"Listen punk, we're gonna win ourselves a war and then we're gonna win ourselves some beautiful dames." Bucky smirked up a Steve from across the table in the bar.
Steve laughed, "I hope you mean win their hearts, because no human is a prize to be won, Buck."
"I know that, you idiot, I just wanted to make it clear what my game plan is." Steve laughed heartily, his whole face lighting up with amusement. It was good to get away from it all every once in a while, to enjoy the quiet moments with the only person he could really call family. There was a war going on, there were bound to be casualties, but as long as Steve had Bucky, he was bound to be alright.

Couples dancing their socks off and having the time of their lives. Soldiers drinking away their pain so that they could forget it for at least one night. Nothing had changed in this bar since the last time Steve had been here. Except, now there was no Bucky to join him. Steve had hoped that the atmosphere would lift his spirits a bit, put a bit of life back into him, but all it did was make him miss Bucky more. He should have done more, it should have been him who had fallen.. Bucky didn't deserve it. Steve no longer knew whether he would be alright or not.

"We'll have the band play something slow..." The radio crackled into silence, as Steve braced himself for the impact. Even faced with a problem he wouldn't be able to solve, Steve smiled to himself. It's going to be okay, he told himself. I'll be with Buck. I'll be alright. The smile was still on his face as the jet crashed into the ice.

"You've been asleep Cap, for almost 70 years..." After that, the Avengers had become his family. They were dysfunctional, oh so dysfunctional, but really, what did you expect from a team that featured Tony Stark, a god, assassins and a.. Hulk? 'They're not Bucky, they'll never replace Buck, but I'll be okay.' He told himself. 'They'll help me survive.'

"Bucky?"

He's...

He's alive?

Hie eyes are dead and unresponsive, he doesn't recognize Steve. But it's him. Steve would know him anywhere. He tried to kill him. He's certainly not the Bucky he remembers. Despite all that, Steve feels elated. Bucky's alive. And now, no matter what, Steve will find him and bring him back to him. Bring him back home. Because now, Steve knows that everything is going to be alright. Bucky's alive, and that's all that matters.