Update 12-2-2020: I revised the prologue because I hated it. Carry on.

Hello all! Kelli here with the story that's been four years in the making! I think about a year ago I posted an author's note introducing the idea for this to the public, and I received plenty of excited responses, and now it's ready to be posted and enjoyed. "Why the gap?" you may ask, the answer is, at the time I thought it was ready to post, but little did I know that this idea would develop and become a whole series—a whole universe on its own. The idea was birthed from a thought and my love of The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes tv show. I wanted so badly for the show to continue, I decided to make it happen. And so comes Avengers: Generations.

This series will be a continuation of Earth-8096's timeline in real time i.e. moving from the year the series ended (2012), and span over several seasons, that is if you—the reader—enjoy it. I have big plans both for plotlines and my original characters, also including characters I feel should have been introduced or more incorporated in the original series. Avengers: Generations is set in the year 2042 and focuses on the legacy Tony Stark's Avengers left after the show, namely their children. This first chapter is a set up for the future, and may seem confusing, but as the story progresses, hopefully you'll start to see how everything connects. I plan on posting flashback chapters focused on a particular character that minds the gap left by the series and my series. So don't worry!

I just want to take a minute to thank all the people who have helped me with this story over the past four years. My friend Nicole, who encouraged me to pursue the idea to begin with. My good friend Asa, who has helped me and critiqued my work in its many developmental stages. The many shows and show writers whose shows I've drawn inspiration from such as Young Justice, Spectacular Spider-Man, Wolverine and the X-Men, and many more. My brother Joshua, for listening to me ramble on and on about my ideas. My mother, for proofreading and encouraging me. My dog Libby for putting up with my long hours of writing in bed. And my Beta reader, Penpal678910 for helping me in so many ways! She's why this story is ready to be read by human eyes other than the people listed, haha.

So, without further ado, my brain child, my baby, the universe in my head, Avengers: Generations.

Please enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel, Avengers: EMH! or the original characters and series from which this story stems. But I do own my original characters, places, plotlines and continuing timeline involved in the story, and hope one day Marvel will notice it.

Destiny is a perceived idea that specific circumstances or happenings are leading towards a specific event or clandestine purpose to make futures worth looking towards. Fate, or Kismet, if you will. I, however, think destinies are a crock. I've seen millions of possible futures and versions of this world, and none of these "destinies" involve a grand ending or divine happening. They all end the same way for me…but not for them. I didn't say I believe in my own destiny, but I do believe that every few hundred years or so, there comes a group of people the eternals—or whoever you believe in—ordain to change everything. I am not one of those people. Yet, I had the privilege of making sure this group survived on several occasions. May the Ancients forgive my interference, but I did what I had to do. I only hope they forgive me once they learn what I've done. I did what I did because of the millions of people born every day, they are among the few who must make it to the endgame. They must be pushed beyond what they know or think they're capable of. And I was the one to ensure that. Will they ever know me? Perhaps not, but my world—this timeline isn't the only one that will be saved because of them…the whole Multiverse is at stake. They must survive, but before that, their predecessors must pave the way for them to make right the wrongs to which I contributed. This is where their destiny begins.

New York City, New York. Monday, December 12th, 2016. 10:43 am.

Steve looks at his wristwatch again. This is the fourth time he's checked it in the past few minutes. There are few times in his life he's been this nervous. The first time he parachuted out of a plane into German territory. The first time he went on a solo mission leading his Howling Commandos. The first time he fought with the Avengers. The first time he led the Avengers after Tony stepped down to raise his family. The Captain's life has been full of nervous firsts, but this must be the crowning of them all.

His sapphire eyes gaze into the crowd beyond his place on the stage. More world officials file in the U.N. conference room every minute, making Steve more nervous with every new seat filled. He'd thought this through. They all had. It's not like this is some rash decision the team hasn't considered over a painstaking amount of time. Every possible outcome has already been discussed at length. All avenues explored, all opinions understood. That doesn't make today any easier for Steve and his family. Today is even harder knowing that his entire family can't be in attendance, but he wouldn't go forward with this if he wasn't sure they were behind him. This decision is all or nothing, and the Avengers must disband together, or not at all.

