Chapter 5

(Author's note: I just wanted to state this now. I am not a comic book reader, and because I have no idea what to expect from Carol Danvers as a character, I did not include her in this. Also, I began writing this before I saw the trailer for Avengers: End Game, so I did not include Scott Lang in this either. We'll just pretend that he's stuck in the Quantum Realm without the Van Dynes there to get him out).

"How?" Jemma asked, completely shocked by the revelation.

"Basically, we worked off the idea that Einstein had about our universe having four dimensions; three dimensions of space and one of time."

Jemma recalled the topic. "You guys created a gravitational field that could bend space-time…"

Fitz shook his head in negative. "Someone was already attempting to create it. SHEILD got wind of it and hid it away."

In the Fridge? "Didn't Hydra liberate almost everything at the Fridge?" May asked then, remembering the attempted methodical takeover.

"It wasn't at the Fridge," Fitz replied. "Fury had the knowledge saved in the director's toolbox. Mack showed it to me, and we worked off the information that was already there." It sent their teams on a scavenger hunt of sorts, but eventually they discovered everything they needed to make time travel a reality.

Following a short distance behind Fitzsimmons, the Inhuman spoke to her former SO. "I guess I won't have to worry about being a mom," Daisy murmured quietly as she avoided May's eyes. "I can't believe they actually did it."

"Did you ever doubt them?" May asked in an equally soft voice. Between Fitzsimmons, Bruce Banner, Tony Stark and Shuri, there'd been no doubt in her mind they would find a solution.

"Not doubt," Daisy denied. Fitzsimmons were both brilliant. Along with Shuri, Banner and even Stark, she knew if anyone was going to find a solution, it was them. "But it did seem like an impossible dream," she confessed while shaking her head in negative. "I couldn't wait for this day, to have the ability to go back and change things so that Coulson got to live…that he never died in New York in the first place." While the scale was so much bigger than that, Coulson had been the driving force behind her passion to help find a solution. "But now…" She trailed off with a deep breath. "It's almost like I've been shown a life that was once possible, but now isn't."

"Hurry up you two," Fitz called out from further up the hall. "Everyone's waiting on us." As soon as he'd finished embracing his wife, he'd turned to the other two women in the room. Apparently, they'd been the last to know and the others were already gathered for a meeting.

Once everyone was settled in the conference room, Tony, Bruce and Fitz took turns explaining the machine and how they got it to work. The scientific jargon proved to be little difficult to understand at times so things needed to be 'dumbed down' periodically for those that weren't as scientifically inclined.

"Okay, and you're saying that once you go back and talk to our…your counterparts that the world we live in now will what?" Agent Piper asked after Fitz, Bruce and Tony finished explaining things.

"In theory, everything here will just fade away," Bruce replied. "It will be the same for anyone who travels back. Once things have effectively changed, they'll cease to exist as well, so we only have the one shot."

"So, we're going to…what? Write down what needs to be changed and then go back and change it?" Natasha asked. Their biggest concern for so long had been building a working time machine. They hadn't exactly planned out what they would do if or when one was invented. The moment was completely surreal. If anyone could have done it, it would have been her husband, Leo Fitz and Tony Stark with Shuri's help from Wakanda. However, it always seemed like a pipe dream, until that afternoon.

"See, that's the tricky thing," Fitz answered. "What happened already needs to happen because it led us to this moment."

Jemma, witnessing the confused expressions around her tried to explain it better for the entirety of the group. "Say we sent Tony back in time. If Tony were to confront the Avengers and tell them what was going to happen, they would go out of their way to make different decisions which could potentially create an alternate reality."

"And Tony would instantly cease to exist because the experiences that shaped him into who he is and what led him to being in that position may not occur," Bruce finished.

"So, what option does that leave us with?" Steve asked then.

"We don't go back to change things, but we fix what has already occurred," Tony answered.

"You've lost me," Yo-Yo said, frowning.

"Take Hydra as an example," Fitz told her. "Hydra needs to happen. If Hydra doesn't come out a lot of things we've faced may not happen and we'd all be in completely different places."

"Which could create an alternate reality…" Elena said, seeing his point.

Fitz nodded. "However, once Hydra does come out, hypothetically, we could use the knowledge we have to find Sgt. Barnes sooner than what happened this time around," he said, watching as those around them nodded in understanding.

"After debating things and listing pros and cons, we've figured that our main concern should be destroying one of the Infinity Stones," Tony said.

Fitz nodded along with Tony's words. "The Mind and Space stones were in SHIELD's possession at one time so one of those would be the best bet."

"Oh?" Melinda asked. "Yes, I'm sure if we ask Fury nicely for the Tesseract, he'll give it right up," she finished flatly.

