─ FUNERALS & GOODBYES ─

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"Everybody wants a happy ending. But it doesn't always roll that way. Maybe this time. I'm hoping that if you play this back, it's in celebration. I hope families are reunited, I hope we get it back and something like a normal version of the planet has been restored. If there ever was such a thing. God, what a world. Universe, now. If you'd told me ten years ago that we weren't alone, let alone to this extent, I probably wouldn't have been surprised. But come on... Who knew what epic forces of dark and light would come into play? For better or worse, that's the reality our children get to grow up in...

...That's why I thought I'd probably better record a little greeting, in the case of... an untimely death on my part. I mean, death at any time is untimely, but... this "time travel" thing we're going to try to pull off tomorrow has me scratching my head about the "survivability" of it all. But that's the hero gig, right? Part of the journey is the end...

...What am I even tripping for? Everything is going to work out exactly the way it's supposed to," A hologram of Tony Stark seems to look out to the gathered heroes, his daughter, Morgan, in particular. "I love you 3000," Hologram Tony finished off with a smile before vanishing leaving the heroes in the room saddened. Bucky held Rebecca tight in his arms as Alessia leaned into Steve for comfort as tears rolled down her face.

After the battle, everyone had reunited with their loved ones, friends and colleagues feeling at peace despite the large time difference. Alessia got to watch as Bucky met Rebecca for the first time, the two were a mess of smiles and tears leaving Alessia, Sam and Steve smiling and happy. But then the time came from Tony's funeral, something Alessia didn't expect for many years to come and she was devasted to know that the infamous Tony Stark was gone but like the dramatic man he was, he had to go out with a snap.

And as Pepper and Morgan slowly descended the steps of their home with the Avengers following behind them, Alessia let out a breath as she looked to the sky admiring the beautiful blue skies. Pepper held an RT ringed with flowers, she carefully rests the flowers on the water as they looked at the words carefully carved into the metal; "Proof that Tony Stark has a heart."

Alessia stood with Bucky and Rebecca in the back of the funeral. Steve, Sam, Rhodey and Wanda all stood in the front behind Pepper, Morgan and Happy. Clint, Laura, Lila, Cooper and Nathaniel all stood in the next row with Thor and Hulk near them. Scott, Hope, Hank and Janet all stood together with Peter Parker and Aunt May standing just behind them. T'Challa, Shuri and Okoye stood to the left of Peter and May with Wong and Strange standing behind them.

Quill, Nebula, Groot, Drax, Mantis and Rocket stand in front of Alessia, Bucky and Rebecca with Secretary Ross and Harley Keener near them. Maria Hill and Nick Fury stand on the porch looking down at the others while Carol stands to the left of Nick off the porch. Alessia looked around at them, at the people who had come to be her family before she looked to the right where Marcus, Aaron, Lana, Alina, Jesse, Harper and Jonas all stood mourning Tony.

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Alessia joined Clint and Wanda by the edge of the lake, the three of them looking out to the smooth water. "I just wish there were some way I could let her know that we won. That we did it," Clint spoke up. "She knows. They both do," Wanda responded before Clint put his arms around the women. "Tony would tell me, he'd be bragging about it," Alessia told them, the three laughed together knowing Alessia wouldn't be wrong about that.

After a while, Alessia walked towards Steve as Hulk set up the time machine to return the stones. "So... Is this it?" Alessia asked him, he furrowed his brows as he looked at the woman he considered his little sister. "How did you-" Steve began but Alessia just wrapped her arms around Steve, resting her head against his chest. "I know you better than you think, big brother. Just do me a favour," Alessia spoke as she leaned back to look up at him.

"What is it?" Steve asked unsure of what she could mean. "Make sure it's a great life, alright?" Alessia asked through teary eyes. Steve kissed the top of her head in a brotherly fashion before hugging her tight. "I will," Steve whispered before pulling away with his usual calming smile. Alessia wiped the tear from her face as Rebecca ran over, picking up her daughter, Alessia smiled at Steve. "He'll be alright," Alessia assured Steve before looking towards Bucky who smiled.

