Wee Little Stark

chapter 8

Chapter 50

Summary:

short chapter!

I'm kind of having some writer's block for all 3 stories right now, so I'm sorry that the updates are coming slow!-feel free to send suggestions or stuff you'd like to see, that helps get the creative stuff flowing again :)

also: there were a couple people who commented on WLS not too long ago but i was on my phone and i thought i hit "mark read" but i accidentally his "delete" instead SO I AM SO SORRY I DIDN'T DELETE YOUR LOVELY COMMENTS ON PURPOSE I PROMISE I FEEL SO MEAN

Chapter Text

The view was both beautiful and worrisome, Darcy decided, it was efficient and fluid but it also spoke of the danger to come. She stood on a balcony that overlooked the outdoor training arenas at the new Avengers Facility and listened to Natasha yell at Pietro and Skye to actually spar instead of flirt with one another.

Darcy chuckled and nudged her father in the shoulder with her own when he slid up next to her at the railing she leaned against. "You did good, Dad. This is remarkable."

Tony let out a small huff of amusement as he watched the scene below. "You know it's all to keep you safe."

Darcy frowned. She didn't like the way her dad would casually dismiss his desire to see the world safe, the way he would say it was only for her. It was in a sense, she supposed, but there was so much moretoo. Tony hid behind his selfishness when he was doing something selfless, and it killed Darcy a little inside to see him tear himself apart like that.

She decided to bring the issue to light at long last. "It's more than that, Dad, and you know it. Yeah, you'd do anything to keep me safe, just like I'd do the same for you and everyone else I love. But you do it for everyone else too. Why do you hide it?"

Her Dad sighed, knowing he got caught. Tony shook his head. "They won't believe it." At her questioning gaze, he continued, "You know what my life has been, Bot. I was the Merchant of Death, my original solution to save my life ended up almost killing me, then my creation to world peace tried to wipe out the human race. There's so much more too, Darce. More than you can ever know. I wasn't a good man, not until you came into my life. Even then, I struggled."

"I don't understand."

"I'm selfish. Always have been, always will be. So first and foremost I wanted the world at my feet. I had an empire, almost every technological leap came from my mind and the world trampled over itself to get it. It was intoxicating. It took me far too long to realize what I was doing to this world. I wrought down fire and brimstone on this earth for so long. I thought I was just giving weapons to our men, but both sides were getting them. It wasn't an excuse though, I was mass producing murder. I was putting the bullets in our men's guns, but also their enemies. How can I wash that blood from my hands, Bot? That was my dad's legacy, my legacy. When you showed up on my doorstep I was certain my hands were going to leave bloody prints on you. I couldn't stand it to be your legacy.

"So I started amping up the green energy side of SI, because I couldn't stand the thought of leaving you with a broken and dead world. I needed to make it better, before you took your part in it. But I was blind.

"I was so devoted to changing, to making it right, that I couldn't see Stane using me, using SI for his own agenda. It wasn't until I was taken in Afghanistan that I realized what kind of mess I made. Even then, when I was so sure of the path I wanted to forge, a good man died because of me. Yinsen lost his life to set me free." Darcy swallowed at the thought of the good doctor, the man who made sure her father was able to live another day. With tears in her eyes, Darcy continued to listen to her father speak.

"I came home and all hell broke loose. Stane wasn't family but was my enemy, and you became a target. I failed you, Bot. Because of me you were taken. You had to bloody your hands to ensure your survival. What type of father am I for that to happen? You were eighteen, and you had to kill to live."

"I don't regret a moment of my life with you, Dad, not a single moment."

Tony sighed, wiping a stray tear with the back of his had as he did so. "I know, Darcy, I know. But it doesn't stop the guilt. I couldn't even keep you safe, so how could I dare to think that I could help protect the world?

"But then New Mexico happened, Vanko and the palladium poisoning, New York then London and the Mandarin then Ultron. I've done nothing but fail you, Bot, I-"

Darcy couldn't listen to this anymore. Whirling around to face her father Darcy grasped his face between her hands and made sure that he had no choice but to meet her gaze.

"You did not fail me, okay? We are extraordinary people in extraordinary circumstances and you did the best you could. And you know what? I've loved every second of it." Darcy slapped a palm over her dad's mouth as he tried to protest, "Listen, Dad. All of the pain, agony, the blood and sweat and tears and all the messiness that has come with this life? I wouldn't want anything else.

"With all that darkness, we found the light, too. You and I found each other, we made a family with Rhodey, Pepper, Happy, JARVIS and the bots. I met Jane, you helped save the world, and our family grew with the Avengers. Every day since we have done our damnedest to right everyone's wrongs, to fight for this little speck of blue in the vastness of the universe.

"Both earth and the Nine Realms have fought against us, and they've lost. Do you know why that is?"

Her father shook her head.

"It's because we love. I don't care how cheesy or cliché that is, because for fuck's sake it's true.

"We all fight for each other, because we love. We fight for ourselves because we know there are others that love us. We fight for Earth because we are nothing without this speck of blue that we love.

"So don't you dare tell me that you've failed. Look around you, Dad! Look at what you created. We're the Earth's Mightiest Heroes and we're here to protect it. And if we can't protect it...?"

Tony's laugh was watery and strained, but genuine as he finished the line.

"You can be damned well sure we'll avenge it."

Chapter 51

Summary:

as always, i am so thankful for your love and all the comments! you guys are awesome!

Notes:

okay, i'm kind of in a funk as to how to move this forward with plot, so bear with me! this was a hard one to write and i'm only kind-of-okay with it

be gentle with me, dear readers!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Frigga paced in front of her scrying pool, eager yet terrified of whatever would be shown to her.

Loki had warned her that his sister, her daughter, was in danger. That the Mad Titan who had warped his mind so thoroughly was after Darcy. Why? They couldn't know.

She had put a call out to the Norns, seeing as they were the ones who had taught her to use the Sight but there was never any guarantee that they would respond. Only if the cause was worthy to Yggdrasil would the Sisters show their faces.

So Frigga continued to pace.

It could have been hours or minutes or seconds, but eventually a rough voice broke through the Queen's fretting.

"You know you must look eventually, dear wife."

Odin.

"I know," Frigga sighed, "I have the Sight and it shall come for me whether I am ready or not. But it isDarcy, my husband. How can I look upon her Fate and know that I can do nothing?"

"Because it is your duty, and because you are her mother."

Frigga's head snapped up to look at her husband in shock that he had said such a thing. It was true that he had grown more fond of Darcy as time passed, but Frigga assumed it would be dozens of years yet before he openly acknowledged the girl as family.

"I know what you think of me, Frigga, but I have learned from my mistakes." Odin strode to the scrying pool and looked into the waters though they both knew that he would never be able to see anything. There was a small amount of sad hope on his face, that perhaps he could catch a glimpse.

"She was claimed by my eldest son as a sister, my wife claimed her as a daughter, and the girl was born with great powers and of one of the most influential and powerful men on her realm. The Norns brought her to be in the middle of all those heroes, the one she loves is one of the most feared warriors on their realm, and our youngest son, our lost son, followed her into the light." Odin paused, turning his beseeching gaze on his wife as he continued, "How could I continue to ignore what was placed clearly in front of me? I knew, I knew the moment I laid my eye on her that Yggdrasil was changing. That she was the key. But I refused to believe it because I was arrogant and selfish." The king let out a self-deprecating chuckle, "Perhaps I still am, Frigga. Yet I have tried to learn.

"I have stood by Heimdall's side to observe young Darcy for many months, and I have learned. She is powerful in a way that she does not realize, that none of us realize-"

"Now, now, AllFather," a crisp voice interrupted, "I wouldn't say none of us, would you?"

The King and Queen of the Realm Eternal whirled around at the voice, jaws almost dropping at the shock.

The Norns had arrived.

Skuld, Urd, and Verdandi stood at the entrance to Frigga's chambers, matching smirks on their lips. As one, the three Sisters dressed in white strode into the room to stand before the Queen's scrying pool.

They were not identical, as many thought, though if one was not careful it would be very easy to find them interchangeable. Each woman had long dark hair that flowed around their waists like their white gauzy shift dresses that swung gently around their bare feet. They looked ethereal and elegant, their dresses flowing from their arms and hips yet cinched at the waist and wrist. Even Frigga in her most worn and loved gown felt stifled by the firm fabric in comparison to their easy, flowing movements.

"Lady Norns, we are honored to have you here," Odin was an ass most of the time, but he was also a King. He knew when manners were important, even when he was discomforted by his environment.

The AllFather had never been entirely comfortable around the Norns, wary of their infinite knowledge and power. He was respectful of them and their necessary role among Yggdrasil's branches, always heeding their word and minding his tongue around the Sisters, but Frigga knew it was his own selfish desire for their knowledge. She could only hope that her husband's sudden change of heart applied here, as well.

"Thank you, Odin," Urd's smile was teasing as she looked at the AllFather over her shoulder, clearly thinking similarly to Frigga. "We would have been here much more quickly if Star Lord and his companions hadn't caused such a ruckus."

"He is a Ravager, a common thief essentially who found his Path as he stumbled along," Verdandi continued, "I knew that he would be trouble, but I certainly didn't anticipate how much."

Skuld sighed, "These infinity stones are proving to be much more than even we anticipated, as well. Things are coming that will shake the universe's branches, and the Key is a stubborn thing that doesn'tlisten. Yggdrasil help us all if the matter is not solved soon."

Frigga and Odin spared a hesitant glance to one another, both remembering the Prophecy that was spoken over Loki many years ago. Sensing their distress, Skuld chuckled and was quick to reassure them.

"Do not worry, dear friends. Ragnarök is not upon us. It will be many a millennia before that is something we must face."

The Queen sighed in relief but was cut off by Urd before she could get a word in edge-wise

"Oh! Your children and their companions will arrive shortly, we must prepare!" Giggling to one another like young girls rather than infinitely-old powers of the universe, the Sisters quickly made their way out of Frigga's chambers and into the palace beyond.

Frigga rubbed her temples with the tips of her fingers, not knowing how she could have forgotten just how taxing hosting the Norns could be. Odin seemed to sympathize.