While various occupants of the room that knew the former director personally smiled in amusement, knowing how correct May had been with her sarcastic comment, Steve cleared his throat. "She's right," he pointed out, looking to Tony. "Fury won't give it up without answers and stealing it would almost certainly lead to bad things for whomever was involved."

Thor, whose mouth had been pulled into a frown since Tony mentioned destroying a stone, spoke up before Tony could argue with Steve. "For argument's sake, let us say we have a time in mind to take one of the gems. Only Celestials or beings with immense power can touch a stone and survive it," Thor reminded the group. "How is it to be destroyed if we cannot touch it?"

His comrade made a valid point and Steve combed over his memories, attempting to think of anything that could help. He remembered back to the time just prior to the battle in Wakanda. "When Vision suggested we destroy the Mind Stone, he seemed pretty sure that Wanda would be capable of such a thing."

Tony immediately started shaking his head in negative. "Even if that is the case, she isn't here to send back and if whomever we choose to send back were to say something to her it could potentially create an alternate reality," he pointed out for the group.

"We believe the candidates are a little closer to home," Bruce said then as he looked first to Thor and then to Daisy.

The Asgardian followed Bruce's line of sight and settled his gaze on Daisy. Of those present in the room, they did appear to stand the strongest chance of destroying a stone without the unfortunate side effect of changing too many things. However, Daisy's power gave her a slight advantage over him. Unlike her, he would have touch the stone with his hands and he didn't know if it was something he could even handle.

As soon as Bruce rested his eyes on her, Daisy immediately read into the meaning behind his words. She forced her gaze away from him and looked to Thor. Wouldn't he be the better option? He'd traveled the universe and faced down a multitude of foes during his long life. "One of us?" She asked then, her gaze falling on Steve, curious about his reaction. Though he hadn't said anything, she could see the displeasure easily expressed on his face.

"Or both," Tony replied.

"We don't even know if my powers would be able to destroy one of the stones," Daisy denied. Though the serum had provided a significant increase in her powers, that didn't mean it could destroy an Infinity Stone…

"Between all of Thor's experience and your enhanced ability, we believe you two have the best success rate," Fitz said then.

Daisy looked around the room to find everyone considering the idea based on his point. She cast a quick glance at Steve before looking at the rest of the occupants of the room. "And all you feel that way?" When no nay-sayers spoke up, she looked at Jemma. "I need to speak to you privately."

"This is hardly time for secrets," Tony scoffed.

"And this is in a medical capacity," Daisy shot back quickly. "So, if you'd like for me to even consider doing this, then I'll need to confer with my acting physician." She purposely avoided looking in Steve's direction. They would need to have a conversation, but a room full of people was hardly the ideal place for such a thing. "Jemma?" She asked, standing up and making her way towards the hallway.

As the two women shut the door behind them, Tony, Bruce, Mack and Clint looked to Steve for an answer.

The first Avenger could only shake his head in negative. "I've got no idea what's going on," he admitted with a frown as he looked towards the door Daisy had exited from. Daisy never got sick, as long as he'd known her, she'd never had to seek Jemma out for any medical attention…save for check-ups after any altercations she'd had.

Bruce nodded before looking towards his wife, pausing when he noticed the reflective expression on her face. "But, you do," he said softly.

Natasha sighed as everyone turned to her, but her main concern was Steve. She watched as his head spun around to look at her.

"Nat?" He asked. Daisy had gone to Natasha for something without even telling him anything?

She shook her head. "She didn't tell me, I just happened to walk into it," she explained as she watched him make his way toward the door.

Daisy waited in the hall for Jemma to join her. When she heard the door close behind her friend, she spun around to face her. "Is me traveling while pregnant even a possibility?" She asked, searching the woman's face.

"Theoretically," Jemma replied. "The idea stands that every aspect of you would be sent to the past, including the unborn fetus. However, we have no facts to work with, so this is just speculation at this point."

Daisy nodded. She knew that if they managed to achieve their goal, they would all disappear and that her baby wouldn't be born. However, that didn't mean she could willfully go along with something that may terminate the pregnancy beforehand. "And you agree with Fitz that Thor and I are the best candidates?"

While she wanted to argue against the point that had been made, she knew she couldn't. "Of all of us here today," Jemma began, "yes," she confessed, watching as Daisy turned away from her. However, she also needed her patient to hear her reservation. "But this is a completely new frontier that hasn't been explored, I can't guarantee the safety of the baby."

Opening the door with determination to find out exactly what had Daisy so wound up, he fell short upon hearing the tail end of the conversation. Baby?! "Baby?" Daisy was pregnant?

Daisy spun around hearing the word fall from Steve's mouth. She found him standing under the doorway, his hand propping it open for all to hear.

