A/N* We have officially hit 200 followers! *confetti emoji* Thank you all so much. Honestly, it shocks me every time I see it.

I'm really sorry for the blip in chapters. School kind of got in the way of my writing. I'm also trying to figure out if I want to continue this story through Falcon and the Winter Soldier. (Comment and let me know your thoughts!)

Thank you all so much for the support and love, it means a lot to me.

Happy Reading!

"Everybody wants a happy ending, right? But it doesn't always roll that way, maybe this time...I'm hoping if you play this back...it's in celebration. I hope families are reunited, I hope we get it back and something like a normal version of the planet has been restored. If there ever was such a thing. Gosh, what a world, universe now. If you told me ten years ago that we weren't alone, let alone to this extent...I mean...I wouldn't have been surprised but come on, who knew? The epic forces of darkness and light that have come into play...-"

"-And for better or worse that's the reality Morgan's gonna have to find a way to grow up in.-" The Ironman helmet glowed as the hologram of Tony shined in front of them. He was sitting backward on a chair. A numbness had washed over Aubrey like a veil as she sat next to Morgan, who was cuddled up to her mother's side. "-So I thought I'd record a little greeting in case of an untimely death on my part. Not that death at any time isn't untimely.-" Happy was sitting in an armchair, Rhodey behind them, leaning against the couch. Shifting on the couch, Aubrey couldn't tear her eyes from the hologram. "-This time travel thing we're gonna try and pull off tomorrow...it's got me scratching my head...about the survivability of it all. That's the thing….Then again..that's the hero gig right? Part of the journey is the end. What am I even tripping for? Everything is going to work out, exactly the way it's supposed to-" Getting up from the chair, Tony crouched down, eyes seeming to stare straight at Morgan. "-I love you three thousand" and with those last words, Tony Stark glittered away. Aubrey felt tears rise but choked them back, carefully watching Morgan. The girl sniffled, glancing at her mother before gently grabbing Aubrey's hand. Pepper stood as Aubrey crouched in front of Morgan.

"You're being such a big brave girl Squirt, I'm going to walk behind you and your mom, okay?" she nodded silently, joining her mother by the door. Aubrey straightened, smoothing the black dress she had borrowed from Pepper. Following Pepper and Morgan out the door, a chilly spring gust wound its way through the clearing. The time since the fight had been a blur, mixed with both pain and happiness. She'd been able to talk briefly to Bucky before attempting to comfort Pepper. As much as she wanted to be with Bucky, Tony's wife and daughter had become the focus of her attention. The woman had been through all spectrum of emotion since Tony had left them. She found Pepper on the floor of her room crying that morning but now she had a brave face on as they passed the gathered crowd. Familiar faces flashed in her peripheral vision, Wanda, Sam, Cap, they had all come, even those she had never met but had heard about from Tony. Pepper placed the wreath of flowers upon the water as an eerie stillness overtook the clearing. The hero's collectively stood in silence, both honoring and mourning their fallen friend.

Aubrey walked around the side of the house, weaving around the bushes. Towards the black-clad figure who stood off to the side, leaning against a tree. As she neared, he saw the question in her eyes and answered

"I didn't think I would be invited."

"Bucky,-" crossing her arms, Aubrey tried to meet his gaze. "-you didn't think you'd be invited because-"

"I killed his parents-" Bucky's reply was quiet as he gazed at the lake. "-He hated me." Pushing off of the tree, he wandered to the water's edge.

"Bucky,-" the word was softer this time as she followed him, noting the droop of his shoulders. Aubrey watched him, still shocked that he was here. "-I think he came to terms with the fact that you couldn't control your actions then...he saw enough of my nightmares and bad days to know….his view of you changed...he just never got the chance to tell you...I-" pausing, Aubrey sucked in a breath, toeing a loose stone into the water. "-He didn't want to even look into time travel-" the guilt she'd been pushing away rushed forward, weighing on her shoulders. "- I begged him to." the admittance felt like saying she killed him. A small part of her knew it wasn't true but she couldn't help but feel that way.

His head and swiveled around, ice-blue eyes finding hers. "It was his choice, he knew what he was doing. You can't blame yourself, Brie."

Heaving a sigh, she ducked away from his gaze, something that had been for frozen five years slowly thawing in her chest. "I think he saw how much I wanted him to try...how..how miserable I was."

"You were miserable without me huh?" He smirked as she elbowed his side, grinning.

"Miserable might've been the wrong word."

"No, no, you already said it. You were simply miserable without me...it's nice to know I was missed" the last sentence was quieter and Aubrey sobered, frowning.

"Of course you were... Bucky...You have no idea what I went through."

"'M sorry"

"You have nothing to be sorry about...you just blipped away and then came back..right? You don't remember anything from...from the past five years?"

His head shook back and forth once "Every time I hear that it's been five years...I...I just can't believe it. I can see it though...it did a number on all of you."

"Are you saying I look old?" her voice rose slightly but it was full of laughter. Chuckling under his breath, Bucky clarified

"No. I just meant...right before it all happened...you left and I had thought that maybe something was wrong because you left so fast...and now..I..and don't take this the wrong way, Brie. But there's just...a tiredness that you carry with you. You all carry an invisible weight on your shoulders….even Steve."

Her mind sifted through the last years, looking for when she had left. Aubrey wasn't sure why he'd mentioned that but she understood what he meant in the last part.

"It was really hard Bucky. They got more flak than I did because I'm not an Avenger but...It was…-" her head shook back and forth as she spoke "-I think that Tony, Pepper, and Morgan were the only reason I made it through."

"You know if you ever wanted to talk about it...I'm here. I probably won't be able to understand as well...but I'm here for you Brie...and I wish I could've been but I wasn't." Imperceptibly he shifted closer to her side.

"I know, Buck. But I'm grateful you're here now." Aubrey's mind thought for a moment and after a brief hesitation, she let herself lean against the coolness of his metal arm. He neither tensed nor moved and the two stood there as the sun began to set. She didn't know what lay ahead but having Bucky back made the future seem ever so slightly more bright.