Thank you to everyone who read or left kudos for the last conversation. I do appreciate it. As I warned in the previous chapter, we are still dealing with our characters' grief. One thing I did not like about Endgame is that nobody had time to grieve Natasha's sacrifice. They were still in crisis mode. We are still in crisis mode in this timeline, but we'll take a moment to work through some stuff. That's the central theme of this series.

I wrote this pre-Wakanda Forever but did the proofreading afterward as I recuperated. I won't give any spoilers here, but it showed characters processing their grief much better. That movie reaffirms some of my choices in this chapter and several that follow.

I also returned to do the final proofreading of this chapter 2 weeks after my mom passed away. She was sick for a while and was in the hospital when I did the last update. It was still a shock to the system. That experience will change what I'm writing in this arc. I have a better idea of what my characters are going through, especially the bus kids.

Conversations 63: How to grieve when preparing for an apocalypse

Xxxx

Genius Princess: I just spoke to my brother. He is happy to host the Pyms and our efforts to reach the other timeline. We are preparing accommodations for all invited.

Chief mechanic: That's good. At least one thing isn't horrible right now. I'm leaving for DC, taking McKenzie and Hunter with me.

Genius Princess: What happened? Are you still mad at me for not telling you about the baby bird's drawings?

Chief mechanic: No, you made the right call because I would sacrifice myself if I thought it was the only thing that would work. Or Steve would have done it instead to save me because I have that fiancé.

Chief mechanic: That's probably why Agent Scary didn't want Steve or Natasha with her. I only now realized that she purposely manipulated the mission so she would only have people with her that she could successfully knock out.

Genius Princess: What are you talking about? Your last text is very confusing.

Chief mechanic: May got the ring pop.

Chief mechanic: Or rather, Leo did because Agent May did what other Natasha did in the Grant Roth timeline. Melinda most likely did this because she knew what happened to Natasha Prime due to the baby bird's drawing. Of course, she couldn't tell anybody about what she was planning because maybe we could have kept her from suicide by nobility.

Genius Princess: I understand from that statement that you lost Agent May. I'm sorry for your loss. My cousin has said many wonderful things about her.

Chief mechanic: She's their favorite Agent. I'm going to have to tell the kids—another one of the million things I need to do right now. The fiancé just stopped crying.

Chief mechanic: Also, good news, he only punched the bed this time. At least he didn't break another hand, which is good for all of us.

Genius Princess: I could tell them. We're supposed to have a video call before the text exchange with the beta timeline. Plus, I need my daily update on the ongoing saga of Betty the Bitch.

Chief mechanic: I wished the only thing my teenager had to deal with right now was Betty the Bitch. I prefer to tell them in person. I'm heading to New York with a stop in DC first to notify Agent. This is not a video call conversation.

Genius Princess: That's understandable, especially in the case of Agent Coulson. However, anything is better than finding out via CNN.

Chief mechanic: That is very true. I'll just let their principal know they're not coming back tomorrow and head over to Wakanda now. Does that work? I know they won't be able to concentrate on schoolwork tomorrow. Thankfully today was their last test before the break.

xxx

"You should go straight to New York to get the kids. I can meet you in Wakanda after I tell Phil what happened." Of course, Steve was reading over Tony's shoulder. The man hasn't let go of him since they discovered the bad news 20 minutes earlier. During that time, Tony has been texting his team to figure out what to do next. He won't cry (drink an entire bottle of José Cuervo) if he has something the focus on.

The only thing they agreed on was going to DC to tell Coulson. He doesn't need to find out via a report. Thankfully, Leo hasn't done that yet. He's grateful for the small favor. Now they have time to tell Coulson in person.

"I'm not sure if I want to leave you alone right now. We were already not having a good day. And now you've just spent the last 20 minutes crying." Tony's shirt is soggy, but he doesn't care.

"It feels like longer than that."

"It does, probably because we've been in mission mode. Ana has a list for me of things I need to do. Of course, number one at the top of that list is making sure you're okay." Stick to the list, and don't think about losing another friend.

"That's also my number one priority, and I found you at the bar half an hour ago," Steve whispered back.

