It took nearly a month for them to rebuild the machine for the stones to be returned. Steve had said he would return them. He came into the kitchen to speak to Emily and Bucky. Bucky was sitting at the table while Emily was going through cupboards.

"Can I speak to you both?" Steve sat down next to Bucky and Emily sat down opposite. "I have something I need to tell you both. I've made a decision about my life. I want you to know that I love you both greatly, and I'm so happy that you both have each other again. That's what makes this so much easier, knowing that I'm not leaving either of you alone."

Emily reached across the table and took his hand. "Steve whats going on?"

Steve looked at the both then, his free hand covering hers. "When I take the stones back, I want to see Peggy, I want what you two have. I want the life Tony told me to go and get. I'm gonna stay with Peggy if she will have me."

Emily tightened her hand on his, and Bucky just stared at his friend. It was Emily that broke the silence. "Steve are you sure, I know you love Peggy, but..."

Steve smiled at her, squeezing her hand gently. "...I'm sure. If Peggy doesn't want me, then i'll come straight back to you guys, but i have to know."

Bucky stood up from the table, half angry and half upset. Steve stood up and touched his shoulder. "Buck, i know…."

Bucky raised his hand stopping Steve mid-sentence. "Peggy would be mad to not want you. It's just we...i am gonna miss you so much."

"Yeah I'm going to miss you too." Steve pulled his best friend into a brotherly hug. Emily had silent tears falling down her face as she watched them. Steve turned to her, opening his arms and pulled her into a similar hug. Her tears began to flow then, she was gonna miss him, he was her best friend.

On the day before Steve was due to go, he decided to spend the day with the kids. He told them he might not see them again, explaining that he was going to try and find an old friend. He knew they didn't really understand and knew that Jamie would be upset for a time, but he trusted that they would understand one day. That night he read them both a story before bed, and Emily noticed the tears in his eyes when he left the room.

When they arrived at the grounds of the compound the next morning, the machine was ready. Sam hugged Steve. Emily then hugged him and kissed his cheek, Bucky was the last one to step to his friend.

"Don't do anything stupid till i get back."

Bucky has a small smirk on his face and replies. "How can i? Your taking all the stupid with you." The two men hug then, Bucky steps back and Emily takes hold of his hand. "I'm gonna miss you buddy."

"It's gonna be ok, Buck." Steve climbs on to the machine and Emily zones out to all the talking around her. She watches as Steve disappears, an odd feeling to watch some you love and care about disappear, for the second time in her life, but she hoped he finally got what he deserved, that he and Peggy had a life, just like her and Bucky.

Bucky started to turn away from the machine, Emily couldn't take her eyes off the spot where their friend had just been. She knew it was pointless looking he wasn't coming back, however there was someone standing there, someone she hadn't expected to see. Bucky felt Emily let go of his hand, he didn't turn at first, he had spotted someone sitting on the bench.

Emily took the face of the person standing in Steve's spot in her hands and searched their eyes before pulling them into the tightest hug she could muster. "Nat!" Emilly sobbed. She pulled back to see her friend's smile before hugging her friend again.

"Sam." Bucky said rather loudly, Sam made his way to him after realising that he didn't stand a chance in greeting Nat just yet.

Emily looked towards Bucky, not letting go of her friend, like the woman would disappear at any second. She watched as Sam and Bucky strolled towards the figure on the bench. Emily led Nat behind her and heard Bucky say. "Go ahead."

A slow sad smile appeared on Bucky's face. Emily took his hand, her other hand in Nat's. They watched as the two men now at the bench, shared a few words. Emily laid her head on Bucky's shoulder, clearly their friend had got the life he had wanted.

…..

Back at the house, Emily walked into the kitchen after checking on how the kids were doing with their tutor. She stopped a moment before fully entering and just watched Nat chatting with Bucky and Sam. It felt so strange, here she was as if nothing had happened. Emily smiled still in a little shock. Bucky spotted her and walked over to her holding out his hand for her to take. "I can't believe what's going on. Steve is an old man, Nat is back!"

Bucky pulled her into a hug, he knew she was feeling so many things at the minute. As Bucky released her, Nat took her hand and led her to sit back at the table.

"Steve told me quite a bit. He said that this might be a shock to you all. But he wanted to give you me, if he wasn't going to be here. He knew you would need someone, to help you two navigate everything."

Emily laughed a little and Bucky shook his head. Steve was still looking out for them.

"He told me that we won, and that you got Bucky back, got everyone back. He told me about Tony, god i'm gonna miss that man."

