A/N- Yes, you are correct. I am not open to feedback that is unhelpful, unkind, and makes no sense for a fanfcition. Thank you :D

To the rest of you, thank you so much for your kind words of support. This story is for YOU!

—-

Bucky can hear the other theatergoers getting annoyed with them, but he can't focus. Steve is standing there, staring at them with a wide eyed disbelieving expression.

"I can hear again."

"What!" Tony shouts. And that does earn them a hearty shhhhhh.

But Peggy is up out of her seat and dragging Steve down the steps and out the door. The rest follow quickly.

When they reach the lobby, Steve is grinning from ear to ear, spinning slowly as if he's taking in all the sounds around him.

He laughs loudly, and then stops, "I can hear myself. I can hear everything!"

No one seems to know what to say but to stare in excitement and shock.

Then Steve turns to Tony, "don't tell your dad."

Tony balks, "what! I have to!"

"No," Steve says quickly, "we don't know if this is permanent or what, and—" he winces, "I'm tired of being in that lab. Can't I just enjoy this in peace for now?"

Tony groans, "he'll be so mad when he finds out—"

"I'm not saying never." Steve interjects quickly, with a wave of his hands, "just give it a couple days. If it sticks around, then we can tell him."

Tony smiles, "it's going to stick around, this is what my dad was hoping for when you first came out. Just looks like it was maybe delayed—" Tony's voice cuts off, "oh," he laughs, "oh, ho, ho!" He grabs Steve's shoulders, "maybe it's all delayed!"

"Like what?" Clint asks, leaning forward staring into Steve's ears. Steve shoves him away with an eye roll and Tony points to Steve's eyes.

"Like your eyesight."

Steve furrows his brow, "really? You think it could?"

He nods, "yeah, it was supposed to creating a healing things around all your cells, like a regenerative thing, so my dad was confused why it healed the internal but not the "external"" he puts the last word in air quotes, "but maybe it just needs more time!"

Something like surprise crosses Steve's face but he just shrugs and grasps Peggy's hand, "I'm fine just like this. Whatever happens is just a bonus."

Peggy smiles at him and then touches his cheek, "you're quite perfect just the way you are."

It's so sappy that it should be nauseating. But Tony doesn't mind one bit. Steve has earned it.

And then Steve's smiling ruefully and Peggy laughs. "You're hungry again aren't you?"

He laughs, looking at Clint, "you think your uncle is open this late?"

Clint huffs with humor, "I'll tell him we're on our way."

—

Natasha kisses Bucky, her hand on the skin of his back and his hands on her hips, pulling her closer.

The warmth of the summer still pervades the air as they lay on his rooftop.

"Bucky?" They hear Rebecca's voice, "are you guys still making out?"

Bucky's head rolls back and he groans while Natasha laughs heartily. "What's up, Becca?" She calls to the young girl as she straightens up and rights her shirt.

Bucky refuses to move so Natasha pulls his shirt down from where she'd hiked it up a bit right before Becca's head pops over the edge.

"My mom wanted to know if you're staying for dinner?"

"Yeah." Natasha smiles, "I'll let Sam know."

Becca smiles and then wrinkles her nose, "don't be gross."

Bucky shifts and glares upside down at his little sister, "might I remind you I'm in college and can make my own decisions."

Rebecca sticks her tongue out at him, even though she's 17, she still teases Bucky all the time. It reminds Natasha of Yelena. "Yeah, but you need to treat Nat like a lady."

Natasha laughs, "don't worry, Becca, I wouldn't dare let him do anything less."

"And I wouldn't!" Bucky bemoans, "I'm not a douchebag."

"Ew." Rebecca makes a face, "dinner's in 20 minutes." Then she disappears and Bucky is frowning at her.

She chuckles, "you think they'd believe us if we said we haven't even had sex yet?"

He sighs, finally sitting up, "I hope so since it's the truth."

She turns to Bucky, "did you ever hear the story Peggy told us girls?"

Bucky blinks, "uh… what?" Then his eyes widen, "wait, are saying that Steve and Peggy—"

Natasha huffs and glares, "would you let me tell the story?"

He frowns, but falls silent.

"The night of Steve's prom…" she starts slowly, "when they ditched early cuz Peggy punched that guy, they came up here." Bucky's expression is growing wary, unsure if he wants to hear what he thinks he's about to hear. "And Peggy…" Natasha laughs softly, "Peggy said she started to try to undress him."

