"Tony!" Ashley screamed. Tony was fighting Thanos, the horrifying big purple grape alien. She herself was fighting at least three of the army at once.

When she looked back at Tony, it was obvious to see he was losing. So, Ashley ran forward as Thanos threw Tony back to the floor. She did what she had to: she ran and attacked Thanos, she could hear her blood rushing through her ears as she threw him back with wind. Thanos stood still and his attention went to Ashley. He finally threw Ashley harshly against the floor, before looking back at the sky.

He brought his fingers together, about to snap them. "I am...inevitable." Thanos snapped his fingers. Ashley noticed that Tony had the stones in his grasp.

"TONY NO!" Ashley screamed as she ran and grabbed the stones. Tony then looked around and gasped in shock, his hand now holding the quartz that helps her control her powers. "ASHLEY!"

The stones gave a shock to Ashley's body as they were absorbed into her skin, only the tips of them showing through. She cried out in pain and through gritted teeth, she looked at Thanos and smirked.

"And I... am... an Avenger."

And she snapped her fingers, but instead of instant death or massive injuries, she gasped as her body lit up on fire, a blue bird surrounding her as it created a giant blast, knocking Tony away, hitting a rock which knocked him unconscious. That was the last thing Ashley saw; Tony closing his eyes, as her hand absorbed parts of each of the Infinity Stones.

That was all in the Endgame, all of this a year ago.

Although she could remember it as if it were only yesterday.

She woke up with sweat trailing down her back, breathing heavily. That was all she ever had when she slept; the horrible memory after fighting Thanos.

She had been an Avenger since she was 12, thanks to her mother, Natalia Romanova, better known as Natasha Romanoff, who had found Ashley abandoned somewhere in a mountain. And so, she grew to train as an assassin, but when her powers came along, they immediately went to ask Tony Stark for something to help control her powers. That was when the quartz around her neck was created.

Ashley sighed as she got out of bed. She looked up at the ceiling. "F. R. I. D. A. Y, what's the time?"

"It is currently six fifty-four, Ms. Romanoff," the AI replied. Ashley sighed and shook her head. She looked to the door of her room. There was no way anyone else was awake, that any one else being Bucky. The only Avenger who would stay with her for a while, understanding her and being around her so she could get used to her new prosthetic hand. She sighed and got out of bed, hoping she would have a chance of having breakfast.

It was not easy for her. She had to get her hand crushed as she had to rip out the pieces left from the Infinity Stones, luckily S. T. A. R. K Industries was able to present a prosthetic hand, making her life slightly easy. Ashley lifted it from her nightstand, placing it on her stump as she went downstairs.

The second she got down to the kitchen, she heard a noise and smelled pancakes. Unsure of what to expect, she willed nearby objects to surround her, ready to charge forward. She then took a peek from around the corner and she then realised she stood face to face with Bucky, him with a frying pan, her with a lamp. He stood there with a KISS THE COOK apron, which caused her to let out a sound similar to that of a deflating balloon, covering her mouth so she didn't let out a laugh. Bucky rolled his eyes, "Come on, don't act so childish."

"Says you, grandpa," she joked, knowing how much he hated the nickname. He set down two plates of pancakes on the table, making her let out a chuckle. "You didn't have to. I should be doing this, not you, Bucky. You're the guest."

"But you're the one with nightmares, screaming and numbness. I came here to help you in any way I can, so I'll keep you safe and help you get used to your prosthetic hand. I care about you, Ashley, and besides you're the last Avenger from the first era," Bucky said, ever so gently. Ashley let out a sigh, knowing how right he is. The nightmares...the memories, they haunt her. It was a good thing that Tony is alive. He ended up faking his death, so he could live with Morgan and Pepper in peace, which was ridiculous, because both Tony and Clint have made her the godmother for each of their own kids. Ashley looked at Bucky, her eyes with a void of any emotion. "I plan to visit mom's grave today. I might visit Clint later though, I'm not sure."

"Alright, I'll come along if you want?" Bucky suggested. Ashley hesitantly smiled, shaking her head, "You can visit Sam today, I think it might be a good idea, since he's obviously been missing you."

Bucky studied her face, as a way to find out if she would break, but she didn't, which caused him to let out a sigh. "Alright," he finally agreed, "just, call me when something happens. Be careful."

Ashley nodded her head, knowing how true he could be. She smiled as she finished her pancakes. "Alright, see you later, Bucky." She then dashed upstairs and put on a simple and comfortable cotton shirt and sweatpants. She grabbed her most important things and then left the Avengers facility. She began walking towards the graveyard, thinking back to when she last saw her mother.

"Your powers are growing," Natasha said as she braided Ashley's hair. Both daughter and mother agreed that while Natasha and Clint were going for the soul stone, Ashley would go with Tony, Steve, Bruce and Scott, who were going for the Time, Mind and Space. Ashley would go with Bruce for the Time Stone, while the other three for the tessaract.

Ashley heard her mother humming a small lullaby that she sang to her when she was younger. Ashley closed her eyes as Natasha braided her hair tightly. Ashley gave out a slight hiss as a strand of her hair snapped, and Natasha apologized non-stop. At the end, both daughter and mother hugged each other.
"I love you mom."
"I love you too, Ashley."

That memory alone was enough to trigger a flood of tears now, Ashley's throat had gone dry by now, tears like a waterfall streamed down her eyes.

She now stood in front of Natasha Romanoff's grave. Her own mother's grave. She stood there, sniffling, crying, sobbing, she fell on her knees and held onto the cold stone that had her mother's name engraved on it. To this day, she begged herself to go back in time, to be the one instead of Natasha to sacrifice their life for the soul stone.

She wanted her mom back.

She needed her mom back.

She knew Natasha was the real hero.

People thought Tony died and he was the hero, when it was Ashley who snapped the stones, and Natasha who gave her life for the Soul Stone, even though it wasn't entirely guaranteed they would win. Ashley pleaded for her mother to come back to her, as the child still needed a mother figure in her life.

But some children did not have the pleasure of a caring mother, yet they, with time, made peace with it, knowing that they can't change what has happened.

And it would have to be the same for Ashley.