It's a promise

Prologue

October 2023

Today was the day when Steve would return the stones. I looked at him talking to Bruce while I was standing next to Bucky and Sam. I met these two a few weeks ago after they came back from their final fight with Thanos. We spent a lot of time together because Steve missed his two best friends even if they didn't seem to get along.

I put my hand on my stomach because I felt sick and just wanted to throw up. I had the feeling that something bad was happening. Something that would change everything. Bucky was looking at me and he saw me biting on my bottom lip.

'Everything will be okay. Steve will not get hurt.'

Should I tell him that him getting hurt wasn't my worry? It was him not coming back at all that kept my head spinning and made me want to throw up. But I stayed quiet because I guessed he already knew what I was thinking.

Would Steve come back to me? Would he stay in the past? Would he choose Peggy over me? She is the love of his life even though I spent the last years with him and I loved him with all my heart. But did he love me the same way? Was my love enough? Was I enough? Would he really choose me?

Steve looked over and gave me an encouraging smile. I loved his smile. Would it be the last time I'll see it? I should stop with these thoughts but I couldn't.

I was watching him stepping in the middle of the time heist, the suitcase with the infinity stones in one hand and Mjolnir in the other. He was looking at me while Sam was talking to him. I didn't even listen. I was too much in my head. The next thing I realized was him disappearing and Bruce counting down.

'And returning in...
5
4
3
2
1...'