Captain's Past, A Soldier's Future

Returning the Stones, Steve leaving, Giving the Shield, Marissa and Bucky

After the funeral, Marissa, Bruce, Bucky, Sam, and Steve stood around as Steve was about to go put the Stones back. "Now, remember– You have to return the stones to the exact moment you got them. Or you're gonna open up a bunch of nasty alternative realities." Bruce told Steve. 

"Don't worry, Bruce. Clip all the branches." Steve told him understanding. 

"You know, if you want, I can come with you." Sam told him. 

"You're a good man, Sam. This one's on me, though." He said giving his answer. Steve walked over to Bucky. "Don't do anything stupid 'till I get back." He told him. 

"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you." He replied. They both hugged each other. 

"Gonna miss you, Buddy." Bucky told him with a soft smile. Marissa was confused looking at them. 

"It's gonna be okay, Buck." Steve assured him before he turned to his girlfriend who was confused. The two hugged each other tight as he whispered in her ear. "I'm so sorry Marissa." He whispered. 

"For what?" She asked confused. He backed up causing more confusion as he walked over to the portal as his suit came on. 

"How long is this gonna take?" Sam asked Bruce. 

"For him? As long as he needs. For us? Five seconds." Bruce answered him as Steve held the case with the stones and picked up Mjolnir. "Ready, Cap? Alright. We'll meet you back here, okay?" Bruce asked Steve. 

"You bet." Steve answered ready. 

"Going quantum. Three, two, one–" Bruce counted down as Steve disappeared into the Quantum portal. "And returning in, five, four, three, two, one–" Bruce said but Steve never appeared on the pad. Bruce looked around the equipment. 

"Where is he?" Sam asked him. 

"I don't know. He blew right by his time stamp. He should be here." Bruce answered as Bucky and Marissa turned around from the pad as they seen a figure and walked forward. 

"Well, get him back." Sam told him. 

"I'm trying." Bruce told him. 

"Get him the hell back!" Sam demanded. 

"Hey, I said, I'm trying!" Bruce yelled back. 

"Sam..." Bucky called out. Sam walked toward Bucky. Sam, Bucky, Marissa, and Bruce seen old looking Steve sitting on a log. The three went near him. "Go ahead." Bucky told him as he has a smile forming looking over to Sam. Sam and Marissa walked towards the old man and instantly recognized the now-elderly Steve Rogers. 

"Cap?" Sam asked. 

"Hi, Sam, Marissa." Steve greeted. Steve looked over to Sam. 

"So did something go wrong, or did something go right?" Sam asked. Marissa looked over at the ring and sucked in a breath as she backed up. 

"Well, after I put the stones back, I thought, maybe I'll try some of that life Tony was telling me to get." Steve told him. 

"How'd that work out for you?" Sam asked. 

"It was beautiful." Steve said smiling. 

"I'm happy for you. Truly." Sam told him smiling. 

"Thank you." Steve replied. 

"Only thing bumming me out is the fact I have to live in a world without Captain America." Sam told him with a smile. 

"Oh, That reminds me. Try it on." Steve told him as he brought out the shield. Sam looked over to Bucky, who nodded and Sam held Steve's shield. 

"How does it feel?" Steve asked. 

"Like it's someone else's." Sam answered. 

"It isn't." Steve told him. Sam tried to hold back tears. 

"Thank you. I'll do my best." Sam told him. 

"That's why it's yours." Steve told him as he shook Sam's hand. 

"You wanna tell me about her?" Sam asked seeing the wedding ring. Marissa tried to hold back more tears as she looked down as Bucky helped her hand. 

"No. No, I don't think I will." Steve told him. Marissa went to leave the group but Steve stopped her. "Marissa.." He called out. She turned and looked at him as she walked over to him as she held back. Sam backed up to Bucky to listen as Bucky looked down. "I'm so so sorry. I should've told you sooner but I didn't want to hurt you before I left but while I'm gone all I want for you is to be happy. Deep down you and I both know there's something between you and him like there was between me and you. I'll always love you and I'll tell your best friend you said hi when I see her again." He explained as tears rolled down their cheeks he gently kissed her cheek as Marissa broke down more. "I love you." 

"I love you too." She muttered as they ended the relationship before she stood up when he was finished and walked away to feel the grief and heartbreak alone as Steve turned to his best friend. 

"Please protect her." Was all he told him looking at her. 

"I promise I'll protect her with my life." Bucky swore as he smiled to his best friend. After everyone packed up and left Bucky walked over to Marissa sitting beside her. "How are you holding up?" He asked her concerned. She looked over at him completely broken as he slowly moved closer to her as he brought her in to comfort her as she broke down close to him. He gently rubbed her back as she silently cried. "Shhhh I got you. I got you." Bucky assured her holding her close. Losing three people she cares about in one day completely got to her tearing her up more then it normally would. As she was completely calming down as she looked down. 

"I'm so sorry I'm a mess again." She admitted as she looked down as she sat up. He sat up with her as he placed a gentle hand on her cheek wiping away her tears as he lifted her head up. 

"Its okay. After everything that happened its okay. We will get through this together. I know you feel grief and heartbreak and you probably think you're alone now cause he left for her but I'm right here and I won't leave you or let you be alone. If you want after they remove the winter soldier program from my head, you and I can get an apartment and stay there together living a somewhat normal life just us." He told her as they looked at each other. She listened as she nodded her head. He stood up as he held both his normal and prostatic hand down to her with a small smile. "Together?" He asked looking at her. She gently took his hand as he helped her up off the ground looking in each other's eyes. 

"Together." She agreed as she smiled a bit. "I missed you." She admitted. 

"I missed you too Mira." He admitted as they both hugged one more time.