When Monday morning arrived, Bucky drove Sarah and James back to school. Bucky parked Steve's big pickup truck next to James's car in the back parking lot, but James wasn't very excited to get it back. Bucky turned to him with a sad smile, grabbing James's shoulder and squeezing it supportively before turning to look at Sarah in the backseat, "You sure you don't want me to go talk to your principal alone? I can get your stuff."

"No. I think we should face the music. It's not like we'll ever be back here anyway." James mumbled, meeting Bucky's steely blue eyes before turning to his sister, "You ready for this?"

"I legitimately don't think anyone will recognize me." Sarah grumbled, running her fingers through her long blonde hair. She wore her mother's black leggings with a long blouse that had been a dress two days ago. She wore James's Letterman jacket over her top, hiding her toned arms and shoulders from the world, but nothing could hide the six inches she'd grown since yesterday.

Sarah had spent forty-five minutes that morning staring at herself in the mirror, practically in tears, studying every curve of her body that hadn't existed before. She'd lost ten minutes to just breathing, taking deep breaths in over and over again and feeling her lungs working at a level she didn't think possible. A part of her didn't think she deserved this, but the other part knew the serum was her birthright. It was a combination of her dad's greatness and her mom's most remarkable creation. Sarah would never admit that she felt cheated not having it before. James finally kicked her out of the bathroom, needing to shower before school.

She spent another twenty minutes trying on all of her clothes and realizing nothing fit anymore.

James smirked at her when she accidentally ripped the handle off of the kitchen cabinet, Tessa assuring her it was fine, they'd get it fixed. James had straight up laughed at her when she complained about being too tall to fit in her bed anymore. But James also sat on that bed holding Sarah when she cried herself to sleep the night prior, feeling guilty that she felt great for the first time in her life, because this wasn't meant for her.

He'd never admit to anybody that he stayed by her side until she fell asleep. He'd also never admit that he didn't want to be alone either, but Sarah knew. She could read into his very soul.

Sarah shook her head, bringing herself back to reality. She realized Bucky was still looking at her, waiting for her to do something, "Sorry. Let's just get this over with."

Bucky gave a small nod, his own eyes rimmed with red. "Okay. I'll talk to your principal. Grab your stuff and meet me back at the house, okay?"

"Okay." James and Sarah answered in unison, then Sarah opened the door and stepped out of the truck easily, looking back to wait for her brother. James took a deep breath and blew air out through his mouth before exiting the truck, but as he crossed around the back, he paused, opened the box and pulled out the Captain America shield to strap it to his back.

"Umm, what are you doing with that?" Bucky called as James strode in front of Sarah to the school, a confident smirk on his face.

"He's showing off." Sarah answered, crossing her arms and leaning against the truck, "Give him this. It'll make explaining how he almost killed that kid on Friday night easier. It'll also make him seem like a bad ass, because he's pretty sure everyone will think he's going to prison." Bucky chuckled, locking up the truck and following Sarah into the school.

The moment James walked through the doors, all eyes were on him. The whispers followed him down the hall as he strode past his classmates, eventually coming to a stop at his locker. Brent and Hunter cautiously walked up to him, staring at the shield on his back.

"Umm, Carter? Where have you been?" Brent asked slowly, watching as James loaded up his personal belongings from his locker. Hunter and Brent exchanged a look, then Brent pressed, "Where are you going?" James still didn't answer, so Brent leaned in nervously, "Carter?"

"It's actually Rogers." James replied, finally pulling away and closing his locker. "James Rogers, my dad was Steve Rogers, Captain America. It's a long story, but, uh, this is mine now." James reached behind him and pulled out the shield, letting his friends study it in wonder.

Hunter looked from the shield and then back to James as Brent ran his fingers along the metal, "What do you mean, was?"

James latched the shield back onto his back, running his hand through his hair as he looked down the hall. His jaw quivered a little, but he steadied it and turned to his friends with a sad attempt at a smile, "I'm not going to be around anymore."

"Why?" Brent pressed, looking to Hunter for help, "Are you getting arrested? For the kid from East Side?"

"No." James answered, skidding his shoe along the tile, "My, uh, my parents are gone. It's complicated, but, I'm moving in with my Aunt and Uncle. Gonna get home schooled and take up the family business."

"What?" Brent blurted and Hunter squawked, "Family business?" Brent laughed, looking to Hunter who just stared at James in disbelief, "James, buddy, you're pulling our leg right? Like, your dad isn't Captain America. Your family business is construction, what's actually happening?"

James just shrugged, "No, he isn't. Not anymore. Because I am."