Those who could make it to the meeting sit in the front row of chairs in the United Nations' largest conference room. Hank and Janet sit together off to the side, hands intertwined. Jan didn't like the idea of the Avengers disbanding and had made it known at every meeting that she strongly disagreed. But as they all had been made acutely aware of, they were a team of superheroes in a world where superheroes were no longer necessary. Tony reminded them that the peace they'd spent their careers fighting for, was not only for the world, but for them to enjoy as well. Steve, like the rest of his team, had only ever imagined what the world might be like for them if they weren't needed, but was willing to give it a try. They all wanted to give this a try, and with the perfect opportunity to hand it all over to newly government-sanctioned SHIELD, they decided this was the right time to chase after a new life. Clint and Bobbie opted to go back to the only life they knew with SHIELD, but this time, together. The two sit next to the Pym's on the front row as they converse with Thor and T'Challa. The King of Wakanda stands among his friends in front while he waits to take a seat with his dignitaries. The Panther looks up at the Captain and offers a smile in reassurance. Steve acknowledges him with a quick glance at his watch, to which he replies with an upheld hand, silently reminding Steve to be patient.

Steve has always been patient in life, no one's ever needed to tell him be patient, but today's circumstances call for it. Especially as he waits anxiously for the rest of his family to arrive. Tony is late. Spider-Man is stuck at school but promised to watch the live-cast. Falcon was called in for a mission last minute with SHIELD even though Sam promised he'd be there. The Fantastic Four promised to be back from their new adventure in time to see the announcement over the T.V. The Heroes for Hire found a spot to watch in the standing room in the back. Steve knows somewhere above him, Carol is watching on the SWORD orbiter. Bruce is on his way to find his long-lost love in Maine, which Steve deemed more important than attending the newscast. Even with half his friends scattered to the winds, he still waits for Tony to get here before he starts. He needs Tony to be here. This team was his idea from the start, and it would feel wrong to finish without him.

Nick Fury approaches the stage with his protégé Quake close behind. Steve notices them and walks to the edge of the stage to greet them with a halfhearted smile.

"You've got quite a crowd gathering, here, Captain," Nick says. "You know, the board had a fit when they heard you and the team were breaking up. I can't say I blame you, though. It seems like too much trouble to stay together at this point."

"We have new priorities now. The world doesn't need us anymore, especially when they have you and Daisy to watch after them," Steve says, smiling. Somewhere down in that smile, however, his sincerity veils an underlying need to be needed. Something hard to explain but fueling his nerves. Because unlike the others, he has no home to go back to. No love to find. No family was waiting for him. The Avengers were—are his family. Young Daisy Johnson's soft voice speaks up unexpectedly.

"Sir, I know it's scary, but don't think of it as the end. Think of it as another chance to live your life your way. You don't have to be who the world needs you to be anymore. You can be yourself...no responsibilities attached. Think of it instead as a new beginning."

Nick laughs. "I've got a philosopher as my second, how's that for something new?"

Steve smiles. The young second-in-command is right and just so happens to be wise beyond her years. "Thank you, Ms. Johnson. I needed to hear that, more than you know."

The two share a wordless understanding as Nick leads Daisy to their seats to the right of the stage. Steve paces back to the podium where his notecards rest. They're worn on the edges from his fidgeting, but he picks them up to run through his address once more. The news people are getting restless in the pit below him, adjusting their cameras for what seems like the hundredth time. One of the producers motions to Steve, asking him how much longer. The Captain raises his hand in response, asking for a little longer. He's still waiting for Tony. He can't do this without Tony.

Minutes tick by as the room fills with people until there are no more chairs empty, only standing room in the back. Reporters, dignitaries, security officers, heroes, passersby…people from all walks gathered to hear from their hero and the team that made the world safe. Steve looks out at those in attendance, wondering deep down if this is the right thing to do. What if some villain tries to rebirth Hydra, or what if there's another alien invasion? What will the world do if Captain America and the Avengers aren't there? You're being pessimistic, Rogers, he thinks. The world is fine, it's in good hands…it's just not in your hands anymore.

A producer hails Steve from off stage, calling him to the edge to speak. "Sir, we really need to get this broadcast going soon, we're holding up every syndicated program in America right now, and that costs a lotta money."

