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(Y/N) figured it would be best to visit the Avengers compound so Tony would demonstrate his discovery. (Y/N) didn't want to leave Morgan in the hands of someone else and offered to stay behind, but Tony argued that they might be reuniting the entire team. The first person they thought of was Pepper, and she was happy to take her in and watch over her until it was necessary.
"You know, Morgan asked for a sibling," Tony spoke up as he opened the car door for (Y/N).
(Y/N)'s eyebrows shot upwards at the sudden confession. She sat back in her seat and waited for Tony to enter the car as well before exclaiming, "What?"
"Well, a 'sibling', as in — "
"It's not that kind of 'what'."
Tony ignited the car's engine. "Would it actually be so bad? Having another kid in the house?"
"I don't know," (Y/N) pressed her lips in a thin line. She felt like her hesitation came from her own experience growing up in the shadow of an older sibling, but a part of her reminded that her daughter wouldn't grow up in the same environment as her and she wouldn't have to worry about the pattern passing down.
"Can we talk about it later?" she pleaded, still not in the right headspace to discuss this topic.
Tony was about to argue but decided against it. He pressed on the pedal and the sports car sped through the driveway of the cabin out into the open road. In a couple of hours, they were pulling in the entrance of the old Avengers compound, and (Y/N) felt this sudden wave of nostalgia wash over her. It had been 5 years since the last time she was here and she scolded herself for forgetting about it and all the memories that happened inside.
Every second they came closer to the compound's driveway, (Y/N) began distinguishing the figure standing outside with hands on their hips. She squinted her eyes and recognized Steve's slicked back, blond hair, and also the old fashioned shirt he was wearing.
Tony dramatically stopped the car a few feet away from where Steve was standing, but then reversed to park the car right beside him. He rolled down the window so Steve could see them properly, revealing two serious faces. Steve's eyebrows furrowed at the sight of the couple wearing almost identical sunglasses, but even further when they pushed them down at the same time for dramatic effect.
"Okay, you intimidated him," (Y/N) broke the silence. She faced her husband. "Now, focus."
"Why the long face?" Tony asked right after. "Let me guess, he turned into a baby."
Steve nodded in shame. "Among other things, yeah. What are you doing here?"
(Y/N)'s hands opened to show off Tony. "I told you I'd convince him, am I right?"
Tony turned around to face her with an incredulous look, obviously not knowing she had that planned all along. (Y/N) just grinned at him innocently, as if to warn him not to question her actions right now, since there were heavier topics in place.
"Anyway, it's the EPR Paradox," Tony began, opening his car door and stepping out. "Instead of pushing Lang through time, you might've wound up pushing time through Lang. It's tricky, dangerous."
(Y/N) hadn't moved from her spot because she knew Tony would help her out of the car, and she was right. He opened her car door and extended a hand out to her, which made her grin in satisfaction at his actions. The couple made their way back to Steve and stood in front of him with their arms still linked together.
"Somebody could have cautioned you against it."
"You did."
"Oh, did I?" Tony asked sarcastically. "Well, thank God I'm here."
"Regardless, I fixed it." He held out a device in his fisted hand, showing it off for Steve to see. "A fully functioning time-space GPS."
"I just want peace."
"Turns out resentment is corrosive l, and I hate it."
"Me, too."
(Y/N) watched the interaction cautiously, as if she was afraid that a fight might dispute. At the end of the day, it wouldn't be a full team reunion without their typical argument; it seemed like a full tradition at this point. However, she was glad they kept civil for this sake.
"We got a shot at getting these stones, but I gotta tell you my priorities," Tony's eyes immediately fell on her. "Bring back what we lost, I hope, yes. Keep what I found, we have to, at all costs."
"Let's not forget not die trying in the process," (Y/N) pointed out.
"That would be nice." Tony agreed with her.
Steve stayed silent as he nodded, understanding where their positions. He extended a hand forward for Tony to shake. "Sounds like a deal."
Tony took it and they shared a firm handshake. He suddenly felt (Y/N)'s eyes on him to remind him of something before it was too late, and he nodded in understanding. He pulled back from the handshake and made his way back to the trunk of his car, gesturing for Steve to take a look.
In his hands, Tony held out the old shield, tossing away the several plush toys that found their way on top of it in the trunk. He showed it off for Steve, who sighed at the sight of it.
"Tony, I don't know."
"Why?" he questioned. "He made it for you. And my dear mom, bless her soul, would be cursing me in the afterlife if I didn't give it to you."
Steve's eyes hardened at the mention of that, as if he was reminded of a faint memory because of Tony's words.
"Plus, honestly, I have to take it out of the garage before Morgan takes it sledding."
(Y/N) did not want to mention that Morgan had already taken the shield as a sled, which happened when Tony was away in a business trip. There were pictures of that day, hidden in one of the many albums they had in the house.
Steve hooked his arm over the leather straps on the back of the shield, looking down at it after not holding it for what it seemed like an eternity.
"Thank you, Tony."
"Will you keep that a little quiet? Didn't bring one for the whole team."
(Y/N) faced Steve with raised eyebrows. "We are getting the whole team, right?"
"We're working on that right now."
