A/n: I only own Ellie, Grant, Beckie and Kasie, and Sarah; all other characters that you recognize are property of Marvel.
a/n2: So it's been a long time. Things haven't gotten any easier at work. I typically come home from work and crash on the couch. Our school is all year round, and I open the school at 6:30 for teachers to come in to prepare, then typically don't leave until 5:15 at the earliest. I am exhausted. We are exhausted. Teachers need help right now more than ever. Moving on, I had two days off during the week, yeah!, and I was able to mentally reset a bit. I went to a Backstreet Boys concert and it helped a lot. I finished this chapter last weekend, but I wanted to make sure it was okay before I posted it. I hope you guys enjoy it and I will do my best to get the next one out before Black Panther lol. Side note: Ms. Marvel was amazing, Thor… that flick ;) Also I just realized that we are coming up on my four-year anniversary of posting this story. Thanks guys.
Also thank you to the new followers during my hiatus: Asteria-dg, Musicluver246, lonebutterfly05,sasnaru, Mollz4lollz, Zerotha, jeika5243, yatogod1, tuckerjnp1 (welcome back), sophieILFoster. I appreciate you all more than you know.
I miss your touch on nights when I'm hollow
I know you crossed a bridge that I can't follow
Since the love that you left is all that I get
I want you to know
That if I can't be close to you
I'll settle for the ghost of you
I miss you more than life (more than life)
And if you can't be next to me
Your memory is ecstasy
I miss you more than life
~ Ghost of You by Justin Bieber
*~*~* July 28, 2023- Irvington, New York *~*~*
Ellie laid her head back and grinned, biting her lip as she opened her eyes to see Alpine staring back at her, "Shit! Alpine, you scared me."
Alpine wound his body into a circle and settled on Bucky's pillow.
Groaning, Ellie reached over and grabbed her phone off the bedside table to see a message from Steve.
Steve: Bruce thinks he figured out the control panel and algorithms. We are going to try it today with Scott.
Ellie sat up, throwing the covers off her body after seeing that message had come 30 minutes ago, "FRIDAY, are any of the kids up?"
"No, Ellie, they are not. Would you like me to initiate wake-up protocols?" FRIDAY asked.
"Yes," Ellie said as she ran into the closet to look for an outfit, "Could you send a message to Annabelle to see if she is available to take the kids to school? Is Natasha here?"
"Natasha left with the Captain early this morning," FRIDAY replied, "Also, Annabelle does not have classes today. However, she said that she could come over if needed. Rose also said that if you need her, she can also be here."
"Tell them something has come up, and I will take them up on that offer," Ellie said as she grabbed an outfit and threw open the drawers to grab underwear and a bra.
Quickly getting dressed, she grabbed her tennis shoes and laced them up as Grant walked into her bedroom, "Hey Bud, Momma is going to run out, and Annabelle and Rose are going to come over to help you guys get ready for school."
Grant frowned, "Is something wrong?"
"No, Uncle Steve, Dr. Bruce, and Scott have been working on something for a while, and I need to go help them," Ellie told him as she touched his head and smiled, "Plus, today is Olympics day at camp. You have to make me a promise, though."
Grant sighed, "No, showing off. Try to be normal."
Ellie gave him a sad smile, "I know, sweetheart, that it sucks, you want to show off what you can do, and eventually, you may be able to but right now-"
"Don't bring people around to see me," Grant said.
Ellie pulled him to her and hugged him, "I just want to keep you safe, sweetheart. There are many bad people in this world, and we don't know who they are. Your Dad and I made more enemies than we know. While most of mine are long gone, Dadda's aren't, and Uncle Steve's neither."
Grant looked at her, concerned, "Momma, were you a bad guy?"
"No, no, baby," Ellie sighed as she looked up at the ceiling.
"But Dad was," Grant answered.
"Did he just tell you that?" Ellie looked around, "Because he wasn't. Your Dadda, it isn't very easy, Grant. Just know that many bad things have happened to both of us, and Dadda didn't have the choices I did. I made some choices that I'm not proud of doing. Dadda didn't have that choice. They took those choices away from him. When you are older, we will explain it, but just know that the world isn't just good and bad. Good choices and bad ones. There are in between choices and people who do not have control of their own choices."
"Ellie, I'm sorry to interrupt you, but Miss Annabelle is here with her family," FRIDAY informed her.
Ellie sighed, "Let's go downstairs."
Grant took her hand and followed her to the elevator. Quietly they rode down to the main floor as the door opened.
Ellie led Grant around the corner and stopped as she saw Annabelle and Rose, but Steve too, "Hey guys."
Rose looked at her, "I hope you don't mind that I brought my Dad."
Ellie smiled, "Not at all. He can make himself at home."
Steve smiled, "Thanks, Ellie."
Annabelle took Grant's hand, "Let's go see who else is awake."
"Bye, Momma! Love you!" Grant yelled as he went off with Annabelle.
Ellie looked at Steve, "Does this work today?"
"Not in the way it is supposed to," Steve told her, "We have more success when you get there, though."
Ellie sighed, "I was hoping today was the day. Alright, thank you, guys. I'll see you later. You know how to get a hold of me if you need me."
"Go be a hero," Steve told her.
"Oh, stop," Ellie told him as she held her hand up and her purse and keys flew into her hand, "See you guys later."
*~*~* July 28, 2023- Esopus, New York *~*~*
Opening the doors to the compound, Ellie walked back to the hanger where Natasha said they were. Inside was the van that Scott had parked at the house. Stopping in her tracks, she saw Scott in a suit different from his usual suit, but not the same one she had seen on herself that had traveled into the past.
Ellie took a deep breath and then walked forward until Natasha saw her.
"Hey Ellie," Natasha said, making everyone turn towards her.
"Hey guys, what did I miss?" Ellie asked, walking over to them.
"Bruce has the system up and running. As soon as he gets back, we are going to do our first trial," Natasha told her as Bruce came back into the hangar and walked over to the control panel.
"So, how do we get started?" Ellie asked as she followed the wires from the control panel to the van.
"They have it all set. I'll be back," Natasha told her as she went out to the living quarters.
Ellie looked around at all the equipment and the windows that used to have people buzzing around the compound. Now noises echoed from the windows in the silence. Sitting down on the ground, she crossed her legs and relaxed. Then, lying back on the floor, she focused on Wakanda. On that final night that they were together and immediately felt her heart rate increase as her brain warmed. Her past self fought her, but her unknown pregnant body was already slightly weakened, and she overtook herself quickly.