Emily squeezed her hand, she was just glad to have her friend back. "The kids are going to lose their minds when they see you."

Nat stared at them then, the kids. Emily left the room and went to the kids. She told the tutor they were done for the day. Emily knelt down in front of the kids. "So you guys know that Uncle Steve left this morning." They both nodded at her, Jamie had her bottom lip stuck out. "Well, he sent us a present back. It's hard to explain to you all while you're so little." She noticed that Billy pulled himself up to stand taller, she smiled.

"When you're both older and understand a little more about what me, your dad, uncle steve, uncle Tony, what we all do for work. Then this will all make sense, well I hope." She stood up then and took their hands walking them back to the kitchen. They both froze when they saw Nat.

Nat knelt on the floor and they ran into her arms. They were clearly pleased to have her back. They spent the rest of the day talking and sorting out various things.

The following day Emily goes into the room Steve had used since the final battle with Thanos. She looked round, there wasn't much in there, mainly his clothes, a few photos, and a few personal belongings. Emily sat on the bed. She looked across at the bedside table, she knew he had kept a picture of him and the kids there, the frame was there but the photo had gone. He must have taken it back with him. She started putting his clothes into the boxes, she didn't have the heart to give them away, instead she was going to put them in the attic. Bucky came in just as she was taping the last box shut.

"Do you want me to take them up?" He asked leaning against the door frame.

"Yes please."

Bucky walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, she stared up at the man she loved. She pulled his head down and kissed him.

…

A month later and the house was still full, Sam and Nat were still staying with them, which was great as it just meant more help with the kids. Jamie was slowly becoming a bit of a Daddy's girl. She had taken to following Bucky wherever he went, and though she was still a bit reserved, she would rather him read to her than Emily.

Life had fallen into some kind of norm, it was nice, it was the break they all needed after everything. Emily was still working with Pepper and Happy to run parts of Stark industries. She brought out her work on the laptop one day by knocking on the office door. She saw Bucky sneak his head in.

"Hey"

"Hey, there is someone here to see you."

Emily looked at him in surprise. They never got unannounced guests. Emily followed Bucky to the kitchen, as she entered she saw Nick Fury stood chatting to Nat, Marie Hill was with him. He shook hands with Sam and Bucky and then turned his attention to Emily.

"Mrs Barnes."

"Fury. what can we do for you?"

Nick sat at the table without an invite and pushed a folder towards her. The front of it read "The Avengers Initiative", she looked at everyone in the room, her eyes landing back on Fury.

"I hate to tell you, but you are in the wrong room, there are only two of them in this room, me and Buck never officially made the books."

Fury laughed, she was everything Stark had said. "Well let's change that shall we."

"Why is there some official secret handshake I missed out on?" Emily asked, rolling her eyes slightly.

"Let's skip that, let's just say you have both played your parts. But I am here to ask something else of you."

Emily pulled a face then, and looked at everyone else in the room, clearly she was missing something. "Spit it out then."

"We need someone to run this program, someone that can cut through the bullshit and rebuild a team, to protect this planet."

"Why are you telling me this, clearly Nat is the person." Nat put her hands up, she had never liked doing paperwork.

"Actually i want you to do it. I want you to oversee the Avengers."

Emily looked at everyone in the room, she then looked back at Fury. "You want me to… What?"

"This is your job, i can't think of a better person. So the question is will you do it?"

Bucky took her hand and she turned to face him. She knew he was telling her it was ok. That she could do this. "Well I suppose someone has to keep these three inline." Everyone laughs, Bucky kisses her cheek. "Suppose we better start work rebuilding the compound."

….

A year later and the compound was a hive of activity. Emily was making her way to the kitchen to grab some food. As she was standing making a sandwich Bucky came in and wrapped his arms round her.

"You're gonna be late." She sighed resting her head on his shoulder.

"Yes boss." He mumbled into her neck.

"And don't you forget it." Emily moved out of arms and put the sandwich fillings back in the fridge.

Bucky lent against the counter watching his wife, he could just make out the small bump starting to show through her suit.

"What you looking at Barnes?"

"Oh nothing, I just like it when you start showing."

Emily pulled a face, she liked him like this. Playful and ready to be a dad for the third time. "Well at least the morning sickness has stopped. I'm just always hungry now."

Before Bucky could answer Sam came in. "Come on dude, we're already running late."

"Sorry, I had to see the wife before we left."

"We all know you like to see her, hence why she's having another kid." He said laughing.

Emily laughed, she kissed Bucky's cheek and watched him leave with Sam. They were both ribbing each other and laughing. Emily laid a hand on her small bump. God she loved their life.