Amelia knew her time was running short. She could feel it deep in her bones, but she wasn't scared. She'd lived her life, and now it was time for her to go. She could finally see David again and Molly. She'd get to hug her parents after 30 years without them. And Steve and Bucky would be there, her two boys who had been gone for over 65 years.

She was sad that she would be leaving her children behind. But they were grown, they didn't depend on her anymore. They had families and children of their own, now. In fact, Elizabeth's Annie had just had her first baby.

She felt her son take her hand and she opened her eyes. "You don't need to stay by my side every minute of the day," she chastised him lightly. James smiled in response.

"I know," he said. "But I want to."

"Liar."

"I'm not," he smirked. "I do want to. I love you, Mom."

"And I love you too," she said, squeezing his hand. "Of course, you'll tell your brother and sister I love them as well, right?"

"Okay, but you're not going anywhere, Mom," James said. "You're staying right here where you belong."

Amelia nodded but didn't say anything. She knew her James knew she was old and fading, he was just saying what he needed to comfort himself. He'd probably the hardest time when she went, she thought. He hadn't yet fully recovered from his father's passing, just last year. But she knew with time he would be alright. They all would. She regretted not being able to tell Elizabeth and Michael goodbye in person, though.

"It's getting late," she said finally. "I'm sure you're tired from waiting on me hand and foot all day and Carol is probably wondering where her husband's wandered off to."

"Alright." James stood and kissed her cheek. "Good night, Mom. Sleep well."

"Good night, my dear boy," she said. "I love you."

"Love you too." James flicked the light off in her room, and Amelia settled into her bed. Her curtains were open, and she was thankful that she'd get to see the moon and stars one last time. Though her view was limited she easily identified Orion and the Big Dipper, just like Steve had showed her when they were just children. They had been so young, barely more than babies, but she remembered feeling so grown up at the time.

She turned her head away from the window and there he was, just sitting in her armchair with that dopey smile she used to tease him mercilessly about. When she looked back to the window Bucky was there, leaning against it with his arms crossed, smirking at her.

"Been a while, hasn't it?" Steve said.

"It has," she agreed. "Are you really here?" Both of them simply shrugged.

"Are you ready?" Bucky asked.

"Were you?" She narrowed her eyes at the two of them. "Were either of you ready?"

Bucky pushed off the window and strolled over to where Steve sat. "Even if we weren't, it doesn't matter so much anymore, does it?"

"It happened," Steve agreed. "No way to change that now."

"Still," Amelia said with a sigh, "I never wanted you to die in the war. Either of you. I wanted both of you to come home safe and sound. It was so lonely those first few years. I didn't know what to do."

"But that's all over, now," Steve consoled her gently. "Your life since has been wonderful, hasn't it? You met an amazing man and were a great mother. You did everything you were supposed to do."

"And besides, we never really left," Bucky said. "We've been in your heart the entire time. And if that's too cheesy for you, at the very least we were kept alive in your memories. We promised we'd be with you till the end of the line, and we kept it. You just couldn't always see us."

Amelia nodded slowly. She knew she was staring at the two of them, but she couldn't bring herself to stop. After almost 70 years apart she could finally be with Steve and Bucky again. Despite that, though, she found herself worrying about her children though she knew they were grown. It was in her nature to worry; she had worried about Bucky and Steve in their youth, she worried about Joseph and her children, and she worried about her children's children.

Bucky stepped forward and offered her his hand. "They're all going to be fine," he said, reading her mind. "They're strong like their mother, and the world will keep turning."

"Does it hurt?" She asked timidly.

Steve gave an ugly snort and started to laugh. "You're asking us if it hurt?" He asked. "You didn't used to be this dense, Amelia." She shot a glare in his direction, which only made him laugh harder.

"I think what he means to say," Bucky chuckled, "is that maybe we aren't the best people to ask about that. We did, after all, die in a war. Though Steve's death was partially his own fault. Idiot didn't know how to fly a plane."

"It was more complicated than that and you know it," Steve barked, shooting to his feet.

"Excuses, excuses." Bucky grinned wickedly as Steve scowled darkly at him and Amelia laughed.

"I've missed the two of you so much," she said. "It's been far too long."

"That it has," Bucky agreed. "But are you ready to come with us to a place full of wonder, happiness, and a whole lot of dead people?"

"You make it sound like Coney Island overrun by zombies," Steve snarked, rolling his eyes.

"Regardless," Bucky said with a wave of his hand.

"I'm ready," Amelia said, taking Bucky's hand, which was surprisingly warm and solid. She stood, and her joints didn't creak and her bones didn't ache with the movement. She actually felt better than she had in years, like she could run 100 miles without needing to rest. She threw her arms around Bucky in a hug then did the same with Steve.

"I'm ready," she repeated, taking both of their hands.

"Hold on tight, then," Bucky grinned at her.


Okay. So obviously Amelia's not actually seeing Steve and Bucky's ghosts or spirits or whatever because they are not, in fact, dead. She's hallucinating or dreaming or something when they appear.

I have one more "deleted scene" thing left, so hopefully that'll be up within the next few days.