Part 6

"I truly feel Lucky that I have this group in my life now. I'm so glad that Captain Rogers has such a wonderful kind hearted person in place to lead it during his absence" smiled a petite red headed woman. This was clearly emotional for her and as she desperately reached into her bag for a tissue, Brogan reached across taking her hand gently in her own. Instantly the woman calmed and forced out a smile "You have made me realise in the 45 minutes I've been here already that I'm not alone. Yes, I've lost my sister, my husband and my friends but I'm still here. They would want me to go out there and make the most of this new life I've been given. You've restored my hope and faith Brogan. I've finally realised thanks to this group that the family I lost will never leave me but will live on in my heart...Thank you"

"Lauren, that's very kind of you to say that but its always been down to you. You're doing amazing and your family will be so proud" Brogans mind soon came back to Steve and how much he'd helped her cope these last 5 years. His love, support and kindness bringing her back from the brink of despair so many times "Captain Rogers told me something once and even five years later it still stays with me. He said it doesn't matter how long and how big the steps are...the fact that you are doing whatever it takes to move forward is the bigger deal...only you alone can make those steps count" She squeezed the tearful woman's hand once more and smiled "I've been there Lauren. It took me five years to move forward but I've got there. I lost someone too. That day he was taken changed everything for me. I thought our story was just beginning but it was taken from me and my children. Id spent so long searching for someone like him to come into my life. My hopes and dreams shattered as well as my heart on that day he was taken from me. I just couldn't comprehend life without him but it took time. I dug deep and looked to his bravery of what he did that day to help me grieve. It was his bravery and courage that got me through those dark times"

"Courage? Bravery? Hold on I know where I've heard your name before now" Next to the red head sat and older balding man in his 50's. He was slouched on the chair at first, arms closed over his chest and was now glaring over at Brogan. Instantly she could feel his fire in his eyes as they were almost piercing deeper and deeper into her soul "Barnes? As in Bucky Barnes? You were married to the Winter Soldier? Your husband was a murderer" The man got to his feet and hurled his rounded spectacles on the coffee table. The force couldn't help but make everyone around it jump slightly "I remember the stories now about him... He killed all those people...you talk of him having bravery and courage but he was nothing but an emotionless killing machine...killed men women and children without a thought"

Letting out a deep sigh at the anger in his words, Brogan looked up and soon caught sight of little Rebecca drawing at a table with her big brother. Almost right on cue at the irate mans words, the joy and laughter soon quickly began to evaporate from the little girls eyes. Her now lethal stare at the man insulting her father feeling painful and piercing with every second. Her eyes drew wide and growing full of rage at his words. Brogan gasped as it soon hit her that she had seem that exact same look in Bucky once before when he attacked her while under his terrifying guise of "The Winter Soldier". When someone looks at you like that, eyes holding total anger like that it hurts. Her empty unmoving stare was accompanied by her deliberate slow breathing as she tried to calm her anger towards this man. Hearing enough, the little girl soon quickly fled the room closely followed by her worried big brother

"Yes, you're right. I am married to Bucky Barnes and yes he did do a lot of bad things in the past but by giving his life in the fight like he did, I'd say he's earned his redemption now right? Everyone deserves a second chance. Anyhow, he may of been The winter Soldier but as far as I'm concerned it was James Buchanan Barnes that I fell in love with, it was James Buchanan Barnes I conceived a child with and it was James Buchanan Barnes I married... NOT the Winter Soldier. That is not and never be who he truly is...he will always be my Bucky...my hero" cried Brogan. She took several deep breaths as she struggled to hold back her tears and hold it together "He didn't have to join in the fight with the others but he did. We was all so happy as a family in our tiny farmhouse raising our animals but he didn't give a second thought in joining the fight to keep not only his family but the rest of the world safe... All he ever wanted was to be seen as one of the good guys again. In doing so he gave his life so we might live and for me that's something none of us should ever forget" Brogan nervously bit her lip as the once irate man soon showed signs of calming down and sat back in his seat "Bucky didn't ask to be captured like he was. He didn't ask to be tortured and experimented on by those evil people. They controlled his mind and forced him to do their bidding as The Winter Soldier. They erased all his memories of his past. Can you imagine what it must have been like not knowing who you were? Not having any memory of your family and the people you loved?. Knowing that so many people had died at your hand and not knowing why you did it? Bucky didn't ask for any of that..."Forcing out a smile, She soon remembered her own past and the abusive relationship she shared with James's father. The lasting effects it had on her and James's struggles with PTSD when he was a youngster "Everyone has a past they want to forget but Bucky Barnes was a good man and I'm eternally grateful that I got to share my life with him. In my eyes he's redeemed himself now and I'm proud to be his wife. I'm proud for not only for myself but for both of our children also.. I'll love him till the end of days"

