Natasha Romanov woke up feeling James's breath against her ear and she sighed, closing her eyes again.

Over a year ago she'd knelt at James's gravestone and wept, holding on to it like a lifeline and wishing things could have be different. Now she was lying in their bed, his arms around her like nothing had changed even while everything had.

She put a hand on her belly and then took James's as well, placing it above her own.

Suddenly there was movement against her hand and she gasped, her eyes widening. Instantly James was awake as well and said quickly, "What…?"

She pushed his hand tighter to her belly and the baby moved again almost on command, kicking back. Her eyes filled with tears and she looked back at James.

His eyes shone with tears as he kissed her, whispering, "Lapochka," and she turned, her belly pressing against his own and she laughed as he kissed her again.

"Our baby Toni," she whispered and he groaned, sighing.

"Oh god, you're gonna call her that too aren't you? I should have known!"

She grinned and took his hand, putting it on her belly again, sitting astride him and declaring, "Yes, darling you should have," before leaning in close, "And now you have five more months to get used to the idea," kissing down his chest.

He sighed his breath hitching as she expertly licked a path across his left pectoral.

"You'd," he gasped, lifting himself up to meet her mouth, "Better make this up to me," he said breathlessly.

She grinned and whispered, "With pleasure," before spending the next hour doing exactly that.

T'Challa woke it was to the sound of his son's cries and smiled.

The night had been uneventful, the entire group traveling back to the Avengers mansion somewhat celebratory over how well things had turned out in the end. He had noticed Nicholas seemed to be avoiding him again but thought better than to bring attention to it, though his annoyance at being ignored rankled.

He slid out of his bed and walked over to his son, grabbing the baby and holding him close though he knew by the cries Enzi was hungry. Just as he was about to put Enzi back down there was a knock at his door and he paused before saying, "Come in," and an agent appeared with a fresh made bottle.

T'Challa took it with a "thank you" and the soldier left, though as the door closed he looked over his shoulder trying to search the room for what must be a very sensitive camera.

He smiled, presenting his son with the bottle and whispering, "Good morning to you too, ashiki." (LOVE)

He could almost feel Nicholas's eyes on him in response.

Steve Rogers blinked and he was sitting at the controls of a large jet, staring at this own end. He could hear Peggy's voice on the radio, calling his name and he closed his eyes waiting for the cold to rush across his skin but when he crashed….nothing happened.

He woke in a hospital room, surrounded by Peggy, Dum Dum, even the Colonel and he blinked, noticing Nick watching him from his usual perch far off, smoking a cigar in silence.

"Oh Steve, you're awake! We were so worried!" Peggy cried, throwing her arms around him and he could feel her tears on his neck.

Steve froze under her touch.

Something was wrong.

Dum Dum slapped him on the shoulder, "Thought we'd lost you there, buddy!"

Everything about this was wrong.

Peggy pulled back from the hug and kissed him. Everything felt wrong. Completely wrong. He pushed her back, staring and frowning. "Tony. Where's Tony?"

They all blinked at him.

"Who? Steve you're home now, everything is fine!" Peggy said, laughing through her tears.

He heard a familiar accented voice say, "It was a very close call my friend, but you look right as rain," and when he looked towards the owner he froze.

Tony Stark stared back at him using his father's voice, and he whispered, "Tony."

The man changed into the Howard Stark he had known, and he felt Peggy pull on his arm. He looked at her tears, her excitement, and asked again, "Where is Tony?"

Nick made himself known then and said quite matter of factly, "Tony hasn't been born yet, Cap. You're home now, where you belong."

He woke in a cold sweat, breathing hard and when he heard Tony's mumbled question he turned, staring at the man beside him.

Steve touched Tony's leg, feeling him there.

Real.

Everything was real.

He swallowed and suddenly shook him awake. "Tony, wake up."

The other man blinked at him. "What's wrong? It's 5:30 Cap, seriously, after last night I can't even move I…"

Steve pressed their lips together roughly, their teeth nearly crashing together and when Tony easily opened his mouth Steve suckled on his tongue, feeling every inch of the man underneath him. For several minutes they kissed until he knew Tony needed air, and Steve stared down at him breathing hard.

