Morning,

I woke up the next morning to the smell of bacon and coffee, I walked to the kitchen and saw breakfast ready on the table and Steve feeding James some breakfast.

"What's all this?"

"It's my day off for the next week, then I got to go to Africa."

"What's in Africa?"

"Rumlow"

"Wait Agent Rumlow?" I sat down next to him and poured myself a cup of coffee. "I thought he died when SHIELD collapsed."

"Hydra experimented on him now he calls himself Crossbones."

"Is he a pirate now?"

"He is up to some strange stuff in the Ivory Coast, Wanda is over there now to get recon."

"They let Wanda go in alone?"

"She's with Clint she'll be fine, besides she's had a great teacher."

"Dada" Steve quickly stopped talking and turned to James.

"What did you say?"

"Dada"

"That's right." I turned my head, I had never seen Steve smile so much before. "I'm dada."

Steve picked him up and raised him high in the air making James smile, Steve pursed his lips and made airplane noises that always made James laugh. As I watched the two of them together I felt everything was at peace.

Ring Ring

Until the damn phone, I stood up and answered it to let Steve play with James.

"Hello."

"Agent Rogers you're exactly who I needed to talk to." Fury said

"You know I'm temporarily not an Avenger right now?"

"Well vacation is over I need you back here."

"Somebody better be dying." I said

"Barton and Maximoff were compromised and Crossbones got them." He said "We need your help on this one."

"I'll make a few calls we'll see you at the base in a few."

I hung up and turned to Steve who looked concerned.

"Was that Fury?"

"Wanda and Clint got captured Fury needs everyone, including me."

"Who will watch James?"

"I'll call Pepper, she's always happy to babysit."

"Are you sure about this?" He put James down in front of his toys. "You've been out of the field for a while, and you want to go to a rescue mission."

"I'll be fine, I've done rescue missions before."

As Steve and I got ready Pepper drove up to the house to watch James, the weight of the armor on my body made old memories run through my head. Pepper said hello to the two of us and I gave her a hug goodbye before we left. When we arrived at the base we saw Natasha, Sam, Vision, and my dad in the room.

"Kida I thought you retired." My dad said

"Had to cancel it early." I said "So where's Clint and Wanda?"

"That's exactly why we need you." Fury finally entered the room. "I heard about your little magic trick when you were captured by Ultron. I'm hoping you can use that to find Barton and Maximoff."

"That type of magic is different from the one I was born with, it takes a lot of focus." I said "Luckily Wanda and I have been practicing on communicating with each other telepathically. I need to be in a quiet room, alone."

"Alright"

I followed Fury down the halls to an empty interrogation room, Fury closed the door and waited outside with the team. I sat on the middle of the table and took deep slow breathes.

"Wanda…Wanda can you hear me?" I said in my mind

"Kida is that you?"

"Yes good thing we practiced mind talking."

"Mind talking?"

"I haven't come up with a good name for it yet, but where are you?"

"Clint and I are in some old mining town, it's completely abandoned but there's Hydra agents everywhere." She said

"Is there any distinctive landmarks or signs you can see?"

"I can't see any signs, they put me in some type of cell. But it reeks of sulfur in here."

"Hang on Wanda we're coming."

I pulled my mind back to reality and jumped out to the hallway.

"Wanda is an old mining town, she smelled sulfur."

"I'll run a search." My dad said through his mask.

"Romanoff and Rogers get into the jet and prepare for takeoff." Fury ordered. "Stark, Wilson, and Vision take to the air."

"Got it, an abandoned sulfur mine a few clicks from Clint and Wanda's last location."

"Let's go."

Hours later,

Natasha flew the two of us over the drop zone, I grabbed a parachute and jumped down when the hatch opened. I saw my dad fly under me and shoot down at the agents below. I landed in front of a large warehouse and ran inside.

"Barton!" I called out "Maximoff!"

"Kida!" I followed Clint's voice and found him hanging by his wrists upstairs, I quickly cut him down and helped him onto his feet.

"Where's Wanda?"

"They separated us, she's probably in the mines."

