Author's Note: So, it took a while, but I did decide to come back. College and family issues have been insane over the past few years, but Civil War and some discussions with friends on here got me to come back to this, so I decided to come back. I remember a lot of what I was planning for this, but I also think that coming here with a fresh viewpoint is going to help.

But I have missed Mack and Steve and their universe a lot, and seeing Civil War makes me realize how much I want to write things with it, and how I want to go into this universe. There's so much to go to (with AoU and Civil War and everything else), and it's going to be a crazy ride. I'm going to be changing up a few things though.

Because of that, this chapter is dedicated to Ink Blots author Mars Carter. Everyone should go and read Ink Blots because it's a fantastic Bucky/OC story and Lydia Kennedy is a fantastic character and her dynamics with Bucky are fascinating and hilarious. And she and I have literally been messaging each other for three days and it's hilarious and Lydia is just amazing and we can all use a bit of Bucky love, can't we?

As always, I don't own anything Marvel related other than Mack, so I hope everyone enjoys this return chapter!


Idiosyncrasy
Two months after New York, as they figure out their relationship and place in a new world, Mack and Steve find themselves in the middle of a conspiracy that threatens all they hold dear.


Chapter 4Into the Woods


July 4, 2011

When he woke up later that morning, Steve was disappointed to realize that the bed was cold beyond his space. There was no familiar weight on or next to him, which meant that Mack was up and about already.

That alone was a surprise. Compared to him, Mack was the farthest thing from a morning, even if the occasional bout of stress-induced insomnia came into play. She liked her sleep, and a dangerous wrath was promised onto anyone who tried to wake her up before she needed to be.

Steve, on the other hand, was up and about by seven most mornings, and that was after making a pot of coffee and taking Arizona on a walk. One of the best parts about staying in motels was discovering more things about the areas around them. He knew that things would change once they finally moved to DC, but he was almost excited for that change.

Steve pushed his thoughts away before sliding carefully, feet touching the floor. While the house was fairly quiet, he could hear faint bits of conversation coming from downstairs, from what he realized was most likely the kitchen.

He took the chance to look at the walls when he walked down the stairs. There were numerous pictures on the wall, of Mack and Bridget and Sean, of Kevin and Grace, and of the grandchildren. There was a picture of Mack at her college graduation, hair messy and a huge smile across her face as she held onto her diploma. There was something on her face that just told Steve that she had made her choice for the future.

Steve went down the stairs slowly, listening to the chatter from the kitchen. There wasn't that much of it, though Steve assumed it was because there were only two adults in the kitchen. Mack was one of them; he'd recognized her voice in an instant. The other was older, a bit gruffer, and he realized that it had to be Mack's stepfather.

What he found in the kitchen was about what he had expected. Kevin was hard at work on the stove, making what appeared to be enough pancakes to feed an army. Mack was chatting with him, hair in a messy bun and still glad in the shorts and t-shirt she'd worn to bed, with a sweatshirt thrown on. What took Steve by surprise was the little boy sitting down on the floor, back against the refrigerator, playing with Legos. Steve recognized him as Craig a few moments later, the middle boy of Sean's three. He could sleep Arizona lying on the porch, happy in the shade.

"Good morning," Steve said, leaning against the doorway of the kitchen.

Mack turned, a grin already on her face. "Sit down," she ordered, moving to Kevin's side. "Sit down and close your eyes."

"That an order?" Steve teased, moving to the kitchen table.

"Damn right it is." Kevin shot Kenzie a look, a thin eyebrow raising behind circle-shaped glasses. Mack paused before looking back down towards Craig. "Don't tell your father I said that."

Craig gave a solemn nod, his attention firmly on the Legos in front of him. The little boy stood up though, moving carefully to Mack's leg as he watched Steve. Steve laughed, sitting down completely a few moments later. He didn't know what Mack had planned, but he knew that it would be something. She'd spoken in the week before about wanting to make sure that he had a good first birthday out of the ice, and Steve couldn't even begin to think about what she was planning.

