Bruce, Steve, Sam and Bucky were at the funeral.
"Now, remember– You have to return the stones to the exact moment you got them. Or you're gonna open up a bunch of nasty alternative realities." Bruce said.
"Don't worry, Bruce. Clip all the branches." Steve said.
"You know, I tried. When I had the gauntlet, the stones, I really tried to bring her back." Bruce said and looked at Steve. "I miss her, man."
"Me, too."
"You know, if you want, I can come with you." Sam said.
"You're a good man, Sam. This one's on me, though." Steve said and went over to Bucky. "Don't do anything stupid 'till I get back."
"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you." Bucky said and they hugged each other. "Gonna miss you, Buddy."
"It's gonna be okay, Buck." Steve said and went over to the Quantum portal and don the Quantum suit.
"How long is this gonna take?" Sam asked.
"For him? As long as he needs. For us? Five seconds." Bruce said and Steve picked up 2013 Mjolnir. "Ready, Cap? Alright. We'll meet you back here, okay?"
"You bet." Steve said.
"Going quantum. Three, two, one–" Bruce said and Steve disappeared into the Quantum portal. "And returning in, five, four, three, two, one–" he said but Steve didn't appear on the pad so he looked around the equipment.
"Where is he?" Sam asked.
"I don't know. He blew right by his time stamp. He should be here." Bruce said and Bucky turned around from the pad.
"Well, get him back."
"I'm trying."
"Get him the hell back!"
"Hey, I said, I'm trying!"
"Sam..." Bucky said and Sam walked toward him to see old looking Steve sitting on a log so Sam and Bucky went near him. "Go ahead." he said with a smile forming and looked over to Sam.
Sam walked towards the old man and instantly recognized the now-elderly Steve Rogers.
"Cap?" Sam said.
"Hi, Sam." Steve said and looked over to him.
"So did something go wrong, or did something go right?"
"Well, after I put the stones back, I thought, maybe I'll try some of that life Tony was telling me to get."
"How'd that work out for you?"
"It was beautiful."
"I'm happy for you. Truly."
"Thank you."
"Only thing bumming me out is the fact I have to live in a world without Captain America."
"Oh, That reminds me." Steve said and brought out his shield. "Try it on." he said and Sam looked over to Bucky, who nodded and Sam held Steve's shield. "How does it feel?"
"Like it's someone else's."
"It isn't." Steve said and Sam tried to hold back tears.
"Thank you. I'll do my best."
"That's why it's yours." Steve said and shook Sam's hand.
"You wanna tell me about her?" Sam asked seeing the ring.
"No. No, I don't think I will." Steve said smiling.
Bucky stood there fighting tears wishing he could've gone with him but knew it was too complicated after that fall.
Two weeks later Bucky was being pardoned and Sam was there.
"You will be given an apartment in Brooklyn, since you lost the dog tags you received all those years ago you'll receive new ones of those, money due to your services from WWII and for now as we don't feel so comfortable with you getting a job." Councilman said and Bucky nodded. "You will be seeing a therapist every week so we can make sure you don't become the Winter Soldier again also."
"Yes sir." Bucky said. "Is that all?"
"There's one more thing and if you accept it you can be pardoned and free to live your life as long as you do as asked." Councilwoman said catching both Bucky and Sam's attention.
Sam was still confused about why they wanted him here for this but did as told.
"And what would that be?" Bucky asked suspiciously.
"According to your files of the Howling Commandos in WWII you were second in command of both the Howling Commandos and 107th-"
"You were in the 107th and second in command at 27?!" Sam said without thinking and covered his mouth while the council and Bucky looked at him so he cleared his throat. "S-sorry. T-that's just hard to get young and just finished training. C-continue please sir, ma'am."
"As I was saying, you were second in command of both 107th and Howling Commandos and are a very skilled sniper. Not to mention what you learned over the years of the Winter Soldier. What we want is for you to be Sergeant Wilson's partner when he becomes the next Captain America like you were Captain Rogers' for all those years." she said and Bucky froze while Sam looked at them in shock.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. You said you'd take the position when things slowed down after the snap and we all know that Captain America needs a partner. Who better than Mr. Barnes?"
"Ma'am, he's a very traumatized veteran. I don't know how comfortable I feel about this. I'm a soldier but I'm also a counselor for veterans." he said and looked at a still frozen Bucky. "I don't want to set off any flashbacks while on a mission or something."
"That's one of the reasons he'll have a therapist." Councilman said. "It's these or the Raft because of what he has."
Then Bucky snapped out of it and sighed.
"Fine. I'll do it. Where there's Captain America there's Bucky Barnes." Bucky said rubbing his forehead.
"Good. We'll have an apartment set for you by next week but for now we'll have you stay at a hotel and have everything else ready. Sergeant Wilson, I'm sure you'll keep him up to speed for the first mission?"
"Yes sir." Sam said and looked at Bucky.
"Good. Well then, we'll give you a call when everything is settled, Sergeant Barnes." councilman said and Bucky twitched at the name for a second.
"Yes sir." Bucky said, got up and left followed by Sam.
While they left Bucky tried to calm down and put everything in his head.
"It's gonna be OK man." Sam said.
"I was really hoping I could do a thing called relax and just retire after almost eighty years of fighting but I guess that's not on my agenda." Bucky said.
"At least you were pardoned."
"I don't see a damn point in this shit anymore with Steve gone." Bucky said. "I can see him retiring and the two of us getting an apartment in Brooklyn living together like old times as retired heroes just being normal guys while you hang up the wings of Falcon and take the shield as Captain America. Maybe us going around the world traveling a little since I actually know where I am now, have fun and be young even though we're old. Maybe fall in love with each other like we did before that fall. After that fall he went into depression and started falling for Carter. Then I came into play seventy years later and when I was able to remember him enough I saw mixed feelings though those eyes. Love, discomfort, worry and more. I knew he was leaving because I'm not the Bucky he loved." he said and felt his eyes watering a little.
"You and Steve?"
"Since '36."
"Jesus."
"I was gonna propose to him after that Russian mission because we only had one base left after that but that went downhill. Peggy was holding onto it for me. I said it was for my girlfriend when we get home and asked her to hold onto it and she said she would. Steve said she never showed him the box but gave it to him at the nursing home she was in and he never looked at it."
"Do you still have it?"
"Steve held onto it for me but handed it to me at Stark's funeral. I never told him what it was."
"If you don't mind me asking, what are you?"
"All out gay. Steve is bisexual. I just had to make it look like I was into girls." Bucky said and Sam nodded.
"Well on the bright side, you have plenty of guys to date now and if you find someone you can do it in public and maybe get married."
"Who the hell would want a Super Soldier and former assassin like me Sam?"
"I'm sure you'll find someone."
"No I won't." Bucky said and left.
A week later Bucky was given an apartment in Brooklyn, new dog tags, money, a decent therapist with Sam's help, a phone, got a haircut and some new clothes along with a jacket and gloves to hide his right arm.
He got a suit to use for when he's on a mission with Sam to.
Steve had tried to keep in contact but Bucky hadn't replied to answered to any messages or calls.
Sam had come over a few days later to make sure he was adapting to being back in Brooklyn and was shocked at seeing Bucky like that.
So Bucky told him this is what he used to look like minus the muscles and metal arm and was trying to see if that would help him adjust to being back.
Sam offered him a trip to Louisiana to meet his family but Bucky declined because he wanted to adapt to being home and memorize the address to his apartment and everything again.
For the first few months Bucky would see his therapist every week, get his monthly payments, keep himself busy and wait until he was required for a mission.
He didn't know if Sam was telling them to give him some time to adjust to being back or what but he was just waiting.
Sam would keep Steve posted on how Bucky was doing and what he was up to and Steve had mixed feelings.
Bucky was down to one amend but wasn't how to make that one. Zemo was the last one and he was the that messed everything up in 2016.
Bucky was at home having breakfast when he got a call and saw Sam's number so answered.
"What?" Bucky asked.
"Suit up. We've got a mission and I need your help with this one." Sam said.
"What's going on?" Bucky asked and got up.
"Torres showed me something about people that seem to strong like you and Steve."
"I'll be there soon. Start from the beginning as soon as I get there."
"OK." Sam said and hung up.
Then Bucky got changed into his suit, grabbed the Rebirth files, Winter Soldier files and every file he had from his serum he had.
"Alright Pegs, let's hope you leaving me these in your will when Steve told you I was still alive comes in handy. And Natalia snagging these can help at least a little." he said and headed to HQ.
When he got to HQ Sam caught him up to speed and Bucky knew exactly what they were.
"Those are Super Soldiers." Bucky said and Sam and Torres froze and looked at him while he took out the files. "I recognize the strength and everything from me and Steve." he said and put down the files.
"Rebirth? And what does that say?" Torres asked.
"Those, are the files of Steve's serum and my serum. Mine is from the day they captured the 107th and started experimenting on me by injecting me with Zola's serum. The second one is set for when those Nazis found me and Zola started creating the Winter Soldier. The other file is about Steve after he got his serum. Peggy left it in her will for me. Apparently Steve told her what happened to me after Natalia gave him my files, showed her the files to prove it and she asked to fix up her will a little. I wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not but now this might help us." Bucky said and they looked at him in shock. "I guess having me as your partner has it's advantages for right now."
"Apparently because if we didn't, this would be taking a very long time to figure out." Sam said and they got started.
Meanwhile a Steve was watching them smiling and a little surprised Peggy did that for Bucky.
Still he was happy Sam and Bucky had been getting along for the last few months.
'Where there's Captain America there's Bucky Barnes.' Steve thought. 'And if those really are Super Soldiers then Sam is going to need Bucky more than the shield.'
Sam had allowed Steve to come see what happened with the first mission together but that's it.
While Bucky read his file out loud for them Steve was shocked at how much alike they were.
"They're really not that different." Torres said.
"No. But Red Skull volunteered Erskine to try the serum on him first. And he and Zola created HYDRA together. So with Zola being the scientist and Red Skull having an idea how to make it, it was a little easier. Plus I didn't get infected unlike him. Even though I was getting pneumonia." Bucky said.
"YOU HAD PNEUMONIA?!" Sam and Torres said together in shock and horror.
"It was 1943, WWII and not that many vaccines at the time so yeah. Steve's mom was a nurse and Steve was always sick with something so I recognized the signs. That's one of the reasons I forced them to do it to me. That and because I was second in command. Might as well die saving my guys and sick together. But as soon as I get the serum the symptoms are gone in a day and I knew something wasn't right. I just kept it quiet. Then the brainwashing started and I repeated my name, position and serial over and over. Next thing I know Steve is there saving us but not the scrawny kid I knew."
"Jesus man." Sam said and Bucky looked at him.
"It's what you're trained for Sam. Or at least what I was trained for in the 40's. I don't know about you two."
While Bucky read them his file Sam took notes and then Bucky watched the video and took notes to compare them from his and Steve to them.
"Doesn't seem much different. But they have a lot to learn about controlling their power now. We need to find them, who created this serum and find a way to take it away." Bucky said shaking his head and picked up his phone.
"Who are you calling?" Sam asked while Steve watched with an idea.
"Shuri. You call Bruce on FaceTime and we're going to see if they can create an antidote together. Bruce created the Hulk, found a way to put Hulk and Bruce together within five years and if Shuri is willing to help us, we might be able to pull this off." Bucky said and Sam nodded and did as told.
A few minutes later Bucky got an answer at the same time as Sam and Shuri and Bruce were confused why they were calling them at the same time so they caught them up to speed minus Bucky having the files.
"I'll do whatever it takes White Wolf." Shuri said strong.
"You got it. I'll call Hellen and see if she can help us to." Bruce said seriously.
"Thanks. Meet you at the Compound when this done." Sam said.
"Do you, need any of my blood to help?" Bucky asked shocking everyone, especially Steve and Sam.
"I think we're clear but we'll let you know." Bruce said and Bucky nodded.
"What are you hiding from us Sergeant Barnes?" Shuri asked and they all looked at him.
"I'm, not the only Super Soldier HYDRA created. There's a guy, a black man that actually kicked my ass when I was the Winter Soldier and he was tortured." Bucky said and told them everything.
When he was done they looked at him in shock.
"I just wanted to leave him alone and let him try and rest, have the closest thing to a better life than I did. But if you make that serum, I want to offer it to him." Bucky said.
"What about you?" Sam asked. "Out of everyone in the world, even him, you deserve to have a happy life."
"You need me. And I'm not going to the Raft. Where there's Captain America, there's Bucky Barnes. It's not 1940 anymore Sam. God only knows what you could get into next. Steve is gone and there are so many enhanced people out there now and you're not one of them. You are a great and skilled flyer and soldier but you need help with enhanced people and you know that. You've seen what I can do. What Thanos could do, what these people can do god only knows what could happen next. Hell even that Spider-Kd kicked our ass in 2016!" Bucky said and Steve smiled nodding seeing the old Bucky in there waking up. "Whether you like it or not, you need me. I'd give anything to be normal but the minute I lose this serum you'll need someone enhanced and Steve is gone so if we're going to be partners, it's Captain America and the Winter Soldier. A normal guy but skilled flyer and a Super Soldier but skilled sniper together. Got it?"
"Got it." Sam said shocked but touched Bucky was willing to do this for him.
"OK. Now let's get to work." Bucky said and they got to work.
The mission took a week but they were able to get every Super Soldier to the Compound and Shuri, Bruce and Hellen Cho were at the lab working on an antidote.
Bucky was in the living room reading when Sam came in and Bucky looked at him.
"Can I help you?" Bucky asked.
"Thanks for the help." Sam said.
"That's what partners do. Work together." Bucky said. "Anything else?"
"The antidote is done." Sam said and Bucky closed his book.
"Then let's go." Bucky said, got up and they headed to the lab.
When they got there they saw all the Super Soldiers restrained minus the man Bucky told them about.
"Why did you bring me here?" The man asked.
"Because I have something for you. Not another fight, something good and that you can actually enjoy." Bucky said. "I know you've been through tests, but this one will be worth it."
"What is it?"
"A serum for you to go from Super Soldier to a normal human being." Bucky said and he froze. "All of you."
"R-really?" The man asked with tears going down.
"We needed to get these guys gone. I told Sam about you and wanted you to get at least a little bit of life left to have what you wanted."
"Bucky won't be taking it. He's keeping his serum in him because he feels as though if he loses it something will happen. Not to mention that out of everyone here, he's had it the longest. You need to remember that he's had it since 1943. He was twenty six when he got it and didn't even know about it until he became the Winter Soldier. Now he knows and feels that if he loses it, something will happen. Steve is gone and there are a lot of enhanced people out there now. Aliens, high tech weapons, enhanced villains, you name. He's right. With Steve gone he's the best we have and unlike Steve, he's a fully trained soldier like me and you. So he's keeping his serum to protect us and letting you get the life you want." Sam said.
"Thank you." the man said and Bucky nodded.
"Alright Bruce, Shuri, Hellen, let's get this done because I have my therapist tomorrow and I really don't wanna get arrested." Bucky said and they nodded so started injecting the serums having the Super Soldiers become normal people.
Bucky watched them with his arms crossed and Sam saw the look of want in Bucky's eyes but knew Bucky would kill him if he said it so stayed quiet.
When they were done the police were called while the other man was taken home and Bucky stayed at the lab.
"We can give it to you." Shuri said gently. "I can see it in your eyes White Wolf."
"I want it so bad but I know I can't. This world needs at least one of us. Sam needs me and it's part of my pardon to be his partner because of my skills as both a regular soldier and the Winter Soldier. I was in jail for seventy years with HYDRA, I'm not spending the rest of my life on the Raft of something like that." Bucky said and she nodded.
"If you ever change your mind just give me a call and I'll be there." she said and he nodded.
Then they went up stairs and split up.
Bucky met up with Sam while Shuri went to the lane and headed back to Wakanda.
"You heading back to Brooklyn?" Sam asked and Bucky nodded.
"Yup. Got my therapist tomorrow and then I have no idea what I'll do until you need me but I'll figure something out." Bucky said.
"You could try and get a job."
"Still not allowed."
"Not even training new recruits or something?"
"Nope. I'll think of something. Give me a call when ya need me." Bucky said and got in his bike. "Tell your sister and the kids I said hi." he said and left while Sam watched him.
"They're being to hard on you." Sam whispered and headed to his own car to head home himself.
One year later.
It had been a year and Sam and Bucky had gone on multiple other missions together.
Slowly but surely Bucky had been given more freedom and was allowed to get a real job and was getting paid when on a mission with Sam and decided to start training new recruits like Sam suggested.
They weren't sure at first but after seeing what Bucky can do they knew they needed him and realized that with a WWII soldier working for them they can see what had changed.
Sam would go watch Bucky train them now and then and was glad he didn't have to go through that himself again.
When Steve found out he knew that was the perfect job just thinking about all the times Bucky took the step up for the Howling Commandos when he was hurt or something.
He was happy Sam and Bucky had a relationship like himself and Bucky for all those years and after hearing about Bucky declining that antidote he still felt mixed feelings about him not taking it.
He was watching Bucky and Sam at a mission in town right now and watched Sam throw the shield from the air while Bucky jump off his bike, catch it and throw it to what they were aiming for followed by a shot.
He watched Bucky roll over landing on his hand and knee.
Then he ran, grabbed the shield, threw back to Sam while Sam had Red Wing engage and catch the shield.
Steve couldn't help but smiled seeing himself and Bucky at the same time Sam and Bucky.
Then he saw people watching in awe until he heard something he hoped he'd hear when leaving Bucky here.
"Look the Winter Soldier go!" a kid said.
"I heard he's even faster and stronger then the other Captain America." another kid said.
"I heard that he was always a good sniper. Even at WWII." another kid said.
Steve smiled and nodded.
'He's finally getting what he deserves.' he thought and watched Sam and Bucky smirked and give each other a high five done. 'And Sam will take better care of him than I could.' he thought and left hearing all the cheering they were getting.
Bucky saw him leave but shrugged and looked at Sam smiling who looked at him smiling back.
Later they were at Bucky's apartment having pizza celebrating another win as usual.
Bucky had slowly been able to move from the floor to a couch Sam got him for his birthday but not a bed yet but it was a start.
"How's it feel to get real fans like us now?" Sam asked.
"Very, very wrong but nice at the sometime." Bucky said.
"You'll get used to it."
"I don't think I will." Bucky said and they laughed.
Then they looked at each other, got closer and kissed.
A few minutes later they were looking at each other panting.
"I love you." Sam said. "Since after the Thanos fight and I saw the look on your face when Steve left."
"I love you to. It just took a while to accept it because I was worried you didn't want me, something would happen or you'd leave me like Steve. I've loved you for the last six months."
"Shut up and kiss me."
"OK." Bucky said and they kissed again.