Everyone had gathered outside Tony's little cabin by the lake. It was three days after the big battle and Tony had decided to throw a party, apparently, that was something he really loved doing. And clearly, he also knew how to.

It wasn't a wild disco/dance party, it was simple, intimate and cosy. Little lights hang everywhere above people's heads and if you squeezed your eyes a little, they looked like stars against the nightsky. Music was playing in the background and everyone was chatting with each other.

Yala had never felt like part of a family, but she guessed this feeling came very close to what that would feel like. She and Carol had stayed with Maria and Monica yesterday and last night, having flown here early this morning. Turns out they both got dusted too, something Carol had found out five years ago.

They were really happy to see their space friends again. Maria gave Aayala a big hug when she saw her, satisfied with the fact that she was still with Carol. Monica had grown up so much, she was even older than Maria was back in '95, almost forty. The girl from then had lived a whole life they had missed. She fell in love, had two kids and lived on her own in the city. She was coincidentally visiting her mother when the Snap happened.

Aayala had gotten to hear the whole story from Natasha, who she had immediately taken a liking towards. They were very similar, as Carol had pointed out too, so she was the one the Ateran went to for the full story of the Avengers. Turns out they were Earth's Mightiest Heroes once upon a time, before the team fell apart and failed to defeat Thanos.

Everything from the five years she was gone was explained too. How the redhead ran the Avengers on her own, how she kept tabs on everything happening on Earth and throughout the universe, how she had gotten to know Carol, everything.

Aayala thanked her again and again for keeping an eye out for her girlfriend when she couldn't, making sure she was safe and giving her something to keep her busy. Natasha would just shrug it off every time, telling her it was her job, but Yala was still thankful.

Carol hadn't left her alone for one second after the battle against Thanos. She demanded to be left alone by Bruce and Tony, who wanted to study the effect the Stones had on her and see if she was hurt in any way. But she didn't feel like being a science experiment. She knew she was fine and just wanted to lay next to the purple-haired woman on the couch in Tony's living room, who had an IV stuck in her arm and had been out for hours.

She was drained. That was the perfect word to describe her state. No energy left. So her wounds healed slower than normal too, although twenty-four hours after she was shot, her leg had already healed enough that she could walk again. It would leave a big, ugly scar, but Yala didn't mind, it was part of her job.

But it was still hidden under her clothes, however. She had gone to Natasha for help when she quickly learned that all Carol's closet at Maria's held was jeans and shirts. And for once, Yala felt like dressing up for this party. So she shooed her girlfriend away when she followed her to Natasha's room, wanting it to be a surprise. Reluctantly, Carol had let her go, turning around to get ready herself.

The Russian woman opened the door when Yala knocked and for a moment, the Ateran was stunned. It was like a whole different Natasha stood in front of her. This was no longer the fighter she had come to know, this was Natasha. Just Natasha. 'You look beautiful.'

'Watch out, Ateran, your girlfriend will think you're cheating on her', the woman teased.

'Don't worry, that will take a lot more than a beautiful Russian in a short dress', she joked back.

Natasha chuckled softly, letting her in her room 'What's up?'

'Do you have something nice I can wear? I have never had a party so I wanna do it right.' Those were exactly the right, or wrong, words to say, she couldn't decide yet, when Natasha's eyes lit up, clearly exited she had a test subject to dress up. 'Oh, no, I don't like those eyes.'

Natasha had dragged her back and forth her room, first studying her, before rummaging through her closet for a while, until she found what she was looking for. Then she yanked her to the bathroom, making her sit on the edge of the bath while straightening her hair. Next were her nails, that got a nice coat of black polish. And last but not least, her face underwent a transformation.

Yala almost didn't recognize herself when she looked in the mirror. Natasha had darkened the skin around her eyes just a little bit, but it was enough to really bring out and brighten the purple. The dress she had picked out was not too short or revealing, she had caught on to what Yala would and wouldn't like.

The material was thick, but stretchy, easy to move in. It was skintight, but had a high-neck, sleeves that ended halfway her upper arm and a length to just above her knee.

Her purple hair really stood out against the black.

'What do you think?', Natasha smugly said from behind her, knowing she did a good job.

Yala studied herself in the mirror. It was completely different from what she was used to, but she had to admit, she looked really good. Natasha had tried to get her to wear high heels, but Yala refused, knowing she couldn't walk in them anyway. Luckily, she also had lower pumps, a lot easier to walk in but still giving her a little height and elegance.

'I look great', she smiled at her in the mirror.

'I think Danvers will think so too', she teased again. She gave her a nudge for that, but Natasha had been right. Carol's jaw almost dropped when her girlfriend joined the party. She had never seen her in anything but her uniform, workout clothes or casual clothes, never in a dress.

Aayala chuckled when she reached her where she stood talking to Steve and Wanda, wrapping her arm around her waist. 'If you keep your mouth open like that, you will catch some flies.' Teasing her was just too easy, even more so when she blushed deeply.

'You look beautiful', Wanda complimented the woman.

'Thank you, Wanda. You look nice too', she gave her a little wink, which earned her a blush.

