A/N: PHEW! After working on and off on this most of the day… HERE WE ARE! There will be A LOT of action ahead, so brace yourselves!

FIRST… THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart, for your absolutely amazing reviews, love and support! They mean more than you know. (HUGS)

Awkay… Are you ready? Are you SURE…? Here we go, anyway… LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!

… Lead to Siberia

Steve's heart thundered with the kind of hope he hadn't expected to find anymore when they were slightly further from Edith and he stared at Bucky. "You're… free?"

Bucky swallowed hard. "Yeah, for now. For a moment. When… When she tries to control a lot of people… Sometimes she slips." His friend's haunted eyes were full of despair. "Listen, 'cause… I don't think we have long. She… She's going to active the other Winter Soldiers. Really soon. And, what she's planning on doing with them, and me… You have to stop her. You hear me? You've gotta stop her. Even if it means going through me."

Steve's flutter of hope died a fast, brutal death. For a few moments they didn't have to waste he couldn't even breathe. "Don't…!"

Bucky's flesh hand was laid on his shoulder. Warm, solid, comforting, grounding. The same he remembered from when he was a naïve sixteen-year-old from Brooklyn. "I hate this, too. I… I hate what I've become. What I've done. What you've done because of me. Steve, I'm sorry." For a moment tears shimmered in the man's eyes but then the soldier gritted his teeth, pulled himself together for a battle. "But this… This is bigger than either one of us. We can't… We can't let her win." Bucky inhaled sharply through his nose. "I… I've got no control over this. So… I need to know that Captain America's still fighting for what's right. Whatever it takes."

'Whatever it takes.' It was the most painful promise Steve had ever given, because a part of him already knew just how much pain it would bring him. But he nodded, because there was no other choice. Then pulled his friend into a hug that was so tight it might've hurt. His jaw was clenched tightly as he closed his stinging eyes.

/ "… 'till the end of the line…" /

For a second Bucky was too stunned to react. Then held back with the arm that wasn't made of steel. "Hey, stop that! The good guys always win eventually, remember?" Those words were a pale hint of comfort. "It's gonna be alri…" It happened with the snap of fingers. One moment Bucky was there. The next he wasn't.

Steve felt the change far too vividly. Bucky shivered, then pushed him away with the metal arm. His posture unnaturally straight, the soldier sat to the room's bed to wait for orders. Eyes cold and distant while the mind behind them turned into something like ice.

And Steve felt all alone once more, with the weight of the world on his shoulders.

A few rooms away Edith's eyes opened and flashed. Instead of the building around her, her focus was somewhere much further. The Maximoff girl's attention just slipped. Only for a moment. It wasn't enough to allow her to latch on, but it was quite informative.

Her son was still alive, somewhere out there, on his way to her.

Well… Edith smiled icily. If he was so eager to come back to her… Then it was her duty as a mother to arrange a welcoming committee.

She closed her eyes once more and allowed her mind to roam.

Thaddeus Ross had been going through yet another report of a clash between mutants and humans when the telepathic call came. It was so sudden that he gasped, his eyes widening. The mug of coffee he'd been holding fell to the floor and shattered.

'Don't feel so shocked. When you ask as little questions as you do, you're bound to find allies like me', Edith mocked him. 'Now, unless you want the whole world to know about the deal you made with me… Bring someone to me. I want you to see what the government's money you showered me with purchased.'

The past two days since Bruce's arrival had been an emotional roller coaster for Laura. (Which was something she'd forced herself to get used to since finding her son screaming as he watched the footage of his dad dying, the boy's hands sparking with flames.) As it turned out Cooper needed help with trying to control his newly activated powers. But they were a part of him, and it was more than likely that over time and with help he'd grow used to them. Unlike his father, who had his powers suppressed until adulthood and received the serum that sent his whole body to an overdrive, the boy only needed to deal with something that was natural to him. Which didn't make the child's currently instability any less problematic. And then there was the issue of dangerously high fever.

With all the impossible emotional load she'd been trying to shoulder lately, Laura was beyond glad that she had Bruce for support. Neither of them felt like talking much. They both wanted to protect her kids. And they both missed Clint.

