Epilogue: Part 2

New York City. Kelly sighed as she looked out the window of her new apartment. It felt nice to finally see light again but at the same time, it felt empty. The place was filled with furniture and yet still felt hollow. On the top of the list of places I never thought I'd be again, this has got to be the first. It'd been a week since she left SHIELD and James. James. Just the thought of him made her entire body ache. But his words kept running through her mind. He'd rather have me gone, he said it himself. Well James, you got your wish.

Collapsing in her desk chair, Kelly opened her computer. Just letting the words flow from her fingertips, after a few minutes she stopped. Holding the backspace key, she deleted it all. God why can't I just go back to what I used to be? Normal. Snorting then sighing, she leaned back in the chair. Normal doesn't exist around me anymore. Closing her eyes for a split second, Kelly jerked back when she saw DeLeon's face again. He held up the gun to her head, eyes wide and crazed. Shaking it off, she stood and went to the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge.

As she took a swig, Kelly suddenly heard the creaking of the floorboards outside. Instinctively she grabbed her gun from the drawer and held it up high. Slowly approaching her door, she tilted her head, but only saw a shadow through the crack. Flinging the door open and standing with gun in front, she came face to face to the man she thought she left in Europe.

"James" she said, swallowing and lowering her gun.

James eyes never left hers for a moment. They still sparkled but were bloodshot as he stared at her. He didn't say a word, just rushed in and closed the distance between them in a couple strides. Taking her head in his hands, he pressed his lips to hers. The fire burned her skin immediately and initially she tried to pull back but that metal arm wrapped around and pulled her closer, holding her in place. Finally she felt her body give, melding against his. God I missed this. She felt the fingers from his other hand grip her shoulder. After a few moments, they both pulled their faces back slightly to breathe. Kelly's eyes met his for a moment before looking away. She tried to wriggle away but he didn't let her.

"Can I move?" she chuckled.

"No" he said, "Or you think you can just leave any time."

"James" she said but he silenced her again with his kiss. She wanted to fight it but damn if he didn't know what he was doing. She remembered being right back in the alley the first time he pressed her against the wall. This time he pulled back first, keeping his face close to hers. "Do you have any idea what ran through my head when I found you gone? I thought you dead, kidnapped or worse."

"I'm sorry" she looked away, "I wanted to find the right words but couldn't find any. I'm sure you saw how many things I scratched out on that note" sighing she asked, "How'd you find me? I mean, I'm sure that part wasn't hard but…why are you here?" she swallowed, "I thought it'd be better if I was gone? You said it yourself."

James face dropped, "That's why you left?"

"No" she said, shaking her head, "But it definitely didn't help my decision," She paused a second then looked up at him, "If you didn't want me around anymore why didn't you just say so?"

"I want you around every second," James said, "That's exactly what I was telling Steve. I couldn't handle having you next to me for a few days then disappearing for a week or two. I want things to be like they were."

"Like the cabin" she said.

His lips curled into a slight smile, "Exactly."

Looking away Kelly said, "But they can't be."

"Yes they can," he said, pulling her chin up with his fingertips, "Don't you want it?"

"Of course I do," she answered, "But I'm not about to make you choose between me and your best friend. I quit SHIELD James. I couldn't be there anymore but you, you can. You and Steve finally were back together and I…I couldn't get in the way of that either."

"You think there's even a choice in that?"

"But Steve—"

"Steve and I have been friends for over 90 years. That's not about to change. But you…I can't be without you" James interrupted.

"You say that but I told you I'm not good with relationships. I mean look at what happened with the only one I ever had before you. It's not like I've been that great of a girlfriend to you anyway. I'm barely there and when I am I…I don't know…it's like I don't know how to be what you need anymore."

"You already are how I need you" he said, "How could you think that?"

"Because I'm not who I used to be," Kelly eyes glistened with tears, "You were right about Spain. Something did happen and I'm sorry I chewed your head off for asking about it but I just…It haunts me."

