Burn B•Barnes

Part 16

"Everybody wants a happy ending, right? But it doesn't always roll that way. Maybe this time. I'm hoping if you play this back, it's in celebration. I hope families are reunited, I hope we get it back, and something like a normal version of the planet has been restored. If there ever was such a thing. God, what a world. Universe, now. If you told me ten years ago that we weren't alone, let alone, you know, to this extent, I mean, I wouldn't have been surprised. But come on, you know? The epic forces of darkness and light that have come into play. And, for better or worse, that's the reality Morgan's gonna have to find a way to grow up in."

Everyone watched the hologram outside off Tony speaking, Lyra had her head on Bucky's shoulders as they both stood in all black, Steve stood next to them both smiling at the love between them both, all he thought about when he looked at the two was Peggy, he missed her.

" So I thought I'd probably better record a little greeting... In the case of an untimely death on my part. I mean, not that, death at any time isn't untimely. This time travel thing that we're gonna try and pull off tomorrow, it's– it's got me scratching my head about the survivability of it all. That's the thing. Then again, that's the hero gig. Part of the journey is the end." Tony suddenly got up walking towards his camera. "What am I even trippin' for? Everything's gonna work out exactly the way it's supposed to." He leaned down and smiled. He looked straight at Morgan.

"I love you 3,000."

The hologram cut off, and everyone watched as Pepper, Rhodey, Happy and Morgan stepped out the house, and walked towards the lake. She lay a wreath down, which had the first reactor Tony had with "proof Tony Stark has a heart" engraved into it. Every single person stood in honor off Tony, and what he had done for them all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A couple of hours later it was time to place the stones back, Steve walked up onto the miniature platform, and Bruce typed everything up on the laptop ready for Steve to return the stones.

"Now, remember– You have to return the stones to the exact moment you got them. Or you're gonna open up a bunch of nasty alternative realities."

"Don't worry, Bruce. Clip all the branches." Sam, Bucky and Lyra stood infront of Steve, waiting for him to leave.

"You know, I tried. When I had the gauntlet, the stones, I really tried to bring her back.I miss her, man." Lyra looked down trying to forget the memories of that day. Bucky held a hold of her hand, he hadn't been updated on much yet, but he could tell Lyra was hurting.

"Me, too."

"You know, if you want, I can come with you." Sam suggested.

"You're a good man, Sam. This one's on me, though." He tapped Sam on the back and headed over to Lyra and Bucky.

"Don't do anything stupid 'till I get back." He looked at Bucky who laughed slightly, pulling him into a hug.

"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you." Steve looked at Lyra, and she slowly frowned, starting to realize what was going on.

"Steve" she was cut off with a tight hug from Steve. "Can we both agree that the other day never happened" Lyra nodded laughing slightly wiping a tear from her eye.

"Gonna miss you, Buddy." Bucky tapped Steve's shoulder.

"It's gonna be okay, Buck." Steve got up onto the platform, and gave Lyra one last look before he sucked up into the Quantum portal.

"How long is this gonna take?" Sam asked

"For him? As long as he needs. For us? Five seconds." Bucky and Lyra gave each other a look, before Bruce went to get him back.

"And returning in, five, four, three, two, one. . ." Steve didn't appear back onto the platform, and Bruce scrunched his eyebrows up in confusion.

"Where is he?"

"I don't know. He blew right by his time stamp. He should be here" Bucky budged Lyra's shoulder, and they looked over at the bench next to the lake.

"Well get him back!" Sam shouted.

"I'm trying"

"Get him the hell back!"

"Hey, I said, I'm trying!"

"Sam..." Lyra motioned for him to look over to the bench, they all slowly walked down, Bucky and Lyra stopped. "Go ahead" Bucky tapped Sam's shoulder and he headed forward.

"Why did he do this?" Lyra asked Bucky.

"He wanted to spend his time with his true love" Bucky sighed.

Sam walked back up holding Captain America's shield. Lyra gulped shakily, trying not to cry. "He's happy" Sam told them. Lyra smiled with tears in her eyes, and the four of them turned away walking back up leaving Steve on the bench.

"Lyra" she turned around and was faced with an older Steve, he motioned for her to come down, and Bucky pushed her forward slightly.

She walked down and he sat back down, with Lyra sitting next to him. "How is Peggy?" She asked, he laughed slightly holding her hand with the wedding ring on his finger.

"Someone's going to have to run the headquarters now that Nat isn't there" Lyra quickly shook her head. "No no i don't want to replace Nat" she played with the necklace on her neck, Steve carefully held the necklace up carefully around her neck. "Lyra she gave you this necklace, she wants you to take the leap" she smiled at him and nodded.

"Okay" he smiled and leaned back on the bench. "Goodbye Lyra, don't kill Bucky" she stood up laughing and slowly walked back up towards where Bucky waited for her.

"What did he want?" He asked as she hooked onto his arm. "Just a job offer" she told him smiling to herself as the walked up towards the headquarters.