Warnings: character death, mentions of death of child

"You will not defeat me. You are mere mortals!" Thanos yelled at the group of heroes standing before him. "You have tried before but it was in vain. You are no match for the stones that I possess. With another snap of my fingers you will disintegrate like your friends, and your world will be left defenseless. Is that what you want?"

No one spoke a word, knowing that he was right. They were foolish to try and defeat the man who had ended the lives of trillions with a simple action. The group was lost. They didn't know whether to retreat or if they should stay and at least try.

"That's what—"

Thanos was interrupted when a figure emerged from the west tree lines with a spear(1) in her left hand. The female radiated power and energy, just as the gauntlet with the infinity stones. She stepped towards the purple villain with confidence, the exact opposite of what she felt. She felt hurt, betrayed, and angered. The three feelings that seem to last longer than any other in her life.

"Thanos."

"Y/N, what are you doing here? You were meant to be in..."

"In Nusquam, on the other side of the universe. Yeah, I know."

"Then why are you here Y/N?" Thanos asked the girl whom he had come to have a soft spot for. He never meant to love the girl as he loved Gamora, but when he found her, listened to her, he knew that they were alike. Having lost everything, despite trying their damndest to hold on. To being betrayed by those they loved. The decade that Y/N was absent, she spent with Thanos. She knew of his plans and confronted him about it. He had promised that he wouldn't. So, he kept her in the dark about it all. After he sent her to Nusquam, he set out to find the stones. He had sacrificed one daughter, he wasn't going to sacrifice this one as well.

"I came for them Thanos. I came to the knowledge of what you succeeded in doing to the planets. Thanos, you promised you wouldn't." Y/N pleaded with the man. She didn't want to fight him. She didn't want to lose another person in her life, but trillions of lives depended on this.

The group of heroes looked at the duo with confused looks. Y/N knew Thanos? She meant something to him? They were confused as to how and why, most of all Loki, Y/N's ex-husband. He didn't know that she had found comfort in the arms of their mortal enemy. Hell, he didn't even know if she was alive. He looked at her with a pained look. The way he hurt her, left her, and ruined her. He regretted it all. He knew he made a choice four years ago and he deeply regretted it. Seeing her now intensified those hurt feelings. He tried to call her name but with one look he shut his mouth. He had no right.

The voice of Thanos broke them out of their thoughts. "You said that they meant nothing to you Y/N. Was that a lie?" He asked with hurt lacing his voice. He didn't want to believe that his 'daughter' would fight him, but he knew she would. He broke his promise and her trust.

"Trust me, if it was just this group of people you were slaughtering I'd still be in Nusquam enjoying the planet. But, it isn't." The heroes flinched at her words. They, save a few of them who's never met her, had betrayed her by either leaving her to die, trying and failing to assassinate her, and leave her after broken promises.

"I really don't want to fight you Thanos, but I will. For all the living creatures in this damned universe, I will." The grip on her spear tightened slightly.

"Then so be it." Thanos said before snapping his fingers once more to rid of the female standing before him. Everyone tensed at the sight, but relaxed and became more confused when nothing happened to her.

"How... How is this possible?" he said in anger, astonishment, and slight fear.

Y/N's heart broke when Thanos made his choice. With s heavy sigh she spoke. "The Ego Gem."

"I demand you hand it over now before I kill off everyone you love." Thanos threatened. It was then that Y/N knew to let go. Their previous relationship meant nothing to him, and now it forced her to feel nothing as well. After everything, turning off her emotions was like a switch.

"Which is no one. Thanos, I will give you one last chance to right your wrongs." Y/N with a calm and steady voice. Even the heroes on the sidelines feared how calm she was. Not a drop of sweat, a tremor in her voice, a shake in her hand. Nothing. Even the way she held Thanos' gaze was unnerving.

Thanos raised his left hand and up came tree roots that were sharpened and flew towards the heroes and Y/N herself. With a swipe of her hand, the flying weapons turned into bubbles. She let out a giggle at the sight.

