"Tony, tell me you're not on that ship."

"Yeah," Tony sighed heavily, "honey, I'm sorry."

"Come back here, Tony, I swear to god-"

"(Y/N)-"

"Come b-back..."

"Boss, I'm losing her," FRIDAY interrupted just as the signal began to crack and fade. "I'm going too..."

Tony had felt alone in his life before; in his youth as he longed for the type of father he'd never have, the day he lost his parents. He'd spent years of his younger age wandering through his life to push himself beyond anyone's expectations and to prove himself to a parent who would never even know. The team had brought him a renewed sense of family and friendships that he never thought possible; but also, a sense of pain that he had yet to know when it had tried to fall apart. You brought him a renewed sense of everything good in life that he never thought he'd find, much less deserve.

But this...this was really alone. It made all of those past experiences pale in comparison, and now he regretted every moment that he believed he was on his own before this.

"(Y/N)?" he whispered one more time, to no one. He knew that you weren't there, but he had to give it one more try before he'd even consider accepting it.

~~~

After your waves upon waves of anger and terror began to wane, you couldn't think of what to do or who you could call to help. Even if you had a clue about it, Tony wasn't on the planet anymore, and Thor didn't have a phone or computer to try to reach him with an urgent email. If you hadn't been so undone right now, you'd make a mental note of what to get the man for Christmas.

Oh, right. Bruce said that Thor's gone too.

Because you weren't already scared enough without that knowledge.

Not knowing where else to go, you went to the only place you could think of, and it was the only place that felt right when nothing else did. There had to be someone there, anyone who had a clue as to how and where to start when the problem was literally otherworldly now. The only thing that you knew for certain was that you weren't about to sit back and wait. Rushing to your car after Tony had left you in Central Park, you dropped yourself into the driver's seat, just to realize that you were in no condition to drive when your shaking hands struggled to hold the wheel.

"FRIDAY, take me home."

"Of course."

"I, uh...I don't suppose you've heard...anything from him?"

"No, I haven't. I'm trying to reach out but he's beyond my abilities to communicate with the suit."

"Okay," you nodded, staring at the rings on your left hand, "just keep trying."

"I wouldn't consider stopping," the AI replied, her voice oddly soothing you just slightly. She was his creation, and even through her you could hear him and the nuances he had put into place in her build. "Please try to relax, I will get you home safely. Mr. Barnes awaits you there."

You had nearly forgotten that Bucky was likely clued in to how you were feeling, and FRIDAY probably didn't even need to call him to ask that he be there waiting for you. There was a strong pang of guilt at the thought of him, first because you hadn't stopped to consider asking him for help, but also because now he had taken over your mind when it should be focusing on no one else but Tony. "When does he leave for Wakanda?"

"An hour."

"Alright," you sighed, "maybe that's for the best."

"Miss?"

"I'm in no shape to talk to him right now. He should be able to tell. How about..." you paused, looking back to your rings, "how about taking the long way home? The really long way."

"Are you sure?"

"Just do it, FRIDAY."

The drive out of the city was normally a relief, to get out of the craziness and noise, never more than when you were with Tony; it wasn't uncommon to be stopped by any number of fans clamoring for an autograph or picture of Iron Man himself. He didn't mind it, and he felt like it was the least he could do for anyone brave enough to approach him for it. He had a commanding presence that scared most people away, so to have anyone interrupt him when he could tell that they were shaking in their shoes with nerves, it hit that soft spot in his heart and he couldn't say no. He respected the effort.

But today, the drive was anything but a relief. Now that the noise around you was settling, and you could no longer hear the panic in the conversations on the streets after the ship had disappeared with your husband on it, you were left with only your own thoughts. Until your phone began to ring and your heart nearly leapt out of your chest at the sound. Your mind knew it wasn't Tony, but your heart still had a shred of hope. When you saw the name on the screen, it cut that shred to nothing.

"Steve?"

"(Y/N), we need your help."

"I'm not in the best frame of mind right now."

"I heard, and I'm really sorry, but you know I wouldn't do this if I had any other choice. Any leads?"

