Just under 2 years later, Bucky and Emily have a beautiful life in Wakanda. Little William, BIlly for short, was 21 months old. He was a handful, he kept them very much on their toes. Emily and Billy were sitting watching Bucky. Emily noticed T'Challa and Okoye heading towards them, with a couple of the kingsguard. Billy ran over to them, T'challa scooped him up. Emily watched as a box was laid in front of Bucky, there was a new arm inside.

"Where's the Fight?"

"On it's way."

Emily stood up and walked over to Bucky. This wasn't good, they had been left to live their lives here. They walked back up to the palace, Billy was on Bucky's back, Emily had a horrible sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. T'Challa's sister Shuri and his mother Ramonda were waiting in the lab for them. Emily took Billy down off Bucky's back, as soon as his little feet touched the floor he ran to Shuri who scooped him up and offered him the tablet she held in her hands. The activity they had seen on the way here, told them both this was bigger than anyone else had told them yet.

"What's going on?"

"War is coming. You, Billy and my mother will be fine, we have a safe room prepared for you."

Bucky noticed her face. There was no way on earth she was gonna sit a fight out. She was very protective over her family, she would fight for him and Billy till the very end.

"If you're suiting him up for war, you best have something for me too."

Okoye and Shuri both smiled at her, she may be a mum and a wife, but she had always been a bad ass first. She had trained with both of them to keep herself sharp. Shuri moved and pulled a suit out for her.

"I thought you might need it one day."

Billy reached for her and she took him off Shuri. She looked at his little face, he was the spitting image of Bucky, she would fight anyone or anything to keep this world, their home, safe for him. She turned and Bucky was looking at them both, as he placed his new arm on. Once Bucky was done, Emily handed him Billy, who was fascinated by the metal arm.

"Cold daddy."

"Yer it is bud, but only on the outside."

"Does it hurt?"

"No, look." Bucky flexed the arm and Billy was in awe, he was trying to copy Bucky's movements. Emily took her suit and headed to change, her suit was a two piece, trousers and a zipped up vest. She looked in the mirror, and tears came to her eyes, she would always protect her family, but she had never thought she would have to get suited up again. Memories of her old life began to flow to the forefront of her mind. This was a different kind of fight but it still felt like she was back there. Just another body, another asset.

As she came out, Bucky's mouth fell open, she looked amazing.

"Mama, is pretty."

"Yes she is bud." Bucky smirked. Everyday since they had first become lovers he has thought he was punching above his weight, but looking at her dressed like that he knew it for sure. What a feisty, beautiful, kind woman like her saw in him he'd never understand, but he would always fight to make sure he wouldn't lose her.

They headed outside and saw that a jet was headed in. Bucky and Emily stood off to one side and watched as Steve, Nat, Vision, Wanda, Rodey and a guy she didn't know stepped off the jet. Billy was wiggling in his father's arms, he did love his uncle Steve and his aunt Nat. Bucky let him down and he started running towards them as best he could. At times she did worry at the fact that he was happy to just run at familiar faces expecting them to pick him up. Not that anyone he did run to would ever hurt him, but a lot could happen between running between her and them.

"A semistable 100 year old man." stated Bucky as they walked to meet the others.

Steve pulled him into a hug, just as Nat scooped Billy up. "How've you been Buck?"

"Not bad for the end of the world." Steve then hugged Emily, he noticed she was suited up. "Looks like this one is still giving everyone the run around." Said Steve as he took Billy off Nat. "Hey little man, are you still causing trouble?"

Billy was already trying to climb onto Steve's shoulders for the walk inside. Emily fell into step with Nat as she watched the three boys walk on ahead. "Not got you sitting this one out then."

"I can't let him run off without me. Besides, I have to protect that little man, he's our whole world."

Nat squeezed her hand. Once inside, Emily took Billy off Steve's shoulders. Bucky and her went to one side. He kissed Billy on the head and gave him a hug. "I'm gonna see you really soon buddy. Be good for Romonda. I love you."

"Love you Dada."

Bucky headed to the armory while Emily took Billy off to the safe room. Romonda was waiting with a few guards. Emily put Billy on the ground.

"I'll be back really soon, ok? Do what your dad said, be a good boy. I love you."

"Mama, stay?"

"I can't, daddy and uncle Steve need me. But I'll be back real soon." Emily fought back the tears that threatened to fall.

"Billy loves mama."

Emily kissed his forehead and he went with Romonda. At the armory, she strapped on some pistols along with some extra ammo, as she headed outside she spotted Bucky, he and Sam were looking at something in the sky. Before Emily had time to think, they were all being loaded on to hover boats, this fight was coming to them. She stopped next to Bucky, she looked at him, he squeezed her hand.

When they reached the top of the hill the pair spotted Steve walking briskly towards them with a grim look on his face.

"Did they surrender?"

"Not exactly."

In the distance Emily could see the opposing army starting to run at the barrier, they were killing themselves to try and get through. The decision was made to open the barrier in one place and allow them through. That way they wouldn't spread around the rest of the shield.