It was only a few moments later when Mack said, "Okay, you can open your eyes." Steve did so, looking at the table in front of him as a grin broke out across his face. Mack smiled, adding, "Happy birthday, Steve."

What was in front of him was a plate of freshly made pancakes. The pancake itself was decorated with whipped cream, blueberries, and strawberries in carefully made patterns, though it wasn't the American flag that some might expect. Instead, it was a surprisingly accurate depiction of Steve's shield, the one hidden in Mack's closet. He couldn't help but laugh, looking back up at Kevin and Mack's expectant faces.

"Wow," Steve said, glancing up in surprise. "This is… this is amazing."

He had no doubt that Mack was behind it, a suspicion that was confirmed when the brunette lightly patted her stepfather's shoulder. "I told Kevin and he thought it was a more original idea than an American flag," she explained simply.

Kevin gave a sheepish grin, laughing as he pulled more pancakes off the stove, carefully moving them onto the plate next to the table. "That's the third try," he mentioned, shaking his head. "Not that Craig's complaining. He got to eat the other two."

When compared to how he'd been last night, Mack's younger nephew appeared far more comfortable, even if he was sticking closely to Mack's side. To Steve's surprise, Craig moved away from Mack's leg and to the chair next to him, studying him carefully for a few moments before reaching very carefully down and stealing a strawberry from Steve's plate.

"Craig!" Mack exclaimed, forcing back a smile of amusement as she looked back at Steve.

"It's not a problem," Steve promised. The super soldier looked back over at Craig, winking at him. "Plenty of strawberries to go around."

To Steve's absolute relief, the wink drew out a large, toothy grin from the little boy, who settled comfortably on the wooden chair next to him. Kevin laughed, putting down a plate of pancakes in front of Craig. "That's my grandson," Kevin chuckled, ruffling the little boy's hair gently before looking at Steve.

Mack looked pleased as she moved back to Steve, kissing him briefly and surprisingly chaste, considering the rather heavy make out session that had come the night before. "Happy birthday, love," she said, smiling at him.

"Thanks, doll." Steve shot her a teasing smile, shaking his head for a few moments as he squeezed her hand gently. He looked back over at Kevin before adding, "Mack mentioned something about fireworks?"

Kevin nodded in confirmation, sliding more pancake batter into the pan. "There's fireworks down by the lake," he explained, looking back towards his stepdaughter's boyfriend. Mack had moved back to the counter, helping to put together a bowl of chopped fruit. "We'll head down there later with a grill, get everything together…"

Steve nodded, shooting Mack a grateful look when she handed over a glass of orange juice. "My grandparents will meet us there," the brunette mentioned.

"Can't wait to meet them." Steve genuinely was excited to meet Mack's mother's parents. They had been the ones to get her Arizona, and the dog had done just as much for Steve as Mack had. He was a part of their family.

"We'll leave later this afternoon," Kevin mentioned, glancing over at the clock. It wasn't even nine in the morning yet, and Steve knew that everyone else had to be asleep at the moment. "Might need to take your car, if that's alright…"

"I need to take the car," Mack admitted, green eyes flickering briefly over to Steve, though she turned back to her stepfather seconds later. "I just to run an errand before we go to the lake, so I'll meet you guys there then," Mack mentioned, smirking back at Steve.

"What type of errand?" Steve asked, looking back over at her, taken a bit by surprise.

As good of a spy that Mack might be, she had her tells when she was trying to keep something fun from Steve. And her attempt at looking innocent was failing completely. "Oh, nothing," Mack replied simply, turning slightly so Steve couldn't see the mischievous smile on her face.

The super soldier raised an eyebrow before looking down at Craig. "Craig, did Aunt Kenzie get me a birthday cake and now she's trying to be sneaky?"

Craig grinned before cheering, "It's chocolate!"

Mack groaned, shaking her head before looking back over at the little boy. She crossed the room in a few short steps, picking him up easily. Craig squealed, kicking his little legs and laughing, clinging onto her. "You little snitch," Mack teased, tickling him. "C'mon, you said you wanted to play fetch with Arizona. Let's go out and play quickly while Steve and Grandpa eat."

