★ ★ ★

The next morning, Marlena was sitting in a quaint little diner beside Steve. Scott and Natasha sat across from them, while Bruce sat at the end of the table. She wasn't sure if she'd ever get used to seeing Bruce live his every day life as the Hulk, but she was glad he found a way to make things work for him. She knew how much he struggled with his relationship with the Hulk, but struggling now seemed to be a thing of the past for him, and for that, Marlena was glad.

"C'mon, I feel like I'm the only one eating," Bruce shoved a spoonful of eggs into his mouth. He had a large bowl of eggs at his left side and a large plate of other breakfast foods sitting in front of him. There was only enough room left for their drinks and the bagel Marlena ordered. She hadn't even touched it. "Marlena, are you gonna eat your bagel?"

Marlena simply pushed her plate towards him in response. He grabbed the bagel immediately and started munching on it, while the four of them watched on incredulously. It was still so strange to see him in such a setting.

"I'm so confused," Scott shook his head, though his eyes didn't leave Bruce.

"These are confusing times."

"No, no, that's not what I meant."

"Nah, I get it," Bruce chuckled, "I'm kidding. I know it's crazy, I'm wearing shirts now."

"Yeah," Scott was in disbelief, but he was right to be. He'd been gone five hours and came back to a completely different world. "What? How? Why?"

"Five years ago, we got our asses beat," Bruce wiped his mouth, "Except it was worse for me, because I lost twice. First Hulk lost, then Banner lost, and then we all lost."

"No one blamed you, Bruce," Natasha reassured him.

"I did," Bruce said. "For years, I treated the Hulk like he was some kind of disease, but then I started looking at him as the cure. Eighteen months in the gamma lab, I put the brains and the brawn together, and now look at me. I'm the best of both worlds."

Before anyone could reply, three children walked up to Bruce with their phone out. They asked him for a picture, something of which Bruce was ecstatic about. He handed the phone to Scott, who wasn't so much bothered by taking the picture, rather he was bothered by the fact no one wanted a picture of him. Watching the exchange made Marlena feel bad for him, but she blamed it on the hormones.

"If it makes you feel any better, they didn't even want a picture with Captain America," Marlena said to Scott after the kids had disappeared.

"Kinda does," Scott replied. "Thanks, Marlena."

"Anytime."

"Bruce," Steve called. "About what we were saying."

"Right," Bruce looked at Steve. "About the whole time travel do-over? It's outside my area of expertise."

"Well, you pulled this off," Natasha said, referring to his current persona. "I remember a time when that seemed pretty impossible, too."

Bruce smiled at Natasha's words and sat back in his seat. "I can try, but I can't promise you it'll work."

"Trying is better than doing nothing," Scott remarked.

"I'm gonna need a guinea pig, preferably petite and brunette," Bruce looked at Marlena, who was way too focused on folding up her napkin to pay attention to anything or anyone else. It was a distraction, though, so she wasn't up every five minutes vomiting in the bathroom.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Steve told him.

"Why not?" Bruce asked; Steve's tone had been subtle, and the only one to catch it was Natasha. "Marlena, why can't you be my guinea pig?"

"Huh?" Marlena finally turned to look at Bruce. "A guinea pig for what?"

"Time travel!"

"Bruce—"

"I will not be doing that," Marlena stopped Steve before he could say anything else. "You poked and prodded me for years, which I'm grateful for, but you've had your fun."

"I'll do it!" Scott offered. "I'm brunet...and semi-petite."

"Hm."

"I've been in the Quantum Realm before," Scott reminded him. "I should've been your first choice."

"Yeah, he really should've," Natasha chuckled.

"Are we doing this today?" Bruce asked with a mouthful of food.

"I was hoping," Steve answered.

"I can meet you guys at the compound to set up," Bruce said to them. "We'll see if we can't figure this out."

Marlena pulled a ten dollar bill out of her wallet and sat it on the table. "Please don't kill anyone, okay?"

"That's the goal," Bruce chimed. "Answer me a question, Marlena."

"Shoot."

"You seem a bit out of sorts, is everything okay?"

Marlena nodded and stood up from her seat, followed by her three companions. "I've just been really tired lately," she answered him.

"Well, I hope you get some rest," Bruce said. "Powers or not, you're still an important part of this team, and we're gonna need you if things don't go to plan."

Marlena laughed quietly and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You're not gonna need me, Bruce. I'll see you later on, okay?"

"O-okay," Bruce was confused by her response but was never given the chance to question it. They had already bid their goodbyes, but that was okay with him. He had a breakfast to finish and a plan to come up with.

Outside the diner, Marlena, Steve, Natasha, and Scott were sitting in the car.

"I really just wanna go to bed," Marlena grumbled and pulled a chocolate bar out of her bag.

"Where did you get that?" Steve asked her.

"I have a hiding spot at the apartment," Marlena told him as she pulled off the wrapper. "I know how much you like chocolate, but I also like chocolate, and you've taken way too much from me."