When he didn't get a verbal reaction from her, he spoke again. "You're pregnant?" He asked as his voice cracked with emotion. Breaking himself from his shock, he stepped out in the hall to join the women, stopping in front of Daisy.

Daisy nibbled on her bottom lip before nodding. "I am," she said, watching as his eyes trailed down to her still flat stomach. "I started suspecting it last week, but I didn't find out for sure until I took a test that I picked up at the grocery store. Jemma confirmed it for me when I got back," she tacked on quietly. "I know this is hardly the best time, specially now-" Her words were cut off as he pulled her into his arms and slanted his mouth over hers.

Jemma smiled at the pair, but when neither pulled away from one another, she turned away from them in effort to give them a bit of privacy, or as much as she could…seeing as they were in a hallway.

Steve, aware that they weren't alone, pulled away from Daisy. "What about what you said before? About never wanting to be a mother?"

"I meant it," she replied quietly, watching as her boyfriend deflated slightly. "But that doesn't mean I won't get used to the idea…or, well, would have gotten used to it."

And just like that, his elation came crashing down. She was pregnant with his child, a child that would never get a chance to live… He looked to Jemma for the first time since joining the women. "Would she even be able to travel back in time while pregnant?"

Jemma met his gaze and smiled sadly. "I was just explaining to Daisy that it is theoretically possible, but that I have no way to guarantee the baby's safety."

Steve nodded in response before looking at Daisy. "Then, you can't do this," he told her softly, not wanting her to place herself or their unborn child in a potentially dangerous situation.

Before he'd even finished his words, Daisy was nodding. "I was thinking the same thing," she replied as guilt spread through her body. "We should probably head back in and let the others know…"

Placing an arm around Daisy, the three returned to the room. While Jemma found her previous spot, Steve had yet to detangle himself from his girlfriend. There was no doubt in his mind that the occupants in the room were aware of the baby. "We need to come up with another plan," he said flatly, leaving no room for argument.

Tony opened his mouth to reply, but a touch of Bruce's hand on his shoulder gathered his attention. He watched the scientist frown while shaking his head in negative before he gave in to the action. He closed his mouth and pursed his lips.

"Okay," Banner said, meeting Steve's gaze. "Until now, our plan involved Daisy, so we're gonna have to go back to the drawing board," he warned the others before looking back to Steve. He watched his friend thank him silently and he inclined his head in response.

"I'm sorry," Daisy immediately apologized once they were back in the privacy of their room.

Closing the door behind him, Steve led her to the bed before claiming a seat next to her. "Why are you apologizing?"

"I've messed everything up," she whispered as tears welled up in her eyes.

"You didn't mess anything up," he passionately denied as he turned towards her body. He knew she felt guilty for not agreeing to go back along with Thor. "We," he corrected, "didn't mess anything up," he cupped her chin and forced her to meet his gaze.

She searched his gaze. "But there was a whole plan in play and now it needs to be changed," she replied as she looked away.

"No one blames you for wanting to put the baby first," he told her, thinking of the all of the 'congratulations' they'd received once the meeting had officially ended. "Yes, the plan has changed, but we're still going to make sure things are fixed."

She nodded minutely as she leaned against him and rested her head against his shoulder. "You aren't disappointed, are you?"

Extending his arm out, he encased her in his arm and rested his hand on the side of her stomach. "Of course not," he quickly answered.

Though that hadn't been exactly what she'd meant by her inquiry, the relief that followed the answer was welcomed. "That's good to know, but I was referring more about our situation, I mean the fact that we aren't married," she clarified as she turned her to meet his gaze.

"Do you want to get married?" He responded before he could help himself. When she arched an eyebrow in response to his inquiry, he realized how his words could be taken out of context and smiled. "Is marriage something that you want?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "I guess." When he gave her an imploring stare, she shook her head. "I don't not want to get married," Daisy added. "None of my previous relationships were serious enough to invoke such a question. However, when I do think on my life twenty years from now, I do see a faceless husband." She'd just never assigned that husband a face. "I know you've adapted a lot to this time, but there are still those few beliefs that you'll never compromise on."

He offered her a sheepish smile for how well she knew him. "Ideally, I would have preferred if we were married first," he admitted. "But with the uncertainty of our future, I don't want to waste my time focusing on things that in the grand scheme of things, aren't as important," he told her passionately. "I love you and I'll be by your side…for however long we have left."

Daisy untangled his arm from around her shoulders. Bringing his hand to her mouth, she kissed the back of it before she scooted back on the bed and laid out. She held her hand out in silent a silent invitation for him to join her.

He hesitated for a moment before claiming the open spot next to her. Once he was at her side, he turned on his side and placed a hand on her stomach.