"I'm sorry. I didn't know that all happened to him.. I had no idea" sobbed the man as several reassuring hands were soon tenderly placed on his back and shoulder, gently stroking softly "its just that I've lost everyone... My wife... My kids. My beautiful Grandchildren. It was my little Lilly's first birthday... Her life was just starting... They've all gone and I'm alone... "

"You're never alone. Don't ever think that" whispered Brogan softly "we are all here for you. Its OK to be angry when you're grieving. That's why groups like this are so important. Nobody should keep that anger and pain buried inside them. When that happens the darkness will engulf you and there's no turning back. I know as I've been there... One day Joe, you'll find your own light within to show you the way. Until then... Im here for you as is every single person sitting here tonight...you are never alone! Now anyone have anything else to share?"

"I do... I'd like to say something" a nervous looking man opposite slowly raised his hand shaking profusely "I lost my wife Sarah in the snap and last night I went on my first date in 2 years... "

"and how did it feel?"

"great...she was such a great girl"

"Im proud of you" smiled Brogan reassuringly "As are we all...here's to a second date..."

Before long the session tonight soon was coming to an end. Just as always since Brogan had taken over running of things it had been a very successful night and all those attended went home happy and uplifted at the young woman's words. As each attendee left the hall, Brogan hugged each and everyone of them, thanking them for taking that step and joining her. Just seeing the deep pride, support and immense gratitude in their eyes as they left made it all worthwhile and further cemented in her mind she made the right decision in taking over the group from Steve.

With the hall now empty, it just left Brogan and Daniel alone as the deathly silence soon surrounded them both. The two sharing awkward glances as both struggled to say something to the other and cut the tension somehow. Yes, she liked Daniel as a friend but with the children's words about his intentions towards her still replaying in her mind, she couldn't help but feel slightly apprehensive about being alone around the man now. Was she really that naive and stupid not to see the signs that he was besotted with her?

"You truly are amazing Brogan" cried Daniel still in awe as he nervously ran his hand through his hair "by the way to put your mind at ease...I found the kids in Steve's office earlier. Watching The Little Mermaid " he laughed hoping to break the still obvious tension "how it got in his office I don't know..."

"oh well that's great. Thank you Daniel. I best get them home. James will go crazy if we don't check on the goats before bed... Night" much to her dismay Daniel raised his arm and placed it across the frame of the door, blocking her path in the process. Brogan gulped hard and looked up at him. Nervously scanning his frame and worried about what he was going to do next "Daniel...I need to get my children and go home... Please move"

"please Brogan..." The was an intensely deep level of hurt and pleading I'm his words. It was somewhat child-like in his insistence for her to stay "5 minutes please?... Listen...you are without a doubt the most incredible special beautiful woman that I've ever met. Your heart is so full of love that anyone you meet are literally engulfed in the kindness of your soul... Its no wonder someone like The Winter Soldier fell for you"

"Bucky...his name is Bucky NOT The Winter Soldier"

"Ok Bucky then" the man cried rolling his eyes at her insistence of calling her absentee husband by his nickname "what I'm trying to say is... I mean its just. The thing Is Brogan...ah what the hell"

Daniel, just like everyone that Brogan had come into contact with, knew that her heart belonged to Bucky and that even now after five long years she still loved him with all her soul. Even knowing that he still couldn't resist. He slowly leaned closer towards the terrified woman until their for heads were almost touching. Dear god, he'd tried but he found he just couldn't fight it anymore. Her scent of sweet rose perfume was flooding every part of his senses and right at that moment...he needed her

Before she could react, Daniel tilted his head and slammed his lips onto hers. Kissing her almost sloppily. From that very first moment he met, Daniel soon found he could barely breath in her presence and longed to kiss her. Nobody had ever come close to how he felt about Brogan right now. With her eyes wide stunned, Brogan somehow managed to raise her hands and push him away

"Why did you do that? Im married Daniel...I love Bucky" she cried, backing away from him before clasping her hands over her mouth in disgust at what he'd done "I love my husband"

Daniel saw instantly the shock and disbelief register immensely over her face. Yes he'd kissed her and quite honestly he would do it again given half the chance

"it's time you started listening to your own advice Brogan and moved on" he leaned in closer to her but soon appeared hurt as Brogan slowly backed away from the door "Well your Bucky has gone forever and he's NEVER coming back"

"I think you need to go Daniel. I don't think I can have you helping me with the group anymore now...not after this" now standing in the corridor Brogan felt slightly reassured when she soon spotted James and Rebecca emerge from the office "Bucky promised me he would come home and he will...whatever it takes"

'HES DEAD BROGAN...THEY ALL ARE!"

