Peter

He had found the bank that Felicia was robbing, sorry…burgling. He landed on the roof and he went for the vent and he put his hand on the grating and pulled it off. He was beginning to have a memory coming back to haunt him. He entered the vent and he quickly crawled forward. As he crawled he came to an opening and he crawled out of it as he held the grate in his hand. He planted himself on the wall and he saw the robbers collecting money. They all had rifles, Peter frowned, he was looking for Felicia, but he couldn't see her. He felt like he had done this before…wait he has. He wasn't going to wait either. He jumped down and landed on the floor. The robbers were alerted to his presence and they all aimed at him. Peter looked at all of them, there were eight of them in total.

They didn't entirely know what to do, they all stood there aiming their guns at him. "I told you he was real" one said, Peter slowly cocked his head. They all looked at him like he was a terrifying beast, did he really give off that affect. He heard a chuckle and Felicia was leaning against the wall that lead to the vault, the metal bars were to her left. He was looking at her extracted clawed fingers as if she was looking at her real nails. "You seem a bit edgy"

They looked at her then back at Peter, and by the way his head was tilted and the fact that there was no power in the bank, gave him a menacing look with the little light there was reflecting off his eyes. The red in his suit looked blood red and the blue was blacker in the dim light. The robbers cocked their weapons. Felicia walked forward "Easy boys, don't want you going off to soon" she gave Peter a seductive smile as she looked from his eyes to his feet. Peter was still getting used to being looked at like that, but he didn't let it affect him. "I suggest you hand yourself over to the authorities Felicia" Peter said eyeing the robbers with all their weapons and itchy trigger fingers, he could see that one was shaking.

"I thought you were"

Peter sarcastically chuckled "This isn't a game Felicia"

"Maybe it's not a game for you, but for me it's all kinds of fun"

"Yeah well"

"Spider you aren't the same light heartedness like you were before" she complained

Peter took a deep breath, she was right and he would be a little more lighthearted if he wasn't being targeted by guns, he knew when not to make jokes. It may also have to do with the fact that she has his number. Felicia sighed "I guess you're not as fun as you seemed to be"

Peter needed to stop them and to do that he needed to incapacitate the robbers. He took a step forward and one of them fired. The sound echoed through the room and Felicia almost lunged forward to stop them, but stopped herself as Peter dodged the bullet and launched himself into the group of robbers. They all fired at him, he dodged ones fire and kicked the gun out of his hands, and he punched him in the gut and kicked him to the ground. He rolled across the floor and came up and disarmed another and took the gun and smacked another across the face and flipped through the air and kicked the one he took the gun from. He shot a web at another and pulled him forward and hit him with his arm and he dodged another hail of bullets and he dropped the gun in his hands and leaped forward and swung around one of them and went into the air. The ones left standing continued to fire at him and he twisted through the air and he hit one and he rolled and hit him with his own gun. He had one left and he went down low and swept his feet out from under him and he was on his back and he brought his foot back as he laid there and he hit the main in the face knocking him out. Peter stood up and he was breathing heavily and he had a rifle in his hand and he broke it in half with his hands. He dropped the pieces of useless metal to the floor and looked at Felicia.

Felicia was impressed how he took them all out and she looked at him and smirked "That was fast"

Peter was still breathing heavily, but he wasn't winded, he was pumped with adrenaline and he was just trying to calm himself down. Felicia ran her hand through her hair "Well I think I will stop brining helpers with me, lesson learned"

Peter titled his head at her and she knew what it meant "Ok they weren't here to help, their sole purpose was to let you hit them, also you're good"

"Thanks" he said lightly

Felecia smiled "There he is"

"I am serious about stop burgling places"

"I guessed that, but you already know"

"Yeah, a girl's got to eat"

"Well so do Spiders"

Peter gave her a look and he was confused "Wait, what is going on right now"

"Dinner?"

"Wait, are you seriously asking me to dinner?"

"Why not?"

Peter looked around and he stared at all the robbers who were out cold. "Well for starters, uh you're committing a crime" he said rubbing his head

Felicia shrugged "well not like we're going to run into each other out on the street"

Peter nodded "yeah, but still, I'm trying to stop you"

"And I am playing with you"

"That doesn't sound nice"

"It could be"

Peter cocked his head "What?"

"I could be dinner" she moved her hand down her own arm and she moved it across her stomach and she gave him a seductive look.

Peter felt his ears start to become warm and he blushed "Do you always try to seduce people to get out of trouble?"

