2020

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(Y/N) didn't know what she did to get to this point of her life, but she wouldn't change it for the world. Morgan kept growing every single day into an energetic and curious girl, who wanted nothing more than to play with her parents and. run across the large fields surrounding their home. Tony and (Y/N) noticed that they were doing a perfect job at raising her, and hoped to keep this lucky streak as she got older.

But of course, to balance the beautiful things in one's life, there has to be a tragedy.

It was like any other day in the Stark residence, laughter could be echoed throughout the walls and there were piles of toys scattered all over the floor. After (Y/N) caught a glimpse of Morgan painting her father's face with her makeup kit and took several pictures of it, she instructed both of them to clean up the mess they'd made in the process while she went to grab a drink from the kitchen.

The house phone rang loudly from its place plastered on the wall, and (Y/N) rushed to answer it since she was the closest to it. It only rang two more times before she grabbed it and hovered it near her ear, muttering a short greeting and waited for the person to reply.

"Is (Y/N) Vaughn there?"

"This is her speaking."

"I'm Doctor Highland, we've met."

At the sound of that name, (Y/N)'s whole body physically tensed. She didn't notice that she had let the line fall into complete silence until the doctor called out for her, and she had to contain the nervous crack from showing on the other line. At this point, Tony and Morgan finished cleaning the toys up and Tony played close attention to the micro expressions in (Y/N)'s face.

"Yes, Dr. Highland," (Y/N) exhaled a breath and placed a hand on her hip. "Is something wrong? The checkups were over for a while, so should we schedule another one?"

There was a moment of silence on the other line. A deflated sigh left Doctor Highland's lips that was audible to (Y/N), and a knot formed on her stomach because of that.

"I'm sorry to do this over the phone, but. . ." another pause over the phone. She didn't like this at all. "Maria Rambeau passed away this morning."

(Y/N) nearly dropped the phone from her hand. Her jaw dropped open, but no sound came out. It was as if she was completely frozen in shock and did not register what she just heard. She didn't know where she got the strength to place the phone closer to her and still mutter another sentence.

"W. . .What happened?"

"She suffered a remission, the cancer returned. We weren't able to do much before she passed," Doctor Highland spoke softly. "I'm so sorry."

(Y/N) was barely able to mutter a phrase before hanging up, already feeling Tony's presence behind her waiting for some sort of explanation. She didn't know what got over her when she collapsed on her knees, a sob shaking her entire body as she covered her face with her hands, dropping the phone in the process. Tony immediately crouched down and wrapped his arms around her in a panic, but it didn't do much to calm down as the tears stained her cheeks and a heart clenching cry escaped her lips.

"It's okay," Tony murmured and pulled her even closer, flickering his eyes back at Morgan to make sure of where she was before focusing on his wife.

(Y/N) hadn't stopped shaking due to her sob. "She's gone, she's gone — I couldn't — "

"Let it all out, I've got you."

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Flying back to Louisiana and organize a funeral wasn't part of (Y/N)'s plans, but she took charge of it anyway. She felt as if she owed it to Maria. . .and to Monica if she ever came back. A part of her wanted to contact Carol using the communicator, but she figured that she had more important issues than dealing with this. Tony offered to pay for the funeral service too, a gesture that (Y/N) appreciated wholeheartedly.

It was hard returning to Maria's old house to drop her personal belongings from the hospital, and to grab an appropriate picture for her funeral. (Y/N) choked up when she first crossed the threshold, feeling overwhelmed with a wave of nostalgia from the last time she was there. There had been pictures on the walls from Monica's growth, from recognition diplomas and family photos; (Y/N) could feel as if she watched the young girl she knew grow up in a matter of seconds. But what made her halt was the framed picture of her, Carol and Maria standing behind a young Monica with a cake laying in front of her.

(Y/N), despite her impulsive thoughts wanting to use that picture for the funeral, decided against it and chose another one she found laying in the house. The funeral director did the photo justice and placed it in a beautiful, golden frame that glistened with the sun's blinding light for the entire crowd to see. There were flower decorations on the corners of it and on the bottom of the closed casket. And of course, in an old tradition, the flag was displayed over the casket.

Before the service started and people were arriving, (Y/N) was one of the main people to greet them once they approached. Former colleagues, college classmates, and even Air Force officials assisted the funeral, yet the daughter of her best friend, the main person that was supposed to be here couldn't assist, and that made (Y/N) feel a knot in her stomach.

"(Y/N) Vaughn, it's an honor to meet you," an unfamiliar man made his way over to her with a hand extended. "I'm a huge admirer of yours."

(Y/N) turned to him and frowned. "Who are you?"

"I'm Tyler Howard, new appointed director of S.W.O.R.D."

Ah, yes, S.W.O.R.D. Maria had founded it right after the events in 1995 with the help of the US government. (Y/N) had a vague idea of what it was in charge of, only remembering how she laughed at Maria for her choice in the acronym. Now that she recalled that memory, she couldn't help but feel the same overwhelming sensation of sadness than the fondness she used to remember it with. (Y/N) was terrified that this would be the only way she remembers her best friend in her mind.

"Mmm, are there any new operations you're in charge of?" (Y/N) awkwardly asked, internally cringing of how she had voiced it.

"No, ma'am," Hayward shook his head. "We're focusing on something else now."

"Like what?"

He paused all his movements. "That's classified."

(Y/N) hummed in response and Hayward excused himself from the conversation, leaving her with a billion thoughts rummaging through her head. Tony snaked his arm around hers to pull her to his side, his other arm holding up Morgan, who was asleep against his shoulder.

"He seemed. . .interesting," he commented.

"If 'interesting' is the new word than to weird, then yes," (Y/N) responded in a low voice.

Tony let out a snort, which made people give him weird looks that he shrugged off to. He rubbed a hand up and down (Y/N)'s back once he noticed how everyone was being ushered into their seats and quietening down.

"It's time, you sure you want to do this?" he asked, referring to the eulogy she was going to say into the crowd.

She nodded. "I owe it to her."

Tony nodded to her words and leaned forward to give (Y/N) a chaste kiss on the lips. She pulled back with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, but that all changed when she focused on Morgan and brushed the hair out of her eyes. Morgan muttered a quiet murmur of her name, but (Y/N) quickly ushered her back to sleep so she could rest. Now that she had the support of the most important people in her life, she inhaled a sharp breath before moving toward the front of the crowd.

(Y/N) spared a glance at the picture on the side, displaying the face of a friend she'll never see again, and could feel her eyes well up again. Her eyes set on the lines of people sat in front of her, all here for the same person. That, for some reason, motivated her even more, and she lifted her head high just as she was about to say her speech.

"Maria Rambeau was more than a leader and a fighter to me," (Y/N) began, no turning back from now. "She was one of my closest friends, a shoulder to cry on, and the biggest supporter you could have. We helped each other out in our lowest moments and I watched her grow into a perfect mother, pilot and person."

"Even after not seeing each other for so many years, she still took me in and helped me fight my battles. She did so much for me and I didn't get enough time to thank her for it," her tears were finally spilling down. "I believe that everything happens for a reason, and I can say that if I hadn't met Maria, I wouldn't be in the position or the person I am today."

"My words today cannot fully express the terrible feeling of despair I have for not having you around anymore, Maria," (Y/N) looked up to the sky for a short second before facing the crowd again. "But I can say. . ."

"Rest in Peace, Photon. You were bigger than the whole sky."

im so conflicted about this chapter lol
it was necessary im sorry !! next chapter is full fluff i PROMISE you guys

-see you soon, bex <3