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THE STRANGE'S WERE STUBBORN — everyone knew that.

Talia, though, had always been stubborn enough to prove to the world that she was resilient enough to survive anything. For so long, Talia had always looked out for herself and then she had met Stephen, which had followed with Sienna.

Now, Talia felt alone, trying to figure out herself while fixing her family.

And Talia did not need to fix a broken marriage — that was the last thing on her mind.

While continuing her training and keeping her powers a secret, Talia had also worked hard to build a normal life for her daughter again. Though, no matter how hard she tried, there was no normal for the Strange's.

But it was the days when Sienna was out with Stephen did Talia pause, mourning the life she had once had: before the crash or even before Stephen fell too deep with his work. On the fridge in the kitchen of their house, Talia spotted the drawn picture by Sienna. While the three in the picture were stick figures, Talia knew it was their family.

All Sienna wanted was for them to be a family again.

All Stephen wanted was for his wife to love him again.

All Talia wanted was to be safe from being hurt again.

Yet, from their front door, the portal appeared with Sienna and Stephen returning. Talia braced herself, forcing a smile on her face, not wanting them to see the cracks.

"Mommy!" Sienna called out. "I have something for you!"

"What is it?" Talia asked, moving to the front of their house to find them.

As Talia appeared in the hallway, she spotted Sienna holding a bouquet of flowers. They were too big for her in her small hands, but Stephen knelt on the floor, whispering in Sienna's ear. Talia paused with a frown, not trusting what was happening.

Giggling Sienna stepped forward, where Talia fell onto her knees, accepting the warm hug from her daughter. For some reason, her daughter was shy.

"What is it?" Talia whispered.

Sienna leant close to Talia's ear. "They're for you."

Then, Sienna was holding out the flowers close to Talia, where the red roses were bright and vibrant — Talia's favourite.

"From daddy," Sienna said quietly as if it was a secret.

Talia pressed her lips together tightly, briefly looking over to Stephen, who was a little tense with nerves. He offered Talia a smile, hoping it was enough to soften her — though, they both knew it wouldn't be.

"Thank you," said Talia, accepting the flowers before her fingers found Sienna's side, tickling her daughter until she giggled. "You too, Sienna."

"I saw them and thought of you," said Stephen.

Talia stood, keeping hold of the flowers, and Sienna's hand. "Are you staying for dinner?"

"Stay, daddy, stay!"

"If that's okay with you," Stephen said, keeping his eyes on Talia.

"Yeah," said Talia. "Because now you can be the one to cook."

Stephen's lips curled with amusement, not surprised to be looped into that one. Talia had vanished to play with Sienna, leaving the flowers in a vase, where she could not quite accept them again.

Though, following that, Talia had been met with flowers every day as if Stephen was trying to chip at her frozen heart. A smile had appeared as Talia had joined their training to find flowers, knowing it was the least romantic time to try, so the gesture had caught her off guard.

"Talia," Stephen caught her hand after training.

Turning back to him, Talia was silent as she waited.

"I can be patient for however long it takes," said Stephen. "But you know I won't stop."

"You've always been determined to get what you want," Talia told him.

"Determined to love you," Stephen reminded her as Talia thought back to their long journey, where it had taken Talia a long time to let Stephen completely in. "I lost my way through my own selfish desires, but I've come home now."

Talia stared down at their joined hands; Stephen still wore his wedding band, but Talia's hand was still empty. At the sight, Talia's heart ached, wishing she could give in.

"Do you remember when we first met," said Stephen. "Actually, the second time since you ignored my messages to arrange a date."

Talia smiled at the. "If you wanted to date me, then you had to work for it."

"I liked the challenge," Stephen confessed. "But I told you: one date. That's all I wanted as I had every ounce of faith that you would want a second. And now, let's do it all again."

"Stephen, I don't know..."

Already, it was crossing the line with Stephen crashing at the house more often. Talia was stubborn, but she was also easily tempted, and still so in love.

"One date," Stephen offered. "Let me show you how much I still love you."

Talia's heart was torn with love and fear. To let Stephen in again would only be another promise that he would leave — there was no trust nor could Talia take that risk again. But, as she stared up at him, feeling the intensity of his stare, Talia knew her frozen heart was melting.

Sighing, Talia knew she was giving in. "You're infuriating."

"One date," Stephen repeated. "If you still want a divorce after that, then I will sign the papers."

Like all those years ago, Talia rose on her tiptoes as one hand cupped Stephen's cheek with her lips pressing against the other side of his face. "One date," Talia whispered to him in agreement. "So, you best make it count, Stephen."

Under her hand, Talia felt the hint of a smile, reminded of when their love story first started. But, before Stephen could say anything else, Talia had glitched home.