Blinking, she opened her eyes to find herself sitting next to a pile of clothes she had been folding to put in a suitcase. Picking up a tiny onesie, she slightly forgot how small Grant once was.
Standing up, she glanced at a sleeping Grant and then walked out of the bedroom to the living area of their apartment, where Bucky was. Standing at the door, she watched Bucky wipe away a tear before putting a picture frame into a suitcase.
"Buck," Ellie said quietly.
Bucky turned to her, "Did you get… Angel," He stated as he breathed out.
Ellie couldn't help but walk over and hug him, "I had to visit today because I had to tell you there is hope. Steve and the Avengers think they know how to bring you all back, but just in case, it doesn't work. So I had to see you."
Bucky kissed her, "It's going to be okay. Are you from 2023?" Bucky said as he looked down at her.
"Yeah, June. I'll be leaving here in just an hour," Ellie told him, looking around, "I'll be waiting for you at our home when you come home."
"I'll be there as soon as possible to see Grant and the twins," Bucky told her as he touched her face.
Ellie bit her lip and laid a hand on her belly, "They are already conceived, by the way. I won't know for a few more months, but they are amazing. They love you. God, Beckie, our little Rebecca, I named her Rebecca Wanda Shuri Barnes. She has your mental powers. She can project it, and when she gets pissed, I can't touch her, the little shit," Ellie told him with a smile, and Bucky laughed, "Now our little Kasie, Kasie Faith, just like you wanted, she can read minds."
"How is Grant?" Bucky asked.
"He can project a shield and restrict his thoughts from Kasie, which pisses her off, and he has the super healing. He can heal others easily. I still can't control mine, but I am hoping that I will have more time to talk to you soon," Ellie told him as she put her hand on his face and projected the image into his mind of their kids, and he sucked in a breath, "I am praying that whatever Steve and Scott are doing works. I have faith."
Bucky kissed her hard and rested his forehead against hers, "We will be together again soon."
Ellie nodded, "I better go. I can feel myself fighting to come back, and I have to go. Oh, did you tell T'Challa?"
"Yes, Mother is coming with you," Bucky told her.
"Good… because it keeps her alive," Ellie said as she took in their apartment and bit her lip, "This part gets destroyed. So put everything in the bag you can."
Bucky nodded, "Here go. I'll hold you as you go."
Ellie kissed him again, "I love you."
"I love you too," Bucky said as he held onto her, and she closed her eyes.
Ellie felt the cold tile under her body and snapped her eyes open as hands grabbed her arms.
"Shit Ellie, you scared the shit out of me," Scott said as he sat back on the ground next to her.
"Sorry, I was just resting my eyes," Ellie said as she sat up and saw Bruce enter the hanger, "Are you ready for this?"
Scott let out a breath, "Can't be too hard. As long as I don't get stuck in the Quantum Realm for another five years."
Ellie stood up and held a hand out, pulling Scott in his astronaut-like suit to his feet quickly.
"Wow, you are strong," Scott remarked.
Ellie giggled as they walked over to the van as Natasha and Steve came walking back into the hanger.
Bruce looked over the panel and then at Scott, "Okay, here we go. Time travel test number one. Scott, fire up the uh... the van thing," Bruce said as Scott opened the doors to show some sort of large device in the back of the van.
Ellie walked over and looked at the controls, "This is a lot of buttons and sliders," Ellie remarked as Scott put his helmet on.
Steve walked over after checking the breakers, "Breakers are set. Emergency generators are on standby."
"Good, 'cause if we blow the grid, I don't wanna lose Tiny here in the 1950s," Bruce stated.
Everyone looked at Bruce, worried.
"Excuse me?" Scott asked, looking up from putting on his helmet.
"He's kidding," Natasha said with a smile as she looked up from the tablet in her hands at Bruce, "You can't say things like that!"
"Just... It was a bad joke," Bruce told them as Scott turned away back towards the van.
"You were kidding, right?" Natasha asked quietly.
"I have no idea. We're talking about time travel here. Either it's all a joke, or none of it is," Bruce told her as he turned to Scott with a thumbs up, "We're good! Get your helmet on. Scott, I'm gonna send you back a week, let you walk around for an hour, then bring you back in 10 seconds. Makes sense?"
"Perfectly not confusing," Scott replied.
"Good luck, Scott. You got this," Steve said.
"You're right. I do, Captain America," Scott said as he shrank before their eyes.
Ellie swallowed hard as she watched the van as Bruce started counting down, "On the count of three. 3... 2... 1!"
Bruce pressed some buttons then the suit came back. Instead of Scott, it was a young boy.
"Uh, guys? This...this doesn't feel right," The boy said.
Ellie sucked in a breath in horror as she looked at Steve, wide-eyed.
"What is this?" Steve asked, staring at the boy.
"What's going on?" Bruce asked.
"That...who is that?" Natasha asked, looking at Bruce.
Bruce started pushing buttons, trying to figure something out, "Hold on," Bruce said, worried.
"Is that Scott?" Natasha asked in disbelief.
"Yes, it's Scott!" He yelled as he was sucked back into the quantum tunnel.
Bruce dove down and unplugged a wire, then plugged it into another spot as he hit the red button again.
Before their eyes, the suit appeared again. This time an older man was inside it.
"Ow! My back!" The older man said.
"What is this?" Steve asked.
"Can I get a little space here?" Bruce asked.
"Yeah yeah. Can you bring him back?" Steve asked, hurrying over by Natasha to see the van better.
"I'm working on it!" Bruce said, aggravated as he hit the side of the button pad.
The suit appeared again, this time with a baby inside.
For a moment, they all stood frozen.
"It's a baby," Steve stated.
"It's Scott," Bruce stated.
"As a baby!" Steve said as Ellie gasped.
"He'll grow!" Bruce said.
"BRUCE!?" Ellie said in disbelief.
"Bring Scott back!" Steve told him.
Bruce motioned to Natasha to go to the breaker, "When I say kill the power, kill the power."
"Oh my god," Natasha said as she hurried over to the breaker box.
"And... Kill it!" Bruce yelled.
Natasha pulled a level, and the power cut off to the van and the instruments. Normal-sized Scott appeared back.
"Somebody peed my pants," Scott announced.
"Oh, thank god," Natasha said in relief.
"But I don't know if it was "baby" me or "old" me...Or just "me" me," Scott said.
"Time travel!" Bruce shouted, holding his hands up.
"What the fuck!" Ellie announced as Steve stared at Bruce and looked away, shaking his head.
