stormbird. ( steve rogers, rewriting! )

twenty four.

The sun was shining, the sky was a clear blue, and song birds sang in the distance. But Natasha felt far from happy.

One of her best friends had just died, after all. And here she was, wearing a tight black dress in the middle of a sunny green cemetery, at her funeral.

How could the world be so happy, when someone like Shay had just died? She had touched so many lives, made such a big impact on everyone's lives. How could the world continue to spin when she had been the center of some people's universes?

Tony just looked blankly at the mahogany coffin being lowered into the ground. He numbly acknowledged the fact that Pepper had wrapped her arms around him, trying to console him.

"Its okay to cry." She whispered in his ear. It was only then did he realize that he had tears streaming down his face.

He remembered the times he had spent in the lab with her and Bruce, and only then did he realize just how much she really had meant to him. She was like his little sister; his stubborn, hilarious, and determined little sister.

Clint stared at the coffin, standing closely to Natasha. He'd miss the Hunger Games marathons he used to watch with her, the intense discussions about all the famous Hollywood archers she'd have with him, without complaint. Even Nat complained about the amount of times he'd talk about other famous archers, but not her.

Shay actually liked talking excessively about the Hunger Games, Lord of the Rings, and Narnia. She actually liked watching those same franchises over and over and over again with him. She never complained, though he was sure that she had long since grown tired of quoting the opening lines from each and every one of the mentioned movies.

But she'd suffer through it. For him. Because she cared about him, and she was always there for him.

Bruce wondered about what would have been different. What Shay's future would have been like, if she was still around to fulfill it. She had been so young, after all. She had a whole life ahead of her.

A life as an amazing scientist, a kickass agent and superhero, and as Steve's girlfriend. Would they have gone steady, and gotten married? Could they have had children together, little shield wielding children who could manipulate fire? Or water? Or any of the other elements?

Bruce was left to wonder about a future one of his closest friends could have had, if it hadn't been violently taken from her.

Left to wonder if he could have done anything to help her.

Thor stood on the bifrost beside Hiemdell, the guardian of the Rainbow Bridge. He had the wise old man describe the memorial on Midgard, since he could not be present for it. The Rainbow Bridge was still broken, and he could not go down for some time.

He could not be there for his friend's funeral. He could not be there for his woman of science. Thor felt a twinge of guilt again. He wish he could be present for both of them, but he couldn't.

And he was not the first or last person to think about Shay's lost future.

Steve felt hollow, watching as dirt was thrown over the mahogany coffin. He imagined Shay's face again. The warm brown eyes, her slightly past shoulder length dark brown hair. Her contagious laughter and sharp wit, everything.

He couldn't even describe it, he just missed her.

And just for her, to answer her question, just as the grave digger patted the fresh dirt down, Steve lifted his face up to the sky, and let three small tears slip down his face.

I cried for you. He thought. Can you see me? I want you to know that I cried, because I cared to much about you. Because you left such a deep and lasting impression on me that I don't think the mark will ever go away.

Everyone, except for the Avengers, Director Fury, and Agent Hill had left the freshly filled in grave. He couldn't move from the spot where he stood, arms by his side, looking down at the marble grave.

Here lies Shailene Alexandra Elrend.

Caring friend, daughter, and coworker.

Her sharp wit and fiery spirit will live on in the people she cared about the most.

"Steve." Agent Hill's voice said beside him as she came to stand beside him. "Its time to go. We've been here for three hours now." Steve turned and saw on one but he and Hill at the cemetery.

"I didn't even notice anyone leave." He said as he turned to look at his brunette coworker.

She just nodded, but took him gently by the hand and lead him away. He noticed it was dark, and the cold wind blew hard, ruffling the leaves and branches around them.

It looked cold, and dark, and grim. The weather was finally appropriate to this day. But as Steve turned back around to get one last good look at her grave before leaving, he saw the bright orange sun in the background, sinking into the ground, though no less bright and flamboyant as it had been in its peak.

Just like Shay.

She had been so brave, and bright, and strong, all the way up until her death. And she was like that bright, blinding sun. Once it had sunk down into the dirt, his world would sink into a cold and depressing darkness.

A world without light.

A world without love.

A world without Shay.

END OF BOOK ONE.

A/N---

Hey hey hey hey hey! Hold up! Don't kill me just yet!

If you hadn't noticed, it said end of BOOK ONE.

Which means there's more! Or atleast, one more. Because I'm working on a sequel, but I won't be releasing it for some time - I'm still working through the actual plot for it.

I'm sorry guys! I know you really wanted Shay to come back to life in this book, but as you can see, thats not happening. But please don't let that stop you from reading the sequel - I'm sure you'll like what I have planned for that book. :)

But those of you that have seen Marvel's Agents of Shield and the miricle drug- You know what's happening next, to some extent.

So stay tuned for the sequel release. I'll post an author's note here when its ready!

Stay Marvel Fans forever!

- Miss Marvel