Aside Natasha, of course, Bruce was the only Avenger who currently knew about her and the kids. Him finding out was an accident, caused by Clint murmuring her name when the archer was injured. Since then the scientist had stopped by at the Farm three times, when Clint still needed medical attention after discharging himself or Bruce needed a break from… everything. Someone knowing and visiting had startled Laura at first, but she'd trusted her husband's judgement. Now she was glad she did. (She tried not to think about how much it felt like Clint had been making sure that she'd have someone helping her, just in case…)

That evening the two of them were going through the base's medical supplies, trying to find something stronger than what they'd had so far for Cooper's pain and fever. For obvious reasons the whole place was surrounded by security cameras. One of the monitor rooms was almost right next to the medicine room. It was unmanned when Laura walked by, and for some reason her gaze locked on the screens. What she saw made her blood turn to ice.

The place had exactly two entrances. Someone who'd covered his head with a hood was at the emergency one, opening the door and letting a single person in. Laura's eyes widened when she recognized Thaddeus Ross.

Bruce jumped at the sound of her dropping the medicine packages she'd been carrying. He frowned, green sparking in his eyes. "Laura? What's…?"

"We don't have a lot of time", she interrupted him sharply, hurriedly. Her throat felt painfully dry when she gulped. "Ross just arrived. We both know what he's here for. You need to go, now. Take…" Her voice broke from fear, pain and stress while she grabbed the nearest piece of paper and wrote. "Take the kids, and meet me there. I'll be there as soon as I can."

Bruce shook his head. The man's expression was incredulous. "I'm not leaving you!"

Frustration sharpened Laura's tone. "You're not leaving me, we're just scattering for a little while!" She took a deep, calming breath. "I'm not the number one name on Ross' radar. You are. I can't even imagine why he's stupid enough to come after you here, maybe he's desperate. Maybe he's figured that now you'd have to come with him calmly and willingly or risk the safety of everyone here. And me? Even if Edith would've told Ross about the kids and me Clint's…" She choked on the unbearable words. "… Clint's gone. There's no point in using us as a leverage against. But… if Ross, or his people, sees us together… They'll know that I'm still useful for something."

Bruce nodded stiffly, understanding her logic but not liking it.

Laura tried to smile. "You're also the only one around I trust with my kids. So go and get them. And… don't Hulk out. This place wouldn't withstand it. Keep your head down and leave, I'll do the same and see you soon."

Bruce nodded. His lips opened twice but in the end he decided not to waste time on finding the words. They went their separate ways, both hating it.

Laura picked up the packages she dropped earlier, all too aware of the fact that the clock was ticking. She was about to walk away when her steps faltered at the spine-chilling sensation of someone rubbing her mind. The most nauseating part was that the touch felt just a little bit like Clint. Edith's invasion lasted no more than a couple of moments and it was nowhere near a full grab. But it was enough. By the time Laura had recovered enough to run her path to safety was blocked.

Laura froze. The man standing in front of her wasn't Ross, who stood several steps further with a cold smile. One hand removed the hood while the other arm wrapped around Lila. (Laura should've known that her daughter was close…! Should've known…! She hadn't stopped following her everywhere since Clint's…!) For the first time since losing her daddy the little girl smiled, hope and joy radiating from her whole being. "Mommy, he said he'll take us to daddy!"

Only an adult heard the threat in the male-voice that spoke. Listening to him, she realized that they weren't after Bruce at all. (Of course they weren't. Stupid, stupid, stupid…!) "Hi, Laura. It's about time we meet. Seeing your precious little girl was a nice bonus."

Hours later Steve obeyed with reluctance and a great deal of dread when Edith ordered him and Bucky to the building's biggest room. In the past he'd been told to stay away from there. Now that he was finally allowed inside, he didn't know if he wanted to know what was there.

Darkness was the first thing he saw. In what little light there was stood Edith, a smile on her face. "You must've been wondering how this will all end. I have good news for you. You won't have to wonder much longer. Because all your former friends are on their way here and it's time for me to take action."