"What? I...I see this as an absolute win!" Bruce announced as Steve walked away out of the hanger.
"What the hell are you talking about, an absolute win?!" Ellie said, "Unbelievable, that was an absolute fail! Scott, honey, go take that off. We will clean it, and I'm going to do it."
"No!" Scott, Bruce, and Natasha all yelled.
"Why the fuck not? I think I can control it," Ellie told them as she heard tires squealing, "What the hell is that?"
Looking through the windows, she saw a car drawing closer in the distance, "Who the hell? Shit, that is Tony. Has to be."
Ellie hurried to the front of the building to see Tony getting out of his car.
"That's the EPR Paradox. Instead of pushing Lang through time, you might've wound up pushing time through Lang. It's tricky. Dangerous. Somebody should've cautioned you against it," Tony told him.
"You did," Steve told him.
"Oh, did I? Thank God I'm here. But, regardless, I fixed it," Tony said, holding up his hand with a bracelet-like device on it, "A fully functioning Time-Space GPS. I just want peace," Tony told Steve as he made a peace sign leaning on the car, "Turns out, resentment is corrosive, and I hate it."
"Me too," Steve told him.
"We got a shot at getting these stones, but I gotta tell you my priorities: Bring back what we lost? I hope, yes. Keep what I got? I have to, at all costs. And, maybe not die trying will be nice," Tony told him.
"Sounds like a deal," Steve told him as he held out his hand to shake, and Ellie smiled as Tony shook it.
They broke their handshake, and Tony went to the car's trunk. Opening the trunk, he pulled out a blanket with a stuffed dog on top then Ellie saw the familiar red, white and blue.
"Oh my God, it still exists!" Ellie gasped as Tony dumped the stuff off it.
Steve swallowed hard as Tony held it out to him, "Tony, I don't know," Steve trailed off.
"Why? He made it for you," Tony told Steve, causing Ellie's throat to constrict as he flipped it around, "Plus, honestly, I have to get it out of the garage before Morgan takes it sledding." Tony told Steve as he looked at Ellie, who had tears in her eyes.
Steve took it on his arm as Ellie wiped the tears that started to fall.
"Thank you, Tony," Steve told him.
"Will you keep that a little quiet? Didn't bring one for the whole team," Tony said, looking at Ellie, "I'm guessing it was big for her back then."
Steve turned and looked at Ellie, "Yeah."
"We are getting the whole team, yeah?" Tony asked, getting a case out of his trunk as he let it close.
"We're working on that right now," Steve told him, "Trying to find everyone. Bruce thinks he has a lead on Thor."
Tony nudged Ellie as he walked back, "Who knew Agent Gorgeous was a big sap."
"No, that shield meant a lot, and I honestly thought it was lost. I hadn't seen it since I returned," Ellie said in disbelief, "Is it the same one?"
"With some minor changes and upgrades," Tony told her.
Steve stopped in front of her, and Ellie couldn't help but touch the cool metal which sang under her fingertips.
"Want to hold it?" Steve asked.
Ellie shook her head, "No, no. It's not mine. It never was."
"You never would hold it," Steve told her as he flipped it over and held it out.
Ellie's heart skipped as she took it. It weighed surprisingly more than she thought it would. Flipping it, she put it on her arm, "Wow, no wonder you always had more muscles on that arm. It's heavier than I thought," Ellie said as she looked over the shield at him.
Steve smiled, "You look good with it."
Ellie breathed, "This was one of the last things Bucky touched with his natural arm, wasn't it?"
Steve nodded, and Ellie threw the shield. It hit a tree and then bounced back to her as she caught it with her hand like a Frisbee.
Steve swallowed hard as he looked at Ellie over the curve of the top of the shield, "I looked at Buck, as the Winter Soldier, holding my shield just like that once," He sighed.
Ellie swallowed hard and handed Steve the shield, "I better go inside."
"El-" Steve trailed off as Ellie turned and went inside.
Ellie wiped away a tear that fell down her cheek and saw Natasha hooking the fueling line up to one of the Quinjets, "Hey Nat, what's up?"
"I think I narrowed down some leads to where Clint will be next," Natasha told her, "I have to go."
"Be careful," Ellie told her as Natasha walked up the ramp. Ellie stood back as Natasha rose the hanger door and then taxied off to take off.
Ellie wrapped her arms around her body, sighing, closing her eyes, trying to even her emotions as the lights started blinking around her.
Putting her hands out beside her, she rose and flew through the hanger door before it closed.
*~*~* August 1, 2023- Irvington, New York *~*~*
Steve came to the kitchen early in the morning of Ellie's 104th birthday to find Scott pouring cereal for all the kids, "Morning, Scott."
"Morning, cereal?" Scott asked.
Steve frowned as he took a bowl from Scott, "Where is Ellie?"
Scott shrugged, "Isn't today her birthday? I figured she was just sleeping in."
Steve set his bowl down, "Ellie doesn't sleep in."
Running up the stairs, Steve walked down the hallway and quietly opened Ellie's bedroom door. When walking through the office, he noticed the lights blinking, and once inside the bedroom, he saw Ellie's body stiff and her back arched.
"Ellie!" Steve yelled as he ran over and shook her.
She didn't respond, her head wobbling to and fro.
Feeling her pulse, he sighed in relief as he felt one. Placing his hand on her forehead, he felt a weird sensation as she sat up and bumped her head into his, "Oww!" "Fuck!" Ellie yelled, grabbing her head, "What the hell, Steve?"
"You were unconscious!" Steve told her.
"I was asleep!" Ellie told him as she got out of bed.
"That was more than just asleep," Steve told her, watching her pace, "I was shaking you and saying your name and nothing. You weren't responding."
Ellie sat down and sighed, "I have a hard time, Steve. I feel like I'm constantly being weighed down. It is this crushing weight that is always on me."
"The only time it doesn't is when you visit Bucky," Steve stated.
"Even that doesn't help sometimes," Ellie admitted.
"That's what you were doing, wasn't it?" Steve asked, "Visiting Bucky? You know you should limit your visits to the past, Ellie. We can't risk something being changed."
Ellie sighed, "I'm not visiting Bucky in the past. I haven't in a while. So I haven't felt the need to," Ellie looked at Bucky's empty side of the bed, "Do you believe in soulmates, Steve?"
Steve put his hand on hers, "If anyone in this world was soulmates, it was you and Bucky."
"Is Bucky and me," Ellie told him.
"We will get them back," Steve told her.
