The sound of the children laughing as they played tag brought a smile to all those who watched them. Anya stood next to Bucky, whose arm hadn't left her side while Tony and Steve argued about some silly thing that had happened over a decade before, Pepper and Natasha rolled their eyes as they sat down watching their husbands have their petty conversation.
Sam, Shuri and Pietro had long since joined the children, Speedy Gonzales making sure to run at normal speed.
Clint and Laura stood by the barbeque while Thor and Loki stared at it with utter confusion and awe as the meat sizzled under Clint's skilled eye.
T'Challa stood nearby talking with Okoye who had dragged a reluctant M'Baku to the outing.
Cassie Lang who was now twenty-six spoke to Cooper and Lila Barton, who were in their early twenties as well, discussing new techniques that would be helpful for their next mission.
That was right, Clint's eldest children and Scott's daughter were the newest blood and Avenger team, fighting alongside Pietro and Sam. Peter Parker, the kid from Queens was part of the team as well, but he was too busy swinging from the tress teasing the other children to be a part of the discussion.
Wanda caught Bucky's gaze as he watched the family, he had been lucky enough to be part of. She was holding his youngest daughter, cooing at her as she played with the witch's fingertips. Her husband Vision stood behind her and made faces to baby Rebekkah who just giggled at the man she would call Uncle like her siblings.
Wanda walked towards him and Anya, handing their daughter back to them, smiling.
"I'm going to herd the children here. Do you want me to take Sarah and Abraham to wash their hands before lunch?"
Anya nodded, thanking their friend. "Yes, please Wan, I'll make sure the two lovers over there have finished arguing." She gestured with her thumb towards Steve and Tony, causing Bucky and Wanda to snort in amusement.
Rolling his eyes Bucky chuckled, "If they were married, Tony would be the stay at home, alcoholic and beautified trophy wife."
Anya giggled, "I disagree, Stevie can be dramatic at times. I think they would both be the wives in the situation. Pepper and Natasha are the husbands. It would be a messy divorce, that's for sure."
Leaving the women to keep joking Bucky made his way to where Steve and Tony stood, still arguing about who was boss back in the beginning.
Sighing the man grabbed them both by the ears, and gently knocked their heads together. "You were both the boss, okay now enough about this. It's time to eat."
Tony looked up and huffed, "Manchurian Candidate, when did you get here? Where are those cute children of yours?"
Bucky wanted to laugh but the other man continued, "How is your beautiful wife? Has she given birth yet?"
Anya approached them; her brow raised. "Wow Tony, now I know why you never came to visit." In her arms was Rebekkah who had finally gone to sleep.
Tony gasped at the sight of the baby; his eyes wide in shock his mouth opened and closed.
"Wh- when was she born?"
Bucky caressed his daughter's head and smiled as she nuzzled into her mother's chest. "She is only four months old. You missed her birth when you had to go and help Spidey over there get out of trouble."
Tony's pout caused them to all laugh which woke Rebekkah up, and she directed her blue eyes that had a yellow tinge to them, straight to Tony who was captivated.
Sighing, Bucky knew there was yet another child of his who would love Tony, so he gave her over to the billionaire to hold.
Tony smiled at the baby, his eyes teary. "She is beautiful. Wow, her hair is black. Finally got a baby that looks like you huh Barnes?"
It was true, their older children both had blonde hair and blue eyes. But then again, Bucky and Anya both had blue eyes, so at least Rebekka and Abraham had that in common with him, but she was the only one who had his hair; and it reminded him so much of his sister Rebecca.
He missed his sister dearly, Anya had searched for the younger Barnes when she had gotten him out of Hydra, but all her searches came up the same. Rebecca had died years prior, and Bucky felt so guilty that he hadn't the chance to say goodbye to her, so when Anya decided to name their youngest after her, Bucky had cried and wondered yet again how he had gotten so lucky with her.
Thunder sounded as the children joined them. His niece and nephews: James Jnr, Ivan and Francheska were in the lead, followed by Morgan, the genius daughter of Tony and Pepper- who was being chased by the boys- Maximoff twins Billy and Tommy, and Nathaniel who was Clint's youngest. His eldest children, Sarah and Abraham brought up the rear along with their Uncles Sam and Pietro and Peter.
It didn't take long for the table to be filled, as the adults sat together, letting the children to continue hanging out with one another. Cassie, Cooper, and Lila sat with the adults so they could continue to have their discussions, that now included Sam, Pietro and Peter. Bucky and Clint had to constantly remind them that the table was no place for mission reports to be spoken.
He couldn't believe that a total of ten years had passed. When he had first met his niece and nephew, the twins were only three, and Morgan Stark was five. They were now teenagers, fifteen and thirteen while his own children were nine, six and four months. Six seemed to be a popular age, as his youngest nephew was the same age as Abraham, along with Wanda's two boys, Tommy, and Billy.
The discussion had somehow turned into establishments when Sam asked what Steve had done with the apartment Peggy had saved.
Steve grinned, gesturing with vivid excitement. "After the twins were born, we took a page out of your books," he pointed to Clint and Tony with his fork. "We built a house as you know next to Tony."
Bucky and Anya snickered, "Married or just lovers?"
Their comment earned them glares from both men, and Steve continued. "With Anya's blessing I renovated the entire building, and it is now an establishment for homeless or struggling veterans."
There were cheers from everyone, the idea was brilliant and typical of Steve who always had wanted the best for everyone, doing anything he could to achieve it.
Sam looked the most impressed, and Bucky knew it was because at some point in his life, he would have suffered that fate or had a friend who had.
The discussions had turned happier after that, with the parents talking about Halloween that was approaching.
Anya had joked to Wanda that one of the boys should go as Quicksilver which caused Pietro to pout, upset that his hero's name was going to be stolen.
Tony had the brilliant idea that all the children should go as one of the Avengers, but their inspiration couldn't be one of their parents. That idea led to the group laughing at the many possibilities.
Lunch was over and all the children, including Cassie and the Barton siblings joined their younger comrades as the adults all moved to the back bar that had been instilled for gatherings such as this and indulged in a few drinks.
Toasts were made and tears were shed. The Avengers, whether they were a part of the originals or not, had survived two decades and they were still strong. Friendships and relationships had been forged and the fact that they were still strong was a testament to the love they shared and the values that had brought them all together.
"We have kicked ass and survived for Twenty-One years. We may not all fight anymore, but our legacies do," Tony twisted around to watch the next generation as they tossed a football around, "May there be many more years of victories to come."
Glasses were raised as they all cheered and took a moment to relish and thank the past, for it was thanks to the hardships they all had faced, that the future could look so bright.