"Wha—"

"But Steve wouldn't let her." Bucky's eyes are growing wider, "she tired to convince him, to ensure him that she wanted it. But he told her he didn't. That it was either special enough to wait till they got married, or too special for her to waste on him if he wasn't going to get to be with her for their whole lives." Bucky's mouth opens slightly in surprise, his eyebrows pulling together in disbelief. "That's the night Steve told her he thought he might die soon. The same night he went to Matt to make that will. He loves her so much." Her voice gets a bit dry, "when I thought he was dead? I just kept thinking… what if it was you." Her eyes drop to her hands and she feels Bucky shift closer, "I couldn't imagine losing you the way Peggy thought she lost Steve." She looks at him and he's looking at her intently, eyes full of understanding. "I don't even know what I would do."

"I couldn't lose you either." Bucky pulls her up against him, wrapping her in his arms, "And I'm glad they didn't have to lose each other for very long." They're quiet for a moment before Bucky rests his head on her shoulder, their cheeks touching as they both look out towards the darkening sky, "I can't believe Steve turned her down."

Natasha laughs, "Peggy couldn't believe it either."

Bucky chuckles softly, "It's Steve. She should have known he'd want to wait."

Natasha leans back against him, "I think she thought that since he was…" she pauses, searching for the right words, "Just that… Maybe Peggy felt like it was now or never too. And you know Peggy's saying. 'Always now, never never'."

Bucky nods, Natasha's hair tickling his ear, "What about you?" He asks softly, "I know we haven't really talked about it. What do you want?"

She thinks. Pondering the question and feeling Bucky's heartbeat against her back. "I want you." She starts, "obviously. I want to experience that with you. I feel—" she shifts, running her fingers lightly in circles in Bucky's open palm, "I have this desire, this want, to see you naked and have you as my own. To claim you and know you're mine." She can feel the way Bucky's pulse is racing, but he stays silent, not moving an inch, "but," she turns to face him, catching his intense gaze, "I also know that I want to be a role model for Yelena, and Wanda and… I know that Peggy is actually glad Steve stopped her. That he wasn't just bowled over by his hormones or desires. That he wants to do it right. To have sex when they're actually ready. Not just horny." Bucky's nose wrinkles at the word and that makes her laugh, "so… for now, I think I want to wait. Is that okay?"

Bucky's eyes soften, "Nat, I want to wait too. I hope you don't think I was pushing for that."

"No, it's just typical of guys—"

"I'm no typical guy—" he cuts her off with an amused grin.

"I know." Natasha sighs and looks back out towards the sky, "but I know that we both get to have a say."

"That's true…" He kisses her cheek and then taps out a beat on her jeans. "But once we do decide to have sex, then I'll get to have it with you the rest of my life. Rushing into something you're not ready for, and honestly, it's not like I'd know what the hell I was doing either." She chuckles and he pulls her tighter, "it's something to look forward to. Why rush all the good things? They'll come when they come."

"Pun intended?"

He chokes out a laugh and starts tickling her, making her shriek in laughter.

—

Clint walks into work and stops, staring as Steve is halfway up one of the walls.

"Steve?"

He turns and smiles, "Hey Clint."

Clint shakes his head and laughs, "it's good to see you. Just in for some climbing?"

Stvee nods, "yeah, I just have so much energy. Doing things like this helps me sleep."

Clint punches his work card and then heads over where Steve belays down. "You're not sleeping?"

Steve laughs, "No, I am, just not very much. I barely ever feel tired."

The smile that's on Steve's face makes Clint smile back, "that must be a different feeling."

"It is." Steve chuckles, "it sure is. Phil said you were coming in today." Clint huffs out a laugh. Ever since Phil met Steve he'd become super attached, just like the rest of the adults in Steve's life. You couldn't help but love his calm and polite manner. "He said you were thinking of shifting to the archery range full time?"

He nods, "yeah, I'm really loving it. I think I could be an instructor."

"Really?" Steve's face lights up, "that's awesome. You should teach me."

"Of course. Anytime. How long are you sticking around?"

Steve looks at the clock. "I'm meeting up with Peggy for lunch, so I'm heading out soon."

"Still hungry all the time?"

The amused sigh of laughter from Steve makes Clint chuckle. "Yeah, I'm a freaking bottomless pit. It's a good thing Howard's so concerned with making sure I have enough food, or I'd probably eat Sam out of the house."

Clint laughs out loud, "did he figure out those high calorie shakes?"