"What if," Ellie bit her lip, "What if I already have him back? Not all the way, but what if he is here?"
Steve looked at her, confused, "What are you talking about?"
"Before everything happened, Dr. Strange, you know who he is, right?" Ellie asked him.
"The sorcerer, magician, or whatever he was, yes. Tony mentioned a few things about him in the past," Steve told her.
"Before, well, before everything happened, Dr. Strange came to me. He told me that I had a large part in the future," Ellie admitted, "And he started training me. Skills that he thought would be important in the future. There are whole worlds, Steve, that we cannot see. The Quantum Realm, I knew about it before Scott came back. He also showed me how to project myself into the astral dimension. It is a plane or place where the soul can exist outside our bodies. Strange showed it to me, for me to practice what he taught me while my body slept. One day I got so overwhelmed I just stepped out of my body for a second."
"Stepped out of your body?" Steve asked in disbelief.
"I saw Buck," Ellie admitted.
"Huh? You stepped out of your body and saw Bucky," Steve asked, confused.
Ellie shrugged, "I don't know how, but he is here with us right now, and the kids can see him too." Ellie looked at Steve and saw the look he was giving her, "I know, I sound crazy. But, you know Jimmy, Grant's best friend. The one Becky talks to also?"
"Her tea parties? That's normal," Steve told her, "Sarah also has tea parties."
Ellie sighed, "What is something that only Bucky would know? Like a deep dark secret that not even I know."
Steve sighed, "Ellie, you know I don't have any secrets from you."
"Not even one?" Ellie asked.
"Not even one," Steve told her.
Ellie closed her eyes and projected herself into the astral dimension.
"He is such a liar," Bucky told her, shaking his head from his spot on their bed.
"So what is one of his big deep dark secrets?" Ellie asked.
"Well, I caught him a Peggy in a compromising position once where she was straddling him. It probably made them not have their first kiss when they should have. Did they ever have one?" Bucky asked.
"Yeah, right before he got on the plane that crashed into the arctic. Come on, think, Buck, what is one big huge secret that you know, that I don't," Ellie told him as she laid down on him.
Bucky bit his lip, "Well, his first kiss wasn't who you think his first kiss was from, in fact. It didn't mean anything, but it was just to shut him up."
Ellie sat up, "Who?"
"Me," Bucky admitted.
Ellie pushed back into her body and started hitting Steve.
"What the fuck, Ellie?!" Steve said as he held his arms up, trying to shield her.
"What the hell, Steve! You kissed him before me?!" Ellie asked, hitting him.
Steve caught her arms, "He fucking told you?! You bastard, where is he?"
"My God, Steve," Ellie huffed.
"Of all the fucking things you tell her, THAT has to be the big secret?" Steve asked the air as he paced.
"He told me about you and Peggy and him walking in on you two as well," Ellie told him, looking back at Bucky's side of the bed.
"That bastard interrupted a possible moment for us," Steve pouted.
Ellie smiled, "I can almost hear him laughing."
Steve smiled, "So he is here?"
"Yeah," Ellie said, "When I talked to him, he was lying back on his pillow."
Steve stared in the direction, "How did this happen?"
"I don't know, and he doesn't know either. He said the last thing he saw was with you, in Wakanda, then it was like he was flying," Ellie swallowed hard as she looked at her wedding picture, "Then he was with me. Stuck with me. Tied to me in a way he never signed up for."
"You know he wouldn't take it any other way. So the kids can see him?" Steve asked.
"He said he can interact with Grant and Beckie. Kasie will talk to him but doesn't see him. Remember when my heart was stopping?" Ellie asked as Steve looked over at her, "He was trying to watch over the kids at night. Somehow we are bound, and if he goes too far, my body can't take it. He is bound to me, tied to me. He can't leave. What kind of life have I subjected him to, Steve?"
"Well, I can't see him, but I know he would say it to us both if he could say it right now. He wouldn't have it any other way. Instead of being dusted into nothingness, El, he got to see his kids grow up. It wasn't the way any of us would have picked, but he is here. Eventually, we will find a way to get him back, Sam, and everyone else," Steve told her, "Tony thinks he found the way. We have to believe in it."
Ellie glanced in Bucky's direction, "It's going to work."
Steve patted her leg, "Now come on, it's your birthday. I will make you waffles with strawberries. The kids are excited about their gifts to you too. Although, now that I know what I know, I feel one of them is more from Buck than from them."
Ellie smiled as he stood up, and she took his hand. He pulled her off the bed into his arms, "Thank you, Steve. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Steve kissed her head, "I love you, sis."
"I love you too," Ellie told him, "Let's get downstairs before Scott gets excited and shrinks down or something to look at my presents."
Steve laughed, "I could see him doing that too, but don't worry. The suit is locked up at the compound."
Ellie scoffed, "You know, he doesn't have to be in the suit for it to shrink. He could have it in his pocket right now."
Steve paused, "What?"
Ellie laughed as she shut the bedroom door behind them, "Yeah, he has these disk things. I think its blue means big and red means smaller."
Steve looked around, "So he could be anywhere?"
Ellie laughed so hard that she snorted as she climbed into the elevator with Steve following.
*~*~* August 4, 2023- Irvington, New York *~*~*
Pulling into the driveway, Ellie noticed the QuinJet landing in the backyard. Parking the car in the garage, she got out and walked to the backyard to greet Natasha. As the ramp came down, Ellie stood at the base, "Hey Nat! Welcome home!"
In the doorway, two figures appeared.
"Nat, this isn't a great idea," The man said as he saw her.
Ellie smiled, "Hello, Clint."
Natasha walked down the ramp, "Sorry I missed your birthday, El."
"It's okay," Ellie said, holding her hand out to Clint after he walked down the ramp.
"You don't want to touch these hands. They are the hands of a killer," Clint told her.
Ellie took his hand in hers, "I'm not proud of it, but I've killed people in my past too. I worked with SHIELD and MI6. I did things that I am not proud of too. You lost yourself, but you are here. So let people back in, Clint. Let us help you."
"God, you are Cap's sister," Clint said.
Ellie laughed, "Yeah, I am. Come on, it's dinner time, and Steve isn't cooking. Don't worry."
"Cap still can't cook?" Clint asked.
Natasha snorted, "He is getting better but still isn't doing well."
"So how big is little Cap now?" Clint asked.
"Too big, five and a half years old and full of spunk," Natasha said as Ellie tripped, "Ellie! Are you okay?"
Ellie looked up, "Nat, I need to talk to you."
