Tony was the same the next day, no change. Steve and Bucky waited for Peter but when he proved to be a no-show Ms. Potts made some discrete inquiries. Not at school, not at home, not with his friends. They reluctantly decided to the Sanctum themselves but left with low expectations. No one else found answers there and the chances of Peter succeeded where the others failed were minuscule.

"I've been back here twice," Bucky said as they walked through the city. "When I was… the other guy. They prepped me for it, told me about the changes but I didn't pay too much attention to anything when I got here. They worked on hard on making sure I stayed focused and I did." His face took on a pensive expression. He was sad about something. Steve wondered if it was about the changes in the city or the missions they had sent him on.

"Then there's me, waking up and running right into Times Square. Real culture shock," Steve said in an attempt to change the subject. "Tony…or maybe it was Nick Fury…trying to chase me down. Funny how I can see both there. It's still a blur. Did you ever go back to the old neighborhood?"

"I thought about it. I looked at some pictures. It's changed too much," Bucky said.

"I've not either," Steve said. "But I looked up some of our neighbors. The ones still alive are great-grandparents. It got depressing. I had to… move on." The two walked in silence for a few blocks, lost in their own thoughts, Steve conscience of the fact there was no one else in the world he could share this with, but was grateful he did.

"Wonder why Peter didn't show up this morning?" Bucky asked breaking the silence.

"Have no idea. I hope he's here," Steve said, glad he had changed the subject. "He and Strange went into space together, so it makes sense he'd come here."

"Wonder what that was like?" Buck mused half to himself. "I never got around to reading Tony's report."

"Don't feel bad. I didn't either. We had other things on our minds," Steve said. Catching Bucky's eye and winked at him. He couldn't swear to it, but he thought Bucky blushed. Steve wanted to put an arm around his shoulder but decided not to. Bucky was still working out a comfort level with public displays of affection, even the ones that looked completely platonic.

They arrived at the imposing building. "So do we knock?" Steve wondered. Bucky shrugged his shoulders. Steve raised his hand in the air but the door opened before he touched anything. He pushed it in few inches.

"Doctor Strange? It's Steve Rogers." He called out announcing himself. "I'm here about…"

"Peter Parker," a familiar voice called out. "Come in."

The door opened the rest of the way, and he walked in, taking a moment to experience the awe of the interior of the room. It looked like a museum. No Doctor Strange, but Wong was there, his hand outstretched. Steve took it, his grip stronger than he expected.

"Captain Rogers!" he said, a smile on his face. "It's good to see you again, and to learn how well things worked out for you," he said. "Please come in," he said, motioning to Bucky who had waited outside on the landing. Bucky hesitated a moment then followed Steve. He instinctively jumped into a defense mode when the door shut and locked behind them. "Please don't let that alarm you," Wong said calmly. Bucky didn't relax until Steve's nod sent the message they were not in danger.

"Where have you been? Natasha and Tony…" Steve asked.

"Tried to get in touch with me but I was not in, for them. For you, I am. You have melded properly. Stark should have stayed in Wakanda, and Natasha, her situation is not something I'm not at liberty to discuss. You and… I'm sorry, but what should I call you? You have so many names and titles," Wong directed his question toward his companion.

"Bucky," he replied.

"Bucky. Good, short, easy to remember. The Sanctum has granted you permission to enter, this welcome did not come from me. There are things I can't tell you. Do you accept that?"

"I doubt we could understand it anyway," Steve said.

"How refreshing to deal with someone who accepts limitations. Mr. Stark, he's a brave man and means well but difficult to work with but we won't go into that now. I can tell you the reason it has taken so long for the others to come around is that they are fighting the meld."

"Fighting it?"

"There is much about themselves they do not wish to give up and hard truths about themselves they are unwilling to accept. It seems it was easier for you because you had… stronger motivations." His eyes flitted over to Bucky for a quick moment before returning to Steve making him wonder how much he knew. "I must tell you I have not seen Stephen since I came here."