Looking back at her blonde partner, she raised her eyebrows when she still saw her staring. It was clear that she didn't know how to react. Steve noticed that this was a private moment and awkwardly excused him and Wanda so the two woman could have their own moment.

The blonde grabbed the other woman by her hips and pulled her against her own body. Yala's hands automatically found her way around her neck, playing with the little hairs at the back of it. A smile finally formed on Carol's face, having found her voice again, she whispered, 'How did I get so lucky?'

Yala stared in her intense brown eyes. 'Well it wasn't your charm.'

A little glare was the only reaction she got, the other woman way too occupied with her other feelings. Yala couldn't bear the tension anymore, so she grabbed the collar of Carol's blouse and pulled her lips to her own. A little sigh left the blonde as she closed her eyes and reveled in the kiss and the feeling of her girlfriend in her hands.

She had missed this so much. Not only the kissing and touching, but the teasing conversations too, just having someone to talk to about pointless stuff. A hand went through her short hair, that feeling she had missed too.

If it was up to her, she would drag her back to a private place somewhere to they could continue this, but that would have to wait. She suddenly became aware of the eyes on them and Yala did too, pulling back with a flushed face, a little out of breath.

'I see my hard work payed off', Natasha's smug face turned up next to them, causing them to break apart.

'It certainly did', Carol answered her, before gesturing to Aayala. 'Feel free to do this every day.'

Tasha chuckled. 'If you stay here on Earth, I just might.'

Yala shrugged. 'Sorry, lots of other planets that need help.'

'It's a shame, you two would have fit right in the team.' She knew there was no point in trying to convince them to stay, but she did anyway.

'I bet. But you have a great group of people to follow in your footsteps, I hope they will do for the Earth what you did.'

Natasha laughed a little at that. 'I hope without the death and destruction.'

This is how the whole evening went. Carol and Yala hopping between groups of people, taking the chance to talk to everyone. Each person had different stories to tell, different lives they had lived. But everyone was willing to share it with them, giving them the encouragement to do so as well.

Fury had also showed up, the two woman surprised at how old the man looked. For them, it didn't even feel like almost thirty years had passed, but for Fury, it definitely did. The man gave them both a big hug, also very happy they were still together. 'I see you received my call', he joked.

'I did', Carol laughed, 'Next time, call me before half the universe disappears so maybe I can prevent Aayala from dying on me again.'

He laughed, clearly still having the same humor, even though his whole demeanor had become more serious throughout the years. 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry', he playfully held his hands up in surrender, before his tone got more serious. 'But I'm happy to see you are still hanging in there together.'

'Yeah, it is not easy, dedicating your life to helping others, but it is fulfilling and that is all that matters.' Fury nodded in understanding, 'And I get to be with this one everyday', Yala added, squeezing Carol's waist and looking at her for a second.

Fury's eyes flashed between the both of them, clearly a little emotional. 'I'm happy for you.'

'Thanks, old friend', Carol said softly. It would be hard leaving him behind again, leaving Maria and Monica behind again. Who knows if they were still alive the next time they were back here.

When the party died down and it was getting late, they decided to leave. It had been three full days now since everyone was back and Yala could imagine that the people of the universe had no idea what had happened. They owed them an explanation. So the time to be selfish was over again.

Carol had left their ship in orbit, so they would have to fly up and get on there. She did not want to do that in a dress, so both woman changed back into the uniforms they knew so well. The others saw them, ready to leave, and all gathered together so say their goodbyes. Yala wanted to give Natasha the dress back, but the redhead just pushed her hand back. 'Keep it. She clearly likes it.'

Yala was happy that Carol didn't hear or saw the blush on her cheeks. 'Thank you again, for everything.'

'No worries. Stay safe up there, good luck.' The Russian wasn't a hugger, Yala had noticed, but she was gonna regret it if she didn't pull her in for one.

Carol grabbed the Ateran's hand after she had let Natasha go. 'Right, we are leaving now before Romanoff steals my girlfriend.'

Everyone laughed and more 'good luck's and 'bye's were called after them as they walked away and took off in the sky, Aayala turning around one last time to give a wave to her new friends. Despite only knowing them for three days, when you go through something as intense as a battle for the universe against a whole army of aliens and a big Titan, you form a connection quickly.

The Avengers and entourage watched the two women fly up, leaving Earth behind once again to fulfill their destiny in the stars. You could say whatever you want about them, but one thing was clear; they loved each other deeply. Aayala had healed Carol's broken heart the second she had put her hands on her cheeks that day on the battlefield. Like the last five years didn't even happen.

But what was five years to two immortal women, having found their place in the stars and with each other; everything they needed.

~~~~~~~~

I cannot believe this book is finished. It feels weird, because there is so much more to tell and I kind of feel empty now, to be honest. I am going to miss writing these two amazing people.

I will probably write the other movies Carol will appear in too, whenever that may be... Waiting for new movies to come out is so excruciating, but we will hang in there.

Thank you so much to everyone reading this book from start to finish. I love how it turned out. The start was a little rocky, but I found my way in writing and hope you enjoyed every chapter.

Know that I put much love in it and I hope you find what Carol and Yala have, if you want to, of course.

Anyway, I will go now.

Stay safe in this pandemic, wherever you are!

Bye!

Sierra

(2324 words)