Part 1

"No. How could you be worthy? You're all killers."

The voice sent shivers through your body, putting you on alert despite the warmth of intoxication. The party was over. Your fellow Avengers stood and faced the new threat with a calm, yet tense attention.

"Stark?"

You stood next to your husband, Steve. You had joined the Avengers as an empath with an ability to control emotions in others, using your power to both read the enemy's weaknesses during battle as well as to diffuse their aggression towards your team. Through close training with the Captain you had quickly become a worthy opponent to any threat; that close training is what brought you together. He quickly took a personal interest in molding your skills to be the fighter that the team needed, but soon those training sessions grew longer and longer; you found yourself shamelessly flirting with the soldier, and he was quick to retaliate. It took no time for you both to fall in love. It was easy and it made perfect sense.

As an empath you could feel both his anxiety and his fear, though no one in the room would ever see it. Sure, he was a Super Soldier with remarkable strength, the most likely Avenger to see the other side of any fight, but since he found you his focus had shifted to not only winning the fight, but ensuring your safety above all else. A touch of your hand would calm him, but not knowing what was about to happen, it was best to keep him sharply focused.

"Jarvis, reboot legionnaire program. We've got a buggy suit."

Oh, Tony. Tony was why you joined the Avengers. During Steve and Natasha's discovery of Zola's algorithm they found secret SHEILD information, details about experimentation with DNA and enhancements in an attempt to replicate the success found with Steve, but at a cellular level. You were raised as a child of SHEILD, under deep cover and secrecy. It would be discovered that you were a product of Stark DNA in hopes of attaining his genius intellect as well as your powers and enhancements. With Steve focused on finding Bucky, Natasha searched for you and brought you to your older brother. It wasn't a warm welcome at first, but now you couldn't be closer to your big, stupid, irrational brother.

"Who sent you?"

You were snapped back to attention from your thoughts, hearing a grainy recording of a familiar voice.

"I see a suit of armor around the world."

All eyes were on Tony. You couldn't help but feel the wave of anxiety, fear, and wait, was this embarrassment, coming from him. It was strong enough to take you aback, and you worried for him. He had his panic attacks under control now, but you knew that enough stress could tip him backwards. He wouldn't even make eye contact with you.

Then all hell broke loose.

"I'm on a mission."

"What mission?"

"Peace in our time."

Your team was suddenly under attack. Without warning, and without your gear to fight back. You and Steve kicked the table forward, attempting to stop the legionnaires from advancing. Tony and Rhodey attempted to reach their suits but were quickly halted, Rhodey taking the hardest hit. You dropped to the ground and kicked out the bar rail to use as your weapon. Skillfully swinging it over your head you were able to take out one legionnaire, then tried to find Steve. Looking up you saw your husband as he was slammed back into the wall by one robot, as your brother was jumping onto the back of another.

You were hit with an overpowering wave of anger and terror, but from where?

Banner.

"Don't turn green."

"I won't."

"Nat, get Banner out of here!" you yelled over the crashing and shooting. The doctor had control of the "other guy" since the attack on New York, but in this situation you certainly didn't feel like trusting that short-lived record. He was good, but largely untested. Finally, there was only one legionnaire remaining.

"Cap!"

The shield flew across the room to Steve, impressing you with both Clint's aim and Steve's speed. You dropped to a knee in front of Steve as he threw the shield over your head, hitting the robot square, ending the battle as suddenly as it began.

"That was dramatic." Oh, how that voice carried terror.

Steve was quickly at your side, panting and wide-eyed as he looked at you, checking for injuries. You gently placed your hand on his, and a sense of calm washed over him. This threat was new and different. It felt more ominous, more destructive. It felt personal and you were scared.

"There's only one path to peace. The Avenger's extinction."

Dammit, Tony. It was a good party, too.

Part 2

"Wakanada? Wa-Wakanda."

Tony and Steve shared a telling glance at each other, silently agreeing that this was going to be ugly. "I thought your father said he got the last of it?"

Bruce echoed the team's obvious confusion and asked, "What comes out of Wakanda?"

"The strongest metal on Earth."

~~~

"Alright, team, this is how we're going to do it. We need to get in, find out if Ultron has made contact to get the Vibranium, remove it if we can, and get out as quickly as possible. With Ultron everywhere in the net, he's going to know we're coming soon enough. The two enhanced are likely to be there. We don't know their full abilities yet, but we do know that the witch will try to get into our heads. (Y/N), you will stay in the Quinjet with Banner. We need you to keep in contact if you sense anything that could be trouble, but the most important is to keep Banner level."

Bruce looked at Steve, trying to not feel embarrassed at the idea that he needs a babysitter. Steve quickly picked up on it. "Doctor Banner, it's not that we don't trust you. We do. You have worked hard to control the Hulk, and it's impressive to all of us. But the truth is, we don't know what this new threat can do, and in this situation you may be the most vulnerable. We just don't know."

"Then I should stay here." Bruce looked tired. Keeping control really drained him, no matter how skilled he had become. You could feel it every time you were near him, and you couldn't help but be sympathetic. It was much the same for you. Being inundated with the emotions of everyone around you could be exhausting, and when you tried to block them it was even more tiring. The constant mental skill you needed as an empath was difficult, so you could only imagine the skill that Banner possessed. You placed your hand on his arm, giving him a sense of stability.

Steve countered, "No, we need you there if things do get out of hand in a battle. Agent (Y/L/N) will be with you the whole time. Alright team, let's go."

~~~

They had been gone too long. Something was happening and you were on edge.

"Guys? Is this a code green?" The only reply was static...then nothing.

As Bruce looked out from the Quinjet you dropped to your knees. Wave after wave of emotions hit you, jumbled and unrelenting. Thor was confused and afraid, frustrated by images that he couldn't understand. You couldn't even sense Natasha anymore; it was as if she were a hollow shell. You knew she was alive at least, only because you didn't feel her die. Clint was angry but his usual cocky self, how he always acted in battle. You were relieved that you had watched as Tony soared away, tangled with Ultron, drawing him away from the team. However, it took all of your strength to block them so you could focus on Steve.

Steve was heartbroken. It felt like he had been ripped in half. Tears streamed down your face, but these weren't your emotions, they were his. What was happening to him? What did that witch do to his mind? You decided that the only thing that could do this to your husband was something from his past. Was it Bucky? No, he was getting closer to finding him with Sam's help. It had to be Peggy. You never spoke of her in any detail, but you knew the story. This was one of your fears; that you wouldn't live up to the legacy she left in his mind. She was his first love, a great love that took him so long to move beyond. It was his one concern for you in the relationship; could he provide the love that you deserved and finally let her go? What if he lost you like he had lost her? The feelings barraging you now were those fears as he was forced to revisit the past. If only you could reach him to-

"(Y/N), get away!"

Oh no. No, no, no this can't happen. Your emotions were compromised. Lifting yourself from the floor of the jet you turned to see Bruce, struggling to maintain himself. The green hue was spreading quickly, he was panting, groaning, struggling to stop it. But this time it was different- his eyes were glowing a terrible, ominous red.