Steve nodded before grabbing the case and Mjolnir, stepping up on the platform before looking around at Sam and Hulk before focusing on Bucky who had his arms around Alessia, who was holding Rebecca, the three of them smiling at Steve. "Remember, you'll have to return the stones to the exact moment they were taken. Otherwise, we're still looking at a whole bunch of nasty alternate realities," Hulk reminded Steve.

"Got it. I'll clip all the branches," Steve replied before letting out a breath. Sam stepped closer to Steve, "You look a little nervous going by yourself. Ask nicely, I'll go with you." Alessia shook her head as she and Bucky approached them. "You're a good man, Sam. But this one's on me," Steve answered before turning to Bucky and Alessia. "Don't do anything stupid 'till I get back, okay?" Steve asked Bucky who smiled. "How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you," Bucky answered before the two embraced each other.

"Gonna miss you, buddy," Bucky spoke to Steve knowing exactly what Steve was gonna do. "It's going to be okay, Bucky. You've got a family, look after them," Steve answered before pulling back from the hug. Steve leaned over and kissed Rebecca's head, "You look after your parents, little hero." Rebecca nodded before waving to Steve as they stepped away from the platform. Alessia and Bucky let out breaths as Steve disappeared, ignoring Hulk and Sam as they panicked.

"Sam," Bucky spoke once he noticed the figure sitting on the bench by the water. Alessia turned to look at the figure and smiled widely while Sam turns and notices. Sam made his way over to him as Bucky stood next to Alessia, a relaxed and happy smile on his face knowing that both super soldiers got their happy ending with a family. "Hey, Cap," Sam spoke once he reached the old man.

"Hi, Sam," Old Steve responded with a content smile. "Something go wrong... or something go right?" Sam questioned his idol. "I thought, after everything that's happened... maybe I should try out some of that life Tony and Alessia always told me to get," Old Steve responded as he turned to look at Sam. "How was it?" Sam asked with a smile. Steve looks to the river, 112 years of emotion on his face. "It was beautiful," Old Steve replied with a wide smile.

"I'm happy for you. Really," Sam answered back to his comment, though he dreaded what the world would be now. "Thanks," Old Steve answered. "Only thing bumming me out is now I live in a world without Captain America," Sam spoke up, Alessia smiled at the words. Old Steve pulls up a case from beside him, giving it to Sam, "That's kind of why I'm here." Sam unzips it revealing a brand new Captain America Shield causing his breath to halt for a moment.

"Where did you even get this?" Sam asked with wide eyes. "I had a little time to travel. Try it on," Steve encouraged. Sam hesitates, glancing at Bucky and Alessia who both nod. Then Sam picks up the shield and slides it onto his wrist. "How does it feel?" Steve asks Sam as he admired the shield on his arm. "Like it's someone else's," Sam answered as he looked up at Steve. "It isn't," Steve replied instantly as Sam tries to check his emotions before shaking Steve's hand.

"Thank you. I'll try my best," Sam told Steve who was still holding Sam's hand, resting his other hand on top. "That's why it's yours," Steve responds with a smile. Sam looks down at his hand spotting the gold wedding band on his finger, a wide smile appeared on his face. "You gonna tell me about her?" Sam questioned Steve who smiled, letting go of Sam's hand before looking to the lake. "Nope. I don't think I will," Steve replies as he smiles to himself at the end of a long, long life.

The five of them stand in silence admiring the water as they let the calm aura surround them at the end of their endless trials and tribulations as heroes. A new era breaks into play as they stood together mourning the ones they lost, admiring the ones they continue to fight and preparing for the ones that are yet to step out into the spotlight. Alessia smiled in pure contentment as she looked at her husband and Daughter - They had won.

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Author Note
I'm so emotional now... Basically, that's the end of the story...

Alessia and Bucky's story is finished. The next chapter will be an A/N that you don't have to read but yeah, thanks for reading this story!

I love you all!

-Rose <3
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