SAM KNOCKED ON the door to the Bradley household. Elijah answered the door, seeing him and Y/N through the metal screen. He smirked.

"Lieutenant America. Black Falcon." Elijah greeted. "What you want?"

"Hey, you need to learn some manners." Sam replied.

A voice called out from behind the two Avengers. "With that new color change he got, you could say he's Black Falcon."

They turned around and saw Isaiah, who came out of the backyard to grab some tools. He started making his way back as he spoke to Sam again. "Ain't that right?"

Sam chuckled. Elijah closed the door and the two men went to the backyard where Isaiah was. The elder man continued tending to his garden as Y/N and Sam stood aside.

"I saw what you two did out there." Isaiah said as he planted an herb into a flower pot. "And it seems, so did everyone else. I heard the GRC was standing down on those plans of theirs, so something must've been done right."

"I did what I could." Sam replied, then glanced at his friend. "But I followed my brother here through it all. He pushed me and I pushed him...and together we accomplished this."

Y/N smiled as he looked at Sam. Isaiah glanced at the young super-soldier and nodded.

"I ain't gonna lie. You two are special." He said.

"Thank you." Y/N replied genuinely.

Isaiah shrugged smirked. "I mean...maybe not that special. You're no Malcolm, Martin, Mandela, but..."

Sam chuckled. "No argument there."

"Yeah...can't really put myself on that level." Y/N remarked.

"But I know what I've got to do." Sam added.

Isaiah went over to a bigger plant. He grabbed onto it and was about to pick it up as he looked at Y/N.

"So...Captain America, huh?" He asked.

Y/N nodded. "Yes, sir."

"I guess I could say I'm glad you didn't listen to me when I told you to bury that thing." Isaiah replied as he carried the tree. "But things aren't gonna be easy...the fights you're gonna have to take on carrying your father's legacy. Dealing with the people who despise the symbol...people who may not like you taking it."

"Yeah, I know. I could fail. Hell, I might die. But I've grown up wanting to serve people...serve this country...just like my father. I'm not gonna let anybody tell me I can't fight for what I believe in. I want to help make things right in honor of the heroes before me...heroes like you."

Isaiah was silent for a moment. He took a breath as his voice shook.

"Shit. I almost bought that." The older man said with a chuckle.

Sam and Y/N laughed as Isaiah went over to the other side of the yard. Sam turned around and looked at the man, still chuckling.

"Man, do you ever lighten up?" He asked.

Elijah walked out onto the yard, having overheard the last couple minutes of the conversation.

"Nope." He answered for his grandfather and shook his head. "Mm-mmm."

Sam smiled and pat Isaiah on the arm. "Hey, why don't you clean up? There's, um...something we want to show you."

Without a word, Isaiah obliged and went up to his porch and into his house. Elijah wondered what Sam was talking about and looked at the two friends.

"So, uh, where we going?" He asked.

• • •

THEY FLEW TO Washington, D.C. where the Captain America memorial was. Sam and Y/N walked with Isaiah and Elijah through the exhibit, passing by the displays of newspapers and other imagery containing Steve Rogers.

Y/N hadn't visited the museum since he gave up the shield almost a month ago. But to be back felt nice in away, and he was also getting a kick out of seeing Elijah gaze at the exhibit in awe.

"Man, this is iconic." Elijah walked up to a well-known comic cover that was on the wall. "Captain America punching Hitler."

"Oh, definitely. I got one of the original prints." Y/N replied.

"Really?"

"Yup."

Isaiah walked by Elijah, also looking at the image. "I know damn well he didn't actually punch Hitler."

"I mean...he technically did." Y/N said. "It was an actor during his tours. You know, Star Spangled Man with a plan?"

"Ugh, don't remind me." Isaiah huffed. "They played that damn song all the time. Even after he fell into the water."

Y/N nodded before following Elijah and Isaiah down the walkway with Sam. He started to think. "You think I should get my own theme song?"

They ignored his question and continued walking, where they made it to another exhibit nearby. Y/N and Sam stood aside as the two Bradleys looked on in awe at the sight ahead. Isaiah placed a hand on his grandson's shoulder as they stepped forward.

