𝗀 𝗁 𝗈 𝗌 𝗍 | | 𝗌 𝗍 𝖾 𝗏 𝖾 𝗋 𝗈 𝗀 𝖾 𝗋 𝗌

𝖿 𝗈 𝗋 𝗍 𝗒 － 𝖿 𝗈 𝗎 𝗋

ఌ 𝟤𝟢𝟣𝟧, 𝗎𝗉𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝗇𝖾𝗐 𝗒𝗈𝗋𝗄 ఌ

"THIS PLACE IS AMAZING." MARTA gaped, staring out into the large lake behind the new Avengers Compound. Her and Steve had decided it was best to stay with the Avengers, instead of trying to move on and live elsewhere. With Bruce missing, Marta was nervous that she wouldn't be able to remain in control if Hydra decided to activate her again. Besides, Marta wouldn't dare to let Steve leave her side anymore.

        Steve smiled, leaning against the railing of the bridge the pair stood on. "It feels like a fresh start. We have all the time in the world now." he spoke, a short-sleeved shirt covering his chest.

        Marta frowned, looking out at a flower falling into the lake. She had arrived back from Andy's funeral service the day prior. "I hate time. I'm really good at wasting it, and I don't want to. One day, when Hydra's gone, I want what Clint has, I want what Wanda showed us. A family. You and me married and retired, together in Brooklyn with our kids. No threats, no war, just us, living in peace. I wouldn't be under Hydra's control, and I could be free. We could be free. Can you imagine it?" Marta turned to Steve, the light shine of the sun highlighting his features.

        Steve nodded at Marta's words, trying to hide his smile from her. She couldn't know what he was planning, not yet. "Yeah. I can." Steve said vaguely, Marta not sure why he wasn't sharing his opinion of her feelings.

        "You're not going to say anything?" Marta tucked her blonde hair behind her ears, her blue eyes boring into Steve's.

        Steve fished around in his pocket, pulling out a small, shiny, circular object. "Well, I figured I'd let this do all the talking." Marta's eyes trailed down to the object Steve was holding, her eyes widening as Sarah Rogers' wedding ring caught her eye. She hadn't seen it in so long.

        Marta looked back up at Steve. "What? What are you doing?" she asked, confused.

        Steve sank to his knee. "They say third time's a charm, but I hope we don't get there. Marta Alice Barnes, I love you. Of course I want the life you were talking about. I want us to have a family, and finish all of the fighting, and move on. Step one. Will you marry me?" Steve gestured to his mother's ring, and Marta smiled.

        "Aren't you afraid of what I could do? What I have done?" Marta asked. She had to know if Steve was willing to be all in with her, before they were in too deep.

        Steve chuckled, taking Marta's hand. "Of course I'm scared of you. You, Mar. That's who I'm afraid of. Not some mindless killing machine that Hydra turned you in to. And you're not going to chase me away. I'm here, I'm not leaving." Steve said, his blue eyes shining with a new kind of confidence.

        Marta let Steve rub circles over her thumb. "Step one is us getting engaged?" Marta asked, Steve nodding hopefully. "What's step two?" Marta smiled, remembering the somber tone of the failed proposal from so long ago. Marta never wanted to feel like that again, or make Steve feel like that again.

        "Is that a yes?" Steve asked quickly, hoping that he wasn't thinking the wrong thing like he had done in the past.

        "Yes. Steven Grant Rogers, I'll marry you." Marta said firmly. Steve slid his mother's treasured ring onto Marta's finger, standing and enveloping her in his arms.