Spencer wasn't surprised to find a majority of her paintings hanging in Pietro and Steve's shared condo, it warmed her heart knowing that they hung them up, despite her being gone. Their apartment was beautiful, and so spacious with all the natural light coming in through the vast windows, and the light color palette of the furniture and walls.
She had to admit, she was very surprised at how much she actually liked their shared condo, "I can't take all the credit," Steve looked sheepish as he rubbed the back of his head, but Pietro gave Steve a sharp look, and Steve laughed, "Okay, I can't take any credit," He corrected himself as Frodo purred and weaved in between Spencer's legs, "Pietro literally did everything, except pick out my bedsheets."
Pietro smirked, and Steve rolled his eyes at the former.
Spencer was crouched down and snuggling Frodo to her chest, the orange feline purring loudly and contently.
"I am very impressed," Spencer stood up with Frodo clinging to her chest, "I love the views," She awed, going over to the windows, and sitting down at one of the bay windows, "I bet Frodo does too," She cooed at Frodo, who soaked up the attention greedily.
"All he does is window gaze," Steve was definitely rolling his eyes right now.
"I don't blame him," Spencer muses, eyes watching the liveness of Prospect Park, "I was never in this part of town," She admitted sheepishly, "Love it though," Spencer turned and sniffed the savory aromas of breakfast, "Smells great, since when did you learn to cook, Steve?" Spencer laughed, setting Frodo down, but picking him back up when the feline began to scream his head off in protest.
"Well, we were both shit at cooking," Steve admitted with a chuckle as Spencer sat down at the island counter, and Steve began preparing her a plate, "I mean, all three of us were pretty bad at cooking," Spencer snorted at that, because it was very true, "Pietro was in his depression, and I needed a distraction, so I decided to take classes." Aw, he was blushing!
Spencer cooed at him, and he shot her a playful glare.
"He does public cooking classes at the nearby community center," Pietro leans against the counter with a roguish smile, "He's very popular around here."
Spencer cackled, "I don't doubt it! Five years have passed, and you still look fresh out of the ice!" Steve grinned at her compliment, chest puffing out slightly at her praise.
Pietro just huffs a laugh and shakes his head, "Don't indulge him, Spencer, he's ego gotten bigger since you last saw him," Steve at least looks sheepish now, and it makes her grin widely. She loved this new dynamic between Steve and Pietro, you could tell they were a lot closer than they were before. Trauma usually does that.
"So, what's the game plan for the Stones?" She casually asked, drooling at the sight of fluffy pancakes, chewy bacon (she always preferred her bacon more chewy than crispy), slices of yummy ham, and slightly salty scrambled eggs, "Gosh, this all looks very high quality!" She awed, with her open hanging open slightly, because this certainly didn't look like the usual quality they used to get from the local grocery stores.
Steve shot her a grin, "I get a superhero discount."
"We have a superhero discount?!" Spencer shrieked.
Steve and Pietro laugh at her shocked expression, as Steve set her plate in front of her, and she dived into her yummy plate. She was rather ravenous since she skipped breakfast, and all the sex she had in the Quinjet had her starving, Steve didn't need to know that though. "You're just too modest to use it," Pietro gave her an eye roll, and she laughed, "Besides, there's no shame in getting a discount considering what we've risked and gone through to keep this planet safe." He gave a small shrug.
"I mean, I'm not surprised," Spencer mused softly, "We have a military discount, so it isn't a surprise that we have a superhero discount," She munched on her bacon thoughtfully, "I wanted to try my ice cream flavor!" She suddenly gasped at the reminder that she legit had an ice cream flavor.
Pietro and Steve gave each other knowing looks, though Steve looked a bit sheepish, it made her eyes narrowed, "What?" She demanded with a chuckle.
Steve gave Pietro a look, and her boyfriend smirked, before turning towards the fridge, and pulled it open to reveal the freezer.
Stocked with her fucking ice cream flavor.