Steve stared at her incredulously. "They're the Avengers. And you're going to face them alone?"

Edith laughed. "Alone?" All the room's lights went on, blinding him. "What in the world makes you imagine that I'm facing them alone? I have you two… and them."

Steve's eyes widened a fraction when they accustomed to the light. Finally letting him see. And he wished he hadn't seen.

Winter Soldiers, at least seventy or eighty of them. All of them standing in ceremony. Waiting for Edith's orders.

"They could've used some more preparation time, but…" Edith shrugged. "I think they're quite ready for this. It'll be their very own graduation ceremony. And yours." She watched her miniature army with her head tilted. "Some of them are mutants… Others humans… All of them working together, in perfect harmony. Isn't it almost beautiful? They've all been programmed to tear down the Avengers." She smiled again, clearly enjoying his feelings. "Which side do you reckon is going to win?"

Steve clenched his jaw. He didn't care how hopeless things seemed. He wasn't giving up until the battle was through.

Obviously finding pleasure from his distress, Edith commanded her troupes. "Scatter! Man all entrances. Teams one to five, go outside for a welcoming party." Then her attention locked on Bucky. "As for you, Winter Soldier… One visitor is just about to enter. Go and handle him. East wing." Her eyes narrowed. "Kill him."

Bucky nodded and, with no emotion on his face, began to walk away. Steve wasn't able to just stand back anymore. He failed and betrayed Clint, and the thought of another former teammate dying on his watch…

Edith watched them go with visible amusement. "Have fun, boys." She tapped her head with two fingers. "I'll be watching and listening."

Steve and Bucky made their way to a massive hall that was even darker and more desolate than the rest of the building. Despair chasing him, Steve fought to reason and reach out. "Bucky, please…! I know you're there. And I need you to fight, got that? I need you to take over! You…" He landed a hand on his brainwashed friend's shoulder. Big mistake.

Bucky's metal arm moved in a flash. Within three seconds Steve was down, with such force that left the whole world swaying in front of his eyes. Bucky's metal hand fisted, fully ready to be slammed at his face. But, as it turned out, Steve didn't need to worry about having to fight his best friend. Because a blast hit Bucky, sending the man off him and down.

Steve turned his head quickly. His mouth went dry at the sight of a fully suited Iron Man landing steps away. The tension in the room was palpable.

Steve couldn't see the man's face. But Tony's tone spoke everything necessary. "Hey, Rogers. I'm sorry to crash your party. Or not."

Minutes later Natasha was making her way through the building. Suspicion had been nagging in the back of her head since she entered far too easily. She'd seen enough to never, ever trust something that was too easy.

Now, it would've been a good idea to wait for some sort of a backup. Or to do some research before going in. But all ideas of being careful flew to the wind when she received a picture of Lila's crying face, along with some chosen words. 'Come here if you want to see her ever again.'

The stairs down were so long that they felt endless. She spent the entire way bracing herself, wondering what sort of a trap Edith had in store for intruders. She wasn't disappointed.

Twenty of Edith's soldiers, men and women alike, waited for her. Their gleaming eyes followed her every motion. The fact that they didn't just gun her down immediately wasn't much comfort. She knew that they simply wanted to play with their food before tearing her to pieces.

Well. If this was her final battle… Then she'd go down fighting with tooth and nail. For Lila.

Saying that it was an unfair match would've been an understatement. Natasha used every single one of her skills and even succeeded in delivering several mighty blows. But she didn't stand a chance. Hit after a hit… Slam after a slam…

It wasn't a surprise that not before long she was on the floor, gasping and her head spinning. That was when one of the people attacking her, a ridiculously large man with dark hair and eyes, received a nod from a woman with shortcut hair. The permission to terminate.

Natasha fought back, of course. But a merciless hand crushed against her throat and then a gun was pressed against her head. There wasn't much fighting to be done after that.

Natasha's heart hammered and blood rushed when the man's squeezed the trigger, tighter, tighter. Until something tossed the man off of her, disarmed him and knocked him out. Natasha blinked twice when she saw… a kid, who grinned at her. "You didn't see that coming?"