Trying to block the others out so you could focus on Bruce, you raised your hands to him in an effort to project calm. "Bruce, I need you to focus. I need you to try to stay calm. You're being controlled. This isn't you. Bruce, look at me."

It wasn't working.

The Hulk charged at you, slamming you into the windshield of the Quinjet. "Bruce, you need to fight this..." you struggled, trying to regain your breath through the pain. "Can anyone copy? I need backup. Banner..."

But he was gone, running from the jet in a confused rage. "Tony, can you hear me? You need to stop Bruce! He's out of control and going towards the city. I couldn't get to him. Her power over him is too strong."

It was a bit of a blur after that. You could hear your brother's voice but it wasn't clear what he said. The cockpit began to spin. Your heart was racing and you felt cold but sweaty at the same time.

Wow. That's a lot of blood.

~~~

"Tony, we gotta fly! (Y/N) is down and Steve's gonna lose it if we don't get out of here now." Clint was clearly panicked, but you had no strength to help him.

"Come on, Bruce, you gotta work with me!"

A loud rumble shook the jet, like a building crashing in every direction. That couldn't be Tony, could it? Moments later, Tony appeared with an ill-looking Bruce in tow. Steve lunged at the doctor, who didn't make any attempt to protect himself. He was broken, and would never be able to look you in the eye again. He almost welcomed Steve's rage.

As chaos broke out within the team, you finally succumbed to unconsciousness.

Part 3

"So, run and hide?"

The team was a mess. Broken, beaten, eviscerated. Natasha stared blankly ahead, emotionless and still. Bruce was struggling with his inner demons and appeared to be fighting a losing battle. He wrapped himself tightly in a blanket, hoping to hide himself from the others; shame and regret enveloping him. You wanted to help your friends, but you were too weak and just too tired. In your haze you could hear Tony and Clint talking quietly as the jet made it's way through the night sky. But where could you hide? The Avengers weren't known as a group that blended in...well, anywhere.

"Safehouse."

Steve was at your side as Dr. Cho tended to your wounds. Tony was able to contact her before she left New York and brought her in for a 'house call' on her way back to Seoul. "You're very lucky, (Y/N). You lost a lot of blood, but these wounds can be repaired. I've regenerated as much tissue as I can safely, so now it's up to you to rest and let your body recover. Fortunately, with your modified DNA, it shouldn't take too long." You could hear Bruce groan at these words, refusing to allow himself any forgiveness in what happened to you.

Steve stood and shook the Doctor's hand, "Thank you, Dr. Cho. I owe you."

"It's my job, Captain. I am glad to help." She quietly moved to the head of the jet to talk to Tony, arranging her return to her own lab. "Thank you, Helen. Again."

Overall, the pain had subsided, but the fatigue was relentless. Oh, how you would welcome sleep, but despite your condition you couldn't consider it until you knew what was going on. "Steve? Hey, are you ok?"

It was as if he didn't even hear you. He was lost in his own mind, allowing himself to review his experience in Wakanda, now that he was assured that you were going to be alright. His posture was rigid, his jaw set and his eyes closed. You closed your mind to him; it would feel voyeuristic to share in his emotions right now. These emotions needed to remain his, and you trusted your husband to come to you when the time was right. Well, Maybe now would be a good time to get that sleep after all...

~~~

"This is obviously an agent of some kind."

"And these are...smaller agents."

You felt like you were a part of an inside joke. Sure, Natasha and Clint were best friends for many years now, so of course she knew about his family. Fury was a man of his word, so the secret had been well kept from the others. But you knew. It was the only explanation for Clint's anxiety and sorrow during missions. Why else would he have such strong feelings of relief and love during his never missed, post-mission phone call? You never asked him directly, and really, there was no real need for you to know. But he knew that you knew.

~~~

This shower was amazing. The hot water soothed your tense and aching muscles, the steam invigorated your skin as it healed. You could feel yourself getting stronger just in these few moments of relief. When you had depleted every drop of hot water, you stepped from the shower to find a small stack of clothes waiting for you. Nothing fancy, just a skirt and modest top, but comfortable nonetheless. You mused that Laura was either an angel, or she was worried about you running thru her home in your bloody uniform. You imagined that the kids could be scarred from that sort of thing.

"Thor didn't say where he was going for answers?"

"Sometimes my teammates don't tell me things. I was hoping Thor would be the exception."

Please don't fight. Please don't fight, not now. As you pulled the soft cotton shirt over your head, being careful to not disrupt your bandages, you walked to the open window, feeling a slight breeze graze your skin. It was soothing. Apparently it wasn't having the same effect on Steve and Tony. Were they...chopping wood? Oh, of course they were posturing. Of course they had to prove who was the bigger man. Weren't there much more pressing problems at hand right now? You knew that Steve and Tony had their issues with each other, some of them possibly insurmountable, but they need to get it together for the team, if not even just for you. A selfish thought, maybe, but dammit you knew you had earned it.

Tony paused, "It seems like you walked away ok."

"Is that a problem?"

With that you began to make your way downstairs. This was not about to escalate.

"Well let's just say you haven't seen it yet."

Shit. Moving faster wasn't exactly an option right now; your bandages pulled with each step.

"Hey, (Y/N), how are you feeling?" You paused for a moment, "Hey, Clint. Sorry, I can't talk right now. They boys are at it again." He quickly stepped to the side, grin on his face, calling after you, "Do I need my bow? They'll never see it coming!"

"Banner and I were doing research!"

"That would affect the team!"

"That would end the team! Isn't that the mission? Isn't that why we fight? So we can end the team, so we get to go home?"

Oh my god, did he just shred that log with his bare hands?! Did you see that right?

Wow. That was hot. Make a note, girl. We will definitely revisit that later.

You quickly raised your hands, willing them to calm down. "Hey, guys. I thought I could smell testosterone." Both men visibly relaxed their posture, stepping back from their axes. Goal achieved. "Tony, could I talk to you for a minute? Alone?" Grabbing Steve's hand, you shared a quick kiss before walking with your brother towards the barn. "Tony, you two really need to figure this out. It's not good for your anxiety. You're brothers now. Yes, I know that's pretty much my fault, but come on, I've got good taste at least, right?" You gave him a quick wink, attempting to get at least a smile from your hotheaded sibling.

"Smartass. Many things in my life are your fault, kiddo. But I wouldn't change a single one. Woah, hey...are you feeling ok? Why are you out of bed already?" His smirk quickly turned to concern as he stopped to look at your bandages.

"Enough, Tony. Come on." You looped your arm through his, relying on him a bit more than you cared for to help you walk the rest of the way. He took notice and kissed the top of your head. "Love you, kid. I'll try to do better with Spangles. Promise."

Part 4

"Never imagined Barton as a farmer. You?" Tony looked around the barn, grabbing a small bow and arrow, sized for a child. "Hey, (Y/N), have we established minimum age for team members? Looks like the Hawk is recruiting." Chuckling, he took aim and shot, hopelessly missing the target.

"Impressive. Kinda gives me some insight into why you need the suit, T."

"You know, I didn't know you as a kid, but now as your big brother I still feel the inherent right to paddle your ass, young lady. I have a lot of years to make up for." He pulled up two hay bails, and as you sat next to each other, your hand gently stroked his arm.

With a quiet voice, you began the inevitable conversation. "Tony, what's going on with you? How did we get here? I've been feeling emotions in you that I don't understand." In the years that you've known him, really known him, he was always so self-assured; arrogant to a fault, and reluctant to let anyone see anything other than confidence. When his anxiety takes a hold of him, you are the one who is able to pull him from the brink. It shocked him that anyone could understand, and it hurt him to know that with your powers, you were acutely feeling his fears. When you didn't give up on him, he finally came to trust you, and soon you were all the family he needed.

"This is the end. The end of the path I started us on." His heart began to race as he spoke, his spine stiffened and his breathing quickened. You steadied your hand on his arm, trying to calm him as he wrung his hands together. He spoke of his vision, stumbling over his words so quickly as if he needed to get them out of his mind as fast as he could. Just thankful that someone was willing to listen. His eyes began to glisten with tears as he described in detail the sight of the horror before him.

"That girl is messing with your head, Stark."

He stood quickly, moving to stand behind the old tractor. "Sweetheart, I wasn't tricked, I was shown. I felt it." His voice became quiet, cracking with emotion, "seeing my friends die, seeing you, dead. You think that would be the worst part."

And there it was; the moment that brought you to this day. "It was that you didn't." He wouldn't look at you. "Tony, you're putting too much pressure on yourself. You can't save the world alone."

"(Y/N), before this team, before Iron Man, I didn't really have anyone other than Rhodey and...JARVIS. And now, I have you, I have Pepper, I have real friends. I have to protect that." He took a deep breath and turned to face you. "I never planned for this. I'm so sorry, (Y/N)."

The barn door creaked as it slowly opened, Laura cautiously peeking in. "I'm sorry to interrupt, Mr. Stark, but our tractor won't start, and Clint said you wouldn't mind-"

"Yeah, I'll take a look at it." With a quick kiss to his cheek, you left him to work. "Tony, we'll figure this out. You aren't alone, okay?" He nodded in agreement, but you knew he wasn't convinced. All you could do now is be there when he needed you, and trust him to know when that would be.

As Tony began to tinker with the engine, he startled at an all-too-familiar voice; one that was supposed to be dead for all intents and purposes. "Do me a favor. Try not to bring it to life." Nick Fury said, moving out from the shadows.

"Mrs. Barton, you little minx."

