It was rare for Bucky to be apart from Alison. He figured that he and Steve had spent almost all their 'normal' life together. Plus at this point if Steve did something stupid he didn't think he could stand to watch it and not be able to tell him how stupid he was.If I had any doubts about this being hell,thought Bucky. However, he just had to see how in the hell Steve, Natasha and Scott were going to convince Tony Stark to work with them.
It was a rare thing for anyone to interact to Tony anyone since the birth of his daughter. From what Bucky had gathered Tony had built him, Pepper and his daughter Morgan a cabin even further upstate. Pepper was still in charge of Stark Industries, but for the most part they were trying to give aid to folks left behind by The Snap. Pepper had reached out to Alison to arrange play dates between Morgan and Rebecca. Alison had thought Tony had been joking about letting their daughters play together.Well she had a point about being worried...Tony did try to kill me for killing his parents the last time we saw each other,thought Bucky. However, Pepper was serious about their daughters meeting.
"I mean...we don't know a lot of other people with children...and well I mean they say babies should really start socializing with other babies at like six months...and I really don't want Tony to build her a friend," said Pepper when she called about two weeks after Bruce had revealed his new Hulk form.
"I...I...um...I mean...if you guys wanna come into the city...there is a couple cafes with indoor play areas," suggested Alison. Bucky could see she was clearly trying to figure out what the hell she was stepping in.
"Oh my god yes...yes...please," said Pepper pleading. They set up the date and Alison looked over at Rebecca with a teething cookie in one hand, a sippy cup in the other and dried peaches inhair after breakfast gone wrong and sighed.
"You better play nice or else we are both going to see daddy sooner than planned," said Alison taking Rebecca out of her high chair for a bath.
It became a monthly thing for the girls to see each other and for the most part they seemed to get along. At least they could sit in the same room and play together with out too much drama. Pepper was the one who brought Morgan. It had been a little tense at first between Pepper and Alison. Everyone was so caught up in what happened after the Snap, that no one really took the time to address all the issues leading up to it. Not unless you counted Tony telling Steve where he could go.
"I know what happened between you all was beyond messy," said Pepper taking the coffee Alison had made for her when the girls were having their second play date in the apartment.
"However...Tony also killed a lot of people's mothers...before Iron Man...I helped kill a lot of people's mothers before we changed focused from weapons...we told ourselves it wasn't just weapons we were selling...and they weren't people...it was collateral. Wanda's family was collateral," said Pepper taking a deep breath.
"Bucky was weapon, but Maria was the collateral. Wanda was able to forgive...even work with Tony. If things had gone differently...if their hadn't been the pressure to sign the Accords...if Steve had told Tony...than again I'm sure Rhodey and I myself know things about Tony we'll both take to the grave," said Pepper. She looked over at the girls playing on the floor together with some blocks.
"We can do better for them...we have to do better for them," said Pepper.
Tony had yet to approach Alison and any time Alison took the trip to them he shut himself in the garage. Alison told Steve she considered it a win to even be allowed in the house. Still Bucky knew it was something that worried Alison from time to time. What would happen if the girls became best friends? How would she tell Rebecca about Howard and Maria?
"So Tony isn't going to kill us," said Scott getting into the backseat of the car.
"He hasn't yet," said Steve.
"Old age, fatherhood and nearly dying form a space infection really calmed him down," said Natasha. Steve gave her a look and Scott looked thoughtful.
"Yeah I understand two of those things," said Scott.
"So how do we want to pitch this Tony?" asked Steve.
"I mean who wouldn't want to be part of a time heist?" asked Scott. "I mean I understand Alison flipping her shit last night...maybe she just needs time to think on it," said Scott.
"Alison left without saying good bye this morning," said Natasha.
Bucky had watched her take a still half asleep Rebecca, promising to take her to Sugar Shack for pancakes and load her and Bailey in the car before taking off. No she had slept on it and clearly wasn't buying that Scott could make it happen.Or she is freaked out of her mind about what it could mean if it did work,thought Bucky.
"I'll try talking to her later," said Steve.
"Did you ever see season six of Buffy the Vampire Slayer?" asked Scott and Natasha gave him a look.
"No," said Steve clearly confused.
