A/n: I only own Ellie; all other characters that you recognize are property of Marvel.

A/n2: Two weeks! Two weeks until the end of my class, then I will have two weeks off to hopefully write like crazy. I am working on my Master's final project so unfortunately not a ton of writing has been happening.

Side note: You have homework, go check out Endings, Beginnings trailer. Man Sebastian Stan…*fans self*. Shailene Woodley is a lucky girl.

Thank you to the new followers: amyrrobinson and bookdragonslayer. Also only two reviews away from 200, you guys are awesome!


What if the one thing that I missed
Was everything I need to pass the test
And if I fail, what happens then?
Can I still count on you as a friend?

~ Live to Rise by Soundgarden


*~*~* April 3, 2018 – Disney World Florida *~*~*

Listening to the shower run behind her felt melodic, as Ellie sighed looking out the window of their hotel, braiding her hair. Bucky was in the shower getting ready and the sun was rising over the land below her, as she watched sleepy animals roam over the savanna of the Disney Animal Kingdom lodge.

"How is your training going?"

Ellie turned towards the ghostly form behind her, "Not here," Ellie snapped, "Not when Bucky is awake Strange, I have told you that. I'm doing my best."

"Your best isn't enough!" He barked.

Ellie looked at him, "It's going to have to be because I am only one person, I am sorry I can't handle much more. I am already staying up when I should be sleeping. It is affecting my body and my mind," Ellie argued, "I am a mother to a newborn and he needs me during the night sometimes. He comes first."

"You are being weak," Strange told her.

Ellie glared at him, "Don't make me test my powers on you to see if it would work in the dimension you are in because I will blast you back to New York, England or wherever the hell your body is today."

Strange sighed, "You are ready for the sling ring so that you can practice in the mirror and astral dimensions. Tonight, I will be back so I can begin to teach you"

Ellie sighed as his projection left and ran a hand over her face as the on slot of emotions washed over her.

Sitting on the bed, Ellie put her head in her hands trying not to cry.

"What's wrong?"

Ellie looked back at Bucky to see him completely naked and grinned, "Nothing now, come here."

Bucky walked over to her and sat down next to her, "What?"

Ellie pushed him back onto the bed and straddled his waist, "Just admiring the view," She said as she looked down at his glistening body and kissed some stray water droplets that were gliding across his body.

Bucky laughed, "I'd like it better if you were the naked one."

Ellie moved to the top of his thighs, barely brushing over where he wanted her most, and kissed him, "All in due time, but my dear we need to get ready. We have two parks to visit today."

She rotated and jumped off the bed.

Bucky looked up at her wide-eyed as she stood up, "Come on! The starting sequence has already started!"

Ellie laughed, "We will have some naked time tonight," She told him as she leaned down and kissed him, "Come on, there are zebras outside our window. So close you could touch them nearly."

Bucky stood up and looked out the window, "Shit! A giraffe is staring me down."

Ellie laughed as she went into the bathroom, "Probably thinks there is a carrot you have there."

Bucky gasped as he ran to the bathroom, "I'll show you that it's a carrot."

Ellie giggled as he pressed her against the sink.


Ellie sat on the Kilimanjaro Safari ride with Grant in her lap as he gazed out at all the animals and squealed at some of them.

The lady that had been front of them on the ride looked back after they got off the ride, "I just have to say, your son is so well behaved"

Ellie looked at her and smiled as Bucky helped her put Grant in his carrier so that he could look out, "Thank you."

"How old is he?" She asked as Bucky went to get the stroller.

"Five months old this month," Ellie told her with a smile.

She looked surprised, "Wow, my kids weren't this observant at his age. Hi there kiddo. Enjoy your time at Disney."

"Thank you," Ellie said as Bucky pushed the stroller over to her, "Ready?"

"Yep," Bucky said as they left the Safari area, "What to next?"

"The site I was looking at said that there is a petting zoo in the Rafiki area," Ellie told him, "That it is great for infants."

Bucky nodded as they continued walking through the crowds, "So… this morning, was the ghost back?"