~~~

"So here we are with nothing but our wit and our will to save the world. So stand, and fight. Outwit the platinum bastard."

"Careful, Steve doesn't like that kind of talk." It was a welcome moment to hear a small laugh from the team. Things were about to shift to something even more dangerous, so these brief flashes of camaraderie were to be treasured.

There likely weren't going to be many more opportunities to talk in private, so placing your hand on the small of Steve's back, you whispered, "Babe, can we talk for a minute?" He took your hand as you walked to the front of the house.

"You know we haven't talked much at all since we landed here. I don't need to know any details if you don't want me to, but I do need to know if you're ok. After seeing what that witch did to the others, I can't help but worry about you, Steve."

He put his arms around you, slowly pulling you to him, kissing the top of your head. "Don't worry, doll. I'm okay. It's gonna take a hell of a lot more than that to take me out of commission."

"That's what I'm worried about."

After a few quiet minutes alone, you returned back to the kitchen. Steve stood behind you as you rested your head on his chest. It was a safe place to be, one that you weren't readily willing to lose. The Barton kids were running around the house when the youngest brought a painting she had finished to Natasha. As he glanced over to the artwork of a colorful butterfly, Bruce grimaced and took on a look of concern. "Ultron's going to evolve."

You shifted as Steve's posture straightened. "How?"

"Has anyone been in contact with Helen Cho?"

Part 5

"Clint, I can't see him, did he land it?"

As the truck rushed thru the city, the download of Ultron into the new life within cradle was nearly complete and it was up to you, Clint, Nat and Steve to stop it. With the mind stone in his hands, Ultron would become a force so strong that even the Avengers couldn't overcome him. The cradle couldn't be destroyed while on the ground without risking the destruction of the city below, so the Captain had decided the only way was to distract Ultron long enough to draw him out while the three of you removed the threat.

"I see him."

Turning the jet slightly, you were given the view of Steve, gripping the rear door of the truck, now dragging behind it as it continued on thru the busy streets. Clint glanced at you briefly, uncertainty in his eyes. "You're no match for him, Cap."

"Thanks a lot, Barton."

There was a lot of truth in what Hawkeye had said, though the Captain would never admit it, even to you. It was a struggle for him to maintain any footing in the fight with the massive robot, being thrown from one side of the truck to the other. Despite the disadvantage, Steve's abilities would never fail to impress you. You watched, holding your breath, as his shield was swatted away, landing on the street below.

"Natasha, one of us has to get down there and help him! I can't watch this!"

Clint maneuvered the jet skillfully through the buildings of the city, looking for any chance to take Ultron out. "I don't have a clear shot." He looked back to Natasha, "but I've got a window." You spun around to see her open the floor of the jet, jumping quickly onto her cycle. "Three, two...give 'em hell."

With a nod and a wink to you, she was gone.

~~~

"I'm going in, do you think you can keep him occupied?" Swerving thru traffic and along side streets, Natasha was readying herself for the jump into the trailer.

You could hear the strain in Steve's voice and feel his fatigue as he panted, "What do you think I've been doing?"

"Clint, we need to draw them out or she doesn't stand a chance. I need to get their attention." He turned the jet towards Ultron, still in the midst of a fight with Steve. With a deep breath, you carefully took aim and fired. Just as you had hoped, the two robots guarding the cradle gave chase to you and Hawkeye. "Well, I think that worked." The jet shuddered with each hit as Clint tried to dodge their fire. "So, what was the rest of this brilliant plan?"

Clint seemed to be enjoying this just a bit too much for your liking as he rolled and swerved the jet, trying to throw the guards from the hull. Suddenly, they were just...gone. "Woah, woah, (Y/N), that trailer is airborne!" Lining up behind it, he aimed the guns to take it out. "I've got a clean shot."

"Negative, I am still inside the truck."

Shit. "Nat, what the hell are you doing?" The hardest part of being one of the Avengers was that the expectation of self-sacrifice was always there, and was something you took into consideration when Tony asked you to become a part of the team. It wasn't expected, per se, but it was understood that the day may come when each member would have to make the final decision for themselves. It was understood that they would take it.

"Just be ready to accept the package."

"How do you want me to take it?"

"You may wish you hadn't asked that."

You heard a little laugh escape Clint's lips as he readied the jet into position, opening the rear gate. It was short lived, however. Ultron had broken away from Steve, and was heading right for Natasha. "Nat, whatever you're going to do, do it now! We gotta go!"

Just as the cradle landed in the jet, Natasha was pulled away, nowhere to be seen.

"Nat! Cap, do you have eyes on Nat?" You were assaulted by Clint's emotions as fear and rage took your breath away, dizzying you, your head suddenly pounding. You could barely hear Steve on your earpiece; he sounded a world away.

"If you have the package, get it to Stark!"

You could barely speak the words, "Do you have eyes on Nat?"

"(Y/N), go!"