I carried him to the quinjet and returned to the field to help the team. I smiled as I took down Hydra agents one by one. I moved my way down to the mine and found Wanda covered in chains.

"Wanda!"

"Kida you're here."

"Come on let's get out of here." I put her arm around my shoulder and carried her out. "Steve! Take Wanda to the jet."

Steve picked her up and carried her away, the fight continued to escalate until I finally saw Rumlow. With the black mask with white paint on it. He stood on a large pile of wooden crates next to me.

"Kida Rogers, I was hurt I wasn't invited to the wedding."

"Ran out of seats."

"I'm gonna miss you."

I didn't know what he meant, then he pulled out his hand and I saw a trigger.

"Guys watch out!" I screamed, he pushed the button and smoke bombs around us exploded. "Everyone what's your location?"

"I'm in the jet with Wanda and Clint." Vision said

"Birdman and I are above you guys." My dad said

"Romanoff and I are down by the mine entrance, we can't see anything through the smoke." Steve replied

"I'm heading to the jet, everyone watch out f-"

I felt my breathe suddenly get cut off, I looked down and saw a blade sticking out of my chest.

"Kida?" My dad said "KIDA!"

"See you in hell Rogers." Rumlow whispered

His hand dug into my shoulder and pushed me off the blade, when I hit the ground I could feel more blood escape me with each heartbeat.

"What's happening out there?" Natasha asked

"Kida is down" My dad said

The smoke started to clear and I heard a helicopter approach me, my dad flew straight towards me and held me in his arms. His mask slid up and I could see the fear and pain in his eyes.

"Kida stay with me."

"I'm not going to make it." I mumbled

"Yes you are you can survive this." He was in denial, I gathered up the strength in my arm and grabbed his hand. He took off his gauntlet so I didn't feel the cold metal. "You can't leave me Kida."

"I'm sorry daddy."

"Don't be sorry you've done nothing wrong." He said and I saw the team run towards us. "You've been the perfect daughter and mother."

"Keep the team…together." I whispered as the sky lit up.

"Kida." I turned my head as my dad held me close.

"Steve find him…find your friend." I could see tears fall down his face. "I love you Steve."

"I love you too Kida."

"I love you all, you are all my family." I looked around me and I saw everyone trying to keep it together, I could see my dad start to tear up like Steve. "Don't worry dad it doesn't hurt…I feel no pain."

I kept my eyes open to the sky and lost myself in the tranquil silence.

Meanwhile,

"Kida?" Tony called out "Kida?!"

"Stark, she's gone."

Instead of tears Tony looked up with unfathomable rage, he put Kida down and flew up to follow the helicopter holding Crossbones. Steve gently picked her up and held her to his chest, he was reliving the day he lost Bucky but this time the pain was worse. Natasha turned her back away as she fought the tears, Clint put his hand on her shoulder and pulled her into a hug. Vision tried to keep Wanda in the jet but she ran out and saw her lying in Steve's arms.

She cried uncontrollably and turned to Vision for some comfort, the android simply hugged her and rubbed her back to try and help. Sam stood by Steve in silence, he didn't know what to do. How was he supposed to react?

"What's going on down there?" Fury blasted through everyone's earpieces.

"Kida's down." Clint said

"We'll send a medic."

"She's gone Nick."

As the team mourned on the ground Tony flew into helicopter and grabbed the man dressed as Crossbones. He ripped the mask off but it wasn't Rumlow, Tony hovered in midair and the gun on his shoulder came out.

"Where's Rumlow?!" He yelled "Where is he?!"

"I don't know, we switched when he took down the target." The man answered "None of the men were told where he was going. He's gone like your little girl."

"And you'll be like her."

With one swift move he let go and flew away as the man screamed and fell to his certain death. He locked onto the helicopter and fired, leaving no survivors.