Natasha stepped back, "Clint, go ahead inside. Just inside the garage, there is an elevator. Go to the first floor. We will meet you there."
"Are you okay, Ellie?" Clint asked.
"Yeah, I just need to give my leg a minute. I injured it a few years ago, and it's gone numb," Ellie said, looking at her legs as she put them in front of her and rubbed them.
"I can carry you in," Clint offered.
"No, go ahead in," Natasha told him with a smile, "We will be right in."
"Alright," Clint said as he walked up to the house.
Natasha looked at Ellie, "Ellie, when are you from?"
Ellie let out a shaky breath, "Hey, Nat. God, I miss you."
Natasha wiped the tear from her face, "You always were the worst poker player. When are you from?"
"2025," Ellie told her.
"How long have I been gone?" Natasha asked.
"Too long. We figure out how to bring everyone back, but we have to make some sacrifices," Ellie told her as she wiped her face, "Every night, I think about it, and Bucky rolls over and tells me to go back to sleep. That I can't change anything."
Natasha shook her head, "And you shouldn't."
"I won't tell you what happens, but there are some people that I feel that you need to meet. So tonight, we are going for a walk. Tell me that you think it's time to meet Rose. I'll know what that means," Ellie told her.
Natasha looked at her, confused, "But I have met Rose."
"There are some things you need to know, and she can help me," Ellie told her, "Just please, tonight, let's go for a walk."
"Is it that important?" Natasha asked.
"Yes," Ellie told her, "Yeah, it is."
"Tell me one thing then. Does everything work out alright?" Natasha asked her.
"For a while, no," Ellie admitted, "I get lost. I get Bucky back, but I lose so much at the same time," Ellie took a shaky breath, "But things are looking up. It's still crazy, but it always will be in this crazy world we live in. We have lost our compass and are just trying to find who we are. I have to go. Steve probably has started talking to Clint and knows I fell. He will be out here soon, plus I have to get back to the baby. I love you, Nat."
"Love you too. Wait, baby?" Natasha asked.
Ellie winked before laying back on the ground.
"Fuck," Ellie groaned as she pushed herself up, "I fell?"
Looking around, Ellie noticed no Clint, "Wait, did I travel?"
"Yeah, future you came to visit. Tonight, you and I are going for a walk. You told me that it was time to meet Rose?" Natasha asked, confused.
Ellie sat back on her bottom and sighed, "It's getting close then."
"What does Rose have to do with anything?" Natasha asked as Steve came running out of the house.
"Everything," Ellie told her as Steve reached them, "I'm fine, Steve. I just had to take a second."
She took his hand as he pulled her up, "See, my leg is fine. But unfortunately, my hands and face took the brunt of the fall. I swear I have dirt in my teeth," Ellie said, running her tongue over her teeth, "Gross."
*~*~* August 4, 2023- Evening- Irvington, New York *~*~*
Walking up to Rose's house, Natasha followed Ellie across the sidewalk.
"I can't believe I've never been here," Natasha told Ellie.
"There is a reason for that," Ellie said as she rang the doorbell and tried the door, "It's me!" Ellie announced as she walked inside.
Rose entered the foyer, drying a glass, "Hey, wait, why is Natasha here?"
Ellie let out a breath, "It's time, Rose. Time is almost here. She deserves to know."
Rose set down the glass, "Oh no. That's why he's been getting grumpier, hasn't it?"
"Probably. Where is he?" Ellie asked.
"In his study," Rose told her as Natasha looked at her, "When you are done meeting with my Dad. I'm here. I'm going to make some calls first."
Natasha looked at Ellie, confused as she followed her through the house and saw a picture, "Her Dad was one of the Howling Commandoes, wasn't he?"
Ellie glanced at the picture and stared, "Yeah, he was. Come on."
Following Ellie down the hallway, they stopped at a door that Ellie knocked upon and then opened, "Hey, are you up for some visitors?" She asked, barely looking in the door.
"You and who?" Steve asked from his chair next to his fireplace.
"Me and Natasha. It's time," Ellie told him.
"Yeah, it is," Steve said as he swiveled his chair.
Ellie opened the door and held it open for Natasha.
Walking inside, Natasha looked around the room and saw Steve, "Hello, you must be," Natasha paused, staring at him, "What is going on?"
"Nat," Steve said as he slowly stood up.
Tears instantly gathered in Natasha's eyes, "Time travel, right? I die. You go back to Peggy. What about Sarah?"
"You think I'd leave her behind?" Steve asked in disbelief, "I would never let her lose her Mother and her Father. What is our daughter's middle name?"
"What are you… Rose," Natasha breathed out, "Oh my God, so Annabelle is my granddaughter?"
"Great-Granddaughter, actually," Steve told her as he pulled her into his arms, "God, I miss you, Nat."
Natasha hugged him back, "You got old."
"Well, I went back to the early 50s, then lived my life. As we always said, I got a life, Nat," Steve told her.
Natasha smiled and placed her hand on his face, "I'm so happy for you, Steve."
Steve took her hand, "Ready to meet your family? If I know Sarah, she already has made some calls."
"Tell me about them all. How many children did you and Peggy have?" Natasha asked.
"Two, James and Lizzie," Steve told her.
Natasha looked at Ellie, who nodded, "They inherited more from you than from Peggy. I remember Ellie telling me about them at different points finding her."
"Yeah, they were never interested in the spy world much. Although Lizzie did work for SHIELD, it was Sadie that ran into Ellie. Couldn't help herself," Steve said with a chuckle as Annabelle came out of her room, "Annabelle."
Annabelle looked at Steve, "She knows?"
"I know," Natasha told her as she pulled her into a hug, "You look so much like me before my life went crazy. I can't believe I didn't piece it together."
"Mom has reddish hair too, she dyes it, but it's a strawberry blonde," Annabelle told her as the front door opened.
"Hey, Mom, why did you want me to come over?" Amy asked.
"Amy?" Natasha asked in disbelief, "Shit Steve, Peggy taught them nothing."
Steve chuckled and coughed, "Nope, and I got rusty when I became Mr. Dad."
"Don't let him sell himself short. He stepped in where it was needed," Sarah Rose told them with a pointed look at Steve, "There were enough business trips that I knew better. You may have had super strength, but one starts recognizing favoring a bullet wound after a while. Hi Mom."
"I can't believe you are all grown up," Natasha said, walking close to her.
"We tend to do that," Sarah told her, "It's been so hard for me not to say anything. I wanted to so bad."