Like, the whole top half of the freezer was just filled with little pint tubes of her ice cream flavor. It made her start howling with laughter, because, it was just her ice cream, not even their own ice creams, hers. Her heart swelled in her breastbone, and tears were in her eyes, "I love you guys so much!" She laughed, a hand going to wipe away her happy tears.
"It is the best flavor," Pietro shrugged with a roguish smile, happy to see her happy.
Steve grinned at her reaction, "It really is, considering who they named it after."
"You guys are making me blush," She remarks with a snort, a blush on her face, "If Pietro was single, you guys would get so much ass working together." She pointed out with a soft laugh.
Both men cringed, and that made her laugh even more.
"As for the Stones," Steve heaved a sigh, "I'll be going in alone, and putting them back into their respective realities, it's not something that should take more than a few seconds in our reality," Steve waved his hand dismissively, "Honestly, it gives me a headache trying to understand time traveling," He gave a cute scowl.
Spencer snorted, "Our poor brains were made to fight battles, not understand the Quantum Tunnel."
"Hear, hear," Pietro and Steve laughed, raising their drinks.
Breakfast with her best friends was like a lifted weight off her shoulders, it was a source of normalcy that she had been missing very severely. After years of constant battle and trails, this was a welcomed moment. Her heart didn't feel so weighed down with loss and grief, at least because everything that was given up, was for moments like these.
"Is it okay if I leave to go check up on Wanda and Vision?" Pietro had asked after breakfast.
Steve was putting on his suit to travel through the Quantum Tunnel, and Spencer was sitting at the bay window with Frodo purring in her lap, "Why? Is everything alright with them?" She asked with concern.
"They're fine," Pietro reassured with a small chuckle, "I just make to make sure that they're settling in," Pietro gave a little shrug, "I heard Vision got them a place in Westview, New Jersey."
"Oh!" Spencer's eyes widened, "I'm assuming that was before?" She made a snapping gesture, and Pietro nodded, "Wow, how sweet of Vision!" She cooed, and Pietro smiled, "Of course, Steve, Bucky, Sam, and Bruce will keep me in good company until you get back, babe," She beamed up at him.
Pietro bends over to give her a chaste kiss on the lips, "I'll drop you guys off at the facility, and be back in a few hours, is that okay?"
She bobbed her head, "I'm sure there's something the boys' can do to entertain me until you get back," She gave him a reassuring smile.
"You're too good for me," Pietro sighs, kissing her again.
"I have a lot of time to make up," She admits quietly with a distant, faraway look, "Five years worth."
"Hey," Pietro gently places his hand on her shoulder, with a look of concern, "Are you okay, princezná?" He asks, eyes searching hers for any signs of distress.
She gave him a soft smile, "I have my moments, sometimes," She admits with a noisy exhalation, and glances out towards the park, "These small moments of grief," Her hand lingers over her heart, "I'm reminded of everything that I lost," She makes an annoyed sound from the back of her throat, and shakes her head, "I think maybe I should see a therapist," She cringes slightly, the words feel sour to say.
"It would help," Pietro speaks slowly, "I can tell you from personal experience, once you find someone you like, and get through that first session, it becomes easier."
"Yeah?" She murmurs, eyes searching his for reassurance and comfort.
Pietro gently grasps her hand with his, "Whatever you need," He says this with strong conviction, "We'll be here for you, princezná."
She smiles, a smile more relieved than anything, and in humor asks, "Got any recommendations?"
Pietro smiles back at her, "I can ask around."
An hour later
Spencer stands beside Sam, eyes watching the destruction left behind during their last battle, and she could see the memories flashing before her eyes. She bits her lips, and turns her attention away towards the small command center that Bruce set up, or Hulk? She shook her head, that would take some time getting used to, to be honest, seeing Bruce and Hulk fused together, and eventually, she would ask them how that happened.
She blocked off the sounds of construction, and focused on what was currently happening. Steve had this distant, faraway look in his eyes as Bruce gave him another rundown on what to do as Bruce revealed the case with the Stones in them. As soon as he did, she felt the familiar surge of power run down her spine, and she shuddered at the sight of them.