Ellie sighed, "Yeah, he doesn't think I am learning fast enough, I think."

Bucky stopped and looked at her, "Ellie, don't do this if it's going to make you sick or stressed. It's not worth it."

"It is if it could save you or someone else, or bring you back faster Buck," Ellie told him shaking her head, "But he said he thinks I am ready for the next step."

Bucky pulled her into his arms with Grant between them, "I don't want you risking your health okay?"

"I know, I won't. I… it's just some lack of sleep. Training me for the future," Ellie mumbled into his chest as Grant grabbed onto Bucky's shirt.

"I know buddy," Bucky said as he kissed Grant's head then kissed Ellie, "Let's go to the petting zoo."


Late that night, after returning from Epcot, Ellie stood in the shower under the flow of water just letting it wash over her face and down her hair.

"What has you so lost in thought?" Bucky asked behind her.

Ellie jumped sucking in water, coughing, "Buck!? Shit, how did you sneak up on me like that?" She asked coughing.

"As I said, you were lost in thought. What is going on in that gorgeous head of yours Angel?" Bucky asked as he kissed her pulling her close to him so that she was now out of the stream of water.

"Mmm Grant…" Ellie said into the kiss.

"Is asleep, no need to worry there," Bucky said as he kissed down her neck.

"Buck," She breathed out as he kissed a particularly sensitive spot.

Bucky touched his forehead to Ellie's as the water rushed over them, "I love having Grant but I love our moments like this."

Ellie grinned, "That's what makes them even more special," Ellie said as she played with his wet hair as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled her body against his.

Bucky groaned as he felt her nipples scrape his skin.

Ellie reached for the soap and lathered it up then Bucky sucked in a breath, this time coughing himself on the water, as she wrapped her hand around him. He braced his hand against the wall for support.

"Shit El," Bucky said as he gasped.

"It's been too long," Ellie said as she pushed him back against the back wall of the shower.

With practiced ease, Bucky picked her up and in quick fashion, she wrapped her legs around his waist, flipped their positions and with a quick thrust was inside her.

"Yes," Ellie breathed out her head hitting the wall behind her.

His thrusts were slow and deep. He could not help but grin as she gasped and tightened on him with each thrust. Bringing his flesh fingers between them, he found her clit and rubbed it.

"There," Ellie said as she tried to meet his thrusts faster.

Kissing her neck, he felt her pulse quicken as she bucked against him and clenched harder onto him. She gasped as her orgasm hit her, quickly bringing his along.

Bucky kissed her then slowly set her back on her feet, "Feel better?"

"Hell yeah," Ellie said as she kissed him again, "Bed now"

Bucky giggled as he turned the water off.

Ellie laughed, "Did you just giggle?"

Bucky gasped, "I did not!"

"Yes you so did," Ellie said with a grin.

Bucky grabbed the towel and snapped at her causing her to gasp, "I'll show you."

Ellie laughed as she tried to avoid him and nearly fell. Bucky's arm went around her waist and picked her up, "Oh my hero," Ellie said looking into his eyes.

Bucky smiled as he carried her to bed, "Come on."


*~*~* April 4, 2018 – Magic Kingdom*~*~*

Ellie smiled as Bucky rocked on his heels waiting for their turn to board the Haunted Mansion ride.

"We've been lucky with wait times today," Ellie told him.

"Yeah we have been," Bucky said as he took her hand as it was their turn to board the ride.

He helped her sit carefully in their seat then they sat back as it moved into the attraction.

Grant looked around at the flashing colors and the movements of the different objects on the ride.

"Do you think ghosts exist?" Bucky asked putting his arm over her shoulders.

"Like real ghosts, spirits of those who are dead? The Bible mentions them multiple times but… it basically says that they are not spirits of those who have lived but wayward Angels and Satan who are merely trying to trick us," Ellie told him, "But there is much evidence to their existence, so who knows. They are usually said to be beings that had unfinished business. I would hate to be stuck here with no means to finish something I needed to do. The soul needs rest eventually. What do you think?"