"I know, honey," Natasha told her, "But I'm here now."
Sarah pulled her into a hug.
"This isn't right. You got his height," Natasha said as tears leaked out of her eyes.
Ellie cleared her throat, then squeezed Steve's hand, "I'm going to go home."
Steve smiled, "Tell him I said hi tonight."
Ellie gave him a sad smile, "I will."
Ellie laid back on her bed and settled in for the night. Then, relaxing, she separated from her body.
"Hey, Angel," Bucky said with a smile.
"Hi," Ellie said as she kissed him, "I assume you got Steve's message."
"Yes, how are you doing?" Bucky asked.
"Doing as well as I can," Ellie told him as she laid on his chest, "It's getting closer, I have a feeling, so time is moving slow. But, at the same time, we lose so much just from what Steve said, so I'm afraid."
Bucky kissed the top of her head, "We just have to take every moment as it comes, Angel."
Ellie folded in on herself, "We go to the Kindergarten walk-through tomorrow. The teacher should be able to meet you."
"They will. We have to give it time," Bucky said, kissing her shoulder.
Ellie ran her hand down his arm and laced their fingers together, "I miss you."
Bucky kissed her, "I'm right here."
*~*~* August 6, 2023- Esopus, New York *~*~*
Ellie leaned against the countertop in the kitchen at the Avengers compound as the smells of browning beef and chicken cooking in taco seasoning washed over her, "It was nice of you to make dinner, Bruce."
"Glad I could help. Rocket and Nebula should be here soon. I figured out where Thor is, and we are going to try to get him to come back," Bruce told her.
Ellie pushed off the counter as Scott walked into the room, "Scott if you are hungry, we have some of the taco things ready. I have lettuce here, tomatoes here, and many kinds of cheese," Ellie said as she pulled the cheese out of the fridge.
"Thanks," Scott said as he started building himself some tacos and then wrapped them up.
"So Bruce, do you think you can get Thor to come back?" Ellie asked him as she handed Scott an empty cup of ice to fill with whatever drink he wanted.
"I am going to try," Bruce told her as Scott went outside with his tacos, chips, and drink, "Thanos affected him. I'm not sure if he will still be interested. They built a new Asgard in Norway. Hopefully, he will be okay with leaving his people."
Ellie built him some tacos, "This is going to work, Bruce. We will get it to work," Ellie said as she paused as she heard a noise, "A ship is inbound."
Bruce looked out the windows, "It just landed. It's the Benatar."
"Go ahead, get going. I'll clean up," Ellie told him as Bruce put his bag on his shoulder
"Thank you, Ellie," Bruce said as he walked outside with his tacos.
Ellie started wiping down the countertop as the doors opened, and she looked back, " Hi Nebula, we are having tacos. Go ahead and have some."
"Thank you," Nebula said as she walked over as Rhodey walked inside the compound.
"Ellie! It's nice to see you," Rhodey said as he stepped out of the War Machine armor.
"Are you hungry?" Ellie asked him, moving aside so Nebula could make some tacos, "Bruce and I made enough to feed a small army."
"I ate before I left home, but thank you. Where is Tony?" Rhodey asked.
"In his office with Steve, they found Dr. Pym's old notes, and they are going over them to see if they can make the Quantum Tunnel into a bigger device," Ellie told him as she watched the Benatar take off.
Rhodey nodded, "Is Nat back?"
Ellie glanced at him, "She found him."
Rhodey blew out a breath, "How bad is it?" Rhodey asked, coming close to her.
Ellie bit her lip, "Mentally, bad. Natasha is struggling because he isn't the same person he was."
"Death and pain will do that to us," Nebula said as she took her plate to the table.
Ellie sighed, "Yeah, it will. But, unfortunately, I don't think any of us can return to what we once were."
*~*~* August 7, 2023- Irvington, New York *~*~*
Ellie sat in the living room listening to Grant read one of his readers to her.
Ellie frowned as she heard the sound of the spaceship that had taken off from the compound, "Keep reading, Grant. Momma will be right back."
Walking to the balcony, Ellie opened the doors and then walked onto the balcony to see it land.
Slowly walking down the stairs, Ellie stepped out onto the grass as the ramp lowered.
Rocket appeared at the top of the ramp, "Ellie!"
"Hello Rocket, how are you?" Ellie asked as he walked down the ramp.
"I'm alive. Better than that fatso on my ship," Rocket said as Bruce came down the ramp with someone following him.
Ellie sucked in a breath as she realized the man that was getting off the ship was Thor.
"Ellie, sorry I didn't call, but we were wondering if you have an extra room for Thor," Bruce said, looking at her.
Ellie smiled, "Of course I do. Scott is using one of the rooms upstairs. I can get the other one cleared out for you."
"No, I don't want to be a bother," Thor told her.
"Not trouble whatsoever. I hope that room will be needed soon, so I should get the boxes out anyways. It's just the kids' old stuff anyway," Ellie told her as she walked over to him, "You saved my life once, Thor. It's the least I could do."
Thor swallowed hard, "At least I could save someone."
Ellie linked her arm in his, "Come on, have you all eaten recently?"
"Do you have any alcohol?" Thor asked.
Ellie frowned, "I don't like to keep alcohol in the house because of the kids, but I have a small amount locked up."
Thor looked up the stairs as they reached them, "What have I become?"
Ellie swallowed hard, "Pain does things to a person, Thor. Not great things, but things we have to work hard to overcome. I lost myself too; you know, after Bucky disappeared."
"It's all my fault," Thor said sadly.
"No, it's not. I'm talking about the 1940s before I met you for the first time in 1987. I'll tell you about it inside," Ellie said as she glanced back at Bruce and Rocket, "Are you guys coming inside?"
"Me and Big Green are heading back to the compound," Rocket told her.
"If you need us, you know where to find us," Bruce told her.
Ellie fluffed a pillow and put it on the bed.
"You don't have to make this much effort for me," Thor told her.
"As I told you, this is nothing at all," Ellie told him as she pulled the covers up, "Do you have any clothes?"
Thor cleared his throat, "Not many. I have lounge pants and some t-shirts."
Ellie laid her hand on his arm, "I have to go to the store. I could always pick up a few things."
"This late?" Thor asked.
"I prefer to go after the kids to go to bed. Steve is usually there to watch them; I can get in and out fast. I don't have to worry about buying a million extra things," Ellie told him as she looked at him, "I know it is late for you. If you want to get some sleep, I'll get out of your hair."
Thor walked over to the bed and sat on it, "Feels as if it were made from the finest Asgardian sheep."