In front of them was the Isaiah Bradley memorial. A statue was placed in the middle of the room as moving graphics of his unit...his comrades...his brothers...were displayed on the walls. A large plaque with Isaiah's name and history was placed beside the statue. Elijah went up to it and started reading it. Isaiah went behind him and held onto both of his shoulders, still in disbelief that such an exhibit existed.

Sam and Y/N were able to have the memorial set up in the same place where the Captain America exhibit was. Y/N told Elijah before that he and Sam would do everything in their power to make sure his grandfather was recognized...and they kept their promise. Now everybody will know Isaiah Bradley, the man...the super-soldier...the hero.

Elijah walked up to Y/N and Sam. The Air Force veteran nodded and looked directly at Isaiah.

"Now, they will never forget what you did for this country. Never."

Isaiah shook the man's hand, then hugged him. The older super-soldier wanted to cry but held it in the most he could. He parted and turned to Y/N, who smiled.

"Like I've said before, Isaiah. You're a hero. A hero that people should look up to. People like me...and like Elijah." He told him.

The older man embraced Y/N next. He pat the man's back, hearing that he was now sobbing. He was too emotional to mutter a thank you, but Y/N didn't care. He didn't need to say it.

• • •

THE COURTROOM WAS empty as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine sat down, waiting for John Walker to finish changing. The woman was also joined by John's wife, Olivia. She took out her cell phone, reading to her a report of the Flag-Smashers' prison transport that was blown up two days ago.

"Looks like our friend, Zemo, kinda got the last laugh, right?" Valentina remarked. "Couldn't have worked better if I planned it myself. Oh. Well, maybe I did. No, I'm kidding. I didn't...or did I?"

Olivia didn't say a word as the older lady spoke. She was mostly weirded out by her, ever since she first showed up over a week ago and handed her husband a blank business card.

Val exhaled, now becoming impatient with John. "What is he doing in there?"

"It's probably the helmet." Olivia replied.

Val started to shout. "Walker! My God! Let's go!"

Sometime later, John came out of the room, sporting his new uniform given to him by de Fontaine.

"Now this is more like it." Val said with a smirk.

John looked himself up and down. "It's the same, but black."

"Yeah, well...things are about to get weird." Val said. "So, when they do, we're not gonna need a Captain America. We're gonna need a U.S Agent."

"That's great." He replied with a nod.

She immediately started walking away and toward the door. "Keep your phone on."

"Will do, Val."

"Don't call me that."

"Copy." He replied apologetically. "Thank you!"

Val ultimately left the courtroom. Olivia turned to her husband and gave a beaming smile.

"U.S Agent." She said with a laugh before hugging him. The two parted and John paced around the room, jittery and excited.

"I'm back..." He exclaimed. "I'm back. I'm back. I'm back!"

John Walker was now able to do what he does best...serve those who needed him and to assist those who can appreciate his skill set and what he can do. He'd be able to do it not under a name issued to him by the government...but under a new one. One that felt like himself.

U.S Agent.

• • •

Y/N AND HIS family were preparing for the cookout the Wilson family were going to have later that day. It was in celebration of their boat being fixed and their seafood business being revived, along with the heroics Sam and his friends accomplished in New York.

There was no need for Wong this time. Instead, they decided they were going to take a normal flight to Louisiana. Bucky was going to join them, so they waited for the super-soldier as they finished packing the last of their things.

"This is exciting." Y/N said as he zipped up a bag. "I've never been to these kinds of things."

"Well, we've never really had the time." Natasha replied as she fixed her hair in front of the mirror.

"Yeah. Never a perfect moment for parties or anything. Aside from the one Tony threw almost ten years ago."

They both remembered. It was after they arrested Wolfgang von Strucker and took back the Scepter. It was also the day Y/N and Natasha officially became a thing.

"Right." She replied. "You remember that?"

"Oh, definitely." He walked away from his bag and got behind Natasha, looking at her through the mirror. "Unforgettable memories."

"Like what?" She asked with a sly smile.

Y/N placed both hands on her shoulders as he pretended to think. He already knew what she wanted him to say, but he decided to play around.