Talia had stuck to her word of a first date. While she had given in, Talia was not ready to fully let Stephen Strange back in — even if she had forgiven him. Yet, Talia was determined to not make it easy for him.

So, on the night of their date, Talia had worn a vibrant red as she had known Stephen would fumble with his words over it. There was a tension to his jaw, eyes watching Talia as she smirked with victory.

"Is there a problem?" Talia asked.

"Why would there be a problem?" Stephen questioned, allowing Talia to loop his arm with his. "I'm having dinner with my beautiful wife."

Talia remained silent, keeping her smile hidden.

Stephen had taken her to the restaurant they had first met — the restaurant Talia worked in. Now, as Talia ate her dinner, she couldn't help but watch the young pianist as she saw herself back on stage, living a life Talia longed for again.

"Do you miss it?" Stephen asked.

"I have my piano," Talia reminded him. "But it's not the same as performing to a crowd."

"You know, I heard you before I first saw you."

Talia's head turned to him. "You thought you could play better than me."

"I still could," Stephen insisted. "All those years ago, I was a student without a thought for women, not when becoming a doctor was my priority. And then you were there like a spell distracting me."

"And here we are now," Talia reminded him. "Separated with a child and casting spells ourselves."

"It's never been easy with us," Stephen told her.

"Easy is boring," Talia murmured. "After all, you married someone not from this world."

"To me, I married one of a kind," said Stephen, smirking. "Literally."

Talia raised an eyebrow at him. "And you were foolish enough to almost lose me."

"Multiple times," Stephen agreed, sadly. "My biggest fear is failing, but failing you is a nightmare I never want to experience again, Talia."

"I know, Stephen," said Talia, reaching across the table to take his hand. "It might not seem like it, but I have forgiven you," then she sighed, knowing they can't keep dancing around the possability of them being together again. "Stephen, I do still love you — I will always love you, and you know that. But... the life we have now, it just seems that we're fated to be apart more than together."

"Darling, I know you were supposed to vanish that day, but you didn't," Stephen reminded her. "Instead, you came home."

"If it happens again, then what if I don't come home?" Talia questioned. "What if we lose each other another way?"

"If that's our fate, then we'll face it together," Stephen promised her. "But, we've always found our way back home to each other."

There was a hint of a smile at that, where Talia wanted to believe in the words. While they were true, they also came with the promise of being separated.

"If you could go back to that first night, knowing everything that we do now, would you still come crash my set?"

"I know what life without you is like and I couldn't ever walk away again, Talia," Stephen told her. "I would always choose this life with you."

Talia smiled at that, believing Stephen. Maybe it was devastating to know that it had taken losing everything for Stephen to realise that there was more to life than just surgery, but Talia knew Stephen was driven with love now.

When it came to the end of the night, the manager had let Talia steal a moment on the piano as she played, caught up in the past with a smile on her face. The notes came to life, fueling Talia's heart.

So, when Stephen sunk down on the stool next to her, Talia knew.

Even after everything, she would still choose him.

"It's been too long since I've heard you play," Stephen told her.

"Is that you about to finally confess that I'm better than you?" Talia challenged.

Stephen laughed at that. "Never."

"One day," said Talia. "You will confess."

"If I confess now, would you let me kiss you?" Stephen asked.

Talia's fingers paused, head turning to face the man she loved. A silence hung between them, the dimmed lights somehow blinding.

But it was a question that didn't need a spoken answer.

Talia's hand cupped Stephen's neck, pulling him down to her face as she kissed him. It was desperate, but tender too as if they were making up for lost time but savouring every second.

And Talia could feel her heart starting to mend.

Maybe they were destined to be separated.

But they were also forever entwined with a sealed vow of love.

☆

Talia had spotted Davina close to the window of the ship, looking out on the stars with an awestruck expression. The sea of stars was enough to distract the teenage girl from her fear. Around them, Peter was exploring the ship while Stephen and Tony stood close, not quite trusting each other.

"Hey," said Talia, approaching the girl.

Davina turned, offering a smile. "Hi."

"Have you ever met Supernova?" Talia asked, eyes falling on the stars.

"Once," confessed Davina. "At the Avengers Tower years ago when my powers were first discovered. I don't think Tony would let me near her now."

"I thought so," said Talia, knowing Davina could be seen as dangerous, especially to those with powerful abilities. "Tony seems anxious that you're around me now."

"You make me feel anxious," Davina told her.

"I'm sorry," Talia apologised, not liking that.

"Can I touch you?" Davina asked. "I don't understand this feeling that is coming from you. Maybe my power will work if I touch you."

"Yeah, sure," Talia said.

Davina's hand reached out, taking Talia's hand as the teenager's eyebrows furrowed. But, as the two touched, Davina's body become static like electricity, briefly vanishing before appearing again. Gasping, Davina let go of Talia's hand.