Steve' head bobs, "yeah, they have like a bajillion things in them, protein, carbs, vitamins, fats. It's crazy. And it's this huge amount, like I feel like I should be crazy full after, but I'm just satiated. And then two hours later…" he grins, "I'm eating again. But—" and Clint already knows what he's about to say before he says it, "better than dead."

Clint shakes his head, "yeah. Obviously." There's a brief pause, "`You uh, take Sam up on his suggestion?"

Steve nods, "yeah, I'm seeing someone Howard vetted. Bucky's seeing him too. Nat talks to Sam. You?"

"The lady I saw after my mom. She's cool."

"She believe the Lazarus part?"

"Didn't go that deep. Just that you were really far gone. No details."

The mood shifts a bit as Steve stares up at the wall and he sighs, "you know… I know it happened to me. Like I should be freaking out or thinking about it all the time. But like… I don't…" he huffs, "Why do I barely think about the fact that Howard brought me back from the dead? Why aren't I freaked out and talking about it all the time? Why isn't it this huge deal?" But he looks down at his hands, stretching them and curling them into fists before relaxing them and resting them on his hips, "but… I just… it isn't. I don't want to focus on it. It's like this huge thing that happened. And I want to move on. I get to live. So I want to live."

His lips pull up into a grin, "we want you to live too, Steve."

Steve winces, "I am sorry for being the cause of our group needing therapy."

Clint huffs out a laugh, "not you exactly. Just what happened to you." There's a pause and Clint clears his throat, "None of us want you to feel like you have to focus on it."

"You guys haven't even yelled at me for the will or letters." The raised eyebrow is a sort of accusation.

People walk past, chattering and talking loudly making them pause. Steve's eyes are wary, wondering.

"We talked about it." Clint admits, "briefly. We discussed whether it was something we wanted to talk to you about." He clicks the carabiner clip that is on his work bag a few times, "but, correct me if I'm wrong, you did all that because you were dying. You were under the assumption that that was it. Those were your last words and actions on this earth. Other than the pain of knowing you'd thought Howard wouldn't succeed, which, to be fair he almost didn't, but other than that… Everything you did was justified."

Steve's voice is a bit raspy, "yeah. I did think I was dying. And I didn't want to pretend it couldn't happen. Of course I hoped Howard would succeed. But after the life I've had, I wanted to be prepared. Leaving without saying my goodbyes wasn't an option."

"And we understand that." Clint says softly, "as much as reading that letter made me sad, I was glad I had something from you."

"It's strange." Steve states, "it's awkward. I wrote all these… what I had hoped were heartfelt letters and now… they're pointless."

"No." Clint responds sharply, "No. They're not. You weren't awake. You didn't see the way everyone read them and clutched them, and cried over them." Steve's face is getting pinched but Clint doesn't stop. "If Howard hadn't brought you back, they would have been more poignant, yes, but they're you. They're everything you are on a piece of paper. I get to keep that sentiment from you forever. No matter where you go or what we do. You're my brother. Nothing you do is pointless."

"You know," Steve says, fiddling with a strap on his harness, "you should be a motivational speaker." He looks up and grins and Clint rolls his eyes and shoves him lightly.

—-

Tony has to grit his teeth every time his dad is in the room. It's been a week and Steve's hearing has only improved. He did a quick test the other day to check. Steve could hear whispering in the next room. It's phenomenal. But he's still worried his dad will drag him back to the lab, so he'd asked Tony to stay quiet, "just for now" he'd said.

But Tony wanted to tell him so bad.

But he understands Steve's point. Every waking moment of Steve's life for the past four years has been either about his health or lack thereof. He'd just come back from the dead. He wants time.

Tony sigh. He can give him that. For now.

—

Bucky watches with increasing concern as the crease between Steve's eyebrows grows deeper and deeper.

"What's wrong?" He finally asks, "you've been grimacing for like an hour.

Steve looks up, a surprised expression on his face as if he didn't know anyone was watching. "What? Oh, no, I'm fine."

"You've been glaring at that book for like an hour."

Steve looks down at the book in his hands and then back up. He grimaces, "My head hurts."

Bucky feels instant dread, "it does? Like what? Like a headache?"

Steve nods, "yeah, but I'm sure it's fine. Headaches are normal."

Bucky doesn't say the words he's thinking. That nothing is normal for Steve, but he doesn't press. "Is that it? Just your head? You want some advil?"

"I probably just need more water." Steve sighs, "or food. I'm hungry again."

Bucky looks at the giant empty bowl that sits on the kitchen table. Steve had just devoured a whole bowl of Ka Soi from the Thai place a few blocks away, along with like three peanut butter and jellies and then a pack of sour gummy worms.