"It was the day I found out I was worthy of Thor's hammer. I, unfortunately, lost to Sam at pool. Tony embarrassed himself trying to lift the hammer. Oh, and Ultron almost killed us."

"Oh, yes. Great times." Natasha replied sarcastically.

Y/N chuckled and wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling his chin by her neck. Natasha smiled as she looked at themselves in the mirror.

"Am I forgetting anything?" He asked with a smirk. "Wait...it's coming back to me."

"Oh?"

"Yes, yes. Your wardrobe that night was very nice. Your hair...lipstick...it probably drove those old men Tony invited crazy."

"I know it drove you crazy, old man."

"Then I know for sure they thought the same."

The couple shared a laugh before Y/N spoke again, still holding his wife by the waist.

"That fella that did you wrong. Whatever happened to him?" He asked.

"He continues to fight till this day, never backing down. He knows his purpose, his priorities, his responsibility. Some of those responsibilities we both share now."

Y/N nodded as there was a pause in her statement. She then continued.

"And he's still a huge dork."

"Okay."

"But his jokes have improved."

Y/N laughed. He quieted himself before turning her around so he can face her.

"And this guy...has he done you any wrong since then?" He asked.

Natasha looked straight into his eyes, shaking her head at his question. His face neared hers as she put a hand on his right cheek. Their lips were mere centimeters away from touching.

"Not a damn thing."

They kissed passionately, savoring the embrace as it deepened. He ran his hands along the small of her back and gripped the sides of her hips, consequently earning a hum from the redhead.

Y/N and Natasha would've loved to turn it up a notch since their bed was a couple of feet away, but they had places to go. And to add to that, their children were down the hall.

The couple parted just as they heard footsteps coming down the corridor. Nikolai eventually walked in, struggling to hold up the familiar-looking vibranium disc.

"Ma? Dad? Can we take this too?" He asked as he dragged the shield.

Natasha laughed as her five-year-old son tried to lift the 12-pound disc. Y/N chuckled as well and went over to help the boy.

"I think it's best if this stays here." He said. "And I don't want to worry about the thing getting lost during the flight."

"But Captain America always has his shield." Nikolai replied.

Y/N smiled and knelt in front of his son. "Only when he needs to, buddy." He rubbed the top of his head. "Right now he's fine with just having his family."

"Okay." He said with a nod. "When we come back can I take this to Morgan's house? She said it's good for sledding."

The parents laughed just when the doorbell rang. Natasha stayed inside as Y/N excused himself to answer the door. On the other side was Bucky, smiling and ready to go with them.

"Buck." Y/N greeted as he embraced him. They parted. "Ready for the ultimate Wilson barbecue?"

Bucky chuckled before letting his expression falter. He used his normal fingers to fiddle with his metal ones.

"Before we go...can I talk to you?" He asked.

Y/N wondered what was causing his uncle figure and friend such inner turmoil. He nodded in understanding and went outside to the porch, closing the door behind him.

"Everything all right?" The young man asked.

The two settled onto the patio by the balustrade, looking over at the rest of the neighborhood. Bucky leaned over it and sighed.

"It's my amends..." He began.

"Oh. How's that coming along?"

"I've done the ones I could, the ones who are available...alive. A few hours ago I talked to one that was really a struggle for me."

"It work out?"

Bucky shrugged. Finally confessing to his friend, Yori, that he was the one who killed his son back when he was the Winter Soldier was a burden off his shoulders. But all the old man could ask was why before going into his room and telling Bucky to leave.

"Somewhat." He replied. "But at least he got the closure he needed."

"That's what it's all about." Y/N said.

There was a moment of silence. Bucky got off the railing and turned to his nephew.

"All I got left is one more."

"Good."

"...you."

Y/N arched a brow at his statement. He didn't even have time to inquire about it before Bucky started to speak again.

"I...I know who killed your parents. The ex-HYDRA who decided to raise you."

The young man rested an arm against the balustrade as he listened. Barnes struggled to get the rest of the words out, but Y/N gave him all the time he needed.

"It was me." Bucky finally confessed. "After we fought by the Rao Quan river...I was sent to kill them. The HYDRA plants within the FBI at the time made it look like a house fire and marked them as John Doe's."