Bucky watched the ghosts dance in front of him, "I don't know, I mean I've never seen proof of one. Mom always said the apartment we had was haunted but… I don't think it was. It was just old, so it made weird noises. To believe in ghosts you do have to believe that there is an afterlife."

Ellie looked at him sadly, "You don't? You don't believe that after we die here, there is a place to go from here?"

Bucky sighed, "I don't know what to believe any more honestly. T'Challa says he has been there, as they call it the ancestor plains, to speak to his father. If there is someplace like that, I… I just worry that because of my time as the Winter Soldier … would I get there?"

Ellie closed her eyes and rested against his shoulder.

"It wasn't you Buck. You've… you've done so much good since then," Ellie told him as she tried not to cry as she took his hand in hers.

"Really? Taking care of goats and bringing Grant into the world?" Bucky asked as he swallowed hard, "I don't see how any of that outweighs what I did."

"You didn't do it, Hydra made you do it. There is a difference," Ellie told him.

Bucky looked over at her, "Whatever happens… just be here when I get back. Without you, there is no me. Promise me that you won't do anything stupid."

Ellie smiled through her tears, "How can I? You are taking all the stupid with you."

Bucky groaned, "Seriously?"

Ellie laughed, "I couldn't help it. I won't Buck. I have Grant to think about too. Plus you WILL be coming back home."

Bucky took her hand and kissed her knuckles, "As soon as I can I'll be right there with you."


*~*~* April 5, 2018 – Florida*~*~*

"Hello?"

Ellie glanced over at Bucky asleep in the passenger's seat, "Hey Steve"

"Hey sis, what are you up to?" Steve asked.

"Driving to Georgia right now," Ellie told him adjusting the earpiece in her ear, "How well can you hear me?"

"Good, why?" Steve asked.

"Shuri gave me this Kimoyo bead upgrade that literally conforms in my ear and works with my phone," Ellie told him, "I'm whispering and it is still picking up my voice."

"Doesn't sound like you are whispering either. Why are you whispering?" Steve asked.

"Bucky is asleep in the passenger seat and Grant is asleep in the back," Ellie said as she looked in the rearview mirror to see the reflection of the tiny mirror that showed Grant's face, "Bucky and I bought a car today."

"Wow, a car? What kind did you get?" Steve asked.

"Tony recommended it. It's called an Audi Q7," Ellie told him, "It was really easy to install Grant's car seat too. The backseats can fold down so the trunk area is huge. This thing… don't tell Shuri but this is better than the Wakanda cars."

Steve laughed, "So how was Disney?"

"Huge. We planned to leave last night, after getting back from the park, and drive so we could start our day early today in Atlanta… but we passed out as soon as we got back to the hotel last night. Then we nearly didn't make it by checking out this morning," Ellie told him as she yawned, "Bucky is still asleep."

"Sounds like you two had fun," Steve said, "We will have to go in the future."

"When the kids are older. There were a lot of things that you can't do with an infant, Bucky and I did end up riding Space Mountain. I rode first then Bucky gave Grant to me so he could ride but that was the only thing we did separate. There was a lot to do even with Grant," Ellie told him as she looked in the mirrors to merge over in the next lane.

"So where are you heading next again?" Steve asked.

"Atlanta, Georgia. Bucky and I picked one location in each state and we are trying to visit as many states as we can while still relaxing," Ellie told him, "We are only stopping in Georgia for today, then we are driving to South Carolina tonight. The plan is to go to the zoo-"

"You going to the zoo? Whoda thunk it?" Steve teased.

"Shut it, Steve. I like zoos," Ellie told him with a smile.

"You always have," Steve told her fondly, "Mom loved bringing us there because it always made you happy."

Ellie looked at Grant's reversed car seat in the middle seat, "I hope that I can be half the Mom that she was Steve."

Steve was quiet for a moment, "You will be and more."

Ellie cleared her throat, "Those are some pretty big shoes to fill."

