The one forgiven sin 《Sambucky》

Epilogue 《1》

The drive to Sam's funeral is quiet, but still, Bucky feels like his sobs resonate all across America, as if the whole continent is thanks to him forced to grieve along.

They are. Bucky knows they are. Sam was a peace maker for over many years, so Bucky has to make sure everyone knows to respect the man that peacefully passed away in his sleep. His brown eyes were very much alive the day before, as he and Bucky reminisced about the good old days, when they were on the run, Steve by their side, before Thanos. But when Bucky woke up again, on that uncomfortable chair, next to Sam's side, his neck aching, his muscles hurting, his partner of many years had already breathed his last breath.

Bucky hasn't stopped crying since, and a whole week had already passed. Sarah, the perfect angel, refuses to leave his side, so both very slowly crawl out of the long, black limo they arrived with. You see, both weren't as fit as back then.

Both reached the biological age of eighty right now. 

Bucky was hella surprised as his hair normally started greying after his 123rd birthday, exactly fithteen years after he came to be James Buchanan Barnes-Wilson.

After Sam proposed, Bucky wanted to change his surname, he wanted to belong to Sam in all kind of ways. But he also couldn't turn his back on the identity he took so much time reclaiming. So, Sam opted to do one of those two surname thingys.

They had an amazing summer wedding, on the 1st of September, 2025. Bucky was so nervous back then, he had all kind if thought running through his mind, full of scenarios to embarrass himself, such as slipping at the steps and breaking his neck and shit.
His hands shook so badly, but even as they danced after the ceremony, and Bucky knows Sam had noticed it, his partner, his husband, the love of his life, knew to stay quiet and to not comment.

They had made out all weekend, had sex all evening and ate all the food on their own. Sam got so drunk, Bucky had to carry him away bridal style, but both were so fucking happy to be with the other, Bucky, not even noticing the alcohol in his system at all, couldn't walk straight anyways, since he was busy giggling like a teenage girl on their first date.

Their wedding was the best day of Bucky's life.

Their honeymoon was when Bucky was happiest. It took him a whole month and two weeks and multiple threats to return to his roots, aka the Winter Soldier Programming, for the government to grant them both this free time without disturbances.

It was absolute bliss. They went to Greece for one week, to Egypt for one and a half, travelled through all of Italy for another week and avoided Siberia, Bavaria, as well as Germany and Russia.

But, soon, Sam was called into duty once again. He stayed a loyal Captain America till he reached the age of proud fifty five, looking not one day older than forty in Bucky's eyes. After he gave up the shield, crime rates basically skyrocketed and someone had to take up the mantle, once again.

So, Bucky did it for three years straight, but while Steve and Sam were literal pacifists, everyone was surprised by Captain America suddenly carrying a gun around and to not be afraid to use it.
He loved coming home, exhausted beyond believe, to find his husband stretched out on their couch, cooked dinner already cold, but eager to heat it up for Bucky again.

Bucky never was more than an hour late, and Sam always waited.

But now, Bucky, once again, had no one waiting for him.

He knows, once he sees the coffin containing the love of his life, grey hair, multiple wrinkles on his face, but closed eyelids, his resolve will break away. He'll sob uncontrollably, and he won't give a fuck.

He is just glad and thankful for all those years spent with that amazing human being.

He is glad he got to call Sam his.
They married when Bucky was in his biological forties and Sam was forty two years old. Which means, they spent lovely 40 years with one another.

Still feels like it wasn't enough.
Bucky will never have enough if Sam.

This time, there won't be some kind of resuraction as was back then after Sam got shot out of the sky. Bucky still thanks his lucky star he insisted of Sam's suit to be made out of vibranium, or else he might have been even more hurt.

The female nurse that managed to get that stubborn heart heating is named Shelly, and she is the first face that greets him as he steps out of the vehicle, his walking stick in his right hand to support his weight. Teary eyed, they stare at one another, but hug it out not even seconds afterwards. They managed to become friends after she saved Sam's life, and Bucky loved her like his little sister.

After separating, two strong, muscular arms envelope him in another hug. He knows this person is AJ, and just as he expected, once he is set free, Cass, massive glasses fogged up by all those tears, smashes him against his chest again. Both boys joined the army, so now both are as bulky as their uncle used to be, and Bucky, whose muscles already are replaced by shaking bones and wrinkles, gets dragged around by those boys like a rag doll.

Multiple reporters are standing outside, Bucky can see and feel the flashlights, but his mind is too numb to do something about it. He isn't all so surprised to find a ninety, healthy and smug Baron Zemo sitting in the front row, chains decorating his wrinkled hands and neck. Their eyes meet, and for the first time, Bucky can see some much meant sympathy shine on those brown orbs.

He is most definitely not surprised to find Torres hunched over in a chair, loud and heavy sobs leaving his body. To honour Sam, most veterans, soldiers came in their uniform. Bucky himself is wearing the blue one, didn't think he'd fit in it, but he did loose all his muscles and replaced them with soft skin. So, Torres is wearing his as well, and he jumps up, only to takle Bucky in a way too energic hug for Torres to be seventy four. Next to him, is Elijah Bradley, and they both salute each other. The kid used to be a superhero as well, everyone called him the patriot. He was a good boy then, is a good man now. Married Torres in the progress.
They remind him of Sam and himself massively.

Massively enthusiastic extrovert and depressed, grumpy introvert.

After he greeted all the persons, all their neighbours, he couldn't help but let his eyes rank around in search of Rhodey, only to remember he had died two years ago. It was peaceful and quiet, organised by Pepper, so the media didn't even know about it till two weeks after.

Some of the people already died in action, like Wong, Wanda after turning mad, Scott, self sacrificing idiot, Morgan, Peter Quill, T'Challa Drax...

Some, thankfully, just died of old age, such as Clint, Rhodey, Steve, Bruce..

The ones that didn't die, are all unsurprisingly here, and Bucky doesn't feel as alone as he did back home.

But now, he needs to carry the coffin inside.

He needs to finish his speech.

He needs to say goodbye to the man that made him smile so much.