"Come, dear wife, we have many things to do before our children and the Avengers barge down our doors."

She couldn't help but let a pleased smile grace her lips, wondering if Odin even realized that he had just claimed Darcy as well.

This was by far the most surreal thing Tony had ever experienced.

He was a genius-billionaire-playboy-philanthropist at one period in his life, so there were a lot of things (mainly those of the variety that required 'brain bleach') that Tony had seen that never phased him. But stumbling off the Bifröst into the golden Observatory?

Yeah, Tony was a bit speechless.

Darcy, of course, strode right up to the Gatekeeper and gave the enormous guy a hug and exchanged pleasantries. Sif and the Warriors Three were also quick to reach Darcy's side to greet her, followed by a guard who immediately offered her a fist-bump before receiving a hug as well. Rhodey, for perhaps the millionth time, snorted under his breath, Fuckin' Starks.

Yeah, Tony couldn't help but agree with him on that one, though.

The next few minutes were a blur of gold and people, then suddenly the Avengers (sans the SHIELD members, because someone needed to watch Earth when the original team was off-planet) were in what Tony presumed was the Throne Room, what with the one-eyed guy with a staff sitting at the giant seat at the top of the stairs. Must be the AllFather.

There as a smokin' hot blonde woman to Odin's right, meaning that she was Frigga. If her position didn't give her away, it was certainly the way Darcy fearlessly ran up the dais stairs to embrace the woman with a cry of "Ma!" Mom #2 then. To his left, Pepper and Frigga shared a smile and nod of respect with one another. Tony shuddered at the thought of the two terrifying women together in one space, plotting.

On Frigga's right were three older women dressed in white, ranging from their mid 40s to mid 50s, if Tony had to guess. From their eerily similar looks to their almost statuesque presence, Tony was fairly sure that they were the Norns.

...What? Tony reads, thank you very much.

Tony quieted with the rest of the group as Odin All-Papa stood and hesitantly, hesitantly?!, approached the embracing women and placed a gentle hand on his wife's shoulder that made her pull back from Darcy. Tony's kid looked between her adoptive mom's knowing smile and the King's wary one, just as unsure as the rest of them as to what the hell was going on with Odin.

The one-eyed king cleared his throat gently, placing his giant hand on Darcy's shoulder with a tenderness that made Tony's eyebrows hit his hairline with surprise.

"It gives my heart great joy to see you safe once more...daughter."

Everyone gasped audibly at the AllFather. Well, everyone except for the Norns and Frigga. He could hear some slapping sound behind him from where Loki and Thor stood, rolling his eyes at what he knew he was going to see. Glancing out of the corner of his eye, Tony was torn between groaning and laughing at the two Asgardian Princes slapping each other's arms in shock like a couple of dopes. Too much time around Darcy, he concluded. His focus was brought back to the throne when Odin continued to speak.

"I know that you have no reason to hold any shred of affection toward me for how I behaved when we first met, but I hope that with time you may find it in your own heart to forgive me for my wrongdoings." Odin cleared his throat once more, clearly not used to this mushy-feelings stuff judging by the look of discomfort on his face. "I have spent much of my time next to Heimdall and Frigga since your absence, watching over you and being regaled by the tales of your accomplishments. I know now that I was a fool to think of you as anything but a member of this family."

Oh my god he's SINCERE what the hell is even happening?! Thor and Loki seemed to be just as baffled, if the half-choked off squawks of surprise behind Tony were indication.

He could have told the All-Dad not to worry about forgiveness once Tony saw the smile forming on Darcy's lips, already knowing that she had forgiven Odin. And just like he predicted, his daughter threw her arms around the King's neck in one hell of a surprise hug.

"Already forgiven, Pop."

Ugh. Why does my kid have to have so many feelings?

Their group had been moved from the throne room into a smaller one (though 'small' was a relative term in the palace) that was very obviously belonging to the Norns. Darcy admired the painting of Yggdrasil that wrapped around the circular walls, branches reaching toward the domed ceilings, making her feel as if she was in the hallow center of Yggrasil's trunk. The Nine Realms were represented within the branches or roots that covered the floor, stunning depictions of what the realm looked like and what type of people lived there. It made Darcy feel so small.

She was placed on a stool in the center of the room, right on top of what looked like an eye painted on the floor. Darcy knew that this was very serious and it was a great honor to meet the Norns, but she had to keep stifling giggles as she thought about how awkward it would have been if she had worn a dress.

One of the Norns winked at her, so perhaps Darcy wasn't as foolish as she thought she was.

Her friends family stood along the walls and took in the room with the appropriate amount of awe and apprehension that she expected from them. Sif and the Warriors Three looked absolutely fascinated by Vision who was just as unflappable as ever. Bucky, however, was barely keeping a lid on his cool as he looked like he was greatly bothered by Darcy being so exposed in the center of the room as the Norns circled her. She'd compare them too sharks, but they were just so nice and beautiful. She also couldn't sense any malice from them, either.

They began to speak in their weird three-person-one-thought way, so Darcy just gave up on trying to keep the Sisters' identity separate.

"Your Path was never as clear as the others-"

"-yet at the same time, there was only one direction you were destined to go-"

"-you have surrounded yourself with warriors and family alike, who are far more worthy than we could have predicted-"

"-so we can only hope that their love and faith in you helps you complete what must be done."

Well, wasn't that ominous?

"Your powers are so strong-"

"-but you have held yourself back, haven't you? Wary of the unknown, afraid of the possibilities-"

"-always wondering if it would change how they saw you. Dear girl, there isn't time for those games now. Not anymore."

Correction: that was ominous as hell. The Sisters seemed to have reach a lull in their observations, so Darcy took the opportunity for what it was.

"What, exactly, needs to be done? What could I even have to offer Yggdrasil? Are you sure that I'm even the one you want?"

Wrong thing to say, Darcy. Way to go.

As one, the Norns turned their sharp gaze on her, eyes no longer full of kindness but instead filled to the brim with indignant rage. They strode purposely to Darcy's stool, voices echoing through the silent room as they spoke as one.

"Yggdrasil has chosen you, Darcy Stark of Midgard, so do not dare to question her or presume to know her ways. The Titan seeks the well of power and knowledge that you have, that you have so foolishly stifled in your mind! Yggdrasil will not fall to Thanos, but she will burn and break if he is not defeated. You, Darcy,you are the one to stand at the Titan's feet and tear him limb from limb. You are the key that opens the door, ushering in or locking out chaos that festers in Yggdrasil's branches. You, Darcy, have more power than you could even fathom in that mind of yours, if you would just LET IT OUT!"

With a crack and a flash of light, the Norns disappeared. Darcy sat frozen on her seat, looking around the room in order to make sense of what just happened. She did a double take when she noticed the painting of Yggdrasil on the walls.

Cracks spiraled out from the eye below her, climbing the walls and shattering each beautiful rendering of the Realms throughout the branches. Asgard was split down the middle, but it was the image of Midgard that brought Darcy to tears.

Midgard was shattered, impossible to see what it had been before the cracks had torn it apart, chunks of the stone wall tumbling to the floor. As Darcy moved toward the shards on the floor, she heard a three tiered whisper in her mind.

Yggdrasil has chosen you, precious Key, and the Mad One will not stop hunting for Stones just because you hesitate.

Choose wisely, open the Well.

Thanos leaned his head back against his rocky throne, feeling the changes in the universe.

The Norns were on the move.

He flexed his hand that was fitted inside the empty gauntlet, rage simmering under his skin. The stones were his! The power of the universe belonged in his hands, no one else's. Thanos didn't care what the three old hags had to say about it, or their Key. They were cryptic and never made any since to the goliath.

That stupid mortal girl was surrounded by Asgard and Midgard's heroes, but they would be easy enough to demolish. She was almost as good as a stone, anyways.

Thanos just needed to crack open that pretty skull of hers and harness her power.

Easy

Chapter 52

Notes:

woo! update!

as always, i am so grateful for all your love and support and generous comments :)

feel free to suggest away or whatever, i'm kind of finding myself getting a little stuck on how to finish this *right*

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Tony's heart broke when he finally found his daughter after hours of searching the palace. Darcy sat on the rainbow bridge, legs dangling over the edge and her shoulders hunched up to her ears. She never looked smaller, and it sat wrong in his chest.

Darcy was loud, brash, present. When she walked into a room it was immediately filled with her love and smiles and scathing wit that left everyone in stitches. When she came back with Bucky after they took out Hydra, she still filled up the room, but it was different. She was more subdued, more cautious, her eyes holding more pain and wisdom than Tony ever thought a person could bear. But his daughter was nothing if not tough, so she didn't let that stop her from being the shining light that they all needed.

To see Darcy hunched over herself like this? It was like Tony was getting punched in the gut. He nodded a thanks to Birger, the 'coolest palace guard ever, seriously Dad,' for keeping an eye on Darcy after she fled the Norns' room.

Tony winced as his bones creaked as he settled next to Darcy, automatically wrapping his right arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. He didn't say anything, knowing that his baby girl would speak when she was ready. So he sat and enjoyed the view of Asgard's nighttime sky, the gentle mist from the waterfall below their feet, and the soft hum of the bridge beneath them. He pressed a kiss to the top of Bot's head, letting her know that he would listen whenever she was ready.

It wasn't until another ten minutes had passed that Darcy spoke.

"I'm scared, Dad." Tony held his breath, knowing that he needed to be silent as Darcy rambled on, tears trying to catch in her throat. "What am I? I don't want to be the Key or whatever it is they want me to be. Ultron said the same thing, that 'the universe was pouring in' my brain or something, that I needed to 'open my mind.' What if I'm not me after? What if Darcy is gone and all that's left is their stupid Key?"

Tony shuddered, remembering the tail end of her conversation with the AI about what was 'out there' before he had pulled Ultron away from her. He felt a chill run down his spine as he remembered Ultron's words that Darcy, his baby girl, was 'destined to tear it apart.'

"It's too much, Dad, it's too much! I can't-" She broke down sobbing then, unable to keep herself together any longer.