Running a hand through her hair he asked, "Tell me."

"I killed him. DeLeon," she said, squeezing her eyes shut and letting two tears drop down her cheeks. Opening her eyes after a few seconds she said, "I was supposed to be getting information but he caught on. It came down to him versus me. If I didn't shoot he would've so I…did" She swallowed then said, "I still see DeLeon's face every second of everyday and I can't make it stop. I killed him and I can't change that. But you, you finally are at peace with your guilt over the people you've killed. I didn't want to drag you back down."

James grabbed the tops of her arms, shaking her gently, "You think you'd drag me down? You're the reason I was able to bury my guilt in the first place," He paused, staring at her, "Every second I relive everything I did to you," loosening his grip he slid his fingers under her shirt, right on the scar, "I can still see the look in your eyes when I slid the knife in and it kills me. But you helped me put it in the past. Let me do the same for you."

Staring up at him for a few moments she said, "Okay."

After another minutes she asked, "So are you going to let me move then?"

"No" he said, chuckling.

Together they both fell backward onto the couch, James wrapping an arm around her. "Why did you come here, to New York? I thought you told me this place wasn't for you."

Kelly smiled slightly as she looked up at him then said, "How else could I be close to Coney Island?"

James pressed his lips to hers, letting her hair intertwine with his fingers. He pulled back a second, keeping his forehead to hers as he breathed, "You came back to the place, a place you hate, to remember me?"

"Not like I could forget you if I tried," She smiled as she brushed her lips against his again, "That, and all the big publishers are here so I figured why not?"

"Publishers?" he asked.

Grabbing the piece of paper from her pocket, she handed it to him. His eyes scanned it then met hers once more. "They're publishing your book?"

Grinning she said, "Yeah. About damn time too."

"We should celebrate."

"Oh yeah and where do you suggest?"

Together they smiled and said, "Coney Island."

Giggling she said, "I guess I should show you something first…"

He followed her into the bedroom and there on the bed sat the huge teddy bear he won for her. "I call him Bucky" she said, leaning in the doorframe as he turned to face her. He grinned, "Bucky?"

"It's not as tacky on a bear" she said, grinning.

They laughed before he picked her up and kissed her, giving her a little twirl. After she grabbed her keys, Kelly and James headed out the door. Darkness was approaching as the sun began to set. The lights of the Wonder Wheel turned on, shining bright and lighting up the boardwalk.

"Are we going to ride on the inside ones or the outside?" she asked.

"How about the outside ones this time?" he said.

She nodded and they got on. They made conversation and before they knew it, it came time to get out. Only James stopped her. "One more time" he said.

After about 3 more time around, Kelly said, "Are we going to ride this all night? If you think this is the machine to get me to throw up like Steve you're sadly mistaken."

James chuckled slightly, looking out to see they'd almost reached the very top again.

Squeezing his hand she said, "So why are we riding this over and over?"

"I'm just trying to get a little courage," he answered.

Kelly laughed, "Like you need any. You're the Winter Soldier. What do you need if for anyway?"

Right as they reached the top, James pulled a small ring out of his pocket, smiling at her. "For this" he answered.

She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand, eyes wide in surprise. Glancing from the ring back to him, her she felt the reddening of her cheeks. Taking her hand in his, he smiled.

"I've known since the moment I met you I couldn't let you go. Destiny, chance, call it whatever you like. It doesn't matter to me. I only know I never want to spend one moment without you again. I love you, Kelly Olson," he said, swallowing and glancing down for a moment before his sparkling blue orbs met hers once more as he said, "Will you marry me?"

Kelly smiled and nodded frantically as she said, "Yes. Of course yes."

James smile was blinding as he slid the simple band with one diamond on her finger. Their lips met again. When they finally pulled away for air she said, "Are you sure you can handle a wife who can kick your butt?"

"Still cocky" he chuckled.

Kelly grinned, "Would you want me any other way?"

Neither of them said another word, just pressed their lips together once more.