"Only when I want to"

Peter swallowed "You are…interesting Felicia"

Felecia shrugged and she moved her hand across her stomach again and she looked at him playfully. "You haven't given me an answer"

"Uh" he rubbed the back of his head and she moved her hand over her breasts and he gave her a nervous chuckle "I'll pass"

Felicia didn't seemed too surprised by his answer, but she still looked disappointed. "You are hard to get Spider"

"Well I'll take that as a compliment"

Felicia sighed "Well this is boring, so to jail then right"

Peter nodded "You're breaking the law Felicia"

"It's always more fun breaking the rules"

"Forgive me then if I don't see it that way"

Felicia shrugged "Well I'm not just going to walk out of here"

"I figured"

Felicia smiled "Well this is going to be fun"

"Yeah playful hand grabbing"

She laughed "Well aren't you dirty"

"They're your words, not mine"

She smirked and she fired a grapple hook at him. He dodged the hook and he fired a web and he hit her in the stomach. He pulled and before she was going to be pulled forward she cut through the line of web with her claws and she rolled across the floor and fired a grapple hook out of her other wrist and it hit the ceiling she swung forward exactly like him and he dodged her as she almost kicked him. She landed and she dodged a punch and kicked him across the back of the head taking him to the ground. Peter groaned in pain and he was on his face, Felicia slowly stood, he looked up at her. She had her hand on her hip and she stood before him with a smile. Peter sighed and stood up, he stood up straight and he exhaled. Felicia smirked "Your move"

Peter fired a web and he saw her move and he swung up to the ceiling and he fired small web balls at her. Felicia rolled and dodged the projectiles. She flipped and landed on her hands and quickly kept moving by flipping as Peter kept firing. He saw her roll across the ground and stay on her knees, he fired a web and swung down toward her. Felicia saw him coming toward her, she flipped backwards, he landed on the floor and she twisted as she was on her hands and her foot hit him across the face. He stumbled back and came back with a quick punch, she dodged the attack and went under his arm and came up and she put her hand on his cheek softly and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Peter swung his leg and caught her around the back of the knee, he brought her to the floor and he was over her. She seemed to be enjoying herself, Peter grabbed her hand and she tried to hit him. He stopped it and he saw her other hand and he dodged it as she was trying to scratch him.

He grabbed her by her wrists and pushed her hands down to the floor, he was over her and she was pinned. She struggled to get her hands free, but it was useless, she sighed "Well isn't this cozy"

"Don't try it"

Felicia smiled "One thing Spider" She brought her leg up and hit him in the back of the head, he fell forward and hit the floor. She stood up and he groaned as his head hurt "I can always get out"

Peter fired a web and grabbed it as it flew out and he brought it around and lassoed her around the waist, she frowned at him and he fired another web and it kept her hand to her side. He flipped and kicked her across the face. Felicia twisted and hit the floor, she freed her hand and she touched her lip and it was bleeding. She cocked an eyebrow "Well you aren't afraid to hit me"

Peter quickly leaned back as he dodged a quick lunge from her and he widened his eyes as her clawed hand missed his face. He came around and blocked anther kick from her and he pushed her leg away and he punched her in the gut and she grunted in pain and he flipped over her and he took her feet out from under her. She flipped right though and landed on her hands, she brought her foot up and hit him in the chest, making him back off. She got to her feet and she ran at him, she dodged a kick and a web, she grabbed his arm and she attempted to break it, he jumped and he put his feet on her stomach and pushed her away. She hit the floor and he flipped and landed on his feet, he had his hands ready for another attack, she slowly stood. "This could go a while"

"What, are you getting sleepy?"

"No way" she said smiling

Peter smirked and he fired two webs backwards and he flipped backward and he made contact with his feet and he pushed forward and he flew forward. Felicia dodged him, he fired a quick web and he caught himself and he swung back at a sharp angle and he came back and hit her. She stumbled forward and she caught herself and flipped, landing on her feet. Peter was ready for her and she stayed where she was "Ok spider, we can fight, but how is your cardio?"

Peter shrugged "Put it to the test" he challenged her

Felicia ran out of the front door and he quickly followed, he came out and she was standing there with her hands up as seven cops had their guns aimed at her, they saw him and aimed at him. Peter sighed and he put his hands up "You serious?"

The cops were looking at them and they were scared, which made it a good reason not to move, they would shoot. Felicia looked at him "Well you brought friends"

"I don't have them on speed dial"

She smirked "Well now it seems we're both breaking the law"

Peter sighed "You were burgling"

"You were taking the law into your own hands, you're only crime"

Peter sighed "Well I have a feeling you have a way to get out of this?"

"Yeah, you don't though"

"Sure I do"

"Yeah and what would that be?"

"Talk my way out of it"

Felicia rolled her eyes and chuckled "I don't think they want to talk"

Peter looked at the cops and he saw the one who was in charge "Hi" he said

"Shut up freak" one of them said

Peter looked at him "She's the robber"

"Cat burglar"

"Whatever" Peter said

"Look at the love birds" another said

"Love birds?" Peter exclaimed

"You both have been tied to all the robberies together, you're both working together"

"Uh, I was trying to stop her" he pointed his finger at her as his hands were still up.