"You good?" Sam asked, tentatively grabbing her arm.
Spencer gave him a weak smile, "I can feel them," She glanced at the Stones.
"Oh," Sam looked surprised to hear that, "All of them?"
She bobbed her head, "I made sense that I would sense the Mind Stone, and perhaps even the Space Stone, but the rest of them?" She had a puzzled look on her face as she explained, "I'm not entirely as sure."
"You control the natural elements, don't you?" Bucky's deep, and raspy voice startled her.
She jumped, and turned to shoot him a mild glare.
Bucky gave her a small smirk, and waited patiently for her to answer his question.
"Yes," Spencer dragged out, not sure what he was getting at.
Bucky gave a shrug, "So," He dragged the word mocking her lightly, "Space is considered a natural element, isn't it?" Spencer just stared at him blankly, and Bucky took that as a sign to continue, "The Stones are supposed to be made from Space, so it would make that you had a connection with them."
"That actually makes sense," Sam pointed out, looking at Bucky with wide eyes.
"What makes sense?" Steve asked, the case tightly in his hands.
"Spencer can sense the Stones," Bucky explains smoothly, and she throws him another glare that he ignores, "It would make sense that she does since she can control all natural elements."
"I can't control Space," She pointed out in a sassy tone.
"Can't or haven't tried?" Bucky threw back at her.
"That's an interesting theory," Bruce chimes in, looking thoughtful as he peered at Spencer, "It does make a lot of sense, I certainly wouldn't be surprised."
"I suppose I've never really tried," She admitted in a light grumble, "I mean, it never occurred to me."
"You're welcome," Bucky remarked dryly, though there was a smirk on his face.
"I didn't ask for your advice, but thanks," She mimicked his tone and smirk.
Sam just rolled his eyes at Steve, and shook his head, before turning to Steve, "You look a little nervous, man," Spencer eyed her best friend, and did notice some hints of nerves on his face, "I bet if you ask nicely, Spencer will go with you."
Steve shook his head with a laugh, "Pietro would kill me."
"I draw the line at time traveling," Spencer chimed in, making the group laugh, well, Bucky just snorted.
"This one's on me," Steve finally sighed with a thoughtful look, "Besides, the sooner we get these back to their original timelines, the better." Steve turns towards Bucky, "Don't do anything stupid until I get back," Steve tells his long-time friend seriously, eyes flickering towards Spencer, almost a silent pleading for the two of them not to get into a fight while Steve was gone for literally five seconds.
"I would say you're taking all the stupid with you," Bucky remarks sarcastically, and then jerks his head towards her, "But it's all right there-" He barely dodged Spencer's jab.
Sam started laughing, and Steve was pinching the bridge of his nose, "I thought you two agreed to get along," Steve groaned.
"We agreed to try," Spencer gritted her teeth, and shot daggers at Bucky, who was smirking at her, "I will literally suck the oxygen from your body, try me again," She sneered, lips curling in a dangerous way.
Bucky snorted, but decided not to push his luck with her.
Steve gave her a sharp look, "Seriously, if I come back-"
"You are literally leaving for five seconds," She deadpanned, "What damage could we do in five seconds?"
"A lot," Sam sang.
"Like, literally, you could destroy half the planet at a whim, Spence," Bruce answered, unhelpfully.
Spencer dragged a hand down her face in agitation, "Okay, whatever, I'll behave for five seconds."
Steve's face twitched into a smile, but there was something off about his expression. Spencer pursued her lips, wanting to ask what was wrong, but Steve was already making his way onto the platform, and changing his suit to a sleek white, and red one with Tony's nanotech technology, and picked up Mjölnir.
"How long does he have, Bruce?" Spencer asked, walking up beside her friend.
"As long as he needs," He replies with a reassuring smile, before turning to Steve, "Ready, Cap?"
Again, Steve had this strange expression on his face again.
