Oh boy! Last Chapter!

Loki was startled awake that night by the incessant rattling of a box he kept buried beneath many books. He moved all the books from it and realized, with great hope, just what that box held inside. He didn't dare believe it, strange anomalies like these had occurred before. He shook his head; the rattling had stopped anyways.

The first thing Tony wanted to do as he exited the plane was call Steve. He didn't though, soon enough he'd be in the correct timeline and all of this would be just a bad trip that he'd try incredibly hard to forget.

"This way Thor." Tony said, dragging the God to the black car that had been patiently waiting, for the past six months, to be driven again.

Tony's heart pumped hard in his chest as he drove through the streets of New York, he didn't quite know if the drive had been long or short, he just knew that when he got there it felt like Christmas all over again.

"Thor, wait, before we enter I have to bargain with Loki first. He promised me something if I returned you to him, I just want to make sure he keeps his word. Is that alright?" Tony asked. Even after all he'd seen, he was still quite skeptical of the whole thing. He didn't trust Loki, not for a second, but if all of this ended up being real, well, he'd have to start going to church.

"My husband may be mischievous and sometimes deceitful, but he does keep his word." Thor said.

"I'm holding you to that." Tony promised, as he exited the car.

The brunette walked into the store, Thor in tow. Loki ran into the room, as if he'd spotted a fire, and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Thor.

"Now Loki, I kept my side of the deal, now it's your turn-

"Where were you?!" Loki asked, completely ignoring Tony. The brunette stepped out of the way to let Loki deal with his personal problems.

"Would you believe me if I said I didn't know?" Thor replied, looking painfully at his husband, it had been so long he had almost forgotten how he looked like.

"You're gonna have to do a little better than 'I don't know' Thor." Loki warned.

"If it's any consolation, he was cooped up in a mountain in Norway, a witch had put a curse on him so he was mortal, that's probably why he couldn't remember who he was, or who you were. He then touched this tooth that gave him his magic powers back and now we're here." Tony said as quickly as he could.

"Is that true?" Loki asked, his blue eyes turning into green the more he looked at Thor.

"Well, from what has transpired, son of Stark is quite correct." Thor said, confirming Tony's story.

"After three months I thought you'd given up your search, you hadn't shown for quite some time and the last person who tried gave up after that so." Loki said, turning his emerald eyes to Tony. They were incredibly enchanting, drowning Tony in their vast depths. "Sorry, let me dial it back a couple of notches." Loki apologized, returning them to their original blue. They were still beautiful, but not quite as intense.

"Jesus Christ man, you gotta watch it with the mind tricks." Tony said, blinking rapidly. "Now, we had a deal. I return yours and you return mine." Tony continued, looking expectantly at Loki. "And all the others for that matter." Tony said, with some bright insight.

"What? I'm not doing that, I said only yours-

"I succeeded where others have failed, and I've learned my lesson, I think it's time for them to go back home too." Tony bargained.

Loki took a second to think about it, so many people: Stark, Barnes, Williams, Anderson, Johnson, Thomas, Archer, Adams, so many names! But…"I suppose you have learned a lesson, but not quite. You're going to have to rectify this yourself." Loki said, fully facing the billionaire.

"What do you mean, I thought I just did?" Tony said, pointing to Thor.

"I'm sending you back, to the moment where you made your decision to leave Steve. Once you're there you still have the option to leave him or continue the way it was always intended." Loki said.

"Why can't you just return me to the proper timeline?" Tony asked, it was always something else wasn't it?

"And pretend as if nothing ever happened? Please, that's not the way I operate. I'm giving you a choice here, just like I did before. Take it or leave it." Loki said. Loki was also omitting the fact that he had to fix every other timeline in this space of time, so it would work better this way.

Tony nodded slowly, "And after that, am I going to have to live those seven years again?" Tony asked. Not that that bothered him, seven years to re-explore his relationship would be incredible, but he also didn't want to take the chance of having those stupid thoughts come haunting him again.

"No, of course not. Once that's done, I'll pull you back. Be thankful Stark, you're the first human in existence who has managed to make me change my mind." Loki said.

"I wish I could say I was happy, but until this is fixed I'm just holding you accountable." Tony said.

"You had to learn a lesson, I was there to teach it. I think I did a good job. Now, once you quit your rambling we can continue." Loki said, a bit impatient.

"Okay. I'm ready." Tony said.

As he said those words he was blinked out of existence for a second and then transported into another.

