E P I L O G U E

May 2016

"Peter." I said, my legs dangling in the void at the same pace as his as we sat on the roof ledge of a tall building in the city that was ours and yet nobody's. I guessed that was the true beauty of New York; the fact it seemed to have a life of its own, not belonging to anyone but itself and the sky it touched with its towers of steel and concrete. "Do you remember those times when we used to sneak out of your Aunt's house and climb to the roof? It seems like ages ago."

"Of course I do. We still do that now, though in a different way." Peter chuckled behind his mask, his arms stretched out behind him as he leaned back. The sun was setting, sending rays of color throughout the sky like one of Pollock's paintings. There was something about how the colors merged, orange and pink and blue and lilac, little fireworks of art, as if nature was the greatest painter of them all. It made me feel happy. Complete. Everything lately had been making me feel that way. I had feared the start of another school year in the mansion and Logan's return would change things between us, but if anything, it just made them better. A little distance was good for us, it gave us space to breathe, and then that made us crave for each other more. So when we were together... we created something close to how the sky looked now, at dusk. Everything was exploding. "There's much less tension involved."

I laughed, because only laughter served as a fit soundtrack to a sky like that. "You're right. Speaking of which, Bobby and Romeo are still together, and better than ever. Swear I've never seen two lovebirds so in love, well, except for you and Mary Jane, of course."

"That's because you can't see yourself and Logan from an outer perspective. Remember when you made me see all the pictures you took on your not-romantic-trip?"

"I didn't make you see them, you wanted to!" I protested, turning my head over my shoulder to face him.

"True, but that's because I had no idea I'd mostly be seeing you two snogging and smooching. I could barely see the backgrounds behind your glued faces!"

"Oh, shut up." I told him, knowing he was just kidding. I kept those pictures to myself. "Do you know Alex and Lorna are kinda in a relationship? He's been very present for her ever since that thing with the Maximoff twins happened, more than the Brotherhood has been, and so they're... well, it's weird, but they're experiencing their own version of love. I guess I can say the same about Rogue and Gambit, though their version is more 'Let's punch each other's faces and annoy everyone around us with our bantering'. And I'm not even gonna talk about Piotr and Kitty, those two are solid as a rock. Like an institution, or something."

"You know, we should organize a date for the single ones. Harry, Bianca, Roberto... think it would be fun." Peter suggested, straightening himself with excitement.

"Yeah, 'cause that would go so well. I don't think they'd even get to the table, one word from Harry and Bianca and Roberto would be running away."

"Ah, don't be so mean!" Peter joked. "You and Harry are getting along quite well, from what I've seen. And I really appreciate that."

"He's... not as bad as I thought." I admitted with a small, conspicuous smile. "But still, that idea sucks."

"Well, I tried. And have I mentioned how proud I am that you're going to have an exhibition all for yourself in that art museum with a very fancy, complicated name?"

"Yes, you have." I chuckled in delight. "About a hundred times. But thank you, I'm really happy about it."

"And your art shop is going great as well!"

"Which is surprising." I said, thinking about my little space with affection. It wasn't much, but it was a start, and it was my passion. Harry was a frequent buyer, along with Charles and a man named Reed Richards that I had never met in person since I also sold online.

"No, it's not and you deserve all the success—" Peter shut up abruptly at the same time our sight was invaded by dashes of familiar blue and red swinging above the streets. I instantly narrowed my eyes, zooming in on the distant dot. It seemed to be a handmade suit, simple and rudimentary, but it was Spider-Man, no doubt. I'd recognize that easy-going, fun-loving way of living anywhere.

"Peter." I said urgently, at the same time I heard his heartbeat start to race. The dot was getting farther and farther way, but I'd never forget it. "Do you mind telling me why there is a guy pretending to be you, while at the same time seemingly having the same abilities as you, webs included? Do you have a new power in which you can replicate yourself or something?"

"No, I..." He trailed off, and I could see him gulp underneath his suit.

"Oh my God, are you Mystique? No, I would have known. Is he?" I asked, gesturing with my head towards the remote red dot.

"Who the hell is Mystique?" He replied, taking off his mask so he could look me in the eye. I saw sincerity in them, but also fear. It was my Peter, there was no doubt. He always got this expression whenever he was holding back something, a secret too heavy for him to carry alone.

"Peter... you know you can tell me anything, right? Or you can not tell me as well, I don't mind. Your secret, your right. Your choice."

"I know, that's one of the many reasons I love you, Party-Hardy." He smiled, but then got serious very quickly, his heart still pounding in his chest like a jackhammer. "But I also know how curious you are, and actually, there's something I've been meaning to tell you. For a really long time now, I just didn't really have the courage, I guess."