Tony frowned. "What's wrong?"

Steve swallowed and whispered, "I had a nightmare."

Tony smiled. "About me?"

He nodded and Tony kissed him again, pulling him closer. When they pulled apart Tony mumbled, "I'm here, baby. Ain't goin' nowhere."

Steve watched him fall asleep again and stayed awake, just staring until the alarm went off.

Clint Barton sat across from his boyfriend as they ate breakfast, staring openly. Bruce tried to pretend he didn't feel the eyes on him, eating while reading the paper but when it got to be too much he put it down, blushing and mumbled, "What?"

Clint grinned. "Nothing. Just looking."

Bruce frowned. "It feels weird, stop it."

Clint laughed. "It feels weird to have me look at you? You stare at me all the damn time. When I'm fighting, when I put on my shoes, when I'm taking a shower…"

Bruce's blush was getting worse when he said, sputtering, "THAT WAS ONE TIME! I didn't…wasn't…"

Clint leaned across small table between them bringing their mouths together in a soft kiss.

"I like it, Bruce. No need to apologize," he whispered, "But if it bothers you, I'll stop."

Bruce's blush lessened some and he didn't look up but mumbled, "Don't have to stop," and Clint kissed him again.

"Good cuz I wasn't gonna," he confessed, enjoying Bruce's grin and when he got up from the table Clint wasn't surprised when he was pulled over into Bruce's lap and kissed quite soundly.

The deep growl as they kissed brought every nerve ending to alert and when Bruce carried him back to their bed he was glad he'd requested the table be brought in to their room for breakfast.

Thor and Luke woke in each other's arms and went right back to sleep.

The next two weeks went by flawlessly, which was why Tony realized later he should have realized something was going to go wrong.

It started with a look.

He was sitting in a briefing in the situation room when a SHIELD agent walked by, looking at him sadly as she passed and her eyes lingered on Steve for a the briefest of moments before they hurriedly stared elsewhere.

Tony thought it was odd, but when he saw Agent Coulson walk into their meeting whispering something in Nick's ear and the other man's gaze lingered on him and then Steve as well the hair on the back of his neck began to rise.

Nick announced, "If you'll excuse me, gentleman, there is something that requires my attention. Continue," and disappeared in a rush.

He stared across the table at Steve, who had been talking and didn't seem to notice anything remiss and then caught eyes with Clint Barton who seemed to have noticed everything.

Tony raised an eyebrow and Clint nodded, gesturing to Steve and then back at him. Then he pointed to his lips and Tony's admiration of the man grew.

He could read lips.

Tony coughed, raising his hand.

Steve stopped mid-sentence, sighing. "Yes?"

"We know what we're going after tonight right? HYDRA blah blah, bad guys?" he asked.

Thor grinned and whispered to Luke who laughed.

Steve sighed again. "Well, yes, but…"

Tony smiled. "Then I say class dismissed. See you tonight gentlemen," he looked at Bucky who looked annoyed at him as ever and left the table without a word, no doubt heading back to check on Natasha who was enjoying her respite.

Steve walked over to him and said, "Really Tony, was that necessary?"

He grabbed the man, kissing him quick. "Nope, but c'mon Steve. Let them enjoy their day. We all know the plan backwards, no need to harp on it."

Steve sighed again, and then smiled. "I guess you're right," he said, then reached out to run his fingers over Tony's arm.

Tony grinned. "As much as I know exactly what that means," he looked over at Clint and Bruce who seemed to be arguing though he could tell Clint was winning, "I gotta talk to Barton real quick and then I'll meet you."

Steve frowned, looking at Clint. "Okay."

Tony kissed him again. "Trust me."

The blonde nodded, walking out of the room though he stared at Clint before departing with a green eyed Bruce who kept looking back at them.

Clint sat back down at the table and said, "Something's up."

Tony nodded. "I got that. What is it?"

Clint shrugged. "I caught the words 'Steve', 'project', and 'time' before Coulson put his hand over his mouth. Guy catches everything."

The bottom dropped out of Tony's stomach.

"Steve, project, time? Like…the project that made Steve may be…defective? Running out of time? Like, to fix things?" he whispered, paling.