"But you are completely capable. When Dad died, it was no fault of hers but she was so busy trying to make ends meet, you became her… way too young. I have never thanked you properly for that. Without you, I wouldn't be alive… many times over," Steve told her.

"Steve, stop… I am driving and you are trying to make me cry," Ellie told him wiping her eyes.

"Call me tonight or whenever you get to your hotel?" Steve asked.

"I will… I love you, Steve," Ellie told him.

"I love you too Ellie," Steve said as he hung up.

Ellie sighed as she ran her hand over her face.

"You okay?" Bucky mumbled with his eyes closed.

Ellie looked over, "Are you even awake?"

"I don't know," Bucky said as he shifted.

Ellie laughed as his head drooped and his eyes opened suddenly as he coughed on his snore, "You okay there honey?"

"What? Eww, I drooled all over myself," Bucky said wiping his face.

"It's adorable… I even got pictures," Ellie told him with a smirk glancing at him.

"You didn't," Bucky said wide-eyed.

"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't," Ellie told him as she blew him a kiss.


*~*~* April 5, 2018 – Wakanda*~*~*

Steve sighed as he put down his phone and felt Natasha slide her hand around his shoulders. He touched it and looked up at her, "I'm okay."

"No, you're not but go ahead and think that," Natasha said as she climbed cat-like into his lap, "I think you need to sit down with Bucky and Ellie… talk things about before…anything might happen. Let them know how much they mean to you."

Steve buried his face in her neck, "Thank you for being here."

"There is nowhere else I'd want to be," Natasha said as she kissed him.

Steve's hands were creeping up the back of Natasha's shirt when Sarah started crying over the monitor.

"My God, she has Daddy is about to get some radar," Steve groaned as he rested his head on her chest.

"A little presumptuous aren't you? Thinking you were getting any Mr. Rogers," Natasha said as she kissed him then got off his lap, "Although, it has been 7 weeks now."

Steve sat up straight, "Does that mean what I think it means?"

Natasha laughed as she swayed her hips walking away, "You'll have to see… Captain."

"Fuck," Steve said as he followed her and picked her up making her squeal.


*~*~* April 6, 2018 – Atlanta, Georgia*~*~*

Ellie looked up in wonder as they walked through a tunnel with various fish and other sea-life swimming above them.

Bucky grinned as he filmed Ellie gazing up at the fish and gasping as a shark swam over them. Grant was even watching the colors and smiling.

"Oh!" Ellie said as one of the sharks came up behind them and she jumped slightly.

"Oh!" Grant repeated as he squealed.

Ellie laughed and looked down at him, "Are you copying Mommy?"

"Ah Oooh! Ooh!" Grant screamed.

"Okay, Mommy doesn't sound like that," Ellie said as she looked at Bucky, "Do I?"

"Well maybe not now, but in bed-"

"Bucky!" Ellie scolded with a laugh, "You are recording."

"I'll figure out how to edit it out," Bucky defended, "Plus you don't sound like that… it's more, 'harder Bucky and there Bucky, and you are a God Bucky," Bucky said with a laugh as she pushed him.

An older woman was frowning at them as she grabbed her Grandchild and left the area they were in.

"Shit I didn't see her there," Bucky said.

"Some master assassin skills you have," Ellie said snorting, "No wonder you needed a whole team"

Bucky's eyes narrowed, "Are you seriously joking about this?"

"I'm just saying for two years I operated completely on my own and was never caught and took down two Hydra bases on my own," Ellie told him, "There is a woman… about 5'7 walking around the corner holding an infant and holding in her other hand, the hand of a 2… no… 3 year old."

"You expect me to believe…" Bucky said as the said woman appeared with the daughter dragging her behind her.

"Come on Momma, I want to touch the fishies," She said as the Mother struggled to keep up.

"Anna, don't pull on Momma's hand too hard. I don't want to trip and drop Thomas," The woman said as they rushed past.

Bucky looked at Ellie, "How the hell did you know?" He asked surprised.

Ellie laughed, "Look through the glass."

Bucky looked through the glass to see people on the other side of the water, "Shit you saw them."