"Ok so like in season five final episode Buffy gives her life to save the world and all her friends. In season six they use magic to bring Buffy back from the dead and they think they have saved her from some horrible hell. Buffy was actually in heaven...so I don't know what Alison is going in with that mindset-oh god I didn't even think about that till right now," said Scott leaning back in this seat.
"Well if these stones are all powerful we can make so it doesn't feel like any time as passed for those who were taken...I mean what is the bigger mind fuck?" asked Natasha.
"I would rather explain the five year gap than trying to explain the possibility of an afterlife," said Steve.
Bucky thought about it and wondered what would be worse-coming back with the memories of being stuck in this shitty afterlife or waking up with a five year blank space and having to learn that he had a daughter. Honestly he wasn't sure which one was better. He knew he had a lot of things he wished he could forget from his time with Hydra, but did he want forget watching Alison have his baby? Even though he hadn't been their to physically comfort her or hold either one of them, he had watched Alison bring their daughter into this life.I'll never get that back.Still how in the hell would he explain what he had been though to Alison.Oh by the way I was totally watching you the whole time. I didn't want to go without you and well...would she be upset with herself knowing he had been hurting this whole time? Maybe forgetting would be the least worst thing that could happen to him.
They pulled up and parked the car. Tony was carrying Morgan and eyed the group.Weill it's a good thing he can't see ghosts or else this might not go well at all,thought Bucky.
"Go tell your mommy we have company and they need lunch too," said Tony sitting Morgan down. Tony looked at them and shrugged.
"I would offer you fresh goji berries, but the alpacas ate them," said Tony.
"I'm fine with PB and J," said Natasha. Tony nodded and motioned for them to come up to the house and than did a double take and looked at Scott.
"I thought you were dead," said Tony and Scott shrugged.
"Surprise," said Scott and Tony just shook his head and headed into the cabin. Pepper did her own double take seeing Steve and Natasha and was beyond confused about Scott's return while offering them lunch. Scott told his story about being in the quantum realm while Tony poured them some iced coffee. Bucky couldn't read Tony, but he could tell Steve and Natasha were trying to keep it together. They really believed that they could do this.
"We know what it sounds like. Trust me Alison made her thoughts on that very clear," said Scott and Tony raised an eyebrow upon hearing her name.
"Tony. With everything you've seen is anything really impossible?" asked Steve. Scott was going to say something when Tony shook his head.
"Quantum fluctuation messes with the Planck scale and then triggers the Detusch Proposition. Can we agree on that?" asked Tony. Bucky had no idea what in the hell any of that meant, but clearly it was not good.
"In layman's terms...there is no coming back," said Tony looking at Steve.
"I came back," countered Scott.
"You accidentally survived which is widely different," said Tony. "It was a billion in one cosmic fluke and now you wanna do...what the hell did you call it again?" asked Tony.
"A time heist," said Scott and Tony let out a dismissive snort.
"Oh yes a time heist...why didn't we think of this before. Oh because it's a laughable pipe dream," said Tony.
"The stones are in the past," said Steve.
"We can snap our own fingers and bring everybody back," said Natasha.
"Or we screw it up worse than he already has," said Tony. "I imagine that was Dorothy's take on this last night."
"Dorothy?" asked Scott.
"Alison doesn't think it could be done," admitted Steve.
"Well considering she is normally the one thinking things can be fixed I would take her notes on this," said Tony.
"I think we can fix it...I think she's just scared and needs to think it though," said Steve.
"Gotta say it. I sometimes miss that giddy optimism. However, high hopes won't help. There is no way we can safety perform a time heist. I believe the best case would be our collective demise," said Tony. Bucky was debating going back to Alison when Natasha spoke.
"Tony...we have to take a stand," said Natasha looking desperate. Bucky thought about what Alison and Robert had talked about when it came to Barton. How he had lost his whole family and even now five years later he was still on a killing spree that Bucky was sure topped his own war kills and Winter Solider days.She wants her friend back. Just because he's not dead doesn't mean he's not here,thought Bucky.
"We did and look where it got us," said Tony.
"Listen...I know you got a lot on the line. You got a wife and daughter...I know Alison has been doing it alone and that also probably freaked her out about doing this...but I lost someone very important to me...we all lost. A lot of people did and now we have a chance to bring her back. To bring them all back! And you're telling me you won't even consider..."
