It felt like being pulled and tossed in cold water all at the same time. At least the landing was on her feet. It took Alison a second to clear her head and get her bearings on where and when they were. They were in the lower levels of the palace. Less guards and easy to get around, according to Thor when he had been sober-ish. Alison clicked her GPS and her suit went in it. Compared to Thor she wondered how out of place she looked with her pants and coat. Hopefully they wouldn't run into too many people...well she hoped not to run into anyone. Thor looked around and adjusted his robes. Rocket looked around and nodded.
"Nice digs...so we need to get upstairs," said Rocket. Thor seemed to be in daze and Alison put a hand on his arm.
"Hey. Are you ok?" asked Alison and Thor nodded.
"Yes. Just trying to adjust," said Thor and Alison nodded.
"How do we get upstairs?" prompted Alison.
"Oh yes...um this way...be careful I think this is the floor we kept Loki on after his return," said Thor.
"Now you tell us," muttered Rocket.
Thankfully they were no people on this floor and Loki was laying on his bed looking up the ceiling when they dashed by his cell. Thor took them up a hidden passageway and Alison could hear him muttering about how he and Loki and Sifi used these steps to sneak around the palace. Alison was wondering if maybe sending Thor back would be the best play now. The original plan had been to use him to get into Jane's room, but now Alison was really having second thoughts about it. If only you had those thoughts before we got here. Maybe he could just show us the room she is in and Rocket and I could handle the rest. She's smart and well considering everything else she's seen is a raccoon and talk of a world ending space stone in her body really going to send her over?
Thor took them down a hallway and pointed to a room at the end of the hall. There was a maid with some clothes and tray of food handing them to Jane. Jane took them and shut the door. The maid went in the opposite direction and it looked like the coast was clear. Alison heard a tab pop and she looked to see Thor drinking a beer. Alison felt her patience slip. How in the hell did he manage to...nevermind...we just have to get through this.
"Ok. She's alone. Here's the plan Tubby...you are going to charm her. Alison is going to knock her out and I'll poke her this and get the Reality Stone out and we'll be home lickety split," said Rocket.
"Or...hear me out...the wine cellar is just down this way. My father used to have this huge bottle of Aakonian Ale. I'll see if I can get us a couple of to go cups," said Thor.
"Hey...Aren't you drunk enough already," snapped Rocket. Alison grabbed Thor by the wrist.
"No. We only have one chance to do this and if we mess up it will all be for nothing. What if someone sees you that shouldn't see you? asked Alison. As if she spoke the problem into existence they heard a door open at the end of the hall and a group of chattering voices filled the hallway. They quickly ducked behind columns. Alison peaked out and there was a striking blond woman giving orders to the group around her. The group went by quickly and Alison felt her pulse start to settle.
"Who's the fancy broad?" asked Rocket and Alison looked up at Thor and he seemed on the verge of tears.
"That's my mother. She dies today," said Thor and Alison felt her heart sink.
"Oh that's today..."said Rocket sounding concerned.
"You didn't tell us that it was this day...I'm sorry," said Alison. Had she known she would have asked Steve to put him on another team. He could have gone with Clint and Natasha. She didn't think Rhodey and Nebula would have the patience for him and well New York might also be overwhelming for him since Loki was running around free. Oh this is not good...shit...shit...think
"I can't do this...I can't do this," said Thor and he seemed like he was struggling to breath.
"Just take deep breaths," said Alison and Thor moved away from her.
"I shouldn't have come here...I shouldn't have come here...this was a bad idea," said Thor. Rocket sighed deeply and looked at Alison.
"Come here," said Rocket motioning Thor over.
"I think I'm having a panic attack," said Thor. Alison felt she might have one right along with him. Maybe they could send him back and her and Rocket could finish the assignment. They didn't say they all had to come back at the same time. It had been the plan, but right now if she couldn't get Thor together they might as well stay in 2013 and make a new timeline and hope that one worked out better than the one they had left. Before Alison could say anything Rocket slapped Thor hard across the face.
"Rocket," scolded Alison.
