped and walked to the door, freezing when I saw people through the window. My feet took me to the front door but I didn't have the time to knock that it was opened.

There, in front of me, was my grandmother as young as Steve must have known her. I had always known her taller until I was fifteen, but now...I could see we were about the same height.

"Hello my little star," she greeted me with her smooth British accent I had not heard in more than a decade. It brought tears to my eyes, just like the nickname. Only her and my parents called me that. I was 'mon ange', so 'my angel' to my grandpa.

Uncle Jarvis, before he passed away when I was around ten, would call me little mouse because I loved sneaking up on him with Tony.

"Hello Grandma," I replied with a hoarse voice. I looked at the doorway. There was like a veil. Behind her, I saw my parents at the table, not looking at me, like frozen. Grandpa was making something in the kitchen and I could almost smell the delicious dish. "I…"

"You don't have to say or explain anything to me, or anyone," she interrupted me. She stretched out her hand.

"I'm really…" She pursed her lips.

"Seeing you here one day has been my greatest fear." Slowly, I took her hand and entered the house. The blood stain vanished and I had a loose white dress instead.

I looked at my grandmother, trying to blink away the tears. She saw it, she always saw it when I was about to cry, and embraced me tightly. I started to sob and hugged her back, as tight as I could.

"I was so lost and did so many bad things, I…"

"Shhh...it's okay, it's over now. It never made me love you any less." I buried my face in the crook of her neck. "If anything, I'm sorry you had to grow up like this. I'm so sorry you're in front of me when you're still so young."

"It's a wonder how I did not end up here before really." I sniffed and looked up.

"You have put too much pressure on yourself Addison." I furrowed my brows and she cupped my cheek. "You don't have any legacy to live up to."

"Do you know who you are Grandma? It's…"

"I know, I know what I did and accomplished in my life, but just because I did doesn't mean you have to do the same thing. My legacy was my son and his family." I looked down. "It means that you, you are my legacy and you already knew everything I wanted you to know." I blinked.

"Really?"

"Of course!"

"But I made so many mistakes!"

"Yes, like we all do. It's not making a mistake that is bad, it's not taking responsibility and do everything you can to fix it. That is something you've always tried to do, and even what Anthony did." I gulped. "I would never expect of you to have the fights I had to have. Organization like SHIELD will change trajectory, always. But it's what's in there that matters the most." She put her finger on my heart. "And whether or not I agreed with the methods, I know you always fought with your heart in the right place. You stood your ground, like I always told you to do, and that's what couldn't make me prouder of the woman you've become." Tears rolled down my cheeks and she had some in her eyes.

"I can kick Captain America's ass," I mumbled through my tears. She chuckled.

"I would put my money on you and not Steve any day." I swallowed with difficulty, wiping my tears.

"Isn't...isn't it weird? That I know him...and James…"

"It is but...as much as it pains me to see them in your time, it's how it is and the only thing I wish is for them to find a reason to get up in the morning, even if for Barnes…" I blushed at her smirk. "But Steve...he needs you, and Tony."

"Why?"

"Because you were right, but you're also the only really familiar foundations he has in your time." I took a deep breath. "Maybe he doesn't want to admit it to himself either, but I'm sure he needs you both. And you miss him too, like Tony does."

"I guess…"

Wait...I seemed to...remember him better than before.

"So you need to have a good talk with him."

"What? But I'm…"

"It's not time yet." I blinked in confusion at my grandmother, who put a strand of hair behind my ear. "And I'm very happy, in spite of what's waiting for you."

"What? Grandma, I don't wanna go, I want to stay with you and…" She kissed my forehead and I clenched my fists by my side when I saw a tear rolling from the corner of her eye. "Please, let me stay."

"It's above me, but we'll see each other again one day, in many, many years I hope." She pursed her lips. "I love you my little star, I always will."

"I love you too Grandma," I whispered in a broken voice.

I was pulled away from the house, as if a magnet was attracting me. Grandma stared at me until the door was shut and my feet left the ground. I was sucked in what felt like a whirlpool of energy and I landed harshly on the cold ground. I looked around and froze at the skull-shaped gate.

I came here before, when Stephen sent my astral form in the Multiverse.

I looked at my hands when I felt my powers. With a deep breath I walked through the gates.

"I almost waited," a sulky voice said in front of me. I frowned at the woman in front of me.

Or at least I thought so, because when she got up from her throne and removed the hood of her cloak, all I could see was a skull. I stepped back immediately, creating a sword of dark matter.

"Oh no, that won't do." With a flick of her finger, it crumbled to the ground.

"Wh…"

"Is it the appearance?" I blinked as muscles and skin grew on the bones, giving her a human face.

I looked around once more.

"It was you." She grinned. "You saw me back then."

"It was unexpected, I don't get living visitors often." I gulped.

"What are you?"

"Death," she replied as if it was obvious. My shoulders fell.

"Strange did say my heart stopped for a few seconds and Thanos stabbed me so...shit."

"Are you?" I blinked. "You have the Reality Stone within you, it does things to someone."

"So I'm not...dead?"

"No, you are. Unless I say so. The Stone brought you here."