"It feels like days ago. I promise I don't feel like taking a drink right now." Because May gave her life for this mission to work, he wasn't going to ruin it by getting drunk. He'll deal with his grief over another death on his orders after this is over.

"And if we want to keep it that way, you shouldn't see Coulson right now," Steve suggested.

"I'm the one who sent May on that mission. When someone dies on my orders, I feel like I need to be the one to tell their loved ones that I lost them. Especially because it's Agent this time."

"You've done this before?" Steve asked.

"I've been the Director of Shield for over a year. I've lost people. I lost people at Stark Industries before. It happens a lot when you're a weapons manufacturer. It still happens when you're dealing with delicate chemicals. It's part of the job, but this feels different."

"Because Melinda wasn't just another one of your subordinates."

"She's also your friend, and I know you're in pain. At the same time, I know she chose this. So, I'm guilty and angry." Tony confessed.

"I feel that as well."

"I keep wondering why she did this without even bothering to talk to me about it. Why didn't she tell anybody what she was planning to do? I know there had to be another way. Why didn't she ask for help? Now I'm trying to figure out what's next."

"Go to New York. Get the kids. Go to Wakanda. We'll figure out the rest from there. I'll take care of Agent with Mackenzie and Hunter." Steve suggested.

"I still have the text message meet-up with our counterparts. I'm going to have to take that from the plane." There was so much they had to do.

"Let McKenzie do it with the Princess. Are you making him acting deputy director?" Steve asked.

"Yes. Mackenzie is coming with us to DC. I want him to take over for Coulson. Bobbi already told him and Yo-Yo what's going on." Tony's very grateful that she's helping out. He hates doing these notifications. She reminds him a little of Pepper when she's like this.

"He's coming with me to DC. Get the kids. They need you, and honestly, I want them to be with you as soon as possible." Tony wanted that as well. He wanted to hug all of them.

"I'm not going to be able to talk you out of this?" Tony asked.

"It'll be better if we split up."

"Just long enough for me to get the kids. Then we'll meet back in DC and head over to Wakanda. The Princess is okay with that." Tony said as he checked his phone. "She wants to be with her friends because they will need her."

"Good."

"You're right about the delegation." Tony realizes he can't do all this on his own right now.

"So, you'll let Acting Deputy Director McKenzie take care of the conversation with the other timeline?" Steve asked.

"No," Tony said quickly. "If I did that, Coulson would know something was up. As I mentioned, we can take care of it from the plane. But the Princess and her team should take the lead on the time travel research and testing."

"That's for the best. Besides, the Princess will get better results out of Pym and company."

"That is, unfortunately, true. I don't have the energy to deal with Pym right now. I should stay away," Tony acknowledged reluctantly. "You know how much I hate giving up science time."

"I know."

"And since the Princess was already working on it, she should take the lead on operation 'keep Tony alive.' Her team needs to develop a way that I'm one of many who can retrieve the stones from the gauntlet. But I do want to see what they're doing."

"I'm sure she will agree to that. Wait, that's actually what they're calling it?" Steve asked, surprised.

"Yes," Ana answered before Tony could.

"Who else is coming with me to DC?" Steve asked.

"Yo-Yo is going with your group. She just texted me." Tony said, holding up his phone to show her message. Lots of cursing May out for going it alone without them. He is sure the sadness will come next. Probably on the plane. "So she should be coming with you to DC. I would send Morris, but she's technically disavowed. She can't be on the official Avenger roster for any team under her current identity." Tony explained.

"Which is why you're establishing a new identity for her at SI?" Steve asked.

"She wanted a chance to retire or at least semi-retire. After "Barbara Adams" spends a couple of months at SI, we can bring her in as a consultant. Sending her to DC will break that illusion, but I don't want to send her friends away from her right now."

"Bobbi can fly you to New York," Steve suggested.

"You know I've had my pilot's license as long as my driver's license? I just normally don't do it." He remembers shocking May with that one.

"Because there was no point when May was there, but she's not anymore." His fiancée sounded on the verge of tears again. Tony couldn't help but hug him once more.