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The enormous machine they were building for the quantum tunnel was being given its final touches by Tony and the raccoon, Rocket. It was strange to them both interact in (Y/N)'s eyes; although quite funny to say the least. She made a mental note to tell Morgan when they returned home that her father maintained a conversation with a raccoon.
Thor had arrived earlier in the day, brought in by Rocket and Bruce from his new home. To say he was different was an understatement. His beard had grown and his hair reached his shoulders, filled with knots. Now, instead of carrying his weapon everywhere he went, he held out a can of beer in his hands.
There was one last member left from coming in, and (Y/N) awaited his arrival. Based on Natasha's messages, she'd return from Tokyo in less than an hour. (Y/N) took this time to assist her husband and the others with whatever they needed, although she felt out of place since she wasn't a genius like half of the people building the machine. Instead, she decided to lock herself behind a closed door and dial Pepper's phone, wanting to check up on how Morgan was doing.
"Hi, Mommy!" she called out enthusiastically.
"Hi, baby, everything going well?"
Morgan nodded into the phone. "Yup! Auntie Pep gave me dino nuggets!"
"Oh, did she now?" she smiled at the happiness in her tone. "How delicious."
"When are you coming back?"
"I don't know, pumpkin," she said in full honesty. "We're still short in team members."
"I miss you, mommy."
"So do we, a lot."
"Can I go stay with you?"
"I wish you could, baby, but it's not a safe place for you here," she reminded her. This wasn't the first time they had this conversation. "We'll be back before you know it."
"I wish too! That way you and Daddy would be happy!"
"Yeah, we would."
(Y/N) wanted to chat for a long time, but she figured the team might need her assistance in some way. With a heavy heart, she started bidding her farewells to Morgan, who was disappointed that she wouldn't talk with her father too.
"Now, I gotta go, honey," she whispered into the phone. "I love you so, so much."
"Love you 3,000!"
With that, she hung up. (Y/N) grinned at Morgan's words, since they confirmed her suspicions from two nights before. She stuffed her phone back in her pocket, preparing herself to walk out back with the others, although that didn't go as planned.
"You got room for one more?"
(Y/N) turned around at the sound of the masculine voice, too caught off guard. It was a voice she hadn't heard in a very long time, and just the sound of it ran chills down her spine. There, leaning against the wall, stood Clint Barton, his appearance being so different from the one she was accustomed in seeing. He had longer hair and a tattoo sleeve, which caught her attention right away.
"Oh, my God."
She ran to embrace him, and he accepted the hug with a bit of hesitation, like he didn't feel worthy of receiving it. (Y/N) had a vague idea of his whereabouts during these past years, and she knew what had happened with his family. A part of her felt guilty about having her own when Clint didn't have the pleasure in having his.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered against his shoulder, pulling him closer.
She heard him sniffle against her, although when she pulled back to face him, his face was hardened. (Y/N) knew a simple apology wouldn't cut it or bring his family back.
"Hey," he muttered. "Long time, no see, lieutenant."
(Y/N) hugged him once more, feeling that one single embrace wasn't enough to pour all her emotions into it. She hadn't thought of how much she missed him until now; he was such a vital part of the team and her life.
"Heard about you and Stark." He broke the silence. "Have a little one of your own."
She avoided his eyes. "We do, yeah."
"Hey, don't hide that away because of me, okay? I'm fine, (Y/N)," he placed his hands on her shoulders, sensing her hesitation. "And I'm happy for you. You deserve that."
"Yeah, but so do you." She told him. "Maybe this way, we can make it happen."
He pressed his lips in a thin line. "Yeah. . .we'll see about that."
"They've worked hard on this," (Y/N) explained. "If anyone could do time travel possible, it's the people who are working outside."
"Hope is dangerous in times like these, (Y/N). You know that."
"I do, but, maybe sometimes hope is necessary."
Before (Y/N) knew it, it was time for the first official test run. Clint had volunteered to take Scott's place after he confessed he wasn't ready. Now, Clint stood in the middle of the platform all by himself, wearing the specialized suit over his suit. Everyone else was huddled near Bruce in the controls, hoping this time it would work.
"All right, Clint," Bruce flipped a switch and the machine started beeping. "We're going in three, two. . .one."
The quantum tunnel opened underneath his feet and he shrunk enough to disappear in a matter of seconds. According to Bruce, Clint could take all the time he needed and it would only take a few seconds for them. (Y/N)'s hand found Tony's as they waited for him to come back, hoping everything worked out as they had calculated. In just a simple blink, Clint came back into the platform, although he looked quite raddled, crouched on his hands and knees as a faint scream of his daughter's name escaped his lips.
Everyone quickly rushed to the platform to check his state, Natasha being the first one in line. She leaned forward to grab his shoulders, slowly pulling him up from his knees.
"Hey. Hey, look at me," she soothed, cradling his head.
"Yeah. Yeah."
Clint held out the baseball mitten in his hands with a far off look in his eyes, still not believing what he just witnessed. "It worked."
He tossed the mitten to Tony, who caught it with ease. Everyone's expressions brightened in that moment. Finally, after five years of wait, they could bring their loved ones back.