"He thinks he's the only one who lost people," snapped Rocket. "What do you think we're doing here? I lost the only family I ever had. Quill, Groot, Drax...the chick with the antenna. All gone," said Rocket and he pointed at her. "Her daughter never got to meet her father...I'm sorry you miss your mom...but she's gone. Really gone. We have a chance to bring back lots of people who are only kind of gone and you can help them," said Rocket. Alison was this close to hugging the raccoon. Maybe this would help jump start Thor back to what was really important right now. I never thought of slapping him...well there is a first time for everything.
"Thor...please...I know what it feels like to miss your mom. I've missed mine since I was Rebecca's age and I know that isn't very long time for you, but she would want you to finish this. She would want you to help who we can help," said Alison.
"So is it too much to ask that you brush the crumbs out of your beard, make cutest talk with your girl and when she's not looking we suck the Stone out of her. Help us get our families back," snapped Rocket.
"Ok," said Thor with a sniffle and Alison was reminded so much of the time she had to tell Rebecca that wasn't nice to call someone ugly. Somehow we shamed a god into working with us...this is going to be a fun story to tell Bucky.
"Are you crying?" asked Rocket.
"No...yes," said Thor wiping his eyes on his robe. "I feel like I'm losing it."
"I know this hard, but it's almost over...we just need you to get us in that room," whispered Alison. Why does this feel like getting my child to get her shots?
"You have to do this...we can do this," said Rocket.
"I can do this...I can this," said Thor. Alison gave him a hug and took a deep breath.
"Alright. This shouldn't take too long and the second the Stone is out we head back," said Alison. She turned and followed behind Rocket.
"Looks like the coast is clear and this is our shot. Now Thor," said Rocket and that was when they heard the running down the hall.
"Shit!" snapped Rocket.
"Change of plan. You go in there and get the Stone...I'm going...hell I might slap him," said Alison and she took off down the hall after Thor.
…...
"Are you sure you didn't want to go with her?" asked Jillian and Bucky shook his head.
"I wasn't sure if I would mess up the machine if I went along. Beside it might be fun to hear her tell it," said Bucky.
"I'm not sure if going to Asgard would be in my best interest...and...oh...well...something very amusing is happening...it was fun spending time with you all. Take care," said Loki and without warning he vanished.
"Well that was odd and not alarming at all," said Jillian.
"I am Groot!" said the little tree and Bucky nodded.
"I don't think I'll miss him that much," said Bucky and Jillian shrugged.
"I'm sure he'll find a way to come back like some bad penny," said Jillian. There was a whirling noise and Robert looked at the control panel.
"Took them six minutes...that raccoon better have my baby girl in one piece," said Robert and Groot glared at him and muttered I am Groot in various tones. The machine flashed and everyone was back on the launch pad...wait...no. They were one short and if Bucky had a heart it would have stopped until he saw Alison out of her time suit and looking stunned. Robert came up the stairs and pulled Alison into a bear hug.
"That was five minutes too long," said Robert.
"I'll you all about it," said Alison hugging him back.
"Did we get them? Did it really work?" asked Rhodey with a laugh. They looked over and noticed that Clint was there on his knees and there was no Natasha.
"Clint...Clint where's Nat?" asked Bruce. Bucky saw the tears on Clint's face and it felt like the air was sucked out of the room. That nano second of joy was gone.
"No," whispered Alison and Bucky noticed that she had an odd silver ring with a white stone on her right hand. Where did she get that? Robert sagged against Alison and Bruce fell to the launch pad. Rocket took Alison's hand and squeezed it.
"You all need a minute...I'll take the Stones to lab," said Rocket and he let go of Alison's hand. He went to Clint and carefully took the Stone from him.
"I'll help," said Robert quickly wiping his eyes. Alison gave his hand a squeeze before letting it go. Robert took a case from Tony and Steve and both men seemed numb. Nebula, Scott and Rhodey followed Rocket and Robert and Alison went over to Clint and knelt down beside him.
"Let's go outside...get some air..." suggested Alison and Clint nodded. Alison helped him up and they headed outside.
"Where is she?" asked Bucky. Bucky knew he had been pulled back by Alison. Surely Natasha would have been pulled back by Clint. Bucky knew how confused he had been at first and maybe Natasha just needed someone to explain things to her. Hey here are the rules to your afterlife. Jillian shook her head.
"I think...I think she crossed over. She...she accepted it. You and I we never really accepted it...something about Natasha...tells me she accepted that it was her time. I've seen people leave before...not like Loki...but, they made their peace...something you and I and our little friend here just haven't been able to do. She made her peace," said Jillian and Bucky suddenly felt so heavy.
