CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR, a painful goodbye

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STEVE PROCESSED IVANNA'S words, her being there in front of him finally settling while everyone crossed through the portals. He initially had doubts about the blonde actually being Ivanna, but once she spoke: he knew. Steve took a deep breath that he didn't know he needed while the crowd gathered beside one another, Steve holding his broken shield while Ivanna came to stand beside him, her hands glowing and sparking with electricity. She took a look around the group of Avengers, noting how it had most definitely changed in the span of ten years, and then turned back to Steve. The pair exchanged their usual small smiles, and she nodded.

"Avengers!" Steve shouted and summoned Mjölnir, "Assemble."

Thor let out a cry, joining Steve and everyone else in the charge of Thanos and his army. Thanks raised the sword in his hand, sending his army in the direction of the Avengers.

Ivanna kept surveying the land around the Avengers Compound, hoping to see a flash of red hair during the fight. After learning what happened, Ivanna needed reassurance and comfort. And not just from Steve, but from her sister as well. Natasha was nowhere in Ivanna's sight, fueling her further to continue her fight against the opposing side.

The blonde grabbed the wrist of one of the many aliens surrounding the team, gripping it tightly and electrocuting the creature before spinning and throwing it in the direction of another. Her spin gave her enough force to land her fist into the face of an alien, and then kick down on its legs and force it to the ground.

Steve appeared by her side, silently asking if she was okay.

"Cap," Clint's voice came over the comms in pants, "what do you want me to do with this damn thing?"

Ivanna furrowed her brows, looking at Steve curiously as they began fighting once more. Steve sighed and looked around.

"Get those stones as far away as possible!"

"No! We need to get them back where they came from," Bruce argued from wherever he was.

In that moment, Ivanna had plenty of questions, but she knew that there was no time for them. They were running out of tune, they needed to get rid of the stones before Thanos did.

"No way to get them back," Tony countered, "Thanos destroyed the quantum tunnel."

"Hold on!" A voice that Ivanna assumed was Scott slang said as Steve took her hands and swung Ivanna around to send her booted foot into multiple faces of aliens, "That wasn't our only time machine."

When the pair separated they heard a song from a vehicle, Steve perking up and running toward some rubble and looking around. Ivanna continued to fight from the lower ground while Steve spoke up once more.

"Anyone see an ugly, brown van up there?"

Ivanna's snickers met his ears and he glanced at Ivanna, then turned his attention back to the search for Scott's van.

"Yes! But you're not gonna like where it's parked!" A woman's voice spoke over the comms and Ivanna began searching for the source.

"Scott, how long you need to get that thing working?" Tony questioned.

There was silence while Scott pondered his answer, "Maybe ten minutes."

"Get it started," Steve confirmed while he and Ivanna began moving elsewhere, "We'll get the stones to you."

"We're on it, Cap," someone else responded.

Ivanna could hear the sound of Peter Parker panicking and asking for help, which Steve handed with ease by throwing Mjolnir in the younger boy's direction. Ivanna sighed with relief when she noticed Peter being caught by Pepper.

"What the hell is this?" Sam was suddenly asking.

Ivanna looked up and saw a bright light crashing through one of the alien ships, causing it to explode and land in the lake.

"Danvers, we need an assist here,"

Ivanna noticed Peter, surrounded by aliens and holding the gauntlet that everyone had been so desperate to get rid of. Ivanna sprinted in his direction, taking down any aliens she could before she was next to Peter. The boy was curled on the ground with the gauntlet.

"Peter?" She asked hurriedly and began helping him rise to his feet.

A shadow suddenly fell over the two and Ivanna glanced back, ready to fight whoever was there. She found it to be a blonde woman watching Peter and the gauntlet.

"Hi," Peter breathed out, holding the gauntlet closer to his chest, "Peter Parker."

"Hey, Peter Parker," she smiled at Peter and gestured to the gauntlet, "You got something for me?"

Peter gave her the gauntlet, giving some concerns about how the blonde would get through everything. Ivanna looked at the ships and aliens in front of them, Wanda, Okoye, and Pepper coming to stand in the area. There were women she didn't exactly recognize, but it was clear they were all fighting for the same cause.

"Don't worry," Wanda said while her hands began glowing the usual red color.

Okoye spoke up next, "She's got help."

Carol began charging through the crowds of aliens and ships, the rest of the women backing her all the way. Ivanna kept expecting to see Natasha be part of the group, but never saw sight of her sister once. Ivanna's eyes widened at the sight of Carol fighting Thanos, meaning that Thanos had stopped her from taking the gauntlet through the time machine. Ivanna stood still, in complete shock as Tony and Thanos eventually began fighting over the gauntlet and the stones stored inside.
Thanos got the gauntlet, putting on his hand and readying for another world changing snap.

"I am," Thanos breathed out, getting used to what was coursing through his veins, "inevitable."

Thanos snapped. But nothing happened.

Ivanna inched closer, her hands up in defense to protect herself if needed. Realization settled on Ivanna when she saw Tony.

"And I- am," Tony paused, catching his breath, "Iron Man."

Ivanna spun around seeing the aliens and their ships disappearing to dust. They had done it. Once she registered what was happening, Ivanna's concern was Tony. She began searching for him, seeing that he had moved from where he had snapped. And soon saw Rhodey flying in the direction of his friend.

Ivanna came up beside Steve, her eyes wide and glued to Tony while Peter crouched in front of him. Ivanna found herself gripping Steve's wrist when she took in how critical Tony's condition truly was. Ivanna gasped, completely in shock while Pepper moved to be beside Tony.

Pepper spoke softly to her husband, Ivanna and Steve watching from only a few feet away. Peter was sobbing, Rhodey standing beside the boy to try and calm him. Ivanna had felt Steve pull his wrist out of her hand, switching it out with his hand and giving her a soft squeeze when he heard her crying as Tony's reactor flickered out.

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After everything had settled, after everyone was back, Steve finally turned his head to the blonde woman who fought by his side as soon as she had arrived. Ivanna still looked the same as she did during their last time seeing one another in Wakanda. Before she vanished from his life. Steve felt his love for the woman, and when she could hear his thoughts she glanced at him.

"Vanna," he mumbled with a weak smile.

"Hi, Steve,"

The two embraced each other, Steve burying his face in the crook of her neck and holding her tightly. Ivanna softly kissed his cheek,

"You're okay," she whispered while swaying back and forth with Steve, "I'm okay, Steve."

She could feel Steve shaking as tears rolled down his cheeks, his face still hidden against Ivanna's neck. She continued rubbing his back, refusing to let go. Her eyes wandered amongst the large group of people who had taken part in the fight, but Ivanna couldn't find one.

"Steve?" Her voice was a whisper and Steve hummed, pulling away and looking down at the blonde with soft eyes, "Where's Nat?"

Ivanna recognized the look of sadness that crossed over his face. She'd seen it before. Just a few moments ago with Tony. Whenever he had spoken about Bucky. When he told her about Pietro Maximoff. Ivanna recognized the look, and a son caught in her throat.

"Where's Nat?" Ivanna croaked, hoping just maybe that her fears about her sister had no reason to exist. And that Nat was still amongst the crowds of people who had helped them win. But she knew, and all it took was the look from Steve.

She lost control then, sobbing while Steve pulled her to him once more. Natasha and Ivanna had quite literally been through everything together.

"I never got to say goodbye," she sobbed into Steve's chest.

He rubbed her back in comfort, having already known she'd be more hurt than anyone else at the news of Natasha's death.

"I'm sorry, Vanna," he whispered.

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Ivanna climbed over the rubble of the Avengers compound, Steve following behind and making sure she didn't fall. The building she had once called a home was destroyed, along with everything they had built inside of it.

"Was..." she trailed off and glanced at Steve standing behind her. The two had changed out of their suits, her wearing leggings and a jacket while Steve wore jeans and a t-shirt, "was this where Nat stayed? Did she go anywhere else?"

Steve slowly nodded his head. He had tried to talk Ivanna out of coming to the ruined compound, but she talking him into it. Steve had driven them here, while her mind wandered.

After the battle, everyone had went their separate ways. Steve took Ivanna to his place, Sam and Bucky as well. The four reconnected the best they could, even with the present void of the one person they all knew was gone. Ivanna had stayed close to Steve, resting her head on his shoulder while they all talked.

Ivanna sighed at Steve's response, and turned her attention back to the ruined building. It wasn't all rubble, some of it was still in tact even with the damage done from Thanos. Ivanna dropped down onto a solid surface, hearing Steve land behind her. She made her way through the remains of the compound, stopping when she found what she was looking for.

Natasha's room.

She took in what was left of the room, finding it to be very little from the destruction, but still able to find anything that remained.

"Vanna?" Steve questioned softly, stepping in her direction and looking down at her.

"Was she here alone?" Ivanna asked while her eyes drifted over every piece left of Natasha's room.

"Yeah," Steve admitted with a sigh, "she took over the Avengers, we all went our separate ways."

Ivanna let out a light chuckle, "Sounds like Natasha."

Steve have a weak smile at her response and watched her walk toward a fallen wall of the room. She began moving the cement and rubble that blocked her way from searching the room. Steve watched from behind, not wanting to be in her way.

Tears started lining Ivanna's eyes when she found pictures, and many other small items that had meant so much to Natasha. The frames were dented, the glass was broken. And many of the pictures that had been in the room were burnt or torn from the damage. She reached her hand down and grabbed some of the photos, resting them on her thighs while she looked over everything she had found.

Steve started moving in Ivanna's direction, hearing that she had let go completely.

"Vanna we shouldn't be here," he said softly, resting a hand on her shoulder and crouching down. Her cries were even more painful the closer he was to her, and he furrowed his brows. Steve began grabbing the pictures and gadgets Ivanna had found. He tucked them into a bag she had him carry in then grabbed Ivanna, "I'm sorry."

He held her close and she let him, wrapping her arms around Steve's neck and placing her face against his shoulder. The two remained that way as he tried to calm her down, rubbing her back.

"She's really gone," Ivanna muttered.

Steve silently nodded his head, whispering out another apology while he held her tighter, "We need to get out of here, Vanna. We'll see what we can do with what you've found here, let's go back to my place, hm?"

Ivanna pulled away and looked up at Steve, sniffling while she wiped her eyes, "I miss her. And I'm going to miss her. I want to honor my sister, Steve."

"We will," he nodded with one of his sad smiles, "let's get everything else taken care of first, alright?"

Ivanna nodded and let Steve help her to her feet. Steve passed the bag in her direction and then took her hand, helping Ivanna back over the rubble. Steve followed after her just as he had on the way there. She reached the car before him, settling in and peaking in the bag again.

As Steve climbed into the drivers seat he looked over and saw an article of clothing in Ivanna's hands, and immediately recognized it.

"How did that survive the explosion and everything?" He asked.

Ivanna shrugged, "Yelena had given it to her...it's what she wore when we reunited with you and when we went to Wakanda. I'm glad Nat kept it."

Steve smiled in her direction, pulling away from the old destroyed compound and toward his apartment. He and Ivanna had been staying there, as she no longer had her own home, so he took her to stay with him. Ivanna had no problem with it, as Steve was one of the only people she had anymore besides Sam. Though unbeknownst to Steve, she did have Melina, Yelena, and Alexei. The pair returned to his apartment and changed, then made their way to the Stark cabin.

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"Everybody wants a happy ending, right? But it doesn't always roll that way. Maybe this time. I'm hoping if you play this back, it's in celebration. I hope families are reunited, I hope we get it back, and something like a normal version of the planet has been restored. If there ever was such a thing. God, what a world. Universe, now. If you told me ten years ago that we weren't alone, let alone, you know, to this extent, I mean, I wouldn't have been surprised. But come on, you know? The epic forces of darkness and light that have come into play. And, for better or worse, that's the reality Morgan's gonna have to find a way to grow up in," Ivanna stood beside Steve, her hand looped through his arm as he leaned against a pillar behind the sofa. Her eyes were glued to the ground as she listened to Tony's words, finding comfort in being near Steve, "So I thought I'd probably better record a little greeting... In the case of an untimely death on my part. I mean, not that, death at any time isn't untimely. This time travel thing that we're gonna try and pull off tomorrow, it's- it's got me scratching my head about the survivability of it all. That's the thing. Then again, that's the hero gig. Part of the journey is the end. What am I even trippin' for? Everything's gonna work out exactly the way it's supposed to. I love you 3,000."

After Tony's message, the group went outside. They watched as Pepper carried a wreath toward the lake, and then everyone gathered behind Pepper to watch her send the wreath, with the arc reactor tucked inside of it, off into the water. They watched in silence, only soft sniffles could be heard amongst the crowd coming from anyone who was crying.

Once the intimate moment was over, Bruce, Sam, Bucky, Steve, and Ivanna made their way to a different area of the cabin. Bruce was setting up the time machine and Ivanna stood beside Bucky while Sam and Steve talked.

Just few nights before, Steve and Ivanna had a long sit down. The pair discussed a topic that Ivanna never thought she would hear Steve consider, but after they spoke for a while: Ivanna decided to go with Steve's decision, encouraging him to do whatever he chose. Steve and Sam finished their conversation, and Steve made his way toward Bucky. Ivanna crammed her hands into the pockets of the sweater she was wearing, watching Steve and Bucky while she glanced to Sam. She could hear and see how worried and scared was, and considering how much Steve put on the line for Steve, it was a reasonable fear in Ivanna's opinion.

"Don't do anything stupid 'till I get back," Ivanna heard Steve say.

She glanced back as Bucky responded, and then Steve turned to Ivanna. She sent him a small smile, nodding at the question he asked her in his mind. Ivanna watched Steve walk away, slowly trailing after him and coming up next to Sam. Steve stepped onto the platform, the suit materializing on his body as he did so.

"How long is this gonna take?" Sam asked the same question that had been on Ivanna's mind since this was decided.

"For him?" Bruce nodded his head toward Steve, "As long as he needs. For us? Five seconds."

Steve lifted up Mjolnir and settled his gaze on Ivanna while he and Bruce secured that he was set to go. Ivanna leaned against Sam in comfort , her friend slinging his arm around her shoulders while Bruce began speaking.

"Ready, Cap?" Bruce asked, Steve nodded and his helmet appeared on his head, "Alright. We'll meet you back here, okay?"

"You bet,"

"Going quantum. Three, two, one-" Steve disappeared and the group fell silent, everyone watching in anticipation as they waited for Steve's return, "And returning in, five, four, three, two, one-"

Steve's return never happened. Bruce glanced over his equipment in confusion, and Sam's arm tightened around Ivanna as he began panicking. Ivanna glanced over with furrowed brows, ready to calm him down.

"Where is he?"

"I don't know," Bruce said with confusion, "He blew right by his time stamp. He should be here."

"Sam-" Ivanna let out but was interrupted by her friend's panicked words.

"Well, get him back,"

"I'm trying,"

"Get him the hell back!"

"Sam! Chill out!" Ivanna shouted.

"Sam..." Bucky's voice came over the chaos.

The duo snapped to face Bucky, and Ivanna turned with a hopeful smile to where Bucky was looking. Steve was standing there, wearing a jacket and jeans rather than the suit he had been in. He returned her smile when his blue eyes landed on her, nodding in Ivanna's direction while Sam came up beside her. Ivanna raised her hand and placed it on Sam's arm, gesturing to Steve.

"Go see him," she whispered.

Sam gaped at her, pointing between Steve and Ivanna, "Wouldn't it make more sense for you to-"

"Go," Ivanna chuckled and pushed Sam in Steve's direction, then looked back at Bucky who smiled at her.

Ivanna and Bucky watched the interaction from afar.

"Anything happening between you two yet?" Bucky questioned nonchalantly.

Ivanna turned to him with a raised brow, an amused smirk growing on her face while she studied him, "Me and Sam?"

Bucky chuckled and shook his head, nodding toward Steve who was now making his way toward his best friend and Ivanna. He seemed to be in a rush of sorts, and only stopped once he was directly in front of the blonde woman.

"Vanna,"

"Steve,"

His hand came to cup the back of her head and he leaned down, pressing his lips against her own. Ivanna was startled at first, but eventually returned the kiss. The couple moved in sync, their lips moving together and as if it was natural for them to do. Sam whistled in the background causing Ivanna to chuckle and pull away from Steve, burying her face in his chest.

"Took long enough for that to happen," Steve whispered.

Ivanna hummed and nodded, but didn't say anything further as she pulled away and looked up at Steve. He smiled down at her, and then they looked at the two men with them. Sam held the shield in one arm, Ivanna sending him a proud smile. He pointed at Steve and made a kissy face in return.

After a while, the group walked away from the time machine, ready for their next step and phase in life. Ivanna felt an arm wrap around her shoulder and glanced up to see Steve smiling down at her. Ivanna hugged herself and pulled her jacket tighter around her body while she and Steve walked.

"You're awfully quiet," he told her softly, both listening to the playful banter that had already started between Sam and Bucky, "what's on your mind, Vanna?"

Ivanna shook her head, looking to the ground and then the lake around them. She knew Steve had been worried for her constantly ever since she returned, and reasonably so.

"Steve?" He hummed in response as they approached his car, Bucky and Sam climbing in as well, "Could we make a trip to Ohio? Just you and me, I have some things I want to do."

Steve's brows knit together and they stopped at the front of the car, "What's in Ohio?"

Ivanna smiled, "Family."