2023 ― Stark Household
"Why is everyone hugging us like we're not coming back? We'll be right back."

Katherine and Steve Rogers both stood in their suits in front of Bruce, Sam, Bucky, their children, and Wanda. They were going to return the stones back to exactly where they were taken from. Katherine was excited to time travel again, and the kids wanted to go too, but Katherine said it was going to be a quick mission, and maybe next time.

"Remember... you have to return the stones to the exact moment you got 'em, or you're gonna open up a bunch of nasty alternative realities," Bruce said and Steve closed the case that the stones were in.

"Don't worry, Bruce. Clip all the branches." Steve said.

"You know, I tried. When I had the gauntlet with the stones, I really tried to bring her back. I miss her." Bruce said to the couple, obviously talking about Natasha, and Katherine nodded her head.

"Me too," Katherine said as they started to walk over to the small quantum tunnel that Bruce had built in order for them to return the stones.

"You know, if you want, I could come with you guys," Sam said and Steve smiled at him.

"You're a good man, Sam. This one's on us though." Steve said and then Katherine walked over to Bucky and she gave him a hug.

"See you in a minute." She said while winking at him, and Bucky laughed and as she backed up, Steve walked over to him.

"Don't do anything stupid till I get back," Steve said saying the line that he and Bucky used to say to each other all the time, and Bucky laughed.

"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you." Bucky said as the two of them hugged. Then Amaya and Christian approached their parents and wrapped them both in a hug, and Katherine laughed.

"Why is everyone hugging us like we're not coming back? We'll be right back." Katherine said as she kissed both of their foreheads.

"We know, but... just in case," Amaya said.

"We love you," Christian said.

"We love you too," Steve said. Then he and his wife joined hands as they walked up onto the platform together, and put on their quantum suits.

"How long is this going to take?" Sam asked.

"For them, as long as they need. For us, five seconds." Bruce said. Steve dropped his wife's hand and then turned around to pick up the Mjolnir, while Katherine had two new guns with her and ready, because of the time periods they were returning these back to, you never know what will happen.

"You ready Cap, Kat?" Bruce asked and the couple nodded their heads. "Alright, we'll meet you back here, okay?" Bruce said.

"You bet," Steve said as their helmets came on.

"Going quantum. Three... two... one." Bruce said, and then the couple disappeared. "And returning in five... four... three... two... one," Bruce said, pressing a button, but the couple didn't return on the platform, making everyone who was around worried.

"Where are they?" Christian asked.

"I don't know, they blew right by their timestamp. They should be here." Bruce said but Bucky smiled to himself, figuring that while they were in the past, although they didn't change anything about their lives, they probably took some time to just be together. Pre battles, pre-children, just have some real couple time.

"Get them back," Sam said.

"I'm trying," Bruce said.

"Get them the hell back." Sam snapped.

"Hey, I said I'm trying," Bruce said.

"Sam, Amaya, Christian," Bucky said. The three of them walked over to Bucky who was standing and looking at a couple that was sitting on a bench. When the four of them approached, Christian and Amaya were relieved to see their parents, as young as they were when they left sitting there, but what surprised everyone.

The baby in Katherine's arms.

"Please tell me you didn't steal that baby from an orphanage or the hospital," Sam said which made Katherine laugh.

"No... we just had a lot of fun and here we are." Katherine said.

"So, wait... what happened? How are you guys not old?" Amaya asked.

"Well after we put the stones back, we decided to go get some of that life we told each other to live. We went to see Howard and asked him if there was a way for Steve and me to have a baby without the accelerated growth you two had. Now don't get me wrong, we love you guys more than life itself, but we really missed out on raising you, and anything is possible when you know a Stark." Katherine said and Amaya smiled while bending down to her parents.

"No, Mom... you guys totally had a plan before any of this came along, we understand," Christian said. "So... do we have a baby brother or sister?" Christian asked.

"Brother. We're outnumbered, Amaya." Katherine said which made Amaya laugh.

