A/N: Hey guys! Here's the next chapter, not much really goes on in this chapter, sorry. Enjoy.
Steve and Lilith sat at starbucks an hour later waiting for Maria's sister-in-law, Anna, to show up. The child was oddly quiet, which wasn't like her at all and usually she was talking a mile a minute and everyone had to tell her to calm down.
"Uncle Steve?" She asked quietly, getting up and walking over to him.
"Hm?" He asked, picking her up and setting her on his lap, keeping a firm but gentle grip on her.
"Is Auntie 'Ria okay? She seems sad. Did you get into a fight?"
The fact that Lilith knew that Maria was upset said a lot. Ever since the fight with her father, even before then, she had seemed increasingly distressed. Usually she was all cool and collected, but when she was upset about something, she was unpredictable. Everyone knew it was only a matter of time before she blew up. Before he could even get a word out, a woman who seemed to be in her early thirties with long, brown hair holding a baby carrier entered the shop.
"Hello, Steve, how are you?" She asked, taking a seat across from him and setting the carrier down on the ground. Anna was a part time police officer whereas Danny, Maria's brother and Anna's husband was a full time officer. At this moment in time, she usually left Ryder, who was sound asleep in his carrier, with John or Emily, but since neither were available, she had to bring him everywhere that day.
"I'm good. Yourself?"
"Good. And Lilith, how are you today?" She asked, giving the little girl a kind smile as she brushed a gentle hand along Lilith's cheek.
"Good. I guess." She answered, sighing and looking away from the older woman.
"Ready to go? We're going to have so much fun over the next couple of days. We can bake cookies, and you can be my little helper to take care of Ry. How does that sound?" Anna asked, and Lilith reluctantly nodded and got off Steve's lap.
"Tell Danny I said hi," He said, giving the woman and baby a friendly smile before kneeling down to Lilith's height, "Be a good girl for Anna, alright? You're going to be her little helper and if at any point you miss us and want to talk, feel free to have her call us."
"Okay Uncle Steve." She said, giving him a hug before taking Anna's hand.
"We'll see you soon. Tell Maria that we hope she feels better."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Steve asked, standing up and facing the woman.
"Last week when I last saw her. She was so stressed out with everything that's going on that it's making her sick."
Steve only nodded and Anna left, making Steve sigh and call Maria.
"Yes Steve?" She answered, sounding as though she had just woken up from a nap.
"How'd you know it was me?"
"You know, Steve, there's this great thing called caller ID," She answered, laughing, "How'd it go?"
"Pretty good. She went without a fight. How are Natasha and Clint?"
"Taking it pretty hard. Can't say I blame them though. They just got her back only to lose her again. They're at the store now, trying to take their mind off it."
Steve sighed, "Yeah, well, it's not forever. Have you guys figured out what to do in regards to Nebula and Thanos?" He asked, leaving the coffee shop and walking to his car.
"No, unfortunately."
"Well, the only way we can possibly beat her is if someone wears that necklace."
There was silence on the other line
"Steve, you just gave me an idea."
"Uh huh. So anyway, what's this that Anna tells me about making yourself sick?"
"Steve, I would really love to chat, but you just gave me an idea! I love you!"
Steve couldn't even get another word out before the line went dead.
Maria walked into the kitchen where the guardians were sitting down talking.
"So, Steve and I were talking and...no Emily i'm not!" Maria said before her sister could get a word out of her mouth and Maria gave her a pointed look.
"What was the kid about to say?" Rocket asked, looking from Maria to Emily.
"She's hoping the words that come out of my mouth are 'I am pregnant.' but that's not gonna happen for awhile," Maria said, sighing, "Anyway, Steve and I were talking and decided that the only way to beat Nebula and Thanos at their own game is if someone wears the necklace."
"But the only person who can even wear it is Gamora."
"No, Maria is strong enough to wear it too." Emily said, pointing at her sister, "I'd wear it, but the last time didn't go too well." She added, shrugging.
"Wait...you wore it?" Drax asked in disbelief.
"Yeah. It was too powerful for me. Memories from my childhood came back and hit me full force and there was like a voice in my head telling me to kill my family. It scared the shit out of me and I spent three days in jail until it stopped."
"So it can also work like a mind control device almost?"
"If you can't handle it, then yes." Gamora answered.
"So, this is the plan. Maria is going to wear the necklace and Emily is going to play bait. Nebula will force Emily to take her to SHIELD and she'll open the safe and it won't be there, but Maria will be wearing it." Peter answered, an arm around Gamora as he explained it.
"I am Groot."
"Groots right. She'll know something is up when no one is in the tower."
"Life model decoys." Was all Maria said, yawning, "Now that that is all taken care of, i'm going to go to bed."
"But we have not had dinner yet." Gamora said, looking at Maria suspiciously.
"I had something earlier!" She called, disappearing into the elevator.
"She's lost weight."
"Totally has."
"I am Groot."
"Oh come on, guys! She's stressed and it's taking a toll on her body." Emily answered, defending her sister.
"I am Groot."
"Groot is right, kid. It ain't healthy." Rocket told Emily as Natasha and Clint came in with bags full of ingredients.
However, they waited until the rest of the Avengers arrived back to tell them the plan and surprisingly, they were all on board with it. For the most part. They just needed a plan for in case Maria experiences what Emily did when she wore it and something told them that she wouldn't like spending three days in jail.
All they had to do was wait.
A/N: Let me know what y'all think! Please review because the faster you review, the faster I update :)