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"DO YOU REALLY HAVE to go?" Rosalie asked sadly as Yelena stood in their doorway. She hadn't let go of her hand since Yelena packed her bags.

"I do, Rosie," Yelena frowned. "I got an urgent call from Natasha,"

Rosalie sighed, dropping her hand and head. "It's about that weird floating donut in New York, isn't it?" Irina had come up behind her, a soft hand caressing the small of her back.

Yelena nodded. "Yes. She said the Avengers need all the help they can get."

"But-" Rosalie's breath hitched. "Isn't that dangerous? Fighting aliens, I mean. You don't have powers like Thor or Steve a-and..." She trailed off as Yelena reached out for her face, cupping it lightly.

"Rosalie..." She hummed. "I will be just fine. You know that I can handle myself,"

"I know," Rosalie shook her head, leaning into Yelena's hands. "But that doesn't mean I like you going to fight those creeps. Just promise me whatever happens, I'll see you again."

Yelena laughed, shaking her head. Removing her hands from Rosalie's face, she pulled her into a tight hug. "Silly girl," She nuzzled her nose into her dark hair. "I'll always come back to you."

Rosalie sighed happily, hugging back even tighter. Then, the time had come. Yelena had to go and there was nothing Rosalie could do about it. They pulled back, both frowning. "I love you, okay? Be safe."

Yelena smiled sadly, picking up her bags with a nod. "I love you, too," She looked back at Irina. "Take care of her." And with one final goodbye to Fanny, who she had left in their care, she left.

Rosalie shut the door with a pained sigh. She locked it, turning back to her girlfriend. "Why didn't you want to go?" She asked Irina. "I mean, you both have the same training. You should be able to hold your own against-"

"Rosalie," Irina interrupted sternly. Rosalie was shocked to see how serious she looked. "I am never leaving you, not even to fight aliens that could possible destroy the earth because I know fighting wouldn't be worth it if you weren't by my side."

Rosalie huffed. "Irina! Don't make me cry!" She rushed into her arms, smothering her shoulders and neck in small kisses. "I love you so much, dork." She pulled away, searching Irina's face.

Irina chuckled softly, watching Rosalie with deep adoration and love, so much that made her weak in the knees. Her eyes turned serious. "Bedroom. Now." Rosalie squealed as she was suddenly tossed over Irina's shoulder, who began marching to their bedroom.

Fanny watched them curiously, tilting her head. Rosalie's face darkened. "Fanny, go lie down-" Her call was cut off the slam of their door.

  "Here you go," Irina smiled as she sat back in bed, handing Rosalie a mug of green tea. She sipped it with a smile and a sigh. It was just coming up on 2:30 and they were still in bed.

Rosalie huffed softly. "I should be doing work..." She trailed off at the smirk on Irina's face.

"Rose," Irina shook her head. "There is currently an alien invasion — I think your work can wait," She reached over her nightstand and grabbed the TV remote, flicking on the news.

"Tony Stark missing as multiple countries report alien activity," The man spoke seriously. "Video footage shows him, along with Spider-Man and an unknown being taken in what seems to be a spacecraft in New York," Rosalie sighed, sipping her tea once again as a pit formed in her stomach. Man, did she hope Yelena was okay. "More footage from Edinburgh shows Wanda Maximoff and the Vision fighting off alien attackers. Later, they are joined by what look to be the fugitives Captain America, Black Widow, and the Falcon."

Rosalie's heart dropped. She leaned forward, eyes transfixed on the blurry security footage. Fighting those humanoid-aliens in a train station was exactly who the news said they were — Steve, Natasha, and Sam. Then where was Yelena? She felt Irina's hand grip her thigh, causing her to look. "What?" She asked quietly.

"Go do your work," Irina sighed. "And listen to your music. It will take your mind off of...this," She gestured to the TV screen. "For me?" She added, batting her lashes.

Rosalie smiled softly and nodded. Irina was right — if she could, she would sit in front of that TV all day until they stopped broadcasting or showed something about Yelena. "Alright," She sighed, groggily standing from the bed, sliding her slippers on and trudging to their small, closet-sized home office. She paused, frowning as she stared at her monitor, the image of her mother and her smiling wide bright on the screen. "Hi mom," She sighed, walking up to her office chair, gripping its faux-leather tightly. She couldn't take her eyes off of her mother.

The two-year anniversary of her death had come and gone, yet it still felt like it was yesterday for Rosalie. Sometimes, she'd still expect her to call on her birthday or to show up with Christmas gifts for her and Irina. The thought of her being gone and the way it all happened...made her sick. She could still hear the crack of her neck. Rosalie shuddered, shaking her head. She quickly sat down and logged in so she wouldn't have to see the picture any longer.

To her emails, she went. Only one was new and it was from Marcus. She thought nothing of it when opening it, thinking it would be him asking her to talk at the stupid seminar he'd been pestering her for weeks. As she lazily read the words, however, it was clear something was wrong. It wasn't about the alien's attack but about...Herald? Rosalie's eyes narrowed as she continued reading and her stomach dropped. She picked up her phone and called Marcus immediately. "What do you mean he's missing?" She snapped as soon as he answered.