"Peter... you're the bravest, most selfless person I know. If you didn't tell me, it wasn't because you lack courage. It was probably because you thought I was going to be hurt or mad at you, and more than trying to protect your heart, you were trying to protect mine. From another letdown."

"You still read me like an open book." Peter smiled, and his sheepish smile confirmed my words. "I only heard about this in the years you were away for college, my Aunt told me. I guess I haven't told you before because with everything that has happened, and us just becoming friends again, I thought telling you about it could scare you off."

"Make me run away again? No way, Peter. I'm staying. You're stuck with me for a long time."

"Good." He took some deep breaths and sighed, shaking his fingers to try to relax. "I have no idea how one's supposed to talk about something like this, I mean, I guess, I could tell you like May told me, or better yet, maybe I could call her so she could explain it to you or—"

"Peter." I interrupted gently, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I've got all day. Or all night. Or whatever you need."

"Ok, ok." He chuckled lightly, and I could see some of the tension dissipate from his shoulders. "So... have you ever heard of Hank Pym?"

I scrunched up my nose, taken aback by the subject.

"Isn't he a scientist or something? Owns Pym Technologies?"

"Yeah, a physicist." He nodded. "And entomologist, but that's not really what matters here. What matters is... he's studied Quantum mechanics throughout all his life, and well, he discovered something called the Quantum Realm."

"Peter, please." I cut him off, placing a hand on my temple where my brain was starting to hurt. "I don't have your brain, please use as few scientific terms as you can."

"Right." He chuckled, his hands and legs still fidgety, as if he was incapable of sitting still. "The Quantum Realm is a dimension. Different from this one, where space and time are thought to be irrelevant, and it can only be accessed through magic or mystical transportation using a Sling Ring, which I'm not going to elaborate much on since I got into quite some trouble with the Masters of Mystical Arts trying to figure out what all that was. Or it can be entered by subatomic shrinking caused by the Pym Particles. Which Hank Pym created."

"Ok." I said, though I was not understanding anything. Where was he going with this? "So you're saying... there's more than one planet? Than this one?"

"It's more like... alternate dimensions. Parallel universes. A multiverse instead of a universe, if you'd like. Where there are infinite different changes from this one, sometimes in the smallest details."

My eyebrows raised, my mind racing with all the new possibilities it was being opened to. Because my power considered everything now, the probabilities in this world, and in any other.

"So you're saying, the other Spider-Man we've just seen, with a suit much more elementar than yours, may I add, and in serious need of a makeover, is not from this dimension? He's not from this universe?"

"No." Peter shook his head, brown strands falling to his forehead. "I'm saying I'm not."

I felt my legs wobbling dangerously and my hands trembled on the eaves of the roof. If it wasn't for Peter's quick, steady grip on me, I would have fallen. This was not how I expected this day to go. But nothing could ever be simple and tranquil with me, could it?

"What... how... what?" I blurted out, trying to make a sense of something that had no sense at all.

"Let's get away from the edge first." Peter asked, getting up and stretching out his hand for me to take. I did and we sat at a safe distance from the ledge, my scrutinizing eyes analyzing him in search of alien traces. But there was nothing. Neither my power nor my senses detected the slightest variation, the slightest discrepancy. He seemed from this world. Maybe that's what a multiverse meant. That you were you no matter where.

"Can you tell me now?" I questioned as we sat down. His stare on me was cautious, measuring. He was trying to see if I looked at him differently now, but I could never. From this world or another, Peter was part of mine. Always. "Using easy words, please, my head hurts."

"Got it." He chuckled again, his features softening in relief. "So, basically, I am not from this dimension. I'm from Earth-616. This one is Earth-199999. And there are countless of others, each one with their own variations. My parents, who you know were intelligence agents that died because of it, were friends with the Hank Pym from my universe. That Pym also created the Pym Particles and discovered the Quantum Realm, though at a faster speed than the one in this universe."

He looked at me to see if I was following. I nodded.

"When my parents learned they were in danger due to their undercover work and before... before they died in that airplane crash overseas, they sent me to Aunt May and Uncle... Uncle Ben so I could be safe. But my parents feared that staying in the same dimension would still not be safe enough for us, they thought we could still be in danger and that the people who wanted them dead could still come for us, so they asked Hank Pym from Earth-616 for help. And he sent all three of us, me, Aunt May and Uncle Ben to this dimension, where I grew up. I don't remember much from the other one, except it looks exactly like this one."

"Holy shit." I muttered. "So you came to this dimension through that Quantum Realm? Using the Pym Particles?"

"Exactly. I can barely remember anything from that ride, though, and my Aunt doesn't like to tell. It reminds her of a time where Uncle Ben was still alive."

I nodded in understanding. "But wait, how can I be sure I'm not from some other dimension as well? That I'm really from this one?"