It hurt to admit that he could see Natasha being one to accept her death. At one point he had been ready to accept death. Bucky would have welcomed death, but that was before Alison. For Natasha...it wasn't that she didn't have anything to live for...it was that she would let her life go to keep them safe. He hadn't been able to let go, because he didn't know if Alison was safe and even now he couldn't let go because despite not being able to do anything he had to know if she was safe.
"I loved her," said Bucky.
He thought about how Natasha had been the one to encourage him to go talk to Alison after he had hurt her during a flashback when he had a first been found. She had subtle and not so subtlety encouraged their relationship. Natasha had given him car keys and the apartment keys after Alison's grandfather's funeral and Alison had found out her shrink had been a Hydra agent. We finally admitted the truth to each other. If I hadn't gone over...if I would have waited...would we have been together at all. She had been their friend when friends had been in short supply. It hurt to know that he was going to go back to a world without Natasha Romanoff in it.
"I am Groot." Bucky felt the tree take his hand and Bucky squeezed it.
…...
Bucky found the group of them by the pier and thought about how he and Alison walked Bailey down here and how she nearly pulled Alison into the water when she spotted some ducks. Jillian and Groot had gone with Rocket and Robert to watch their work with the Stones. Alison was sitting on a bench with her knees pulled up to chest and it reminded Bucky of how she had been she had learned he had died. She was twisting the ring on her finger and he was sure she wasn't wearing that this morning. Where the hell did she get that?
They were listening to Clint tell the story about what happened on Vormir and Bucky wasn't shocked to find out that in order to get the Soul Stone a life must be given for it and that Natasha had been willing to give her life for them. In that little yellow stone was a part of Natasha. A soul for soul. At least it was one of the bravest souls he had known in his life. He wasn't surprised that Natasha had fought Clint for the right to jump. Bucky had seen her briefly with Clint's family and he knew how much she loved his children. He had seen Natasha with Rebecca and knew that she would give anything for Rebecca to have the world back to what it had been. For Clint to see his children...for me to really meet my daughter...thank you Natasha...I know it will never be enough but thank you.
"Did she have any family?" asked Tony.
"Yeah...us," said Steve and Bucky could see he had been crying quietly to himself.
"What?" asked Thor and he sounded so cold that Alison looked up and Bucky realized that Thor also had his hammer and he was starting to really wonder what the hell had happened on Asgard . Thor came up to Tony in a way that suggested he was ready to fight him.
"I was just asking the question," said Tony softly.
"Thor...please," said Alison and he gave her look and scoffed.
"You are all acting like she's dead. Why are we acting like she's dead?" asked Thor and Alison started fiddling with the ring even harder has Thor went on about how they had the Stones and if they had the Stones they could bring Natasha back. Steve hung his head and Alison seemed to pull herself into a smaller ball.
"We need to stop this shit. We are the Avengers and we need to get it together," snapped Thor.
"We can't get her back...it can't be undone," said Clint and Thor started laughing and Steve gripped Alison's hand. She looked at him and just shook her head. It was clear she didn't have the words for this right now.
"Look. I'm sorry and no offensive. You are a very Earthly being and we're taking about Space Magic. Can't seems like an absolute, don't you think?" asked Thor.
"Look I know I am way out of my pay grade here, but she still isn't here is she?" asked Clint and he choked up. "It can't be undone. That was what the floating red guy in the robe had to say. Maybe you wanna talk to him! Maybe you take your little hammer and fly over there and talk to him!" yelled Clint.
Bucky noticed that Steve's grip on Alison's hand was so tight that it was leaving marks, but she didn't seem to notice. Bucky knew Steve was blaming himself for not going to Vormir even though there is no way he could have known what was going to happen.
"It was supposed to be me...she gave her life for that goddamn stone. She bet her life on it," sobbed Clint. There was a scream and Bruce grabbed the bench and threw it across the lake. Alison flinched and Steve didn't let go of her hand.
"She's not coming back," said Bruce hoarsely and they could see he had been crying too. "We have to make it worth it...we have to make it work," said Bruce. Steve let go of Alison's hand and Bucky watched her uncurl herself as Steve stood up.
"And we will," said Steve.