~~~

The cockpit was silent. Natasha wasn't dead, you were sure of it. You had to be. If you couldn't believe it you would never be able to convince Clint. "Try to hold it together, ok? We're going to find her."

"(Y/N), I'm sorry, but if your husband were here right now..." His voice trailed off, swallowing hard, as if to swallow the lump building in his throat. "She dammed well better be alive, or so help me...I don't care if he is Captain America."

"Clint, I'm pissed off too. I think it was a fucking bad call." His eyes wide, he looked at you as if you were speaking a strange language. "What? I have to agree with everything that Mr. Red-White-and-Blue says just because we're married? Please." You put your hand on his, smiling as you felt him relax, his posture settling just slightly.

Your earpiece crackled; Steve's voice was faint, and you could hear a female voice behind him. The shock of recognition hit you; bolting up straight in your chair, you grabbed your chest. It felt like your heart had stopped.

"Ultron can't see the difference between saving the world and destroying it. Where do you think he gets that?"

Oh my god. "Wanda?"

Part 6

Clint began to pull the regeneration cradle from the back of the jet, struggling a bit with the weight. "Hey, (Y/N), if you could just push-" You had more important things to deal with right now, barging past him without any acknowledgement.

"Or, ya know, I got it. No problem."

The doors to lab flew open and you followed in quickly, your face reddened and full of rage. You searched the room for Tony, finding only Bruce in sight. "Where is he, Banner?" You spat the words at him, and he knew not to even ask. Quickly, and without words, he pointed to the lower level of the room, stepping back ever so slightly.

Turning to take the stairs, you found yourself in front of your brother, beginning his ascent back to the main level. "Who the hell do you think you are, Stark?" You took a few steps down towards him as he halted. "How could you not tell me about Wanda?" A few more steps down and you were face to face. "All this time, and never once did you say her name in front of me. Did you get everyone together on this genius plan of yours?" Your hands moved to his shoulders, pushing him back off the stairs. "Do you think you know what's best for me, big brother?"

His face was pale and expressionless. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He stared at you, for the first time in his life, not knowing what to say to you.

"That's what I thought." You turned and walked back up the stairs, leaving him to consider what had just happened.

~~~

As Bruce and Tony began to work on opening the cradle, you joined Clint below as he searched for Natasha. "Hey, sorry I didn't pull my weight back there. Literally."

He shrugged his shoulders, giving you a little punch on the arm. One thing you loved about Clint, he never took things too seriously. "Don't worry about it, I haven't had a hernia in a while anyway." You laughed at this, taking your mind away from your brother, welcomed for even a few minutes.

"You're such a smartass, Barton."

"You love me."

"Yeah, I suppose I do." You sighed, nudging him a bit as you looked back to the tracking equipment. "Any trace of her yet? I've been trying to connect with her and I just can't feel anything. I suppose that's good in a way, though." You lowered your head, looking to the floor. "I didn't feel death, thankfully. I don't think I could handle that right now, Clint."

He put his arm around you, leaning you to him as you rested your head on his shoulder. "Hey, now. We're gonna find her, ok? We just need to get our signals together. If I know my girl, she's working that old-school spy stuff."

The voices upstairs suddenly became a little louder.

"You want me to help you put JARVIS in this thing?'

"No, of course not! I want to help you put JARVIS in this thing."

With a quick glance to Clint, you began your way back upstairs. "This can't be good." If there was trouble to be had, there was a Stark stirring it up.

"We're mad scientists, buddy." Tony was leaning over the cradle, a look of desperation on his face.

"That's not what I would call you." You folded your arms over your chest, standing across the room from the two scientists. "Don't you think you've done more than enough? Don't you think that maybe we should face the problem at hand before starting a new one?"

"I believe it's worth a go, miss." Rolling your eyes, you faced the A.I. "Welcome back, J, but really, stay out of this." You looked back at Bruce and Tony; they were tired. Bruce appeared defeated, relenting to his counterpart. "Bruce, you can't be serious."

Tony's face became tense and pleading. "It's the end of the line."

~~~

Sitting next to the cradle, it was all you could do to handle the emotions coming from Bruce and Tony. Tony was filled with his anxiety, but also a childish excitement at the creation he was working on. Wanda was right, he can't tell the difference; he just wants to create something new, something different. It was his sickness. Bruce was nervous. So much so that your hands were trembling too. He would still barely look at you, continuing to punish himself for the injuries he inflicted as the Hulk. Would you ever be able to be friends again?

"You have got to upload that schematic in the next three minutes." Bruce said as he feverishly connected the transfer equipment to the cradle.

"I'm only gonna say this once." Steve's voice echoed thru the lab, and you startled at the power in it. Nonetheless, it was a comfort to you, having him there.

"How about nonce?"

"You don't know what you're doing!"

Slowly standing now, you moved between the two men. Perhaps not the best place for you to be, but maybe it would keep things from escalating if you were in the way. Blocking the emotions attacking you, you attempted to project calm, but it wasn't enough to combat their anger towards each other.

"And you do? How do you know she's not in your head?" Now Bruce was taking a defensive posture. This was bad. You couldn't control the Hulk before and you weren't sure if you could do it now. Controlling your own fear was proving to be hard enough.

"I know you are angry-" Wanda. Wanda was here. No, not now, focus.

"Oh, we're way past that. I could choke the life out of you and never change a shade."

Your hands stretched out before you, you took a step forward. "Please, everyone. This isn't the best way to do this." But it was if you weren't even there; your words were lost in the chaos. The arguing had now become louder, more aggressive. Your head began to pound, emotions hitting you that you were unable to stop. Trying to keep your focus, all you could do was watch. A flash of silver flew past you, followed by equipment flying and alarms blaring.

"Go on. You were saying?"

You hadn't seen the Maximoff brother in years. He was still as gorgeous as you remembered; even more if possible. Stop looking at him. Focus.

A shot rang out, shattering the glass below Pietro; he fell to the lower floor where Clint had been searching for Natasha. Barton was standing over him, his foot on Pietro's chest, holding him to the ground. "What? You didn't see that coming?"

"(Y/N)!"

Steve called out to you, and as you spun to look you saw his arm pulled back, ready to throw his shield. You ducked to the ground just as it flew over you, hitting the control panel next to Tony. "Steve, stop!" But as you turned to Tony, his suit was flying towards him, connecting and charging. "Tony!" A repulsor beam hit the Captain square in the chest, throwing him back thru the glass wall behind him. Bruce had his arm around Wanda's throat, tightening his grip as her terror came over you.