"I did some digging on everyone I care about. Well, and on my enemies too. As far as I know, only me and my Aunt May are from another universe."

"I feel privileged." I grinned and that made Peter sigh deeply in relief and smile as well. "Thank you for telling me. Guess it must not be easy keeping this to yourself and wondering if people will believe in you or send you straight into a senior center."

"Thank you for not being mad I didn't tell you sooner."

"Of course not! Everyone has the right to tell their story at the time they want to, when they're ready. No one should pressure it or feel betrayed or mad that they didn't tell it sooner. We are the owners of our story, only we decide what to do with it." I said, my voice unbendable. I was thinking about my own past, about how hard it had been to open myself to Logan, to Peter. And he had always been there to listen. To help me when I needed it, and especially when I thought I didn't.

"MJ and Harry know too. But that's all."

"Well, when it comes to me, you don't have to worry, Peter. I don't care how many more Peter Parkers or Spider-Mans are out there, because there is only one you."

"Party-Hardy..." He said, moving to sit next to me so he could wrap one arm around my shoulders and pull me into a side, tight hug. "Thank you."

"Anytime, Parker." I said, punching him playfully on his chest. "But wait, does that mean there's more versions of me? And of Logan? Good Lord, somebody help us."

"Probably." Peter beamed. "But I bet none of them are as cool as you."

"Oh, I'm sure of that." I winked at him. "So that Spider-Man we just saw..."

"He's the Spider-Man from this universe. I've met him, I had to. When he started appearing on YouTube with all those videos of helping old ladies and stopping cars and stuff, I couldn't help myself, I had to meet him."

"Boy, what a strange meeting that must have been."

"It was! But also strangely nice. Unlike what I expected, he believed so quickly. I think he's in love with the idea of a multiverse, really. He's so much like me, it's scary. His name is also Peter Parker, he's brown-haired, he was bitten by a radioactive spider like me, he lives with his Aunt too because his parents died, along with his Uncle... but like I said, there's differences. His Aunt May is weirdly young and... attractive, which really disturbed me."

I laughed. "Boy, what I'd pay to see your face!"

"And he's in high school, he's only fifteen. And his crush, because of course Peter Parker always has to have a crush that it's unrequited, is Liz Toomes. Though he's got a Michelle Jones in his class. And well, we all know what MJs do to Peter Parkers."

"I'm loving this. I want to meet him." I said, giving Peter the best puppy dog eyes I could master. If even Logan gave in to them, I knew everyone else would too.

"Fine, I knew you were going to ask that anyway. We've talked about you already, you know. He's very curious about who's the woman behind the mask."

"Well, he can keep being curious 'cause we're not telling him anything. I feel like he's going to be a big mouth, that one."

"Yeah, I agree. But it's been great. I've been kind of mentoring him a little. I guess for the news it's going to be very weird, keeping track of two Spider-Mans, but, honestly, I'm here for J. Jonah Jameson's reaction."

"Same!" I exclaimed excitedly. For a while, Peter showed me videos of Spider-Man 2.0. saving the day like mine did. He pulled off some impressive stunts, stopping a car from crashing into a bus, for instance. "If he continues like that, he's going to grab the Avenger's attention. By the way, did they never come up to you?"

Peter flashed me a sly smile, halfway between amusement and secrecy.

"I guess I told them the same you did. That I'm more of a neighbourhood vigilante."

"Yeah, and there's been a lot of newbies in our town lately. Punisher made quite a mess, Daredevil got some competition there. And Luke Cage, and Iron Fist. And I guess that Ant-Man dude I've heard briefly about last summer has something to do with Hank Pym, then?"

"Yup." Peter got up, handing me his arm. "Ready to go meet Mini-Me?"

***

In front of me stood a widemouthed, flabbergasted, very young Peter Parker, with ruffled brown hair due to all the running around helping New Yorkers, dark-brown eyes shining in awe and curiosity. This was amazing. He vaguely resembled my Peter, but he was an entirely different person on his own. Even shier and clumsier, due to the inexperience, I presumed. With time he'd grow confident in himself and his abilities, like my Peter had done, though still keeping his awkward charm and overall lack of social abilities that made me love him.

It felt kind of a rule, that if I loved one Peter Parker, it meant I'd have to love this one too. That I'd have to love them all. Because maybe there wasn't one without the others. I thought back to all the other Felicias out there, the Black Cats. Wondering if they had it had easier or harder than me. I didn't want to know. For the first time, I wasn't curious.

"It's nice to meet you, Mini Parker. But maybe you should close your mouth because we don't want drool to come out, do we?" I joked, winking at him from behind my mask. The kid immediately blushed to the roots of his hair, his innocent eyes stumbling upon my suit and not really knowing where to stop at, or where to look. At least I had kept my zipper up; I didn't want him to lose his innocence.

