Stay With Me

Epilogue

Avenger's Property, New York. November 2023. (5 Weeks Later)

Juliette pulls her sweater tighter across her body, a feeble attempt at keeping her shivering body warm. Although it isn't the cool spring breeze making her shiver. The sun shines down on her husband as she watches him discuss the plan again with Bruce. A ray peaks through the trees overhead and makes his blonde hair shine like a halo.

A barely audible whimper escapes her pressed lips, her heart aches looking at him. Dressed in his dark blue Captain America suit, Thor's hammer held loosely in his grasp. The shield missing, after being destroyed by Thanos six months ago, it now sits somewhere in Wakanda where Shuri is trying to fix it, or create another one.

"Are you ok?" Bucky asks her quietly, his shoulder almost rubbing her arm, he takes a tentative step away from her. He wants to reach over and comfort her, but he has yet to touch her in anyway. Instead he shoves his hands in his jacket pockets, like he's trying to hide his vibranium limb from her. Even though he practically lives with Steve and Julie, Bucky is still timid around her.

She's the first woman who hasn't looked at him like a monster since New Year's 1945.When he rang in the New Year with a pretty little red head nurse stationed in Italy. Juliette smiles warmly at him, accepts him and his demons but also doesn't treat him like he'll break. Or snap and murder half the city.

Juliette sighs and hugs her body tighter, "I'll be better when this is all over."

Bucky nods silently, not being one of many words. But his face tells all. He's worried, not only for Steve but for himself and Julie as well. What Julie doesn't know is that last night, after she'd gone to bed. Steve sat Bucky down and made him promise to take care of his family if anything happened during the jump today.

He can barely take care of himself let alone his best friend's wife and child. But he agreed non the less, swearing to protect them and care for them as if they were his own. It was the least he could do after he learned about the sacrifice Steve made in order to protect him all those years ago.

"How long is this going to take?" Sam asks Bruce from Juliette's other side, his arms crossed over his chest. Steve looks up and see's Julie trembling. His gaze softens as he frowns. Seeing her so worked up has him questioning if he's the right person for this mission.

In truth he's the only person, but it doesn't make leaving his family any easier.

"For him as long as he needs, for us about 5 seconds." Bruce replies, his eyes sweeping over to Julie. She nods once, accepting his answer. "Alright Cap'n, ready when you are."

Steve steps away from the rows of computer screens and devices set up on the folding table in the middle of the clearing surrounded by woods behind the newly constructed Compound. Bulldozers and dump trucks beep and haul concrete, sounds of a construction site filled the otherwise quiet woods. Aside from the buzzing coming from the raised circular platform the team now surrounds.

The platform that Steve is about to stand on after he says his goodbyes, glows slightly. Although he's trying not to think of it as goodbye. He has no idea how long he's about to gone. For him it could be days, maybe weeks. Thankfully Juliette only has to be without him for a few seconds. That's the only real reason he agreed to take the stones back in the first place. Because he wouldn't be gone long enough for her to miss him.

Steve approaches Sam first, dropping Mjönir on the platform before reaching him. The two men shake hands and smile fondly at one another. Years of history evident between them. Sam's smile fades slightly. "Yanno, if you want, I could go with you."

Steve's smile widens, "You're a good man Sam. But this one is one me. And you've spent enough time away from my wife, she needs her friend."

"She needs her husband more." Sam counters and grabs Steve's shoulder. "Don't take too long, you know how impatient she can be."