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2015, somewhere in New York - After you died

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Silence.

Complete and utter silence

You were walking through a long and dark hallway. Your fingers caressed the wall, while you slowly moved forward. You had no idea where you were, or where you were going. You had no memory of how you had gotten here and no desire to get out. You had never felt so serene before and if you could, you would spend eternity here, just walking towards an invisible and unreachable door.

But you knew nothing lasted forever and soon your thoughts were flooded by memories you thought you no longer had. A blinding pain spread through your body and an agonizing scream welled from your throat.

I'm not leaving this rock with even one civilian on it. Steve's voice echoed in your head. I care about you and I don't want to see you get hurt. Promise me you won't get yourself killed...'

You tried to shake the memories off, but every time you tried to forget, the images only became more intense. And so did the pain.

When you thought you couldn't take it anymore - tears running down your cheeks - everything suddenly stopped. Your mind was completely empty and all you could hear was the faint throbbing of your own heart in your ears, echoing through your mind.

It wasn't until then that you realized you had had your eyes closed the entire time. You slowly opened them, seeing the outlines of a completely white room. Four bright walls surrounded you and two barely visible doors would lead you to your freedom (you assumed). One said life, the other death.

'Hello, [Name],' a familiar voice spoke softly behind you.

You turned around, seeing Steve standing in the shadows of the room. A sad smile curled his lips as he stared at you. A weird hollowness lay in his eyes and you wondered what he was doing here. Hadn't you just died, so that he could live?

'What are you doing here?' you asked, walking up to him. 'I thought...'

'Do you even know the answer to that question?' he replied, folding his arms behind his back and walking towards the two doors. 'I am here because you are. You have a choice to make.'

'I don't understand,' you swallowed hard. 'What choice?'

'You don't have much time left, [Name],' Steve continued. 'Make it while you still can. Otherwise fate will decide for you.'

'Steve you're making no sense. Where are we?'

Steve turned to you, looking at the walls around him as a weird noise echoed through the room. 'It doesn't matter where we are. All you need to know is that those two doors will lead you to your future. It's either life, or death.'

You looked at the doors as Steve pointed at them and you took in a deep breath. 'I already made that choice. I can't go back.'

'Says who? You're stronger than you think.'

'Yes, I am,' you said angrily, 'and that's the reason I chose to die. I have no idea what I'm capable of. I might not be a bad person now, but what if I become one later? Bruce never meant to hurt anyone and see where that got him... Veronica won't be able to stop me .'

'So you're running? Running from everything and everyone you love? That loves you...'

'No one loves me,' you mumbled, turning your gaze from him, knowing what he had wanted to say when you cut him off.

A small smile curled Steve's lips and he make you look up at him again. 'You know that that's not true.'

'I need to be...'

He nodded, sighing and looking at the walls again. 'You know wishing doesn't make it less so... Either way, you're going to have to choose. Soon. How good are you at holding your breath?'

Water suddenly started pouring in from the ceiling, soaking your clothes and rapidly filling the room.

'What is this!' you cried out, holding your hands above your head while the heavy water rained down on you.

'Tick, tock, [Name],' Steve said stoically, nodding at the two doors. 'Tick, tock...'

His eyes were still two hollow orbs and when he disappeared while you turned to look at the door again, you realized he hadn't actually been here. He wasn't real. None of this was. But he was right. You had a choice to make.

You sighed, walking towards the doors. Were you really ready to die? Could you really let Steve go through the pain of losing you?

You started at the two doors for what seemed like eternity to you. Soon you were up to your neck in water and even more was pouring in. You had to make a decision. Otherwise fate would make it for you (like Steve had said) and anything could happen. You just didn't know of you were brave enough to make the right one.

Just before the room was completely filled with water you made your choice. You wanted to protect your friends and the people you loved. It was what you had always wanted, from since you were a little girl, when your parents had died in a robbery. You had promised yourself you would never let any one you loved yet hurt again. Not if you could stop it.

You pulled open the door you had chosen, feeling an incredible force pulling you (and the water) out of the room and into your future. You were blinded by a sudden brightness and within seconds there was nothing left.

No more light.

No more sound.

No more you...

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Beep.

Beep... Beep.

Beep... Beep... Beep.

'This is incredible! You say you were able to revive her after she... after what happened?' an unfamiliar voice echoed in your head. 'Remarkable... But, do you really think it is wise to keep her here, so close to the rest? Wouldn't it be better to bring her to one of the labs? We could run tests there and find out how the powers of the Mindstone transformed her DNA. If we...'

'No,' a deep voice spoke with great authority. 'She has been through enough. She is one of us. We will not experiment on her. We are not HYDRA.'

'But, Fury...'

'I said no. Doctor Cho, is there any chance she might wake up?'

You slowly opened your eyes, looking at the three people standing beside your bed through your eyelashes. Your throat had never felt so dry before and your whole body felt sore, like it didn't belong to you.

'Physically there is nothing wrong with her. Not anymore...' Helen swallowed hard, taking in a deep breath, making you wonder what had happened to you after you had supercharged the core. 'The cradle restored all of the cells that were destroyed, but... her heart stopped several times during the procedure and she was in the water for quite some time before they found her. If she has already accepted her death, she might never wake up at all.'