"I... you... I... you're the Black Cat." He stuttered while behind him Big Parker smiled tenderly at him and then at me.

"The one and only. Well, I guess that phrase doesn't make much sense anymore." I chuckled. "I wanted to thank you for what you're doing for New York, kiddo. It's admirable of you."

"Of course. If I have these abilities and don't use them, what good will they do? What do I have them for if not to help?"

Older Peter threw him a proud smile that younger Peter failed to notice since he was still staring at me, shyly and hesitantly.

"But anyway, I was just following your example." He said, gesturing towards both of us. "You're kind of a big inspiration to me."

My heart warmed at that, at the thought I could be an inspiration to anyone, let alone to this precious, genuine boy I already wanted to protect.

"What about school?" I asked, sitting next to him on the roof while my Peter sat on the other side of him. "How's everything going?"

Mini Peter looked down, at the mask on his hands, his shoulders falling down slightly.

"School is... school. Popular kids ignoring or picking on the other ones. I'm one of the other ones, in case that wasn't clear." He chuckled nervously. "There's this girl I like, but I doubt she even knows I exist."

"I thought the same thing about Mary Jane." Peter 1.0 said softly. "And look where we are now."

"I know." The other one sighed. "It's just hard, sometimes. You try to do your best every day, but sometimes your best isn't enough."

"I can talk to her if you want." I offered. "Make sure she notices you."

"N-no, there's no need, thank you." He stammered. "If you went into the school, I'm sure everyone would notice you, not me."

"You're right in that." My Peter chuckled. "You know, back when we were dating, she went to my school and got in trouble with my Flash Thompson."

I opened my mouth to speak, but he beat me to it.

"Before you ask, both Flashes are from this universe. They just share the same name and the inevitable tendency to bother Peter Parkers."

"Well, if you need a hand," I said, turning to the young, jumpy kid in between us, "I can help."

He turned his head to me, a small smile curving his mouth up. "Thank you. Life gets hard sometimes, it's nice to know... you're there."

"Of course. You know, I learned a lot this past year. One thing that really stuck with me is that being afraid doesn't mean you can't be strong. Brave. Because that's what bravery is, making something good out of your fear."

Kid Peter nodded, lost in thoughts, while the adult one looked at me from above his head and smiled warmly.

"I told you she was cool." My Peter said to the other, nudging him on his ribs lightly. The other one chuckled, his dark brown eyes reflecting the moonlight above us.

"You're right. And you know, if you two ever need an extra partner, not that you're not going great on your own, as a couple... I mean, not as a couple, but as duo, you know what I mean... well, you can count on me. I like the idea of not being alone on this."

"You're not alone." Old Peter assured him, exchanging a glance with me.

"You've got us." I completed for him, smiling warmly at the boys beside me.

***

Apparently, we weren't the only ones who could count on Peter. Tony Stark could too. Because in May and then in June, the Civil War between the Avengers happened. I never thought I'd be witnessing something like that, the team splitting into two, crumbling from within, all because of the Sokovia Accords.

It was all over the news: everywhere I turned, I saw Team Captain America VS Team Iron Man as if their lives had somehow turned into a wicked TV show with fans choosing opposite sides when it came to favorite characters. But this was real life. Even if people were taking this lightly, wearing blue or red clothes and pins, I knew this was serious. Steve would never turn his back on a friend unless something serious had happened.

In all honesty, never had I been as happy for not accepting to be an Avenger as I was now, because they were under fire, and it came from every direction, even the ones they least expected, their own. After what happened with Scarlet Witch in Lagos, they suffered backlash from the media, the government, the public audience who had once loved and rooted for them.

Ever since Sokovia, nerves had been on edge, and now the Accords were the straw that broke the camel's back. I knew in which side I'd be in, if I had been forced to choose. Not because of Steve, not even because of James, but because of freedom. Nothing mattered as much to me. Shadows and I worked. The law and I didn't. Having the government monitorize enhanced individuals and our every move? That didn't fit me or the way I acted at all.

But the worst part was the Bombing of the Vienna International Centre, was seeing James on the news being accused of every disaster that was happening, because people needed a scapegoat, and he was the perfect one. Steve finally managed to find where he was, still in Bucharest, but in a different part of the city from when I had visited him.

Whatever they were accusing James of doing, I knew it wasn't him. I felt it in my gut, and in that part of my soul that was only for him, where he had planted his roots that just kept on growing.

But still, I couldn't help but wonder what might happen to him, if someone got hold of him again, HYDRA or other, and triggered him back into Winter Soldier mode. And then that bastard of Helmut Zemo did it. And all I could do was hear about it powerlessly, and it was killing me not being there to help him, to bring him back like he tried to do with me. But I also knew that, now that Steve had found him, he'd never let him go. If anyone could find the Bucky in the Soldier and break him free, it was him.