Bucky felt for Scott. They had all been living this life for the last five years. For all intents and purposes Scott had just woken up to this life. It hadn't even been two weeks for him trying to wrap his head around all this and now there might be a change...no Tony was right. It was crazy. Bucky would rather have Alison and Rebecca alive and safe without him than to take this very stupid risk.
"That's right Scott. I won't...I can't," said Tony. Morgan came out and got into Tony's lap.
"Mommy told me to come and save you," said Morgan. Tony picked her up and hugged her.
"Good job. I'm saved," said Tony hugging Morgan. "I wish you were coming here to ask me anything else. Honestly...I'm just happy to see you guys. I'll admit I've been a little cold to our resident healer...maybe next time we can pull out the nice china and I'll have goji berries," said Tony.
"Tony I get it and I'm happy for you. I really am...but this is our second chance," said Steve.
"I got my second chance right here, Cap. I can't roll the dice on it. I'm pretty sure it's why Dorothy refused to take another trip to OZ...she found Kansas," said Tony.
"If there is no shop talk everyone can stay for lunch," called Pepper from inside the house. They opted to stay and Bucky decided to make his way back to Alison. He knew there were somethings there were no coming back from.
…...
"It's crazy. What they want to is crazy," whispered Alison as she made them lunch. Rebecca was watching YouTube videos of the London Orchestra because she wanted to see more violin players. Alison was pretty sure the sounds of Holst's The Planets blaring from the living room was drowning out any conversation she was having with Robert, still she didn't want to risk it.
"He thinks he can undo the Snap?" asked Robert stunned after Alison had told him what had happened last night at HQ.
"I mean if we're going down the magical thinking train why don't we call Wong or the other magic users?" asked Alison getting out the goldfish crackers. "I mean...it's crazy," said Alison.
"Ally-cat...your late sort of husband was a 100 something year old man that was best friends with Captain America. You have lived through two alien invasions before you hit thirty five. I work with a space raccoon and a former Russian asset. All of that sounds crazy. How is what you told me any crazier than what I just listed?" asked Robert.
Alison sat the plates on the table and schooled her face.
"Because we're talking about bring back the dead. Dead is dead. There is no coming back from that," said Alison. Robert sat down and looked at his daughter.
"Your sort of husband was technically listed as dead for decades," said Robert and it took everything Alison had to keep her tone even.
"I am very aware of his history. It kept us both up at night for multiple reasons. Steve watched him turn into a pile of ashes. At least in 40's there was a body to work with. I watched Wanda turn into ashes," whispered Alison.The screams as people disappeared. I couldn't breathe. I didn't want to breathe."They already tried to undo this five years ago and it couldn't be undone. This is no different.," said Alison. Robert went to protest and Alison called out to Rebecca.
"Lunch is ready!" Robert gave her a look, but clearly wasn't going to verbally fight with her while Rebecca was in the room, but he could give her major side eye.
Alison took up her own lunch and tried to focus on what Rebecca was talking about. She was asking her questions about orchestras and Alison was shocked that she had the mental bandwidth to carry on a conversation. Internally, she felt like she as going to crawl out of her skull.
It wasn't possible. She had told herself that last night and yet...What if they could make it work?It was insane. She had put Bucky, Sam, Wanda...too many people to name to rest. She had made a somewhat shitty peace with this being her life and the part she had played in it.If only we had told Tony...if only we could have worked faster to get the stone out of Vision. If Wanda hadn't left the lab. If we had been able to get to Thanos before he destroyed the stones.Alison knew she could play the what if game for the rest of her life and never find the right path. This was life now and she had to live with it.
The rest of Sunday went by in sort of hazy for Alison. She meal prepped, cleaned, got Rebecca to bed and went downstairs and played the drums until her hands went numb and she realized it was past midnight. Rebecca slept through the night and Alison was a little jealous of the full night sleep her daughter had gotten. She got up before the alarm went off and took the coldest shower she could stand to help her focus.They're gone. They're gone. He's gone and there is no undoing it. You have a full day of high school and college kids to meet with...you have to get Rebecca after school and go to the music shop and see if anyone there can put you in touch with a violin teacher for private lessons. Halloween is coming up and you should see what she wants to go as for Halloween...you can't bring him back. You can't bring any of them back.