Bucky turned to Emily, he pulled her close, kissing her with every ounce of love that he held. "I love you."

"I love you too. Don't do anything stupid."

The barriers opened and they started running towards the creatures coming through it. Emily loses sight of Bucky. She felt rusty at first, it had been years since she'd used her powers and was only used to hand to hand, but she didn't have time to worry about it and soon it all came back to her. She had them turning on themselves, but there were so many, as she looked around she saw everyone starting to get overwhelmed. Then there was a flash from the sky and every creature round her was out. She had no idea what was going on but she didn't have time to think about it. The call came over the coms, Vision needed help, Emily was surrounded, she was probably their best chance now that they clearly hadn't managed to remove the stone in time so she started fighting her way through.

Steve shouted over coms that they were all needed to get to his location. It seems to take forever for her to reach him. She hadn't seen Bucky since the start and knew he would be heading to help Steve. As she ran through the tree line, she saw Steve knelt on the floor, as she reached him she saw Bucky's gun laid on the ground, Steve had his hands buried in the ground.

"Where is he?" Steve turned and looked at her. Emily noticed the look in his eyes, Steve stood up and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"He's gone."

Emily stared at him, gone. "Gone?"

"Thanos did it." Steve noticed her face, she broke out of her loss of Bucky and began to panic.

"William!" Emily spirited off, she saw the confusion setting in around her but the only thing on her mind in this moment was her little William. She reached the room, and there was so much confusion, Romonda was hugging William to her chest, Emily sighed in relief. Romonda released Billy and Emily pulled him close, kissing his forehead. Romonda was looking at her.

"What is going on?" she asked

"They disappeared. Thanos did it."

"My children? Bucky?"

Emily shook her head, she didn't know about T'Challa or Shuri but Bucky had gone. She started to cry then, Billy looked up at her. "Mama, why do you cry?"

She tried to dry her eyes and looked into his little face, he really was a little version of Bucky. She noticed him looking around.

"Where's dada?"

Romonda looked at Emily's face, the pain of loss was all over it. Emily had no idea how to tell Billy that Bucky was gone. "He's gone away for a little while, but me, Uncle Steve and Aunt Nat are gonna get him back."

As they made their way to the front of the palace to meet with whoever had survived. Steve pulled Emily and Billy into his arms, he was heartbroken over Bucky, but so relieved to see Billy.

Emily looked Steve in the eyes. "We have to get him back. I will not lose him again."

Steve kissed her and Billy's foreheads. "We will somehow."

After a short conversation, the decision was made for them to head back to the compound. Emily made the trip back to her and Bucky's home. She needed to get a few of her and Billy's things. It was so surreal to walk in there, everything was how they had left it, not 24 hours ago. Yet the idea that Bucky was once again gone and she didn't know how to get him back made their once happy home feel cold and bare.

She collected Billy's favourite toys and blanket, she packed some clothes for them both and took one last long look around the place not knowing how long it would be before she would return, hanging on the end of the bedpost, was one of Bucky's favourite t-shirts. Thinking back to the night before, Emily thought of the last hours they had spent as a family. They had finally got Billy to go to sleep, he had demanded Bucky tell him a story, Emily had stood in the doorway of his room, just out of sight. Billy had climbed into bed with his dad and had laid down beside him. Billy curled into Bucky's chest the same way she did. She had listened as he told Billy about him and Uncle Steve when they were kids. She left halfway through the story and was in the kitchen when Bucky found her, he wrapped his arm around her while she was washing up, his head resting on her shoulder.

"That is very distracting Mr Barnes."

Bucky didn't answer her instead he moved his hand up and cupped one of her breasts, she gave out a very soft moan and pushed her head back resting it against him. Bucky moved his hand to the other breast and her moaning grew louder. Emily finally gave in and turned to face him leaving the washing up as a lost cause and kissed him. She jumped on him, wrapping her legs around him, he placed his hand under her arse and carried her to their bedroom. He placed her back on her feet. Emily pulled his t-shirt off, and threw it over her shoulder and it landed on the bedpost. They had fallen into bed making sure to memorise every inch of each other's body.

The memory of his hands on her came back so strong as she stood with her hand on the shirt that she could feel his lips, his whole body and every way he had touched her that night as if it were happening right now. It was the conversation they had had afterwards that came back to haunt her now.

"Do you want more?"

"I always want more. Just give me time to catch my breath. You're a super soldier, I'm the mum of a toddler."

Bucky laughed at her. "I meant kids."

Emily looked at him, Billy had been a surprise, but she couldn't imagine life without him. "I'd love more, but i want a mini me this time."

Bucky rolled her over in the bed, so he was hovering over her. "I don't know about that. I mean you cause so much trouble as it is, let alone if there were two of you."

"Me, no i'm the well behaved one in this marriage."

Bucky kissed her. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Emily picked the t-shirt up, it still smelt of him. She put it in her bag. When she got back to the quinjet, Billy was sitting on Nat's knee, she was letting him pretend to fly the jet. At least for now he was happy.

…...end of chapter 7