When James was captured, they took him to the Joint Counter Terrorist Centre in Berlin. He broke free, of course he did, and tried to escape on a helicopter. Steve caught him, and they both fell to the water, and at that point I feared the worst.

Then Tony Stark came and recruited Young Peter Parker to his side. My Peter didn't want him to accept, but he did. He was desperate for action, that poor kid, to prove himself. And my Peter wached him go, with the promise he'd keep the city safe while the younger one was away.

Meanwhile, I was so afraid for both James and Steve's life, I asked Charles to open me a portal to Germany so I could see for my own eyes they were okay, even though he had already assured me they were.

Let's just say, the last thing I was expecting to see when I jumped out of a magical portal was my teenage and adult crush kiss a blonde woman before she left in a car.

I hid, respectfully and slightly hurt, in the shadows of the parking lot for her to leave before marching over to Steve, who was staring at James and another guy inside the car while they nodded their heads in approval. In approval! I felt outraged at that, and slightly betrayed by James.

"Steve Rogers." I called, my black lace up boots with five inches heels the only sound in the parking lot as the confounded man looked at me with his pretty mouth wide open. Yes, I brought high heels to a war. They were very useful as a weapon, either of seduction or destruction. "I forgive you for kissing that blondie right in front of me, but not for not calling me when you clearly need all the help you can get. And don't even get me started with you, Barnes."

I moved my head to look at him, who was still in the car sinking into his seat as if he wanted to disappear, while the dark-skinned man in the passenger seat in front of him nodded at me with a smirk of approval and amusement.

"Felicia, what... what are you doing here?" Steve asked, stretching out his arms but unsure whether or not to hug me.

"Come here, you fool." I said, before pulling him into a quick hug at the same time I heard the doors of the car opening and closing swiftly behind us. When Steve and I broke away, I turned to James, my angry features softening upon the sight of that confused, sheepish but smiley man in front of me. "You too, Winnie."

"Winnie?" The man behind him boomed, resting against the car's hood as James made his way to me. "I'm so using that, thank you!"

"You're welcome." I smirked at him while James rolled his eyes and then his arms were around me and mine around him and he was safe. He was okay. He was him. "I'm sorry for what Zemo did to you. I really want to kick him in the ass, you know, right?"

"I'm just glad you're here, Felicia. Just that." He mumbled simply in response, and I hugged him tighter before stepping back and eyeing the unknown man with curiosity.

"I'm Sam. Sam Wilson." He said, moving from the car to me with an extended hand I gladly took. "Some people call me Falcon."

"I like Sam. Uncle Sam." I smirked as we shook hands. "I'm Felicia Hardy."

"Oh." His features morphed into comprehension. "I've heard these two talk about you. Steve wanted to call you, but Barnes didn't."

"Oh, really?" I turned on my heels to find Bucky murdering Sam with his eyes, who just smirked smugly and proudly at him in response. I could almost hear their future bickering already. Then my eyes moved to Steve, and it hurt me, the sight of him without Natasha by his side. "And why is that, when I specifically told you two hardheads that you could call me whenever you needed me?"

"Felicia, you've helped me so much." James said, taking a step towards me. "I didn't want to drag you into this as well. There's so much public exposure and I know how you don't do well with the government and the law and... I just didn't want you to get in trouble."

"And meanwhile, you are." I retorted, shaking my head. I got why they hadn't called me, I really did, and I appreciated it, but I also couldn't just sit back and watch while they were in danger.

"Bucky's right, Felicia. This isn't your fight." Steve intervened, diplomatically. "As much as I'd like your help, we don't know the implications of this. We're acting outside the law..." I looked at him sternly and he nodded, "and while I know that's not something you're... unfamiliar with, we can't risk it. You could end up in jail, and we can't allow that."

"Besides, Wolverine would kill us if something happened to you." James added, while Sam let out a low whistle of admiration.

"Wolverine, uh? Always wanted to meet that dude."

"You say that because you haven't met him." James replied dryly, making me laugh. Then I sighed, looking in between them, divided. I couldn't say fighting against my most recent friend Spider-Man 2.0. was appealing to me. That's why my Peter hadn't gotten involved. "Kotyonok, I know you want to help us, I do, and I know you want to see us safe, but please don't risk your freedom and your life for this. We appreciate you coming here and it'd be an honor to fight beside you again, but this is something you have to let us do on our own."

"Just the three of you? Against Iron Man, Black Widow and that new dude who's surely trying to steal my alter ego?"

"Well, at least now we know where the vibranium comes from." James said, a small, enigmatic smile that was just for me on his lips. I nodded. Wakanda.