"Jesus, Marlena."

"That's actually a really smart idea," Scott laughed. "I'm gonna have to figure one out for myself if we get Hope back."

"You will get her back," Marlena assured him and took a bite of her candy.

Scott raised a brow. "All I've heard for two days is that you and Tony have a tendency to be team pessimists, what changed all of a sudden?"

"The fact that my loving fiancé made me a promise," she answered. "I'm trusting that you guys will get the job done."

"You guys?" Scott shook his head. "No way, this is a team effort."

"It can still be a team effort without me," Marlena sighed and finished off the last of her candy bar. "Can we, like, go back to the compound or something? I need to wash my hair."

Steve rolled his eyes at the brunette and started the car. He took off for the compound, though he wasn't in any rush. The compound was about an hour away, and he knew Bruce was still inside the diner eating. They had plenty of time.

"Oh," Scott chimed after a few moments of silence. He leaned forward in his seat and turned his head to look at Marlena, who glanced over at him with a raised brow. Even in a car full of superhumans she found herself worrying about the fact he wasn't wearing a seatbelt. "I meant to ask if you were feeling better today, Marlena."

Scott was the biggest dork on the planet, but Marlena could not deny he was one of the sweetest and most caring people she had ever met. "A little bit, but not too much," she answered with a heavy breath.

"Are you sure you have food poisoning?" Scott questioned. Marlena could tell he was genuinely worried about her, but she could only focus on his lack of seatbelt.

"Are you sure you shouldn't be wearing your seatbelt?" Marlena remarked.

"I'm serious."

"Me too."

"I just wanna make sure you're okay," Scott continued. "Bruce is right, and I know this because I've seen you in action. I know you kind of hinted to Bruce that you weren't going to help us, and I strongly doubt it's because of food poisoning."

Marlena let out a breath and began playing with the sleeve of her jacket. Everyone around her was being so observant and she hated it.

"Scott," Natasha warned, but Marlena was quick to reassure her. The truth was bound to come out sooner or later.

"It's okay, Nat," Marlena looked away from Scott and out the windshield. She watched as the vehicles zoomed past them and down the road. There weren't that many, but that was the way it had been for five years. "I don't have food poisoning, Scott."

"So, you're pregnant?" Scott was a lot happier than she anticipated him being. The two barely knew each other.

"Yes, but it's not like I would be much help anyway," Marlena frowned and looked back over to Scott. "I don't have my abilities anymore."

Scott was genuinely surprised by the sound of her words. "How did that happen?"

Marlena chuckled dryly and shrugged her shoulders. "Just another one of the many mental breakdowns I've had in my life," she muttered.

Scott hummed and gave her arm a reassuring pat. "Just because you don't have them doesn't mean anything. You're a fighter, I know you are, I can see it in your eyes. I saw it years ago in Germany. Even if you weren't pregnant, you'd still be a pretty good asset to the team."

"He's right," Natasha smirked. "I helped train you myself, so I should know."

"And I've fought her," Scott gestured over to Natasha, "I also lost that fight very quickly, so I know I'd lose a fight against you regardless of whether or not you had your powers."

"You would," Natasha spoke nonchalantly, amusing the brunette in the front seat. "She's never beat me, but I've watched her kick Steve and Bucky's asses."

"I'm not even gonna try to deny it," Steve finally chimed in. "It's not hard to fight women who are trained to kill, but it's not easy either. It's why I could never beat either of you."

Marlena smiled and shook her head. "I miss those days when all I had to worry about was who I'd be in the gym with when I woke up in the morning. Now I've gotta worry about whether or not my best friend and the love of my life are going to survive traveling through time."

"Stranger things have happened," Natasha shrugged her shoulders.

"Doubtful."

"If we all make it out of this alive, can I be Uncle Scott?" Scott asked Marlena with a grin on his face.

Marlena chuckled and shook her head. "You know what? Yes, you absolutely can, Scott."

"Yes!" Scott exclaimed and finally sat back in his seat. "I can't believe I'm gonna be Captain America's child's uncle."

"Oh, my god."

"Who said it was his?" Marlena teased.

Steve shot her a look but didn't say anything.

"You've been with two men in almost 32 years, I'm pretty sure it's his," Natasha remarked.

"Three," Marlena corrected. "You're forgetting Dylan."

"Yeah, because not only was he a waste of physical space, he's a waste of mental space as well," Natasha said to her. "I forgot about him maybe ten years ago, but yeah, thanks for reminding of his unfortunate existence."

"Regardless, it still makes me sound completely and utterly boring," Marlena retorted with a quiet laugh.

"If it makes you feel any better, I've been with three women in almost 110 years," Steve looked over at Marlena with a small smile on his face.

Marlena couldn't help the smile that broke out on her face. "That does make me feel better. Thanks, old man."

"You're welcome, sweetie."

Scott sighed in content and smiled softly. "Love...it brings everyone together."

And he was right, as the amount of love for those lost years ago would be the ultimate force that brought them back.