"Maybe you should eat one of those shakes." Bucky suggests, "should I call Howard?"

"No." Steve says quickly, "no I'm fine. But that's a good idea. I'll make a shake. And I'll put ice cream instead of the almond milk. That should make it last longer."

Bucky nods, his eyes following Steve as he walks towards the freezer.

He had asked Tony a couple days ago if they should be worried. They weren't even sure how Steve's body could even process the sheer amount of food he was eating. He'd started eating even more than he had the first few days he was awake, almost 20,000 calories a day. And that's if he didn't do anything active. Which he usually did because he has so much extra energy. But it hadn't even been three weeks since he'd been brought back. Everything was stil new. Still a question mark. They had no idea what would happen. Just that Steve seemed healthy and happy. Which he was.

The blender whirs and Steve is wincing again.

"What?"

Steve groans and yanks off his glasses, rubbing heavily at both eyes with his fists, "They're just blurry." He says, still digging his knuckles into his eyes, "maybe I need a new prescript—" his voice cuts off as he pulls his hands away and opens his eyes. "Oh—"

Bukcy stands, Steve's face going wide with disbelief. "What? What is it?"

Steve's face turns to him, a smile spreading across it, eyes still not focused. Then he blinks and his eyes sharpen, looking at Bucky with such intensity that Bucky feels taken aback. "It's my eyes."

"What is?"

"I can see." Steve chokes out, his voice filled iwth disbelief, "that's why my eyes were bugging me, the glasses were making my vision blurry." He looks at his hands and then grabs the carton of ice cream and stars at the label, "I can see. In color."

The inhale of surpirse from him is sharp, but then Steve is laughing and grabbing the nearest things he can reach to study them. Then he's shouting, "natasha! Sam!" He yanks his phone from his pocket, dialing.

Sam makes it to the kitchen first, "what, what is it?"

Steve smiles, "I can hear. And I can see." He admits, looping the two together. "On my own."

The phone beeps and suddenly Peggy's voice is present, "Steve? Hello?"

"Peggy!" Steve says breathlessly, "it's my eyes. They're healed. I can see."

"What!" She shrieks over the phone, :when!?"

"Just now!"

Sam's walking forward, grabbing Steve's chin gently, and lifting his face up as if to study Steve's eyes, "you can? How?"

"Whatever Howard did to me is working. Just slower than he planned." He's grinning from ear to ear. Natasha slides into the kitchen,

"What is it?"

"I can see." He says again, "I can see perfectly."

"Your ears?" Sam asks, then he tilts Steve's head sideways, "where are your aides?"

The grin hasn't left Steve's face, "I haven't used them in a week, haven't needed to."

"Why didn't you tell me!"

"I wanted to make sure it was permanent!" Steve insists, still smiling like a fool, "but it is, now my eyes? Everything's perfect now!"

Sam's face goes soft as he yanks Steve forward and hugs him tightly. "I'm so happy for you, Steve."

And the small voice coming from inside Sam's embrace is a little emotional, and that makes Bucky's throat tight, "I'm happy for me too."

—

Tony opens the door and sees the group. The whole group. "What's up?"

Steve smiles, "'is your dad home?"

Tony narrows his eyes, "yyeeessss." He glances at Sam, then Clint, then Bucky, Natasha, and Peggy. "What's happening?"

Steve pats him on the shoulder and pushes past him. "Come on, you'll wanna see this reaction."

Tony tilts his head but follows Steve walks down to the lab and raps on the glass. Howard looks up, brow furrowing at the appearance. He waves them in and the lock unclicks. Steve pushes through and stops in front of Howard. "Hello."

Howard looks at Steve, then the group, then back to Steve. "Hello?"

Steve smiles and hugs Howard, making the man look up at the group in confusion. But his arms wrap around Steve and he hugs him back.

Steve steps back and slowly reaches up to his face, pulling his glasses down and setting them on the lab table. "You did it."

Howard looks at the glasses, "did what?"

"What you wanted."

Howard looks at Steve, "which is?"

"I don't need those anymore." Then Steve digs in his pockets and places a hearing aid on the table next to the glasses, "or those."

Realization hits Tony first. He bounds forward, getting close to Steve's eyes, "WHAT! When! Your eyes healed too!?"

Steve nods and then looks up at Howard, "I can see, hear, and perceive color. All on my own."

Howard's standing there in shock. His mustache twitches lightly as he blinks multiple times. Then he rears forward and grabs Steve's shoulders, "WHAT!" He laughs, hugging Steve tightly, "what! You can!? It worked, it worked!"

