Numbness, as of late, had become a familiar feeling.

Though I had left Vormir, left Steve...it all remained in the forefront of my mind. Really, I had almost forgotten I had come back from Vormir, back into the facility. I acknowledged everyone's return, barring Steve's.

My knees gave out from under me; I sank towards the metal floor, the fist around the Soul Stone growing ever tighter. I wondered if I could shatter it...could it bring him back. The Keeper of the Stone made no mention of it. But could it happen?

Then came the question I dreaded most.

"Where's Steve?"

My heart sent an aching beat through my system. I stared down at the floor, my body shaking quietly. I couldn't look up at their wondering faces. There was no way I could tell them how it happened without catapulting myself back to that awful moment.

"Kiara, where is Steve?" Natasha asked this time; I couldn't remember who had asked prior to her.

Someone's hand fell onto my shoulder; I was hesitant to cover their hand with one of my own. My eyes moved to my fist, the one that contained the Stone. Break it. It's caused so much pain. It made our marriage have an early expiration. Break it.

Kiara, came Todd's quiet tone.

I have the Stone. It cost me Steve.

Oh, Kiara...

A figure knelt before my trembling form.

"We're going to miss him too, Kia," said the quiet tone of Tony Stark. "But, I need you to not break the Stone."

"Why shouldn't I?" I asked hollowly.

"This is our only shot to redeem ourselves. We can't imagine what you lost on Vormir, but...we can't allow Steve's death to be meaningless."

What good would being selfish do now? Would I really be so stupid as to prevent half of the universe to return all because I am enraged at what price I paid to get this measly gem? I inhaled. "Someone take the bloody stone from me before I reduce it to pieces."

Tony was the one to volunteer; he aside from Todd was perhaps the only person I would allow to get near me right now. "Don't fry me, okay, firefly?"

It proved difficult to relinquish the stone to Tony, I gave him as much fight as I had left. Everyone seemed to quickly realize that I wanted to grieve in my own way. Most left, save Todd and—surprisingly—Clint. The two pulled me up by my arms.

Even if we reverse this...he didn't dust. He won't come back. Everyone else will. One life to bring back half the universe.

**Just a quick follow up from the devastating part 1, where we saw what would happen if Stiara had gone to Vormir instead of Clint & Nat. Doesn't make it any less painful. I think writing these AU timelines was how I coped with Endgame's fallout.**