Disclaimer: I do not own anything you may recognize

Thank you to everyone who has favorited, followed or reviewed this fic so far.

This idea was given to me by Brainstorm Sorcerer one year ago, so thanks a lot to him for the Steve/Bucky scene at the start, very much appreciated.

And this one takes place between 'Heroes, Vampires and Slayers' and 'Arrival of the Devourer', plus forgot to say but the previous chapter also took place in the same timeframe.

Chapter 10- Confession

At the upstate Avengers facility, fully restored and upgraded after the attack by Thanos and Morgoth, two Super Soldiers sought solace by the lake. Steve invited Bucky to take the time to relax and reminisce among nature, a luxury they didn't have when growing up in Brooklyn other than visits to the park. Right now, they were merely skipping stones and watching the sky.

"It's not Wakanda, but not bad." The former assassin said softly as he tossed another stone, getting six bounces against the water. "Not bad at all."

"You miss it?" Steve asked his oldest friend as he sat cross legged on the grass, leaning back on his hands. Sometimes the way Buck dressed and acted made the Captain think he never really left the small country.

Bucky nodded, a smile forming as he remembered his time in Wakanda. "Sometimes. The place they put me during my rehabilitation was heaven. It was quiet, peaceful, a beautiful blue lake only a few steps from me, had my own hut where I could decorate as much liked, which wasn't much I have to say." Bucky chuckled, making Steve smile. "The kids from the neighboring villages would come out and visit, maybe even play. Pretty sure I brought baseball into that country." The more he thought back to it, the bigger the White Wolf's smile became. "Shuri brought these goats to look after as part of my recovery. They were all gentle little guys, except for the old billy goat. He was a hardass, always ramming into me, trying my last nerve, bossing everyone else around. I called him Colonel Philips." This time Steve erupted with laughter with Barnes joining him.

They calmed down after a few minutes, returning to gazing at the lake. Taking joy in the serenity of nature, a vast contrast to what their lives have become. From two punk kids in Brooklyn, to Super Soldiers who've seen things people in their day would never have thought of in their craziest dreams, fighting alongside gods and wizards to battle demons and aliens. They took their time to enjoy the simplicity of their surroundings, the song of birds and wind putting them at ease. It was then, Steve took a deep breath and looked across the water.

"When did you realize you loved Nat?"

It didn't take long for him to realize he had fallen for Diana. She was kind, strong, and the most incredible woman he's ever met. When Diana gives that divine smile of hers, the world around Super Soldier slows down, and he could feel his heart skip a beat.

When he didn't receive an immediate answer, Steve saw that Buck's face morphed into the most content and peaceful smile that he's ever seen on his old friend.

"She was my light." Bucky admitted finally, almost in a whisper. He looked down to his hands, both bionic and organic, clenching and unclenching. "When I look back at what I was made to do, I feel sick. The horrors I did replay in my mind but in slow motion, so I can see every little detail. Then I saw them, everyone I killed, come back just to haunt me. Things were almost so bad that I nearly ate a bullet." His smile, starting to waver, came back with full force. "But then I remember her. Her voice. Her smile. She pulled me out of the darkness. Gave me love when I wondered what is there to love. Natasha was the only one who saw someone worth saving, other than you, T'Challa and Shuri. Even when I wasn't really there, that doll was in here." Bucky pointed to his heart. "I might have put a bullet in my brain to stop the ghosts…if not for Natasha."

Watching Bucky getting engrossed with the memories of his time with Natasha, Steve couldn't be happier for his two best friends. They were so alike, had to suffer many of the same hardships. He was happy that they have each other.

"We nearly escaped once, when I was training her for the Red Room." That took the blonde Lantern by surprise. Buck and Nat didn't really tell anyone about their past for Hydra or the Red Room, not in full detail at least. "We were on an assignment but a storm delayed our transport, so Natasha and I acted. However briefly, the both of us were free. I got to see Brooklyn again, couldn't remember anything about it though, but I didn't care as long as I was there with her. That was when she told me her real name. Natalia."

He stayed silent. Bucky was so happy at the mere thought of her that Steve didn't want to ruin the mood.

"Other than the big things together you do together, you come to adore the small as well. Natasha, for example, loves horses, prefers to call me James, switches to Russian when she gets frustrated, and really hated the whole "hobo" thing I had back in Wakanda." Steve let out a surprised snort.

"Hobo?"

The former sergeant of the 107th shrugged. "Her words. So I shaved the beard and cut the hair. Then she tells me that she loved the long hair." Bucky's face morphed into a mock incredulous look. "I asked her, "do you want to cut my hair?!" That minx just gives me that smirk of hers and walks away." The memory made him laugh. "So I let it grow until it was the same length it was when we first met. Promised her my hair is now her property and I shall not meddle with it until she says otherwise. That was a good night."

Steve watched him through it all, never once did the joy or love ever leave his eyes. He wanted that, to be so devoted to someone that the mere thought of them can make someone as hardened as Bucky melt under their touch. He wanted to know the little things with Diana, know what way she liked his hair, her favorite food he could cook for her, her favorite animal, her past with her fellow Amazons. Steve wanted it all with Diana.

"I love Diana." Steve finally said it. And he didn't regret it.

"Then what are you waiting for, punk?"

Clasping his oldest friend on the shoulder, Steve's smile, Bucky noted, seemed to have gotten bigger.

"Thank you, jerk."

Later, night time

Diana and Steve walked through the streets of Brooklyn, after having had their date in a restaurant there.

Steve pointed at an alley. "So I was beaten up there too once."

"You used to get beaten up a lot", Diana quipped as Steve chuckled.

"Yeah, but I just couldn't back down from mean people who used their power wrongly", Steve told Diana. "I get it was stupid, but I didn't like how they treated people who they perceived were lower than them."

"I don't like such people either, so its not stupid", Diana assured Steve. "So I believe both of us are stubborn in what we believe is right."

"For better and worse", Steve commented.

"For better and worse", Diana nodded as now they were near the Compound.

"Well…"

"I love you Diana", Steve confessed to her as she shot him a bit of a surprised look. "I was drawn to you ever since I saw you, didn't understand why, till I got to know you. You are brave, kind, gentle, loving, graceful, everything good, in one. I love you."

Diana smiled and asked. "What took you so long?"

Steve was surprised as Diana said. "I love you too Steve."

Then their lips met in a loving and passionate kiss under the moonlight.

And done.

Hope all enjoyed and see you all next time with another chapter.