Steve's laughing, eyes watering in happiness, and the rest of the group gathers around, hugging and cheering the new development.

—

Two weeks later, Natasha wakes up, her sense pricking. The last time she woke up feeling this way… She'd gone to get coffee with Bucky. Her heart starts racing and she throws off her covers, slipping to the floor and walking in the darkness to Steve's bed.

Her hands ghost over the sheets.

It's empty.

Her heart catches in her throat as she walks out of the room and around the corner to the bathroom. The door is open and the light is on.

She knocks, "Steve?"

A breathy hoarse whisper responds, "yeah."

She pushes in the door and stops in surprise. Steve is shirtless, sitting on the tub, hunched over, his skin stretched tightly across his back.

"What's happening?" She asks, crouching beside him. She rests a hand on his skin and it's burning hot. "Steve, what's wrong?"

He shakes his head, "I don't know." He groans and the sound of pain makes the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

"I'll get Sam."

He reaches out, snagging her wrists, "no." He groans again, gripping her wrist hard enough it's almost painful, "no, don't. I'm fine—"

His voice chokes off and she shakes her head, "you're not! Something is wrong! You're in pain!"

He's panting, "I'm—" he huffs, "I'm fine." His lips are closed, and she hears the wheeze of air he sucks through his nose, "everytime there's been pain, there's been something healing." He finally manages to rasp out, "this is probably just something healing."

"But what!" She asks in a harsh whisper, "your eyes and ears are already healed!"

His shoulders shrug and then he groans, leaning forward, "ah—" he gasps out, "ow—"

She yanks her wrist and it comes free, "I'm getting Sam!"

And Steve doesn't have the breath to respond. She runs down the stairs, knocking on Sam's door. It's mere seconds before it opens. "Natasha?"

"Steve's in the bathroom, he's in pain and—" Sam is already moving past her, up the stairs and pushing into the door. Steve's sitting in the ground now, his back against the tub, face pinched in discomfort.

"Steve?" Sam asks, worry obvious in his tone, "what's wrong? Where does it hurt?"

Steve grimaces, "everywhere."

"Natasha," Sam orders, "call Howard."

She runs back into the room, careful to not wake the others, as she grabs her phone.

She shoots a text to the group chat before she clicks Howard's number. He doesn't answer.

"Sam," she says, as Sam is kneeling in front of Steve, hand on his forehead, "he's not answering."

Sam takes a deep breath, "usually I'd just say he has a fever, but with his history, I don't feel safe making that call. I'm going to take him to Urgent Care, Natasha, are you okay staying here?"

She wants to say no, but she knows he needs her help. "Yes, I can."

Steve is groaning, now barely coherent. Their concern ratchets up a notch. Sam slips his arms under Steve's and pulls him up. Natasha watches as he freezes, "uh—"

"What is it?" Sam looks at her and then shifts Steve. Making sure his feet are flat on the ground, while his arms support Steve's weight.

Sam looks at her with wide eyes, "I know what this is."

She looks at him, head tilted, "you do? What?"

Sam laughs, throwing his head back in relief, "look." She does and Sam brings one of his hands out from under Steve's arms and places it horizontal on his collarbones, right at where the crown of Steve's head rests. "Look." Sam urges, with a smile.

Ste stares at Steve and tries to figure out what's so strange.

Sam gestures to his collarbones again, "he's growing." She gasps, realizing that Steve is taller than he was a few weeks ago. "Growing pains, I'd bet." Sam says softly, readjusting Steve into his arms, then he pauses, "but I should make sure. I don't want to ignore something more serious."

Steve makes a sound of pain and Sam nods, "we'll take him to Howard's."

—-

Steve wakes up feeling stiff and sore. Something he's used to. But not recently. He blinks his eyes open to see Howard asleep in a chair next to him. He can hear whispers on his other side.

He sits up. There's no equipment attached to him, and he doesn't feel pain necessarily, just stiffness. That's a good sign that he hadn't had anything major happen. He catches sight of the group sitting on or around the same little sofa that they discussed their summer project on all those years ago.

"Guys?"

Five pairs of eyes turn towards him and then they're racing over, "Steve!" Peggy says, hugging him, "how'd do you feel?"

"Stiff." He says, "but no more pain."

"Eat this." Tony rips open a package and hands Steve a protein bar. Steve shrugs and takes a bite. He is hungry. Then he turns to Natasha, speaking with his mouth partly full, "what happened? I just remember feeling super light headed and sore in the bathroom.

