Steve took a slow, deep breath, trying to give Marie a smile. He wasn't sure how well it came out, but he figured it was the thought that counted. Bucky clapped him on the shoulder and jostled him a little bit in support, and Steve nodded. He had to do this, and it was time.

The room was dim, but Steve knew the layout and moved confidently over to his mother's bed, leading the other two behind him. "Hey, Ma," he greeted quietly. "I know I was just here. I brought Bucky with me this time."

Steve had barely had a chance to glance at Bucky before his best friend was leaning forward slightly. "Hey, Mrs. Rogers."

Her eyes stayed closed, but Sarah Rogers took a slightly deeper breath, and Steve felt her fingers shift in his hand where he was holding them. "I also... I didn't tell you before, 'cause I was kinda in shock, but uh... I found a soulmate. I know - another one," he joked. "She's Bucky's soulmate, too. But I found her first. So I'm officially the leader of a gang, now."

"Ahh, come on, pal," Bucky groaned, making Steve grin at him. It had been a joke since they were teens that they were gonna start an Irish-Italian gang, and make the whole neighborhood fear them.

"Marie's from the South," Steve continued, "so we got all our bases covered. The O'Reillys' don't stand a chance."

"Don' worry, Mrs. Rogers," Bucky interrupted. "I'm keepin' a close eye on him. I won' let Stevie here get into any trouble. I-- I promise." It was more than just a continuation of the joke - Bucky was telling her he'd watch after Steve, now that she couldn't anymore. Nobody could really keep Steve out of trouble, but Bucky and Sarah had always been the ones to curb him the most, throughout the years.