With that, in a resilient, desperate attempt to keep Thanos away from the gauntlet which was cradled in my arms, Steve, Thor and Tony worked in unison. Inflicting all the damage they could muster against the Mad Titan while I fled. 

Ducking behind a wall of busted scrap metal and broken pieces of cement I hid, keeping the Infinity Stones in the safety of my care while the trio fought. Doing their damnedest, using every ability and strength at their disposal, at all costs. 

And, while I tucked myself away amongst the embering wreckage and falling soot I silently wished that I was strong enough to wield the gauntlet. To control the stones... But, I wasn't. The best I could do was keep the gauntlet out of harms way even if I had to put my life on the line. 

But, past Thanos, in his prime, seemed to be too strong for the heroes. The Titan a catastrophic giant against them as he swiftly knocked down Steve and Tony while the Demigod tried with all his might to gain the upper-hand. 

Using Stormbreaker Thor clashed against Thanos' blades, but almost easily, the ruthless Titan smashed the Asgardian to the rocky ground. And, then with Thor's own weapon the Titan slowly began to push the axe into the God's chest. 

His plated armor being ripped apart as the Titan drove the axe deeper in with the Asgardian not being strong enough to resist. 

Though looking over, I noticed the cast aside hammer begin to rumble and shake, as if awakening. Inch by inch the God's weapon being lifted up from the ground before it went sailing straight towards the Titan's head. Hitting Thanos in the face, sending the giant staggering back, the hammer then returned to it's wielder. 

Bloody and beaten, Steve caught Mjolnir. My dear friend being worthy enough to hold it... 

And, using the God's weapon he fought against Thanos. Raining lightning down upon the Titan, with the gigantic enemy not being able to stop it. The Living Legend, true to that name, battling against Thanos with hammer in hand and fire in his blue eyes. Hellbent on doing whatever it took to win. 

But, soon the Titan grew annoyed, his rage giving him enough power to finally cause the Captain to halt in his ceaseless attacks. 

Knocking Mjolnir out of Steve's grip Thanos sliced a cut in the Captain's leg with his dual blades and from the blockage of rubble I watched as the Titan mercilessly began chopping Steve's shield apart. 

The shards of his famous piece of armor falling to the dirt laden ground. The symbol of Captain America being destroyed by each wrath filled hit from the Titan. 

And, my friend was rendered powerless on the ruined terrain, bloodied up. Lying there with his broken shield and broken resistance. Looking small amidst the desolate abyss he reminded me of that boy who used to get beaten up within the alleys of Brooklyn. 

And, without a second thought I rushed towards him. 

"Steve!" I called out, running across the rubble and refuse while the Titan just waited like a looming predator watching his prey anxiously scamper around. 

"Come on, get up." I pleaded, grabbing hold of my friends arm. 

"G-Get out of here, Becky." Steve groaned out, blood dripping down his chin, his uniform covered in dirt and cuts. 

"No, gauntlet or not, you're my friend. I won't leave you to face this. To face him..." I opposed, hoisting Steve back up, his broken shield jagged and destroyed yet still he tightened his grip on it. 

With Thor and Tony feebly getting to their feet as well we stood together, and looked across the desolate plain to the Titan. 

"In all my years of conquest, violence, slaughter... It was never personal. But, I'll tell you now... What I'm about to do to your stubborn, annoying little planet I'm going to enjoy it very, very much." Thanos spoke, signaling for his whole fleet to join him. 

Out of the plumes of smoke, the past members of the Black Order stood beside their master. Along with the rest of the armada. 

Thousands upon thousands of them... Every Chitauri, every Outrider, every Sakaaran... They all showed up, descending down from the warship looming in the gray, vaporous sky. 

Thanos' army massive, foreboding, unstoppable. 

The same dropships from the fight in Wakanda tore into the ground like metal pyramids, the same armored flying creatures from 2012 New York soared in the air and the infinite alien foot soldiers stood in hoards, eager for blood. 

Baring their fangs, wielding their weapons... The mass of Thanos' legion devastating in numbers, never seeming to cease as it covered most of the crater laden landscape. 

And, while faced against impossible, countless odds I just stood beside my friend, us both intent on seeing this to the end. For me, as long as Steve fought, I would too. 

Strapping the gauntlet to my back I held onto my rifle, and was ready to give it my all. A soldier on a battlefield, faced against an unbeatable opponent in a hopeless situation... 

But, no matter what, I'd stand beside Steve til the very end, til my last breath... Thanos' fleet stretched out before me, the odds obviously not in the heroes favor, at least not until... 

I suddenly heard a crack in my earpiece, a familiar voice appearing... Uttering a single word that brought me to tears. 

"Doll..."

I heard Bucky say before a multitude of swirling, golden portals began to open up around us. The spiraling gateways shedding light across the wrecked cavity within the earth. All those who had turned to ash pouring out, ready for round two of the fight. 

The whole Wakandan army, Doctor Strange with his mass of Masters of the Mystic Arts, the remaining members of the Guardians of the Galaxy, all the Asgardians, Spider-Man, Falcon, T'Challa, and Wanda... They all stepped out of the shining dimensions. With a rescued Rhodey, Bruce and Rocket jumping out of Ant-Man's hand in his enlarged form. Even Pepper, who joined her husband in battle was here, clad in the suit of armor he built for her. 

The heroes all ready for one final stand... But, within the suited up, weapon wielding crowds and with the bright swirling portals reflecting in my tired irises I just focused on one man... 

And, as he stepped out onto the debris covered ground I just stumbled my way over, the battle for now, needing to be put on hold. This moment was more important. 

Immediately, Bucky dropped his gun and ran up to me. Engulfing me in a warm, tight embrace and I weakly collapsed into his arms.

I just cried, letting the tears which had flooded my eyes trickle down my cheeks as I buried my face in his chest, needing to hold onto him as tightly as I could to know this was real. That he was back... 

"I'm sorry I'm late, Doll." Bucky said, his words honeyed with an everlasting promise. That, despite anything and everything, he would always come back to me. 

"It's been a long five years. Don't you dare disappear on me again, Buck-Buck." I choked out, staring into his familiar slate blue eyes as he smiled, breathing me in and holding me close.

"I promise I won't. I love you, Rebecca." Bucky softly said, our hands intertwined, our wedding rings touching as he kissed my forehead. 

"I love you too, James. More than you'll ever know..."