"Yay!" Craig squirmed out of his arms, jumping down out of Mack's arms before running out the screen door. Mack laughed, kissing Steve quickly before heading out.

Steve watched them walk out, smiling softly before looking back down at the pancakes. The last birthday he'd had was a simple affair in a pub not far from the SSR base. There hadn't been a cake because of rationing, but having drinks with the Commandos, Peggy, and other SSR members had made it the best birthday he'd ever had. Bucky on one side, Peggy on the other, and drinks in front of them, and it'd been more than enough for Steve.

"She must like you a lot."

Steve glanced up in surprise, raising an eyebrow across at Kevin. To be completely honest, he had forgotten that Mack's stepfather was in the room. "I'm sorry?" he said, studying him carefully before putting his fork down.

"Mackenzie must like you a lot, if she was willing to get up this early to make sure that you got a shield inspired pancake," Kevin replied, one hand resting on the counter as the other kept a hold of the spatula, spinning a pancake into the air.

Steve glanced back at the screen door that leads to the patio. "I like her a lot too. She's… she's been a rock for me over the past few months. And I'm not gonna do anything that might risk me losing a place in her life."

Kevin nodded in approval before pulling a few more pancakes off the stove. "I'm glad to hear that, Steve," he replied simply, looking back over at him. "She was young when her father died, and I've tried to do what I can. But she's independent."

"She likes doing things by herself," Steve pointed out. For Mack, her independence was everything. No matter how much she relied on other people during her life, she was more than capable of taking care of herself. "Honestly, that was one of the things that drew me to her."

"She's stubborn to a fault. I love her like she's my own." Kevin looked back over at Steve, and the super soldier noticed what almost appeared to be a tear in his eye. "Grace spends a lot of nights worrying about her, and I know that she can take care of herself… but a parent likes to know that their child isn't alone at night."

Steve looked back out towards the screen door. Mack was crouched on the ground, laughing and rubbing Arizona's belly with Craig next to her, the little boy laughing and looking back down at the dog. In the past few months, since he'd woken up from the ice, Mack had been there. He hadn't been alone because of her, and he never wanted her to feel that way.

"If I have my way," Steve said, his voice soft as he watched Mack, "She's never gonna be alone again."


By the time that night had settled, Steve was exhausted, but the day had been one of the best he'd had since he'd woken up from the ice. Mack's grandparents were as nice and friendly as Mack had assured him they'd been, and Steve hadn't been surprised when Mack showed up with a chocolate cake with candles, though thankfully she had gone for 28 instead of his actual age.

Steve took a few minutes to himself at one point, watching everyone as he sat in the bed of Sean's truck. The kids were running around and playing tag, the sides of the lake lit up by bonfires and torches. Mack's family had brought a portable fire pit along, and Mack was off making her third or fourth smore for the evening, though she'd promised to bring one over to him sooner rather than later. Arizona sat with him, panting from exhaustion. The dog had been playing with the kids all afternoon, and would likely sleep more than well that night.

The lake itself was absolutely gorgeous. Wrigley was a friendly town, and everyone seemed to have the same tradition of coming out to the lake for the fourth of July. Besides Mack's grandparents, Steve had met her first grade teacher, her high school boyfriend, and a few kids she'd worked with at an ice cream shop back during summers.

"So, you're not overwhelmed?" Mack asked as she slipped a burnt marshmallow between two pieces of graham crackers. She planted down next to him in the trunk bed, smiling softly.

Steve had his own smore in hand, humming in appreciation as he bit into it. "Is it so hard for you to believe that I actually enjoy learning about how you grew up?" he wondered, looking back over at her.

"A bit," Mack admitted, raising an eyebrow as she looked back over at him. The brunette looked around for a few moments, thoughtful as she shook her head. "I just… this isn't my life anymore, you know? The domesticity. I left it behind a long time ago. And it feels weird coming back. Weird, but…"

"But what?"

Mack hesitated. "Really good."