Y/N exhaled and dropped his head. Bucky cleared his throat and kept looking directly at the young man.

"I didn't have a choice." He said, holding back a sob. "You lost your adoptive parents and now your real ones...you don't deserve that. I'm sorry."

Bucky was prepared for Y/N to do the same as Yori, which was to accept it and leave. He wouldn't have blamed him if Y/N decided to go to Louisiana without him. But instead, his nephew nodded his head and looked back up.

"I always wondered what happened to them. Sure, they took me away from my real mother...but a part of me was grateful that they turned over a new leaf and decided to raise a son." Y/N said. "Now I don't have to wonder. I know now that they passed knowing their adoptive son was fighting for their country...and he was able to do so because of them."

Y/N got closer to Bucky and placed both hands on the sides of his shoulders. He smiled.

"That wasn't you, Buck. I know that. And I thank you for telling me."

Bucky smiled back and embraced his nephew once more. Finally, another burden of his was lifted. And for Y/N, the question of what happened to his adoptive parents was answered.

The ex-HYDRA asset was done with his amends. Now he can enjoy the life he had...the life he deserved.

• • •

MUSIC PLAYED FROM the personal instruments of the attendees, some even were makeshift. Family friends and acquaintances of the Wilsons' from the community of Delacroix, Louisiana enjoyed food and drinks as they sparked conversations with one another.

Natasha, Y/N, Maggie, and Nikolai sat at a table on the docks with Sam, Sarah, and her boys. As the two men talked, the redhead engaged in conversation with the Wilson sister, the two enjoying each other's company.

Sometime later, Bucky arrived holding a cake. He left briefly to pick it from a local bakery since he felt bad initially coming to the event without some type of gift. He felt like the Wilsons deserved it...especially Sarah for the work she does.

Her sons, AJ and Cass, sprang up from their seats and ran up to the soldier, playing around with him as he did so in return.

"Watch out, Buck! That duo packs a mean punch." Y/N called out.

Bucky took off his sunglasses and walked up to their table. "I come bearing gifts."

"Ooh, that looks delicious." Sarah remarked. "You didn't have to, Bucky."

He shrugged and gave her a smirk. "I wanted to."

Sarah giggled and pulled the cake toward the middle of the table. Sam stared at Bucky after he spoke with his sister, and the soldier cleared his throat before settling down onto the seat beside Nikolai.

"So...uh...Nik!" Bucky turned away from the staring Sam. "Want to see how long you can hang from my arm after you're done eating?"

He frantically nodded his head before forking down the rest of his food. Natasha laughed as she saw this.

"He eats that fast he's gonna end up throwing up on you." She told Bucky.

"Haven't had the pleasure of either one of my grandnieces-slash-nephews ever doing so...so I guess it'd be a first." He replied.

"I wouldn't call it a pleasure." Maggie said. "Ask Rhodey. Nik threw up on him plenty of times when he was a baby."

"And you did too." Y/N added with a chuckle. "Don't just mention your brother."

They laughed amongst each other as they continued eating.

The event carried on with Sam taking time to socialize with the family friends that attended the celebration. Bucky let Nikolai hang on his arm like he said he would, then afterward let Sam's nephews and other kids do so as well. He did all this while also making sure to mingle with Sarah.

Many people from the community also fraternized with Y/N and Natasha. The guests appreciated the work of the married couple as Avengers and saw them as family since they were good friends of the Wilsons. A lot of them also found it nice that the new Captain America was at the cookout.

Afterward, Sam decided to take pictures with many of the guests in front of the Wilson's Family Seafood sign.

During one of the solo-shoots Sam was taking, Y/N joined in and got beside him. Sam rolled his eyes and tried pushing him away, but getting rid of the young soldier wasn't going to be easy. They laughed it out before Sam pulled his best friend in for a real photo.

He decided to call out to Natasha and Bucky as well, and the four colleagues took more photos in front of the sign. Sam made sure to also get Maggie and Nikolai as well as his nephews for another picture.

The cookout was still going on, but it had seemed to subside a bit. While the children were on the lawn, the four adults sat at their table on the docks enjoying yet another plate of food.