And it wasn't the end of the bizarre. Out of nowhere red energy appeared like some sort of a fog, along with a girl she'd never seen before. Jaw clenched from intense concentration, the arrival threw her arms wide open. The soldiers flew at each wall like a bunch of ragdolls.

The last one left was the women who gave the kill order. She raised her gun against the girl, apparently having decided that she wasn't in the mood for toying with this one. A breath after the trigger was pulled the girl lifted her hand and the bullet froze into the air, so close that it almost touched her forehead. Three more shots were fired, with similar results.

That was when the soldier began to grow impatient. She would've most likely attacked, if it wasn't for the large hand laid on her shoulder. "I'd rather focus on the guy who can burn to ashes without even touching you", a shockingly familiar voice growled.

The soldier spun quickly. The newcomer was faster. The hand that'd been on her shoulder grabbed her wrist, hard enough to cause a nauseating sound. With the skill of a seasoned acrobat, the arrival slammed a boot-covered foot right at the soldier's face. She flew down and stayed down.

Almost comically slowly Natasha's gaze rose to meet the man's. To meet a pair of eyes she'd thought she'd never, ever see again. Clint smiled almost shyly back at her. "Hey", he breathed out. Then winced. "Nat, I'm so sorry I got you dragged into this. And I'm sorry…"

"Apologize for being alive and I'll break your face like you broke hers", Natasha snapped. Feeling so much all at once that it was ridiculous. She wanted to punch him. Wanted to squeeze his hand, just to make sure that he was really there. Wanted to… "As for dragging me into this… Not your fault, understood? Besides…" She shrugged. "I haven't been bored. Thanks for that."

The boy smirked. "I like her", he announced.

There was so very much she and Clint would've needed to say to each other. But they had far too little time. She nodded towards the kids. "Who are these two?"

"We're the backup", the boy explained like it was the simplest thing in the world.

"Wanda, Pietro, meet Natasha." Clint inhaled a deep breath, steel and fire filling his eyes. "Nat… She's got Lila, and Laura."

Natasha sobered quickly. "I know. Go find them." Seeing his lips open she narrowed her eyes. "I'm not leaving, Barton. You need help." She wasn't going to lose him just after she got him back.

Clint didn't like it but knew that he didn't have the words or time to argue her. "Wanda, help her make sure that we won't get company. Keep her out of our heads. Roadrunner, with me. Lila and Laura… They wouldn't be kept in the same place. We have to scatter."

Pietro rolled his eyes. "When this is over, we have to talk about nicknames. That was weak, old man."

"Do you want me to fry you crisp?"

Pietro snorted. "You'd have to catch me to set me on fire." The boy turned his head from side to side, stretching. "Keep up." And then he was off.

Clint growled, but it was half-hearted at best. "I hate it when he does that…" He then sighed and looked towards her. "Nat…"

"I know. So save it." Natasha gave him something that was supposed to look like a glare. "Be careful, you idiot." Don't you dare…!

Clint grinned feebly. "I'm always careful." And then he sped off, too, before she had the time to comment how bad of a joke his words were.

Outside the building a battle was about to erupt. Two sides, both armed with varying powers, braced themselves. And then they clashed.

All of a sudden thunder clapped, lighting up the night-sky. It was unnaturally loud and bright. Like something not from this world.

"Storm, was that you?"

"No… There's… a man…"

Something even louder than the thunder boomed when a man carrying a hammer landed, the ground bending under the one knee that touched it. About ten of Edith's soldiers made the mistake of charging for an attack. The hammer went down and the attack was officially over.

For a moment it was silent. Then, like a breath had been taken, the battle resumed. For most of them.

"Cool!" a young-looking girl with her brown hair on a ponytail exclaimed. Her eyes sparkled when they met his. "Are you a mutant, too?"

"No, I'm not. I'm Thor Odinson, from Asgard. I am here because it is now my duty to protect this realm. I am here to bring an end to Edith Barton."