"You're what, exactly?" Hunter pressed as James turned to leave, walking down the hall to find his sister.

Before he was completely out of earshot though, he turned around, taking a few steps backwards and called, "I'm Captain America!"

"You're what?" Miranda asked as James turned back around, almost running into the girl. She flipped her long hair over her shoulder, looking him up and down hungrily before her eyes landed on the shield, "You're out of your mind."

"Leave my brother alone."

Miranda turned with a wicked smirk on her face, practically running into the now much taller Sarah Rogers. She looked the blonde up and down with her slack jaw, "What the hell happened to you?"

Sarah looked to James, who just grinned like a fool, and Sarah's expression softened as she placed her hands confidently on her hips, "You ever heard of Kayla Ellis? President's Daughter? Socialite and scientist? She was our mom. And our dad-"

"Was Captain America." James added, passing Miranda to stand side by side with his sister. "Long story short, through a very terrible turn of events, my sister got back what was meant to be hers."

"Which is what exactly, full body plastic surgery?" Miranda hissed, backing away from Sarah and James as two of her friends gawked at the blonde behind her.

Sarah laughed airily, cracking her knuckles, "No, that's silly. No, I got back my super soldier serum." Sarah growled and Miranda backed into the lockers, cowering in Sarah's sights. Sarah narrowed her eyes, standing up tall and tossing her hair over her shoulder, "Now, if you'll excuse us, we have to go. We're moving this week."

"Moving where?" Brent called, having witnessed the whole conversation. Hunter's jaw hung open as his eyes roamed up and down Sarah, and James lunged one step toward his friend to keep him at bay.

"Avengers Campus." Sarah answered, beaming at James, "We have some big shoes to fill, but somebody's got to do it." Sarah waltzed away from the people who once mocked her, leaving her old life behind for good.

As Sarah tossed her duffel bag into the back of the truck, she looked back to see Tessa leaning against the side of the house. The small brunette grimaced as she shifted, her wound still bothering her a week later. "You don't have to come. James and I can really go ourselves," Sarah explained as Tessa shook her head, crossing the driveway to meet her as Zawadi panted up at her.

"No, we want to come and make sure you guys get set up." Tessa assured the blonde, smiling up at her as she scratched Zawadi behind the ears, "It's really important to Bucky."

Sarah smiled weakly, nodding and looking over Tessa's shoulder as Bucky and James emerged from the front door, "I know."

Bucky closed the truck box and turned to Tessa and Sarah expectantly, "Ready to go?"

James looked to Sarah as she gazed at her childhood home for the last time. Bucky had offered to keep it for them, but Sarah and James asked to leave it behind. There were too many memories in that house to stay without their parents. Sarah reached out and grabbed her brother's hand, "It's okay."

James bit his bottom lip and nodded bravely, "I know. Still sucks. I'm so mad at him."

"I know." Sarah exhaled loudly, squeezing his hand, "Me too."

"It's a long ways upstate, the sooner we get moving the sooner you get moved in." Bucky called, leaning his vibranium hand against the driver's door. The Rogers kids looked to each other, then went around their separate ways to climb in and drive away. Once they reached the highway, Bucky looked in his rear view mirror, noting that James was nervous and Sarah seemed calm, a perfect swap of their normal demeanor, while the massive Rhodesian Ridgeback sat between them. "You guys okay?"

"I'm just nervous." James mumbled as he scrolled through his phone. He locked it and shoved it into his pocket before glancing at the shield between him and his sister, "I feel like there's a lot of pressure to not mess this up."

"Nobody's going to let you anywhere near anything dangerous until you feel ready. It'll be fun, like going to private school." Bucky explained casually and Sarah snorted, smearing chap stick across her lips.

"Yeah, private school for superheroes." Sarah looked to her brother, then smacked him hard. At his yelp and scowl she hissed, "What's the matter with you? This is like, everything you've ever dreamed of! You're going to be an actual Avenger. You're going to be Captain America."

"Yeah, but what if I suck at it?" James asked, gazing out the window, "What if I make an ass of myself? In front of you and Morgan and everybody..."

"You won't suck at it James. If your dad can do it, you can do it. I promise." Bucky looked up and met the boy's eyes, "They would be so proud of you. Both of you. You're gonna be great."

Tessa reached over and grabbed Bucky's right hand, running her thumb across his knuckles as he drove. She wasn't exactly excited to close up her shop and move upstate, but it was important to Bucky to be close to the kids, and close to his former team. Aside from her, they were all he had left.

