Steve gasped for air as he dragged her upstream. The water that filled his nostrils burned him as he slumped down and tried to calm his erratic heartbeat.

And for a second, he forgot.

"Y/N!" He called, hoarsely, his voice felt scratchy and dry.

"S-Steve..." She coughed up some water.

"W-What did they do to you?" He demanded. "Why are—"

"Steve, I won't make it." She sighed deeply as she held up her finger to feel her heartbeat. "They injected something into me when they kidnapped us... I-It was blue and it smelled like p-plastic and rust."

"What?" He raised her forearm and saw a little red dot that proved a needle was there before. "Do you think we can get it out?" He asked, desperately.

"Highly doubt it." She smiled, weakly. "It was in my blood and I am so going to die."

"No, you're coming with me." He said, firmly. But his breath was shaky. "We care going to survive and we are going to get married like I said we would."

Steve slung her arm over his shoulder as he hoisted her up. She winced when her foot touched the ground. The grass felt like knives as it prodded them with each step that they took.

"Where do you think we are?" Y/N asked, quietly as she looked around.

"I don't know." Steve grunted as he tried to ignore the pain sensation in his left elbow. "But we are going to keep moving until we stumble across someone."

"Hopefully nice." She said.

They limped in silence as she tried to walk for herself and found out her foot was broken. That led to her leaning against him and muttering sorries.

"Are you okay?" She asked, quietly.

He glanced at her e/c eyes. "Kinda. If you count a probably broken shoulder."

"You're lucky you have the serum." She said, smiling a little.

A dribble of blood leaked from her forehead and he reached to wipe it. She blushed a little before smiling.

"You never fail to give me the butterflies, Captain." She admitted.

"I'm glad." He replied.

Some trees were coming into view in the distance. The tall evergreen trees were tall and it seemed to brush the white clouds.

The sun began to set, leaving streaks of orange and pink across the sky.

"Fuck." She cursed. "I don't want to sleep out here." She glanced around at their surroundings.

"We can build camp." Steve said, setting her down by a treetop. "You sit here."

"No, I can help." She said, stubbornly. "I'll try to make fire." Y/N folded her arms to make her seem more dominant.

"Don't you need some dry wood?" He asked, smiling at her adorable stubbornness. He folded his arms, copying her. Steve was trying really hard not to laugh.

She stopped for a moment before huffing. "I meant after you get the wood." She said, quietly.

He chuckled as she threw some leaves and small branches at him. "Don't laugh at me!"

_____

Y/N did ended up making a fire for them. The sun set and the night sky enveloped them in darkness as Steve made a makeshift tent with branches and leaves. Their wounds were bandaged up.

"Impressive Cap." She said, smiling.

She helped sorted out the fruits and herbs as he collected some water from nearby to boil.

"Thanks." He said, sitting down next to her and stir the soup.

"You know it's going to taste nasty." She said, wrinkling her nose at the edible soup.

"Yeah, but we need to some nutrients." He took the soup away from the fire and waited for it to cool, sitting next to her as they enjoyed the fires warmth and each other. He leaned against the hard bark of the tree, her leaning against his chest.

"You especially need the nutrients." He added.

Y/N didn't say anything, because she knew that she wouldn't. But she didn't want to dim the mood of the hasty camp site.

"You think someone is going to find us?" She asked, looking up at the stars scattered around the dark sky.

"Hopefully the smoke is going to alert them." Steve said, following her gaze to the smoke that trailed up to the midnight blue. "And then, we are going to get married in that one church."

"In Brooklyn?" She asked, smiling at the mention of his hometown.

"Yeah, that one with the beautiful stained glass." He agreed. "The one you liked with the wooden cross by the large brass organs."

"I liked that one." She said, her eyes drooping.

His hands combed through the tangles in her hair. "I know. You said you would have Natasha wear a ocean blue dress because you thought she would look great in it."

"She would." Her voice grew quieter. "Steve, I don't feel good." Her breathing became shallow and heavy.

He reached over, careful not to shift her too much. Grabbing the small collection of makeshift soup, she sipped on the hot liquid. He handed her some wild blackberries. She gagged in the soup.

"Are you okay?" He asked, taking the soup when she was done.

"The soup left a horrible aftertaste in my mouth." She replied. "But I-I'm okay for now. I'll endure the pain."

Steve sat in silence, running all possibilities to make her feel as comfortable as possible in his head. But her hand touched his forearm made him stop.

"Steve... I don't think I'll make it." She said, quietly.

"Y/N, you will. I'll make sure of that." He replied, firmly.

"Steve." Turning towards him, he stared into her tired e/c eyes. "You're honestly the most perfect, cute, amazing, beautiful, and talented person I have ever met. And I want you to know that you deserve only the best, I tried to offer that and I don't blame you for anything."

"Y/N..." His voice faltered as she leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss on his lips.

"I have ever told you that I love you so much?" She said when she pulled away.

"Yeah, every day." He smiled. "And I tell you I love you much more."

She rolled her eyes, smiling. "Please."

Putting his hands on her waist, she rested her arms around his neck. Their foreheads touched as they stared like that in silence.

"Your heart is beating fast." She commented.

"It always is when I'm around you." He replied.

She blushed a little, pressing a kiss on his cheekbone then on his lips.

"You're so cheesy."

"I know."

She rested her head on his shoulder as he pulled her in a hug. His baby blue eyes watched the fire, wondering what their future is and wondering what would happen if she was gone.

_____

The makeshift tent held up for most of the night. Thankfully, it didn't rain. Steve blinked as he nudged Y/N. But she didn't respond.

"Y/N." He poked her side. "Get up."

She laid still, not moving.

His heart suddenly felt like it ran 3,000 miles. His brain raced but it felt numb.

"Y/N, Y/N. Y/N, this isn't funny. Y/N." He shot up, shaking her. "Y/N!"

Using his shaky finger, he feel for her heartbeat.

He felt nothing.

Tears peeked out from his eyes as he lifted her up and tried to wake her up while carrying her.

His legs felt numb as he carried her. He didn't know where he was running. He just felt Iike he needed to, run to the somewhere he could get help.

Then, collapsing on the dirt ground, he screamed, his chest felt like it had been crushed. There was a dull pain in his knee for when he tripped over a branch but he didn't care.

But his mind was made up.

He had to carry her body home at least. She always said she wanted to be buried by that one place.

Wiping away his tears and ignoring his pain, he pretended like she wasn't dead and continued to carry her to where ever this direction took him.

_____

Just imagine Steve walking up to the Avengers HQ with her dead body in his arms.
I'm sorry. (Not really)