"I'm going to ban you from bathrooms." Bucky mutters.

But Natasha just nods, a smile on her face, "Yeah you passed out, and Sam brought you here." She gestures to Howard, "he confirmed it." She smiles wider, "you're growing."

Steve blinks, "what?"

"You're two inches taller than you were when we got you out of that machine."

"What!" He gasps, "you're lying."

Peggy laughs, shaking her head, "we're not! We measured!"

"The pain you were experiencing is because you're growing way faster than normal. But with the proper calculation of supplements and food, my dad thinks he can help you avoid most of that." Tony holds out another protein bar.

Steve sighs, "more food?"

Tony laughs, "a lot more."

Steve groans but it's more good natured. Being hungry is something he's used to. At least now he has the food to satisfy that hunger. He looks around, "where's Sam?"

"Once Howard confirmed you were just growing he went back home to take care of the kids."

Steve nods, "okay," he stretches and yawns, "how long has it been?"

"Like two hours." Bucky responds, "you need to eat."

Steve huffs and then smiles, "yes, sir." He looks over to Howard, "should I wake him?"

"Nah," Tony shrugs, "he was freaking out with excitement when he finally passed out. If we wake him now he may never sleep again."

The group chuckles and they quietly head upstairs.

—

Clint looks on in amusement as Steve blinks heavily. A spoon dangles precariously in his hand.

His head dips forward, eyes closing and staying closed.

"I swear he's growing before my very eyes." Sam whispers, catching sight of the now sleeping Steve.

Peggy nods, her chin resting on her forearms as they rest on the table. "All he does is eat, sleep, and grow." She smiles, "he's like a baby."

"Tony was saying that he should grow to what his natural height would have been had he not had heart issues or any other health issues."

"It will be strange if he gets taller than me." Peggy says softly, "I think I'll be sad a bit actually."

Bucky, who is also sleepy, huffs out a soft laugh and strokes his thumb along Natasha's, "I bet he won't miss it." He yawns, "wonder how tall that was. Never seen what his dad looked like."

Sam stays quiet and Clint assumes that means he doesn't know either. "Does Steve have a picture of him?"

Sam shakes his head, "no, when his mom died they basically sold or threw out everything in their apartment. It's like…" his face grows dark, "they didn't even consider an orphan may want pictures of his family one day." He looks at Steve with a sad look, "I've seen it happen before. How's a 9 year old supposed to cart around an entire house? No foster parent or orphanage would want all that. Meaning they lose almost everything. Steve said he had a small garbage bag of stuff. That's it." He gently extradites the spoon from Steve's fingers. "So they just threw his whole life away. Then put him with the Schmidt's." His voice is surprisingly angry, although Clint gets it.

Clint shifts and then sighs, "Steve…" she looks up at Bucky, "in his letter to me… talked about how we're the only two who have known our mothers and lost them." The room grows still, "I'm just realizing he's the only one who knew his dad and lost him too."

Peggy looks at Clint and her face pulls down in sadness, "everything I hear about his past makes me want to just—" she makes a clutching to her chest motion and she sighs, "but at least…" she gently brushes the backs of her fingers against his cheek, and a small 'hmm' of happiness escapes his throat and makes her smile. "I get to make it up to him for the rest of our lives."

"Yeah," Sam says, "we all do."

—-

Steve's walking towards the park, with all the kids in tow. Peter's chattering at him and he's laughing and asking questions. Wanda, and Yelena are talking about their upcoming school year. Pietro and Daniel are racing ahead and then stopping, waiting for the group to catch up.

Steve feels so light. He walks evenly, at a good pace, no limp, no aches, no stiffness. His hip and knees feel like new. Peter hadn't quite reached Steve's previous height but now he's even further behind as Steve continues to grow millimeter by millimeter. They'd discovered if he eats, stretches, sleeps, and eats some more that he can avoid almost all of the pain or uncomfortable nature of the growing.

But Steve doesn't mind the pain. He is used to it. And at least this time it is for a good reason.

"So have you figured out what you're gonna do?"

Peter's question pulls him from his other line of thought.

Steve sighs, "I don't know. I was too late applying to a lot of schools." He looks into the window of the shop they pass by, selling watches and old electronics, "I think maybe I'll take a year to just figure out my plan." He nudges Peter, "hopefully Sam won't kick me out."

Peter giggles and then skitters up and around a mailbox before coming back and bouncing on his feet by Steve's side. "He won't, and you can help me with my homework and we can build legos and you can hang out with Clint!"