Night,

"Ladies and gentlemen, working in the news we must report the truth. Every story out there is for the people, whether it be good or bad. When we must report on tragedies in the world it makes the job much harder. But we must report it." The anchorman said, the entire newsroom was quiet in mourning. "That is why, with a heavy heart, I must report beloved hero, icon, and Avenger Kida Rogers has passed away. We first knew her as Kida Stark, Tony Stark's beloved child. Then as cities around the world were put into war and thrown into danger, we knew her as an Avenger. A protector of the people, a hero we could look up to. We were told directly from SHIELD that Mrs. Rogers suffered a severe injury in the Ivory Coast while rescuing her fellow Avengers Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch. Her body is now in the Avengers Tower while the Avengers take their time to mourn over their fallen team member. Thor and Hulk haven't been seen but a sudden thunderstorm over Manhattan leads us to believe Thor has acknowledged the loss of his friend. The entire city and thousands of people around Manhattan have migrated to the Avengers Tower for a candlelight vigil and created memorials around the building. We have not heard from Mr. Stark or Kida's husband Captain Rogers, but we along with other news stations have agreed to not bother them at this time. For now we must unite to comfort one another and remember our fallen hero. I am Tyler Williams, of Channel Six News thank you."

The Avengers Tower,

The team walked inside while Helen Cho brought in Kida on a gurney, when the doors opened Pepper ran to Tony with red eyes.

"Where is she?" She cried and Tony tried to hold her. "Where's Kida?! It can't be true! Where is she?!"

"I'm sorry Pepper." He said with tears in his eyes.

"How could this happen?!" She started to get angry "How could this happen to her?!"

"Pepper where's James?" Steve asked.

"He's sleeping in Kida's room."

Pepper broke down when she mentioned Kida, falling to her knees with Tony holding her close to him. With one loud clap of thunder and heavy boots on the ground Thor walked in.

"Where is she?"

"She's with Dr. Cho." Vision said as he did his best to comfort Wanda.

Thor turned and made his way down to her office, when he looked through the glass wall he saw Helen cover a body in a white rag. She didn't notice his presence until he opened the door.

"I'll leave you alone for a moment."

"Thank you."

She closed the door behind her and the unsettling silence sunk in. He had to know for himself, he had to see it with eyes to believe it. He grabbed the sheet and pulled it back to reveal Kida's face, she still had the lively color in her skin. She looked like she was peacefully sleeping.

"When we were children I walked to Odin's room as he held you and made me promise to protect you. For thousands of years I have kept that promise, and when you were gone I promised myself that if I ever found you again I would never let you go. But I have failed Odin and I have failed you, I can hope that when we shall meet again in Valhalla, that I shall be worthy of your forgiveness."

He slowly moved down and kissed the top of her head that was still warm.

"I will always keep you in my heart sister." Thor turned his head when he heard the door open, there he saw Jane with Darcy behind her.

"No no no!" She ran in and held Kida's head. "Oh god why? Why did this happen?!"

Jane's head fell onto Kida's chest, Thor gently pulled her away and pulled her close to him. He could see Darcy crying in the doorway.

"What's going to happen now that she's gone?" Jane said through the tears. "What will do we do?"

"Odin will take care of the burial for now we shall mourn and try to move forward." He said "One step at a time."

Downstairs Natasha sat in the middle of her bed, decades of training have left her stone cold in the face of a fallen comrade. But she couldn't escape this one, the little girl she cared for like the daughter she could never have, is gone. A sudden knock on the door pulled her back to reality.

"Who is it?"

"It's me." Clint said

"Come in."

Clint opened the door and closed it behind him.

"Jane and Darcy just got here." He said

"How are they holding up?"

"They're devastated, Tony was able to calm down Pepper. Vision hasn't left Wanda's side since we got here and Steve is with James." He sat down on the chair next to the bed. "How are you holding up?"

"So far so good."

"You know you can always talk to me about anything." He said

"How can you be so calm?" She asked "I know you cared about her like you care about your kids."

"Someone has to stay calm, for the team." He said "But it still hurts me, I want her back as much as everyone."

"I still hear her." She admitted "Her laughter, her voice is still in my mind."

"She loved you Nat, remember that."

"And I loved her as much as I don't want to admit." She moved forward to sit on the edge of the bed. "How the hell are we supposed to move past this?"

"Together."

Chapter Song

Darkness keeps it's grip

How'd it come to this?

Please come back (x4)

To me

-Come to This by Natalie Taylor