Ellie giggled, "I have super hearing but I don't have X-Ray vision Buck, that's only in the comics."

Bucky shook his head as he followed her taking her hand, "You had me fooled for a second."

"Nah, just observant. I know… I know it's safe to drop your guard now Buck but you don't want to drop it too much. Yeah, Hydra isn't going to burst down the wall but… there are still small threats." Ellie told him.

"Shit, remember that time the guy pick-pocketed my wallet and we had to walk back from Coney Island?" Bucky asked.

"I nearly forgot about that," Ellie said shaking her head as she looked at one of the Manta Rays, "Look at how big that Manta-Ray is."

"I think that thing is as long as you are tall," Bucky told her as she looked at him grinning, "What?"

Ellie held up his wallet and he frowned, "Missing something?"

"Not fair," Bucky said taking it and putting it back in his back pocket, "I'm used to you touching my ass anyways."

"Because it's mine," Ellie said as she smacked it then skipped again as much as she could holding Grant.

Bucky smiled and put the camera on himself, "If I don't edit this out and you are watching this in the future El… this is just part of the reason I love you. You have me falling all over myself."

Ellie looked around the corner, "Well are you coming? I think I just saw a turtle."

"I'm coming," Bucky told her as he followed after her.


*~*~* April 7, 2018 – South Carolina*~*~*

Ellie threw their bags on the bed as they entered their hotel room at Myrtle Beach, "I don't know about you Buck, but I'm exhausted. It seemed warmer than Disney World was at the zoo"

Bucky set down Grant's carrier and went over to the sliding door, "Shit El, look at this view."

Ellie walked over behind him and put her arms around him, "I could get used to that view. Maybe in the future, we should get a beach house."

"Too bad the water is going to be too cold to go swimming in the ocean," Bucky said.

"The car said it was 71* but the water temperature is around 63*, doesn't sound cold but I bet it feels like it would be freezing," Ellie told him, "Why don't we go explore?"

Bucky turned around and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, "How about nap first, explore later?" Bucky asked.

"Actually, that does sound good. After that traffic jam… I am a little tired," Ellie told him as she kicked her shoes off as he went to unpack Grant's travel crib.

Ellie unfastened him from his carrier and put him in the bed with her as she laid down. As she had been doing for a few weeks, she pulled him up into sitting position as she looked at him.

"Hi Grant, you have been such a good boy," Ellie cooed.

"Where is the diaper bag?" Bucky asked.

Ellie pointed to the chair, "Over there."

Grant clapped his hands together squealing and Ellie slowly moved her hand out from behind his back.

He wobbled slightly then looked at her, "Ehhh! Ehhh!"

"Buck," Ellie said wide-eyed.

Bucky looked back at her, "What… he is sitting up on his own."

"I know," Ellie said as Grant tried to look at Bucky and lost his balance so she caught him, "Good job little man."

Bucky sat down on the bed, "Shit El… this is crazy how fast he is growing."

"I know," Ellie said as she kissed Grant's hands then let go of his back again.

Grant wobbled again then looked at Bucky as he giggled then fell over.

"It's going to be a game now," Bucky said as he tickled Grant's belly.

He ducked behind Ellie's shoulder then looked out at Grant who laughed.

Bucky kissed Ellie's shoulder as he nuzzled at her neck, "I love you."

Ellie grabbed the back of his neck and kissed him, "I love you too, so no more visits?"

Bucky shook his head, "No."

Ellie sighed as she laid her head on his shoulder as they watched Grant grab for his feet as he rolled, "Hopefully that's a good thing. Why visit when I have you back?"

Bucky kissed the top of her head, "I hope so."


*~*~* April 8, 2018 – North Carolina*~*~*

Ellie smoothed down her dress as Bucky put Grant in the baby sling carrier, "Are you sure this is okay?"

Bucky nodded, "If you want to go, I'm fine with it. Couldn't hurt. As long as I don't burst into flames when I walk in here… we are good."

Ellie rolled her eyes, "And they call Steve the dramatic one."