"Uh, Buck?" Y/N asked as he put down his beer.

"Yeah?"

"I'm wondering...how did come up with our suit designs?"

"Hmm..."

Natasha chuckled. "I'm sure he had a whole book of sketches...waiting for the right moment."

"You secretly wanted to be a designer, huh?" Sam chimed in and looked at Bucky.

"Haha." Barnes said in a deadpanned tone, then answered the question. "Sure, I gave some of my input."

"Well, I gotta say...the input worked out." Y/N replied. "You made us look awesome."

"Barnes knows black goes with everything." Natasha remarked as she drank her beer.

Bucky chuckled then shrugged. "If I had to make myself a suit like that, I'd add black."

"And the red with the black on Wilson's...chef's kiss." Y/N pointed out.

"For real. It makes my thighs stand out." Sam replied, in which they laughed. "What? They're the best part of me."

Bucky chose to speak again. "The Wakandans were glad to do that favor I asked of them because they know what type of people you two are. They understand what Steve thought of you." He looked at Sam. "A best friend who was always by his side." He then turned to Y/N. "And a son who lived by his principles."

Y/N nodded. The three continued listening to Bucky as he spoke, this time directly to his nephew.

"The Wakandans believe you're the right person to uphold that symbol. Just like I did. Just like Steve did."

"Like we all do." Sam chimed in as he turned to Y/N. Natasha agreed and rubbed the back of her husband's neck.

Y/N softy chuckled and took a swig of his beer. He put it back down and crossed his arms.

"You're going to make me cry, you know?" He joked.

"That's what I was going for." Bucky jested in return.

The four continued to talk and share laughs. After some time there was a brief pause, and Y/N tapped his fingertips against the table.

"What a crazy month we've had, huh?" Y/N asked.

"Hectic for sure." Sam replied, recalling the day he first showed up to his home to recruit them on the mission to deal with the Flag-Smashers.

Y/N thought back at the speech he gave the GRC members a week ago. He brought up points that he believed in and that was relevant in the current times.

"The Blip changed a lot of things...both for better and for worse. And we have to live with that."

The three agreed. The Flag-Smashers were one thing, but if they were able to be formed and cause as much ruckus as they did...there was a possibility that more threats could arise. In that same magnitude or even worse.

"The world's changed...and it needs people like us." Y/N added. "Heroes. Avengers."

"Damn, right." Sam replied.

Bucky gave a nod, agreeing with the young man's words. Natasha smiled and played with the hair on the back of Y/N's head.

"You're really getting that speech thing down." She remarked. "Huh, Captain?"

Y/N smiled and put an arm around Natasha. He kissed her on the cheek and looked out onto the water.

"Like father, like son, I guess."

• • •

IN SOKOVIA, YELENA stood in front of the memorial by the lake. This was her first time visiting the site, only seeing it via photos online before finally deciding to come in person.

Pietro always talked about visiting the country with her, but they never got to do so during the four-to-five years they were together. She was planning on finally going after one of her jobs...but came back home to find that her lover was dead.

There was never a goodbye shared. The last thing Yelena heard from Pietro was of the voicemail he left her before going on the Time Heist. It was a voicemail she's often played, and this time was no exception.

Yelena took out her phone and put it against her ear as she looked at the statue in front of her. She started to listen to the message.

"Lena, sweetheart, I hope everything is good where you're at. Uh, I'm at the compound with Y/N and Nat...we're about to do something pretty crazy, but if I gotta be honest, it's worth the risk. After this, everything will be all right. Your parents will be back...our friends...my sister...man, I can't wait for you to meet her. We can all finally be together..."

Yelena inhaled deeply as she listened to the message...for what was probably the fiftieth time since it was first made. It continued, and she heard the familiar voice of Y/N call out to him.

"...I gotta go. Be safe where you're at. I'll call you when I get back, Моя милая (my sweet)."

The voicemail ended and she put the phone back into her coat pocket. She went up to the statue and placed a hand on it, closing her eyes as a tear ran down her cheek. Yelena wished she was there with Pietro to honor the fallen...but now she was alone in doing so.