"Let's head to the lab and see what they got started," said Tony. He went over to Bruce and patted his arm. Tony and Bruce headed up and Steve looked at Alison.
"Do you...if you need to go home and..." started Steve and Alison shook her head.
"She's at daycare and by the time I get back to the city and pick her up and tell her...it gets dark so early and...I can't tell her in the dark. I can't put her to bed with that weight," said Alison.
It hit Bucky than that Natasha would be the first person that Rebecca had truly lost in her life. She didn't know him or Sam or anyone that had been taken by the Snap. They would be coming back and Natasha wouldn't be. That someone who had been there her whole life was going to be gone forever. Alison had explained that he had died, but Rebecca hadn't understood, not really what it meant. Steve pulled her into a hug and Alison buried her face in his chest.
"I can't tell her in the dark...I know what it's like...my mother...I can't," whispered Alison.
"Ok," said Steve. Alison eased away and took a deep breath.
"I just need a minute. I'll meet you guys in the lab," said Alison. Steve nodded and Alison looked back at Thor. He nodded and gave Alison a soft and sad smile. What the hell was that about? Alison made her way back up to the compound and for a second she looked like she was going to go into the lab and turned and made her way up to her bedroom. Bucky watched her lock the door and Alison started pacing around the room and looking at the ring.
"It's crazy...than again everything the last five years...fuck the last decade has been crazy," muttered Alison. She took a deep breath and sat down on the bed. "Ok. You have to know...you have to know..."
Bucky watched as Alison took the ring and pulled the stone out of it. Bucky realized it was a pearl and Alison held it to her heart and closed her eyes.
"I wish to see beyond the halls of Folkvangr, beyond seas of Raner-land...beyond the Burial Mounds...beyond Valhalla...show me...show me...show me...in the name of the All Father and All Mother...show me," whispered Alison.
For a few moments nothing happened .Alison opened her eyes and looked around confused before she started to sob. The pearl in her hand started glowing and Alison gasped either in pain or in shock. Bucky watched in horror has her eyes drained of color and became the same milky white as the pearl.
"Baby what did you do?" asked Bucky. Alison turned her head in his direction and the sob turned into a choked laugh.
"I just wanted to see you," said Alison.
…...
Alison caught up to Thor as he was peaking out from behind another pillar. Thor's mother and her group of ladies were walking down a hallway. They were too close for Alison's liking. I swear the second they are out of earshot I'm going to yell at him in a way I have never yelled at anyone before.
Alison grabbed his arm and Thor shook her off and pointed to the group as if Alison couldn't see them. Yeah I see them and I swear to whatever god isn't here if they see us and we blow this I will find a way to slap you even harder than Rocket did.
"Ladies. I'm going to take my leave of you," said Thor's mother and the group walked away from her and down the hall. She turned in their general direction, but turned down another hallway before getting to them. Alison was about to let out a sigh of relief when Thor's mother popped up next to him and patted his arm.
"What are you doing?" she asked sweetly. Thor jumped and screamed, his mother screamed and Alison uttered a stream of curses that her grandfather would have been proud of.
"Um nothing..." said Thor trying to hid his face from her. Oh that ship has sailed.
"You are better leaving the sneaking to your brother and who is this? You can't keep bringing Midgards here darling," she said turning to Alison. "Are you a friend of Jane's?"
"Sort of...I'm Alison. I'm a nurse...healer...healer from Earth...Midgard...Thor...his highness was going to show me to Jane's room," said Alison and she was hoping that maybe if she could spin the lie quick enough they could be on their way back to Rocket. The woman smiled at her and nodded her head.
"Well...I'm Frigga. The Queen of Asgard and while I believe you are many things Alison of Midgard I have a feeling that you and my son have a different reason for being here...like the real reason for my son's sneaking around," said Frigga and Thor laughed while still trying to hide his face.
"I wasn't sneaking I was going for a walk," said Thor and Frigga looked at Alison and back at Thor and back to Alison with a smile.
"I believe that all our children are terrible liars when it comes to us," said Frigga and Alison let out a nervous laugh.
"I swear...your highness isn't lying. He was just getting ready to show me where Jane is," said Alison. Frigga shook her head and turned back to Thor and brushed his hands away.
"What happened to your eyes?" asked Frigga and Alison was reminded of how she spoke to Rebecca after waking up from nightmares. Maybe it's universal...how we talk to our children. No matter how old they get.