"Vina!" Tony shouted.

Tony was quick to join the two and was followed by Stephen, who was keeping an eye on the situation. Above them, Peter appeared, where his concerned eyes were on Davina.

"What was that?" Peter questioned, panicking as he place a hand on Davina's back. "Davina, are you okay?"

"I'm sorry," Talia apologised again, feeling guilty. "I don't know what I did."

"I still can't mimic your power," Davina realised, confused. "But...you make my power feel like it's not working."

"Like a glitch," Stephen offered, eyes focused on his wife.

"Woah," Peter responded.

"So, what is your power?" Tony questioned.

Talia looked at Stephen. "It's complicated."

"I happen to be good with complicated," said Tony, hooking his thumb behind his shoulder to the two teenagers. "These two keep me busy."

"I'm not from this world," Talia told them.

"Where are you from?" Davina asked, intrigued like the other two.

"I don't know," Talia answered, no longer looking at Stephen as it was still on her mind that she was clueless as to who she truly was. "My power is linked to the Multiverse."

"Talia," Stephen warned, knowing Talia was supposed to be a hushed-up secret.

"It's okay," said Talia, unknowing if it was the wisest of choices, but they were currently in the middle of space with the goal to save the universe. "We're about to face Thanos, so we have no choice but to trust them, and I'm affecting Davina."

"The Multiverse?" Tony questioned, eyebrows raising.

"It's too complicated to understand," Stephen insisted.

"I think I understand the concept of it," Tony replied, sounding agitated before he turned to the two teenagers. "Kids, think of multiple universes like this one."

"It's a concept we know so frighteningly little about," Stephen added. "Even with Talia, we're still clueless."

Tony was lost in thought with perhaps a thousand questions, but his eyes fell on Davina, full of concern. "So, when you say glitch..."

"I guess I'm blocking your power," Talia explained. "I didn't know I could do that."

"What else can you do?" Peter asked, curiously.

"Well, if I die, I come back to life," said Talia, shocking the three. "I can travel the Multiverse too, but it's risky. A lot of my power just comes from manipulating the Multiverse."

"That's insane," Davina said.

"But cool," Peter added.

"In a way, Talia's protecting Davina," Stephen reassured Tony.

"Sounds like a power you shouldn't be mimicking anyway, Vina," said Tony, giving the teenage girl a stern look. "Thank God someone can finally block you."

"But without my powers, I can't help," Davina complained.

"We have some time," Talia told the teenager. "We can figure out how far apart we need to be for your power to work."

☆

They realised that Davina's power became stronger after a few metres apart, so Talia made sure to give the teenage girl some space, not wanting to freak her out too much. While it had taken Talia a while to get used to her power, she couldn't imagine her life without it now.

After a while, the stars had faded outside of the ship, revealing a surface that was gloomy and peculiar compared to their home planet. Talia stood with her arms crossed, standing close to Stephen and Tony.

"Hey, what's going on?" Peter asked.

"I think we're here," Stephen answered.

"I don't think this rig has a self-park function," said Tony, moving towards the metallic steering controllers of the ship as he held onto one. "Vina, get your hand inside the steering gimbal," then Davina was doing as she was told with Talia moving further back from the teenage girl. "Close those around it."

"I got it," said Davina. "I know how to park the ship."

"Just tell me what to do then," Tony insisted.

"We gotta do it together," Davina told him.

"I thought so," said Tony. "It seemed built for a big guy."

Talia's eyes were on the window, seeing the ground coming close to them.

"We gotta turn," Davina instructed. "Turn! Turn! Turn!"

While Davina knew how to drive, Tony wasn't quite as quick with the second steering gear as the side of the ship collided with a building on the planet. The back of the ship came off as both Talia and Stephen rose their hands, a combined shield of purple and amber merging to shield them from the crash.

At the collision, the three around them had fallen to the ground with Stephen and Talia keeping the ship together. Looking at him, Talia was relieved to see that he was unharmed.

Safe once again, the magic faded with Stephen turning to offer Tony a helping hand, asking if he was alright. Close by, Davina and Peter were together again, supporting each other.

Tony grunted as he stood. "That was close. I owe you one."

"We crashed because of you," Davina insisted, where Peter had vanished to check outside the ship since they had landed.

"Me?" Tony questioned. "You were the one that adapted yourself—"

"Yes, but I couldn't do it without you."

From above them, Peter appeared as he hung upside down from his web. "Let me just say, if aliens wind up implanting eggs in my chest or something...and I eat one of you, I'm sorry."

"I do not want another single pop culture reference out of you for the rest of the trip," Tony pointed a finger at the teenager. "You understand? Vina, sort your boyfriend out."

"I think it's cute," Davina insisted.

Tony shook his head, a face of disgust and stern protection. For a second, all Talia could see was Stephen reacting to whoever their daughter ended up dating.