She had already downed three cups of coffee before getting Rebecca up and ready for school and she downed another two cups not caring that she burned her tongue on the last one. It was clear there was more Robert wanted to say, but they were still in a holding pattern.
"Are you mad at Grandpa?" asked Rebecca as they made their way to school. Alison kicked herself as the kid was picking up the vibes between her Robert.
"Not mad...just...a little...annoyed," said Alison.
"How come?" asked Rebecca.Because he thinks there is a way to undo a world wide... universal...galaxy level mass murdering and I can't...
"Because he used the nice fluffy towels to dry his hands after working on the van. Those grease stains are never coming out...like ever," said Alison dramatically and Rebecca giggled. Alison dropped her off and headed to her job at Oakside High School and Career Center. She picked up her mail and notices from the main office and went to the break room where Nina the youngest member of staff was a bright shade of pink and three other teachers, Sandra, Dani and Natalie were also laughing.
"I mean back in my day we had to guess what type of sexual mess we were going to encounter when the time came. At least now they're up front about it," said Sandra, an older woman in her 70's who had come back to teaching after the Snap had happened to teach Chemistry.
"I mean...this seems like directions to me. We follow the directions and they can't complain," said Dani who was a little younger than Alison and help run the trade school programs.
"Not unless they're talking a big a game and don't mean a word of it," said Natalie who was close to Sandra's age and taught English.
"I mean...she really doesn't mean it...you...you...no one does that," said Nina turning an even deeper shade of pink.
"Do I even want to know what is happening here?" asked Alison pouring cup of coffee number 6.
"An exercise in the human sexual experience," said Sandra.
"Well this could be amusing," said Alison thanking the gods for some sort of distraction. "I'm down to clown. Lay it out there," said Alison.
"Well I started seeing this girl...woman named Alexi. She's really cute and funny and so nice. She's been out since forever and I'm still new to the game," said Nina and Alison nodded. "Well we went out this weekend, had a nice time and well...we started sending...spicy texts...um...she said she wanted me to...to sit on her...and...no one does that...they mean...like you...I...you hover, " stammered Nina turning beyond red.
"I mean I had a boyfriend pop my back like a glow stick before that was thing," said Dani and they all started laughing.
"I was with my William for over 50 years and that man did not mince his words, especially in that area," said Sandra.
"My experience is only with men who don't mean a word they say in the bedroom. All night long is 15 minutes and maybe a 10 minute cuddle," said Natalie. "Woman on the other hand...there tends to be more proof in the pudding."
"What say you?" asked Sandra and Alison tried to not turn as red as Nina.
"I mean..."Hands on her hips. The feel of his metal fingers digging into her hip while she felt Bucky's beard rubbing against her thighs and his tongue inside her.
"Well...on one hand it would be rude to kiss and tell and on the other hand James would be very disappointed if I didn't brag about him in that department. When that man said sit...he meant sit," said Alison firmly.
All four of them looked at her and Alison wondered if she could throw herself in the pool. It was rare anymore for her to want sex anymore, she had long ago learned to throw that energy into everything else in her life.You are not entertaining the idea of a time machine for sex. Dani, Nina and Natalie excused themselves to get to their classes and Sandra looked over at Alison.
"Are you ok? You look like you just got hit by train," said Sandra.
"It just wasn't a restful weekend is all," said Alison and Sandra nodded. "Sorry if I made it weird," said Alison and Sandra laughed.
"Honey we asked the question, don't be ashamed. Your man was clearly very good to you in that department or you wouldn't have taken that tone," said Sandra. "Hell I still get turned around thinking about my honeymoon...or that night in 79 in Tampa...or the night after the Miracle on ice...well...I still get myself in a state sometimes and that man was gone two weeks before the Snap happened and I had 50 years with him," said Sandra and Alison snorted.
"There is a night in 2015 I still can't get over," said Alison and Sandra nodded.There are also more than a few nights in Wakanda that would get me turned around if I let myself go there.
"Well I'm sure someone overheard us all and we'll have an email by end of day about crude office chatter. Maybe next time we can both make them blush with some more colorful details," said Sandra and Alison let out a small laugh.