"I'm waiting for Tony Stark, as soon as he walks in, we can start," Steve says. The producer huffs and scribbles something on his clipboard. He walks off and starts mumbling into his headset. Steve looks over to his friends, shrugging as he looks at his watch once more. This is starting to get embarrassing. He doesn't like making people wait, but in this case, he must. Tony Stark must be here, or Steve wouldn't feel right about it. He wouldn't feel right publicly executing Tony's brainchild unless he is here. Come on, Tony, the future is here waiting for you.

There's an uneasiness in the room, Steve feels it, everyone feels it. But then there's a feeling that someone is behind him, and as Steve turns around, he sees Vision phasing up through the floor.

"Greetings, Captain," says the android.

"Please tell me Tony isn't far behind," Steve says.

"He's approaching the conference room as we speak. However, mister Stark asked me to deliver this to you." Vision lifts a closed hand, unraveling his fingers to expose Iron Man's Avenger ID card. The same ID card he handed Steve the day he walked away from the Avengers, the day he told Steve he was handing leadership to him, the day he told Steve he was going to be a father. Steve hesitantly takes the card from Vision's palm.

"Thanks." The android nods and disappears into the floor, reappearing in the back of the room as Tony and Pepper appear, baby in tow. Steve locks eyes with the former man of iron as he squeezes through the crowd to get a little closer. Steve motions to the producer that he's ready and all cameras aim his way, red lights signaling that he is live. The Captain steps up to the podium where his notes sit, ready to be read off. Yet, Tony's ID card still resides in his hand. He hasn't let go of it because he knows it's Tony's way of telling him everything is going to be okay.

The producer gets Steve's attention and begins counting down with his fingers. 3…2…1…

"Good evening America, or should I say, Earth, I'm Lauren Lorenzo reporting live from the United Nations building in lower Manhattan, bringing you the long awaited address from the leader of the Avengers, Captain America himself, which was announced by the SHIELD director earlier on Wednesday. In attendance today are some of the country's most well-known heroes, as well as world leaders. However, I've been told the briefing will be…well, brief. Now, Captain America will address the world."

The reporter looks towards the Captain, as well as everyone in the room. All eyes all over the world rest on him. The weight presses on his chest as the lights and cameras focus in on his position on stage. He swallows hard and skims over the first index card, stumbling through an introduction of sorts. His team members look to each other with questioning eyes, wondering why he's so nervous. Captain America is known for being an inspiring communicator, but right now, he sounds like a middle schooler giving his first speech.

"On behalf of myself and my team, thank you for attending. We know it must've been alarming to hear when Fury announced we had an announcement to make…" he looks out to Tony, regretting silently begging for help. "But uh, we wanted to be sure that uh, that everyone knew ahead of time because it's important."

Tony starts frantically makes hand motions that look like a bad game of charades. Steve pauses to try to figure out what he means but the producer circles his hand, telling him to keep going. "But I don't want to keep you all waiting any longer, as you've already waited this long to hear what we have to say." Again, Tony flails his hands, and Steve sees him shaping his fingers to make a rectangle. Rectangle? Tony points at his hand that looks like it should be holding something…something like a card. Steve looks down at the ID card still clutched in his hand, but the card is flashing something now. He pauses his repetitive ramblings on live television just long enough to see that a message is playing on the little screen in the corner. The words read a phrase that stops Steve completely.

"What is he doing?" the producer aggressively whispers to his shrugging camera crew.

"Hank, what is he doing?" Jan says.

Steve looks back up at the crowd with a new look on his face, a different gleam in his eyes. He doesn't look scared or nervous anymore, he just looks at peace. "Please forgive me, I'm a little nervous," he says. "I promise I won't waste anymore of your time. What I have to say will in fact be short and to the point. My team and I have been mulling this idea over in our heads for months—almost a year now. We've deliberated, sought advice from those smarter and wiser than us and we've come to the conclusion that the Avengers are disbanding."

