Bucky ushered Kayla and Wanda back to the Avenger's quinjet while Sam and Carol handled the press and cleanup. Once the back of the jet was closed, Kayla fell to her knees and wept as Wanda sat beside her, massaging her back comfortingly, trying to hold back her own tears. "Kayla... where have you been all this time?"

Kayla sniffled, wiping her snot away on her arm, "I've been raising my kids with Steve. The past four years while Nat's been undercover I've been sending her anti-serum and an antidote for cyanide." Kayla shook her head sadly as she tried to lift her eyes to meet Wanda's, "There was nothing I could do to stop him from killing her." A bitter laugh escaped Kayla's throat, "I told her... I told her it was a suicide mission. And look at this, I was right." Kayla dropped her head into her hands and Wanda wiggled her fingers around Kayla's head, and Kayla raised her head as Wanda stole away her memories of Natasha's corpse, easing the pain in the cruelest way possible- taking it away.

"Wakanda needs us now," Wanda muttered and Bucky lifted his head to look out of the windshield of the jet. Wanda grabbed Kayla's cheek and the woman leaned into the witch's slim fingers, "Kayla, we need to take you home."

"No. I need to go to Wakanda. I owe them that." Kayla raised her head, feeling her heart sink in her chest as more guilt sunk into her. "Has anyone heard from T'Challa?"

As if on cue, Sam opened up the back of the jet and led the rest of the team inside. His jaw was set tightly, and he rubbed his mouth roughly as he addressed Kayla, Bucky, and Wanda, "There's nobody left."

"What did you just say?" Kayla blurted, scrambling to her feet to meet Sam, "Nobody... left?"

Sam nodded nervously, "Our drone footage shows no survivors in the capital city. If they are alive, they are hiding well."

"There's no way Hydra got to T'Challa and Shuri, the Dora Milaje would stop them-"

"The drone footage didn't find any survivors, but it did find a lot of bodies." Sam interrupted, dropping his face to look at the ground, "We found- we found the King, the Queen, and the General."

Kayla felt her knees go weak and Bucky caught her, kneeling down to hold her as she leaned against him. Her legs crumbled as the repercussions of her actions years earlier fell upon her. If she hadn't taken the Soul Stone, if she hadn't gone to Vormir, if she hadn't freed the Red Skull...

This is all my fault.

"I did this. I need to fix this." Kayla whimpered as she struggled to find her footing and stand, but she realized she wasn't just weak from finding out she'd killed her friends. Kayla had a bullet hole in her shoulder that she'd been skillfully ignoring until now.

"No. You're going home. You've been shot, and you have responsibilities there. You shouldn't have been here to begin with. Natasha shouldn't have dragged you into this." Sam scolded, but Kayla could tell his jaw was quivering. He was sad. They'd lost Natasha again, and he was supposed to be her backup. Kate Bishop piqued her brow at Sam curiously, and the Captain sighed, "It's need to know, and not everybody needs to know." He turned to address Kayla, and her face reddened sheepishly at his words, "You're done. Shield will have your head if they find out you're alive. This stays here. You don't exist."

"Yes, sir." Kayla muttered sadly, hanging her head as Wanda pressed her hand against Kayla's shoulder, using her magic to apply pressure to her healing bullet wound. When Sam turned to address the two younger women, Kayla turned to Wanda and Bucky, "I'm so coming to Wakanda."

"No." Her friends replied in unison, looking to each other before Wanda took the lead, "You're going home. We'll be in contact if we need you."

"You will. Schmidt wasn't working alone. The lawyer... the lawyer... she was magic." Kayla looked up to meet Wanda's sad eyes. The Scarlet Witch knew her devastated friend was grasping at straws. She was remembering things the way she wanted to- not the way they happened. There were never any signs that Schmidt had a partner, only legions of followers who believed him to be a god. Kayla grabbed Wanda's wrist, "Wanda, please, you need me."

"I know you want to make things better, but..." Wanda trailed off, knowing what she was about to say would destroy Kayla. But it had to be said. "Haven't you done enough?"

Kayla pulled her neck back in shock, predictably offended by Wanda's accusation. "I've done so many things wrong, let me help do something right-"

"Your moral compass doesn't always point North, Kay. This is black and white. Good and evil. Evil won the battle, but we have to win the war." Wanda explained exasperatedly, rubbing the inner corners of her eyes with her ringed filled fingers. "Kayla, you mean well, but sometimes your well-meaning actions make things worse..."

"That goes for anybody!" Kayla shrieked, throwing her arms to her sides. "Anybody can make a bad call! Anybody can lead with their heart instead of their head!"

"Some people are more prone to it than others. Be careful what you wish for. The call might not come for you." Wanda warned as she stood and turned to join Cassie and Kate in their briefing with Sam.

Bucky pulled Kayla to her feet and her expression fell, understanding what Wanda meant. They'd call for Steve, but not her. The Avengers thought she was a loose cannon. She'd almost forgotten they were right.