Steve looked back over at her, a single eyebrow raising. He smiled slightly, moving to kiss her temple gently as he slid a hand down his back. "Just because your life is different now doesn't mean you're not allowed to remember where you came from."

She was quiet for a few minutes, watching her nephews and niece playing with each other, along with half a dozen other children. Most of the town had come to the lake to see the fireworks, and everyone was taking advantage of the company there. Mack was back at home, and Steve could see how much she missed it, even if she would never admit it to him or anyone else.

Mack frowned before turning her attention back to Steve. "Wait, did you steal that line from me from when you were feeling nostalgic when we were touring Brooklyn?" she demanded.

Steve's smile turned sheepish. "It was a good line," he teased, bending to kiss her one more time.

When the first firework went off, it was a surprise. Steve stiffened, dimly realizing how similar they were to an explosion. That slight shock and numbness was pushed away with a hand on his shoulder. Steve's eyes flickered back over to Mack, taking a deep breath as he nodded at her.

"I'm good," Steve promised under his breath. He took his hand, smiling weakly and hiding a flinch when he heard the next firework. "I'm good."

"You sure?" Mack asked.

Steve nodded. "I'm good," he repeated. He wasn't sure if he was trying to convince Mack or himself.

His girlfriend merely squeezed his hand gently. Steve squeezed back, focusing on the touch and on the woman in front of him. He was safe. He was in Wrigley, Pennsylvania, spending time with his girlfriend's family and having one of the best birthdays of his life. His name was Steven Grant Rogers, he was now twenty-eight years old (technically). He was safe.

The new therapist was wrong, those exercises did not help.

To Steve's relief, Mack noticed. Mack squeezed his hand gently, looking up before murmuring, "I've got a good place to watch the fireworks, if you're interested. It's not that far away."

Steve looked back down at her. It was a chance to get some privacy, to allow himself to flinch if he needed. Steve was still learning to allow himself to be weak in front of the people he trusted. Being weak in front of Mack's family so soon after he'd met them… he wasn't ready for that yet.

Strands of brown hair between his fingers, Steve leaned in carefully, kissing her for a few moments. "Lead and I'll follow," he promised softly.

With a quiet smile, Mack took his hand and tugged him along.

It wasn't that far away. There was a path that was illuminated from the fireworks even in the dark, enough that the two of them were able to get there. Steve's eyesight was good enough that he was able to handle it. Arizona panted as he ran along with them, and Steve felt comfortable enough to drop the leash to allow Arizona to run alongside them.

Running helped, much to Steve's surprise. Running in these woods in the dark was a good distraction from the fireworks, from the sounds of the explosions. Maybe getting a better look at the fireworks, seeing that they were fireworks and not bombs, would be a way to calm down. Maybe it would help.

He had to try, at least. And he trusted Mack.

Mack led to a raised ridge, starting to climb up carefully. To Steve's surprise, Arizona managed to get up as well, barking as he followed along. Mack stopped on the top of a hill, a cliff over the lake. It was by far one of the most beautiful views that Steve had in a long time, with a perfect view of the fireworks over the lake. Arizona laid down on the ground, panting as he barked at the fireworks.

Steve lowered himself, sitting down on the dewy grass. Mack moved next to him, resting her head against his shoulder, Steve's own arm going around her a few moments later. He couldn't help but give a soft smile, even as he looked back up.

A firework went off up above, a swirl of green and blue and red sparks. Steve flinched again, but held on tighter to Mack, pulling her carefully over so that she was on his lap, his arms around her tightly. Arizona laid down in front of them, his head resting on Steve's ankle. Steve himself rested his chin on Mack's shoulder, watching the fireworks reflected in the lake below.

"Thank you," he whispered in a lull of the fireworks, the sounds dying down enough that she could hear it.

"Always." Mack turned around so that she was straddled his lap, facing him. "Happy birthday, Steve" Mack whispered, forehead resting against his. She smiled slightly, a hand curling around the back of his neck to keep him close.

"I love you." The words slipped out of Steve's throat before he could stop them, and his breathed hitched, blue eyes flickering back up to her face, realizing what he had said. He couldn't take that back.