No no no, how do I stop this?

Tony took aim again at Steve, and you took the only chance you could see. Smart? Hell no. Necessary? Yes. You weren't about to let the two most important men in your life destroy each other.

As you stood, looking Tony in the eye, the beam hit you, throwing you into Steve, dropping you both to the ground.

"(Y/N)! No!"

Part 7

Ok, so maybe that wasn't your brightest idea.

"(Y/N)! (Y/N) wake up! Oh, please, come on!"

~~~

Unconsciousness is a strange place for dreams. Your body's physiology knocks you down, but your subconscious plays on. It can take you to wonderful places of fantasy or to places that you would never go; places from your past that you have blocked from your consciousness and had never planned to revisit.

This was one of those dreams.

~~~

The screaming from the tiny cell holding the girl was incessant today. Normally, the torturous experiments would only take a few minutes to administer and the pain would subside. Something had to have changed for her to continue her agonizing pleas for help. You pressed yourself against the plexiglass wall, as close to her as you could get, told that you weren't allowed inside until she had calmed down.

"Wanda, darling. Please try to stay calm. Come talk to me."

"She cannot listen, (Y/N). Her mind is on fire."

Backing away, you shifted to the next cell where a young man with silver hair was moving so fast from wall to wall that he was merely a blur. "Piet, I've never seen her like this. This suffering is inhumane; I can feel it. How can I help her?" He paused only long enough to answer you, his eyes frantic but sad. He pushed himself against the wall, facing you. "Do not leave her. You must never leave her."

For a very long time, you were the only subject of experimentation approved within SHIELD. Your enhancements were placed into your genetic code prior to conception, in a controlled and measured environment. When Baron Strucker joined the SHIELD science division, the Maximoff twins were the first test subjects. Their enhancement experimentations were modifying genes that already existed, torturing their bodies with every administration. You couldn't understand what Wanda and Pietro were experiencing, but your empathic powers could certainly feel it. You never tried to block them. You felt that your path was too easy, and would not allow your new friends to suffer alone when you had not. It didn't take long for you to become the only family each other had.

"Herr Strucker, please. Please let me in to be with her. I can calm her, take away some of this pain. Sir, please let use the powers that were given to me." You stood before him with a submissive stance, your hands folded in front of you and your gaze lowered to the floor.

Grabbing your arm he pulled you to the door of her cell, unlocking it and opening it so shove you in. "So be it. If I hear you also begin to scream, I will not come for you."

Wanda was shaking and curled into the corner, her face hidden. As you went to her you summoned your strength to try to calm her and give her power to block the pain she was feeling. This was the only time you would ever try to block her from your mind during your time together. "My sister, please. Let me help you." As you laid your hands on her back, you were struck by feelings that you couldn't identify; there were no words worthy of them. Words were pale and useless.

She pulled herself away from your connection, fearful of what it could do to you. "No, (Y/N), you must not touch me! I cannot hurt you!" Her screams began again, though not as powerful as they were before you had arrived next to her. She could pause only to speak quickly. "Stay by me if you must, but do not touch me, (Y/N)."

As the hours passed, Wanda became fatigued enough to finally allow you to calm her to sleep. You held her in your lap, slowly stroking her hair, listening to her rhythmic breathing, relieved for her. You could still hear Pietro lunging from each wall of his cell, mumbling incoherently as he did so. "Piet, please sleep."

The motion stopped. "Thank you for helping her."

"Will you let me help you as well?" Sitting with your back to the wall of the cell, you could feel him sit against it and slump down to the floor on the other side. His breath was panting and ragged, and his voice hoarse.

"I am ready, yes." He whispered, barely loud enough for you to hear. You raised your hand to the wall, trying to force your power thru the wall to him. Even if it didn't work, he knew you were trying, and that may have been enough. After a few moments, you could hear a soft snore from his cell, and you quickly followed him into sleep.

~~~

It was only two days later that your life would be forever changed. There were rumblings in the lab about a man named Captain Steve Rogers running fugitive from SHEILD. He threatened everything you had come to know about your life. He was going to destroy it. In an effort to protect his work, Strucker decided to distance himself from SHIELD and continue his true experiments for HYDRA. They could appreciate his genius in a way that SHIELD never would.

"No! You can't make me leave them!" Two guards were placing you in restraints as you struggled to break free. "They are my family! They're all I have!"

Strucker stood over you, emotionless. "It is too risky to continue with you here. You have Stark blood running thru your veins. The last thing I need in my way is for him to come looking for you. You are now a threat to me and you must be removed."

Tears were streaming down your face, your voice catching as you screamed. "Wanda! Pietro! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" You continued to pull against the restraints, with both your arms and legs now tied to the chair as the guards pulled you to the transport. "At least let me say goodb-"

You were now free of the building, the door slamming in your face. You had promised Wanda that you would never leave her. You had assured her brother that you would stay. You didn't think that you would ever see your Wanda and Piet again.

But now, when you finally opened your eyes, she was all you could see.

Part 8

Wanda had broken free from Bruce's grasp and ran to you, falling to her knees next to you, holding your face. "(Y/N)? (Y/N), darling, you must wake for me! You promised you would not leave me, do you remember? (Y/N), please..."

"Stark, you son of a bitch!"

Steve rose from the floor next to you, posturing to throw the shield at Tony, who was clearly in shock from hitting you rather than his intended target. "What was she...oh, god...is she...is she okay?"

Your eyes fluttered slightly, and taking a sharp, deep breath you coughed harshly until you could feel the tightness in your chest begin to subside. Your eyes opened to see Wanda looking at you, pleading.

"Wow, those things really fucking hurt."

Alarms around the lab grew louder and more frantic as the cradle began to malfunction. Bruce grabbed for the equipment that Pietro had disconnected, and seeing that you were coming back to consciousness, Tony quickly turned back to the control panel to reset the upload. Trying to regain your composure, you took Wanda's hand as she helped you to slowly stand. As you leaned against her for support, you could feel the anger in the room begin to rise once again; you looked over just as Steve pulled his arm back to throw.

"Stark, I said, stop!" Before he could release the shield, the room filled with a blinding white light and deafening thunder.

"No, wait!"

But it was too late. Thor was holding Mjolnir against the cradle, filling it with unlimited energy, brining whatever that thing was inside to life. Steve stood in front of you and Wanda with his shield raised, protecting you from...whatever this was. He reached behind to grab your hand, desperate to make contact before there was any risk of losing you again.

As Thor pulled away and the lightning subsided, you looked to Wanda. You could sense the new life inside, and knew that she was experiencing the same. Stepping around Steve to stand next to him, you took his arm as support, still feeling weak from Tony's strike. You flinched and turned away as the doors to the cradle flew open, a human-like figure bursting forth to stand before the group.

The room was silent as it...he?...looked around at everyone; outwardly he appeared frightened but you sensed only curiosity. He was actually quite beautiful, and you were drawn to his glowing eyes as he looked at you. "Steve..." you gasped.

The figure's eyes widened and he leapt forward at Thor, reaching out to grab him. With ease, Thor anticipated this and flung him over his head and away from the team. Steve released your hand and ran forward, ready to fight this new potential threat, not fully understanding what it was, but ready nonetheless. Tony looked at you, his eyes remorseful, mouthing the words 'I'm sorry'. With a small nod, you allowed him to return his focus to the issue before him.

You watched as your friends slowly moved towards the new figure, standing ready as it floated motionlessly near the front windows of the tower, overlooking the city below.

