After deliberation it is decided that Bruce will use the gauntlet. The Barn Door protocol has been activated and all windows and doors close with a reinforced barrier. Bruce grabs the Gauntlet and pulls it on his hand. The stone's power flows through the Gauntlet through his arm, leaving deep burns, he has a hard time. With great effort, he snaps his fingers and drops the Gauntlet.
At first they don't notice any differences, until a phone starts ringing. Clint answers his phone, it's Laura. She disappeared in the snap and now she's back.
"We did it!" Thor celebrates.
The joy is short-lived because soon the whole building collapses around them. Steve rises from the debris. A large ship hangs in the sky. He recognizes it immediately. It's Thanos.
* At Wakanda *
Bucky wakes up, he's lying face down, flat on the ground. He stands up and looks around, the surroundings suddenly look different. Thanos is gone and the many fighters around are also disorientated. He wonders where Natasha is and starts looking. He can't find Steve either.
Shortly afterwards, he sees a golden ring appear and several people walk through it out of nowhere. He recognizes the boy from the fight at the airport years ago, but not the rest.
Someone in a long cape explains what happened. Everyone here turned to dust 5 years ago, and now they must help defeat Thanos.
Bucky doesn't understand quit yet what has happened but he knows in his gut that something is about to happen. He knows he must help in any way he can.
Bucky sees Sam walking up to the wizard. "Strange! I have an idea." He discusses something with him before running up to Bucky.
"Bucky! I can't believe what happened!"
"Me neither." He replies.
"Watch this." He beckons to the wizard.
Dr Strange and Wong open a portal. Bucky can see through it and it sees a damaged, dark landscape. He hears Sam speak into an earpiece before stretching out his wings.
"Cap? Do you read me?"
Bucky frowns, why is he doing that?
"Cap its Sam can you hear me?"
"On your left."
Sam smiles before lifting off and fly through the portal.
After traveling through one of the portals the fight starts. He loads his gun and starts taking out a lot of the ugliest monsters he has ever seen. After running out of bullets he continues fighting with a spear he picked up. Killing any monster on his path. Between beheading and stabbing monsters he looks out for that one person.
Bucky is getting tired of fighting. He is almost begin pinned down and eaten by one of those monsters before they stop fighting.
"No not again." He whispers to himself thinking this is it... again...
Just seconds later he sees monsters turn into dust.
He is relieved. "Shit, they did it."
He gets up and starts looking for Steve of Natasha.
He sees Sam landing. "Sam! Have you seen them?"
"Steve's there." He points to the place where he saw him.
Bucky runs over the rubble.
"Steve! I'm so glad you're okay!" Bucky appears from behind the rubble. "Some wizard told me what happened. It has been 5 years..?!"
Steve is glad to see Bucky, but is afraid of what's next.
"Where's Natalia?" Steve reaches for his pocket.
"Steve? Where is she?" He takes Bucky's hand and places her ring in his hand.
"What's this? Steve?!"
"I'm so sorry Bucky."
"No. No this is not real." He stares at the ring in his hand and back at Steve.
"Tell me this isn't true Steve..?" Bucky grabs him by his shoulder strap. "Tell me! This isn't true!"
Steve is lost for words. Bucky clenches the ring inside his hand and holds it to his forehead. He closes his eyes. He inhales deep and sighs. Tears roll down his face. He turns and walks away. He releases his anger by kicking a piece of metal, and punching a huge hole in a slab of concrete. He kneels down on the ground and holds the ring tight in his fist.
* One week later *
It has been days since Tony's funeral. Bucky attended because of respect, but has been staying in his room since then. Holding tight onto that ring.
Steve knocks on the door. "Can I come in?"
"Sure." Bucky replies.
"She did it for you buddy. She told Clint she did it for you."
"It's so hard Steve. I miss her so much. I can't believe she had to go through this for five years."
"Let's get some fresh air." Bucky nods and goes with Steve.
"She is a stubborn person... Was... a stubborn person." Bucky says soft. "We were going to grow old together."
"I know. She told me."
"You are the only person I know who can understand what I'm feeling. Because of Peggy.. "
Steve pulls Bucky in for a hug. "Yes. I know how you feel. The pain never goes away, but it fades eventually..."
"Right now I'd rather be numb again than to feel what I feel now."
Steve sighs. "Bucky, I wanted to talk to you about something... well actually, I already made a decision. The past 5 years I have been thinking about how I got stranded here in this century. I got ripped from my home and live and woke up here. I feel out of place and everything is unfamiliar." Steve pauses.
"I'm going to be the one who will return the stones to their rightful place in time... And I'm not planning on come back."
Bucky is not surprised by his confession. He knows he would do everything to go back to Peggy. "So you want to go back to Peggy?"
Steve just nods and looks at him waiting for a response.
"I understand. What I have.. had with Natalia.. I would give everything to have that back."
"I hate to do this, I don't want to leave you alone. Not after what happened."
"It... It's okay. I'm just going to miss you."
Bucky grabs him and gives him a big hug.
---
A plan has been made for Steve to return the stones. The suit and serum are ready, he has enough to make the trip, plus extra. Bruce has set up the machine and is preparing Steve for the trip.
"I'm going to miss you."
"It's going to be okay Buck."
Bucky just smiles.
"I will make it right. For both of us." Steve whispers when he gives him a last hug before entering on the platform. His helmet closes and he disappears in a flash. He hears Bruce counting down till the return of Steve. But Bucky knows better, Steve's not coming back. So he turns his head to walk away but suddenly someone appears on the platform.
"Steve? You brought someone along?" Bruce asks.
Bucky turns around and sees Steve standing there with 2 other people. He was sure Steve wouldn't return. Bucky is stumped when they remove their helmets.
"Buck!"
"Steve?"
"Sergeant Barnes?"
"Agent Carter?!"
"James?"
"Natalia!!"
Natasha comes running down from the platform into Bucky's arms.
He can't believe his eyes. He didn't understand what Steve meant until now. He kisses her deeply before hugging her tight. He digs his face into her hair. Natasha grabs him tight. It has been 5 years since the last time she saw him.
"Dear God I've missed you so much."
"I missed you too. Every second."
"I love you sweetheart."
"I love you too doll."