"But Tony said…"

"I don't understand it either. Something else is going on here, something no one has shared with me."

A faint memory pinged in Steve's brain about other forces at work but it was too distant to bring back.

"But that is something to worry about later," Wong continued. "Our main concern is Peter Parker. He came here, this morning, but he has disappeared." He said the words as if people disappearing around him was a common occurrence.

"Disappeared!" Steve exclaimed.

"He came asking questions. I was debating with myself how much I should tell him when a portal opened, the origin unknown to me. A voice I did not recognize called out his name and before I could stop him, he stepped in, because he was curious, one of his best and worst qualities, and then it closed behind This happened minutes before you showed up. I do not believe it to be a coincidence."

"Can you find him?"

"I cannot go after him. I must remain here. My duty…"

"I understand. Is there any way we can follow him?"

"The place, I barely got a glimpse, was unfamiliar. It was not of this earth, not of a realm or dimension with which I am familiar."

"Not of...?" Bucky asked, breaking his silence. "Steve, what did Peter get himself into? And what are we getting ourselves into?" As if in answer to his question, the room filled with color. Tiny bits of light sparkled around them. A portal opened, revealing Peter.

"Captain Rogers," he said. His voice was steady.

"Are you all right? What happened?" Steve asked.

"I'm fine. I'm good. Look, I know this will sound weird, but there are people over here who need our help. They're good guys. I'm almost positive they're good guys, of course, you can't really tell, but I'm pretty sure they are because my senses are calm and they need us to help them and they tried to explain, but it's a little beyond me but they need you to come over here-"

"Are you're the real Peter and not some illusion?" Steve asked but mentally checking off that this person was just as chatty as the young man he knew.

Peter sighed and looked off into the distance. "I met you, a version of me anyway, met you at the Leipzig Airport in Germany. I stole your shield, Ant-Man got it back for you and you dropped a bridge on me. I told you I was from Queens and I told your friend his metal arm was cool. He won't know about that… oh… he should come too. They want him….and why you were beating up on Mr. Stark? What did he do to you? Why were you so mad at him?"

"That wasn't you! That was…" Steve said.

"I know who he was." Peter sounded older. Steve took in the ramifications of Peter's answer. Wherever he was, he had come in contact with his other self.

"Steve, I don't like this," Bucky whispered.

"I don't either, but Peter is over there and this seems the only way to get him back. What do you think?" Steve directed his question toward Wong.

The Sorcerer stared hard at the portal and the sight of Peter. "I cannot advise you Captain Rogers but I sense no deception. I know nothing about this, where it is coming from. There are many mysteries in the cosmos, things that cannot be explained, even by us. This is one of them. I cannot tell you what to do, but it seems there are forces guiding our actions are beyond my understanding. Perhaps we should see this through. The only option is to wait here until Strange returns and watch your friends as they go through their struggle. Perhaps this might shorten their suffering."

"I don't know," Steve said. This could all be an elaborate trick but even if it was, someone needed to look after Peter.

"If I go, you don't have to come with me," he said to Bucky.

"They'll want both of you," Peter said. "The ride is scary at first, it's like a light tunnel. It's a little different from Thor's Bifrost thing but it's quick…"

"Tony would never forgive me if I didn't at least try. He shouldn't be alone over there. I've already been through that light tunnel once, I know what to expect."

"We still don't know that's him, " Bucky said, lowering his voice. "I don't want to think about it, but they could have done something with him and are using this to lure us over there."

"Why?" Steve asked. Bucky just shook his head.

"Guys, they can't hold this open much longer. If you're coming, do it now, and if you don't…."

Steve decided. He couldn't take the chance of Peter being lost somewhere in the Universe. "I'm going. I have to. You understand?"

Bucky nodded and stepped up beside him. Steve took his hand and for once, Bucky didn't pull away.

"You ready?" he asked. Bucky nodded again and together they stepped into the unknown side by side.