Narrator's POV

"I know it's hard to get up when you fall over and over again, but you've gotta know it's not the end of the world. You gotta get back up and continue walking, and before you know it; you'll be running. Running faster than you've ever run..."

Bucky peeked into the room. He wore dark clothes with his hood over his head. He listened as Sam lectured veterans and tried to lift their spirits despite of their horrible experiences.

The meeting ended soon and people began to leave.

Sam gathered a couple of broachers that were left on some of the chairs. He knew he had a shadow watching him. "Nice to see you out of the house."

Bucky didn't say anything, slowly coming into the room.

"I think you should come to the meetings." Sam said. "I think it'd be good for you."

"I don't play nice with others." Bucky said, keeping his hands in his pockets. He looked around the room.

Sam nodded. "No shit."

Bucky staid silent as he walked around the room, looking at posters on the walls and pictures of soldiers.

"What made you decide to come today?" Sam asked, gathering the last of the broachers.

Bucky looked back at him, now that they were alone. "Bruce called."

Sam looked up at him.

///0///0

"Thank you all for coming today." Bruce said, holding a remote in his large green hand. He stood in front of everyone.

Everyone was sitting in chairs around a large table, facing large windows with a view of the outside of the compound.

Soon the windows darkened and displayed a screen.

"Uh, yeah. Sorry." Stephen interrupted. "I was told this was an emergency." He said, looking around at everyone else dressed causally.

"It was the only way I could get you to come." Bruce said.

"I was also told there was gonna be food. I promised Wong I'd bring him something."

"We will eat after." Bruce said.

"Excuse me, Dr. Banner; how long will this meeting take exactly? I have homework." Peter said.

"Fury and I have a lot to catch up on." Carol said.

"He's still alive?" Sam turned to her.

"ALRIGHT!" Bruce cleared his throat. "Alright, we're not here to chat. We've got some important things to discuss."

"Like what?" Wanda asked.

"Well, since we're down several numbers we need more of you to join the team." Bruce said.

"You mean like, like become an Avenger? Like the big six?" Scott asked.

"Well yes, but actually no." Bruce said. "It wasn't only the six of us." He said. "Sure we were there to clean up the major messes, but you guys have been helpful." He said.

"Hold on. I thought I was already an Avenger." Peter said.

"You? An Avenger?" Sam looked at Peter.

"It's true. Dr. Strange was there when it happened." Peter said.

"So we're the side characters." Stephen interrupted the side conversation.

"No." Bruce said. "All of you have contributed to this team and protecting the planet, just in your own ways. And well, we-" Bruce paused. "I need you all to keep doing what you're doing, just...together."

"So you want us to replace the old Avengers?" Carol asked.

"Yes." Bruce said. "You need to come together to become what we were."

"What about our own problems? We've got things to deal with on our own too."

"Yeah. The multiverse isn't gonna protect itself."

"Are we gonna have to move here?"

"And who's gonna be in charge?"

Questions left everyone's mouths, and before you knew it; the whole room was filled with voices.

Bucky laid back in his chair, hands in his jacket pockets. He looked down at his feet.

What if he didn't want to keep going with this super hero gig? What if he had fought his last fight? Would he have to do this til the day he died?

"What if I don't want to fight anymore?" He asked.

Bruce turned to him, listening. "You're quitting?"

Everyone became silent, and all their attention turned toward Bucky.

Bucky was surprised someone had heard him. He looked up at all the eyes looking at him. "I didn't say that."

"He brings up a good point." Hope said.

"We can quit?" Wanda asked.

"Guys, guys." Bruce tried to calm the rising crowd again. "Hah..." He sighed, pinching the bridge between his eyebrows.

///0///0

"How long have you been thinking about it?" Sam asked, leaning against Bucky's door frame with his arms crossed.

"About what?" Bucky asked, tossing a towel over his shoulder.

"Quitting."

"Oh, shut up." Bucky said, trying to avoid that conversation.

"Were you planning to quit after all that happened? Was it all too much for you?"

"Dammit!" Bucky threw the towel on the ground. "I've seen enough fights for a life time. I'm 106. I shouldn't even be alive right now."

"Well, you're the fittest 106 year old in the world."

"Look at me!" Bucky shouted. "Do I look fit to go out there?"

Sam took a look at Bucky, looking past the metal arm and muscles and super soldier.

There was a broken man. A man, who's entire world was held together by a friendship that he never thought would end. And when it did come to an end, to the end of the line, his world had been shattered. The only person he trusted, loved, had left him.

Bucky was right.

There was no way he was ready to go back out there on his own.

Sam sighed. "You're right, I'm sorry." He admitted. "I shouldn't have tried to push you into something you're not ready for. You've been through a lot."

Bucky didn't say anything, but was a little more at ease now that things came down. His clenched, anticipating a fight fists became undone. He looked away from Sam.

"I'll leave you alone." Sam said, beginning to walk away. "Bucky, I-" He paused in his steps.

Bucky looked at Sam, looking away every time he felt Sam looked at him.

Sam's eyes slowly looked up at Bucky. "I want just wanted to say that you're not alone, even when you think you are. You're not."

Bucky refused to look at him, even when this hit him deep. "Thanks."

"Hm." Sam nodded before walking away from Bucky's room.

Bucky sniffled, looking down at his feet. He wiped away a tear with his flesh hand from his face, sighing.