"No. All I know is that his inner child is probably enjoying space a little too much, but the man is likely in the middle of an epic panic attack and I can't help him through it." It brought a smile to your face to think of that little boy who only dreamed of space and never thought it could happen for him, even with his father's genius then and his own now. The smile didn't last long, however, as reality had a way of crushing that chance away. "Is Nat with you? Is she getting anything from him?"

You could hear Steve's voice grow quiet, muffled as his hand covered the phone so he could talk to her. It was as if he already knew the answer but couldn't break you without at least trying to get a different one first. "No, I'm sorry, hon. She's been trying to connect since we heard, she wanted you to know that."

"Tell her thank you. But also, please keep trying."

"I will."

"Alright," you sighed, "I'll bite. What do you need help with?"

"Wanda and Vision are compromised, and we're on the way to intercept. It sounds like the same creatures that Tony faced in New York are after them too. Will you be at the compound when we get there?"

"What's your ETA?"

"Depends on if they're hurt, and how fast Sam can make this tin can fly."

"I can make it fly pretty damn fast," you heard him add to the conversation from the pilot seat. "We might be shaking the wings off, but we're moving."

You rubbed your hand across your cheek and forehead in frustration and confusion alike. It was hard to deny him your assistance, and all you could think about now was that Tony would expect it of you. He wouldn't want you to ignore your team just for him. "Yeah, I'll be there."

"Thank you, (Y/N). See you soon."

You closed the line and looked out the window at the scenery as the car passed it by, the colors running together and the trees becoming a haze of endless green. It was a scene that you had watched a million times as Tony drove you both home after long days at work, after random trips to the city, and days when the two of you simply needed to get away for an hour or two. You decided then and there that you would do everything you could to be sure that Tony saw these very same trees again, no matter what it meant for you and what you had to do to make it happen. Even if it meant that you had to stop focusing on saving your husband for a while so that you could help the team you needed to get him back.

"FRIDAY, change of plans. Get me home as fast as you can."

---

When you arrived at the compound you seemed to be the only one there. There was an eerie silence, as if the building itself had some way to know that it's owner and creator was missing and took the personality of it with him. Maybe you had made a mistake. Maybe you should've asked Cap to meet somewhere else. This was beginning to feel too hard and the walls felt like they were moving closer to you with each breath.

"(Y/N)?"

"Bruce?!" you jolted, turning to the beautiful, eagerly welcomed voice. "Oh my god, what's happening? Tony's gone, and I have no way to get to him, I don't know how we got here-"

He met you halfway across the room as you hurried to him, taking your arms in his hands to hold you steady. You were barely holding yourself up anymore as the stress took its toll, and he caught the shift immediately. "(Y/N), breathe. We're going to figure this out, okay?"

"He's off the damn planet, Bruce. That's a bit out of range even for us."

"Don't give up. You know as well as I do that Tony isn't going to. Now, come on, Rhodey's trying to get the UN off our backs so we can actually work. He might need back up."

"Since when can't he handle himself?"

"Since this conversation could throw him in prison if he's not careful."

"Oh, like hell it will," you laughed dryly, now fully incensed and pulling Bruce along rather than him leading you as he had been. When you crossed the threshold into the conference room, Rhodes was standing still but his frame looked defeated; arms crossed tightly against his chest and his gaze cast down towards his feet. You had seen him like this only a very few, rare times in your friendship since you had known Tony.

"You know they're only criminals because you've chosen to call them that, right, sir?"

"My God, Rhodes, your talent for horseshit rivals my own."

"Hey, Ross, maybe If you'd quit talking out of your ass it wouldn't be such a problem for you."

James turned at the sound of your voice, a smile daring to curl the corners of his mouth and not caring one bit if Ross could see it or not.

"Stark, this doesn't concern you," Ross said, fueling your anger. "Don't you have someone to find to keep you busy?"

"Fuck you."

"Woah, (Y/N)..." Banner tried, but you stepped away from his hold.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Are you deaf? Fuck. You. You old bag of wasted skin. You need to back off and let us handle this because you incompetent assholes don't even know where to start. Isn't that why you called here in the first place?"