~~~

Wanda's hand moved to your arm as she rested her head against yours. "(Y/N), it makes me very happy to see you again." She whispered, still keeping her eyes on the situation before you.

Pietro had now returned to the main level with Clint, who had taken position behind Tony. Pietro stood at your other side, taking your hand. "Yes, (Y/N), we were certain we would never meet again. My sister was quite...insane...after you left." She shot him a harsh glance, and you sensed her annoyance with him for troubling you with that thought.

Quietly and with a tense tone she made her feelings clear. "Pietro, now is not the time. It is not her fault nor is it her burden to bear."

You pulled your hands free from the twins, raising your palms forward to pacify the emotions swirling around the room. You kept your eyes forward, watching your teammates as you spoke. "You know that I wasn't in control of leaving, right? I would never have left you, given the choice. It broke me for a very long time after that day."

Wanda's thin hand was on your shoulder, reassuring you. "We know, krasavitsa." Her voice lowered, more of a whisper now than before. "Did you know that you were his sister? That you were a Stark?" She spat the name from her lips, disgust crossing her expression.

You sighed deeply, cautiously formulating your reply. "Not until that day, no. I struggled, wondering if I could continue to live with it. When we met, it took a very long time for both of us to accept each other. But now..." You smiled at the thought of the brother you know now, the man who has become so important to you. "He's not the man that you think you know, Wanda. He's changed. Please trust me."

She wasn't so sure of this, looking at you with trepidation. "We shall see, (Y/N)." She paused, looking to Pietro. "We shall see."

~~~

"I am sorry. That was...odd. Thank you." His voice was one that you had known for many years now, and it was strangely comforting to you.

Thor had taken a stance next to the new being, who was now standing with the group. You stayed with Wanda and Pietro, sure to keep within sight of Steve, observing the situation as it played out.

"Stark, why does this thing sound like JARVIS?"

Tony was enthralled, his eyes searching, almost admiring what he had helped to create. "We...we reconfigured JARVIS' mainframe. To create something...new."

"I am not JARVIS. I am not Ultron. I am....I am."

Wanda took a step forward, skeptically eyeing him. "When I was in your mind I saw annihilation."

"Look again," the man said.

Clint scoffed, "Yeah, like her opinion means jack to me."

Thor stepped forward to explain his vision; talking of what he saw on Asgard and how this mind stone was a part of a greater force, one of the Infinity Stones. As he continued, you saw your husband's face flash a moment of sadness. You tuned your mind towards him, feeling tears moisten your eyes. As quickly as it came, it was gone. It made you upset, to know that he was still struggling and hadn't come to you yet.

"Wanda, why did you do this to them?" She turned her head towards you, confused. "Why did you enter their minds like this? We said we would never invade someone that way." You pulled your arm back from her grasp, trying to keep your voice low. "My husband continues to suffer, and this whole situation was brought on by what you showed my brother." You began to back away. "How could you become that person, Wanda? If you were in their heads, you had to know I was here. What would make you hurt my family, when I've only ever loved you as my own? Were you trying to hurt me?"

She opened her mouth to speak, but in your anger you could only raise a hand to stop her, moving away to be with Steve, making your allegiance quite clear. Reminded of the day you were pulled away from the twins, you felt a pit in your stomach and a stab of grief in your chest as you turned away from her.

Bruce hadn't spoken yet, but was compelled to ask the obvious question that was on the minds of everyone. "If you are what you say you are...and if we're wrong about you...what will you do?" His posture was guarded, keeping the 'other guy' at bay, but ready to make the transformation if he needed to protect his friends.

"I don't want to kill Ultron." The man now known as the 'Vision' began, pacing slowly. "He's unique... and he's in pain. But that pain will roll over the Earth. So he must be destroyed; every form he's built, every trace of his presence on the 'net. We have to act now, and not one of us can do it without the others. Maybe I am a monster. I don't think I'd know if I were one. I'm not what you are and not what you intended. So there may be no way to make you trust me."

He turned back to the group, Mjolnir in hand.

"But we need to go."

The silence was deafening. No one knew what to say, and no one was moving. Thor slowly reached up and took his hammer, his mouth still wide open, as Vision walked away. After a few seconds of disbelief, he gave Mjolnir a quick tap and slapped Tony on the shoulder. "Nice work."

Steve looked around the room, then to you, squeezing your hand tightly.

"Three minutes. Get what you need."

Part 9

"Hey, are you okay? What exactly were you thinking back there? You could have gotten yourself killed, jumping in front of Tony like that." Steve had pulled you aside, holding you by the shoulders. His expression was that of concern, but his eyes were angry.

"I was thinking that my brother was going to kill my husband! I panicked! You are grown men, dammit! This has to stop!"

His shoulders relaxed, releasing his grip. His hands moved up and down your arms as he let out a deep sigh. "I know, I know. I'm sorry, (Y/N). I just...I don't know how this is going to play out; I wasn't thinking, I just wanted to stop him. And now, I'm not sure how I can lead this team into something I barely understand. With Natasha missing, and this new...thing helping us, I feel like we're completely unbalanced." He stepped back, shaking his head to clear his mind, looking down at you, "So, what's going on with you and the Maximoff twins? Wanda was pretty freaked out when you took that hit."

"Nice job changing the subject, Rogers." Shaking your head, you raised your hands to deflect the conversation. "Another time, okay? It's a very, very long story that I don't even know the end to."

He took your hand to head towards your room to gather your supplies and gear. "Alright, then, let's go get ready. It's gonna be a tough one."

~~~

As the group began to gather, entering the jet, you saw Steve, Bruce and Tony talking quietly, discussing the mission you were about to begin.

"No way we all get thru this. If even one tin soldier is left standing, we've lost. There's gonna be blood on the floor."

Steve glanced up at Tony, "I got no plans tomorrow night."

"Speak for yourself, mister." You walked up behind your husband, putting your arms around him, his hands moving over yours. "So, how do we do this?"

Tony took a deep breath, "I get first crack at the big guy. Iron Man is who he's waiting for."

"That is true, he hates you the most." Tony looked back as the Vision walked past, surprised at the unintentional humor of the statement. You were going to really like this new guy.