"You know you won't be able to feel anything for a few months, right?" She asked.

He smiled at her. "I know," he admitted, but didn't remove his hand.

Closing her eyes, Daisy rested one of her hands over his. "I hope it's a boy."

"Do you?" Didn't most women want a little girl? "I'd be happy with that," he told her. "Then again, I'd be just as happy if it was girl."

"If it is a boy, I thought I'd name him after AC," she said, opening her eyes and looking at him. "Coulson…as a middle name," she added on the last bit in case he thought she meant as a first. "And since it's after someone on my side, I thought we could name his first one after someone on your side. Maybe one of the Avengers?"

Steve instantly shook his head in negative and snorted. "Like Tony?" While he and Tony may have mended fences, he wouldn't be naming any child of his after the sometimes-impulsive billionaire.

She smiled in amusement before she tried again. "Or…we could name him after one of your closest friends? Sam or James…or even Buchanan."

"Buchanan?" Steve parroted. "Buchanan Coulson Rogers," he said, putting all names together. "That's a mouthful isn't it?" He frowned.

She scrunched her nose, having listened to the entire name as he said it. "Yeah, I guess it does kind of sound like a law firm," she admitted.

"Joseph," Steve provided then. "After my father."

"Joseph Coulson Rogers," she tested the name. "Sounds perfect," she mumbled as her eyes began to sting with unshed tears. She was naming a child that probably wouldn't even have a chance to be born… The tears fell from the corner of both of her eyes, rolling into her hair.

Taking a closer look at his love, Steve frowned in concern. "Daisy?" He asked cautiously.

It wasn't until she was addressed that she let out a sob. First one, and then another and then another until they turned into one long wail. Giving into her grief, she rolled into his side and cuddled against him.

Automatically wrapping her in in his embrace, he placed a kiss on the top of her head.

"It isn't fair," she cried out.

He tightened his hold on her. "I know," he croaked, his voice hoarse from his own emotions.

"I know it doesn't make sense, me, crying. Earlier, I was scared out of mind about becoming a mother, and now I'm crying because I won't…" She sniffled. "Stupid pregnancy hormones…"

He kissed her temple and smiled sadly.

"I just…all this time we were all in agreement that time travel would be our best bet at changing things, and I was on board with that." She really had been. Aside from the 3.5 billion people that instantly disappeared, all she'd wanted was a chance for Coulson to live, to have never died in New York in the first place. Even if that meant that she would never be introduced to him, as long as he lived… "But now?" She fell into silence. "I don't want to give this up for a reality where you and I might never even meet, let alone have a child…" She confessed. "I never even really considered how Fitzsimmons must have felt knowing that Elias wouldn't have a chance to grow up." Logically, she knew that they must have been upset by the idea of their innocent son never getting a chance to grow up, but it wasn't until she found herself in a similar position that it really hit home.

"We might still meet each other," he offered after a moment of silence.

She offered up a doubtful look in response to his words. "We only met after Thanos did the finger snap. If he never has a chance to do that, we won't meet," Daisy replied.

"I'd still be involved with the Avengers, you'd still be with SHIELD…"

She shook her head in negative. "If we do manage to get the tesseract in our possession and destroy the stone before the battle of New York, there won't be a group of Avengers," because they wouldn't be needed. "And even if SHIELD will still exist, I may not end up on their radar," she pointed out softly.

He couldn't hide his skepticism. "Really? Because from what I understand, your time as a hacktivist garnered their attention prior to your meeting with Mike Peterson." He understood her fear, because he felt the same way. From the moment that time travel had become the group's main focus, he'd wondered what that would mean for their personal lives and relationships. He didn't want to go from a life with her by his side to one where she was a complete stranger. And though a younger version of himself may not have had the experience of having her in his life, he knew what his younger self would be missing. "We may not have met until later on, but that doesn't mean that we couldn't be good together under normal circumstances."

"Do you really believe that?" She asked.

He nodded after a moment of hesitation. "I've had my doubts in the past," he said. "But one of us needs to believe, even if we have to take turns."

He appeared to be in complete earnest, and she leaned her head against him once again. "I'm scared," she confessed.

"Me too," he admitted quietly. He wouldn't be surprised if their friends all felt the same exact way. When they slipped into silence, he was tempted to say more about their situation, but in the end, he decided against it. Instead, he flexed his hand over her stomach. "What if it's a girl?" He asked quietly. "Any names come to mind?"

She shook her head and nibbled on her bottom lip. "Natalia May?" She said, though it came out sounding more like a question. "Melinda? Honestly, it never occurred to me that it could be a girl." Even when she was still in the grocery store with Natasha, her heart settled on a boy.