Suddenly, Yelena heard sniffling behind her. She turned around and saw a familiar face blowing their nose into a tissue. The purple-dyed hair woman put it away and apologized for startling her.

"I'm sorry." Valentina said. "Seasonal allergies, you know?"

Yelena didn't reply and kept looking at the memorial. It had flowers and candles on the floor from people honoring the casualties of the Ultron offensive in Sokovia. Val knew what the blonde was there for.

"What Pietro Maximoff did, in honor of their country as an Avenger, it's quite remarkable. I can't even imagine..."

"You're not supposed to be bothering me on my holiday time, Valentina." Yelena shot back.

"Bothering you? No, no, no. I'm just here paying my respects."

"Mmm-hmm. You know coming here makes you look desperate."

Valentina laughed. "Okay."

Yelena didn't laugh. "I want a raise."

"Oh, yeah. Me and you both. But believe me, you're going to earn it." She replied as she took out a tablet from her purse.

She continued. "I got your next targets. Double the fun. You might like it. Some very important people wanted me to hand-deliver this to you."

Yelena looked at her as she spoke, still pretty annoyed at her sudden arrival during her vacation. Val turned on the tablet and scrolled through pictures.

"How would you like a shot at the ones responsible for your pain?"

She gave her the tablet and saw two pictures that were side by side. Yelena looked at them for a moment, then back at Valentina.

"I gotta say, they're pretty cute for a couple of old guys." Valentina remarked then pointed at the second picture. "And those colors of his sure bring out the eyes."

Yelena ignored her remark and looked back down at the tablet, eyeing the photos once again. They were two people she knew...one more so than the other.

Clint Barton and Y/N Carter.

• • •

THE MAN WAS dragged into the room. Having a bag over his head, he was forcefully placed onto the seat. The agents that put him in exited the room and left him.

He waited there, still with the bag over his head. The man stared into the darkness within the bag for a while until it was pulled off.

An agent threw the bag onto the table and stepped back toward the wall. The door opened and a suited man walked into the room. He smiled at the tall blonde-haired man.

"Ah, it's great to finally see you in person. I'm Norman Osborn."

The man didn't respond and ignored the businessman as he put out his hand for a handshake. Norman lowered his arm and continued.

"You were quite hard to find."

"I didn't want to be found." The man shot back. "I'm laying low for a reason."

"Well, times are changing. And we need you."

"We?"

"Me and my colleague, Thaddeus Ross."

The man rolled his eyes at the name. "Tell that guy he can eat shit."

"I understand you're prior history with him. Your spats during the last five years." Norman replied. "But don't worry, you'll be working mostly with me."

"I ain't working with anybody."

"Not even for the right price?"

That piqued the man's interest. Ross never brought up money or contracts when he first met him years ago. The businessman in front of him looked wealthy, so he liked the idea.

"Keep talking."

"I need a man with your skillset and experience, but most importantly...your attitude. You seem like a swell guy."

"Sure, my attitude...right." The man scoffed. "You need my skillset?"

"We've only seen one other man do what you do, but money doesn't intrigue him and he's got other priorities." Norman said. "You on the other hand...you're a free agent."

The man nodded as he crossed his arms. He'd been on the run for the last couple of years, but maybe it'd be nice to finally settle down if people like Norman could cover him...and obviously pay.

"How much are we talking?" He asked.

"Oh, we'll get to that. But just know that it's gonna have a lot of zeroes."

A soft chuckle left the man's lips but still kept a straight face. Norman eased closer to the table and looked down at him.

"So...what do you say, Mr. Masters?" Osborn asked. "Are you up for the task?"

The man, Anthony Masters, looked back at the businessman and smirked.

• • •

WONG MOVED HIS hands and lifted the projection of the Ten Rings. He spread them out before zooming into one, where it broke apart into several smaller rings. Shang Chi and his friend, Katy, stood in the Sanctum library with him as he investigated.

"Hmm. They don't match any artifacts from our codex." Wong turned to his colleagues on the hologram call. "What do you think?"

Bruce Banner, Carol Danvers, and Y/N Carter were on the call. Banner was in his human form but still sporting an arm-sling from his use of the nano-gauntlet several months ago.