With the team now ready, Tony took the jet out, preparing for whatever you were about to face in Sokovia. The emotions of the group were strong, but chaotic. You didn't want to diminish them or interfere, however. Having the adrenaline and desire for action was necessary if you were all going to get thru the fight that lay ahead. "Steve, I think maybe you need to say something. I can't get a good read on them; their emotions are all over the board. You need to take charge; you need to lead your team."

He nodded his head, speaking quietly to you. "Yeah, but how do I do that when I'm not even sure that I can? What if we really are going to lose people, (Y/N)? What if one of them is...you?" He paused, swallowing hard as if to swallow the words that he could barely say. "I can't be responsible for that. I can't lead this team into a death sentence."

"Steve, if that's going to happen, you won't have control over it. We need something to keep this team together if we are to have even a remote chance of coming thru this. That really has never been easy for us, you know that." You put your hand on his, sending a sense of confidence to him; it was something you had never needed to do for him before, and it made you nervous. "Captain, do your job."

He stood, pulling the front of his uniform down, setting his jaw, steeling his resolve while he formulated his words. You moved to your brother, feeling his overwhelming guilt and anxiety. The last thing Tony needed was a panic attack, and you knew your only job right now was to protect him. He looked to you with sadness in his eyes, giving you a small but empty grin. Wrapping your arm around him, you sat on his lap and kissed his forehead, waiting to hear Steve begin.

Tony rested his head against your shoulder, speaking quietly, "what was that for?"

"Because I know you never wanted this, Tony. We all do. I'm always going to love you, no matter what you do, okay?" He nodded his head, but kept it lowered as Steve spoke.

"Ultron knows we're coming. Odds are, we'll be riding into heavy fire. And that's what we signed up for; but the people of Sokovia, they didn't. So our priority is getting them out. All they want is to live their lives in peace. But that's not gonna happen today. But we can do our best to protect them. And we can get the job done. We find out what Ultron's been building, we find Romanoff, and clear the field. Keep the fight between us."

Steve looked to you, as if to get a bit more strength to finish what he was about to say. The look on his face took you aback, and you gave Tony's hand a squeeze. "Ultron thinks we're monsters; that we're what's wrong with the world. This isn't just about beating him. It's about whether he's right."

~~~

"Wanda, can we speak for a moment, please, before we land?"

Your voice startled her, looking up quickly from the conversation with Pietro. "Of course, (Y/N), of course." She turned her chair towards you, Pietro behind her. You sat before her and took her hands in yours.

"I'm sorry, sister. I didn't mean to be angry with you, I was just being bombarded by so many emotions that they took over my own. My husband and my brother were fighting, and I just couldn't stand it anymore, and..." taking a deep breath, you looked to Pietro then back to Wanda. "Can you please forgive me, both of you, before we go into a battle that we may not return from?"

Pietro now put his hands on top of yours, joining with his sister. "My love, we will always be together. And there is nothing to forgive."

Steve stepped behind you, his hands now on your shoulders. "We're here."

~~~

It was starting to look like you were going make this evacuation work after all. People were following the directions set into their minds by Wanda, and the streets were becoming more and more empty. You were with Steve on the bridge, helping to direct people across and away from the city, when Tony flew above you, heading for the church. You stood motionless as you looked to the sky to see him pass over. Steve ran up to you, grabbing your hand. "He's gonna be okay, you hear me?"

"Yeah...I hear you."

~~~

"Come to confess your sins?"

Ultron's voice in your earpiece was deep and menacing, and it sent a chill thru you. If anything happened to Tony, it would break you to hear it happen, but you couldn't pull yourself away.

"Uh, have you been juicing? You're looking...I don't want to say 'puffy'..."

Oh, Tony. Now is not the time.

"You're stalling. To protect the people."

"Well that is the mission. Did you forget?"

"I've moved beyond your mission. I'm free."

You kept the civilians moving as fast as they could as you tried to keep some focus on what Tony was saying. Steve was doing the same, exchanging looks with you as he held his breath. Come on, Stark, give us a little more time.

"This is where you end, Tony. This is peace in my time."

The ground opened up beneath you, filling the streets with Ultron's drones, and all hell broke loose. You could hear the Vision as he made his move on Ultron, sealing him out of the net. For a moment, you thought maybe you would have the upper hand now, but that moment didn't last long.

"You shut me out! Do you think I care?! You take away my world, I take away yours."

The ground shook violently beneath you, and you lost your balance, grabbing onto Steve. "Oh my god, what is he doing? Steve?" Your eyes widened as you both watched the ground crack all around you, crumbling buildings falling away. And now, the ominous voice seemed to come from everywhere.

"Do you see the beauty of it? The inevitability? You rise, only to fall. You, Avengers, you are my meteor. My swift and terrible sword and the Earth will crack with the weight of your failure. Purge me from your computers; turn my own flesh against me. It means nothing! When the dust settles, the only thing living in this world, will be metal."

Part 10

"The Vibranium core has a magnetic field, holding the rock together."

"And if it drops?" Tony's voice was panicked and disbelieving what he was seeing.

"Right now the impact will kill thousands. If it gets high enough...global extinction"

You stayed with Steve at the bridge, coordinating your skills to fight off Ultron's drones, still working to get the citizens to safety. No longer able to evacuate the city, your only option was to move them into safe structures away from the fighting.

"Steve, are you hearing this? Ultron sure has figured out one hell of a backup plan to those nukes JARVIS kept away from him." Jumping on the back of a drone, you ripped the wiring from the base of its skull, collapsing it beneath you. "How are we supposed to stop this?!"

Before he could answer, he was thrown violently back as another robot flew in and tackled him, crushing the car behind him with the force of his weight. He was slow to get up, but raised a hand to refuse your help.

"Stark, you worry about bringing the city down safely. The rest of us have one job: tear these things apart." As you shot another robot down, you turned to face the Captain. "You get hurt; hurt 'em back. You get killed; walk it off."

"And how exactly do you expect we do that, Cap?" Grabbing his shield, you threw it across to the other side of the bridge, impaling three more robots as it returned to Steve's arm. "Not all of us have experience in resurrection like you." You could hear the Hulk arrive in the city, giving you at least some sense of relief. Bruce had refused to bring the Hulk into this fight, and you knew that Nat had something to do with his arrival.

A strong sense of fear took your breath away, losing your balance and stumbling into the railing of the bridge. "Wanda? Wanda are you ok?"

"Oh, this is all our fault. How could I let this happen?"

But she wasn't talking to you. Clint was there with her.

"Are you up for this? Are you? I need to know, because the city is flying. The city is flying. We're fighting an army of robots....and I have a bow and arrow. None of this makes sense."

Steve sprinted past you towards the end of the broken bridge, where two cars were ready to fall from the edge.

"If you step out that door, you are an Avenger."

"Steve!" You chased behind him, grabbing onto the bumper of the car, both of you attempting to hold it back. The bumper released, and your stomach dropped as you watched the car fall, hearing screams as they grew more and more distant. Squeezing your eyes closed, you heard Thor as he changed direction and flew towards the falling vehicles. Steve threw his shield to you...and jumped off the edge.

"Oh my god!" You peered over to see your husband hanging on to the rubble single-handedly as he caught the woman thrown to him by Thor. Reaching over the side, you were able to help him get her back to safety. As a drone approached, you rolled to your back, kicking the shield into its chest. Steve jumped up next to you, extending his arm to pull the shield back, throwing the robot off the end of the bridge.

The glare in your eyes took him aback, raising his shielded arm towards you. "Don't you ever do shit like that again, Rogers!" He gave you a curt nod, "now we're even." You worked with Natasha as Thor and Steve teamed up on the other side of the pavilion. A loud reverberating sound came from their direction; you turned quickly enough to see Thor hit the shield with Mjolnir, sending it swiftly thru a line of drones.

"Do you know how long they've been working on that move?" As you laughed you summersaulted past a drone, shooting thru its chest with a clean shot. "They must be so proud of themselves!"

For every robot you stopped, it was as if two more appeared in its place. It was feeling like the fight had gone on forever. Your muscles were growing weary, the air getting thinner as it was harder and harder to breathe. Moving the citizens was only a delay in the inevitable if Tony wasn't making any progress on a plan. "The impact radius is getting bigger. We're gonna have to make a choice."

Natasha and Steve were now standing at the edge of the city, ready for the next group of drones to arrive. With the look on her face, and the feelings you sensed from her, you knew they were in an emotional conversation.

"Everyone up here versus everyone down there? There's no math there."

"I'm not leaving this rock with one civilian on it." Steve sighed, desperate for any answer other than that. You moved to his side and grabbed his hand.

"She didn't say we should leave." Looking to Natasha, you gave a slight nod of your head, knowing she was thinking the same thing. "There's worse ways to go. Where else are we gonna get a view like this?"

"Glad you like the view, (Y/L/N). It's about to get better." Fury's voice echoed in your earpiece. Through the clouds, one of the SHIELD helicarriers came into view. Steve squeezed your hand and smiled down at you, a faint but cautious glimmer of hope in his eyes.

"Fury, you son of a bitch."

"Oooh, you kiss your mother with that mouth?"