"Was William a hair puller?" asked Alison and Sandra raised her eyebrows.
"Only on the holidays," said Sandra leaving the break room. Alison finished her coffee and put her head down on the table. It was going to be a long day.
…...
It was around lunch time that Alison heard a knock on her door and looked up to see Foggy Nelson standing in the doorway and holding up a bag of sandwiches.
"I come with sandwiches fresh from Nelson's Deli," said Foggy with a grin.
"Long time no see," said Alison. She and Nelson had a weekly standing lunch date. He helped out with some of the students who found themselves needing legal help after they had done something stupid-like underage drinking or other petty crimes. Which considering the state of things wasn't too often. In the last five years though he and Marci had become very good friends to her.I missed having normal non super hero friends.Foggy sat down and handed her a turkey and swiss sandwich and pulled out his ham and cheddar sandwich.
" So anyone get in trouble this weekend?" asked Foggy
"Nope. I would give it till Halloween and that's when they all decide to engage in all the bullshit," said Alison.
"Well I thought I would let you know that Missy Clark finished her community service on Friday and can re-enroll for classes in the spring as long as she doesn't get drunk again and shit on the hood of the dean's car again," said Nelson.
"In her defense that car looked a lot like that cheating ex's car," said Alison.
"I know I used it court to get her community service," said Foggy and Alison laughed.
"How was your weekend?" asked Alison and Foggy nodded.
"It was ok...Marci and I picked out some nursery stuff. We're still debating a gender reveal," said Foggy and Alison rolled her eyes.
"Despite everything that happened when I found out I was pregnant at least I didn't have to consider a gender reveal. If you do just get some freaking cupcakes with pink or blue candies. There is no need to set shit on fire," said Alison.
"Oh totally no fires for us. So I also talked to your dad this morning...something about Scott Lang, time travel and the chance to bring back everyone we ever cared about," said Foggy with a very tight smile.
"For fucks sake," snapped Alison. "I told him it wasn't possible. Like at all. Scott has no idea how he was able to get out of the quantum realm that he was trapped in for five years and now he thinks he can make a time machine. I don't know a lot about quantum physics, but what he's talking about...there is no way it's possible," said Alison.
"Magic space stones weren't possible either until five years ago," said Foggy. Alison wanted to scream. Why in the hell was she being pulled into this? She quit being an Avenger, hell she was barely even one to start with. Alison balled her hands in her lap and tried to stay calm.
"I...Foggy...what would happen if it didn't work? Have you or my dad considered the possibility that if this doesn't work shit could get 1000 times worse? Or hey let say it does work...what than? You were just at wedding last weekend for a couple who lost their spouses because of the Snap. Which marriage is legal now? There are kids who have been adopted because their parents got Snapped and have no memory of anything from before. What happens to them? Or hey, back to my original point of it doesn't work and we make it worse. Let say we take ourselves out bringing them back? What than...they get to live in the mini hell we've been in for the last five years? What happens if we take ourselves and everyone who is left out and it doesn't work? What was it all for than?" asked Alison.
"Hope...a chance to be with our loved ones again? Yeah...there are probably going to be some real messy legal issues that come up. I got to see it first hand when we had to get your dad declared not dead. Trust me I would rather fight Thanos than deal with the Office of Social Security," said Foggy. He got up and he started to pace. "Don't you think those people and those families would rather deal with some bullshit red tape if they got to see and be with their families again?"
"Once again...that's if it works and we have no way of knowing until we try and that's if trying is even possible," said Alison. "We fucked up. Ok...we fucked up on a scale that was beyond anyone's understanding and...if this takes everyone else out...I already lost Bucky and Sam...are you seriously asking me if I should put Rebecca's life on the line? Your life on the line?" asked Alison.
"I'm asking you to have some faith that things could be the way they were again," said Foggy. Alison couldn't help but think of Sam. Sam who had taken a chance to help Steve Rogers without a second thought for himself. Sam who had tried for over a year to help Steve find Bucky and bring him home. Sam who had faith her in when she didn't have any in self.
"I don't know if I can," said Alison.Sam would take the leap wouldn't he?
…...
