Steel Hearts

- 48 -

Steve and I gathered up the briefcase that held the infinity stones along with Mjölner. We were suited up and ready to face whatever was ahead of us as we returned the stones. He never told me explicitly why he had asked me to come with him, but I didn't bother questioning.

Calling the hammer to my hand with ease, the leather handle slaps my palm and I sigh, "I can see why Thor liked this so much."

He smiled and agreed, "It's kinda fun."

Wanda had agreed to stay with the twins and Chewie while the rest of us left to meet with Bruce who had help from Rocket to build a smaller version of the quantum tunnel. I greeted him with a smile when we had gotten out of the car, placing Mjölner down onto the platform while Steve handed the briefcase to him. Sam and Bucky stood aside, hands in their pockets as they waited. It would be mere seconds for them but who knows how long Steve and I would be gone.

"Remember, you have to return the stones to the exact moment you got 'em or you're gonna open up a bunch of nasty alternative realities," Bruce reminded us. He spoke slowly and pushed the open case toward us once more after checking that all the stones were there.

Nodding, I assure him, "Don't worry, Bruce."

"We'll clip all the branches," Steve adds, clicking the case closed.

Our friend let the system boot up as he spoke, obviously disappointed and disheartened, "You know, I tried. When I had the gauntlet, the stones, I really tried to bring her back... I miss her."

"Me too," Steve nods and I chew on the inside of my cheek. I missed Natasha more than anything and if we could bring her back by returning the stones, I would do it in a heartbeat. Steve patted Bruce on his uninjured shoulder before the two of us turned to walk toward the platform.

"You know," Sam fell into step with us, "If you want... I could come with you."

"You're a good man, Sam. This one's on us, though," Steve stated before embracing him. Sam nodded in understanding that this was something Steve and I needed to do alone.

My lips curled into a pout as I waited my turn to hug Sam. Quickly taking advantage as they stepped away from each other, I jokingly shoulder past my husband and throw myself into Sam's arms. An embrace that I missed dearly for five long years and I could never get tired of.

Steve turned to Bucky and reminded him, "Don't do anything stupid till I get back."

"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you," he responded with a sad smile before the two of them pulled each other into a tight hug. "I'm gonna miss you, buddy."

My brows furrowed in confusion. We were coming back. That was what we planned on.

"It's gonna be okay, Buck," Steve promised and received a forced smile in return.

I smiled warmly at him as Bucky turned to me and asked, "You're coming back, right?"

"You really think I would leave my favorite bionic senior citizen behind?" A genuine smile broke out and he pulled me into him, squeezing me gently but tightly; as if I were one of the few things grounding him to this new life he was living and truthfully, I probably was.

Steve placed a hand on my back and the two of us climbed the stairs up onto the platform.

"Where to first?" He asks with a smile. Neither of us knew what was in store, but it was something we had to do regardless.

Hank Pym had developed more Pym particles for us, so we could take as long as we needed and go wherever we wanted. He had also given us several Pym particle disks to use to carry the scepter with us. We shrank it and Steve had placed it in one of the pockets on his belt.