Tony wasted no time in pulling Darcy into his lap, ignoring the fact that she was twenty-five and not two, knowing that she needed to be held close as sobs wracked her body. He didn't bother wasting his breath on platitudes and 'it's going to be okay's because they were both too smart to believe that kind of lie. So Tony held onto this daughter, waiting for her tears to run out before he spoke.

"You don't have to do anything, Bot, not a damned thing that you don't want to do. You're Darcy, my daughter, Jane's best friend, and Barnes'...everything. You're not theirs, you're not their Key or whatever else they want you to be. You choose who you are and where you go, Darcy."

Darcy sagged, futilely wiping her eyes on Tony's already dampened shirt from her tears. "But what about Thanos?"

"That's your decision too. There's Nine Realms in this universe, all of them chock-full of people who can fight alongside you, us. Because I'll be damned if you do decide to face the big bad that you'll do it alone."

"It's just, how, Dad? How did we get here?" Darcy's breath hitched again, and Tony pulled her tighter to his chest in response.

"Like you said, we're extraordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, doing the best we can."

Darcy's laugh was weak and cracked over her tears, but it was genuine. "This certainly is extraordinary." She sobered a moment later, resting her head against his shoulder and looking out into the stars.

"I'm going to do it. I'll be their Key."

"I know you will, Bot."

"I can't let Thanos run free, just look what he did to Loki and Earth. He wants to tear the universe apart with the Stones. If I can stop him like the Norns say I can, then I can't stay here and do nothing."

"Then we'll be by your side, Darcy, and we'll fight with you."

Tony ran his hand through his daughter's hair as she began crying again, her arms wrapping tightly around his shoulders.

"I don't want you all to be there, I don't want him to use your as bait or targets or whatever, but I'm too scared to go alone."

Tony's chuckle mirrored Darcy's broken laugh from minutes before as he pressed a kiss to Darcy's temple.

"I like how you think that any of us would let you do this on your own. Even if it's your 'destiny' or whatever, you know that all of us would fight through hell to be by your side. You won't be alone, Darcy. Not if we can help it."

The tarot cards shuffling in her hands were a comfort to Wanda, old and worn and moving perfectly through her fingers as she handled them. They were a gift from her mother when she was young and it was no small miracle that she had the deck safe in her sweater pocket when their lives were torn apart by Stark's black-market shells.

She continued to move the cards in her hands, their soft noise sounding in time with Loki's pacing steps. They were on the balcony outside of his chambers, overlooking the palace gardens with a bottle of wine on the table between them. Wanda watched the trickster god from the corner of her eye as her fingers danced over the cards, waiting for his curiosity to get the better of him.

"What are you doing?"

Perfect, Wanda thought, gesturing Loki to sit at the table across from her and glad that he was torn from his toxic thoughts about the Mad Titan.

"They are Tarot cards, used for divination," Wanda ignored the light scoff from Loki, having known that he would roll his eyes at the idea and continued to speak. "My mother gave them to me when I was small, and she taught me how to read them. Of course, I never did hold much stock in their power when I was young but after recent events...I do not know. I suppose they are a comfort when I am unsure of my path."

Loki was silent, watching her handle the cards with rapt curiosity on his face. While he was from a race far more enhanced than hers, he still thrived on learning. "How do they work?"

"You ask a question, and the cards will tell you the answer."

He smirked, "Just like that?"

"Just like that," Wanda confirmed. "What answer do you seek, my Prince?"

His eyes darkened slightly at the title, but he returned his focus to the task at hand.

"Am I...enough...to face Thanos once more? Am I even strong enough to stand in his presence? I wasnothing when he found me, warped me, and I am afraid that I will fall apart once more."

Wanda was mildly surprised at Loki's question, having thought he would tease her and ask a foolish question. She should have known better, realized that while Loki was a trickster at heart, he would not be so cruel to mock something she clearly held so dear.

"I believe that you are, Loki. But, let us see what the cards have to say, yes?"

Slowly, she began to deal the cards in a Celtic Cross spread so that Loki could watch and understand, telling him what each position meant and what each card resembled.

"The Significator position represents your current state of being, the card is The Emperor: protection, authority, firm will." She looked to Loki, making sure he was understanding her explanation before continuing. She went quickly, knowing that he could keep up. "The Crossing is what opposes you, King of Pentacles: arrogance, greed. The Foundation is the origin of your question, Four of Pentacles:uncertainty. The Recent Past, Four of Wands: alliances and the end of difficulties, new start. The Crown position represents significant issues in the past or present, that may or may not come to pass, depending on your actions; The Wheel of Fortune: unforeseen events, undeserved occasions and success, favorable but unstable period. The Future is that which lies ahead, The Devil: magnetism, deceits, allurements, fascination and suggestion. Then there is Emotions, your current emotional self,Three of Pentacles: powerful persons, ready to give their support. The External Factors, the influence of others in your life, Four of Swords: a situation of struggle forces on to attention, to retreat, to loneliness and to meditation. Hopes and Desires, Justice: balance, harmony, justice respect of natural law and unappealable verdict."

Wanda took a deep breath as she placed the last card in front of Loki. "Finally, there is the Outcome, Ace of Swords: triumph through growing, conquest and victory while always remembering the tribulations and sacrifices necessary for success."

Loki's exhalation was shaky, his eyes filled with curiosity as he met Wanda's gaze.

"Do you put your faith into these cards? You believe in this divination?"

Wanda looked at the cards in front of her: they depicted Loki's strong and battered soul, his desire to protect and help his new family, the alluring manipulations he suffered at Thanos' feet, the fine line between success and failure they were to walk. But the last card, well, that made her smile.

While it wasn't a guarantee that they all would survive the encounter with the Mad Titan, it told them both that Loki was strong enough to face the monster and survive.

Slowly, Wanda covered Loki's hands with her own and leaned forward to place a gentle kiss on his lips.

"Yes, I have faith, my Prince."

Jane smiled as she sat across from Darcy on her bed, mirroring their last visit together in Asgard. They were doing their routine of aggressive patty-cake-problem-solving, taking some time alone to work out their anxiety.

No one was saying it, but they all knew the 'Key' and powers the Norns spoke about had to do with Darcy's 'mega-mind.' It was a heavy thing to consider, that her best friend could potentially absorb the knowledge of the universe and defeat a crazy immortal alien. Jane shared Darcy's fear that she would not be the same after opening that door in her mind, that the weight of the universe would change her irrevocably. That Darcy would fade away like mist and only the Norns' Key would be left. Their daughter, sister, and friend gone forever.

Darcy's eyes were shiny and lined with red and Jane knew she had just been crying. Tony had gone searching for his daughter when she ran away from them all after the Norns disappeared and brought her to Jane when they were done talking.

"She needs you right now, Jane," was all that Tony had said before giving both women a hug and closing the door behind him on his way out.

Her best friend didn't need to talk anymore, Jane knew. She had probably talked and cried herself out when she was with Tony. Darcy needed her best friend Janie, boss-lady, her sister. She needed a few moments of levity before they all got buried beneath the Norns' prophecy.

So here they were, best friends playing silly games in order to break the tension, trying to keep the weight of the Nine Realms off of their shoulders for just one moment longer.

It was a nice attempt of a lie, Jane had to admit, suspending themselves in this bubble of teasing barbs and each other's comfort even if they knew it wasn't going to last. They couldn't fully submerge themselves in it, much to their disappointment.

Darcy was wearing her battle armor and red mask, whips ready to go at her side. Jane was dressed similarly, though she was told to run and hide and not fight should something attack the palace. Each member of their family was ready for battle to happen at any moment. Civilians were escorted to safe places under the palace, ready for a siege. Guards and warriors were stationed, eyes on the horizon or the stars, prepared for anything.

Well, almost anything.

What no one was prepared for was for several Chitauri to climb into Jane's chambers undetected, shooting the women with drugged darts before either of them could so much as scream for help.

Just as silently as they came, the Chitauri hefted the two women over their shoulders and disappeared

Chapter 53

Notes:

warning: there's some violence in here (is mildly graphic a thing?...as in it's detailed but not /really/ the worst thing i could probably have written?)

you get the gist

Chapter Text

The rough and cold rocky ground under her cheek let her know that she wasn't safe, so Jane kept her eyes closed and her breathing even as she tried to sort her memories. They were foggy and made her feel like she was swimming through molasses but Jane pushed through because she knew there was something important, something critical that she was forgetting.

There was the group trip to Asgard, the Norns, Darcy running away then Tony then 'Science Sister time...then the Chitauri.

It took every once of Jane's willpower to keep her body still and not scream out for her best friend. If the Chitauri had taken them, then Thanos would be nearby. She couldn't do anything to defend herself against the Mad Titan, but she would feel better if she could at least assess her surroundings. Slowly, Jane eased her eyelids up the smallest fraction in an attempt to take in the small amount of her surroundings she could immediately see.

Jane was laid haphazardly across the ground which appeared to be nothing more than a chunk of floating rock with a flat surface. The rock was immense, perhaps the size of a couple football fields, but still entirely isolated from the other asteroids that orbited nearby, making it feel small compared to the empty space. Jane was just thankful that there seemed to be some sort of atmosphere that was allowing her to breathe.

The heavy silence made Jane's skin crawl. She always knew that space was a vacuum, but she never could have imagined how maddening it would feel to be immersed in it. She suddenly had to choke back tears at the thought of Loki, knowing that he had fallen through the abyss of space for what felt like an eternity. Jane had only been here for an hour at most and she was already wanting to crawl out of her skin. After getting as much information as she could, Jane opened her eyes further and shifted her head ever-so-slightly to try to see what she didn't catch on her first pass.

She immediately wished that she hadn't.

Thanos was sitting on a floating stone throne that hovered about a dozen feet off the ground. He was...immense: his presence was stifling and made Jane feel crowded in her own mind. He wasn't particularly horrifying, at least from a physical standpoint. Thanos was strange looking, yes, large and purple as he was, but Jane thought that the Chitauri were more terrifying to look at.

What shook Jane to her bones and wrenched sobs from her chest was Darcy, bound and bloody at the Mad Titan's feet.