Bucky could tell Alison was in a very high state of pissed off and was doing her best to hide it from Rebecca. Alison had taken her to the music store, bought her beginner sheet music and a good pair of over the ears headphones. She had gotten some suggestions for artists that they could listen together and left her info with the clerk about looking for violin teacher. He could see though under the surface she was ready to lose her shit.
He had been there for her talk with Foggy and thought about what Tony had said. They weren't willing to risk their children. It was the one thing that they had left to them in this world. They got home and Alison got the headphones set up and turned on some music for Rebecca.
"I have to talk to your grandpa about the towels. So you just hang out in here till dinner," said Alison.
"Ok mommy,' said Rebecca. Alison shut Rebecca's bedroom and Bucky watched her mask fall as she marched into the kitchen.
"Oh she going to tear him a new one," said Jillian watching her daughter go into the kitchen.
"What did he tell Foggy?" asked Bucky and Jillian shrugged.
"Oh that everything could be undone, but Alison was being stubborn and doubtful. It's a little of that I imagine," said Jillian.
"She doesn't want to risk Rebecca if it goes bad or anyone else they still have," said Bucky.
"I mean the idea is interesting. I only dabbled in it from time to time ...damn my shitty body for taking me out. Hell...knowing my luck The Snap would have taken me out and I would still be here talking to you and watching her get ready to tear my husband a new asshole," said Jillian.
"What...and I can not stress this enough...the fuck were you thinking," hissed Alison. Robert looked up from the dishes and eyed Alison.
"I'm going to need to you go into detail," said Robert.
"You told Foggy about Lang's insane theory in some crazy attempt to try and get me to work with them. Did you clear this with Natasha and Steve or is a press junket next?" asked Alison
"Yes I told Foggy. Technically we could call it client/attorney privileges. No I didn't talk to them about it and a press junket is not on the menu," said Robert. "I thought he might be able to talk some sense into you."
"Because I have none of my own," said Alison.
"If someone handed me a change to have your mother back I would grab it with both hands," said Robert coldly. Alison's eyes narrowed and the look she gave Robert chilled Bucky and even Jillian looked worried.
"Do not question how much I loved everyone that we lost. I buried parts of myself with all them. You are asking me to risk the only part of Bucky I have left...he's the only part of anyone I have left," said Alison in a voice so soft that Bucky struggled to hear her.
"They talked to Tony and he's out, but Banner is in," said Robert. "You're smart...between you, Banner and Scott..."
"I don't know the first thing about quantum physics. Yeah I got a IQ boost from Steve and I learn things way faster than before...but this is time travel. Ok. It's not in a medical field and that I have some foundation in. It's not a new language or skill that I can make a mistake and start over. This...it's playing god," said Alison somewhere between a sob and laugh. "This whole shit show is because someone decided to play god."
Alison sat down and put her face in her hands. Robert sat down and made her look at him.
"I...I didn't do...I didn't do everything I could to make sure you were alright. I let shit get way out of hand before I tried doing anything to help you. I didn't try for myself because it was hard and I did not have your strength. Steve told me how you fought for your life and Bucky's life...and it nearly cost you your own life. You were ready to go fight a pack of super soldiers with your team and broke a ton of international laws to do so. You tried to take a space rock out of walking AI while newly pregnant. I don't want you to question if being inactive was the right choice your whole life. I was and regret it...I'm going out there tomorrow to help in any way I can. Foggy said he and Marci would watch Rebecca if we needed them too," said Robert.
"Oh Robert, you jackass," muttered Jillian. Bucky saw all the color drain out of Alison's face. It was beyond overstepping and Bucky knew Alison would see it as a massive breech of trust.
"So you couldn't be there to make decisions about me at Rebecca's age, but you have the god damn audacity to make ones about my daughter for me?" asked Alison. Without waiting for his response Alison got up and walked out of the apartment. Bucky went to follow her and Jillian took his arm.
"I think...right now...she needs to be truly alone," said Jillian.
…... …...
When she, Sam and Renee had been kids they always came to play at this playground near their grade school. They had taken out the the metal slides and Alison was pretty sure Sam had broken his arm trying to jump off one of the jungle gyms.