"What's his name?" Amaya asked. The couple looked at each other before looking at their kids.

"We thought we'd let you guys decide," Steve said before Katherine handed Amaya her baby brother, which Amaya smiled as she delicately held onto him. Then she looked at Christian.

"What about Anthony? To honor Uncle Tony?" She thought to herself and Christian smiled as he nodded his head.

"I think that's perfect, Maya." He thought back and then they looked at their parents. "Okay, so, we were thinking, how about we name him, Anthony Howard Rogers? To honor Uncle Tony and to honor his father, your best friend." Christian said. Katherine smiled at her kids, her heartwarming at how amazing they were. She looked at Steve who nodded his head.

"I think it's perfect," Steve said, and Katherine nodded her head. And then she looked down to her side to see what else she brought back. 

"Chris... I have something for you." She said and Chris raised an eyebrow. 

"Really?" He asked and Katherine nodded her head before reaching for the box that was underneath her feet and she handed it to her son. Amaya was too wrapped up in playing with her baby brother, she wasn't even paying attention to what was happening around her. 

When Christian opened the box, he was shocked to see Katherine's baton on the inside. When they returned the Aether to Asgard, Katherine asked the Thor of that time if it would be possible to get her baton remade because she wanted Christian to have it. 

"Mom... your baton?" He asked. 

"Not mine anymore. Remade, lightning coursing through it if you're worthy enough to summon it, which since your father is worthy enough to hold the Mjolnir, you should be fine. Just a little something to help enhance your fighting." She said and Christian leaned down and hugged his mom tightly. 

"Thanks, Mom... I love it." He said when they pulled away and Katherine smiled at him before running her fingers through his hair.

"You and Amaya are gonna make great Avengers." She said and Christian smiled at her again before looking back down at the baton. Amaya had walked back over to Bucky with little Anthony still in her arms and then Katherine smiled. "Can you give us a moment? We need to talk to Sam." She said and Christian nodded his head. 

"Of course," Christian said before he walked away to join his sister and Bucky to show them what Katherine just gave him. Sam looked at the couple, an entertained smile on his face. 

"So you two did have fun," Sam said and Steve nodded his head.

"It was beautiful..." Steve said.

"I'm happy for you both, truly... and congratulations on another kid," Sam said.

"Thank you," Katherine said while smiling. "And also, as far as the superhero business goes. Captain America and Femme Fatale are officially retired." She said and Sam nodded his head.

"I figured as much. It bums me out to know I have to live in a world where Captain America and Femme Fatale are retired superheroes." Sam said and Steve smiled.

"Well... about that," Steve said grabbing the wrap that his shield was in. After returning all the stones, one of the trips that Steve and Katherine made was to the 40s, where Steve got back the original shield that Howard made for Steve, and Steve brought it back to the present. Steve opened up the case and Sam's eyes widened when he saw the shield.

"Go ahead, Sam. Try it on." Katherine said. Sam looked back at Bucky who nodded his head before he bent down and picked up the shield and strapped it onto his arm. Katherine smiled, seeing that the world wasn't going to be without Captain America at all.

"How does it feel?" Steve asked.

"Like it's someone else's," Sam said.

"It isn't," Steve said and Sam took a deep breath, and Katherine could see the tears in his eyes.

"Thank you. I'll do my best." Sam said as they shook hands, and Steve laid his other hand on top of Sam's, which made Katherine smile as she looked at them.

"That's why it's yours."

THE END

―

Ooh, I bet you guys weren't expecting me to throw in another kid for them. But like I said, anything is possible when you know a Stark, and it's a story, don't read too much into it, seriously. Besides, the new baby Rogers could be involved in phase 4, who knows. 🤷🏽‍♀️ But yes, Katherine and Steve are in the present, still young. 

I'll do some bonus chapters of them in the past while returning the stones, and then Amaya and Peter's second book will be published soon!

Don't forget to vote/comment.

xoxo.