You saw Fury nod at doctor Cho and the man that had suggested to bring you to a lab was no one other than doctor Selvig. You didn't know much about him, but you figured he might just be afraid of you. After what happened to him during the attack on New York you couldn't really blame him.

'Keep me updated,' Fury spoke. 'In the mean time, don't let anyone in this room. Not even the Captain. It's probably best if he thinks she didn't make it.'

Steve...

'... .... ...' you tried to speak, but all that came out of your throat was something that resembled a sigh.

'Doctor Cho?' Fury frowned, looking from you to Helen as your heart monitor started beeping faster.

'W-water,' you whispered, trying to open your eyes completely.

They quickly gave you way you asked for and stared at you, completely astonished, as you got the cup from Helen's hand and pushed yourself from the bed, pulling the little heart monitor plates from your chest.

'I'm fine,' you mumbled when all of them seemed to want to ask you the same thing: How are you?

'Agent [Last Name],' Fury nodded, crossing his arms. 'You gave us a real good scare back there.'

You smiled faintly. 'I'm an Avenger. We don't die as easily as everyone wants us to...'

Fury laughed softly and agreed. 'When your strong enough I'd like to talk about your future here. There are a lot of things to discuss.'

'But for now,' Helen started, trying to put the little plates back on your chest, 'it's best if you stay here and rest '

'I'm fine,' you repeated, throwing your legs over the side of the bed and waving away Helen's help. 'You said so yourself. There is nothing wrong with me.'

You let your feet touch the cold ground and you took in a deep breath, hoping your had made the right choice to wake up. You had thought about it long and hard, but in the end you realized you were nowhere near as ready to die as you thought you were. There were so many things you still wanted to do, including telling Steve how much you cared about him.

'Where's Steve?' you asked, pushing yourself from the bed and walking towards the door slowly, feeling a weird sensation spread through your body. You stumbled further while Helen supported you.

'Agent [Last Name],' Fury sighed. 'He doesn't know yet that you still live. When they found you...'

'I was dead...' you nodded. 'I know.'

You could feel it. You looked down at yourself, seeing the large burn holes in your suit. You could only imagine what had happened to the pieces of skin there. You touched the soft pink surface of it and felt a shiver go down your spine. That was why your body no longer felt like your own, because it wasn't. Not completely.

'Don't worry,' Helen spoke softly, trying to reassure you as you swallowed hard, looking at your new skin. 'Once it is completely healed you won't be able to tell the difference. Like last time...'

You nodded. Only last time you had felt the difference.

'We still don't know how exactly you survived,' Fury continued. 'Doctor Selvig thought he might be able to find out together with doctor Banner, but unfortunately Bruce has decided to leave the team.'

'Bruce is gone?' you frowned, immediately thinking about Natasha. 'Why?'

'We don't know, maybe because he doesn't want to hurt innocent people anymore. He's a lot like you when it comes to that, and I can't stop you from leaving either. No one will blame you if you did. You could still get away from all of this. We can't ask you to risk your life again. Not after what happened.'

You smiled, thinking about what Steve had told you before you joined the Avengers. He had also offered a way out, but you weren't the running kind. You had realized that a long time ago.

'Steve told me the same thing,' you said, turning to Fury.

'And what did you say?'

'That's it's already too late for that. It's like you said: I am one of you. This is my fight as much as it is yours... Now, will someone tell me where I can find Captain Rogers? I need to speak with him.'

'He's outside,' Fury nodded towards the door. 'He will be more than happy to see you.'

You smiled, thanking him and pushing yourself from Helen's arms. You opened the door and made your way through the large hallway, towards the exit.

'Agent [Last Name],' Fury called after you. 'It's good to have my best agent back.'

You turned around, nodding shortly. 'Thank you, sir,' you responded. 'It's good to be back.'

You regained your way through the hallway and soon stepped outside the large building. You took in a deep breath once you were finally outside and thought about what had happened the past few hours.

You didn't know whom or what had given you a second chance, but you were really grateful that you had gotten it. You would have to talk to Vision and Wanda about some precaution measures for when you might turn against them, but you realized that if you had been dead, you would have never been able to protect any of them again.

You looked around you, feeling your heart beat uncontrollably in your chest. You were trying to spot Steve and figure out what you were going to tell him. It didn't take you long to find him. He was standing just below the stairs, talking go Tony. They walked towards Tony's car and you took in a deep breath again, hearing them talk while you were making your way down.

'Maybe I should take a page out of Barton's book...' Tony said. 'Build Pepper a farm and hope nothing blows it up.'

'A simple life,' Steve nodded, smiling at his friend.

'You could as well one day,' Tony suggested, looking around him. His gaze stopped at you and a small smile curled his lips as he turned to Steve again.

'I don't know,' Steve sighed. 'A family, stability... The guy who wanted all of that went into the ice 75 years ago. I think someone else came out.'

Tony nodded, putting his sunglasses on. He looked from Steve to you and sighed. 'You sure about that?'