There should be so many kids here,thought Alison and she pumped her legs to get the swing going. It was getting dark and she knew she should go home and see about getting Rebecca ready for bed. She still couldn't believe the nerve of her father. Some bitter voice in the back of head spoke up reminding her that he bailed on her between the ages of 5 and 32 and now he had the nerve to try to make decisions behind her back about her own daughter.
Alison looked up at the sky and could faintly see the stars coming out.God I just wanna talk to someone...
"Hey Sam...I know it's been awhile since we talked. I figured you might be busy hanging out with you mom and the gang on your grandparent's boat. I didn't wanna bother you with my dumb issues...I figure you might be the best one on to talk to since this is sort of your fault that I'm in this current pickle. I could have been working at a nursing home and handing out muffins on Monday for the last few years if you hadn't decided to strike up a post run conversation with Captain America...on the flip side I wouldn't have Rebecca so maybe after this chat we'll call it even," said Alison. She stopped the swing to really gather her thoughts.
"Look there might be a way for you to come back...for all of you to come back... and I don't know if we should. Like I miss you so much, but so many things could go wrong and I don't know if the risk is worth it. We already know what this is and while it's not real happiness...it's something. Something is better than nothing right? I know you have no way of really giving me an answer...but I'll take any sign at this point," said Alison.
"You know you really should be careful what you wish for," said a voice. Alison looked over as Tony Stark sat down on the other swing.
"Oh my fuck my life," muttered Alison.
"Personally I think you needing that in your life might be what is causing this current mental state. It might clear your head slightly. You and Steve...never...after all this time?" asked Tony and Alison gave him a look.
"The closest Steve has been to my vagina was while I was pushing his best friend's baby out of it. Even than he didn't take a peak so...besides I'm pretty sure at this point I would break him in two. Also if this is sign it's a shitty one and Sam can stay dead," said Alison. "Also how in the fuck did you know I was here?"
Tony pulled out his phone and showed that he had tracked her phone and Alison debated the ethics of going off the grid again.
"Now Dorothy is that anyway to talk to the Good Witch of the North?" asked Tony. "I realize things have been a little tense between us despite our monkeys playing so well together. I don't wanna fight with you. I didn't than...not really and I don't now. So let's call a truce," said Tony holding out his hand. Alison took and shook it. Tony started pushing his swing.
"So I tried calling Bruce and he's not picking up so that means he must be hanging out with Cap and co to get this time heist going. However...I might have already cracked it," said Tony.
"I swear to god if you say you invented time travel last night," said Alison.
"I mean Pepper did bath time and stuff so I had the free time to do it," said Tony. Alison was stunned and yet she wasn't.
"I thought you had bowed out," said Alison and Tony shrugged.
"I mean that was the plan. I like my life. My cabin and compost piles and critters, but then the gang shows up and basically said Bet and what was I supposed to do?" asked Tony.
"Play with your critters," suggested Alison.
"I plan on it after we're done," said Tony. Alison sighed deeply and looked up at the sky.When we're done. He's asking you without asking you to help. To try one more time. Damn it...damn it...well you asked for sign.
"We have to fail safes in place. We can't go fixing all the shit that has gone sideways. We're just getting Stones and bring back the people lost from the Snap. Not in Sokovia, not in Lagos, or DC and anywhere else? We can't go undoing every fuck up," said Alison.
"I agree. I can't risk what I've found either," said Tony.
"What are we going to do with the Stones once we're done? We can't risk anyone else getting them," said Alison.They could undo everything we're trying to fix.
"Honestly I was just thinking about trying to get them. I hadn't though about the after," said Tony.
"Would you be open to destroying them after...all of them? I know we lost Vision and we could bring him back if we had one of the Stones, but considering what one Stone could lead too...the risk...I know Wanda...I'm getting way ahead here aren't I?" asked Alison.
"One of us needs to think about the after," said Tony.
"There are somethings I need to take care of. I'm not going to lie...fucking terrified. I thought I was done with superhero shit," said Alison.
"I mean same," said Tony looking up at the sky. "Come on I'll take you home."
…...
Bucky watched as Alison let herself in and joined Rebecca and Robert in the living room.
"Hey. What is Sailor Moon fighting now?" asked Alison sitting down on the sofa and cuddling up next to Rebecca.
"Queen Beryl made Tuxedo Mask evil," whined Rebecca.