"You're good to go, meet you back here, okay?" Bruce continues.
"You bet," Steve says quietly, eyes momentarily locking onto Spencer, and she gives her best friend a concerned, and questioning look. For a split second, there's a look of guilt in his eyes, before Bruce starts to count down, and she's gazing at Steve with increasing worry.
Silently, she's asking him what was wrong, but his eyes danced away from hers and onto Bucky, and she watches with a frown as a look of understanding passes between Bucky and Steve, before Steve taps his cuff and shrinks.
Spencer glare at Bucky, obviously demanding some answers, but Bucky doesn't meet her eyes.
"And returning in five, four, three, two, one-" Nothing.
Spencer feels the color drain from her face, her feet automatically moving towards Bucky as Sam loudly asks, "Where is he?" A slight panic in his voice, as Bruce looks at his screen with confusion.
"I don't know," Bruce sounds stressed and confused, "He blew past our time stamp, he should be here!"
"Bucky," He stills refuses to look her in eye.
"Get him back!" Sam snaps at Bruce.
"I'm trying!" Bruce snaps back.
"Bucky," Spencer begged, and this time he did look at her, "What did he do?" Bucky just stared at her with a solemn expression as Sam and Bruce panicked around them.
Then there's silence.
Bucky's staring right past her, and when Spencer whirls around, she's relieved to see her friend on the platform. He looks dazed, and sad, but before anyone could question Steve on what happened, he's walking briskly off the platform, and away from the group. There's pain on his face, and Spencer immediately goes to comfort her friend, but a hand on her elbow stops her.
She glares nastily at Bucky, but his expression softens her gaze.
"He came back because of you," Her eyebrows furrowed, and she was confused, but Bucky had a gentle, almost awed expression on his face, "He wasn't planning on coming back," He explained in a quiet voice, as Bruce and Sam called after Steve, "He told me, you know? When he went back to get one of the Stones with Tony, he saw Peggy," And that was all that was need for Spencer to realize what he was talking about.
Her eyes flickering over to where Steve had disappeared off too.
Steve had planned to stay, build that cozy life he always wanted with Peggy, and he gave that all up...because of her.
Tears welled up in her eyes, as horror settled in her gut. She felt awful, Steve deserved to have the life he always wanted with Peggy, and even though it hurt her to think of losing him again, she wished he had stayed, and not come back because of her.
Bucky's grip on her arm loosened, and Spencer hurriedly ran after her best friend. He hadn't gone far, but he was easy to spot among the burnt foliage, and when he heard her footsteps, he had a solemn look on his face.
"Don't," Steve spoke softly right as she opened her mouth to speak, instinctively Spencer flinched, but not because of his tone.
She made a frustrated sound.
"I don't regret it," Steve turns his attention away from her, "I saw her, and as much as I wanted to stay and have a life with her…I knew I couldn't stay. I knew you would have understood, but I couldn't abandon you like that," Steve's voice shook, "It felt like an insult staying, an insult to Nat and Tony," Her heart stuttered painfully in her chest, "I let Peggy go when she died, when I buried her," His shoulders shook softly, and Spencer reached out to hug her best friend, "When she thought I had died, she built her own life, and now, I'm doing the same, too." His body trembled as Steve embraced her tightly.
"Besides," His tone took on a playful approach, though it still sounded strained, "I promised Pietro, I'd be his best man at his wedding."
Spencer laughed softly and pulled back to look at her friend fondly, "I'm so sorry that life kept you two separated," She voice trembled, and she sniffled.
Steve gave a light shrug, "I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason, now, no tears," He told her firmly and squeezed her shoulders, "Pietro will kick my ass if he gets an inkling that you were crying." She laughed when Steve shuddered against her, "Pietro is scary as hell when he's angry," He mutters to her.
Spencer nods with wide eyes, "I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks that!"
Side Note: I realize that it shows Thor leaving with the Guardians BEFORE Steve takes the Stones back, but for the sake of my timeline, Thor doesn't leave until after.