A/N: I. AM.SO. SORRY! I know we're all still recovering from Endgame, and you'll probably hate me for this. But, I feel like this is something similar to what will inevitably happen.

Sam's POV

Things are so different now; Tony is gone, Natasha is gone, and Steve...is now a very old man. Personality-wise, Old-Steve isn't much different. Though, he's much slower now, and less energetic; he also gets really tired very easily. For a few months now, Bucky and I have been taking pretty good care of him. Since Steve became old, Bucky hasn't left his side. I'm pretty sure Bucky is in denial about the fact that Steve has a short amount of time left. I can tell it's coming soon; cause everyday, Steve is getting weaker and weaker. He's acting just like my grandfather did before he passed. Bucky is so going to be devastated when the inevitable happens.

"Buck, can you get me some water? I need to take my meds." Steve asked.

"Sure thing, Pal." replied Bucky, patting Steve's shoulder.

Bucky gets up and leaves the room, then Steve turns towards me.

"Sam...do me a favor?" Steve asked me softly.

"Yeah, of course. What is it?" I replied.

"Take care of Bucky for me." answered Steve.

Before I could respond, Bucky comes back with a glass of water and Steve's medicine. Steve takes his medicine then sets the glass on the coffee table.

"I'm gonna turn in, goodnight, guys." Steve said getting up from his chair slowly and shakily.

"Here, Pal, let me help ya." Bucky said jumping up to help Steve stand.

Bucky walks his best friend to his room and makes sure he's settled before leaving him. Then, he plops down next to me on the couch and lays his head on my shoulder. I wrap my arm around him and kiss his head. My boyfriend lifts his head then kisses my cheek. We stay cuddled on the couch until it was time for bed, but I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about what Steve said to me. Why is he suddenly talking about this kind of stuff? I'm worried, very worried. I turn on my side and face Bucky, who's asleep. I reach out and stroke his cheek and play with his hair. Next I hold him close and kiss his forehead.

"Don't worry, Steve, I've got him." I whisper.

The next morning, Bucky and I are in the kitchen making breakfast.

"I'm gonna go wake up Steve." Bucky said walking out of the kitchen.

A few minutes later, my stomach tightens when I hear Bucky screaming. I run like h*ll to Steve's room, where Bucky is standing next to his bed freaking out.

"S-Sam! S-S...Steve...h-he's...there's something wrong...he's not waking up." stammered Bucky.

I have Bucky step back so I can check on Steve. I crouch by his bed and take a close look. Steve was so still, his chest wasn't moving up and down. I touch him...he's cold...and...stiff. Oh god, no...no. I look over at Bucky who has tears in his eyes. He starts to shake his head when he sees the grim expression on my face.

"N-No...n-n-n-no....don't say it...p-p-please! Don't you godd*mn f**king say it!!" Bucky cried.

"I'm sorry, babe...S-Steve's...I'm so sorry, but he's gone." I told him, my voice breaking.

"NOOOOO!!!!" Bucky wailed.

Bucky stumbles over to Steve's bedside, drops to his knees, and buries his face into Steve's chest.

"No, no, no...Steve, please...p-please please, don't...d-don't leave me. Stevie, y-you can't go. Y-Y-You're my best friend...m-my brother, I love you...I need you. Please come back." Bucky rambled, crying hysterically, clinging tightly to Steve's shirt.

I sit behind Bucky, wrap my arms around his torso, then bury my face in between his shoulder blades and begin to cry myself. The two of us cried for hours, then I calmed myself down enough to call the others to tell them what happened. I had pry Bucky away from Steve's body, I had to drag him out of the room kicking and screaming. Another hour later, Bucky passes out from exhaustion from crying so much. When he woke up, he was quiet; and he never said another word, until Steve's funeral. Bucky gave a beautiful eulogy, he had to stop every so often to compose himself, but he managed to make it through without breaking down. After the funeral, I find Bucky in Steve's room sitting criss-cross on his bed, holding Steve's folded up flag close to his chest. He was looking at an old, Polaroid-looking photo in his hand.

"Hey." I said sitting on the bed in front of Bucky.

"Hey." Bucky replied quietly.

"What's that photo?" I asked, trying to get more out of my boyfriend.

I've been really worried about Bucky lately. He's hardly speaking, hardly eating...he's hasn't been doing anything, and it's really scaring me.

"It's a picture of Steve and I on the day of our high school graduation." Bucky answered handing the picture to me.

The photo was black and white, Steve and Bucky looked so young. Steve was so small and skinny, I almost couldn't believe it was him. And Bucky looked so different too, his hair was much shorter and he had both his arms. 

"I thought you were a year older, how'd you graduate the same year?" I asked him.

"I had to repeat the eighth grade." Bucky explained with a very small smile.

"Come on, babe, let's get you something to eat, you're looking way too thin." I said putting my hand on his knee.

"I don't wanna eat." Bucky mumbled.

"Bucky, please don't do this to yourself. I...I-I...I promised Steve that I'd take care of you. So, please let me take care of you." I said cupping his face.

"H-He did? He made you promise that?" Bucky asked placing his hands over mine.

"He loved you, Bucky, he wouldn't want you letting yourself just waste away like this." I replied.

Bucky begins to cry, so I lean forward and kiss his forehead. He hugs me and buries his face into my neck, crying more. I hold him and rub his back until he calms down. We just sit there in silence, holding each other.

"I miss him." Bucky whimpered.

"Me too." I whispered running my fingers through his hair.

In a few days, Bucky starts to slowly act like himself again. Though, he'll probably never be the same. All I can do is be there for him and make sure he's healthy. I hope he knows that he's not alone, that he'll always have me. Cause I ain't going anywhere. I promised Steve I'd take care of him, and I will, cause I love him more than anything in this entire messed up cruel world.