"Nothing...they've always looked like this," said Thor. Frigga touched his face and her shoulders dropped and Thor's face seemed to melt.
"You are not the Thor I know at all are you?" said Frigga softly and Thor looked near tears and Alison was at a lost what to do now.
"Yes I am," said Thor trying to smile. "My friend...my friend from work is a great healer and I only want the best for Jane." Oh she's not buying it all...trust me...
"The future has not been kind to you has it?" asked Frigga sadly. Alison felt a wave of sadness for Frigga. She could imagine how she would feel seeing a future version of Rebecca in the state Thor was in right now. God how much would it hurt to know that you did everything you could and you still couldn't keep your child safe in the end?
"Who said I was from the future?" laughed Thor.
"I think the gig is up," said Alison leaning against the wall. Frigga gave Alison a knowing smile before turning back to her son.
"I was raised by witches, boy. I see with more than eyes. Plus...like your friend...all mothers know their children," said Frigga. Thor started crying.
"I'm totally from the future. We need to talk," said Thor and Frigga nodded.
"We can talk," said Frigga hugging Thor. Thor hugged her back just as hard and he cried even harder.
"I'm just...gonna sit right here," said Alison taking a spot on the floor. Yep...this is a SNAFU. Might as well see how it plays out now. Hopefully Rocket is doing alright. Frigga waved her hand at Alison.
"We can talk with your friend here. She's heard many confessionals in her time...you try to mend souls," said Frigga looking at her.
"We call it counseling," said Alison and Frigga laughed. She motioned for them to follow her to her rooms. On the way Thor told her about how his sister Hel had come back, broke his hammer and everything leading up to the battle with Thanos on Earth. How he could have taken Thanos out if he had gone for the killing blow and about the fight after Thanos had snapped the Stones away. Thor sounded so broken it pulled at Alison as a parent. He wants his mother to tell him everything is alright.
"I just stood there like a big idiot with an axe," said Thor sadly sitting on a chair in her room and Frigga shook her head.
"You are not an idiot. You're here aren't you seeking counsel from the wisest person in Asgard," said Frigga.
"Yes...yes I am," said Thor and he pulled a mini bottle out of his robes and started drinking. Alison let out a deep sigh and Frigga eyed the bottle.
"An idiot..no. A failure...Absolute," said Frigga.
"That's a little harsh," said Thor.
"You know what that makes you. Just like everybody else," said Frigga sitting down next to her son and taking the bottle away.
"I'm not supposed to be like everyone else," said Thor.
"Everyone fails at who their supposed to be. I'm sure you understand that," said Frigga looking at Alison and she nodded. I wasn't supposed to fall in love with my patient and well...I ended up with his baby. "The measure of a person...the measure of a hero is how well the succeed at being who they are," said Frigga.
"I really missed you mom," said Thor and Alison looked at the window so they could have a moment. When I get home I'm going to hug my baby so hard. We'll have cereal for dinner and ice cream for breakfast. I just wanna see her.
"Mom there is something I need to tell you," said Thor and Alison shook her head. Would telling Frigga she was going to die mess up the timeline? She liked this woman and Alison wished they were meeting under different circumstances, but still if she was supposed to die and they stopped it what could happen to them in the future? Would it cause some fucked up Final Destination shit or something worse?
"No. No you don't. You're here to mend your future, not mine," said Frigga and Alison wondered if she already knew somehow. She was raised by witches.
"But..." protested Thor and Frigga shook her head.
"It's going to be alright. What is going to happen will happen," said Frigga. There was a loud crash outside and Alison winced. Well it's time to get this show on the road.
"We need to find Rocket," said Alison softly and well once again she spoke the issue into existence as Rocket ran into the room on all fours with the device in his mouth.
"Oh hey...good. I got it...oh...hi," said Rocket noticing that Frigga was there. "I got the thing and we gotta go." Thor hugged his mother tightly.
"I wish we had more time," said Thor.
"This was a gift. Treasure it and be the man you were meant to be" said Frigga. She turned to Alison and smiled at her.
"Thank you for being so kind to him. I know it probably wasn't easy at times," said Frigga.
"I wouldn't say that," said Alison.
"I will," said Rocket and Alison glared at him. Frigga nodded, took a ring off her hand and put the ring on Alison's right hand. It was a silver ring with a pearl in the center.
