| We have to embrace the conflict in our lives. What happy ending doesn't have a conflict?| 

"Fascinating" Bruce Banner said as he walked circles around Natasha, who apparently, was from an entirely different universe.  Natasha had just finished telling her story, to the group, her mind still struggling to accept some aspects of this universe, such as Steve's apparent death. She had to constantly remind herself that this steve, even if he wasn't alive, didn't have any attachments to her. "You know what this means?"  

"I am guessing it means we have to do a lot of work," Sam said. In the room that Natasha had told her story to was, Bruce, Sam, Bucky, Maria, who was keeping her distance, Yelena, Melina, and Thor.

"No, all the theories about the multiverse are real! Meaning there could be over a million different possibilities of universes." Bruce said in the most excited tone. "There are rules we should follow as we have to go over this incredible scenario." 

"Bruce," Natasha said gently. "I hate-" 

"What rules?" Sam said with a raise of an eyebrow. "If this shit was all a theory how can there be rules?" 

"He's lying," Yelena butt in. "there are no rules. He's just trying to make us all seem dumb." 

"There are basic rules that everyone should remember, they are common sense," Bruce continued. 

"No that's so stupid" Bucky added. "if this is a brand new situation then there shouldn't be any rules. Logistically speaking. Unless you are telling me this has happened before, in that case then I agree there are rules" 

"Have none of you studied any sort of science?" Bruce asked them all. 

"Yeah sorry I skipped that elective in the red room." Yelena quipped with a smirk, Bruce became a bit unnecessarily uncomfortable at her comment. 

"Maybe we should call Scott Lang," Sam said. "He does the little tiny thing" 

"Guys-" Bruce shook his head before he was interrupted. 

"How is that gonna be any help?" Bucky said slapping him behind the head. 

"I don't know he's a smart man," Sam shrugged.

"Smart is definitely a word you could use, in the right case, to describe Scott. But I'd prefer idiot." Yelena said. 

 "Or maybe Thor here could help out," Sam added ignoring Yelena's comment. Thor unfortunately shook his head.  

"While I am equipt with the knowledge of many different planets, unfortunately, this multiverse theory as Banner calls it, I am afraid I do not have much knowledge." 

"Do you still think bringing them down was the best choice?" Melina asked as the group continues to argue amongst themselves. Natasha shook her head. At least there was one thing that she could count on in any universe, the avengers will always be much of children wrapped in an adult's body. "Because I don't." 

"I need you all to shut up for one goddamn minute." Natasha hissed. 

"So bossy," Yelena muttered. 

"Look I don't give a fuck what you guys believe and what you don't. That's not my problem. All I care about is getting home to my son and my husband. So I swear to fucking god you all better listen to bruce or I will make you listen and you certainly don't want that." The group looked at each other before remaining silent, Natasha took that as a cue for Bruce to continue, she gestured to him. 

"Okay, well as I was saying if we are gonna return Natasha back to her timeline..." Natasha tried to calm her nerves as Bruce continued to talk about everything they had to keep in mind. She has been through a lot in her life but never had she felt this alone. But she had to be strong, she had to get home. They already lost Sarah, and Natasha would not let Steve be a single father as well. 

|

In another universe, Sarah Rogers sat watching as her brother from another universe worked with his friends, she still couldn't help but think about her James. Would he have become a hero too? Maybe he already was. She hoped that one day she'd have the luxury of reuniting with him. Until then she'd be content watching this James work so tiredly to send her home. 

James was working with both his team and the addition of Serenity Strange, and they had to be the greatest minds of their generations. Their plan was to have Serenity use her powers to open the gates of the multiverse- something her uncle, Wong, had taught her to do by manipulating the dream walking state- while Morgan and Miles worked to create a device that wouldn't kill Sarah as she walked through.

"Miles I swear to god if you don't stop mansplaining everything to mean I will punch in your pretty little teeth." Morgan hissed at the boy who held his hands up. 

"Woah Woah Woah, I am not mansplaining anything. I am just suggesting that what you are doing is wrong." He countered. "Besides it's not like you would listen to me even if I was." 

"You are gonna mess this entire project up and we are gonna have to sit and watch as Sarah gets burned to crisps instead of being sent home," Morgan said pointing at the blonde who was watching with wide eyes. 

"You know, I don't wanna be burned alive," Sarah said.  

"No one is gonna get burned alive Sarah," James assured. 

"I don't fully believe that anymore," Sarah said looking between the two geniuses of the group. While they all seemed to be a team, they clearly had some work to do in this timeline. 

"Sarah, you have on my mother's grave, that I will not let you burn to a painful crisp," Miles said holding up his hands. "Right Morgan." 

"Yes as long as you stop trying to correct me, we won't have a problem," Morgan said and the two started to get back to work. Sarah and James shared a rather confused and concerning look. It would be a miracle if she ever saw her world again. 

|

Pacing back and forth to calm his nerves never really worked for Steve. He had so much energy in his body that he had to do something like training to calm his nerves. Knowing full well that this entire situation was essentially his fault, he was beginning to feel all the blame fill him up. 

He went down to the gym to try and calm himself down. Logistically he knew that if... no when they could get Natasha back she wouldn't be angry with him. But perhaps she should be? What kind of man does this to his wife? He could never look at her the same, and he couldn't bare the thought of her looking at him differently. What would James think? 

Truthfully, he feared James's reaction. He and James had never been on the same page as of late, and James was a momma's boy. Steve took her away from him, and he feared he is ruining any chances he had at being a good father. Perhaps that was why he felt so compelled to get Sarah back, to ease James's guilt. 

Perhaps it was a sign. He and Natasha had been together for such a long time, and it took them so long to get where they were. And just when things were perfect they tempted faith, they wanted more, they were gonna have another baby. Did they really think it would just work out for them three times? The universe is doing everything in its power to ruin their happiness, they would be fools to ignore it. 

"Maybe I am in over my head" He muttered to himself sending a punch to the punching bag in front of him.

"You know I am not a genius, but I am sure my sister would hate to come down here and see this mess." Steve turned to see T'challa standing behind him, he was in a more comfortable attire than when they greeted each other upstairs earlier that day. 

"I will send my apologies," Steve said. "I didn't wake you did I?" 

"Please, these walls do not carry much sound." He shrugged. "I figured you'd be down here. Thought I could lend you an ear, this can't be easy," A soft laugh escaped Steve's lips. 

"No, I suppose it can't be. But then again, when is anything in my life ever easy?" 

"Ah, but if it was easy, it wouldn't feel rewarding at the end." He said. "But perhaps that's just something stupid I tell my son." 

"How is Azari by the way," Steve said, hoping to take the conversation off of him entirely. 

"Azari is Azari." He shrugged. "Traveling the world with his mother, I fear those are always off in their own little world." 

"Don't you feel lonely? While they are out there, you are stuck here running a kingdom." Steve asked. He couldn't help but find a similarity between himself and the king. T'challa was a father who worked to create a better world for his family to live in, Steve wanted the same. 

"Captain," T'Challa started. "I envy my wife for the time she gets to spend with our son, but I would not change a thing, because while he is out there learning about the world, he's also learning about himself. Becoming who he wants to be is simply the only thing I as a parent could ask for. I assure you feel this way with James," 

"James and I never had the closest relationship," Steve admits. "We used to when he was younger and looked at me like I was a hero, but now, I fear he only looks at me like I am a mess." 

"You never know what your child thinks about you. But as long as you are doing what you assume to be in the best effort of your family, then one day James will learn to see that." 

"if this works, if we get Natasha back, and... return Sarah, how do I know that I won't lose them both." 

"You don't," T'Challa said. "But you did what you thought was right. Even if they are both happier wherever they are, they don't belong there, you are protecting not only them but the world we all live in. Surely they will understand, and with time you will all grow and heal with each other." 

Steve pondered this. So many times he has put the world above his own needs, and his family's needs. Should he do it again? Maybe they deserved to be happy, nowadays he wasn't sure he was included in that so much. Hell Natasha's closest friends sure didn't think so. Let alone his own son. For the first time, Steve really felt like he had failed as a father. Before he could even come up with something to say, Shuri's voice rang through the watch on T'Challa's wrist. 

"Brother, I have found the captain's children." There was a cough in the background. "Okay, Okoye found them," 

"We will be right up." T'Challa turned to the troubled captain. "Shall we?" 

"Yes, we have a job to do," Steve replied. He'd have to face the consequences but T'Challa was right, he needed to set things straight, even if it meant hurting those he loved. Again.