"stop it.."

"HES NEVER COMIMG HOME..."

"SHUT UP" she cried, covering her ears desperate to block out his hurtful words "You don't know ANYTHING"

"Wow I thought you was different but in reality I guess you're just as unstable as that husband of yours" rolling his eyes at the tearful woman once more before he hurled his bag over his shoulder. He leaned closer to a terrified Brogan once more as if he was going to kiss her again but soon pulled away at the last moment. "he's Dead...just like my fiancée and the other 50% of the population.. YOUR BUCKY IS DEAD AND SOONER YOU ACCEPT IT THE BETTER"

Watching him leave, Brogan forced herself not to cry at his words. The future now was almost like an unwalkable road. For so long for her it had been a journey devoid of all hope. It is one thing to look back and realise you was in darkness but it is quite another to look ahead and see that hope within. With Steve's plan still etched in her mind she was now even more determined not to give up on having him bring Bucky Barnes home...

A sudden gush of pain jolted instantly throughout Steve Roger's exhausted broken body. His chest ached, his arms soon losing all tension and he could feel his legs slowly begin to weaken as he dropped to his knee. Bruised, battered and winded he wiped the seeping blood from his lower lip and gazed at the floor as he struggled to control his breathing. His head was pounding now and could feel more of his own blood trickle down his cheek under the mask. Yes he was in pain but he wasn't planning on giving up anytime soon that was for sure. Taking a deep breath, his arm shook as he tightened his shield to it and managed somehow to get to his feet. Yes he was grossly outnumbered right now and alone but he was still Captain America and if this was it then he was sure as hell going to go down fighting that was for sure... If this was it then he was facing death on his terms nobody else's...

"Hey Cap...can you hear me?" Steve gasped at the voice in his intercom. Instantly he recognised it as Sam Wilson. His closest friend and just like Bucky one lost to the devastation of the snap "Cap its Sam...on your left"

It took a second for Steve to take in all that was going on around him. In the distance he could see portal after portal open up around him. The sky soon filling with fiery orbs of glowing yellow mass as people after people began to emerge from them. People lost in the battle of Wakanda five years ago and those lost to the decimation but willing to take the fight to Thanos and his army. Steve watched as from one portal emerged King T'challa, Shuri and his generals all ready to lead them all in an empowering battlecry. Soon one last portal next to Steve opened and even more people began to emerge...the last being someone all too familiar to the bruised soldier

"Steve?"

Steve slowly turned and there next to him stood none other than Bucky Barnes, still wearing the battle gear he wore from the battle of Wakanda all those years ago. Surprisingly Bucky hadn't really changed that much in the 5 years since his "Death". With the only real difference being his hair was longer and his beard a little more unkempt but to Steve he looked pretty much the same since that day he turned to ash before his eyes. That last image of him still haunting and plaguing Steve's dreams everyday since. Seconds passed by as Steve struggled to process that his best friend had returned and this was real. With every last piece of energy he had left in his body he edged closer to Bucky and pulled him close. The hug was a simple gesture but felt a perfect reunion for them both. As the two men embraced the world almost stopped for Steve. The plan had worked and he had his best friend back once more at his side

"I'm so sorry Buck" cried Steve releasing the hug and looking at the floor "I shouldn't have made you join the fight. I should have just left you at peace with your family. That's what you only ever wanted... You've missed five years of your daughters life. Five years that you'll never get back"

"Listen to me...I'd of been at peace yes but not safe and free...its OK Steve...I wanted to go with you" Smiled Bucky. He gently placed his hand on his friends shoulder and squeezed softly "joining you gave me the chance to finally redeem myself for what id done in the past. I had to join you. You knew it, I knew it and Even Brogan knew it too. You bought me back.. You bought everyone back... I always knew you would find a way" For Steve, Bucky always did have a way of making him smile and giving him hope. Even back when he was a scrawny teenager and had nothing, he still had Bucky and with that nothing else mattered "Im back now and let's do this" he loaded up his gun and gave his friend one last reassuring look "Im with you till the end of the line Steve..."

Steve mouthed a silent "Thank you" and smiled. He wasn't alone anymore now. With Bucky back at his side, along with the thousands still emerging through the portals, he felt he could take on the world. With his new found hunger and confidence, Steve raised his hand and within seconds "Mjinoir" made its way once more into his hand. He was worthy to lead this charge and take the fight to Thanos and his army. Gritting his teeth, Steve took one last look over at Bucky who nodded in agreement...

"AVENGERS...Assemble"