"Now listen here-" he stopped, his mouth dropping open in shock at the new sight approaching right behind you. You watched his eye line and followed, allowing a deep breath of relief as you saw Steve arrive, Nat at his side with Sam, Wanda, and Vision in tow. Steve gave you a curt, affirmative nod, and the conversation was now his.

"Mr. Secretary."

"You've got some nerve, I'll give you that. The world's on fire, and you think all Is forgiven?"

"I'm not looking for forgiveness, and I'm way past asking permission." He paused for the briefest moment, a glance to you filled with sorrow so quick that you nearly missed it. He wanted you to feel his support before he continued, yet not risk losing this position over Ross while he had it. "Earth just lost her best defender, so we're here to fight. If you want to stand in our way, we'll fight you too."

"Arrest him," Ross ordered, looking to Rhodes to follow along and too stupid to know better.

"All over It-"

"Go suck your puckered old head, you dick-" you said in unison, drowning Rhodey's voice out effectively before he closed the channel as quickly as he could.

"That's a court marital, and Im pretty sure that (Y/N) put the nail in my coffin herself."

"Sorry, Jimmy, I couldn't help it," you shrugged. "Wow, you guys look like crap. Nat, how are you doing?"

"No, this isn't about me one bit," she stopped you, stepping in for a firm hug. She stayed close and leaned in to whisper even though everyone knew what she would be saying. "I'm still trying to reach him, and I think there were a few times that we came close so I won't give up."

Sam and Wanda helped Vision walk towards the living room so that he could finally rest and so that they team could gather and make their plans. You hadn't had even a few minutes to appreciate where you were, with your friends and team and able to feel their support in your time of need when you were at your worst. All it did was make you realize that you hadn't even cried yet. You hadn't allowed it to sink in that Tony was as far from you as he had ever been, and that it was a very real possibility to be forever. It began to hit you and you felt your knees weaken under the strain, only to be caught off guard enough to pull yourself back from the brink.

"Hey, how you holding up?"

"Um...well in all honesty, Cap, just barely."

"Has Buck talked to you?"

"No, uh...I just missed him. He left for Wakanda right before I got here. You know," you paused with a deep sigh, "I'm actually a little relived about It. I'm not sure I can talk about this with him because...because it's Tony, and I know he's getting enough from me throwing these emotions at him. He's probably glad he left when he did just to get some distance from my craziness right now."

"In all of this you haven't connected?" he asked, his brow raised as he watched you. You felt like maybe he didn't believe you and that you were holding back, though you had no reason to. "Not even once?"

"If we did, I've been too preoccupied to notice. We've worked pretty hard to get better control of it for Nat and...a-and Tony's sake as much as for our own," you struggled in a breaking voice, leaving him to move closer to take you in for a hug. You nestled into his embrace but it wasn't quite the same as you were used to. It was comforting, but also disturbing because you felt like he believed the finality in the loss. Like he had lost hope and couldn't offer you any. Also, a bit like he had let a few things go rogue since the last time you'd seen him. "Your beard feels weird."

"This is what we connect over? Steve's new facial pubes collection? I'll try to not be offended."

"Buck, I'm sorry," you gasped, feeling the shift in your mind, hitting like a lightning bolt when you weren't ready. "I don't mean for you to have to deal with all of this, It's too much, and I'm sorry."

"Hey, I'm okay. I've been through worse, but so have you so you're gonna get through this too, alright? I'm sorry that I didn't meet you today, but I left before you got there so I could get to T'Challa and Shuri to figure out if they can help. Use some of that kick ass tech they've got over there. If not I'm sure she can invent something in like ten minutes."

Steve took his cue to let the two of you have a minute, leaving to talk to the group. You weren't exactly eavesdropping, but the voices weren't kept low and you heard it all. Your heart ached for Wanda as you watched her begin to break under the stress and what Vision was asking of her. You wanted to go to her and offer support, but you had nothing to give when you needed to keep yourself going with the shreds of energy and drive that you had left. Tony needed that from you. It was only a matter of a minute or so and Steve was back, giving you orders to prepare to leave for the last-ditch effort to save Vision and the universe at the same time.

"Well, Buck, it sounds like we're right behind you. See you soon."