Some unseen force was keeping Darcy suspended a couple feet off the ground, her arms and legs spread and her hair floating around her as if she was submerged in water. She reminded Jane of how she looked when Malekith pulled the Aether from her own body. But instead of the Infinity Stone being pulled from Darcy, her own blood was trickling down her head and limbs from a multitude of cuts and a piece of metal on her forehead. Instead of dripping to the ground, the blood that rolled off Darcy's body was held suspended around her, orbiting her in a sick and twisted parody of the asteroids around them all.

Darcy's mouth was open in a silent scream, Jane seeing that the metal on her head was some type of mechanical device that seemed to be drilling into her skull, blood seeping around the edges. But it was her eyes that both broke Jane's heart and terrified her more than anything she had ever seen.

They were wide open, forced open, large and unseeing. Darcy's mesmerizing blue eyes were gone, instead covered by a dark purple-black that glowed and shimmered like oil slick on water. Small flickers of familiar ice blue flashed in and out of the darker color, small flares that gave Jane even smaller flashes of hope. Jane didn't have to have magic in her veins to understand that she was looking at the physical evidence of Thanos' influence on Darcy's mind, and Darcy fighting back.

"Rise, Jane Foster."

The ground shook with Thanos' command, the deep timbre scattering pebbles along the surface. Jane feared for the structure of the asteroid as well as her skeleton if the goliath was to speak again.

Jane's voice warbled with her tears and her terror but she met Thanos' gaze as she stood, refusing to be cowed by the monster. "What have you done to her?"

Gentler now that he had Jane's undivided attention, Thanos' replied, "Nothing in comparison as to what Icould do to her, mortal." With a lazy wave of his hand, the mechanism in Darcy's head twisted another fraction of an inch. More blood was released and her small frame trembled in pain. "She is keeping me out, I am almost amused by her strength to keep her powers locked away from me."

Jane's mind raced a million miles an hour as she processed Thanos' words and forced back the tears that threatened to fall as she watched him hurt her friend. If Darcy was keeping Thanos out then they still had a chance to take him out.

As Thanos drew even more blood from Darcy, Jane prayed that they had enough time.

It had only taken about half hour to realize that Darcy and Jane were taken, and only another half hour after that to gather every Avenger and as many warriors Asgard could spare. Thanks to Loki, they were able to point Heimdall in the right direction to Thanos' post on the edge of Yggdrasil. The biggest concern was the difference of time between Asgard and Thanos' domain.

"I felt as if I was there for decades upon decades," Loki had told them all, "but it wasn't until I came to Midgard that I realized it was only one year. To Darcy and Jane, Thanos' may have warped their minds to make them believe they have been there for weeks already. Though he no longer possesses the Mind Stone, the Titan is still a powerful mystic."

Bucky didn't care. Thanos could be Yggdrasil personified and that wouldn't stop Bucky from tearing him apart. Thanos took Darcy from Asgard, from her family, and from him. The amount of rage that was radiating off of Bucky was almost contagious, the Avengers and Asgardian soldiers shifting restlessly behind him in anticipation.

Rhodey was in the War Machine armor on his left, his stoic mask almost on par with Bucky's own. Tony and Pepper stood to his right, in the Iron Man armor and wearing Asgardian armor, respectively. Bucky's heart cracked when he saw them clasp hands, his own shaking with emptiness. The four of them stood at the front of the convoy in the observatory, toeing the line to the Bifröst opening.

The swirling tunnel of light was beautiful and hypnotic but Bucky couldn't gather enough awe to admire it like he should. He barely keep his feet on the ground as it was, wanting to throw himself through the portal to get to Darcy. She was on the other side, hurting, and they were standing like a bunch of idiots as they waited for Heimdall's substitute to launch them through space. (Bucky was glad the enormous warrior was joining them, but he was too damn anxious to wait for any more delays, fuck the consequences.)

"Barnes," Tony's voice was quiet, just loud enough for him to hear. He nodded his head to let the older man know he was listening.

"You and Darcy, whenever you two left one another, even just to go to a different damn room, you had this...look on your faces, like you were communicating."

"We were. We do. It's a promise."

"What is it?"

Bucky chuckled hollowly, tears prickling the back of his eyes as he remembered. "Darcy started it after we...got together. I had never been happier, but I was more terrified than ever before. Here was this woman, this amazing and baffling and righteous woman who chose to stand by me. To fight by my side. She chose me.

"I kept thinking that she was going to disappear like smoke through my hands, that Hydra was going to take her just as soon as I got her. She's my weakness, the one thing in this life that I need to live. I couldn't stand the thought of her being taken, so I stared having nightmares.

"Nightmares weren't new for me, then, that's how almost all my memories came back to me. But these were original, twisted images my brain kept playing through like a sick film.

"I stopped sleeping entirely and instead spent my nights watching Darcy sleep, making sure she didn't suddenly stop breathing or that someone didn't crawl through the window and take her. Because of my exhaustion, I failed to cover her properly on the next mission and she got hurt."

Bucky swallowed, his memories and emotions like blades stuck in his throat as he relived the memory.

"I thought I lost her then. There was so much blood and I couldn't stop it. The serum was what saved her life, it was only a few moments longer before the wound clotted but I couldn't stop staring at her blood on my hands. I broke then, every ounce of composure I had shattered and I told her everything. How I couldn't sleep or eat and how damn terrified I was.

He laughed, wiping the few stray tears from under his eyes. "The Winter Soldier, the world's greatest assassin for seventy years, torn apart by the love he had for one woman."

A small part of his mind noticed that the entire Observatory was dead silent, that every soldier and friend have been listening to him since he began to speak. The rest of Bucky focused on the memory of Darcy and he continued to speak.

"You know what she said? She goes, 'James. There's nothing in this life or the next that will take me from your side, or you from mine. Where you go, I go.' She was so damn certain, so I had to ask her, 'What if the world tries to stop us, doll?' And she just laughed at me, Tony, just laughed and gave me that damn smile that puts the sun to shame. She tells me, 'Well, James, we'll just have to burn it down.'"

Tony's own smirk was watery as well. He cleared his throat as he tilted his head back to keep his tears in his eyes. "And you two make that promise each time you leave the other's sight?"

"Every damn time. We lived in the shadows for too long to not be wary of the moments between the light. Things will change in a moment, for better or for worse, so it's our way of promising ourselves to each other no matter what.

"When we had nothing, when we were hell-bent on revenge and high off bloodlust and grief, we had each other. It's our vow that one day, when everything comes down around us, it'll still be us two against the world."

The older man frowned, "But this is bigger than our world now, Barnes. This is all of us, the Nine Realms and Yggdrasil. And Darcy's smack in the middle of it."

Bucky just shrugged, "Doesn't matter. I'd burn it all down to see her safe and she'd do the same for me. I'll follow her to the ends of Yggdrasil or New York, it doesn't matter. That's what that promise means."

He could feel Tony's gaze on the side of his face as he studied him. Bucky didn't bother to turn and look as he was too busy focusing on the portal in front of him and Darcy on the other side. The sound of the Bifröst powering up almost drowned out Tony's reply.

"Good."

Skuld, Urd, and Verdandi sat around the cracked floor of their room in Asgard's palace, knees touching and hands clasped as they looked down at the painted eye on the cracked marble.

Together the Sisters prayed to Yggdrasil, for Yggdrasil, and for Darcy.

Darcy's silent screams tore through the Sisters like blades made of ice, magic ricocheting off the walls of the already ruined room as their emotions skyrocketed, as they felt Thanos try to tear into Darcy's mind.

Their tears poured off their faces to land on the floor between the Norns to land between them as they begged Darcy to keep on fighting.

The water began to pool around the eye, Yggdrasil crying with her daughters

Chapter 54

Chapter Text

Thanos would not be bested by this mortal, chosen by Yggdrasil or not. He savagely tore through the girl's mind, roaring in anger as he came across another barrier that should have been impossible for her to make.

He was immortal! He had thousands upon thousands of years of life behind him spent training with magic and technology. This insignificant speck of life shouldn't be able to resist his manipulations. The device he had shoved into the girl's head was paired with his own cybernetic enhancements which should have torn through her defenses within moments.

Thanos was so enraged that he couldn't even bother with the second mortal woman that was wailing for her friend and cursing his name. He usually would have ended her life by now, but he was hoping that her pain would weaken the girl's resolve to fight him.

And wasn't that something, hope. Thanos sneered at the thought of it. With a feral snarl, he ripped through the next barrier in the girl's mind.

He smiled. Her defenses were beginning to weaken.

Darcy was-Darcy? Lil' Bot, Pip, Little Sister, Minion, Doll.

She was in...pain. Fire in her veins, too much too much too much, blades in her flesh, mind bursting at the seams. She'd felt it before, this agony was familiar.

She had to fight, she knew that. She was chaos and disorder-Lítt ulfr, Lightening Sister-but she was order, too-the Key, precious chosen girl-and there was...something, someone who wanted her-the Well the Well- to tear it down.

Darcy wanted to fight, she was tired of waiting but she knew she had to heed the layered whispers in her mind. They were a balm to her frayed edges, peace where everything else was pain.

Wait, wait for your family, wait for the one who is protector and keeper of your heart. Your time has not come, dear girl. The Well must remain closed until the moment has come.

Her heart, someone kept it safe for her, didn't they? The pain was growing and her focus was waning but she remembered she remembered him, her sun and moon and stars her soul.

The scent of gunmetal and leather the feel of scarred skin under her hands and a smile pressed against her neck-a promise to walk the ends of the Earth to find her.

Waiting, Darcy fell into his phantom embrace.

Loki's feet remained steady as his mortal friends' stumbled upon landing in Thanos' domain, immediately on the defensive as hundreds upon hundreds of Chitauri descended upon them. The trickster god ducked and dodged every blow that came his way and easily dispatched his would-be attackers. He could see the dark mountain that was Thanos and could hear Jane screaming for her friend, a sound that would haunt his dreams for years to come. Darcy's bloody form was rising higher into the air, the Mad Titan taunting them with their failure.

She still lives, my Prince, Wanda's voice was clear in Loki's mind despite the cacophony of battle around them. She still fights, but Darcy grows weak. We do not have much time.