The entire room—save for the front row—explodes into madness. Questions, comments and concerns in the form of yelling erupt from the floor. Tony, somehow in the chaos, holds a thumbs up for Steve, followed by a facepalm. "Can everyone please calm down for a moment and allow me to explain?" He tries to retake the attention of the room, but everyone is more focusing on accusing him of betrayal and something or other. A loud whistle tears through the room, and suddenly everyone falls silent. The shrill sound came from the Captain himself, finally regaining everyone's attention.

"Now then, as I was saying, please don't mistake us for abandoning you, or leaving for good. We're not disappearing off the face of the earth. But look around you for a moment. Look at your neighbor, look out your window, look at the sky and think about what you want out of life. Do you want peace? Love? Happiness? Of course you do. Everyone does. And so do we. We've spent the last four years making this world one you want your children and grandchildren to grow up in. A world free of tyranny and supervillains who would take your rights away from you. We've dismantled the likes of Hydra, AIM, and many others so that we can all live in the world we want."

Steve looks across the room as silence encompasses the audience. He's drawn them to a moment of self-reflection, some looking guilty for overacting. He meets the eyes of many concerned expressions, people wondering what will happen next. Steve looks down at his cue cards, wondering himself about what comes now. The ID card in his hand, still flashing Tony's message reminds him to keep going. That he has to reassure the world that everything will be okay.

"I know it seems scary now, but you'll realize before you know it that you don't need us anymore. The world's problems have grown too small for a team of super beings to congregate—which is a good thing. Trust me. But I'm not asking you to trust just me, I'm asking you to trust SHIELD, and SWORD, and your own world leaders. They have your best interests at heart and will do whatever they can to keep this world we've built safe. All we're asking is the chance to live in the same world, chase after the same dreams as you." The world waits with bated breath for Captain America's final words, knowing there must be something more he wants to say. Steve looks out and smiles. "A friend once posed the question, 'how will history remember us?' I always wondered that myself. I hoped that we would be remembered as brave. Selfless. All in," he pauses, wondering if he should go forward.

"Today I was asked the same question, but it was put differently. 'How will history remember you?' I've wondered that myself, wondered how history will look back on me. I don't have the answer to this question. But I can tell you how I don't want to be remembered. I don't want to be remembered as the man who never stopped. Not to live, not to love, not to find his own path. I don't want to be remembered as the hero who never made his own life. I want to be the man whose life alone was worth remembering. I want to be remembered as the man who finally learned to follow his heart…and I think I can speak for my team when I say we're ready to carve our own paths. Make our own ways. Take our own risks. And if the world suddenly is bombarded with villains, you better believe we'll be right there defending what's good and just. But now is our time. Now, we find out how history will remember us. Thank you."

The room is silent for a moment before shaking with thunderous applause. Tears are wiped from faces as cameras shut off. A crowd rushes the platform Steve stands on, but all step back when the Avengers hop up on stage with him, linking together, arm in arm, shoulder to shoulder. Tony claps along with the rest of the crowd, smiling and holding back his own tears as he makes his way down the aisle. Steve meets him at the edge of the stage, jumping down to embrace him. Steve pulls back, his hands wrapped around Tony's arms.

"How did you know? How did you know that question would help me? You asked me that the day Galactus invaded. How did you know it would help me know what to say?"

"Because I know you, old man. You knew what to say all along, you just had to say it from here," he points to Steve's heart. They share a laugh. "But saying that is not really my style, so I put it a different way. A way I knew you would understand. I'm really proud of you, Cap."

Steve's eyes begin to well with tears for the first time in the whole ordeal. "What now?" he jokes.

"Now, you get to start a new adventure." The men look up at the team still on stage, waving and shaking the hands of people crowded at the front, answering questions and taking pictures. Steve grins as he wipes his tears before they spill down his cheeks. Daisy was right, this is the beginning. I'm not losing anything, I'm gaining everything. My family will only get bigger from here, and I can't wait to see what adventure I find next.

I shake my head as I walk out of the U.N. conference room, disappearing into obscurity. If you only knew Captain…your destiny has been decided, and so has mine. There's no going back now.

A/N: So, ready for what's next? What is next? WHO ARE YOU? Also, the cover pic was made by me! I will try to keep a posting schedule of a chapter a week, so chapter one will probably be next week...but I may post earlier.

Hey I just posted this...and this is crazy...but since you've read it...review It maybe?