"I hope that is good. Is there anything you want from the store?" Ellie asked him, picking up a folded blanket that had been Grant's.
"Beer?" Thor asked, hopeful.
"How about a good salad?" Ellie asked.
Thor chuckled, "You are a good person, Miss Ellie."
"I just do my best," Ellie said as she left the room.
*~*~* August 14, 2023- Irvington, New York *~*~*
"Kasie, be careful!" Ellie yelled as she saw Kasie jump off the swing.
"You are a great mother, Ellie," Thor told her, watching all the kids around them.
Ellie looked over at him and smiled, "Have you ever thought of having children?"
Thor looked out at the playground and stared at the children playing, "At a time, my Jane and I talked about it, but then she broke up with me through a letter. After that, I do not know if it would even be possible. Jane is so small, and I am so," Thor swallowed as he pulled his hoodie down, "But I would love to have children someday. I may be over 1,000 years old, but I want someone to spend the rest of my years with."
Ellie rested her hand on his, "At the right time, you'll find her. Maybe Jane will come back into your life. Life is an adventure, and we never know where we will end up."
Thor looked at her, "If Tony's plan works, what will you do?"
"Cherish every moment with Bucky that I can," Ellie told him honestly, "Live every moment to the fullest."
"If it works, please do it. My biggest regret is not being there more for Loki," Thor told her as Grant walked over to them, "Hello."
"Hi Thor, do you like dogs?" Grant asked.
Ellie rolled her eyes, "Even if Thor likes dogs, that doesn't mean you are getting one. We have Alpine, and he is enough."
"He pees all over the house, Mom," Grant whined.
"Because the girls chase him around, and he gets excited sometimes. He is good at using the litter box otherwise," Ellie told him, "Momma can't be there all the time to take a dog out. Plus, a dog will poo all over the house."
"All over the house?" Grant asked, disgusted.
"Yeah, and you know the Starkuum that Uncle Tony gave us? I've heard too many stories of them running over the poo and it going through the house," Ellie told him.
Grant sighed, "Alright, no dog. Can I go pet Peter's dog?"
"Go ahead," Ellie told him with a smile.
"Thanks, Mom!" Grant yelled as he ran off.
Ellie looked at Thor, "Were there dogs in Asgard?"
"Similar, but much bigger than the ones here on Earth. My sister Hela had a monstrously huge beast," Thor told her.
"Yeah, we don't need those here," Ellie said as she thought back to her past and sat back against the bench, "When I was younger, we couldn't have a pet. Steve couldn't be around them because of his asthma. So when he and Bucky got an apartment, they were never allowed a pet, then he became Captain America, and we never had a home until this one to even think about having a pet."
"I had seen photos over the last days of Steve before he was Captain. He was tiny," Thor remarked.
"I used to be so scared about his health back then," Ellie admitted as she thought about Steve, who had lived all those years without her, and his health was now declining, "I still worry about him."
"Are you older, or is he?" Thor asked.
Ellie looked at him, "We are only a year apart. I'm the youngest, but I had to grow up fast when he was sick. Our Mother did her best but was a nurse, and after losing our father, she had to work extra hard to keep everything going. Long hours, less sleep, but she did her best to be there for us."
Thor looked over at her, "Then there is a lot of your Mother in you."
Ellie sucked in a breath as tears built up in her eyes, "Thank you, Thor. I do my best. I'm proud of you, by the way."
"For what? I have done nothing," Thor said, confused.
"Despite all that has happened to you. All the death and heartaches, you are still here. You are just trying to keep going the way that feels okay at this moment," Ellie told him as she swallowed, "At my weakest, I've run away from those who loved me. I changed who I was and even tried to end my life. People think I am so strong physically. Maybe I am, but I'm not as strong. I'm constantly fighting with my mind," Ellie took a breath, "The anxiety, the depression, doesn't go away just because we are supposedly super."
"No, it doesn't," Thor told her sadly, "I thought these thoughts were just my own."
"No," Ellie shook her head, "Not at all. You know where to find me if you need someone to talk to."
*~*~* August 20, 2023- Esopus, New York *~*~*
Ellie sucked in a breath as Scott stepped into the lab in the same suit she had seen herself wearing in her past. Glancing at her reflection, she saw the expensive sweater that Natasha had given her for her birthday and the messy braid she had done to her hair since she didn't take time to shower this morning. She swore when she looked exhausted and tried not to cry when she realized what today held for her.
Turning to gather herself, Scott looked at her, confused, and touched her arm, "Are you okay?"
Ellie smiled, "Yeah, I'm okay."
Looking out to the hanger, she saw Thor opening a can of soda pop as Tony was bringing in a bunch of wires to the quantum platform. As he walked past Thor, she heard him say, "Drifting left. On the side there, Lebowski."
Ellie sighed, "Tony! Be nice!"
Tony glanced in her direction and waved a hand as he looked at Rocket, who was working on the platform, "Ratchet, How's it going?"
Ellie sighed, "No wonder he hates humans," Ellie mumbled.
"Rocket. Take it easy. You're only a genius on Earth, pal," Rocket told him as Thor burped.
Ellie turned back as Rhodey walked past her into the lab. Ellie walked into it behind him to see Nebula start working on Scott's suit as Bruce went through telemetry for the suit's computer.
"Time travel suit? Not bad," Rhodey told them.
Bruce walked over and tried to put the vial of Pym particles in the suit.
"Hey, hey, hey! Easy, easy!" Scott yelled, looking up at Bruce.
"I'm being very careful," Bruce assured him.
" No, you're being very Hulky," Scott retorted.
"I'm being careful," Bruce replied.
Scott held up the vial to Bruce, "These are Pym Particles, alright? And ever since Hank Pym got snapped out of existence, this is it. This is what we have. We're not making any more," Scott said frantically.
"Scott, calm down," Rhodey told him, holding his hands up.
"Sorry. We've got enough for one round trip each. That's it. No do-overs. Plus three test runs," Scott said as he put the vial in his suit and closed it and briefly disappeared, then reappeared, "Two test runs."
Rhodey sighed.
"Alright, I'm not ready for this," Scott said, overwhelmed.
Ellie stepped into their view, "I am."
They all looked at her.
"No, no, Ellie," Bruce said as she cut him off.
"I've been in just about every meeting. I've talked to Scott about what it is like in the Quantum Realm. Okay, honestly, I've viewed some of his memories of it," Ellie admitted.
Scott frowned, "You can do that?"