"Why?"

"Because I made them." I widened my eyes. "During the Big Bang, my family and I created the stones to keep the universe balanced."

"Your family?"

"We are called Cosmic Entities human, we have been here since the dawn of time to watch over the universe, thus the Stones as well." She walked toward me like an animal to its prey. "However, the Reality Stone decided she was sick of Thanos' schemes and chose…" She looked at me up and down. "You."

I should feel offended, but I wasn't.

"I agree though. Thanos is problematic."

"Too many dead people at once if he gets all six Stones?"

"Well, first of all, no one should have them all. Second of all, they'd be erased. The problem lies with your friends." I blinked.

"In five years you mean?" She nodded.

"Remove half of things in a limited space and there's no problem. Space will be filled with time. But then put back what was removed? It will explode." I took a deep breath.

"By fixing something they'd ultimately do something worst?" She nodded.

"Things go beyond our universe, and you know it. Too much power used can potentially be dangerous and there are entities beyond your understanding who could...solve issues in drastic ways."

"As in...erasing a universe to protect the multiverse?" She nodded once more. "And it's not profitable to you."

"I am Death in this universe and I do not want to be erased because of mortals." She placed a bony finger on my chest. "But if I send you back…"

"Defeat Thanos before he ever uses the Infinity Stones."

"Indeed. And then make sure this universe keeps existing in spite of what might happen. The Reality Stone turned you into a multiversal being, in a way. Or at least it is at the moment. It has been in the making for a long while now."

"I figured that out…" I mumbled to myself.

"Now, do you want to go back?"

"I have a choice?"

"I would never deny anyone death, it goes against my very existence. However, now or later, we'll see each other again."

I pursed my lips. On one hand finally resting from all those fights sounded very, very good. On the other hand...the idea of Tony losing another family member made me want to puke. He had lost a lot already, then gained and lost again.

I didn't want to put him through that again.

Then, there was Steve. Things were not good between us and Grandma told me he'd need me and Tony. In a way, I agreed with her and didn't want to leave without properly saying goodbye to him.

And James. James who I was sure knew I had forgotten him because he was disturbed by me calling him 'Bucky'. I couldn't die without telling him I forgave him, could I? Knowing him, he'd never be at peace if someone died before forgiving him for his actions as the Winter Soldier.

I wanted rest but deep down, I knew it wasn't time yet.

"Knowing Strange, he'd mess up at some point, so I've got to make sure to fix whatever he'll mess up, as his apprentice, right?" I asked her with a raised brow. I took a deep breath. "Send me back please."

"Good." I suddenly felt like suffocating. "Just know that while your soul left your body, the Reality Stone finished modifying it and synchronizing with it."

"See you later Mistress Death," I said as I blacked out.

May 31st, Wakanda

He didn't really know how to feel, he was just...numb. Sam was staring at him while they all went inside to look at Vision's stone. It just...didn't feel real.

"We'll all miss her," Sam said, trying to be compassionate.

"It's not the same," Bucky replied coldly. Sam looked down for a second.

"Probably not, but it's true."

When he saw them exit he jet, he saw Steve and returned his embrace. However, he could not see Addison. He asked Steve where she was, only for Steve's face to fall. His apology meant everything.

She was dead, gone, her body somewhere in space, lost so that they couldn't even bury her.

He couldn't really comprehend it. He thought that once they were ready they would fix their relationship and rebuild the trust between them. And wasn't he supposed to protect her? Bucky gritted his teeth. He was living a peaceful life in Wakanda while she was doing dangerous things on her own and now…

He should have followed her when she came. He knew she was reckless but he thought it would be okay, because he didn't want to leave the little peace he had. He loved her and the time they had spent together, but it had not exactly been peaceful.

And now she was…

No wonder Wade was so quiet next to them.

Something landed on the force field around the city. They all looked up.

"I love this place," Bucky stated.

He had not even tried to see which X-Men were there. He knew Logan was, Wade, but that was it.

They embarked on the flying Wakandan ships and soon they were face to face with an army of aliens.

He was numb but he was sure of one thing. Shooting these things felt good.

I woke up. I immediately recognized Thor's voice, quieter than usual right next to me. If anything, I was pretty sure my head was on his shoulder.

"Look Thor, I get she's important but seeing you being like that with a corpse is very weird," a new voice said.

"I am Groot." I was not creepy.

"Well I'm hoping she doesn't stay a corpse for long actually so…"

"You do know that stabbed in the heart means very dead, right?"

I opened my eyes and made eye contact with a tree. It stopped playing video games and widened his eyes.

A tree with eyes playing video games.

Sure, why not.

I put my hand on Thor's thigh and straightened up, earning a yell of shock from...the raccoon piloting the ship?

"Where are we?" I muttered, looking around. "Who are they?" Thor just hugged me really tight. "Thor, can't breath…"

"I knew it! I mean, Reality and...and death it's…" I sighed weakly against his shoulder and hugged him back.

"It was a close call though." I pulled away from his hug.

He was relieved but...was on the verge of tears.

I had spent six months on a space ship with him, we got closer.