"I can't take this," said Alison seeing how stunned Thor looked upon his mother giving it to her. Alison went to take it off when Frigga stopped her.
"You have touched Death many times in this life and there have been times it has touched you back...however there are somethings that not even Death can take," said Frigga. She pulled Alison into a hug and whispered in her ear. "They've been there all along. You just couldn't see through the veil. Take my ring, part the pearl from it and remember this charm." She told Alison the charm before giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"I don't...I mean," stammered Alison and Thor patted her arm before easing Alison out of the way.
"I love you mom," said Thor.
"I love you," said Frigga.
"Alright we have to go...three...two," started Rocket.
"Wait," ordered Thor and he held out his hand and Alison and Rocket looked at each other confused.
"It takes a minute," said Frigga. There was sound that Alison couldn't make it and in flew a hammer that placed itself in Thor's hand. He smiled and looked around at them.
"I'm still worthy," said Thor.
"Oh boy," said Rocket and they suited up. Frigga said goodbye and Alison felt that tug and feeling of being plunged into cold water. What did she mean? What couldn't I see? What Death couldn't take..no...it's not possible.
…...
Bucky went to take Alison's hand and it went though her and she shivered slightly.
"So that's been you this whole time...not low iron. Or a draft. Or...all the other things I've told myself," said Alison looking at their hands and back to his face.
"Yeah," said Bucky and Alison let out a sad chuckle. Her white eyes were freaking him out a little bit, but finally she could see him. He still couldn't touch her and that felt like a cruel tease. At least she knows that I'm here and we can talk. Really talk.
"Well...this might be the least crazy thing I've seen...ghosts. You would be stubborn and refuse to go," said Alison shaking her head.
"How could I leave you? I heard you...you sounded so lost and I couldn't leave you...I know it was supposed to be till death do us part, but I wasn't ready," said Bucky and Alison nodded.
"I don't know if you're going to remember this when you come back...I...I would have told you...I was going to tell you in Wakanda when you came back...I..." Alison started crying and Bucky cursed the limits of the magic she had been given by Frigga. Just a little longer...it won't be long now.
"You had our baby...if I had known than...they would of had to drag me away from you...I don't know if that would have made what happened better or worse. You didn't see me get turned to dust...small blessings," said Bucky.
"There wasn't a second that went by where I didn't miss you. Like you said...it was till death do us part...I couldn't let you go either...the only other person to have my heart is her. I can't wait for you to meet her," said Alison smiling.
"Me too...well really meet her," said Bucky. I wanna be able to hug you both.
"It's going to be hard though...I was hoping to have time to ease her into everyone coming back and now...you know about Natasha. She adored Rebecca and...I know I have to tell her and it's going to hurt her so much," said Alison. Bucky rested his hand over Alison and she shivered slightly.
"You won't have to do it alone...if you don't want too. The second I come back...even if I don't remember the last five years...I'm going to find you and maybe this time we can hold off on parting for a bit," said Bucky.
"James...is Alison alright and...oh my god," said Jillian seeing that Alison's eyes and that she was looking at him. Alison gasped and Bucky could have sworn she stopped breathing.
"Mom," whispered Alison standing up and approaching Jillian. Jillian went to reach out to touch her daughter and pulled her hand away.
"Oh love...my legacy...I have missed you," whispered Jillian.
"You've been here too...the whole time?" asked Alison softly and Jillian shook her head.
"Not the whole time...most of it. You...I am so proud of you. You took a road I wouldn't have taken and I know it was hard...a lesser woman would have broken," said Jillian and Alison let out a dry laugh.
"I did break...a few times," said Alison.
"You took the pieces and built something so much stronger. You were the greatest thing I ever created...you have lived beyond anything I could have ever dreamed of," said Jillian.
"Will you...will you be here when everyone comes back?" asked Alison and Jillian nodded.
"I might follow your father around for a bit...I imagine he would like some alone time with you," said Jillian looking over at Bucky and raising an eyebrow. Alison let out another dry laugh.
"There is so much I wanna ask you," said Alison and Jillian pressed her lips to Alison's forehead.
"You are a good daughter. I never blamed you for me getting sick and I wish I could have been the mother you are now," said Jillian and Alison quickly wiped her eyes. "We might be apart, but focus on what you have and what you are going to have here in this life. We'll have more time someday. I promise," said Jillian.