Clint's eyes widened. "Um…I don't think…I think if that were true, they'd say something to Steve, right? I mean…shit, Tony, I…"

Tony swallowed and faked a smile. "I'm sure it's nothing, Hawkeye. Thanks for your help though," he clapped a hand on the other man's shoulder.

Clint nodded. "Yeah, I…I'll keep my ears and eyes open. I promise."

Tony nodded back and Clint left the room, leaving him alone. That's when he slid to the floor, hugging his knees.

"Please, god no."

"Tony?"

He looked up and saw Natasha staring at him worriedly.

Tony laughed, wiping his face free of tears and standing. "Hey, honey, how are you…?"

She stood in the doorway with her arms crossed, "What is it? What has happened?"

He smiled, walking over to her. "Nothing. I'm fine. I just…"

Natasha met him across the room, poking her finger in his chest. "Do NOT lie to me, my Tony. I can see it in your eyes."

Tony shook his head, smiling. "Everything's fine, Natasha."

She frowned at him. "You're lying."

Tony swallowed, leaning down and kissing her cheek before whispering, "I'm sorry," and leaving the room in silence.

Natasha touched her cheek and then pulled out her phone, pressing James's number without even blinking. "Something's wrong. I am in the conference room, my James. I need you."

She closed the phone and walked over to the chair, siting.

What felt like seconds passed and James ran to her side. "What's wrong?"

She shook her head, holding out her arms and he hugged her.

"Natasha, tell me."

She shook her head, the feeling of dread becoming worse as she sat there and knowing only having him close could chase the feelings away. "I love you," she whispered.

James pulled back, staring at her. He moved a hair from her eyes and whispered back, "I love you too," before kissing her.

Natasha let herself melt in his arms, forgetting the feelings that had settled inside her for much better ones.

Nick Fury stayed behind on that evening's mission, drinking straight from a bottle of vodka that sat on his desk and contemplating what he was about to do.

There was no reason to even bring it up, he knew.

But the project had started as a means to get Steve back to his own time and he had done it on a whim, not expecting results.

Now here they were and revealing them could change everything he'd tried to build since Steve's arrival years before, and what he'd actually been able to build in the year since Tony Stark had been involved in the Avengers Initiative.

He took another swig, slamming it down on the table.

His office was pitch dark and when the door opened and light flooded the room he winced. "Ow."

T'Challa stood in his doorway, frowning. "Why are you sitting in the dark drinking?"

Nick refused to meet his eyes and said quietly, "Turn it off, please."

The other man did as asked but crossed the room, sitting across from him.

They both were accustomed to seeing in the darkness, though with T'Challa's abilities he had an advantage Nick didn't.

"What is going on, Nicholas?"

He took another swig again, setting the bottle down. "Do you remember the day I left?"

The other man whispered, "Yes."

"I remember every second of it. The pain at seeing you in pain, the pain of leaving and knowing the life you would lead without me…it was…unbearable."

T'Challa said, his voice hoarse. "What have you done, ashiki?"

Nick laughed, the emotion making it hard to speak. "I'm about to do the same thing to someone else, and I know I shouldn't but I'm gonna do it anyway."

T'Challa was silent and Nick thought maybe he had left until he felt the other man's arms around his neck from behind, hugging him. "Stupid, stupid, man."

Nick leaned in to the touch, closing his eyes. "Tell me if you had a chance to give a man his life back, his true life, but knew you would ruin someone else's in return could you do it?"

T'Challa kissed the top of Nick's head and whispered, "Is the man happy, Nicholas?"

Nick swallowed. "Oh, yeah. His happier than I remember him ever being before."

"Then you know your answer, ashiki."

Nick shook his head. "I have to give him the option, ashiki. I can't keep this a secret."

T'Challa let him go, stepping back and walking for the door. Once he opened it he looked back, his eyes adjusting naturally to the dark, staring at Nick sitting with slumped shoulders and a depressed expression.

"Let Steve choose for himself, then, Nicholas."

Nick looked up, surprised, and T'Challa closed the door behind himself.