"Join the goddamned club, Goldilocks", a very young male voice he'd never heard before huffed from behind him. "Are you gonna just stand there looking pretty or will you help us?"

Edith's razor-sharp focus shuddered when she heard a voice in her head. A far too familiar one, still rich with an accent. 'Hello, Edith. It has been far too long since our last talk.'

She growled. This wasn't a part of the plan. Somehow she managed to calm her mind. 'Hello, Charles.'

Clint didn't need anyone telling him where to find his wife. He heard her snarling, demanding to know where her child was, a long way off. Until she got far, far too quiet. Not very far from her he swayed, feeling something wet under his nose. He didn't need the awful smell of blood to know what it was. He gritted his teeth and willed the world to stop spinning.

Now that his gunshot wounds were roughly seventy percent healed, his body began to remember his original problem. It started attacking the changes it'd been put through with rage. He could only hope that he wouldn't crash until those he cared about could afford it.

His posture was straight and firm, free of all traces of weakness, when he entered the room. It took his all not to break down at the sight of Laura. She was in chains but her captor hadn't relied solely on those. Ice covered her arms and pinned them painfully to a metallic platform. Even harder than seeing that, however, was facing her eyes. To see the tears, shock, hope, love, relief and sheer terror filling them as she struggled visibly to believe that he was really there.

"Sorry about her being so quiet", Ross stated with a far too satisfied grin. "She's been told to stay quiet, for the sake of you and your daughter."

The flames appeared without him having to invite them.

"Oh, I remember that temper. But… Are you sure that you want to risk losing control of your powers while Laura's here? It happens so easily…" The new arrival snapped their fingers. "Like that. Remember how you used to break all my best toys? What if you break her, too?"

Clint shuddered, feeling like someone had stabbed him. He turned very slowly, to face a man he held when the other died. Memories brought a lump into his throat and tears to his eyes. "Barney, please…" He had no idea how his brother could be there. How the man was alive. At the moment it didn't matter. "Snap out of it. Whatever she's doing to your mind… Fight it. Don't do this." Don't make me choose between Laura and you, because you'd lose…!

His older brother stared at him. Then snorted incredulously. "Are you… Are you actually serious? Clint, you…" Barney laughed bitterly and shook his head. "You killed me, remember that? YOU KILLED ME!" Ice-crystals began to form on the older man's balled fists. "And mom brought me back! Which one of you do you imagine I'd fight for in this stupid little war?"

Barney outstretched a hand, sending a tidal wave of ice. Clint countered without a single hint of hesitation, his heart shattering in his chest. Fire and ice collided with a loud, ferocious hiss that sounded like a scream.

TBC

A/N: SOOOO… Oh boy. (chuckles and wipes away sweat) Everyone okay? That was rather intense…!

Bloody hell, Barney, you WERE NOT invited…! And who wants to make BBQ out of Ross and Edith? (lifts both hands) (Ross has officially graduated from an a-hole to a full-blown villain. His momma wouldn't be proud…)

(To anyone hoping that the tiny Winter Soldier mini-army (Bucky included) problem would be sorted now that Edith's mind is busy… No such luck. They're still programmed – and hell, anyone but Bucky would probably tear anyone to pieces even if they weren't…! Surely you didn't imagine that the battle would be over this easily…?)

(And in case you wondering… Nope, the kid sassing Thor wasn't Pietro.)

SO… Do you think everyone will live through this? Who wins the 'Best Dramatic Entrance' award? AND, most importantly… Was that ANY good, at all? PLEASE, do let me hear from you! Your reviews seriously make my day.

THE NEXT CHAPTER brings forward variations of two scenes that broke my heart. One from 'Age of Ultron', the other from 'Civil War'… (Doesn't sound good, does it…?)

Until next time! I REALLY hope that you'll all stay tuned for that one.

Take care!

SomeRandomHuman: LOL! Sounds like a solid plan. Let's hope that all the villains WILL get their arses kicked…

I REALLY hope that you'll enjoy what's to come as much!

Colossal thank yous for the review! Until next time.