"I love you," said Alison and Jillian nodded before looking at Bucky. "
I'll wait for you outside," said Jillian. Jillian left the room and Alison turned back to him. Bucky stood up and took Alison's hand again. Soon...it's so close.
"It's not going to be long now...I can't wait to see you again," said Bucky.
"Me too," said Alison. She let go of his hand and took a deep breath. "I love you." Bucky watched as Alison let go of the pearl in her other hand. Her eyes went back to their normal color and Alison took a shaky breath and fell on the bed.
"Holy shit..." she muttered as she picked the pearl back up and put it back into the ring. Bucky watched her look wide eyed around the room and settle on the spot he had been in before. "I'll see you soon."
Bucky watched her square her shoulders as she got up from the bed and left the room.
"I love you too," said Bucky.
…...
"Are you alright?" asked Robert and Alison shrugged. They were standing outside the lab watching Tony, Bruce and Rocket work. How do I even start to tell you what the hell just happened? Ghosts are real. Mom has been hanging around this whole time with Bucky...that she's proud me...that Bucky has been here this whole time. That there is still so much I wanna tell them both.
"I...I just...I remember when grandpa told me mom was gone. It was right before bed time and I was just supposed to go to sleep like nothing had happened. I just remember being in bed and just staring at the wall trying to put it together...I had so many questions and I didn't know how to ask them. I was scared I was going to get in trouble for getting out of bed...so I stayed in bed wanting to know where she had gone," said Alison. Robert sighed deeply and put a hand on back.
"I know how much you loved him, but when you tell me stuff like that I wanna go back in time and kick his ass," said Robert and Alison put her head on his shoulder.
"I was Rebecca's age...maybe that's why I try to show her how to do all the things," said Alison. Robert kissed her on the top of her head.
"BOOM!" yelled Rocket and they all jumped.
"The fuck is your problem?" asked Tony.
"I just needed a laugh...a small one," said Rocket.
"We do not have time for my first heart attack," called back Robert.
"I'll go get everyone," said Alison.
She was able to find everyone expect Nebula. Maybe she just needs to be alone right now. She knew Natasha too and she lost her sister the same way and in the same place. Rocket gave the gauntlet they had made with Tony's Nano tech one last look.
"Alright the glove is ready. Question is who is going to snap their fingers?" asked Rocket. Oh course that was the one thing we didn't think of.
"I'll do it," said Thor and everyone turned to him shocked.
"What?" asked Tony giving voice to all their thoughts.
"Just let me do it," said Thor moving to push Tony out of the way and getting blocked by Steve.
"Just wait a minute. Let's think about this," said Steve.
"What are we just going to sit around and wait for the right moment?" asked Thor. Well someone is in the angry stage...I think he might be sober though. Nat...I wish you could see this.
"Like you said before it's Space Magic and according to what happened to Thanos...it almost killed him after he used the Stones," said Alison.
"We should at least discuss it," agreed Scott.
"Look...sitting here and staring at that thing is not going to bring everybody back," said Thor. So do we draw straws? A game of Uno? Steve thinks of a number between 1 and million?
"I'm the strongest one here and so the responsible falls on me," said Thor and Tony shook his head.
"Normally I would agree with you...Dorothy talk some sense into him please," pleaded Tony.
"Thor...I don't know if you are the right one to use the Stones right now...Thanos...despite being a psycho had a clear head...you are...not that at this moment. If you use them...you might bring other people back," said Alison. Thor came up to her and for a second Alison thought Steve was going to block him before Thor pulled into her a hug.
"Please let me do this. I want to do something right...something good...it's what my mother would have wanted," pleaded Thor.
"And that is why you really shouldn't do this," said Tony and Alison carefully eased out of his grasp.
"I know your mother wanted you to do something good, but this isn't it. Please trust us," said Alison.
"Do you know what is running through my veins?" asked Thor with a grin.
"Cheese whiz," said Rhodey. Alison glared at him and Robert smacked him in the back of the head.
"Not now," hissed Alison.
"Lightning. There is lightning...I can take it," said Thor.
"That's not going to be enough. It has to be me," said Bruce. Alison looked at him and Bruce nodded his head. "I might not be a psycho...but I can keep a clear head. The Stones almost killed Thanos. None of you could survive the amount of gamma radiation the Stones can put out," said Bruce.