"… so what do you say? Will you marry me?" Steve asked, they were stood in the living room after their romantic candle-lit dinner, it was a bit cliché, sure, but proposals always were.

"Oh Steve. Always." Tony said, trying to calm the tears that had fallen from his eyes. He was back! In a blink of an eye he had returned to this fatal moment where he'd fucked everything up. He would never commit a similar mistake again, he was in love with Steve Rogers and nothing would ever change that, ever, ever, ever.

"Hey, if there ever comes a day where I even question our marriage, or-or our love, or our life together, please slap me, okay?" Tony begged Steve.

"Okay?" Steve said a bit confused, but elated nonetheless. He stood up to meet the brunette in a kiss, pushing the ring on his finger, and though technically this was the first time it happened, Tony hoped that it would also be the last time.

"Alright, that's enough." Loki said as he brought Tony back.

"Jesus, the whiplash… hey, it was just starting to get good." Tony complained as he held his head from the pain. The bookstore had now returned to its original disgruntled mess. Thor and Loki stood together by the desk and stared at Tony, expectantly.

"So what happens now?" Tony asked the trickster.

"Well, I've returned you to the exact same moment before you said yes, what happens now is up to you. I take it you have um, twenty-seven missed calls." Loki guessed.

Tony looked at his phone and noticed that that was the case.

"And what about the other timelines?" Tony asked, just now remembering Bucky and also the countless others who had made a deal with the God.

"Like they never happened." Loki promised.

"I take it you want me to never see you again." Tony said, looking at Loki with a knowing glance.

"Now why would I ask that? It was a lot of fun, plus, you've done the impossible. Visit me at any time. I can't guarantee I'll be there, but you're welcome to try and find me." Loki said. A smile, that held no malice or mischief, graced his face.

"Well, that is probably the second most surprising thing that's happened to me all day." Tony said, then shook his head.

"Go now Stark, I think you have someone to apologize to." Loki said, effectively shooing Tony from his home.

"Try not to cause any earthquakes or snow-storms while I fix this, okay?" Tony asked, catching both Gods by surprise and reddening their cheeks in the process.

ooOOoo

When Tony came home he knew immediately that Steve wasn't there. He tried to look at that as a good thing, since it gave him enough time to prepare an apology.

By the time that the deadbolt turned and Steve entered their apartment, Tony's well thought out apology self-combusted and he was left blank and mouth agape.

"Tony, Jesus, Tony where were you?" Steve asked rushing to Tony's side but not embracing him like he'd normally do. The brunette obviously had had some things on his mind and Steve wasn't quite sure if he'd resolved them, or if he was about to receive terrible news.

"Steve, I… I had an awful nightmare; you and I were never married and I hurt you, hurt you so much that you never wanted to hear or see me again. I honestly can't tell you what overcame me for a while, to think that I could ever live without you, that I could ever not love you. How could I have been so stupid? Steve, I love you. Please don't ever make me forget that." Tony said, baring both his heart and soul on the table for Steve to do as he pleased.

"You told me once to slap you if something like this ever happened, I'm not going to, but can I kiss you instead?" Steve asked, tenderly.

"Of course, always." Tony said, looking up into those blue eyes before he closed his own to absorb the kiss.

Epilogue: Two Weeks Later

Tony had reminded Steve of his best friend after they had settled again. He'd explained his nightmare in detail to Steve and that gave the blonde a chance to think about things.

He had been extremely hurt when Bucky had refused to be his best-man at the wedding. It was the one thing missing on the otherwise perfect night. He never knew, never knew what it had all been about, why Bucky loathed Tony with all of his being, but eventually he figured (with a little help) that it was because Bucky had loved him, way more deeply and intensely than Steve could have ever loved him back.

So now here they were, two weeks later on Bucky's doorstep. With a little detective work on Tony's part, they were able to locate Bucky's place of residence, he had flown to Canada and now lived there with a successful career. No mention of a spouse or children, but Steve hadn't asked Tony to investigate so he really didn't know for sure.

"Are you sure this is the correct address?" Steve whispered, chickening out at the last second.

"Come on Steve, don't be a wuss, I'm sure." Tony reassured him, pushing him forward.

"Maybe we shouldn't… maybe it's best if we leave him be." Steve said, bucking again.

"Come on, you're the one who dragged me into this, it's too late to back out now." Tony reminded.