While Bucky and Sam helped James get settled into his suite, Tiffany looked up at Sarah as Natasha opened the door across the hall. Natasha held open the door for the young blonde, gesturing for her to enter after, Zawadi running in first, barking happily. The room was large with a kitchen and living room overlooking a lake. On the far end of the suite was the master bedroom. Sarah assumed the bathroom was inside the bedroom and didn't need to investigate. She was more taken by the view than the amenities. "It's beautiful."

Natasha finally looked at Tiffany, and saw the little brunette's eyes welling up, "When we got back last week, I found out they'd rebuilt the campus as it was before the Battle with Thanos."

Sarah looked back at the two women, waiting for them to elaborate as to why this mattered. Tiffany sniffled, looking around at the room fondly, "This was your mother's room. Steve proposed in this doorway. It was their sanctuary... we asked if you could have it."

Sarah looked around the room, imagining her parents being happy here. "Thank you." She said softly, looking over her shoulder, "It means a lot to me."

"Anything for you. You saved us from the Soul Realm. A lot of people owe you their lives... their second chances." Tiffany said quietly, playing with the diamond ring she sported on her left hand now. "Is there anything else we can do for you?"

"What was it like?" Sarah asked quickly, turning from the view to look at Tiffany and Natasha. At their questioning glances Sarah added, "The Soul Realm. What was it like? I don't plan on subjecting anyone to it, but I want to understand what I'm capable of."

Natasha looked to Tiffany, and the small brunette's face fell a little, looking around the room again before murmuring, "It was... lonely. For a really long time. But we're here now, and that's what matters." Tiffany nodded at Sarah, then made her way toward the door just in time to run into James, "Oh! I'm sorry." Tiffany mumbled, scurrying out of the room to go find Sam.

When James crossed through the doorway he let out a long whistle, "This is so much nicer than my apartment!"

"Well, then you can just spend all your time in mine instead." Morgan cooed as she appeared behind James, wrapping her arms around his torso and running her fingers up and down his abs.

James blushed a little, clearing his throat as he looked over his shoulder at the woman, "Yeah, I think that'll work."

"Don't let Tony catch you. He'll slaughter you." Natasha smirked, crossing her arms as Morgan reached up on her tiptoes to kiss James's cheek. Natasha turned to Sarah as she straddled one of her kitchen table chairs. "The Soul Realm was odd... we could see you, and we could see your future. We knew what was coming, we just didn't know all the details."

"Hey Sarah," James finally called, pulling his attention away from caressing Morgan long enough to remember why he was in his sister's room, "Uncle Bucky and Sam are going to teach me how to use the shield out back. You wanna come? It could be fun. We could use some fun." James tossed his head back in an effort to get his shaggy hair out of his face. He studied his sister, then shot Natasha a warning stare, "Could we get a moment alone?"

"You don't scare me, James Rogers." Natasha chuckled as she passed him, pausing only to reach up and place her hand on his shoulder. She met his eyes and her smiled faltered, but she didn't say anything else as she left.

Morgan cupped James's cheek and pressed a soft kiss to his lips, "I'll let them know you'll be along soon."

"Thank you." He answered softly as she left, closing the door behind her. Once alone, Sarah quickly stood and pulled open the screen door to let the fresh fall air in. Zawadi tore out of the apartment, sprinting toward the lake at high speed as James sidled up next to his little sister.

Sarah watched Zawadi run, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath, smelling the freshly cut grass carried by the cool breeze. Her eyes were golden when she opened them, staring ahead until they faded back to their beautiful blue. She looked up at her brother and smiled, taking his hand. "We're gonna be okay."

James nodded and turned to her, seeing how content Sarah looked and feeling a wave of calm engulf him as he looked back to the lake as the sun began to set, "Yeah, I think we're gonna be just fine."

Author's Notes: Thanks for tagging along with me for this journey. I've written over two-hundred and fifty chapters for these characters. I knew when this story started how it was going to end, because, as Tony said himself: Part of the Journey is the End.

I've loved seeing all of the views and comments over the past year. Thank you all for sticking along with me through it all. That being said, I have a confession to make: the day after I wrote the Epilogue (The next chapter) I began a spin off story called The Uncut Branch. It's the same characters, but a different timeline. I hit the reset button on Kayla and Steve's relationship and will be exploring how a shift in the timeline will effect everything we know about these characters. If you are interested, I'll be posting that shortly, but I couldn't finish this story, my baby, my love, my passion project, without thanking everyone for reading. I appreciate it more than you'll all ever know.

Until Next Time, enjoy the Epilogue and thanks for everything.

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