"Guys, I think until we know for sure. I'm the best person to do this. I can control time," Ellie said, looking at all of them, "I can control technology. If it doesn't work, I can get myself back."
Bruce looked at Rhodey, who shrugged, "We have to call a meeting."
"Well, I'm going to let you guys know that Steve is going to say no," Ellie told them.
Rhodey stuck his head out the door, "Hey guys, can you all come in here?"
"I say we give her a chance," Nebula stated.
A few minutes later, Natasha, Steve, Tony, Clint, and Rocket, filed into the lab.
"What happened?" Natasha asked.
"Look, we only have two more vials-"
"What happened to the third?" Steve asked her.
"Never mind that," Ellie said, giving him a pointed look, "I want you all to think about something. The suit runs on technology, and we are trying to harness time. That is two things that I can control-"
"No."
"Steve, Damnit, just listen to me," Ellie said, aggravated, "I'm not saying that I'm going to control it. This is an experiment, and we need a control. I'm going to use the suit as intended, but if something goes wrong, I'm the one that can get back. No one else is."
Natasha looked at Steve, "She does have a point."
"If I go back, and get stuck, which I won't. I can control the computer and the time circuits. I know I can," Ellie told him.
"There are just too many things-"
"Steve, I know I can because I've seen myself," Ellie yelled.
"What?" Scott asked.
Ellie sighed, "Tony, remember when Bucky and I had to come here because Bucky cut into his leg?"
Tony nodded.
"We were sitting at the bar in the kitchen, and I had just finished talking to Vision. I made some stupid comment about my powers and how if I could ever physically travel, I'd return to that moment. I did it. I was there. I watched myself, wearing exactly what I'm wearing right now, walk over and kiss Bucky. I said something about being pulled back, and then I was in that suit that Scott is wearing, and I was gone. It works."
Natasha looked at Steve, "Steve, she is your sister, but she is right."
"She is Steve. She is the best person for the job," Tony told him.
Steve sighed, "Fine. Fine, get the suit on."
Everyone watched Steve storm off, and all but Natasha and Scott followed him.
"El, it's not that he doesn't trust you," Natasha assured her.
"He's trying to protect me, but I have to do this, Nat," Ellie told her.
"I know, and he does too," Natasha said as she left the lab.
Scott looked at her, "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I am. Scott, what is the shelf life of those particles?" Ellie asked him.
Scott frowned as he handed her the bracelet that held the suit, "Ellie, why?"
"I know this is going to be my only chance to go to the past," Ellie looked around, then held up another vial.
Scott gasped, "How did you get that?"
Ellie bit her lip, "Peggy's secret storage. That's why I need to know what the life of these particles is."
Scott paced, "I'm not sure, but Hank used one of the older ones once he had first created for my first suit."
Ellie nodded, "Okay."
"When are you visiting?" Scott asked.
"I'm going to go visit my Mom. I'm going to give her a picture of our family so she can see them," Ellie told him.
"Ellie, that's risky," Scott told her.
"She was dying. She couldn't even see my face for the last three weeks of her life. So I have to," Ellie told him as she held his arm, "Don't tell Steve."
"That's why you were wondering if you could control it," Scott realized.
Ellie nodded, "And I know that I do it because Mom told me, and I saw the picture next to her bed."
"Picture?" Scott asked.
"The picture in the kitchen that Natasha has of our whole family which is black and white. It was next to my Mom's bed. I realized it after I visited her last time. This has to be when I go visit her," Ellie told him, "I need to use the bathroom anyways. Tell them I'll be there in a few moments."
"Alright," Scott nodded as he left the lab.
Ellie hurried to the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. Then, splashing water on her face, she looked at her reflection, "Well, nothing I can change right now."
She walked out of the bathroom and ran past the kitchen where Natasha had a family photo. Grabbing it, she put it into the back of her pants under her shirt, double-checked that the Pym particle was in her pocket, and returned to the hanger where everyone was standing.
Steve looked over at her, "Are you sure about this?"
"Positive, I've seen myself. The world didn't blow up. I know it was me, and I look exactly like I do now," Ellie told him.
Steve sighed, "Okay."
"Now it's going to be like your worst drug experience ever going through the Quantum Realm," Scott told her.
Ellie frowned, "Well, I've never done drugs, so it's going to be weird, got it."
"You will probably throw up. Just keep your helmet shut. It protects your brain," Scott told her, "I believe in you."
"Thanks," Ellie said as her stomach went into knots as she climbed onto the platform.
"Last chance, gorgeous," Tony told her.
Ellie bit her lip as she tapped the bracelet and the suit went on her body, "I'm ready to see Bucky."
"Okay, so at what time was it?" Bruce asked.
Ellie closed her eyes and remembered, "The clock on the microwave said 3:15, so take me back to 3:14."
"At least the location will be easy," Bruce said as he entered the coordinates.
Tony tapped her shoulder, and the display presented the coordinates and date listed.
Ellie closed her eyes and changed it to 3:13 am to test her capabilities.
"Bruce, you typed 3:13 am," Tony told Bruce.
Ellie opened her eyes and looked at Scott, who let out a breath, "It will be fine. I won't notice anyways until 3:15."
"Alright, I will countdown from five and then send you. So you will have five minutes, then I will pull you back," Bruce told her.
"Got it," Ellie said as she looked at Steve, "Don't be so worried."
"I love you," Steve told her as Natasha approached him.
"I love you too, goob," Ellie said as she looked at Bruce, "Let's do this."
"5… 4… 3… 2… 1."
Ellie felt like she was being sucked through a straw. Racing through a tunnel of light, her legs hit the ground and nearly buckled if she had not put her hands out to steady herself with her powers.
"Holy shit, it worked."
a/n3: Yeah! I promise there will not be as long a wait between this chapter and the next as this and the last chapters.
To the reviews:
Tuckerjpn1: FF was having issues for a while. I hope they are resolved and you will get the notification for this chapter.
Musicluver246: Thank for so much for reading and reviewing. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Preview of Chapter 119- Lose it all
Steve narrowed his eyes, "What did you do?"
Ellie reached into her pocket and pulled out the folded piece of paper, "I hacked the suit."
Steve unfolded the paper, "This is Mom's writing."
"I hacked the suit and went back to see her. I stole the picture of us from the kitchen and brought it to her. It was black and white, so it blended in with everything else. Plus, you know, all her belonging were burnt after she died. That picture left with her," Ellie told him, "She said she wrote it and wanted us to read it together, so go ahead and read it."