Thanos then opened a portal behind Y/N and tried to attack her from the back, but she opened another and was behind Thanos with a blink of an eye. She kicked behind his knee and he stumbled forward. He was shocked and confused and angry. No one bested him. No one.

He quickly spun around, and landed and right hook and the girl stumbled back. He took the moment of unclarity and grabbed her spear from her hands and plunged it into her heart.

The screams of the heroes could be heard as they ran to attack the man. They were frozen midway when they saw the female several meters behind Thanos, who was confused as the girl faded away with a familiar red outline. He turned to see the same girl behind him.

"How is that possible?!" he yelled, clearly frustrated.

She smirked. "Like I said, Ego Gem."

"You're lying. That Gem was destroyed. Even if you have it, that stone does not possess a single power of any one of these stones."

"You're right. It doesn't possess one, it possesses all and more." She stated smirking. She was loving the looks Thanos and the heroes had on their faces. It truly was comical.

"You hand over that stone now." Thanos demanded. She had to laugh at that. It was like in those movies where the cops chase the perpetrator and yelling 'stop' as if they would.

"Alright. I'll give you three guesses to try and figure out where it is. You get it right within your limit, I'll hand it to you."

The group, who had been sidelined, started protesting. This wasn't right. If Thanos did guess it right, they truly wouldn't be a match. They wanted to walk over to her and shake some sense in her if it weren't for their feet being held to the planet with the roots of the trees. Too bad it didn't cover their mouths, because they kept shouting about how bad of an idea it was.

Y/N didn't like it. To her, them telling her it was a stupid idea was like them telling her she was stupid. Well, I'm not. She thought to herself. With one look, they were silenced, and not due to the power she possessed. They knew better.

"I will not play your games you foolish girl." By now Thanos was walking towards her. If he couldn't take her out with the stones, then it'll be old fashioned way.

She looked at the man advancing on her. With one squeeze of her hands, her spear grew another foot on both sides. The blades at the end now had tiny blades sprouting from the end, curving towards the wielder. With the blades like that it would be like sticking a hot knife in butter, but pulling out, well that was a different story. Pulling out the knife would result pulling out chunks of the poor beast.

Y/N stood in her fighting stance and waited for Thanos. This was her even match. Someone as powerful as her, and as battle smart as she was.

--- (because I can't write fighting scenes to save a life) ---

They have fought for a while. Both had cuts and bruises caused by the other but they duo kept going. Those who were sidelined watched. They so badly wanted to help the girl, but they couldn't get free of the roots that held them captive.

Y/N was swept off her feet and landed on her back, knocking the air out of her lungs. She opened her eyes as she saw Thanos bringing sword down fast on her. She moved in time and Thanos' sword was stuck in the root. His concentration broke for a split second, but that was all Y/N needed. She grabbed her spear laying near them and spun it once to get momentum before plunging it into his heart, much like he did with 'her' at the beginning of their meeting.

He was brought down to his knees. She knew it wouldn't kill him, not while he still had the gauntlet. With another swipe of her hand the gauntlet was removed from his hand. She kicked it a few good feet from them before looking at Thanos. The adrenaline was gone, and the emotions were back.

"Why?" she asked the man who she once saw as a father figure.

"You wouldn't understand little dove." He replied weakly. Now that his life was fading, he knew he didn't regret what he did. He only regrets that he had to hurt Y/N in the process. "I may not have kept my promise about this but know... know that my words were true and pure."

The life in his eyes were gone. Thanos is dead. The heroes who were now free from their bondage were celebrating. They were hugging and congratulating each other as if they were the ones who defeated him. All but one. Loki stood there and watched as knelt down next to Thanos silently crying. No sound was made. No emotion was shown on her face. The only evidence was the tears that silently fell down her cheeks.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and instantly knew who it was. Loki. The slight shrug of her shoulder was enough of a sign for him that she didn't welcome his touch. His heart broke a little more as he walked away from the broken girl.

"You deserve to be loved like you love, to be happy, and most of all you deserve to be held in the highest glory. You have been beaten and torn down, dragged through hell, and lost a child, but yet you still manage to smile. You truly are the strongest person I know in this universe little dove. Remember; Respect yourself and do not lower yourself for anyone, not even me. Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything and anyone who doesn't respect, love, and cherish you like you should be."

The memory of his words healed her broken heart a little. They always leave, and Thanos was no exception.

Y/N stood in front of the group. She held a passive face. She was neither angry or hurt by them. She had learned to let them go. In a way, she forgave them. All of them, even Loki.

The stones were destroyed all but two. Eyes followed her as she moved to Tony and Strange.

"I believe that this will give your friend life once again." She handed the mind stone to Tony. "And I believe that this belongs to you." Y/N said as she handed the time stone to Strange. The two men were extremely grateful. Even after all they did, she thought of them.

They opened their mouths to speak but was silenced by Y/N herself.

"No need to apologize. What's done is done and there's no fixing that. We could go back in time and fix it, but I would still know. I've moved on. From the betrayal, the attempt assassinations, and," she turned to face Loki. "I forgave you too. It was hard, but I know that Freya wouldn't have wanted us to hate each other. I forgave you and I hope that you truly do move on and be with Eve. You both deserve happiness. And about our daughter, Freya. Loki, do not blame yourself. She may not physically be with us, but I know our little girl is watching over us. She will never be forgotten. I know we both love her too much to do so." Y/N said as she unconsciously rubs the tattoo of her late daughters name on her wrist. "You truly deserve to be happy."

"But so, do you." Replied Loki.

"And I did. I found a man that loves me. Truly loves me." Y/N replied with a small smile at the memory of her boyfriend.

They stood silently not knowing what to say until a voice spoke out.

"You know, when you decided to defeat the almighty Thanos alone I was hurt because I thought we were in this together. Guess not."

They all had turned to the source of the voice confused. Y/N had a small smile on her face. She knew he would find his way to her. It seems that he always did.

She playfully rolled her eyes as she walked up to him and hugging him. "Forgive me, love. I didn't know that you were up for an adventure."

Erik Killmonger playfully glared at his girlfriend. Yes, he was upset but he knew she could hold her own. He was filled with pride and love for the girls in his arms. He looked at the group.

"Well, it seems that we are due for departure seeing as there is no reason for us to stay." Erik stated as he walked towards his space ship he landed quite a bit of ways away.

Y/N gave the group a slight nod before turning around.

"Wait. The stone. The Ego Gem. Where is it?" Tony asked out of curiosity.

Y/N turned and gave him a slight smile. "There is no stone Stark, for I am the Ego Gem."

The couple left the stunned group behind and before they were out of sight, Y/N snapped her fingers. None thought much of it until they returned home.

Bucky, Falcon, T'challa and everyone else who 'died' was back on earth. There wasn't a reunion that wasn't filled with tears.

Steve held onto Bucky like he was the last cup of water. He was afraid that if he let go, Bucky would disappear again. Suri cried, and she clung onto her older brother. Falcon soon joined the hug with the rest of the Avengers. Everyone was happy to see their loved ones. Tony was happy, but he didn't see the kid he'd been wanting to see. And Rocket didn't see anyone from his family.

"Mr. Stark." A voice said from behind Tony and turned to see Peter. He let out a strangled sob and ran to the boy. He hugged the son he had "inadvertently" adopted. Behind them was Rockets crew. Their reunion was just filled with just as much love and jokes.

Everyone was delighted and over the moon to see those they lost. Y/N watched from a distance as people reunited. Not only the heroes but the common folks as well. The light smile played on her lips as she leaned into Erik's embrace.

"They deserve to be happy too." She said as Erik placed a kiss on her temple.

"But you most of all." Erik said as he slipped a gold band with a single square cut diamond(2) on her ring finger. It was simple yet extravagant, just like her. As her answer she turned around and kissed her, professing her love through her actions. 

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