Steve smiles, "yeah, I can." They round the corner and the park comes into their sights. The kids take off, running into the gated area and splitting off, some heading towards the playground, others to the basketball court or the small soccer field. He picks a bench where he can see everyone and brings his backpack to his lap. The worn sketchbook feels familiar as he flips it open. The sun makes the whole park glow with warmth as he begins to sketch.

—

Tony blinks as Steve stands, the height difference really starting to make itself known. Pepper had asked him what happened, and he'd told her. She looked at him like he was crazy.

Then she'd shook her head and laughed, "you're father kind of scares me."

Tony had laughed, "he is kind of a lot. But he means well."

At that she'd gotten somber, "I'm glad he's a good guy." She'd wrinkled her nose and looked apologetic, "I don't mean that in a bad way. I just…" she held his hand and her face was serious as she spoke, "imagine that power in someone's hands who didn't have a moral compass."

Tony was reminded of the conversation he'd had with Bucky. It's the people who make the difference.

Natasha nudges him, pulling him out of his reverie, "yeah?"

"I've been meaning to ask…" She looks hesitant. Tony glances around. Steve is chewing on some protein bar, while Bucky and Clint argue about the possibility of one arrow splitting another down the shaft.

"What is it, Nat?"

"What's your dad going to do with that machine?"

Tony looks at her and raises an eyebrow, "I've been waiting for this question actually."

"Oh yeah?"

Tony nods, "yep." He sips at his soda and then shifts, "I asked him the same question. He's already deconstructed it, shipped the pieces off to different storage facilities and encrypted all his notes into separate servers. Erskine is going to go back to his original formula design, just a medication formula that could have health benefits or healing for certain diseases." She's surprised, and Tony can tell. "You're surprised?"

"It's a lot of power to have."

He huffs, "Pepper said the same thing."

"People would literally pay anything to have this procedure." She whispers quietly, looking at Steve, who is practically a different person with all his ailments gone.

Tony grins, "good thing were already rich as hell, right?" He grins and leans back. "We talked for a long time. This was a one time thing. This was for Steve. That kind of messing with life and death…" he shakes his head, "my dad wasn't lying. It's not a savior complex. He doesn't want to play God." He juts his chin to Steve, "I think we can all agree that Steve was a very special case. The exception."

Natasha relaxes, "I'm glad."

Tony nods, "yeah… Me too. If he'd tried to monetize it… I probably wouldn't have taken that well."

She just nods, agreeing. "Ever wonder how different life would have been if we all hadn't been in that summer program?"

Tony huffs, shaking his head, "I can't even imagine." He looks at the group, "Steve would still be with the Schmidt's." They both frown at the thought, "me and my dad would still be at each other's throats." He points to her, "let's not forget your witch of a mom."

Natasha nods, "Clint would still be smoking. Possibly living in some rat hole."

Tony glances towards Bucky, "seems like Barnes would have been the only one to maybe have a shot at a normal life." He sees the way Natasha looks at him, "but normal's boring." He grins at her, "he wouldn't have met you."

She smiles back at him, "the journey was a hell of a ride." Her face softens as she looks at the two boys who have now roped Steve into their argument, "but it was worth it."

Tony's grin is soft too, "yeah. It was."

—

Steve's sitting on the lab table, Howard's writing on his growth chart. He's been keeping track to ensure it's all even and consistent.

"Still having trouble sleeping?"

Steve looks down at the scientist who sits to his left, looking at him curiously.

"It's not really 'trouble'." Steve says, "I'm just hardly tired."

Howard's lips go to the side, making his mustache scrunch. "I just know sleep is important for the brain."

He shrugs, "I know, I sleep as much as my body lets me."

Air exhales from Howard's nose but he says nothing.

"Howard, you're acting like that's a problem. Might I remind you that I was dead? And even before that I was barely functional? Having too much energy is the opposite of a problem."

Another long sigh but then Howard nods, "You're right. It's just not happening as I hypothesized and that gets me all antsy." He taps Steve's knee, "but you're right, it's all great news." Then he stands and sets the growth chart down. "Anything else?" Howard asks, "any other changes that I should know about?"

Without his consent he feels his neck heat, blood rushing to his face. "No." He tries to say firmly but it comes out cracked, he clears his throat, "No, I'm fine."

Howard looks at him, tilting his head, "what? What is it?"

"What? No, it's nothing."

"It's something!" Howard looks worried and Steve feels mortally embarrassed. "Steve, you gotta tell me everything! I need to know if something's going wrong!"

Steve winces, "I—" Blood is pounding, his cheeks aflame, "just—" he shoves his head in his hands, not even able to look Howard in the eyes, "Everything's growing."

Howard's silent for a second, and Steve hears him repeat the words as a question. "Everything's growing?" Then he pauses, "like…?"

Steve looks up, a glare on his face. And then it hits Howard, "Oh—" his voice chokes off and his eyes go far away before his lips purse and he's covering his mouth with his hand trying to hide his amusement.

Steve's teeth grit and he speaks through them, "is it something I should be concerned about?"

Howard's trying not to laugh, "no, not a problem, unless it's painful?"

Steve grimaces, "no."

Howard sucks in air through his teeth, still trying not to laugh, "growing at a faster rate then the rest of your body?"

Steve's eyes close, "no." He looks up, "aren't I too old for this?"

Then Howard's face does grow serious, "I don't know. Male bodies can grow and change till their early 20's." He looks apologetic as he asks his next question, "would you have described yourself as smaller than average?"

Steve groans and leans back, his head against the bed, "I don't know. I would never have described myself as above average. But it was never a focus, and with my health it didn't matter. Like at all."

"Right, right." Howard says, glancing at his chart, "okay, well I'm not worried until it either becomes uncomfortable or if it doesn't stop growing."

Steve sits up, a thrill of fear, "What! That's not a possibility is it!?"

"Shouldn't be." Howard says, raising two placating hands, "like we're theorizing about the rest of your growth, your body is simply filling out to what it should have been without health issues." Then Howard does smile, "so it's not an enhancement. Just you."

Steve grimaces, "you're not telling anyone about this. Right?"

Howard laughs and holds up two fingers, "your secret is safe with me."

Steve rolls his eyes and slides off the bed. "Good."

—-

He's starving when he wakes up. His eyes trail to the clock and it's only 2:47 in the morning.

He's not complaining about the need to eat. It's fine. It's just crazy how he can't even go through a night of sleep without needed a full meal.

It's his own fault, usually he eats a full meal right before bed, but he'd been lazy and just eaten an apple and some chips.

An idea pops into his head and he changes, leaving a note on his bed.

He walks there, using only one subway stop. The bell dingles as he enters Martinelli's the 24hour neon sign alight.

A man he doesn't recognize looks up at his entry, "table for one?"

Steve nods, "yeah." He looks around, there's only two other patrons, a couple in a far booth. He sits down and accepts the menu.

He orders a disgusting amount of food. The guy looks at him with a raised eyebrow, but says nothing.

It arrives pretty quickly and Steve's almost done with the meal when the door opens. The jingle of the bell making him look up.

A man, clearly drunk, pushes in, approaching the counter. He grabs the tip jar, shoving his hand in and shoving the cash in his pocket. Then he glares at his server, "I want the money."

The server, maybe only a few years older than Steve, looks at the man with wide eyes.

The drunk man gets impatient, "hey, I'm talking here! Get me the cash from your register!"

Steve looks on the scene and he wants to scoff in disbelief that of all the diners, in all the world, at 3:40 in the morning and he's in the one that's getting robbed.

But this time he's not practically helpless.

And that's a good thing because it escalates quickly. The man yanks a knife out of his pocket and waves it around, "I said money! NOW!"

Steve stands, getting the guys attention. "Get out of here." He orders.

The man stumbles, then slams the knife into the countertop, "I ain't talking to you, pipsqueak, stay outta it!" The man yanks the knife free and turns back to the server, brandishing it to his face, "MONEY!"

Steve barely thinks, grabbing the silver napkin dispenser and throwing it with as much speed and power as he can. It slams against the man's hand, making him drop the knife. Then he runs, barreling into the guy and knocking him down. The man's head slams against the ground and he passes out.

Steve scrambles back, wide eyes. He looks up to see equally surprised eyes staring back at him, "call the police." He says quickly, "before he wakes up."

The man nods and then is gone racing to the back. The other couple is sitting frozen, their bodies rigid. Steve looks around, yanks down a line of American flags attached to a thin rope. It's a Fourth of July decoration, and it's irony that he doesn't miss as he ties the guys hands behind his back as best he can.

When he's secured, Steve yanks out his wallet, glad he has cash on hand. He throws a wad on his table and leaves before the server can come back.

As he practically runs home, ignoring the subway with the amount of adrenaline crashing his system. It's almost 4 am, but he's laughing, huge gasps of air and disbelief as he runs, not even feeling winded for a second.

—-