"And you can?" asked Steve and Bruce shrugged.
"Maybe. I don't know...but all things considered. I was made for this," said Bruce. He took the glove and studied it closely. Alison took a deep breath and felt Robert take her hand. She didn't know which one of them was shaking more. Scott handled Alison her med bag.
"Just in case," he said and gave her arm a squeeze.
"Are you ready?" asked Tony.
"As ready as I'm going to be," said Bruce.
"Ok so were are bringing back everyone who got Snapped five years ago. We aren't changing anything else. We're just bring them back to now...today," said Tony. Bruce nodded and Tony locked eyes with Alison and she nodded. We don't want to lose our kids. They were the only bright spot in this whole nightmare.
"Got it," said Bruce. Steve took her arm and got in front of her and Robert with his shield. Alison watched as everyone in the room suited up and Robert whispered in her ear.
"It's too late for me to ask for a costume isn't it?" asked Robert and Alison looked at her father and grinned.
"Friday. Do me a favor and activate Barn Door Protocol," said Tony.
"Will do boss," said Friday and within seconds the compound was closed in. If there was going to be an explosion it would stay in here. Well small blessings.
Everybody comes home," said Bruce. Alison felt something cold on the back of her neck. Bucky would come up behind me and kiss my neck. Soon...just a little bit longer...
The Nano tech adjusted itself to fit Bruce's hand and the second he put it on they could see the bands of energy going through his body. He screamed in pain and Alison's first instinct was to move towards him. Robert wrapped an arm around her waist and Steve put out his arm to stop her. Alison could smell the cloth and skin burning on him and it needed to stop one way or another. Burn victims...that's what they smell like...he smells like a burn victim. She went to push her father off and she felt that cold again on her hand and she could almost hear Bucky and her mother telling to wait. That if anyone here knew what they were doing it was Bruce Banner. Alison stilled and tried to push away the smell over taking the room.
"Take it off. Take it off," screamed Thor.
"No...wait. Bruce are you alright?" asked Steve.
"Talk to me big guy," said Tony. Bruce took a very deep breaths.
"I'm ok...I'm ok...I can do this," hissed Bruce. The cold feeling on her arm was becoming almost painful. Sometimes Bucky would grab me so hard it would leave marks. I didn't care. If the choice was being held to tight or not at all by him I would chose the marks.
Bruce let out a scream of pain before he snapped his fingers. Alison felt the cold leave her arm as Bruce fell to the floor and the glove fell off his arm. Robert let her go and Alison went over to Bruce.
"Don't move him," said Steve as Thor came over. Tony knelt down beside Bruce and applied a cold foam to his arm.
"What are we looking at?" asked Tony.
"Second degree burns...he's gonna need a skin graft for sure," said Alison reaching into her bag to pull out some gloves before attempting to touch Bruce's arm. Bruce grabbed Steve's arm and Thor started patting Bruce's forehead.
"Did it work?" wheezed Bruce.
"We don't know yet and it's ok," said Thor. Alison was vaguely aware of the sounds of doors reopening. She carefully touched Bruce's arm and could feel the heat still coming off him. Bucky...I can't feel you...did you come back...
"I'll give you a choice do you want morphine now or oxycodone in med bay?" asked Alison with a small grin and Bruce let out a weak laugh.
"Can I have both? I would also like all the pudding," said Bruce. Alison pulled out the morphine bottle and started filling a syringe. It was than she heard a phone buzzing somewhere and something else she couldn't place. She knew she couldn't put this in his injured arm. She went to move Thor and Steve out of the way so she could find a vein in Bruce's non injured arm when she heard Scott calling out to them. She turned to look when the sunlight coming in from the ceiling was blotted out.
Alison saw the ship and the lights coming from it. She remembered those lights. Only she had been in her 20's and was sitting in a car waiting for Midtown traffic to move. She needed to pee after her shift and Matt had been teasing her about not peeing in his car. She saw the cars in front of her explode and the panic she felt about the people in those cars caused her to move.
Now the lab around Alison was exploding and she was frozen to the spot. She felt someone grab her from behind and scream her name before the both fell through the floor and into the void.
Love it? Hate it? Thoughts are always welcome.