─ THE PLAN ─

── ☆ ──

Alessia climbed out of the car with a quiet sigh as she looked at the nice cabin resting by the lake. Her eyes landed on Tony Stark and his daughter, Morgan. After everything that had happened, Alessia was beyond happy that Tony finally had the family he'd always wanted and yet, here they were about to get in the way of the family with an opportunity of a lifetime.

"I just want to thank you, folks, for dropping by. It's not every day one gets to contemplate biting it on an inter-dimensional timescape," Tony says after the five had sat together. Alessia looked from Tony to Steve, Nat and Scott before sighing. "You've got some objections to the plan," Nat spoke up, they had explained the plan to Tony and he wasn't really eager.

"So you're calling it a plan. To me, it sounds like an exotic suicide method. Not to mention, it's impossible," Tony replied with his gaze on Alessia knowing she would be the one to take the final risk. "We know what it sounds like," Scott pointed out, still unsure on where he stands with Tony Stark after their civil war battle a few years ago. "Tony, after what you've seen, is anything really impossible?" Steve asked the genius former Avenger.

"Quantum fluctuation kinda messes with the Planck Scale, which then triggers the Deutsch Proposition, can we agree on that?" Tony explains to them before offering them some tea, Scott and Steve accept while Nat and Alessia decline the offer. "In layman's terms, it means you can cancel your Netflix subscription because you're not coming home," Tony finished off, directing that statement towards Alessia who rolled her eyes.

Scott sat up straight looking at Tony, "I did." Alessia nodded towards Scott trying to ignore the disapproving look that Tony was sending her. "Which was a billion-to-one cosmic fluke. Now you want to pull a-- What are you calling it?" Tony asked incredulously. "A time heist," Scott emphasized. "Oh, of course, a time heist, why didn't we think of this before?" Tony mocked their plan. "Right, because it's a pipe dream. Who are you again?" Tony asked Scott.

Alessia rolled her eyes and sent a small electric shock towards Tony, "He's Ant-Man, Tony and I get that you have something here but... We have a way to bring everyone back... To bring him back." Tony looked at Alessia, he knew who she meant and it pained him to see her hurt but he wasn't gonna agree to the plan when there were too many risks. "Tony, the Stones exist in the past. We could get them and bring them here," Steve spoke up.

"We can snap our own fingers. We can bring everybody back," Nat continued as she rested her hand on Alessia's shoulder. "Or screw it up worse than he already has," Tony pointed out. "I don't believe we would," Steve argued back softly. Tony stares at Steve, a lot of water under their bridge, they had yet to fully forgive one another for what had happened in Siberia. Alessia knew the risks and she would be willing to take the chance; she had nothing to lose.

"Gotta say it. Sometimes I've missed that giddy optimism. Sadly, all your high hopes won't help me if there's no logical, tangible way for me to safely execute said "time heist". I believe the most likely outcome would be our collective demise," Tony explained and it was clear that he wasn't gonna change his mind. Alessia stood up and shook her head before turning away for the man she considered her family - someone she saw as an older brother.

"Not if we strictly follow the rules of time travel. No talking to our past selves. No betting on sporting events-" Scott began to explain. "Stop, Scott. Stop. Are you telling me that your plan to save the universe is more than loosely based on Back To The Future?" Tony asked causing Scott to shrink in his seat. "No..." Scott squeaked out. "Good. Because that would be horseshit. Scientifically speaking, your brother's picture doesn't disappear just 'cause you went to the dance with your mom. That's not how quantum physics works," Tony spoke sternly.

"We have to take a stand," Alessia argued as she turned back to the group. "We did stand. And yet, here we are," Tony answered back. "Look, Stark-- Can I call you Tony?" Scott questioned. "Please don't-" Tony began but Scott cut him off. "Tony-" Scott began as Tony mumbled, "Fine." Alessia smiled softly as she stood with Steve. "I get that you've got a lot on the line here. You've got a wife. A daughter. But I lost someone very important - a lot of us did--" Scott explained before glancing at Alessia who looked down.

"- And now we have a chance to save her, and everyone else, and you won't even--" Scott continued. "-No, Scott. I won't. Even," Tony interrupted. Morgan made her way out onto the porch and up to Tony. "Mommy told me to come save you," Morgan spoke, smiling towards Alessia. Tony picked her up in his arms and holds her close to him. "Good job. I'm saved," Tony told her before looking up at Steve, "I wish you were coming here to ask me something else. I'm honestly happy to see you. If you want to stay--"

"Tony, I get it. And I'm happy for you. I am. But this is a second chance," Steve interrupted in hopes to try convincing him. "Yeah, well, I got my second chance right here. I can't roll the dice on it. The table is set for six. If you don't talk shop, you're welcome to stay for lunch," Tony offers before walking towards the door. "Thanks, Tony, we'll pass," Alessia spoke before kissing Morgan's head. She walked away from Tony with her head down as a tear left her eye.

── ☆ ──

When Alessia walked in the door of her apartment she smiled up at her brother, Aiden. He wrapped his arms around her as she cried, her heart clenched in pain. She looked over to Alina and Jonas who were talking with Marcus, they were the remaining members of Team Exo. Aaron, Harper, Lana and Jesse had faded in the snap and it was a nightmare for the small family.

Alessia looked down at the ground until the sound of soft footsteps caught her attention. She stepped out of her brother's arms and knelt down as the little girl jumped into her arms holding tightly to her. "Hey baby," Alessia spoke softly as Alina, Jonas and Marcus looked over with soft smiles as Aiden sent them a look that perfectly explained that Tony turned down their plan.

Alessia pulled back from the young girl, brushing her lock brunette locks from her face with a small smile. She admired the almost six-year-old girl standing in front of her but she couldn't help but frown slightly. "What's wrong, mommy?" The little girl asked causing Alessia to lean forward and kiss her daughter's head. "Nothing for you to worry about, Becca. Why don't you help Aunty Alina with dinner?" Alessia asked her daughter.

Rebecca nodded with a wide smile before kissing Alessia's cheek then following after Alina who hadn't been the same since Jesse faded into dust in front of her. Marcus and Jonas walked up to Alessia, she sent Jonas an apologetic look. When Harper faded in the snap, Jonas and Harper's newborn daughter faded with her and it was the most painful thing anyone could witness.

"He has a lot to lose. Remember that," Marcus said with a sigh as Jonas stormed away, slamming the door of his room. Alessia looked towards the kitchen, "Bucky has missed almost six years of Rebecca's life and there isn't anything I can do about it." Aiden rested his arm around his sister's shoulders as they stood in silence watching the young girl smile and laugh as she cooked with her aunty.

── ☆ ──

Author Note
Yes. I went there. I added a child. Do I regret it? No, I do not.

Mackenzie Foy is the faceclaim for Rebecca Barnes.

-Rose <3

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