"Mm, I'm not sure." Banner replied.

"They're not vibranium." Y/N said. "You think it could be Chitauri?"

Carol shook her head. "Not like any alien tech I've seen." She looked at Shang-Chi. "How long did your dad have them before he gave them to you?"

"Um...about a thousand years."

"Wow." Y/N remarked.

"Their thermoluminescence indicates they're older than that. By a lot." Banner chimed in.

"The first time you used the rings, we felt it in Kamar-Taj." Wong told Shang-Chi, then zoomed in on the projection where it showed a glowing pulsing strand of light.

"What is it?" Katy asked.

"A beacon." Carol answered.

Banner reinforced her claim. "They're sending a message."

"A message to where?" Shang-Chi asked.

Suddenly, there was beeping on Carol's end. She swiped the notification away.

"I'm so sorry. I have to deal with this. You can get my number from either of them. It was so nice to meet you." She bid farewell and her hologram dissipated.

Banner shook his head. "Yeah, I...I don't have her number. She does that a lot. But don't worry, Y/N does."

Y/N nodded his head. Banner decided to bid farewell next.

"Guys, stay safe." He looked at Y/N. "Captain."

His hologram dissipated next, leaving Y/N with Wong and the young warriors. The super-soldier smiled at them.

"We'll discuss this matter further another time." He told them. "Wong has my number, so if anything comes up I'll be here to talk. All right?"

"Uh, yes...Captain." Katy fumbled with her salute and Shang-Chi nudged her on the shoulder.

Y/N chuckled. He heard about what the two did recently in saving the world. It impressed him. Shang Chi was proving himself to be a great hero, and he knew the young man would be a great addition to the team.

"Welcome to the circus." He said before signing off himself.

Back at home, he left the office he was in after finishing the call. He walked into the living room and saw his family outside in the backyard through the window. Y/N went outside to join them, standing under the patio as he gazed upon the new additions to the yard: a fire pit, a fountain, and a small playset for Nikolai by the basketball hoop.

Maggie was by the fire pit, warming herself up during the chilly evening while she was on her phone. Nikolai was throwing the basketball into the hoop, enjoying the sport despite having a playlet ready him. Natasha sat on a sofa by the patio reading, and Y/N noticed her.

"Hey." He greeted and sat down beside her.

Natasha smiled, laying against one end of the sofa and shifting her legs so they could lounge over his lap. He smiled as he rested a hand over her thigh.

"How was the meeting?" She asked.

"Good. We discussed a situation. Nothing world-ending, thank God." He answered. "Carol and Banner said hello."

"Nice to finally hear from her again." Natasha remarked about Danvers. "She's in space like twenty-four seven."

"She got to. She's in charge of what goes on up there while we're in charge of what's down here. And trust me, I've had my fill of encounters with aliens."

Natasha laughed, closing her book and putting it down. "Yeah, I'd have to agree."

Y/N smiled. There was silence for a moment as he started tracing shapes on her thigh. Natasha wondered what was on his mind.

"What's the matter, Captain?"

"Oh, that name's gonna be the death of me." He said with a chuckle. She had already used it a few times in the bedroom. She let out a soft laugh as well before her husband continued.

"For the first in a while, everything feels...just right. I got you, my kids, my friends...everything I could ever need. And I still got a part of my mom and my dad with me, by bearing their name and legacy."

Natasha felt the same way about everything feeling normal. Although her sister wasn't there physically, she still took time to call her and speak to the children. A part of her believed she'd return home soon. Despite that, the redhead felt everything was marvelous.

"I wake up every day thinking this is a dream. This is a life I never thought I'd have...I was raised to think that I couldn't." She glanced at Maggie and Nikolai. "But every time I look at them...every time I hug and kiss them...I'm in awe that everything is real."

She looked at Y/N and continued. "Every time I wake up beside you...it lets me know it isn't just a dream."

Y/N smiled, leaning over to kiss her on the lips. The embrace lasted several seconds before they parted and looked into each other's eyes.

"It's the life you deserve, Natasha." He said. "I love you."

The redhead smiled and cupped the side of his face. "I love you too, Моя сияющая звезда (my shining star)."

END OF: THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER