1 week later

James still laid in his hospital bed in a coma, there was no sign of him waking up any time soon. Natasha and Steve split their time there and planning a funeral for Sarah. It was hard. Neither was really able to process.

Natasha was a living corpse. She walked around with a dead look on her face. She avoided eating unless Steve sat down with her. She wouldn't talk to anyone, only Steve. Steve wasn't doing anything better. He was angry, he took it most of his anger in the gym, and let his tears fall when he and Natasha laid in their bed.

The team could only watch from afar, occasionally offering their prayers to the pair. The guilt within was still very present. It only grew when they all sat at the young girl's funeral. Steve and Natasha were in the front row starring absently in front of themselves.

Maria was the first to walk up to the podium when they announced for speeches to be given. She was dressed in an all-black dress, one that she had picked out with Sarah when she watched her a few years ago.
"Sarah Rogers in so many ways was the sunshine on Earth. She walked through life with a pep in her step and anyone who had the pleasure of knowing this little girl knew that she had a special factor about her, one that was able to turn your frown upside down. Not a lot of people can make me smile, you all know that, but whenever I hung out with Sarah, my goddaughter, my face would hurt so much.

I will forever remember Sarah, she simply can't be forgotten. While I will always remember my best friend's daughter, I will also remember her as my baby boy's first love." Maria looked at her son who's eyes were stained red, his sister holding his hand. "She and Hugh grew up together, they were soulmates. She's always gonna be by our side, and I know when life gets a little bit tough and the sun is still shinning it her smiling down at us." She took her leave and sat between Sam and Hugh, who put his head on his mother's shoulder.

While they waited for someone else to get up, Tony looked over at his wife, who held her own tissue and held her son's hand as well. Morgan sat beside her father looking tired and drained. He leaned into Pepper.
"Pep, we have to tell them we know."

"Now is not the time Tony." She whispered back. "You need to let them grieve-"

"I know. I know." Tony sighed and closed his eyes. He knew that this could happen! Yet he didn't do a fucking thing. He was mad at himself. He was angry he didn't step in. He didn't step in and now his friends were hurting because of it.

"Sarah" This was Morgan speaking. "was the younger sister I never had. She was literally my little me. If you ask anyone, they'd tell you just how amazing this girl was. She had a certain way of presenting herself that made you strive to be something better. The world didn't deserve her. I wish... I wish that I could have kept my promises to her, I wish I could say more to her but I don't want to stay in the mindset of the what if's. I want to be thankful for the time I had with her. Adjusting to life without her isn't going to be easy, but if I was able to learn anything at all from her it's that you shouldn't give up when life gets tough, you have to keep working. I am hear promising not just to you all, and to myself but to Sarah as she watches down on us with a smile. I love you, Sarah, until we see each other again"

Bucky was next to find his way up to the podium. He too was dressed in all black, his bowtie neatly placed, thanks to his wife who was now up and feeling better.

"Where do I even begin to describe a young girl who is exactly like the man I call my brother?" He looked over at Steve directly. "Steve, you and I have been through the toughest and hardest parts of life, yet through it all, I've never seen you act any less than determined and compassionate, and your daughter really held the embodiment of that. She was the kindest kid you'd ever met, she always made sure no one felt left out, even when we planning her "marriage" to Elliot, she also included Hugh because that's just who she was. She never wanted anyone to feel left out, and just like her dad, she always stood up for the little guy, even if in most cases she was the little guy physically."

"While she embodies her father, she also got a lot from her mother. Natasha Romanoff- Rogers is probably the most loyal, loving, and sassy woman you'd meet, you got to know her well enough to see these qualities but believe me they are there. Sarah got those qualities from her, the sass, wit, the love. You two raised a good kid. But I don't think any of us expected any less. We are here for you, forever and always. Sarah will live on in our love." Bucky slowly left to sit back down and up came Tony, who went up despite Pepper's pleads for him not to, she knew what was about to happen.

"What do you expect when you put the most perfect man, and smartest woman together? You get two kids who practically embodied the definition of perfection. Sarah Rogers was a force to be messed with. She was smarter than most of those around her, she set an example, one that some of us could learn from. I could never repay Sarah for all she's done for my family. That horrid day, Elliot was with them, and she knew something was wrong, but she kept them out of harm's way because that's who she is. She's her parent's kid, she's self-sacrificing and caring. She shouldn't have lost her life, she had so much ahead of her." His guilt began taking over as he looked at Steve and Natasha.

Natasha had her face hidden in Steve's chest, which was already unusual because she wasn't one to show emotion. Steve was whispering something in her ear and just as the faint sound of a sob erupted from Natasha. She had pulled away from Steve and was quickly making her way out of the area, Maria quickly following behind leaving Hugh with Sam.

Before Tony could continue, Steve motioned for the priest to continue on with the ceremony because it didn't seem as if either he nor Natasha would be able to give a speech they prepared. They'd rather speak in silence when they laid her to rest. So Tony was ushered to his seat once more with the guilt lacing in his heart.

The rest of the ceremony was nice, it was rather silent as they all sent their prayers. Natasha didn't come back in, but Steve stayed up front. Bucky sat beside him so he wasn't completely alone. Everything was calming down until Thor came in with his family.

They thought it was best to stay away from the ceremony because the guilt between them was heavy and they felt as if they had failed their friends. Torunn couldn't even come to see James in the hospital due to her guilt.

People were walking around the room, saying their condolences to Steve as Natasha walked back in, taking her place beside Steve. He looked over at her and gave her a worried look. She only shook her head and leaned into him. She had yet to see Thor and his family, but Tony came up to them.

"How are you guys doing?" He asked. He has to say, he loved Natasha like a sister, and he's never seen her like this, so lost, her eyes red shot.

"Better every day," Steve said. "It's hard. Days are just dragging on."

"You know if you need anything-"

"I know." He interrupted. "We appreciate that. We appreciate everything you and Pepper have done for James as the hospital." Tony and Pepper had brought in the best doctors from all over the world and made sure money wasn't a barrier for the couple.

"That's what family is for." Tony watched as Steve whispered something to Natasha, who could only respond with a nod before he led her a few steps away to sit down. He kneeled in front of her and cupped her face. He said something again to her and pecked her lips.

That when Thor began making his way over to them. He wanted to express his condolences as well. Anyone who looked on the blonde's face could tell he was hurting, the guilt was practically oozing from his face. He firmly believed he had failed his friends, and he would spend every day for the rest of his life working to mend the bridge the couldn't be repaired.

"Steve-" Before he could even speak a full word Natasha's head shot up and she stood up.

"Why are you here?" She hissed at him, no one had really heard her talk in a very long time, so she was getting the attention of a lot of people. Clint saw his best friend and, with his wife, he went over to see what was going on.

"Nat-" Steve tried to calm her down. He really was not in the mood to deal with this. If Thor wanted to be there, then let him be there. He was angry at his friend, he was upset that he knew this could happen yet he did nothing about it.

"I told you to stay away!" She cried. "Why are you here? I don't want you here! It's MY DAUGHTERS FUNERAL.

"I came to send my condolences." He started, Natasha laughed and turned around with her hands on hips shaking her head.

"Natasha, why don't we go outside? Get some air." Clint tried to comfort her but she stepped away from him.

"I know you are angry, believe me. I have been full of nothing but regret since the moment it happened. Tony and I should have come up with a better-"

"Wait," That was Steve. "Tony...you knew?" the look on Steve's face was one of betrayal and hurt. Natasha looked over at him as well with the same broken look on her face.

"Tell me he's lying Tony." She whispered. Tony looked at the couple before looking down and scratching his neck.

"I uh... yeah I knew."

"We are sorry... I tried to warn-" Morgan attempted to speak but nothing was coming out.

"You told you, daughter?" Steve asked.

"Well, she told me..." He said under his breath.

"Do you think this is funny Tony?" Steve asked, his voice rising slightly. "Because I am not laughing."

"Steve, trust me when I say this, I didn't want to hurt you or your family-"

"Trust you? Tony, my daughter is DEAD! She's gone, and you knew!" Steve was getting dangerously close to Tony that Thor stepped between them.

"Steve, if you are going to mad at someone, be mad at me. It was my fault." The silence in the air was thick. Natasha closed her eyes trying to stop the tears from falling. Tony watched in pain. Natasha was literally the strongest person he knew and here she was crying over something he did.

"I am going to say this one time. I want you both to stay the hell away from my family." Steve said.

"Steve I understand-"

"I trusted you tony. You don't understand this pain. A parent should NOT have to bury their child. A child should live longer after their parent. My son killed my daughter. Don't you go around saying you understand my pain because you don't." He glared. "James doesn't look like he's waking up any time soon and when he does how are we supposed to tell him he killed Sarah? Explain that to me!" At that Natassha broke, she fell in tears. The thought of having to explain to James what he did destroy her. She already lost one child, she was afraid she would lose him as well.

Clint was quick to catch his best friend. His kids and wife watched in pain as they watched the woman they've looked up to their entire life, the woman who was stronger than anything break down.

"I am done." He said.

"Done?" Bucky questioned.

"I am done being Captain America. I am done with all of this shit!" He looked at Thor and Tony with discussed. "I think it's best if you all stay the hell away from me, my wife and son. I appreciate everything you've done for James Tony, But right now I can't look at you." He turned around to face Natasha. He helped move her to a chair instead of the floor, where she sat with Clint. Natasha glued herself to Steve.

"I think it's best if you leave," Maria said to Thor and Tony. "Funeral is over and they are in enough pain as it is."

"Yeah," Tony said, he looked at Morgan who was crying herself. Elliot stared at his father in disbelief, not believing his father knew that Sarah was destined to die. Tony attempted to go to him but he stepped away from him and walked to the car. Tony sighed. "Let me know if she's okay?"

"I don't think she'll ever be okay," Maria answered. Natasha was strong and no matter what happened to her in the red room she had never broken down like this. But she had Steve, the only other person who knew what she was going through. If anyone could go through this, it's them.

Tony and his family along with Thor and his family left but the pain of betrayal stayed with the couple. Nothing was ever going to be the same.

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A single doubt discovered
is enough to create doubt
in every truth expressed
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