~~~

As you hurried to get civilians loaded onto the jet, Thor's voice was loud in your ear. "We're out of time! They're coming for the core!"

Steve grabbed your arm and ran, pulling you with him, almost difficult for you to keep up. As you entered the church, the entire team was there, as was Ultron and another army of his robots, ready to attack.

"This is exactly what I wanted. All of you, against all of me. How can you possibly hope to stop me?"

"Well, like the old man said," Tony paused, looking at Steve, "together."

The fight was spectacular but draining. Each member of your team fought with everything they had, no matter how many robots came at them. Fighting next to Steve was always a thrill for you, and you worked together seamlessly, like it was always meant to be the two of you. This battle was no different; in fact it was the most skilled you had been together, like a perfected dance routine. Tony flew quickly past you as your sight caught a blinding light; you looked to see the Vision, Thor and now Tony holding Ultron in their control until the Hulk finally threw him from the city.

Now, to get the rest of the people on the rescue boats and get out of here. You ran to the carrier with Steve, Clint and Pietro as Wanda chose to stay and fight off drones that might approach the drill. Tony was moving into position to heat the core, hoping to keep the destruction of the city from damaging the earth below and everyone on it.

"If this works, maybe we don't walk away."

Thor nodded in agreement, "perhaps not."

This was the first time you had felt hopeful that you would all come thru this, but it was a short lived feeling. Just as Natasha was about to calm the Hulk, and as the last of your team was ready for boarding, you saw Clint make a run for a child hidden in the rubble. As he made it to the boy, bullets began to rain down on you and your teammates. With a glance to Pietro you watched as he ran to move Clint and the boy out of the line of fire. Steve was also right in the path.

Without a thought to your own safety, you ran to him and pushed him down, out of the way. As you both crashed hard to the ground, your body became limp and splayed across his chest. The bullets had missed him, but ravaged you.

Pietro and Thor ran to your side as Steve gently rolled you to the ground. Clint ran the boy to his mother, then sprinted back to you. "Cap, let's get her to the carrier. We gotta go now!"

"No, no, no, (Y/N), stay with me. Just keep your eyes on me. Come on, baby, stay with me." He was frantic and scared, ripping your uniform open, trying to stop the bleeding from your wounds with no success.

"Don't be angry with me, Steve." With your breath becoming shallow, you coughed quietly. "It had to be you. The world needs you more than it does me." Your last few breaths were caught in your chest as you struggled to speak. "I love you...so much...Steve. Tell...Tony..."

As your final heartbeat stopped, Wanda's devastating scream could be heard throughout the city. Steve laid you across his lap, pulling your head to his chest. With tears rolling down his face, he rocked you back and forth, not allowing anyone to touch you. Clint called to Tony as Pietro tried to get Steve to move. "Captain Rogers, we must get to the boats. Captain, please."

~~~

A few months had passed since the battle at Sokovia. Tony drove to the new Avengers facility in upstate New York alone and with a look of sadness and continued disbelief that you were gone. He hadn't been in touch with the team since your funeral, lost in blaming himself for it all. Even Pepper couldn't bring him out of the darkness in his own mind, and his panic attacks had returned. This was the first time he felt that he could leave the tower, uncertain of how he would approach Steve after all this time.

Steve had become a changed man, his focus now on the Avengers, clearly no longer invested in hopes of a future beyond the team. Natasha tried countless times to talk to him, to be sure he was coping, but he halted any conversation that involved you. It took weeks for him to be able to sleep, and when he finally could he would wake each day forgetting that you were gone, rolling to the cold side of the bed, harshly thrust into reality. The team had become the perfect distraction, one that he could disguise as needing his full attention so that his days weren't filled with memories of you.

After a very brief visit muddled with discussions of team business and staffing the new facility, Steve was walking Tony back to his car. "I suppose I'm just not meant for that life...stability." He lowered his head and watched his feet as he anxiously kicked at the dirt below them. "You know I can't talk about her yet, Tony. Maybe someday, but not today."

"Yeah, maybe." Tony's voice was quiet and introspective. This last experience had him rethinking his part in the Avengers. He couldn't forgive himself for your loss, Banner's disappearance, and so many people hurt and killed in Sokovia. "I think it's time for me to tap out." As his car pulled in front of him, he paused to face Steve. "You alright?"

Steve looked at the facility before him, nodded and took a deep breath, "I'm home."

~~~

"How do we look?"

"We're not the '27 Yankees." Steve and Natasha were walking towards the training room, assessing their new team members. "They're good, but they're not a team."

"Let's beat 'em into shape."

Steve threw the doors open, standing above the group with Natasha behind him. For a brief moment he had expected to see you standing amongst them, and his heart sank as he realized that would never be. Straightening his posture, Steve resolved to lead them, as he knew you would have expected him to do.

"Avengers-"