Bucky took her hand and they walked up to the church. Walking through the doors, a man in white robes was standing at the front of the pews.

"Good day," He greeted, "I am Jeremiah Jones. Are you visitors to our church?"

"Yes sir, I am Elizabeth Barnes and this is my husband James," Ellie said, "We are just here on vacation."

"Welcome to our church, who is this?" He asked looking at Grant.

"This is our son Grant," Ellie told him with a smile.

"You are welcome to sit in the pews while he sleeps but we have a room back here for if he starts fussing or you want the privacy of feeding him," Mr. Jones told them as he pointed to a room with privacy glass, "There are TVs so you can still hear."

"Thank you, sir," Ellie said as they went to the pew and found a seat.

Bucky took her hand and kissed it as she closed her eyes with a smile, "You look happy."

Ellie looked over at him, "Church has always had that effect on me. Until Steve stopped being an altar boy around ten because of his health. The incense that was used was always hard on him. We were there every mass, every Sunday we would be there. It was my safe place. People knew me and I was safe. After that…" She said with a sigh, "Steve's health started declining. He had his first bout with pneumonia and the incense was too much. Mom made us read Bible passages together at home but it wasn't the same as when I was able to be in church. The church was my escape from the reality of our lives."

"Make sure you bring Grant every week if you can then," Bucky said as he put his arm around her and kissed the side of her head.

The organ started playing and the altar boys made their way down the aisle with Jeremiah Jones at the rear of the procession.

Jeremiah came to the podium and looked out over the crowd.

"Welcome my sisters and brothers to our humble church today on this glorious day. We offer the lord ourselves with all our strengths and weakness and I pray in the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit that any sins should be cleansed from us," Jeremiah said.

Ellie squeezed Bucky's hand after crossing herself.

"I pray that our hopes and desires that we are waiting for are coming and pray lord that you will have mercy on us and forgive our sins and bring us to everlasting life and glory to God in the highest. We give thanks to you Lord God, our heavenly king for bringing us here together and receiving our prayer," Jeremiah said as he looked out at the crowd, "Let us pray."

Ellie bowed her head.

"Lord, we rejoice in you through your song Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you. Amen," Jeremiah said as he looked out at everyone again, "I thank each and every one of you for joining us here today. I see many new faces. I invite you all to open your bibles to the book of Isaiah chapter 40 verses 1 through 11."

Ellie took the bible from the back of the pew and opened it.

"Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service has ended, that her guilt is expiated, that she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins," Jeremiah read, "A voice proclaims: In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley shall be lifted up, every mountain and hill made low; the rugged land shall be a plain, the rough country, a broad valley. Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken. A voice says, "Proclaim!" I answer, "What shall I proclaim?" "All flesh is grass and all their loyalty like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower wilts, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it."

Bucky blew out a breath as he felt as if the Priest were speaking to him alone.

"Yes, the people are grass! The grass withers, the flower wilts, but the word of our God stands forever." Go up onto a high mountain, Zion, herald of good news! Cry out at the top of your voice, Jerusalem, herald of good news! Cry out, do not fear! Say to the cities of Judah: Here is your God! Here comes with power the Lord GOD, who rules by his strong arm; here is his reward with him, his recompense before him. Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, leading the ewes with care," Jeremiah read as he set his bible down, "For this is the Word of the Lord."

"The Lord died for our sins but I invite you all to repent your sins with me," Jeremiah stated.

"I confess to almighty God and you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned," Ellie repeated, "In my thoughts and my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, my fault, through my most grievous fault."

She glanced over at Bucky as she heard him whisper the words.

Squeezing his hand, he looked at her with tears in his eyes.

"I know," Ellie whispered as everyone said 'Amen'.


*~*~* April 10, 2018 – North Carolina*~*~*

Ellie stood on the balcony of their hotel room on Nags Head Island listening to the waves as they crashed against the beach. Behind her, Bucky and Grant continued their harmony of snores, but she could not sleep.

