The Other Rogers

Chapter 55: Epilogue Part 1

The years had passed blissfully. Sure, there had been troubles and foes to defeat, defending Earth from her enemies; but overall life for Anya had been beautiful. There were certain memorable moments that had passed.

After seventy years, James had finally proposed, something that Anya never thought would happen. If she was honest with herself; she had feared that when he and Steve had gone back in time to return the stones, James wouldn't have returned.

She knew Steve would; he had Natasha and their twin children to return to; but with James she was afraid that he wouldn't want to have anything to do with her.

After all, she was a constant reminder of their torturous past. She had confessed her fears to Natasha who held her while she cried, sitting under a tree some distance from the make-shift Quantum platform.

But her fears were for nothing; both her brother and James returned which resulted in Anya avoiding them for days, ashamed in her doubts.

Neither Steve or James knew what was wrong with her and Natasha wouldn't tell them; not until James started to doubt if he was wanted.

Natasha overheard a conversation between him and Steve one night, James was telling Steve that he was thinking that Anya didn't want him, that maybe he should have stayed behind in the forties after they returned the stones. Natasha had burst into the room, her green eyes flashing in anger, her hands clenched in fists.

She had yelled at him, stating that it was talk like that that had Anya crying in her arms as they waited for the men to return.

James and Steve were shocked to say the least, James had no idea that Anya could doubt his love for her.

Natasha told him that Anya had feared that he would see her as a constant reminder of the horrors they had faced.

Hearing that, James had bolted to his and Anya's shared room at the Rogers home and found her curled up in a ball, crying. Holding her close he chased away all her fears, by admitting that it was because of her that he had the strength to survive those decades in Hydra's grasp.

Since then, the couple had been stronger than ever. Anya still felt foolish for ever doubting the love they shared, but James found it endearing, she had been willing to sacrifice her happiness for his. Mind you, he already knew that from their time in the Red Room; but to know that she would still do it, now that he was free of the brainwashing made him love her even more.

No relationship was true without some bumps in the journey, theirs was no exception.

James the very next day had dragged Steve out to go ring shopping after several weeks, he had the perfect piece made for the perfect bride.

He had planned the proposal, but all his plans had gone down the drain when he caught sight of her playing in the joined yards of Steve and Tony's homes; chasing Tony's daughter Morgan and the twins around the place with a flower crown weaved through her golden braids.

Stealing her away from the children knowing that Natasha was within eye range of them, he walked them to the lake, and almost fell to his knee he had been so nervous. Anya smiled and cried through it all, but she had never looked so beautiful, except for maybe their wedding day. She had truly looked angelic.

At that point of time, she looked so perfect James swore nothing could beat it, but alas, that was not true.

Six months after they were married, their first child was born. They had been blessed with a daughter, one whom they named Sarah.

Sarah was a beautiful baby, taking after both her parents. But the biggest surprise had to be how she took after her namesake; just like her grandmother and aunt, she was born with deep emerald eyes, one's that looked like they held all the secrets and wonders of the world.