"It's not just the three of us." Steve added. "Barton must be arriving with the others."

I didn't ask who the other ones were. I knew one of them must be Scarlet Witch, and while I'd like to say something to her, a word of comfort in behalf of mutants, perhaps, I knew I couldn't.

"Fine. I'll go. But if things get sideways and you need my help, don't hesitate. I don't care about the law when my friends are in danger."

"You never care about the law, even when your friends are not in danger." James retorted, that annoying little smirk still on his face.

"True." I chuckled, but then turned serious and pointed a finger at them. "Stay stafe. I wanna see you guys again."

"You will." James said, before throwing his arms around me for another bear hug I enjoyed to the maximum until both Steve and Sam were clearing their throats.

"There's one for you too, don't be jealous." I smiled, hugging Steve before turning to Sam and pulling him into a friendly embrace as well.

"Thank you for what you're doing." I told Steve moments before the portal to the mansion opened. "Fighting for freedom."

He gave me a short nod of appreciation before my eyes slid from him to Wilson. "Nice to meet you, Uncle Sam. Thank you for being there for Cap."

"Always." He said with a firm nod.

Then I looked over to James, my eyes lingering on him so I could carry him in my memory. "See you soon, Winnie."

***

And soon came sooner than I expected. It was a warm day of late June, the beginning of summer already present in the muffled air, in the amount of skin people showed, in the sun that demanded the whole sky for itself, as if it was a king sitting on its rightful throne.

It was impossibly hot outside, so I welcomed the fresh air once I stepped inside the store on the rest spot near Amarillo, Texas, while Logan stood outside beside our motorcycles filling the tanks and his lungs of smoke. Our next stop on our road trip was the Cadillac Ranch, which I'd always been curious to see, so when Logan proposed that for this summer, we took our bikes and drove through the legendary Route 66, I threw myself into his arms and said yes as if he had just proposed to me. It was 2400 miles of just him, me and our bikes, so having to ignore all the dust and the scorching sun was a small price to pay for paradise.

When I finally got out of the store, something twitched inside me, as if there was a compass on my chest instead of a heart, directing me towards someone else other than Logan. I made my way to a deserted area of the rest stop with a frantic heartbeat until the sweltering breeze brought me a whiff of their familiar scents, merging together like they were one.

"You know I know you're there." I said, cutting a corner before they came into my view, James and Steve standing next to each other, resting against the wall in tank tops and shorts, as if they were just to friends on vacations. Seeing them side by side made my heart ache from joy. They were safe. And together, as they should be.

"Told you she would know right away we were here." James said to Steve before turning his eyes to me, a large smile spreading across his face unlike what was typical of him. My lips reacted automatically to his and soon enough my face was just my smile, relief washing over me as I ran to him and hugged him like a koala to its favorite tree.

The last time I had heard from both of them in the news was during the battle in the airport of Leipzig-Halle, which happened right after I left them in the parking lot. Then they vanished, but of course I had asked Charles about it, who told me about the HYDRA Siberian Facility, about Zemo's plan, the other Winter Soldiers, the murder of Tony Stark's parents, the imprisonment of Team Cap members in the Raft, where I would be too if Steve had let me fight with them. Then Steve had rescued them, and now they were all on the run.

But even if I knew they were okay, it was better to see it and touch it myself.

"I've missed you, Winnie." I said to his chest as he embraced me. "I'm glad you're okay."

"I'm still trying to figure out what okay is, though." He responded, and his voice was soft but deep, like only he knew how to be. He was just as conflicted as I was, that's why our orbits always pulled into one another. "But yeah, I'm glad too."

I felt his grip around my body tighten, but only one of his arms, the right one, and my eyes darted to what I had already noticed but not mentioned, the lack of his left arm. It had been cut off, and where once was the red star there was just half of a shoulder made from metal.

"You can ask about it, doll."

"No, I don't need to. I just hope you're okay in your own way. And that they'll give you another one."

"We're working on that." Steve spoke from beside him.

"Captain." I said solemnly, with a spark of mischief as I went from James' strong arm to Steve's even stronger ones. "Nice to see you again."

"Likewise." He said, chuckling. "It was hard to find you, I give you that."

"Well, you told me I couldn't fight in your war, so I thought, what better way to drown my sorrow than to go on a road trip with a war himself?"

"Where is he, by the way?" James asked, half out of curiosity, half out of precaution.

"Probably asleep by the bikes, he didn't sleep much last night."

"Yeah, I can imagine." James shot me his tilted, cunning smirk while Steve's face reddened a bit in adorable embarrassment. The difference between them had never been so flagrant, and yet I loved both, in different ways. "Guess you two still have a lot to ride."