"Hi, I'm Addison, terran," I introduced myself. The raccoon put the auto-pilot on and turned around.

"You were dead!" I blinked sheepishly.

"I'm not anymore?" I shot Thor a look. "I'll tell you later." He nodded hastily.

"Dead people coming back, what a fucking joke."

"I am Groot." I raised a brow at him.

"I'm not a zombie!"

"You understand Groot too?"

"Tivan gave me a universal translator when I was in his...collection."

"I'm surprised you got out of his collection."

"Well...I somehow made a deal. Who…"

"They're members of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Rocket and Groot."

"Space Avengers?" He shrugged.

"Is there a Kevin Bacon on the team?"

"No, he's an actor and was in Footloose, that's all."

"Another terran reference from Quill that doesn't make any sense." Rocket handed Thor an eye. "Here, you might need it."

"Oh thanks!"

"You should wash it first I had to get it in…" Too late, Thor already had his new eye in his empty socket.

"What's that?" I asked them, seeing the huge structure in front of us.

"This is Nidavellir, where I'm getting a new hammer!" Thor frowned. "There's something wrong though."

"Let's check it out then." We landed.

I looked around. It was empty, cold...lifeless.

"Addie, can you scan the area?" Thor asked me.

"Sure thing." I did. I did not need my earpiece like I used to. It must have been destroyed with the Statesman anyway, like my katana handle.

I paled when I heard commotion, hazy thoughts.

"Thor, we have a problem, the guy is not happy!"

"Huh?"

"Guys!" We looked at Rocket. "Thanos...his glove didn't happen to look like this?" I paled, like Thor, when the raccoon showed us a prototype of Thanos' gauntlet.

"We need to get out of here. Now!" I was sucker punched in the stomach though and sent in a wall.

"Come on, don't kill me so soon!" I whined on the floor. Groot and Rocket landed next to me. "You okay?"

"I am Groot!"

"Yeah, it's quite a hook he has." Thor was punched too but stopped the giant. I narrowed my eyes at his hands.

"Take a look at his hands, I think it's the reason why it was that strong." Rocket and Groot did.

We walked to them while Eitri explained Thanos came, killed everyone but him to make him create the gauntlet before trapping his hands in metal forever.

"You didn't lose everything Eitri. Your designs, they're inside your head. Now it may feels like everything is lost and hopeless, trust me I know. But together, we can kill Thanos."

It seemed to work because Eitri stood up, nodded and a few minutes later, we were all together around a mold.

"It's a king's weapon, made for the best of Asgard. Theoretically, it could even summon the Bifrost." I gulped and looked at my hand before clenching it in a fist.

I could feel it. The remaining stones...they were getting agitated. However, if I felt them...it meant Thanos didn't have them yet.

"Does it have a name?"

"Stormbreaker."

"Nice," I commented, slightly impressed.

"Hey, just a suggestion but," Rocket started, pointing at me with his paw. Hand. Whatever. "But if you have the real Reality Stone, can't you do something for his hands?" They all looked at me.

"I...I guess but…"

"Of course she can!" Thor stated, clapping his hands on my shoulders.

"Stop getting me in these kind of situations…" I looked at Eitri's hands.

I took a deep breath and placed my hands above his. I pictured them as...usable. Regular. I pictured the metal vanishing, turning into sands.

It turned black and fell to the floor.

"Right, I can turn matter into dark matter and manipulate it even without the stone," I remembered quietly. Eitri gulped and looked at his hands, clenching them.

"Thank you. Thank you so much human," he thanked me, tears in his eyes. I waved him off.

"That's what we do, right?" I looked at Thor who nodded. "Do you still need me here though?"

"Why, you've got plans?" I almost rolled my eyes at Rocket.

"Getting a new weapon is great, but I think maybe...maybe between the stone and magic, I could...fix Mjolnir." Thor blinked.

"You think?"

"At least temporarily," I added, shooting Eitri a look. "Strange and Wong knew about Thanos, but they never told me what their plan was. Strange just sent me with you telling me to make sure you'd get to Asgard."

"So he knew about Hela?" Thor asked with a frown.

"Most probably, but there wasn't much anyone could do to stop her. Anyway, there's a chance he might have...wanted me to see your hammer destroyed and then fix it or...something?"

"I am Groot?"

"Yes, I make portals, I can get to Earth on my own, especially now I...can control my magic." I looked at Thor. "It's worth a try, isn't it?" He nodded.

"Alright, we'll meet up later."

"In Wakanda. I mean...the team will try to save Vision, so remove the stone and Wakanda is the way to go."

"It's a plan then!"

A dark red circle appeared around my wrist. Detection spell. I was familiar with Stephen's magic so...enhanced with the stone…

"Got it." I made a circle with my arm, dark red energy following and making a portal. I looked at them and nodded. "Good luck, see you in a beat."

"Don't die again zombie girl," Rocket said and I rolled my eyes, walking through the portal.

I took a deep breath of the sea air. Yes, Odin died there, but it was Earth.

I made it back home. Almost.

Thank you all for reading! Don't hesitate to leave a review! Thanks to SeshyKit for the review!

Bye!