"Cap, I can take her home." Peter offered as he raised his hand. His Spiderman suit was self-mending, quickly working to bring the red and blue suit back to its former glory. Sam met Peter's eyes, trying to figure out what the man's ulterior motives were. Sam was well aware that Peter had a pregnant wife waiting for him back in New York, which made his offer to take a detour for the former President's daughter even odder.

Sam groaned and shrugged, "Sure, get her home safe. Make sure she stays out of trouble." Bucky moved to protest, about to offer to take Kayla home, but Sam didn't give him the chance, "Barnes, I'm gonna need you to come with us to Wakanda."

Bucky closed his mouth, unable to protest, and just nodded. Kayla caught the disappointment in the soldier's eyes, and it wasn't just because he didn't want to go to Wakanda. He wanted to come with her, and it wasn't to see Steve.

As dawn broke over Tony Stark's lakeside cabin, Peter drove into the yard in the small rental car he'd gotten once they'd landed in New York City. He drove them several hours until they reached Tony's and now Peter wasn't sure if he was ready to face his idol. He was bitter that Tony hadn't reached out to him over the past eight years since the battle with Thanos at the Avenger's Compound. He was ashamed that Tony had been alive to see the disaster that was giving EDITH to Mysterio... and the man consequently revealing Spider-Man's secret identity to the world. Above all though, Peter Parker was just anxious to see the man who changed his life again after all this time.

Kayla turned to Peter, seeing the man clenching the steering wheel tightly and staring at the log cabin nervously. He'd been here before. He remembered the funeral. He remembered laying Tony to rest... but he'd heard his voice. Tony was alive.

Kayla bowed her head a little to look at Peter, studying his expression, "He doesn't know you're coming. You could drive away, and he'd be none the wiser."

"No." Peter answered quickly, looking at Kayla with wet eyes, "No, I really want to see him."

Kayla nodded, reaching for the door handle, "Let's go in then."

The woman led the way toward the log cabin, slowly turning the knob and finding it open. She looked around, seeing all the lights were off and the house was quiet. Kayla pulled her grey sweater around herself, letting it bring her comfort as she found her voice, "Steve?"

Suddenly she heard a snort as the man startled awake, sitting up from his spot on the couch at her voice. Zawadi heard it too and lifted his head from the floor where he slept beside his master. Steve blinked a couple of times, letting his blue eyes focus on his wife, "Kay? Kay!" Steve leaped over the back of the couch and embraced his wife tightly as she flung her arms around him. She squeezed him tight, pressing her cheek against his chest as she began to sob helplessly.

"Sounds like the Mrs. is home-" Tony called quietly as he jogged down the stairs. His voice caught in his throat when he saw who else stood in his doorway. "Peter."

"Mr. Stark?" Peter asked nervously, unsure if he could believe his eyes. Afraid it was a trick, an illusion. It couldn't be real. Something so good couldn't be real.

"Hey Kid. You... you look good." Tony told Peter softly, looking the man up and down, "I guess you aren't a kid anymore."

Before he could say anything else, Peter stumbled over to Tony and threw his arms around the older man. Tony grunted as Peter threw his face into the crook of his neck, holding Tony too tightly, but Stark said nothing. He just hugged him back and pressed a kiss against the man's cheek as he silently sobbed.

Kayla pulled away to look at Steve with a quivering pout, her green eyes telling him more than her words ever could. Regret. Sadness. Shame. All Steve could do was comfort his wife and try to make her understand that it wasn't her fault. Not completely.

Both of the Rogers looked toward the stairs as the sound of sticky little feet walked across the wooden floor. "Mom?" James's voice wafted from upstairs and Kayla shifted so he could see her, fighting back her tears to appear strong for the boy. He came flying down the stairs at terrifying speed but Kayla was able to catch the eight-year old nonetheless, clenching him against her.

"I'm home. I'm never leaving you again."

"Mom!" Sarah's voice echoed her brother'ss as she ran down the stairs as well, losing her footing and beginning to fall before Steve lunged forward and caught her at the bottom, setting her back on her feet before she ran to Kayla and embedded herself into her mother's side.

"I love you both so much." Kayla whimpered to her children as she knelt on the floor. Sarah had nuzzled her head against Kayla's bullet wound but the super-soldier worked hard to not wince. She just needed to hold them. As Sarah stayed close to her mother, James backed away and stared at Peter curiously as he pulled away from Tony.

"You look like Spider-Man." James blurted, causing every adult in the room to stare at him in panic. Peter looked to Kayla and she shook her head, telling him to keep the truth from her son.

"I'm, uh-"

"This is Peter, he's a friend of Uncle Tony's. He gave your mom a ride here." Steve explained easily, but James shook his head, unconvinced.

"No, no I'm pretty sure he's Spider-Man. Spider-Man's name is Peter." Realization dawned on James's face and he looked bashfully at his father, "Maybe Uncle Tony didn't know...I'm so sorry, Uncle Tony." James blurted to Stark and the billionaire laughed, clenching his boy on the shoulder and giving him a long look.

"I can see it, James. I think you might be right. I think Peter might be Spider-Man. Are you?" Tony asked teasingly and Peter looked between the boy and Stark nervously. Peter nodded slowly, offering James an awkward smile and a thumbs up.