"Oh, you bet." I winked at him while Steve got even more uncomfortable, hands buried deep into his pockes and shifting his foot against the wall. "Anyway, I know you wouldn't have come all this way if it wasn't for something important, so what is it? Another war to fight?"

"No, not really. As you may or may not know, we rescued the rest of our team from imprisonment in the Raft. Bucky was pardoned by the government and granted asylum in Wakanda by T'Challa."

"The Black Panther." I nodded. "I'd like to meet him."

"It's where we're going next, where they're going to give me another arm."

"But that's not all they're going to do, is it?" I asked, my voice brimming with sadness suddenly, as I saw the answer in James' eyes.

"No, I need... I need time. Going back to the Soldier, the programming... things could have gone very wrong. I can't keep living like this, knowing I've got a time bomb on my head that can simply set off if someone knows how to push the right buttons. I can't trust my mind, myself, like that, and the last thing I want is to put anyone else in danger. I'm going to hibernate."

"James..." I started, not because I wanted to talk him out of it but because I admired what he was doing. It took courage, a lot of courage, to recognize we needed help and also to help ourselves.

"I need to do it, Felitsiya. I need to go back into cryogenic stasis until the the Winter Soldier programming is completely erased from my mind. I need to be frozen until a cure for my brainwashing can be found. I can't risk being triggered to that mode again and start hurting or killing people. I can't risk not being in control of my actions, I'm done with that, with being a hostage in my own mind. I'm not... I'm not me when I'm him. You helped me see that. You both did." He concluded, sharing a quick but meaningful glance with Steve, who put all his heart in the the smile he gave him.

"I know, James. It's very brave of you to do it, and I'm glad you've got Steve and Wakanda to help you. But just... you'll wake up, right? You have to... I need you to."

I need to see you again. It feels like our friendship is just arrivals and departures, welcomes and goodbyes. And I want some stability. Some of you every day. You deserve a normal life. More than that, you deserve to know what happy means.

He smiled at me, tender and soft like a spring breeze, his fingers caressing my elbow gently as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Of course. How could you live without me, now that you know what it's like to live with me?"

A relieved chuckle escaped my lips and I grabbed his hand.

"When you wake up, call me. I still have to find you a date."

James chuckled at the same time Steve's brow furrowed in confusion.

"As long as you don't cut my hair, we're good." He nodded. "Thank you for respecting my choice."

"Thank you for making it. Your wellbeing matters. You matter."

Steve nodded vigorously in approval of my words and James shook his head, laughing freely as his eyes bounced back and forth between us.

"And thank you both for coming all this way here just to warn me."

"Of course, I had to see you." James stated. "And don't worry, Felicia, once all this is over, I'll reach out to you. Don't I always?"

My heart winced with happiness at his words. I tried not to show it... and failed miserably.

"Thanks, Winnie. Who knows, maybe I can visit you in Wakanda? I'd also like to know more about these." I said, pulling out my claws and startling them both, James throwing me an adorable death glare. "Oops, sorry."

"Maybe that's something we can arrange, yes." Steve said, with his patented politeness.

"Oh, by the way, not sure if you realized it, but the Spider-Man you fought in Germany is not the same Spider-Man you met in the HYDRA base with me."

"Yeah, we kinda noticed this one was a younger one. How did that happen? There's like two people who got bitten by spiders and created similar suits?" James asked, his forehead a frown of confusion.

"Something like that." Peter and I had agreed to keep the whole multiverse and Quantum Realm thing between us for now. Knowing there were thousands of other versions out there would only cause more chaos and commotion.

"Speaking of which..." Steve started. "Is your answer still the same about the Avengers? I know the team's not in a very good place right now, so we could use your help now more than ever."

"If you need me, I'll be there, you know that, Cap. Meanwhile, I prefer to be on my own. Nothing is definitive in this life, though."

He nodded in understanding, flashing me a kind smile. "I had to try. We should go now, we don't want to delay your and Logan's trip and... fondueing."

"Steve." James said, shaking his head in laughter. "You should really come up with another term for that, it's been decades and it's still embarrassing."

"You're a punk." Steve replied, tossing him one of those worth-swooning-for smiles, pearly whites included.

"Jerk." James replied, smiling just as much, in secrecy, as if they were evoking older times. "But, yeah, we have to go now... Felicia?"

"No, I'm okay. It's the dust, I swear." I said, wiping the tears away from my face quickly. The thought of them leaving, that I wouldn't see James for a long time, hurt. But it was for his good, so that made things slightly better.

"Come here, love." James said, grabbing my arm softly to pull me into a hug. Even with just one arm, his hug made me feel home.

"Come back, Winnie. Or I'll kick your fine ass to the moon."