The Trickster tore through the Chitauri as if they were nothing more than tissue paper, his fury fueling each movement. He would be damned before Thanos took anything from him once more, especially not his Lítt ulfr, his fierce sister who gave him this new life. At his side, Thor matched him blow for blow as he charged through his opponents with Mjölnir as he fought to get to Jane whose cries were growing heavy with desperation. Lightening arched from the great weapon, as if she too was maddened by Thanos' hands on Darcy and Jane, mortals who were some of the most important things in all of Yggdrasil to her Master.

As if sensing his former puppet, Thanos met Loki's gaze across the battle with a feral grin as he caused Darcy to cry out once more. The Mad Titan laughed, so sure in his victory.

Loki had braced himself for a multitude of reactions when he found himself on the other end of that gaze. He prepared himself for fear, for terror, for falling into a heap of blubbering madness, cowed by the memory of Thanos mutilating his mind and body.

He hadn't braced himself for the blind rage that consumed him down to his very soul.

With a mindless roar that tore through Loki's throat, the god felt his magic build up and burst out of him in a magnificent display of power that decimated hundreds of Chitauri soldiers around hi,. Ice dripped down his spine as he forged a path through the Chitauri for his family behind him, his Jötun form having no equal on the battlefield.

Loki bared his fangs in satisfaction when he caught the Mad Titan's brief look of shock and apprehension.

He could almost taste Thanos' moment of doubt, and it was so, so sweet.

Bucky had never felt more alive than he did in this moment, rage and fear and determination lighting fire in his veins as he fought for Darcy. He was only paces behind Loki as they charged through Thanos' army to reach the goliath himself, not even registering the blood dripping down his face as he killed another alien.

Steve was at his right keeping pace, Bucky's touchstone to reality that prevented him from running headfirst to Darcy heedless of the danger.

His heart shattered whenever he caught a glimpse of Darcy's bloodied body out of the corner of his eye, Thanos grinning manically as he caused Darcy's body to convulse in pain and Jane to cry and scream for help, for him to stop she'll do anything, just stop!

Bucky clenched his metal fist, easily crushing a Chitauri's neck and ending its life within a moment. Loki's sudden berserker/Jötun transformation gave Bucky and the rest of the Avengers the opening they needed to gain the upper hand against Thanos.

The rest of the Asgardian army was taking care of the last of the Chitauri behind them as they charged toward Thanos. As one, the Avengers tore through those who remained between them and Thanos.

Thanos, who had created so much chaos and death in the Nine Realms. Thanos, who was mad with power and used it against Loki for his own twisted and sick desires. Thanos, who was trying to use Darcy to tear apart the branches of Yggdrasil because he wanted whatever it was that made Darcy,Darcy.

The Mad Titan deserved to burn for all that he has done and all that he planned to do, so Bucky made a vow.

I'm coming, Darcy, and we'll burn it all down together.

Tony was finally seeing what was on the other side of the portal, he realized. This was the chaos and bloodshed and death that had called to him like a siren song when he carried that nuke through the hole in the sky back in New York.

As he blasted through about a dozen aliens Tony had a flash of sympathy for Loki. Hearing the tale about his capture by Thanos was one thing, but seeing it with his own eyes? Tony shuddered at the taste of bile in the back of his throat. Loki was a god, an alien, and he broke so thoroughly under Thanos' hands. Tony didn't want to think about what could have happened if it was himself or any other mortal under the Titan's control.

His heart broke as he saw Darcy, but hope swelled in his chest as they broke through the last line of defense around Thanos. The last cries of the Chitauri being taken care of by the Asgardians behind them. Silence reigned as they all stared down the Titan, only the muffled sobs of Jane and their panting breaking the quiet.

"All for one mortal girl, yet none of you seek to use her for your own power," Thanos mused, his ancient gaze meeting each of theirs in turn. None of them bothered to reply, instead focusing on ways to free Darcy and Jane from the monster's clutches.

Careless of their silence, Thanos continued to speak. "None of you even bothered to study her, did you? No one was curious about this girl's mind, the power she wields. Even she does not know the magnitude of what she has been gifted with." Tony tensed as Thanos became more enraged as he spoke, knowing that their time to make a move was growing near.

"She is nothing!" Thanos screamed, "she is a child and she is as powerful as a Stone but none of you noticed! Why should she be worthy of that? Who is she but a speck of dust compared to me?

"Do you know what I see in her mind?" Thanos taunted, "I see you. Her Avengers, her family. Her lover." His eyes slid to Bucky, Thanos' fury almost tangible with its ire.

Tony could feel their moment coming, so he tensed with his team and waited for their opening as Thanos continued to rage.

"You are all fools! Questioning nothing and just accepting that this girl was what you thought, not bothering to dig deeper. She sees!" Thanos whirled his gaze on Loki, "She saw through your lies within moments, something even the AllMother could not do! She knows and she is. And you have wasted her power."

Thanos drew himself up to his full intimidating height, and the Avengers moved. Tony and Bucky bolted forward to reach Darcy as the rest of the team blitzed to distract the Titan. But they were too late.

Quicker than their eyes could see, Thanos grabbed Jane with a meaty fist around her waist before Thor could grab her himself.

"Fools," Thanos spat, his grin terrifying in its intensity. "You are mortal and weak, your sentiment your downfall. Let me show you what it will cost you."

With their eyes so focused on Jane no one noticed Darcy's eyes change from black to electric blue, her lax body snapping to attention with Jane in her sights.

"No

Chapter 55

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Jane was hyperventilating as tears rolled down her face, unable to comprehend how she got here. Thanos was squeezing her dangerously tight around her middle as Thor and her family watched on, horrified.

She couldn't grieve her upcoming demise, though. Not when it meant that Thanos was too busy to torture Darcy further. Jane would gladly fall on the sword if it meant that Darcy was safe. She couldn't care that Darcy held the secrets to the universe in her head, or that Thanos wanted her for his own power. All that Jane could see was her best friend, her only true friend, bloodied and broken by the monster's hands. The world could burn for all that she cared, so long as Darcy made it out alive.

Jane gasped for breath as Thanos tightened his grip around her midsection, whimpering as she felt a few ribs creak in protest. She was flimsy and mortal and not meant to be held by someone with so much power.

She looked among her friends and family, seeing their looks of desperation and despair, and she knew her fate. When it came down to it, Jane would gladly die if it meant that Darcy could live. Her friend had lived such a hard life and deserved something more, deserved some peace.

Just as Jane closed her eyes, she caught a bright flash of blue out of the corner of her eye.

It radiated hope.

Darcy felt it the moment the Avengers and Asgardians landed on Thanos' domain. In the bizarre state of mind she was in as Thanos attacked her, Darcy was able to see more than ever before.

She could see the strings that intwined her soul to Bucky's, smiling at the fact that Loki's tales of soul-bonds were fact rather than fiction. She could see similar threads lead off of her to her mother and father, as well as Jane.

It was the latter set of strings that pulled taut and strained when Thanos threatened her friend, her that, Darcy saw blue.

She rebelled against the invisible chains that held her pinned in the air, thrashing within her own mind to gain agency back over her body. Darcy could feel Thanos' claws that had dug into her mind loosen in surprise, so she used his moment of hesitancy to her advantage. It wasn't until she felt the rocky ground under her feet that she opened her eyes.

Everything was washed in an electric blue, the same shade she had grown up seeing in her own reflection in the mirror. She only had moments to assess the situation before the tiered whispers turned to shouts inside her head.

Now! They screamed, Open the Well now! Take what is yours and hand down your justice!

With an almost-silent gasp, Darcy heeded their call.

Bucky didn't know what to think when he saw Darcy descend from her post in the air, her body snapping from lax to lined with tension as she focused her blue-blind gaze on Thanos and Jane.

His girl was still bloodied, her body covered in gashes and that horrible machine still settled firmly in her forehead as she seemed to glide back down to them all. Tony held him back with a hand on his shoulder when Bucky tried to step forward to grab Darcy.

"No," he warned quietly, "there's more going on here."

Bucky could tell that Tony was terrified as well, but he trusted in the older man's faith that Darcy would be victorious and planted his feet with determination. He would wait out this confrontation, he decided.

Thanos almost didn't seem to notice it when Jane was gently pulled from his grasp by Darcy's powers, too shocked that his manipulations were defeated by the mortal girl. Thor hurriedly dragged Jane back to their line of defense, despite the older woman's wailing cries for Darcy to come back to them, to come home.

When Darcy spoke, her voice was layered in a way that reminded Bucky of the Norns, though her voice was layered with both deeper and higher pitched tones that sent chills down his spine.

"So, Thanos, you wish to see the depths of the Well?" Darcy's tone was mocking, sneering at the now quivering mess of a Titan as she neared him. She was beautiful and deadly, Bucky noted with awe, like angels from the bible. Bloodied warriors and agents of divine will that had no master.

Darcy struck out with her powers, the sounds of Thanos' cybernetic enhancements grinding and crunching to a stop causing everyone to flinch back in response, streaks of blue light reaching for the Titan's limbs and pinning him beneath boulders and leaving him to her mercy.

"Then let me show you what you desire, child."

With a blast of blinding light, the bright electric blue glow that surrounded Darcy arched from her hands, mouth, and eyes, leaping through the air and shoving itself down Thanos' throat.

"You will see," Darcy vowed, her words a curse on the goliath.

Darcy was holding onto what remained of her with all that she had, her fingertips bleeding while she held onto the cliff's edge as the force of the Well threatened to drag her under.

Thanos wished to have the Well for himself, a concept Darcy didn't understand until this very moment.

It was immense, vast, more and less than Darcy could ever hope to convey with her own pathetic words. The Well was everything, all bits of knowledge that was hidden in Yggdrasil's branches and everything she gifted to her children. She saw the birth of the universe and the Infinity Stones, the rise and fall of the Celestials and every race that had been born since time was even time.

She felt like a stone lodged at the bottom of a river, the current rushing over her surface and threatening to drag her away. Her grip was weakening, but she knew she couldn't let go just yet. Darcy was made for this burden, to see and hold all of Yggdrasil's secrets inside her mind much like Vision and his ability to wield the Mind Stone. They were both beings created for higher powers, and anyone less than they would go mad with the power and knowledge at their fingertips.

That's what Darcy was counting on, honestly. She just hoped that she could come back to herself before the Well completely washed her away.

Tony watched with a mix of awe and horror as Darcy tore into Thanos' mind, Pepper holding his hand tightly on his right.

He had theories, of course, about what the Norns had meant by 'the Well' in Darcy's head. Tony had spent more than a good handful of nights reading Norse mythology books into the early morning, terrified of what he read.

The Well was almost a physical representation of Yggdrasil, as far as Tony understood. It was the past, present, and future, as well as everything that would and wouldn't be. And Darcy was letting it all funnel through her head to save them all.

His heart was breaking, but Tony knew he couldn't go to his daughter now. This was her battle, herenemy to defeat. Tony didn't bother to wipe the tears as the poured out of his eyes, knowing that his baby girl, his Darcy was getting wiped out with every second that the Well was in her head.

Please, Bot, he begged, please come back to us.

Chapter 56

Notes:

okay guys, sorry to keep you waiting but here's your chapter!

it took me a long time to write and im still not 100% happy with it, but i think that's mainly because we're nearing the end of Wee Little Stark and i'm reluctant to let it go.

anyways, enjoy! I'll try my best for quick updates :)

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Loki couldn't understand what was happening in front of his eyes. It should have been impossible, yet they all were bearing witness to the event.

Darcy, shrouded head to toe in an electric blue light that matched her eyes, advanced on a screaming and twitching Thanos and shoving the light into his mind and body. Loki felt sick as he heard Thanos' cybernetic body modifications crunch and collapse on themselves, the giant's body contorting in ways that reminded him of shoving the black-hole grenade in the Kursed's mouth. Pieces of the Mad Titan began to burn with blue flames, the monster burning and disintegrating before them all in a horrible show.

Loki turned to Wanda, hoping that she could make more sense of what was happening. Wanda's face was vacant, her eyes reflecting the blue flames in a way that shook Loki to the core with fear. For a moment, he thought that he had lost Wanda to the Well along with his sister.

"Don't worry, Loki," she reached out a hand to rest on Loki's bicep, her gentle touch reassuring. "I am merely skimming the surface, but I am not sure what will happen. Darcy is fading, fast."

Darcy and the Well were one. She was whole and complete and more powerful than anything she could have ever imagined. Yggdrasil had chosen her as her vessel to wield this knowledge, and despite how intoxicating it was, it terrified Darcy. While she could feel herself growing as immense as the Well was deep, she could feel the part of her that was Darcy vanishing into smoke.

You do not have to carry this burden within, child. You have played your role so beautifully. Rest now.

This voice was new, Darcy realized. It was different than the layered whispers that floated through her mind earlier, but it was just as familiar. This voice sounded comforting, like the auditory equivalent of feeling yourself get tucked into bed by someone who loves you, the warm feeling of safety.

Darcy was slipping, but she kept forcing the Well into Thanos and watched as it burned him from the inside out.

Help me, she begged the voice, I don't want to be lost. I want to go home.

There was a comforting presence in the back of Darcy's mind in response, and Darcy knew it belonged to the voice. Thanos was collapsing in on himself, something that would be sure to disturb Darcy if she wasn't so focused on the new voice.

Bend it to your will, child. You are the Key, but you are also the locksmith. Make the Well what you want, and it shall be.

Darcy could feel her body shaking as she continued to direct the Well, knowing that she was growing weaker and weaker by the moment. Soon, she'd be lost to it forever. With the final bit of hope she had inside of her, Darcy clung to it and sent her wish through the Well, begging to let her go.

Thanos could see.

He saw the birth of the cosmos and the death of Yggdrasil, her branches rotting and falling through the abyss. He saw the monsters that dwelled there and how they consumed the stars and galaxies, more terrifying than even Thanos could fathom. He saw realities where the Avengers failed to save Midgard or where they never existed to begin with. Thanos watched as millions upon millions of alternate realities played across his mind's eye

In each of them, he burned.

Even if he led victory over the Nine Realms, each reality ended with him at the mercy of the Well and its vessel. At each end, Thanos found by Yggdrasil's chosen one and torn apart.

Thanos couldn't hold the Well, and he saw how foolish he was for believing that he could. He screamed and begged for mercy as he felt himself burn and collapse, he wailed when he felt himself fading from the rushing force of the Well tearing through his mind.

You fool, the Well whispered, you court Death and Chaos yet think yourself invulnerable. You tear apart the minds of others, and you did not think that it did the very same to your own? Thanos, your fate is delivered by your own hand.

Tony and Steve had to hold Bucky back when Darcy went supernova, her blue light swallowing her and Thanos whole and burning brighter and brighter in front of them. Bucky was trying to charge toward her, heedless of the consequences, and Tony had to use every ounce of his control to stop himself from running forward too.

"Darcy!"

Tony closed his eyes at Bucky's scream, swearing that he could hear the soldier's heart break and shatter when they lost sight of his baby girl. She was lost to the light, everyone finally having to turn away from where she stood once it was too much to look at, like staring into the sun. Thanos let out one final wail of pain and terror before he was silenced completely, though the sounds of compacting metal and snapping bones carried on. It was eerily silent, Tony thought, besides the sound of...whatever was happening to Thanos, there was only the silent vacuum of space and the sobs coming from Bucky and Jane. Tony let his tears fall silently, letting himself hold onto his last shreds of hope as he felt the light dim through his closed eyelids.

He felt everyone hold their breath for one beat, two, before Tony knew they all opened their eyes and turned as one. Tony just begged anyone who was listening that he wasn't going to see his daughter's lifeless body when he turned. He barely let go of Bucky before the man was off like a shot to fall to Darcy's side, Tony only inches behind him. Both men fell to their knees on either side of Darcy, sagging in relief when they saw her chest rise and fall with slow breaths.

"She's alive," Tony breathed, turning to shout to everyone else who still stood frozen yards away, "Darcy's alive!"

Bucky ignored Tony and everyone else as they crowded around Darcy, too focused on checking her over for injuries. He had no clue how Darcy's body healed from all the wounds Thanos inflicted on her but he couldn't find it in him to care at the moment. Darcy lay on the ground, clean, as if minutes ago she wasn't almost torn to shreds and covered in her own blood. She breathed deep, slow breaths of sleep, her expression serene. Bucky smoothed his hand over Darcy's forehead, marveling at the unbroken skin that previously had housed Thanos' twisted machine that was digging into her skull. He was able to ignore the bile rising in his throat when Jane came to kneel next to him, slowly reaching for Darcy's right hand.

"What is she holding?"

Bucky's gaze snapped to Darcy's clenched fist, brows furrowing in confusion when he saw a faint blue glow peeking between the creases of her fingers. His and Jane's focus drew everyone else's attention, the rest of the family quieting as Bucky and Jane tried to ease open Darcy's hand.

"Let me, please. Out of all of us, I am the least vulnerable." Vision came to kneel next to Darcy as well, resting his hand over her fist. He looked between Bucky, Jane, and Tony, asking permission to try. They all nodded, watching Vision open his little sister's hand gently, coaxing her fingers to relax. Everyone froze when her hand was opened.

Hovering above the center of Darcy's palm was a glowing, pale blue, teardrop shaped stone.

"I'm not comfortable with how much that reminds me of certain similar objects," Jane said, the attempted humor in her voice falling flat when everyone pieced together what she had said. Bucky looked to Vision, knowing that if anyone could confirm Jane's words, it was Darcy's brother. He was almost taken aback at how much emotion the android was displaying, the sheer amount of dumbfounded shock in Vision's eyes overwhelming Bucky. Vision looked up and met Bucky's cautious gaze with his own uncomprehending one.

"It's impossible," Vision insisted, meeting everyone's gaze in turn. "There are six, there has always beensix, ever since the universe was born. No more, no less." He gently prodded the stone with his index finger so it spun gently where it floated above Darcy's palm, the stone letting out a light chime that reminded Bucky of smoothing fingers on crystal glasses. Vision ignored the Avengers as they bombarded him with questions and instead kept flickering his gaze between Darcy's face and the Stone.

"Vision," Bucky whispered, "What did Darcy do?"

Vision placed his hand on Darcy's forehead, running his thumb between Darcy's eyebrows where they had begun to furrow. He did not move his gaze from Darcy's face as he answered Bucky.

"Little Sister has created a seventh Infinity Stone."

Darcy felt like she was floating in water, peaceful and quiet and soothing all at once. There was the faintest sounds of muffled voices in the distance but they weren't enough to rouse her from her doze. She hummed in contentment, stretching her arms above her head and arching her back. Darcy's muscles pulled deliciously, that right about of stretch that told her she had just had a good few hours of sleep. She kept her eyes closed, even when the familiar voice came to speak to her.

How do you fare, child?

Rather than use words Darcy sent the presence a barrage of emotions and physical sensations, knowing that the voice could understand.

I am glad that you are well. You were almost lost to us all.

Darcy's brow furrowed as memories stared trickling into her mind, slow enough that she wasn't overwhelmed or distressed. The Norns, Thanos, Jane, family, battle, the Well...

She fought against the gasp that threatened to leave her throat, determined to stay here in this peaceful bubble of contentment a while longer. Darcy would stay with the voice for now, since the memories were breaking her heart. She couldn't bear to think what was happening out in the real world right now.

You have nothing to fear, dear one. Your loved ones are whole and unharmed. It is your body that needs to rest and heal.

If Darcy had the energy, she would have teased the voice for its chiding tone. Like a mother hen, she thought.

Well, I am a mother, dear child. Was the voice...laughing? And as The Mother, I must tell you how proud I am of you, child. Darcy (as much as she could) squirmed uncomfortably at the absolute love and adoration that the voice was sending her. It was too much.

You fought so bravely and endured so much, I can only hope that you can forgive me for placing this burden upon you.

Slowly, Darcy could feel her energy returning to her. She finally had enough to respond to the voice.

There's nothing to forgive, but you're forgiven regardless, she teased, a faint memory of Bucky and Steve's reunion playing in the back of her mind.

The voice seemed to chuckle with Darcy at the memory, its voice growing fainter as Darcy felt more and more strength return to her.

Take care of the Well, dear child, the Stone is yours to do with what you wish. I trust you.

Before Darcy could respond she could feel her body become more solid around her as if she waking from a dream. The previously faint voices in the background were now loud and surrounding her. She could feel her lips twitch in amusement, knowing that her family was probably causing chaos wherever they were with their usual rambunctiousness.

Beneath her felt like a bed, thankfully not a hospital bed, and Darcy could feel by the pull of the covers that there were several people crowding the bed around her. Worry warts, she huffed.

Wanda's voice cut through the noise like a blade, "Shush, all of you, Darcy wakes."

Wow, way to give a girl performance anxiety, Wanda. The other girl didn't respond, but Darcy could feel her amusement like it was a tangible thing. Her focus snapped back to her immediate surroundings when the person closest to her shuffled even nearer, and a familiar metal hand covered her own.

Darcy couldn't stop the swelling of tears even if she tried, just so relieved that he was here, that he wasokay. Slowly, Darcy opened her eyes and immediately was met with her favorite shade of blue.

"Bucky," she breathed, "you're here." Darcy couldn't explain why she thought he was going to disappear like smoke in the wind, but her heart ached with the fear.

His eyes were a little red and watery from crying, but his smile was as beautiful as ever. Bucky raised her smaller hand in his metal one, bringing her knuckles to his lips to place a kiss on them.

"Where you go, I go, Darcy. No matter what

Chapter 57

Chapter Text

It took five days, three rounds of crying, and a multitude of visits from Asgard's healers before Darcy was deemed fit enough to leave her bed. It was another two before she could leave her room. Finally, after a week of stubbornness and arguing with her family, Darcy was back in the Norns' room in the palace. She was shocked into silence when the previously cracked walls and images were reformed, the slightest hint of gold shimmering where the thin cracks once were. It was beautiful, but also served as a reminder as to what could have been.

Darcy sat back on the stool in the center of the room, much more at ease this time around. When she looked to the painted eye on the floor she could have sworn that it was looking back at her.

Like before, the Norns circled Darcy where she sat, though this time it was more from shock and awe rather than an intimidation tactic.

"You succeed in defeating Thanos-"

"-for which we, and every member of the Nine Realms are grateful for."

"Though it seems that you returned to us with more than you bargained for." The third Norn that spoke nodded to where Darcy's right hand was closed in a loose fist.

She opened it, letting the teardrop stone float up until it hovered just in front of her face. Darcy touched it gently, smiling at the soothing chime it let out as it spun slowly.

"Yes, I managed to make myself a souvenir."

"None of us could have foreseen this, child," one of the Norns said softly, the gravity of her words not lost on anyone in the room. "We only ever could see as far as your battle with Thanos and his defeat. The rest was between you and the Well, and Yggdrasil herself."

"She told me that this was the Well now. That I made it into an Infinity Stone." Darcy didn't take her eyes off of the pale blue stone, wondering how she never noticed that it was the same shade of her eyes until this moment.

A Sister stepped forward, Urd perhaps, reaching out a hand as if she was going to touch the Stone but keeping it just out of reach of her fingertips. "Yes, though we did not fathom that such a thing were possible. It is strange that this Stone does not react to touch like all of the others, it does not compel nor does it harm. It simply is."

Darcy began to speak without consciously deciding to do so, not even knowing what she was going to say until the words poured out of her mouth. "I didn't want it to be like that. The Well is neutral, it's knowledge in the purest form. It's not inherently good or evil, it's just fact. I wanted whatever I made it into to have a choice, to be able to choose its host."

She looked over to Thor where he leaned against the wall between Jane and Loki. "Mjölnir is one of the most deadly weapons in the universe," he nodded in agreement, letting her continue to speak. "But sheknows who is worthy. Someone with ill-intent is already unworthy, and hardly anyone is worthy to begin with. Something this powerful should have some agency over itself."

Darcy turned her gaze back to the Well Stone and ignored all the eyes she could feel on her, intent on the words pouring out of her now that she had some momentum. She hadn't spoken about what happened once she broke through Thanos' control, but now that she broached the topic with the stone she couldn'tstop.

"Yggdrasil spoke to me when the Well was tearing me apart, when I felt myself starting to fade away. I was lost, I could see and feel everything and I was losing myself and she came to me when I had moments left." Darcy didn't know when her Dad came to stand at her side but she leaned into his chest anyways, needing the comfort. "She told me that I didn't need to keep the Well, that I could bend it to my will. But I didn't want it to bend to my will, I just asked for it to let me go. I poured all that I had left into the Well, begging it to let me go home.

"Next thing I know, Yggdrasil was speaking to me, and told me she was proud of me. She told me that you all were okay and waiting for me. Before I woke up, she told me that she trusted me with the Stone, that I could with it what wanted."

Darcy wasn't sure when she started crying, but she wiped her tears before she straightened from her father's embrace and met each of the Norn's eyes. "I want you to have it. I can't have this responsibility, I just want to go home. I want peace."

She pushed the Stone gently toward the Norns, watching as it floated gracefully across the room. It stopped equidistant between all three of them, but was summoned to Verdandi's hand when she held it out to receive the stone.

"Thank you, Darcy Stark. It honors us that you give us your gift and creation. As its creator, you will always have access to the Well and its depths but you must want it. You shall not be overwhelmed again." With a flick of her wrist, Verdandi vanished the Stone, removing the weight of the world from Darcy's shoulders.

"Go home," Skuld said, eyes shining and mouth stretched wide in a smile. "Go home with your loved ones and rest. Your destiny has been fulfilled, go have your peace."

Tony stumbled with everyone else when they landed in the front lawn of the Avengers facility and winced when the impact of landing sent little shocks of pain through his feet. Darcy stood to his left with her fingers tangled with his, Bucky and Pepper framing the pair on their free sides.

It was...strange, to be back at the facility. It felt like a lifetime had passed but they returned only to find everything the way they left it. So much had happened and so much had changed, and no one had a clue.

No one seemed to know what to do now, either. Each of them looked around at the facility and each other, all of them tired and wrung out from the last week. Tony rubbed a hand down his face at that. They were only gone for a week.

"Hey, Thor," Tony called to the giant blonde man who was speaking in hushed tones with Jane. Thor looked up, his eyes questioning. "You have any of that Asgardian mead on you?"

Small crinkles formed around the Thunder God's eyes as he started to smile. "Aye. I also have more in my quarters."

Tony nodded decisively. "Good. I think we all need a fucking drink."

Pepper sagged next to him, dropping her head to Tony's shoulder. "Yes. All the drinks, please. I want to be so drunk I can't think straight for a week."

There were a bunch of murmured agreements from the group on the lawn. Tony knew he liked these people for some reason.

Three hours later, everyone was a goddamn mess. Coulson's team had joined the fun but thankfully did not ask questions about what went down in outer space. That all could come later, right now was family bonding time. And the way that Starks bonded was to drink their weight in booze.

In hindsight, getting almost two dozen supers and/or SHIELD agents drunk off their asses may be considered ill-advised. There were a lot of people with access to weapons that were prone to dares and had a lot of pride. It's like a goddamn fraternity, Tony mused. He trusted these people more than he'd ever trust a bunch of punks in a frat house though, so instead of worrying about the increased likelihood of injuries and property damage Tony sat back and watched all the chaos around him with something akin to manic glee.

Coulson was suddenly sitting next to Tony on the couch causing him to jump in surprise. "Where the fuck did you come from, Agent?"

The other man sighed at the nickname that Tony refused to give up. "Ninja skills," he deadpanned.

"I'm not Darcy, I'm not that easily amused."

"Chuck Norris skills?"

Tony begrudgingly cracked a smile. "Dammit."

Coulson smirked around his beer bottle, taking a deep pull before looking around at the impromptu party. He turned to Tony.

"You ever look around yourself and think, Shit. This is my family? All these crazy people?"

Tony laughed, "And you bitch and moan about it, but you love them anyway because you're just as bat-shit crazy as they are."

Grinning, Coulson held out is beer to clink it against Tony's glass. "To family, then. I'm glad you all made it back home, safe and sound."

Tony raised his glass and drank with Coulson, then found his eye drawn to the corner of the room where Darcy sat tucked up in Bucky's lap, apparently dozing. He held his arms protectively around her while he spoke to Pepper over Darcy's head. His family was whole and together. It was a fucking miracle and Tony knew it.

He knew that the road still wasn't going to be easy for any of them, not by a long shot, but something settled into Tony's chest that let him know that the worst was behind them. There would still be battles and enemies and dangers ahead, but if they survived the mess with Thanos, Tony knew they could survive anything.

Bring it on, he thought

Chapter 58

Summary:

THIS IS IT! The last chapter.

Guys, I seriously cannot tell you guys how much all of your comments and kudos have meant to me. You guys are AMAZING and made this, my first fic, a fucking awesome experience.

I hope you guys love it just as much as you loved the rest of it!

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Three months after the defeat of Thanos...

Darcy laid back against Bucky's chest as they watched everyone run around the field behind the facility. Okay, they were 'training,' but when the Avengers + SHIELD got together it was organized chaos at the best of times.

Pietro was acting like a six-year-old, running around and poking Skye then running away before she could see what who had done it. By the fifth time, Skye was prepared for him. She used her powers to shake the ground beneath him as he ran, surprising Pietro enough for him to trip and sprawl inelegantly at her feet. She took pity on him, and smacked a kiss to his lips before running away, giving him a taste of his own medicine. Pietro froze with the dopiest grin on his face before shaking himself and chasing after her.

Wanda and Loki were at another side of the field practicing with Wanda's powers. Darcy was woman enough to say that she was seriously impressed with how far Wanda had come with the control and strength behind her powers. She was downright terrifying, and Darcy couldn't be prouder. Loki was enamored with her as ever, and he always had this dopey look on his face when he was with Wanda that Darcy teased him for. She couldn't really talk since she wore the same expression around Bucky.

Bucky chuckled in Darcy's ear, pointing her gaze in the opposite direction to a throng of trees at the edge of the property. She was about to ask what she was looking for when she saw a brief flash of Steve's blue training uniform. It was the wing-pack that hung from a low branch of the tree that was particularly telling as to what Steve was getting up to in the woods.

"They're probably necking like a couple of teenagers," Bucky huffed.

Darcy hummed, deciding that she wanted to cause a little chaos. With a mental prod, she got the attention of BIT, Fen, and the other bots. Within moments the five were rolling out of the facility at surprisingly high speeds straight toward the trees where everyone's fearless leader was hiding with his boyfriend. Thanks to the super-serum, Darcy and Bucky got to hear the hilarity that ensued when the bots found their mark.

Steve was the first to fall victim, "What the...DUM-E, what the hell?! Dammit BIT! Hey! That's my shirt!" A very topless Captain America then ran out of his hiding spot after a victorious BIT who was waving his shirt in the air as she zoomed away. Everyone cat-called at the impressive hickey on Steve's collarbone and the marks on his shoulders that looked suspiciously like someone had their nails digging into his skin.

Sam was still battling it out with the rest of the bots in the trees. "Hey, hey, hey. Let's be cool, alright Butterfingers? You guys don't need to take my clothes, right?" There was the sound of struggling, like Sam was playing tug-of-war with one of the bots. "Fen, help me out? I'll take you flying, how about that? That'd be cool, right buddy?" Another pause where Darcy could sense Fen considering it. She cracked up the moment the little guy made his decision.

"Dammit! Not cool, Darcy!" Sam shouted from his spot in the trees, only poking his head out. Fen rushed out next to him, waving what looked like Sam's tac-pants in the air and rolling out to join his sister. Steve, the lovable goof, was still trying to get his shirt back from a gleeful BIT who was hiding behind Natasha.

"Always the trouble maker, doll."

Darcy leaned her head back against Bucky's shoulder to look up at him. His face was highlighted by the sun, making him look like an angel. She'd stopped trying to tell him that, knowing how he disliked the comparison no matter how many times she told him that Angels were warriors. He'd call her a Valkyrie in retaliation, and she'd remind him that she couldn't qualify as a maiden warrior these days with a salacious eyebrow wiggle to make him laugh.

"Yeah, but you love me for it."

Bucky ran his hands down her arms and then moved them to her stomach, rubbing gentle circles on the tiny firm bump that was growing there. They hadn't told anyone yet, and all telepaths and gods of fertility were sworn to secrecy until she reached her second trimester.

"I love you more than anything, doll. You being a trouble maker is just a perk."

"Hmm, I seem to recall that's how we got around to making trouble-maker junior here."

Bucky just laughed and wrapped his arms around Darcy, bringing her to lay down curled up against his side where he leaned against a tree.

Together they continued to watch their team-turned-family train, chuckling together as Steve finally managed to retrieve his clothes from the bots and jog back to Sam.

Darcy's attention was drawn to the side where Pepper and Jane were working at an outdoor table. Jane's arms were flailing wildly and Pepper looked like it was taking all of her patience to not laugh at the tiny scientist. Darcy would have thought that Jane was doing Science! if it weren't for all the bridal magazines and to-do lists covering the table. Darcy couldn't help her beaming smile, still so ecstatic that Jane and Thor were getting married. He was in Asgard currently completing some quest to get Jane one of the golden immortality apples. Frigga and Heimdall had assured Darcy that it was more a formality than anything, confiding that Odin approved of the match and wouldn't be stingy about the gift. Frigga had also confided that she was keeping another apple saved for Wanda, her Sight telling her that Wanda would be around for some time yet. Thankfully, Frigga cast some spell on Darcy so Wanda wouldn't accidentally hear that particular thought when it popped in her head from time to time.

Everything was...good. There was still danger, of course, but things had calmed down some after Darcy's battle with Thanos. Loki had told Darcy that he sensed a sort of peace in the Nine Realms, as if Yggdrasil was taking a much needed rest. If Darcy concentrated on her powers on the link that connected her to the Well Stone, she could almost feel what Loki was talking about. It was as if Yggdrasil had released a breath that she had been holding for too long.

The Avengers still fought for the little guy, but there weren't as many Big Bads that required the entire team. Everyone had taken to forming smaller units for missions that constantly changed depending on what the target was. A lot of them, including their new SHIELD friends, had taken to training baby agents and led their own teams. Now that SHIELD was directly in their hands, everyone felt better about starting the organization back up again. Tony was looking to change the name to give the organization a fresh start but he was met with resistance. SHIELD was like the Avengers, a familiar name that promised safety and protection that was recognized by all. It was a promise.

Six months post-Thanos...

Darcy stared down at her big baby bump, huffing at the fact she couldn't see her goddamn feet. Bucky said she was still beautiful, but she had a hard time believing him on days like this. Especially since today was Thor and Jane's wedding, and Darcy couldn't get into her fucking dress.

There was a knock at Darcy's bedroom door. "Come in!" she called, hoping that the frustrated tears weren't obvious in her voice.

Betty Ross tentatively stuck her head in the room, and Darcy breathed a sigh of relief. Betty was amazingand the only one who remained sane during this crazy wedding business.

Tony had made it his mission to get Betty out from General Ross' clutches as soon as they made it back to earth six months ago. It took three months to track down the general, but his horrified expression was totally worth all the late nights and shitty leads. Ross wasn't prepared for all the Avengers to show up at his door, literally, asking nicely if Betty would like to come to Avengers Facility because there was a certain-somebody who missed her terribly. Bruce wasn't part of this mission, having taken a sabbatical to calm down after all the chaos. Betty had taken one look at the gathered Avengers and smiled. "Just let me grab my purse."

And that was that. Betty and Bruce were together again (each time Darcy thought of the happy little smile Bruce wore all the time made her squeal with glee) and were near inseparable.

"You okay, Darcy? The rest of the girls are wondering where you are."

Darcy wiped her eyes, "I'm coming, I just need to shove myself in this dress then they can do my hair and makeup for me."

Betty didn't hesitate to step into the room and help zip Darcy up, helping her to buckle her sandals. There was no way she was going to attempt heels when she was six months pregnant with fucking triplets.

"You look beautiful, Darcy."

She wanted to snap at Betty for patronizing her, but Betty was nothing if not the sincerest person she had ever met. She reigned in her pregnancy hormones, reminding herself that it wasn't Betty who was at fault here. It was hers and Bucky's and the damn super-soldier serum that made them hyper-fertile. That certainly wasn't part of Erskine's warning.

Darcy took a deep breath and wiggled her fingers at Betty so the other woman could help her up from where she had sat down.

"Thank you, Betty. That means a lot. Lots of emotions today, the Babies Three aren't digging it so they're taking it out on me."

Betty simply laughed good naturedly and slid Darcy's arm through the crook of her elbow, "It's okay, don't you dare apologize for that. Now let's go get dolled up, it's not every day that you go to a god's wedding on Asgard!"

Nine months post-Thanos...

"Bucky, I love you, but I really fucking hate you right now!" The final part of Darcy's sentence ended in a scream as another contraction hit.

Bucky stood to the side of Darcy's hospital bed, running his metal hand soothingly over her forehead and letting her squeeze his flesh hand with everything she had. He didn't even flinch when her wedding band pinched his skin against his own, gods she loved this man.

"I know, doll, I kind of hate me too right now. I don't like seeing you in pain."

Darcy managed a dry chuckle. "I think I'll only be doing this once, babe, three seems like a good number, right?"

"Three's a fucking great number, Darcy."

Ten hours and a lot of screaming later, the Babies Three were born. Nathaniel Steven Barnes, Jane Jarvis 'JJ' Barnes, and Anthony Logan Barnes were (not so) surprisingly large for triplets, and came into the world screaming and wailing something fierce. They all quieted when Bucky brushed his metal fingers over their red faces, causing him to break down and cry.

"They're amazing, doll."

"They have an amazing Daddy, that's why. They're Ma's not too shabby either."

Darcy looked down where she was cradling JJ in her arms and whispered to her daughter, "You and I have to stick together, okay, baby girl? We're seriously outnumbered."

JJ just cooed and drooled a little, but Darcy took it as agreement anyways.

Eight months after Babies Three are born...

"Have I ever mentioned that sometimes hate the super-soldier serum? Babies are not supposed to crawl this fast!" Darcy held Anthony on one hip as she chased after a giggling JJ who was darting across the grass after BIT and Fen.

Jane chuckled from her lawn chair where Nathaniel was propped up against her own big belly, seemingly fascinated by the baby's movement under Jane's skin.

"Well, I know I'm interested to see how fast baby demi-gods move."

"I'm still morbidly curious as to how big your damn kid is, Janie. You're as big as I was and I had threebabies."

Jane groaned, "I know, don't remind me. I've got a month left and I'm fairly certain that my body will never be the same after this. Damn Thor and his godliness."

Darcy laughed as she snatched up JJ before her daughter shoved some loose dirt in her mouth. "You know this is kind of on you too, right? I mean since you ate the Golden Apple of Awesome you're technically a goddess."

"Shut up and let me be insanely pregnant and grumpy at my husband."

Rolling her eyes in surrender, Darcy brought herself and the two babies she was carrying on her hips back to the second lawn chair next to Jane. They played with the babies for a few minutes before the sound of a quinjet could be heard overhead. The Babies Three (no one could shake the nickname, least of all Darcy) immediately looked to the sky and began squealing out happy noises.

"Looks like Daddy's home from his mission," Darcy mused aloud.

A couple minutes later, Bucky came trotting out from the facility and immediately reached down to pick up Nathaniel from his perch on Jane when he arrived. "Hey, buddy!" Bucky smacked a loud kiss to the baby's cheek, making Nathaniel giggle when Bucky's stubble tickled his soft skin.

Anthony and JJ began grunting and making grabby hands at their Dad, wanting cuddles as well. Bucky leaned down to give Darcy a heated kiss before plopping himself on the grass between the two women, letting his kids climb all over him as best as their chubby limbs would allow.

Thor landed in front of them a moment later and quickly went to kiss Jane and her baby bump hello.

Darcy looked between the super soldier on the ground with their kids and the two members of Asgardian royalty and smiled.

This is where she was meant to be. This is where her mixed-matched messed up family was meant to be.

It was good, and it was right. And Darcy wouldn't change a single moment.

THE END