Empty Chairs at Empty Tables

18

Steve nodded slowly. "It sounds selfish now that I think about it. Maybe or having that dance I promised. I mean, with your past Flor, I-"

"I got her. If you want to go live a life with her, you should. You deserve to do something for yourself for once."

Steve's expression brightened slightly. "Flor?"

Flora kicked at the dirt. "What he said."

"You don't sound pleased."

"What do you want me to say? My best friend is telling me he wants to spend a life with a woman he kissed once. I need you and Bucky, Steve. You're my friends! I-I don't know how I'll do this without you both."

Steve stepped closer to the redhead and pointed to her heart. "I'll always be in here, Flora. The little guy from Brooklyn won't ever leave. You'll have Bucky. I know he'll take good care of you. You've also got Alpine."

"But what about the shield? If you do this, you won't be Captain America. I mean, you will, but you won't."

Steve smiled. "That brings me to another matter." He glanced to another Avenger across the way.

Flora followed his eyes and groaned. "Oh no. Anyone but him. Come on!"

"He's the best choice, Flora."

"You do realize I tried to kill him, right? Yanked out his steering wheel."

Bucky chuckled lightly. "You did try to kill most of us, doll."

"That is beside the point. Fine. He is the best man for the job. He does have the heart of Cap. A good man, which is the simplistic complexity of it all."

Steve's smile wavered. "I'll see you two on the other side."

"Have a good long life, Steve."

Bucky nodded. "Make good of all the moments."

"I will," Steve replied. "Thanks, guys."

TONY'S FUNERAL

"Now, remember - You have to return the Stones to the exact moment you got them," Bruce instructed. "Or you're gonna open up a bunch of nasty alternative realities."

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

"You know, I tried. When I had the gauntlet, the Stones. I really tried to bring her back." He looked at Steve. "I miss her, man."

"Me too."

"You know, if you want, I can come with you," Sam offered.

"You're a good man, Sam. This one's on me, though." He walked up to Bucky and Flora, the latter who was holding her cat. "Don't do anything stupid 'till I get back."

"How can I?" Bucky and Flora replied. "You're taking all the stupid with you."

The three hugged each other.

"Gonna miss you, buddy," Bucky told Steve.

Flora nodded. "I'm gonna miss you as well."

"It's gonna be okay, Buck, Flor. Take care of each other."

Bucky wrapped an arm around Flora's shoulders and smiled at her.

Steve went towards the Quantum portal, donning the Quantum suit.

"How long is this gonna take?" Sam asked.

"For him?" Bruce questioned. "As long as he needs. For us? Five seconds." Steve picked up 2013!Mjölnir. "Ready, Cap? All right. We'll meet you back here, okay?"

"You bet," Steve answered.

"Going quantum. Three, two, one-" Steve disappeared into the Quantum portal. "And returning in, five, four, three, two, one-" Steve didn't appear on the pad and Bruce looked around the equipment.

"Where is he?" Sam asked.

"I don't know. He blew right by his time stamp. He should be here."

Bucky and Flora turned from the pad.

"Well, get him back," Sam demanded.

"I'm trying," Bruce told him.

"Get him the hell back!"

"Hey, I said, I'm trying!"

"Sam..." Bucky and Flora called.

Sam walked towards Bucky and Flora. Sam, Bucky, Bruce and Flora saw an old looking Steve sitting on a log. Sam, Bucky and Flora moved near him.

"Go ahead," Bucky and Flora said.

Bucky and Flora had a smile forming and looked over to Sam who walked towards the old man, instantly recognizing him to be an elderly Steve Rogers.

"Cap?" Sam questioned.

"Hi, Sam," Old Steve greeted, looking at him.

"So did something go wrong, or did something go right?" Sam asked.

"Well, after I put the Stones back, I thought, maybe I'll try some of that life Tony was telling me to get."

"How'd that work out for you?"

"It was beautiful."

"I'm happy for you. Truly."

"Thank you."

"Only thing bumming me out is the fact I have to live in a world without Captain America."

"Oh, that reminds me." He pulled out his shield. "Try it on."

Sam looked over to Bucky and Flora, who nodded, and Sam held Steve's shield.

"How does it feel?" Old Steve asked.

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

"It isn't."

Sam tried to hold back tears. "Thank you. I'll do my best."

"That's why it's yours." He shook Sam's hand.

Sam noticed elderly Steve's wedding ring. "You wanna tell me about her?"

Old Steve smiled. "No. No, I don't think I will."

Flora smiled shakily at her now elderly friend, having a vague idea of who he'd chosen to spend his life with. She turned at the man she'd fallen in love with and smiled. While she still wasn't sure if she was ready for a relationship, she was happy to be with him.

Bucky brushed Flora's hair back and said, "I love you, Flor."

Flora smiled and rested her head on his shoulder.

He kissed the top of her head and smiled. While she didn't say the words back, he knew she felt the same. Alpine rubbed her head against Bucky's hands and he scratched the cat behind the ears.

Sam and Old Steve smiled at the exchange.

---

Steve had time-traveled back to the 1940s to be with Peggy Carter. They danced to It's Been a Long, Long Time by Harry James and His Orchestra, sung by Kitty Kallen, written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne. The two ended their dance with a kiss.