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the wilson residence, 2024

AJ laughed as he rolled the shield that Sam had allowed them to play with, as long as they don't break it he told them but Bucky laughed and said that would never happen. AJ glanced behind him to see that Cass was distracted by talking to Levi who had a smile on his face so AJ left the shield propped up against the wall and walked towards their shared room.

Playing alone was never fun AJ thought to himself, he sighed as he walked through the hallway before his head hit a string that was all the warning AJ got before he stumped his toe on the ladder that led to the attic. "Son of bitch." AJ said quietly so he wouldn't get in trouble.

He glanced behind to make sure no one was coming before he slowly climbed up the ladder, the attic was off-limits and he'd never seen anyone go up there. The only thing he knew was that his Mom kept Uncle Sam's stuff up here while he was gone.

He coughed in his elbow before looking around at the boxes, most of it was snippets of things he'd seen before decorations, and pictures of Grandma and Grandpa but his eye caught a box he'd never seen before 'Sam & Riley' he placed his tiny fingers over the letters and traced them before glancing behind him again before ripping the tape off the box in excitement, he found some pictures and a snowglobe. AJ was so wrapped up in looking through the stuff in the box that he didn't notice when Sarah came up to squat beside him.

"Hi kiddo, you aren't allowed to be up here." AJ turned around to Sarah and tapped the name on the box. "Who's Riley?" Sarah sighs and grabs the box and slides it towards the ladder. "You're lucky that Levi and Bucky just took Uncle Sam to get some ingredients for dinner, so get your brother and meet me in the dining room alright?" AJ's eyes lit up and nodded and quickly walked down the stairs before yelling for Cass. "Cass! Dining room!" AJ quickly walked towards the dining room while Cass came in the room after him at a much slower pace.

Sarah had a sad smile on her face as she walked into the dining room and placed the box on the table. "So, this is your Uncle Riley," Sarah says as she grabs the Polaroid that was on top showing a smiling man with Sam's arms wrapped around him. "Why haven't we heard of Uncle Riley before?" Cass asks looking at the picture that Sarah placed on the table and slid it towards the boys for them to look at closer.

"He died before you guys were born, he was on a mission with Uncle Sam. They were together, just like Uncle Bucky and Uncle Levi are. Riley was the best person I've ever met, I sadly only got the chance to meet him two times before he passed but Uncle Sam could never stop talking about him before we met him." Sarah takes a deep breath as she grabs the book from the bottom of the box and opens a page, smiling sadly as she runs a finger over a picture of something labeled Wilson Family Games. "That was the last time I saw him, right before this our Aunt TT died. I thought that would break Sam but I was wrong." Sarah said the last part more to herself than the two boys.

"He died?" AJ asks softly looking at Sarah with wide eyes. Sarah gulps and nods. "He died on a mission trying to protect Uncle Sam, which is why your Uncle Sam doesn't like to-" Sarah was cut off by the door opening followed by footsteps. Sarah quickly put the scrapbook back in the box and was about to grab the box when Sam walked through the door with a smile on his face and groceries hanging off of his arm, he looked towards the table and his smile dropped before turning into anger.

"Sarah! I thought I told you to get rid of that stuff! I didn't want that in the house, I didn't want to see it! I certainly don't want AJ and Cass to know about him. He's gone, he's never coming back!" Sam yelled dropping the groceries to the ground and walking out towards the porch, AJ's eyes were wide in fear like Cass but Sarah just looked sad. "Hey, go to him. We'll watch the boys." Levi says softly putting his hand on Sarah's arm who jumps and looks at Levi in surprise.

She glances at the boys and the back door before nodding and placing the box back on the table gently before walking outside to where Sam is sitting outside with his head in his hands. "Did we do something wrong?" AJ asks looking at both Levi and Bucky who glanced at each other before shaking their heads quickly. "No, certainly not. Uncle Sam just has a stick up his ass." Bucky says smirking when he sees the look on the boys' faces. "James, don't teach them to curse," Levi says exasperatingly before nodding his head towards the porch and James steeled his face and walked out the door.

"Let's go to the living room, alright?" Levi starts to guide the children towards the living room and grabs the remote. "You're trying to distract us right? Because Uncle Bucky is going to yell at Uncle Sam for raising his voice at Mom?" Cass asks looking at Levi with an expression that tells Levi he knows more than he should. "Maybe."

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The boys watched one episode of cartoons before Sam came back into the house. AJ and Cass looked at each other before looking at Sam and saw that his eyes were glassy and red like he'd been crying. "Can I talk to them alone?" Sam says croakily, Levi and Bucky glance at each other before nodding and walking out of the room with Sarah following them. "Hi, can I sit?" Sam asks nodding towards the chair that was beside the couch which AJ and Cass were sitting on. Instead of answering they both nod. "I know that I probably scared you for yelling at your Mom and I want to tell you I'm sorry. It's never okay to yell at someone, I apologized to her and I collected myself but seeing the box is hard because Riley was very special to me."

AJ nods. "You were dating him weren't you?" Sam looks surprised but before he can say anything Cass speaks up. "Mom told us." Sam smiles sadly at Cass before grabbing his wallet out of his pants and opening it. "Yes, Riley and I were together. Since he's passed I've carried this picture in my wallet of him." Sam carefully hands the photo to Cass who smiles at it before turning it over and frowning at the writing on the back. "Why does it say love you so much dumbasser on the back?"

Sam laughs loudly which tapers off into a fond grin. "He called me dumbasser because I called him dumbass but don't tell your Mom that. I actually got a tattoo that says dumbasser on my inner arm, wanna see?" Sam asks the boys who nod quickly. What Sam didn't tell them was that it was in Riley's handwriting so it would match the photo that Sam showed them.

Sam smiles and rolls his shirt sleeve up to show the word dumbasser in small script, as he lets the boys look at his back, he looks at the ceiling and smiles. "I love you, dumbass." Sam mouths silently to Riley who he knows is watching wherever he is.