Through Space & Time

With Pictures in Frames of Kisses on Cheeks

I watched on tv from our hotel room as Nat went toe to toe with some of the biggest assholes Capitol Hill had to offer, those saying that her, Steve and I belonged in jail. "You're not going to put any of us in a prison. You know why?" I watch her stare down the committee.

"Do enlighten us." I was glad that Nat had gone instead of me. That committee member would've been nothing more than a scorch mark on the floor if I had gone.

"Because you need us. Yes, the world is a vulnerable place, and yes, we help make it that way. But we're also the ones best qualified to defend it. So, if you want to arrest me, arrest me. You'll know where to find me." She says, a challenge initiated. When the committee doesn't say anything, she gets up and walks out, a flurry of reporters screaming questions at her.

I look up as Steve enters. "I'd hate to be Nat right now." I say, pointing towards the tv before I turn it off.

He nods. "Do you think we could have that conversation now?"

I sigh. "Are you sure you're ready for it?" He nods again. "Fine. You let me fall Steve. You looked between me and Bucky and this time you let me fall. Your wife. The supposed love of your life, and you left me to fall. I get it that Bucky has been your Achille's heel since you were children, I really do. But you didn't know if I would've survived or not."

"I'm sorry Ellie. You know I love you."

"I know Steve, but I also know that a part of you took that plane down in '45 because Bucky was gone, never minding the fact that you were leaving me and our plans." I try to stop the tears from falling, I really do. "I need to know that you're not going to pull stupid shit. And I'm not saying that saving Bucky was stupid shit. What he did to you, what you let him do to you, that was stupid shit. You could've died, for real this time. And you were ok with that. You were ok with leaving me again. And I don't know how to react to that." I place my head in my hands, trying to keep myself from completely losing it.

He kneels in front of me and moves my hands away from my face, looking into my eyes. "I'm so sorry Eleanor. And I will spend the rest of my life making up for making you feel like this." He vows before placing a light kiss on my cheek.

❤️🤍💙

We meet Nick a few days later at his gravestone. "So you've experienced this sort of thing before." Nick states in a way of greeting.

"You get used to it." Steve and I say together. After that conversation we'd been trying really hard to get back to us. At least as much as we could before the next adventure came up. We stare at Nick's stone. A lot of thought and planning had gone into it.

"We've been data mining HYDRA's files. Looks like a lot of rats didn't go down with the ship. I'm headed to Europe tonight. Wanted to ask if you'd come." He asks us both.

Steve looks to me and I nod. Whatever my feelings were for that day the Triskelion fell, Bucky was our friend, and he was out there alone, and probably scared. It was our job to find him, bring him home. "There's something we have to do first." Steve tells Nick, taking my hand and giving it a squeeze.

"How about you, Wilson? Could use a man with your abilities."

"I'm more of a soldier than a spy." Sam responds.

Nick nods. "Alright then." He says before shaking Sam's and Steve's hands. I come over and give him a hug, much to his chagrin.

"Be safe." I whisper in his ear before placing a kiss on his cheek. He grunts in response.

"Anybody asks for me, tell them they can find me, right here." He says, motioning down to the grave, before walking off.

"You should be honored. That's about as close as he gets to saying thank you." Nat says as she steps up to join us.

"Not going with him?" I ask as Steve and I walk up to her.

"No." She says with a smile.

"But you're not staying here." Steve adds.

"Nah. I blew all my covers. I got to go figure out a new one."

"That might take a while."

"I'm counting on it." She says, looking at us fondly. "That thing you asked for, I called in a few favors from Kiev." She says, handing over a thick file. Steve looks down on it, his face solemn. "Will you do me a favor?" She asks Steve, who looks up and nods. "Settle down, find a house, make some dreams. She deserves that, and so much more. So do you." I pretend that I'm not listening but the smile on my face isn't fooling anyone. She gives him a small kiss on the cheek before turning to give me a hug.

"Please be careful." I tell her.

"Always am." And we laugh because we both know that's not always the case. "Be careful. You might not want to pull on that thread." She warns us before leaving.

Steve opens up the file and we see a picture of Bucky in a frozen chamber. "You're going after him. Both of you." Sam says as he walks up behind us.

"You don't have to come with us." Steve says.

"I know. When do we start?"