"I'm trying to say something is coming," Peter told them.

A ball rolled between the group as it exploded, sending them flying in different locations. Groaning, Talia heard her name being called out by her husband, but the commotion had truly started. Knives had been thrown, followed by a couple of battle cries.

One alien had been taken down by Stephen's cloak, where the two fought. A second had taken to the air with Iron Man and Mimic in a series of blasts, where Mimic had knocked him down to the ground. Tony ended up stuck to metal by an electric bond; Spider-Man ended up freaking out at the bug-like alien.

A blast had been shot at Talia as she put up a violet shield, pushing the energy out that the flying man missed. It was Spider-Man, who was the next target as he got captured by an electric-like net, falling to the ground.

As Spider-Man was caught, Talia knew she needed someone to bargain. Talia's hand found the bug-like alien, holding onto her tightly with a purple blade appearing at her throat. Iron Man had done the same with an iron boot on another alien's chest, keeping him trapped.

In the middle, Stephen and Mimic stood together. Stephen held up an amber circle ready to defend them, where Mimic had also copied the power. Yet, for Mimic, the power glitched with Talia close by.

"Everybody stay where you are," the masked man told them as Spider-Man struggled in his arms. "Chill the eff out." Then, he removed his mask, and Talia was a little surprised to see how ordinary he looked underneath unlike the other two who accompanied him. "I'm gonna ask you this one time. Where is Gamora?"

"Yeah, I'll do you one better," said Tony, removing his mask too with the palm of his hand facing the man, ready to attack. "Who's Gammora?

"I'll do you one better," the alien beneath them spoke. "Why is Gamora?"

Talia's eyebrows met, staring at the alien, unsure what to think.

"Tell me where the girl is or I swear to you I'm gonna French fry this little freak," said the man, holding a gun to Spider-Man's head.

"Let's do it," Tony shouted. "You shoot my guy and I'll blast him. Let's go!"

Mimic was tense, but the mask prevented Talia from seeing Davina's facial expressions.

From Iron Man's suit, a larger gun appeared with the energy at the end pulsing, ready to strike. The alien in Talia's hold gasped.

"Do it, Quill," the alien spoke. "I can take it."

"No, he can't take it!" The alien shouted as Talia's eyes fell on her, feeling a pang of guilt to be holding a weapon so close to her throat.

"She's right," said Stephen. "You can't."

"Oh, yeah?" Quill challenged. "You don't wanna tell me where she is? That's fine. I'll kill all five of you and I'll beat it out of Thanos myself. Starting with you."

"Wait, what, Thanos?" Stephen questioned, confused. "All right, let me ask you this one time. What master do you serve?"

"What master do I serve?" Quill questioned. "What am I supposed to say, Jesus?"

"You're from Earth," Tony said what they were all thinking.

"I'm not from Earth," said Quill. "I'm from Missouri."

"Yeah, that's on Earth, dipshit," Tony told him. "What are you hassling us for?"

"So, you're not with Thanos?" Spider-Man realised.

"With Thanos?" Quill questioned, horrified. "No, I'm here to kill Thanos. He took my girl. Wait, who are you?"

Spider-Man removed his mask. "We're the Avengers, man."

"Oh," Quill replied.

"You're the ones Thor and Orla told us about," the alien that Talia had captured said, causing Talia to loosen her hold, letting the magic of her blade shatter to dust.

"You know Thor and Orla?" Tony questioned.

"Yeah," Quill nodded with Peter now free, who hurried to Davina's side. "Tall guy, not that good-looking, needed saving. And Orla... well, she practically came back from the dead in more ways than one. Freaked us all out."

"What does that mean?" Talia questioned.

"Yeah, what does that mean?" Tony demanded.

"Orla's Thanos' daughter," said Quill.

The words were met with silence. Talia absorbed the words, knowing that Orla only had one memory of the destruction of her planet when she crashed to Earth, leaving her clueless about who she was. After everything, for her to be Thanos' daughter...

"No, she's not," Tony stated, full of denial. "Orla can't be."

"Thanos killed his own daughter?" Talia questioned, recalling what Bruce had told them, but he had left out the details of Orla's true identity.

"Orla betrayed him," Quill explained.

"But she's still alive?" Tony pressed. "How?"

"The stars," the strange alien that Tony had originally pinned down spoke.

"Where are they now?" Stephen asked.

From the look on Quill's face, it seemed they were not the only ones with a mission. Even if the news about Orla was true, she and Thor were out there, forging a weapon that would kill Thanos.

Yet, they were here on Titan, so Thanos' death must happen now.

☆

Well, sorry for the spoilers to anyone who is reading Orla's story! From now on, the rest of the chapters are going to be a little crazy with action and then the drama of the snap too. Any predictions?