He didn't want to take it back.

The seconds that followed felt like the longest of Steve's life. In reality, it was only a few seconds until Mack smiled slightly, leaning forward to kiss him before she replied with what Steve had been praying that he would hear back from her.

"I love you too," Mack said, Steve barely catching the words. What he did catch was the soft smile on her face, the look of relief, and the way that her hand curled tighter around his bicep.

Steve kissed her again as the fireworks continued above, holding onto her tightly, glad that if he had to be anywhere on earth, he was there, with his girl and their dog.


July 6, 2011

Though Mack had silently planned to leave after the Fourth of July, they were having a good enough time that they stayed two more days. Rather, Steve had bonded with her family, and Mack wasn't about to ruin that. Not when he herself was feeling closer to her family than she had since before she joined SHIELD.

The evening of the sixth was about as normal as the last few days had been. They'd ran around town, showed Steve all her old haunts. They'd gone on a hike in the woods, taking a look at everything that Wrigley had to offer. Steve's personal favorite was the diner that was only a few blocks away from the high school Mack had graduated from.

Before the fourth of July, a part of Mack had worried about whether things would change after the first I love you came out. Next to nothing had changed. They were closer than they were before, and Mack realized that her worries about Steve meeting her family had been frankly stupid. This vacation had brought them together even more.

And Mack was already planning their next vacation to Wrigley, especially with what they were doing that evening.

Steve, Kevin, and Sean were playing football in the backyard with the younger boys. Neil and Craig had claimed Steve for their team, while Alec toddled around trying to keep up with his brothers, father, and grandfather. Steve laughed as he tossed the football over to Craig easily, the four year old managing to catch it and run to the far side of the backyard that was serving as the end zone.

Mack sat on the porch, Dahlia on her lap as she tried to wrestle the little girl's hair into a messy bun. Grace and Bridget were sitting on the deck chairs behind them, discussing something. Mack had stopped paying attention to their conversation a long while ago, instead concentrating on Dahlia and on watching Steve and the boys.

She felt the vibration in her pocket around the time that dinner was put out on the back table. Mack kissed the top of Dahlia's head before setting her down, letting the little girl run to where her mother was trying to practically drown her in hand sanitizer. The messy bun had settled in well, and there was no doubt in her mind that Dahlia was adorable.

The brunette shook her head, focusing on pulling out her phone, smiling at Steve when he passed her, his hand on her shoulder. Steve hadn't looked this relax in a while, and Mack briefly wondered if they could stay for a few more days, just so she could keep seeing Steve smile like this.

That hope was dashed when she finally read the text.

Mack looked at the phone, freezing as she read it. For a few moments, she wondered if she had misread it, if she was imagining it. Unlocking her phone confirmed that no, she'd read that text message correctly. In that moment, Mack would have given anything to not have the text message in front of her.

We need you. Now. – PH

The brunette sighed, closing her eyes before slipping her phone back into her pocket. She needed to get Steve and pack their bags.

Mack had work to do.


Author's Note: So, after debating for a while about how I was going to handle the rest of this series leading up to Winter Solider and Age of Ultron, and especially since I was planning on covering events in Iron Man 3 and Dark World, I changed some things around. Idiosyncrasy is going to be covering the two years between Avengers and Winter Soldier, which means we'll get to more events as we go on.

The story immediately after this one will be dealing with the events of Winter Soldier and ending at that point, and then leading into another story that will follow the year between Winter Soldier and Age of Ultron, especially after some developments that are going to happen over the next few stories.

But Idiosyncrasy is a long way from done, and we've got a lot of ground to cover before then, but we'll be leaving this stuff and going into plot sooner rather than later, so get ready for that! I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter, and the next one will be up as soon as I get it done! We're going into plot and action after this, and we're not gonna stop.

I'll be writing the next chapter soon enough, and I'll get it up as soon as I can. I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter, and if you're inclined, please leave a review on the way out!


Chapter 5 – The Lost Ones
Connor gave a long-suffering sigh. "Well, Cap. Mi casa es su casa."