After the mission went off without a hitch, Tony pulled Steve into bed, beginning to kiss him until he stopped midway through sucking on the blonde's throat snoring loudly.

Steve sighed, rolling to the side and staring at the man as he slept. It had been an eventful night but things went well though he kept feeling like the others were staring at him but when he asked Tony his lover just laughed and kissed him, calling Steve paranoid.

He climbed out of bed, stretching his hands above his head and getting ready to pull off his shirt when his com unit began blinking on his suit.

He frowned, staring down at it.

A strange feeling settled in his stomach and suddenly Steve found himself leaving their bedroom and heading towards Nick's office on a whim, not surprised to find the man sitting there with a serious look on his face.

A near empty bottle sat in front of Nick and Steve made no move to sit.

"What is it?" he asked.

Nick was silent.

Steve walked up to the desk and stared down at the man in charge of everything, who he'd known far longer than only a few others. A man he knew was his friend, but also his superior.

"I don't know how to say it," Nick whispered.

Steve swallowed. "Is it Bucky?"

Nick shook his head. "No, no, it's…you."

Steve sat down. "Me?"

Nick sighed; running a hand across his head which Steve knew meant he was more upset than he let on. "Since you…arrived, I've had my men working a project. To get you home. Back."

Steve paled. "You didn't stop?"

"Steve…"

Steve put his head in his hands, refusing to look up. "Nick, I don't need this now."

"Steve, look at me."

Steve felt tears in his eyes as he did. "I have no reason to go back."

Nick sighed. "You're sure? You were so in love with her, I saw how you stared at her and…"

Steve stood, slamming his hands on Nick's desk. "No! I BELONG here, Nick. This is my home now, my time. I'm in love with Tony, I…"

Nick picked up the bottle in front of him and took a swig till it was empty. "I know that, Cap. I just…I had to tell you. That's all. It's all set, we've used it. It's a go there and get back thing, doesn't have to be permanent."

Steve felt tears on his face as he whispered, "Nick…you should never have told me."

Nick sighed. "I couldn't keep it secret, Steve. Not something like this. It's your choice, but I had to tell you. Hate me for it, despise me. I'm used to it. But it's not like you couldn't come back if you wanted, it's not…"

Steve punched him then, as hard as he could, and hissed out, "I would never do that to Tony. I promised never to leave him again and I won't…this isn't a game. And Bucky, the baby, I can't…"

Nick rubbed his cheek. "Goodnight Steve."

Steve glared at him, wiping his face and leaving the office almost afraid to go back to his room knowing that Tony would have noticed he was gone by now.

"It is true?" Natasha whispered, startling him.

He wiped his face, sniffling. "Natasha, I…"

She stepped out of the shadows and repeated, "Is it true?"

Steve swallowed. "If Nick is to be believed, yes."

Her face was stained with tears as she whispered, "You will not take James away from me, Steven. If you…"

He reached out to touch her and she flinched. "I'm not going. I won't leave Tony again."

She stared at him, her eyes narrow. "You hurt him again and you will not be allowed a second time. Tony may be forgiving but I am not so forgiving, Captain."

"Natasha…"

He turned and saw Bucky running towards them, and he walked past him nearly running back to his room. When he opened the door he was surprised to see Tony still sound asleep, his arms curled around Steve's pillow.

Steve crawled back into bed, taking the pillow from him and wrapping Tony in his arms. He felt tears on his face and bit back sobs he knew wanted to come, kissing Tony's shoulder.

"Steve? You all right?" Tony mumbled.

He nodded. "Yeah. Bad dream again."

He heard the amusement in Tony's voice and knew he was smiling. "I'm here, Steve. Always will be."

Steve closed his eyes and whispered, "I know."

Nick Fury woke with a blinding headache, rolling over and groaning.

Just as his hand landed on the warm body beside him.

He opened one eye and cursed inwardly.

T'Challa.

His bed partner was sound asleep, naked from at the very least the waist up and Nick looked down at himself to see he himself was fully clothed.

Thank god.

He tried to slide out of bed and suddenly a strong arm grabbed on to his arm.

Nick looked at T'Challa and his expression must have given something away because the other man let him go.

He left the bedroom with a word.