"Oh no," said Alison and she put her head on Rebecca's head and gave Robert a look that now was not the time. She had been gone for almost two hours and Bucky could see Robert was worried and that Rebecca also seem confused about where Alison had gone. She looked oddly at peace and Bucky wondered what had happened while she had been gone.
"I should have gone with her," said Bucky and Jillian shook her head.
"I think whatever happened was what she needed the most," said Jillian.
"Ok girlie pop. Say good night to grandpa," said Alison.
"Night Grandpa," said Rebecca and she gave him a hug.
"Night sweetie," said Robert giving her a forehead kiss.
Alison got Rebecca's bed ready while she brushed her teeth. Alison turned on the bunny light before turning off the overhead light and curling up on Rebecca's bed. Rebecca came into the room and Alison tucked her in.
"So instead of story...well it's still a story, but it's about your dad," said Alison and Rebecca nodded. Alison took a deep breath and started playing with Rebecca's hair.
"You know that your daddy and Uncle Steve grew up together a long, long time ago and that they fought in the war together against those really bad people?" asked Alison and Rebecca nodded. "Well Uncle Steve and I weren't honest about how your dad got to be here in this time with Uncle Steve," said Alison and Rebecca looked at her wide eyed.
"You lied?" asked Rebecca and Bucky could see that stung Alison deeply, but she went on.
"We weren't ready to tell you the whole story, but you're a big girl now and I can tell you the real story," said Alison calmly.
"Ok," pouted Rebecca and Alison went on.
"Daddy and Uncle Steve had a super important mission together and while they were on that mission together, Bucky...daddy...he got hurt and fell off a mountain. Uncle Steve and everyone there thought he was gone forever. But, he wasn't...and instead of good people like Uncle Steve finding him, the bad people found him," said Alison.
"What are you doing?" asked Bucky seeing how wide Rebecca's eyes were.
"What happened?" asked Rebecca.
"Well its kind of like Tuxedo Mask. Queen Beryl made him forget that he was good and those bad people made your dad forget he was one of the good guys. They made him do a lot of bad stuff for a very long time and when they weren't making him do bad things they put him to sleep. But like all bad guys they made a very stupid mistake. The bad people tried to make him fight Uncle Steve and Uncle Steve wouldn't fight him. Uncle Steve helped him remember that deep inside he was a good guy. It took a long time, but after awhile he found his way home and we met...and for a little awhile we lived happily ever after," said Alison.
"I wish it would have been longer," said Bucky.
"Did the bad guys get in trouble?" asked Rebecca half asleep and Alison kissed her forehead.Not enough of them,thought Bucky.
"A lot of them did...I just wanted you to know that your dad was...is a very good person and he would have loved you very much," said Alison.
Bucky had to admire how she had broken down his messy past into something a child could understand. He wondered if when Rebecca got older and started finding out all the things he had done if she would remember what Alison had told her. Rebecca soon fell asleep and Alison careful got out of the bed and made sure she was tucked in and that her stuffed toy was near her. She went back into the living room and took one of the pictures off the shelf she had set up as a memorial.
"I swear to god if this doesn't work I am going to find you in the after life and smack you so god damn hard upside your stupid head," muttered Alison. She sat the photo down and Bucky saw it was a picture of her and Sam at Steve's birthday party. Robert came in and sat down next to her. Bailey jumped on Alison's lap and she started petting her head.
"Ally...I'm..." stated Robert.
"Don't...just don't," said Alison. The silence between them was so thick you could cut it with a knife. "Tony got it to work. He figured it out and he's going up HQ tomorrow. I have to call Foggy and organize him and Marci taking Rebecca and Bailey while we're up there," said Alison and Robert looked at her.
"I'm sorry...I overstepped," said Robert and Alison nodded.
"Not going to lie...I'm still terrified and there are way too many things that can wrong. Hell, even if we bring everyone back we're going to create a whole new set fun issues...still..." Alison's eyes went over to photos and she smiled softly. "I just want my family together again."
Robert pulled Alison into a hug and Bucky was sure if he could breath he would have lost his breath. If anyone could make this work it would be the son of Howard Stark. Jillian took his hand and put her head on his shoulder.
"I promise when you go back to give you all the alone time you could possible want," said Jillian.I want us together again too...
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