"Woah, slow down," Marcus sighed. "And what I mean is that he's missing! He went visit Lily's grave as he always does on weekends and when I called him in for work, it went straight to voicemail."

"Okay..?" Rosalie tilted her head. "That doesn't mean he's missing, Mark."

Marcus groaned. "I called him five times. That was three days ago. I've been calling consistently since and just an hour ago I called again and this time he picked up."

"And?" Rosalie pressed.

"It was just heavy breathing and groaning. Something out of a horror movie," Rosalie could hear the distress in his voice and the more he spoke, the more she believed what he was saying. "I asked if he was okay and someone started screaming and then the line cut. I didn't have time to track it so...I emailed you."

The realization of what he wanted her to do dawned on Rosalie. "You want me to track him? While there's an alien invasion?"

Marcus sighed. "I'm sorry if it's a bad time, Rosalie, but the Director of the CIA is missing! I know you don't work for us anymore but...I'm asking for a favour, as a friend. I'll pay whatever you want."

Rosalie shook her head. "There's no need for money. I'll do it for free. I'll get started right now but I can't promise results if his location is turned off."

"Thank you, Rosalie," Marcus sighed, sounding relieved. "And I trust you to find something. You're practically the Penelope Garcia of the CIA."

Rosalie laughed. "Penelope Garcia is a fictional character," She shook her head, smiling softly. "I'll see what I can do." She hung up and a frown immediately crossed her face. First aliens and now Herald is missing? What could possibly be next?

"Rose!" Irina called. The distress in her voice caused Rosalie to panic, taking off into the bedroom where Irina stood in front of the TV.

"What? Are you okay?" Rosalie rushed to her side, taking Irina's hand. She nodded silently and pointed to the screen. Rosalie looked over to see the news broadcasting from above Wakanda. "How did they..." Her words caught in her throat at the sight. Hundreds of aliens were attacking the country and on the ground, she could see Thor, Natasha, Wanda Maximoff, Black Panther, and Steve. Her heart dropped. "What is going on?"

"Nothing good," Irina shook her head. "I just got a message from Yelena — she's not there."

"Where is she?" Rosalie pressed.

"She didn't tell me," Irina dropped her head. "But she said she was somewhere safe."

Rosalie sighed, running a stressed hand through her hair. "We should be out there, helping somehow. I hate being stuck inside." She huffed, plopping ruffly down on the edge of their bed.

Irina frowned, tentatively sitting next to her. She placed a soft and gentle hand on Rosalie's knee. "It was your choice, to work from home like this. But I am sure if you talk to Marcus and Herald they would be so happy to have you back in the field."

Rosalie shook her head, her knee opposite of Irina's hand bouncing. "Herald is missing..."

"What?" Irina tilted her head, unsure if she heard correctly.

"Herald...is...missing!" Rosalie shot from her seat in a fury. "And aliens are attacking again! The world is going to shit and I can't do anything about it!"

"Rose..." Irina reached out for her but Rosalie flinched away.

"No! You don't get it! I am stuck in this everlasting loop of failure!" Rosalie threw her hands up. "As soon as something good happens to me, something bad isn't far behind. I get promoted, Wyatt tries to kill me. We nearly defeat him, he kills my mother. And now that I have you, it's the end of the world! It's like I'm...like I'm cursed!"

Irina watched her with a frown. "Oh, Angel," She shook her head, standing slowly. "You are not cursed," She stepped forward, expecting Rosalie to move back but, she didn't. She allowed Irina to take her hands slowly, softly. "The world has a funny way of rewarding its good people. All the good you do, all the happiness you bring, it will come back to you, even if it does not seem like it."

Rosalie sniffled as angry tears fell hot down her cheeks. She kept her eyes trained at Irina's feet. "Irina..." She gulped, but suddenly, her words became caught. She looked up at Irina, confused and scared. "Something is wrong..." Rosalie shuddered as a cold chill enveloped her body. Her grip on Irina's hands seemingly disappeared.

"W-What..?" Irina stuttered as her eyes widened in horror. Rosalie was disappearing before her very eyes. "Rose!"

"Rina!" Rosalie shouted just as her entire body turned to dust.

Irina froze, staring wide-eyed at the falling ash. She let out a yell as she dropped to her knees, trying her best to catch what was left of Rosalie. Suddenly, a yelp from the kitchen alerted her of Fanny. The young dog limped into the bedroom, eyes just as wide as Irina's and in the blink of an eye, just like Rosalie, she was gone. Irina sobbed as she began to shake. Clutching what she could of Rosalie's dust, she shakily reached for her cell phone in her pocket and called Yelena.

"Hello?" She answered. Irina merely cried. "Irina?! Is everything alright? Are people disappearing there too? Is-" Yelena seemed to answer her question. "No...not Rosie."

"S-She..." Irina hiccuped. "She's gone."

AUTHORS NOTE
dun dun dun! fun chapter, huh?