Taking the gold ring out of her pocket, she slipped it onto her hand then closed her eyes as she sat down on the chair on the balcony. Taking deep breaths, she held her hand out and envisioned the bedroom and her and Bucky's house. Making a circular motion with her hand, a circle opened up in the air. Standing up, she walked through it.

"Very good"

Ellie jumped as soon as she stepped foot in her own house, "Shit Strange, don't do that to me!"

"You are a fast learner," Strange told her.

"I have a photographic memory. Helps with the time jumps," Ellie told him, "What do you want from me and how the hell did you get into my house?"

"I merely projected myself into your home to wait for you," Strange told her, "Are you ready to work on your astral projection? When you can go to your astral form your body can rest and you can study or navigate the astral world completely independent from this world."

Ellie sighed as she sat on the new reading bench in the study of her bedroom and put her head in her hands.

"What is it?" Strange asked exasperated.

"Look I know this doesn't seem weird for you but it is for me," Ellie told him as she looked up at him, "I grew up in the 30s where all this…" She said looking around her house, "This was a dream. This wasn't the reality. Even millionaires didn't live like this. Time travel and astral projection? Science Fiction. So give me a bit of a break already Damnit."

Strange sighed as his cape flew off his back as he sat down next to her, "I'm sorry. I was in your place once."

Ellie looked at him, "Not an asshole?"

He chuckled, "No, I've always been an asshole. I'm a doctor, we usually are. I became… the supreme sorcerer only after I had an accident. It was a debilitating accident that caused me to lose the function of my hands."

Ellie bit her lip, "What type of doctor were you?"

"Neurosurgeon, so I needed complete use of my hands," Strange told her, "But after much research, I heard of a man who was healed and regained the ability to walk without surgery. So I... gave up all my worldly possessions, used all my money and ended up in a place called Kamar-Taj. It's in Nepal. I was less than skeptical but the man told me that these holy men had healed him. The Ancient One took me in and showed me their ways. While my hands were not truly healed, with the help of my spirit and multi-dimensions, I could be more useful than I ever thought possible. I had a year to learn my craft to get to where I needed to be. You have two months, it is not fair but those are the cards that we have been dealt with."

Ellie gnawed on her lip and looked at him, "Do you know the date… it happens?"

"No, just that it will be happening within the month," Strange told her

Ellie nodded, "That's what I've told myself too."

Strange looked at her, "You can talk with your future self?"

"Only when… she is in my body. I can't try to talk to future me now," Ellie told him shaking her head, "It doesn't work like that."

"Well, since we don't know how much time we have left, let's get to work," Strange told her.

Ellie stepped through the portal and sighed as she took her sling ring off. Opening the sliding door, she toed her shoes off then climbed into bed with Bucky.

"Where have you been?" Bucky mumbled.

"Don't worry about it right now. Go back to sleep," Ellie told him as she kissed his chest.

He put his arm around her and pulled her close, "You aren't cold."

"No, I was in our house," Ellie told him.

Bucky looked at her through the darkness, "In New York?"

Ellie nodded, "Strange has a way to travel between different places."

Bucky sighed, "Shit, what a world we live in."

"Go back to sleep, I need it," Ellie told him as she snuggled into his side.

Bucky kissed the side of her head, "Goodnight my love."


a/n3: There it is. Looking at the chapters I have so far, even if I am unable to write any more than a chapter every two weeks… this will take us to Falcon and the Winter Soldier easily. Without knowing anything about it, I have no clue if this will be affected at all or if this story will end after Endgame. We will see how it plays out. I have a timeline and notes between Infinity War and Endgame so bare with me. Please review so I know what you guys think!

Now to review:

gingin1975: Thank you! Hope you enjoyed this one as well.


Preview of Chapter 80- Glory Days

Ellie swallowed hard then sighed as she sat in the sand then closed her eyes listening to the waves crash around her.

"I am truly impressed by the way"

Ellie looked over at the astral form next to her, "I'll take that as a compliment"

Strange nodded, "It is and I don't give many of them. Your skillset is what took me months to do."

"But let me guess, it's still not enough," Ellie stated.