"You're right, okay." Steve said taking a deep breath. He knocked on the door, his heart beating fast and his adrenaline pumping. "Maybe he's not hom-

But a couple of seconds later the deadbolt turned and his best-friend stood behind the door.

"Steve?" Bucky breathed, his eyes narrowing as if he couldn't believe his eyes. "Tony?" Two people he never thought he'd see again.

"Hi Buck." Steve said, not sure if he should smile, wave, shake his hand, etc.

"What are you guys doing here?" It wasn't an accusation, just simply a question.

"We, uh, we-

"Last time we were together we ended in bad terms, I know it's a bit overdue to fix anything, but hey, better late than never right?" Tony said, helping his husband with the words he couldn't say.

"Uh, yeah I guess. Co-come inside, jeez I didn't expect anyone today. Sam and I were going to go to the movies or something, but now I'm gonna have to introduce you two, I guess." Bucky said, shaking his head.

"Sam?" Steve mouthed to Tony.

"I have no idea who that is." Tony said back, standing close to Steve. The apartment was nice and homey, a lot smaller than his own, but that was to be expected, not everyone could live like he did.

"Wait here, I'll go get him." Bucky said, doing some random things with his hands before he left the two in the living room.

"Well that answers that question." Tony said. Looking around the place for any other clues about Bucky.

"Shh. Stop being so nosy." Steve said, still whispering.

"Uh, Sam Wilson, my boyfriend. Sam, this is Steve Rogers and his husband, Tony Stark." Bucky introduced them to each other as he returned with the other man.

"Oh, so you're the famous Steve. Dude, I thought you were taller." Sam said, shaking his hand. "And you, Mr. Stark, it's nice to see such a tech-legend in person." he continued, shaking Tony's hand.

"Oh stop it, flattery will get you anywhere." Tony said, feigning embarrassment.

ooOOoo

"I see you've done well for yourself." Steve said a couple of hours later as they all sat around the living room, Tony and Sam occupied in tech-talk while Steve and Bucky caught up.

"Yeah well, I'm versatile." Bucky said, reminding Steve of the fact. "I really should have called or sent a message or something. It wasn't really your fault for marrying the one you loved." Bucky said, finally apologizing after all these years.

"It's fine Buck, I never realized how you felt then; it wasn't until Tony made it clear to me that I figured it out." Steve said.

"Still, I was kinda' jaded for quite some time. I took it out on you and I just hope it's not too late to say sorry." Bucky said.

"You're my best friend man, my brother really. You were always there for me and I'll never forget that. Of course it's never too late to say sorry." Steve said, sincerely.

"Hug?" Bucky asked, stretching his arms.

"Oh, why not." Steve said, giving him a much needed hug.

"Ah, that's what I wanted to see. It's about time too." Tony said, clapping his hands together. "How about we take you guys to dinner, eh?" Tony offered, standing up excited to see everything had turned out fine in the end.

"We wouldn't want to take advantage…" Bucky said.

"Ah come on. My treat." Tony said.

"Well, if Mr. Stark is offering, how can we refuse such a great gift?" Sam said. "I'm getting ready, Bucky, you can stay here if you like." Sam said, raising his eyebrows, knowing damn well that his boyfriend wasn't about to stay behind if it meant staying by himself.

"I'll go get ready too." Bucky said. Rolling his eyes.

"Excellent! We'll be waiting downstairs in the black car, can't miss it." Tony said. He would have gladly remained upstairs, but he wanted to talk to Steve in private.

"How do you feel?" Tony asked as they got comfortable in the car.

"Better, much better. I didn't realize that was a weight I needed to lift off my shoulders until it was no longer there. I guess I'd gotten used to it." Steve said, taking one of Tony's hands and putting a small kiss on it. "Thank you."

"Anything for you my dear." Tony said. "But seriously, I'm glad that everything has worked out in the end." Tony continued, shooting a little thanks to the green God.

"I love you." Steve said, leaning into kiss Tony.

"And I'll never stop." Tony said. Separating as he saw the other two men approaching the car.

"Well, are we ready to go?" Tony asked. The unanimous approval spurred his motivation and he turned on the engine and drove.

They would be fine.

We are meant to be where we're wanted, right, and they all had found their way there; one way or another.

A/N: So, how was it? I know it's the end but, I don't know, I'd still like to get an opinion. Is there anything you would have done differently?

Thanks so much, by the way, to all that have favorited and reviewed so far, no matter how many times I say it, it still rings true, it totally means the world to me. I hope you have a wonderful day!