Tessa hopped into her car and drove back to her apartment, playing the radio quietly, but mostly listening to her own thoughts. Bucky was fine. He had to be fine. Steve and Kayla would have been far more shaken up if something had happened to him. They said it was over. Bucky was fine. He was with the Avengers, finishing his work.

He was fine.

Right?

She parked her car outside her apartment building and turned off the ignition. She sighed loudly, puffing air out through her cheeks as smoothed back her messy brunette hair. She'd been working when Kayla called, and scrambled to find a replacement so she could get the kids from school at three. She was disheveled and tired, having spent the evening entertaining the questioning Carter kids, who justifiably wanted to know where their parents were.

Tessa ambled up the stairs to her apartment building and fumbled through her purse to find her apartment key. Before she could locate it, she realized her apartment door was cracked open. She studied the slight gap for a moment, considering the options. The option she hoped for was Bucky.

But Tessa had to be realistic. She was a target now. Hydra knew who she was. She'd laid awake at night for six weeks, wishing she wasn't alone. After spending several months at Bucky's side, she couldn't sleep alone. It had been hard. It had been painful, both physically and emotionally. She so desperately wanted to open the door and find Bucky inside, but in the pit of her stomach she felt something terrible brewing.

She grabbed her phone, considering calling Steve. Steve would rush down and take out whoever was in her apartment, but she didn't want to bother him. He looked tired and happy to be home. No. Tessa decided to face the threat on her own. She shoved her phone into her yoga pants pocket and pulled out her mace, ready to attack. She slowly pushed open the door with her foot, taking a deep breath before entering the dark apartment.

"Hello?" She called into the darkness, quickly realizing it wasn't so dark after all. Several of her candles were lit and carefully placed on surfaces around the living room. She squinted her eyes at the figure in the candlelight, a smile breaking across her lips as the bouquet of orchids mixed with lilies came into view. "You could have closed the door. You about gave me a heart attack."

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize it hadn't latched. I haven't been here long." Bucky admitted, taking a step closer to Tessa as she met him in the living room. He passed her the flowers and she smelled them, but her eyes stayed locked on the Winter Soldier.

"It's been a long time, Sergeant." Tessa muttered as she set the flowers down on the couch. Bucky held her hands, and Tessa rubbed her right thumb along the cool metal of his vibranium hand. Any fear she once held for the weapon was long gone. Any fear she held for Bucky was gone, and in its place was a devotion Bucky hadn't ever experienced.

And he wasn't planning on letting her go.

"I'm not leaving again." Bucky promised, lifting her left hand to press a soft kiss to her knuckles, "I finally get to retire."

Tessa nodded rapidly, practically shaking from her need to kiss him. "You've served long enough soldier."

Bucky groaned under his breath as he lowered himself to his knee, grabbing Tessa with his real arm as she began to stumble backward with her hands to her mouth. "The only person I want to serve now is you. If you'll have me."

"Are you- are you asking me..." Tessa stammered and Bucky chuckled, reaching into his pocket with his vibranium hand to pull out a vintage diamond ring with a large, single diamond. Tessa felt her knees wobble and Bucky raised the box higher for her to investigate. "Yes," She breathed and he released her hands to pull the ring out and gently slide it on her left finger with his right hand before standing and hoisting her up into a loving hug. She smashed her lips to his for a moment before slinging her arm around his neck and studying her left hand.

Six Months Later

The Guardians of the Galaxy, accompanied by Thor, searched the universe after getting no information from Amora about the whereabouts of the Asgardians and the Wakandans. Finally, they located a small, unidentified planet in the farthest edge of the realm where Asgard once stood. Upon it they found the missing Asgardians and brought them home before taking off into the stars to see if the people of Wakanda were so lucky.

Three Months Later

Shuri got a call from Carol Danvers, telling the Princess that the King of Wakanda had been found. The people of decimated Wakanda were returned to Earth, where Shuri was reunited with T'Challa, Nakia, and their young son. Okoye quivered when her feet touched the Earth, overwhelmed with joy that they'd returned home after exile for so long. The news of their return traveled throughout the world, and snuffed out any remaining Hydra in the shadows. The organization had fallen without the Red Skull. The world was being put back in place.

Six Months Later

The place where Wakanda once stood was rebuilt to its former glory, and they began mining for vibranium again. Bucky took his fiance to see the place that saved his mind, and introduced her to Princess Shuri and King T'Challa. There was no sign of Hydra anywhere. The Avengers were celebrated for their efforts. James Barnes enjoyed every moment of the retirement he had waited so patiently for.

One Year Later

Steve shifted as he stood to the left of his best friend, shifting the cuff links of his sleeves as he waited patiently for the ceremony to begin. "Stop shuffling, you're making me nervous." Bucky droned under his breath, feeling his stomach flip as the music began to play. Steve chuckled at his friend's nervousness, but his own breath was taken away at the sight of his wife walking down the isle in a beautiful red dress. She smirked and winked at Steve as she approached, taking her spot on the other side of the priest before looking back down the aisle. Sarah wandered down the white carpet in a little white dress, tossing petals in front of Tessa. The bride beamed as she approached, thankful for the wonderfully odd Carter family who brought Bucky into her life. She met Bucky's gaze and noticed he was trying not to cry, which only made her smile more. He took her hands in his, his metal hand covered by his familiar leather glove, and they looked to each other before the priest began.