Steve followed Tony's gaze as the billionaire got into his car and drove off. You swallowed hard, looking at Steve as he stood only a few feet away from you, staring at you like he had seen a ghost.

'[Name]?' he whispered, walking up to you as you made your way further down the stairs. 'They told me... I thought...' he sighed. 'When Vision pulled you out of the water...'

'I know,' you mumbled, feeling Steve's warm hand caress the side of your face, 'and I'm sorry.'

'For what?' he frowned, swallowing hard and looking deep into your eyes. You could see how much he cared about you. 'You saved everyone, including me. If you hadn't...'

'For not letting you finish. I knew what you were going to say, but I-I...'

Steve nodded, taking you into his arms and silencing you soflty. 'I thought I had lost you. They wouldn't let me inside the room. You have no idea how much that hurt. Please don't do that me again.'

'I won't,' you smiled shortly, letting him pull you further against him. You let your head rest against his chest and felt his heart beat fast, in sync with yours. 'Steve... I love you.'

A smile curled his lips as he pushed you from him a bit. He wiped the hair from your face and looked at the large burn holes on your suit. 'I love you too, [Name], and I'm never letting you get hurt again.' He caressed the soft piece of skin on your shoulder and sighed. 'I promise.'

He looked deep into your eyes and slowly moved closer, until his lips lingered on yours. A kiss found your lips and for a moment you forgot everything around you. You had never felt so happy before, realizing you were right were you needed to be, but you knew Ultron had just been the beginning. Someone was playing a dangerous game with the world and they had to be stopped.

You made your way back inside together, promising each other you would have some time alone later that day. Steve went to talk to Natasha and you quickly changed into the new Captain Marvel suit Tony had left behind for you (in case you were to wake up, as Vision told you).

'I am glad you vwoke up,' Wanda said, when you encountered her and Pietro in the dressing room. She thank you for saving her twin and hugged you tightly.

'Vwithout you I vwould have been dead,' Pietro nodded. 'We are forever in your debt.'

'I think you already repaid me,' you whispered, walking with them towards the large open training area where Rhodes, Sam and Vision were already waiting for you.

'Vwhat do mean?' Pietro frowned. 'I was out cold for at least a day.'

You turned to Wanda and smiled at her gratefully, knowing that everything you saw when you were drifting between life and death was her doing.

'You believed in us before vwe even did,' she nodded. 'Vwhen I saw you laying on tzhat cradle and your mind vwas completely empty, I knew I had to do sometzhing. I gave you back vwhat you tzhought had lost a long tzime ago: a future.'

'Thank you. I needed it.'

You walked further into the training room, staring at the platform where Steve and Natasha were standing, watching all of you proudly. A smile crept on your face and you looked up at Steve confidently. You knew that together you could conquer anything and anyone.

'Avengers,' Steve started, looking at you, a smile curling his lips. He nodded at you encouragingly before turning to everyone again.

'Assemble...'

Extended ending

You were hiding behind a wall, panting heavily. You had already been shot several times, seeing the sticky, red fluid drip down your clothes, and Steve was nowhere to be found. You cursed softly, reloading your gun and pushing yourself out of hiding.

You pointed your gun out in front of you, checking your surroundings frantically.

'You'd better surrender now, agent [Last Name],' it echoed through the room. 'I will show you no mercy.'

'Never!' you cried out, shooting at the shadow that ran past you. 'I'll never...'

Before you could finish that sentence, you were slammed to the ground hard. A gun was pointed at your head and a strong arm pinned you to the ground.

'You'll never what?' Steve grinned. 'You didn't finish...'

You smiled, trying to wiggle yourself from underneath him. The paint gun was still pressed against your head and you knew Steve wasn't going to let you go until you surrendered.

'Okay, you win,' you laughed, 'but if I was allowed to use my powers, you'd be so dead.'

Steve pressed a soft kiss on your lips and pulled your into his arms. 'You would have to catch me first, Captain.'

He smiled at you, caressing your cheek with his thumb. He lifted you from the ground and you folded your arms around his neck. You didn't think anyone had ever looked at you so lovingly.

After everything that had happened with Ultron, you had asked of Steve wanted to share your apartment in Brooklyn. You remembered that he was looking for one there and since you had a spare room and he had just told you he loved you, it seemed like a good plan. You didn't like to be alone and even though you had agreed to take it slow, Steve was more than happy to move in with you. In the weekends and on your off days you'd come here to spend some time alone.

'Have I told you today how amazing you are?' Steve said, laying the both of you in your bed.

'Only a couple of times,' you chuckled, playing with the collar of his shirt, 'and I told you every time how much I love you...'

Steve smiled, nodding at your words.

'I really don't know what I would do without you, Steve,' you whispered, looking up to him. 'You mean the world to me.'

'And you to me.'

He kissed you again and you lay in bed together for the rest of the morning (doing Odin knew what), until both your phones started beeping and you knew it was time to get back to headquarters again. Duty called.

Because no matter how normal you were when you were home and whomever you were when you were together, you would always still be Captain America and Captain Marvel...

Avengers