"As interesting as that sounds, my ass is fine without being kicked, thank you." He laughed. "You're one of the closest people to me, Felicia, of course I'll come back." He kissed my hair gently, and then my forehead, which was an incredible brave gesture considering Logan was on a fifty feet radius.

"Steve, I don't need to ask you to take good care of James, so... just take care of yourself too." I asked and Steve's face lit up, his warm smile making me feel even hotter all of a sudden. Some things never change.

"Do you want a hug?" He asked, like a mischievous boy that knew the answer. I laughed and then he engulfed me in his welcoming hug, where I stayed for some time. About seven seconds of hugging later, James cleared his throat. What? Steve had a bear hug.

"Hum, Steve, let's try not to incite a war with Howlett, okay? I bet even if he's asleep he'll sense if a man is too much over his girl."

"Damn right you are. How does it feel like, to be right for once in your life?" Logan asked from behind me as Steve and I stepped back from one another, but I knew from his voice he wasn't mad. Surprisingly, he almost sounded amused.

"Between you and Wilson, I'm not sure who's more a pain in my ass." James muttered as Logan and Steve greeted each other with a firm handshake. "Probably Wilson, though, since I have to see him almost every day."

"So that's why you're hibernating!" I joked, even though I had tears in my eyes. Logan noticed it immediately and passed a protective arm around my shoulders, giving a gentle squeeze to my arm. I placed my hand above his and our fingers laced instantly, innately. "Good luck and goodbye, guys."

"Good luck and goodbye." James and Steve said back in unison, and I knew from the way they smiled we would see each other again, and while we didn't, I'd have this memory and others to hold on to. They gave us one final nod and disappeared into their car while Logan and I stayed behind and watched it vanish in the horizon, the mirage blurring the road they left.

"Ready?" Logan asked me, his arms sneaking around my waist to pull me into a fiery kiss. "We got a lot of road to cover, and some motels to try the resistance of the beds in."

I let out a chuckle as his finger wiped a tear away from my face.

"You always know what to say to make me feel better."

"You know I know other ways to make you feel better."

"Yes, and I can't wait to try them all." I replied, clutching his neck to bring him into another furious kiss. Suddenly the temperature around us was nothing compared to the one inside us, to the energy we switched back and forth between our mouths. Logan was the stubborning thought that never left my mind even when I was asleep, the good kind of pain I never wanted to stop feeling, the other type of oxygen I didn't know I needed until I tasted it for the first time, the home I went to when all the others were missing. "But before that, are you up for a race?"

"You know the answer, doll." He said, smiling more genuinely than I had ever seen him as we walked towards our bikes together with our hands entwined. Because that's how the entirety of our beings was, how they'd stayed. I was the ink and him the water, we couldn't be taken back from one another.

We hopped on our motorcycles and rode off, not into the sunset but into all things new and rising, my competitive side refusing to let him win the race even though he had years and years of experience. But then he slowed down on purpose, to the point where he stopped, and that made me stop as well, and look back, to him, to everything I still had to know about him.

"What's the matter, old man, getting rusty?"

He smiled but shook his head, brown locks of hair falling over his forehead, and the sun in his skin made him look made of gold and all I wanted was to come closer and kiss every inch of that gold until we could both find El Dorado. Because for every nightmare I had had in the past, Logan came up with a new dream. And knowing I was his and he was mine and that we had every future and every possibility waiting for us made me want to slow down as well. We didn't need to run, not anymore. We had both found the reason to stay.

"No." He said, and his eyes were pulling me into him more than his hands ever could, as if there was no distance between us, no space. At that moment I felt more loved than I had ever felt before, and it was so much I wondered if I could take it. But I could, because I was giving him just as much. "I just want to enjoy the fact that for the first time in my life I'm not chasing a prey, I'm following my dreams. And, Felicia, you're the best dream I've ever had, and the only one I want to keep having for as long as I live."

I couldn't tell who got out of their bike first but suddenly I was kissing him, he was kissing me, the sun was kissing us, and there was just us and a road and a future ahead. The dreams we found in one another, they were dreams because they were real.

And believe me when I tell you; nothing feels as good as kissing and loving a dream.

A/N: And so it ends. The epilogue is not dedicated to anyone in particular because it's dedicated to all of you. I want to thank every single one of you who had the time and patience to read, vote, comment and wait for my updates. I'm so grateful to all of you who started reading and kept reading and if you're reading this now, than a HUGE THANK YOU for sticking to the end (since I know this is such a long story xD). Your support and dedication means a lot and I appreciate you all so much. 

I hope you liked the epilogue and the little surprises on it! Sam Wilson aka Falcon is of course played by Anthony Mackie and Young Spider-Man by Tom Holland. I wanted to have both his and Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man on this book and open the possibility for a Spider-Verse so I came up with this idea.

Picture is from the comics ;)

One last time, I love you all so very much ♥