The Liberty War || Infinity War & Endgame

Chapter Thirty-Two: Notre Dame Is Burning

Picture is Tatiana Maslany as Emma Barnes.

Music is "Zombie" by Ghostly Kisses.

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This chapter is dedicated to the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral, whose very existence has had an unforgettable impact on me, Emma, and this story.

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CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: Notre Dame Is Burning

N E W Y O R K C I T Y

The first person I see when I step off the aircraft is a surprise, but a welcome one. Ninety-eight-year-old Rose Dugan, spry and agile for her age, moves quickly towards me and wraps her frail arms around me. After five years, I didn't know what had become of her, if she survived the snap or not, or even if she was still alive if she had. With her in my arms again, Grant and Bucky's losses seem a little less overwhelming.

"I knew you weren't really gone," she cries into my jacket. "I just knew it. Emma doesn't go down without a fight, not even to that alien Hitler."

I hug her tightly, then pull back to look her in the eyes. Both of us are overcome with emotion, but at least this time it's not just bitter. "I missed you, Rosie."

"Not nearly as much as I missed you," she replies. "I'm sorry I left Wakanda. After everyone...I moved back to Brooklyn to be with Steve. He was the only family I had left, y'know. I hope I didn't worry you too much."

I shake my head. "Not at all. Thanks for being the first face I saw when I came back."

Rose smiles, holds my hand tightly, and others come into view. Steve, Natasha, and another surprise. The young man standing slightly behind is a familiar one, but not from the Avengers. This man, though five years older than I last saw, is a near-perfect mirror image of my old friend Galahad. From the clothing to the glasses to the perfect posture, Eggsy looks more like Galahad than ever.

And then it hits me again. Galahad. He's gone, too. I saw him in that hellscape. He's stuck with the rest of the vanished.

Steve pulls me into a tight embrace before I can think any further about my fallen friends. In his arms, I feel a little less shattered. I wrap my arms around his center and rest my head against his chest. Hugging my best friend feels more like being hugged by a bear, but I couldn't care less than it's hard to breathe. This is the only place I want to be.

"I thought you couldn't travel," he asks, pulling back.

I shrug. "It's not like they could stop me. What could a little travel do that death couldn't?"

Natasha hugs me next, though her embrace is surprisingly gentler. She holds me like a sister would, or at least what I imagine a sister would do. Neither of us had a biological one, but there's no other group of people I'd rather call my family than the people right here.

But then thoughts of Bucky and Grant return, and this time I can't push them away.

When Nat releases me, I turn between the three with grateful expressions. "It's all right," I promise softly. "I'm not going anywhere." As they nod, I glance past them and towards Eggsy, who's still standing at the periphery like an unwanted house guest. I wave him closer, extending an arm to him. "Come here, Darling. You look like you need a hug."

Eggsy laughs softly and walks closer. I wrap my arms around his shoulders, like I used to do to Grant. "I'm so sorry, Emma."

"For what, Darling?"