James stared up at Peter with wide eyes. Luckily the question of how Tony knew Spider-Man didn't pop up, but Steve was sure it would only be a matter of time. Steve pat his son gently on the back to encourage him, "Go say hello. And thank you for bringing Mom back safe."

While James was preoccupied with Spider-Man, Sarah was still holding tightly to her mother. "Mom, I had a bad dream."

Kayla pulled away and pushed Sarah's blonde hair away from her eyes, "Really? What was it, sweetie?"

"I didn't wanna tell Daddy, because they were talking about you."

Kayla drew her brows in and tilted her head questioningly at the child, "Oh yeah? Who was talking about me?"

"There were these three ladies. There were two ladies- and they were talking about you. And- and a third lady who looked like a witch." Sarah spouted as Steve knelt down to listen in.

Kayla met her husband's eyes with her lips pursed thoughtfully. She looked back to Sarah, pressing a kiss to her daughter's forehead. "It's okay, the witch won't get you."

"She wasn't trying to get me. She was just there with the other two. She had green skin and black hair. Everything was wet. One lady had this really scary thing that was kinda spiky. I almost touched it in my dream but I woke up." Sarah clarified quickly as she let go of her mom to go talk to Spider-Man with her brother.

Kayla turned to Steve expectantly, "Has this happened before?"

"Not that she's told me." Steve shrugged nonchalantly as he and Kay rose to their feet, "She whimpers in her sleep sometimes, but she hasn't told me about any dreams. Kids have nightmares. James has nightmares too sometimes. I wouldn't be too worried about it."

Kayla nodded and swallowed hard, willing herself to agree with Steve. Nothing to worry about at all.

"Looks like you couldn't cheat the Soul Stone after all."

Natasha heard the voice and spun around, realizing the Red Skull had murdered her when she looked up to see the ceiling collapse. This was worse than death though. She was back in purgatory. Nat came face to face with Gamora, who now sat on a small bed against a wall. Natasha spun around, taking in her surroundings. The last time she was here it was a ballroom, now it appeared to be a bedroom.

Nat smiled sadly, "I guess I couldn't."

"Hey Bitch! Welcome to the party."

Natasha turned again and saw Tiffany leaning against the closet, still wearing the strapless silver dress she wore the night she died. Her brows were raised, but she didn't necessarily seem surprised to see Natasha. Tiffany was expecting Natasha to respond to her banter with a quick-witted response. Something familiar after spending seven years trapped in the Soul Realm with nobody she knew.

"Tiffany?" Natasha choked out, taking a weak step toward the little brunette. "Have you- have you been here the whole time?"

Tiffany tensed, laying her head back and looking down her nose at her old friend as she offered a bitter chuckle, "That's the problem with Schmidt. He thinks the more souls he takes, the more powerful he'll become. He's a fool. He doesn't wield the Soul Stone, he's only gathered power from it."

Natasha backed away from Tiffany, taking a seat on the small bed tinted orange. She was vaguely aware that the carpet was made of water. "He said I was the key to unlocking the power of the Soul Stone. I failed. I wasn't able to kill him before he completed his goal."

"Your death wasn't in vain though, Nat," Tiffany assured, pushing away from the closet door to get closer to the redhead, "Schmidt was wrong. Your soul had nothing to do with it..." Tiffany pursed her lips and looked around the room before changing the subject, "How's Kayla?"

Natasha couldn't help but smile a little at the mention of their mutual friend, "She's Kayla. Passionate. Overdramatic. She's a wonderful mother. I regret that I didn't get a chance to get to know the kids."

"Never say never." Gamora mumbled from her spot next to Nat, "Our time in the Soul Realm isn't indefinite. We are only here until we are broken out."

Natasha looked from Gamora to Tiffany, waiting for her to corroborate the stranger's story. Tiffany nodded and forced a sad smile, "She's right. Lucky for us Schmidt doesn't have the Stone."

"But he thinks he does?"

"Exactly." Gamora explained, looking at Tiffany expectantly.

The small brunette played with the hem of her dress anxiously, then looked toward the closed closet door, "The Soul Stone has a sentience of its own, and it enhances and changes its host. Good becomes great. Bad becomes worse... now where have I heard that before?" Tiffany mumbled, lifting her head to look at Natasha.

Natasha crosses one leg over the other, leaning forward as Tiffany opened the closet door. Tiffany pulled out Captain America's shattered shield from the closet, holding it tightly in her small hands, "Strength and power mean nothing if you don't have the humility to use them. She'll find her strength soon enough." Tiffany stared at the shield chopped apart by Thanos himself, "She is her father's daughter."

Author's Notes

Siobhan- It was so terrible losing Nat again, and I went back and forth for such a long time about Wakanda, but this brings our heroes to rock bottom and shows that there's a real threat here. Unfortunately, we haven't seen the last of character deaths yet...

CurlyOne- I found myself writing down a path where there were no consequences for the characters, and I realized that Hydra hadn't done their worst yet. This is it. This is their worst. And it's going to cause a ripple effect through the Avengers and their allies...