"Now I really don't want to go to New York for a couple of hours while you deliver bad news and get punched in the jaw." He can't leave Steve right now. Melinda means a lot to him. Melinda meant a lot to Tony. She was the one who helped Steve acclimate to the new century. Hell, Steve married her in another timeline. But at the same time, Tony had to tell the kids in person. The sooner, the better. Because he knew the agency still had leaks, and Tony wanted this to come from him.

"May I make a suggestion?" Ana interrupted. "You should both go to DC."

"But the kids need to know what happened before we put out a public statement or it gets leaked again. Too many people know what happened to Ruby." Tony sighed again. It wasn't fair to Ruby that her abuse was now public. Tony knew something wasn't right with that parental relationship but never had proof. However, he didn't suspect being brainwashed to be a child soldier of Hydra.

"Dr. Leopold has not yet registered Agent May's death in the system. Therefore, no one outside the immediate circle is aware. However, once that happens, the fallen Avenger protocol will begin." Ana informed the couple.

"I didn't even think of that part yet." Because May was an Avenger, PR would be handling it. Mace would make an absolute spectacle of it for reasons only known to him. He's at least 12% sure Mace was responsible for at least some of the Ruby-related rumors circulating.

"The kids and Coulson need to know before Mace begins his PR tour. The Fitz-Simmons should know as well." Tony sighed again. This was going to be such a mess, and they were still in active apocalypse mode.

"I was going to propose that you have FitzSimmons bring the children to DC. I feel that things may go better if Agent Coulson has at least some of his children with him." Ana suggested.

"That's a good idea. Should we bring Coulson anyone else?" Tony asked. "Do we know where Daisy is? Is Robbie with her?" Tony could pull her back now if Robbie were with her, but that might jeopardize operations. It depends on where they are.

"Her last report was to Agent May 16.4 hours ago, letting her know they were about six hours out from Asgard." On explained.

"Which probably means they're in the middle of a fight, and even if we could contact Daisy, we can't have Robbie portal her back," Tony concluded.

"That would not be advisable." Ana agreed.

"I know who to bring in. I'll take care of that myself. Sweetie pie, can you let the Princess know our plan?"

"I will take care of it," Steve said, picking up his phone to text the Princess.

XXXX

Nomad: Hey, this is Steve taking over for Tony. He's checking on something else.

Genius Princess: That's understandable. In case you haven't read my earlier message to the director, it is okay for all of you to come directly to Wakanda. Ana has a list of who is cleared to come, which includes all my friends. Can I tell them that they're coming to Wakanda? Betty said more bad things about Ruby today, and per Flash, your daughter needs to vent. Also, I'm texting her directly instead of doing a video call. That way, I won't say something that I should not.

Nomad: Yes. Also, let her know we are arranging for them to come to DC. I'm contacting Dr. Fitzsimmons next.

Genius Princess: You're planning to tell everybody together?

Nomad: Yea. It's hard enough. I don't want to have this conversation twice.

Genius Princess: That I understand. I will let them know as soon as the school day is over.

Nomad: Thank you.

Genius Princess: Will Director Stark lead the discussion with the other timeline?

Nomad: Yes. I tried convincing my fiancé to delegate that to Acting Deputy Director McKenzie, but Tony said no.

Genius Princess: This would be for the best since the meeting takes place in 90 minutes. I doubt that you will be at the playground by that Point.

Genius Princess: Agent Coulson would know something was wrong if he was suddenly not Acting Deputy Director.

Nomad: Yes. That's why Tony didn't want to do that.

Nomad: We can't tell Phil during that conversation. We need to act like everything is still okay.

Genius Princess: I'll pass the information to the other timeline separately. They should know that we have the ring pop.

Nomad: True.

Genius Princess: And your variant.

Nomad: You're right about that as well.

Genius Princess: I will take care of that.

Genius Princess: I assume I am also taking care of the Time travel project?

Nomad: Yes. Because of May, we now have the thing Thanos doesn't know about. We need to get it secured in the beta timeline. I don't want Melinda's sacrifice to be meaningless.

Genius Princess: It won't. I'll take care of it.

Nomad: Also, we need to ensure that Tony doesn't follow in his variant's footsteps. If we have to do the same thing again, it needs to be somebody who will survive.

Genius Princess: We are already working on that.

Nomad: Good.

To be continued.