"Hard to put it that way since she gets away with money every time"

Peter sighed "I did say try"

"Both of you are going to jail and maybe a mental hospital since you're both in costumes"

Felicia shrugged "Well he has a point"

Peter looked at her "You're not helping"

"No you getting yourself in trouble as you keep talking, so please keep talking"

Peter sighed "Listen guys, same side"

"We don't see it that way"

Peter sighed "What, I have to prove it to you?"

They all looked at him and he saw Felicia press a button, Peter's eyed widened and he yelled "Get down!"

The bank exploded and glass and dust flew outward, Peter hit the ground and his ears were ringing. The cops were also on the ground as they were cover in dirt. Peter stood up and he saw a car was pinning three cops. He jumped over to it and he lifted the car and he strained his arms as he lifted it "Go" he groaned. The cops got out and he let the car drop and eh groaned in pain and he saw Felicia disarm a cop and she kicked him in the face, knocking him out. Peter put his hands forward "Whoa"

Felicia aimed the pistol at them "See you boys around"

She fired the gun three times into the air and she dropped the gun, she fired a grapple hook and she swung up to a building and began to run away. He looked at the cop in charge "Get backup"

"I don't take orders from you"

"Well I'm going after the crazy cat lady"

Peter left the cops down there and he landed on the building that she did and ran after her. He saw her a few buildings down and he fired a web and swung through the air toward her. He landed, she looked behind her to see him; she stopped. Peter took a few steps forward, she smiled and ran to the edge of the roof that she was on, she jumped off and she fired a grapple hook and swung through the city. Peter launched himself off the roof and he flew down toward the street, he was coming close to the street and he fired a web, it stuck to the side of a building and Peter used his weight and the force of his momentum and he swung upward. He heard cars honking as he went up, he let go of the web as he came to the high point of his arc and he flew forward. He kept his arms at his side as he flew toward her as she was now running along another roof. He fired a web and he pulled himself to the right and he landed behind her, he kept running and he slid under a metal walkway that went over fans.

He heard a helicopter behind him and he saw that it was a news chopper, he didn't pay it any mind as he kept chasing Felicia. He saw her swing to another building, he didn't have to do that though. He gritted his teeth and he leapt forward and he made the gap and he landed, he slightly stumbled and he kept running. Felicia looked behind her and he was catching up. She saw the edge of the roof and she dove over the edge and she fired a grapple hook to the building and swung outward and toward the back of the building. Peter jumped over and as he flipped through the air he saw her as he was falling backwards. He saw her land back on the roof, he fired a web and he went toward the building. He hit the side and he let go of the web and ran along the side of the building. As she ran back across the roof he followed her along the side of the windows. He fired a web to keep himself from falling and he kept his momentum and he kept running. Felicia couldn't see him, for a split second she thought she lost him, then she saw him leap up to the roof and he rolled, he stopped and looked up at her as she ran. He pushed off and ran after her, the chopper had a camera directly on them and a news reporter was speaking as they followed the two. Peter saw her leap off the roof and she landed on the fire escape and she flipped over the railing and landed on the next level. Peter stepped off the edge and he fired a web to keep him on the wall and he ran down the side of the building and he turned as he fired a web to help him. Felicia jumped out of the fire escape and cut the web as she flew across the street and she fired a grapple and stopped herself against the other building across the way. Peter fell and he fired a web and he swung up and he landed next to her. He looked at her "Going somewhere?"

She looked at him in surprise and she blinked "I can do this all night"

The sun was going down and Peter took a deep breath "Not tonight"

She grunted and swung and kicked him, he tumbled back and he kept himself placed on the wall and he rolled across the side of the building and he punched her across the face. She grunted and wrapped her legs around his waist, they both hung there and she looked at him. People on the street looked up and they could see tow oddly dressed people looking like they were trying to have sex on the side of a building. Peter felt her squeeze him and he groaned in pain and he head butted her. She fell back and flipped forward while using him as support and she landed on a small area for her to stand. Peter turned to see her and she winked at him, he fired a web and it missed her, she chuckled and he tilted his head and she frowned and looked behind her. Peter hit a ladder and he pulled it forward, it popped out of its alignment with a loud clank and it hit her. She went forward and hit the rail she felt the air leave her lungs and then there he was, he hit her across the face and he grabbed her by her collar and he kept her unconscious body upright. Peter took a long breath and exhaled, he was a little tired now. He saw cop cruisers beneath him and he grabbed her and dropped down ono the street. He picked Felicia up and held her bridal style and he walked toward the cop. The cop had his gun trained on him, Peter sighed and noticed that everyone was looking at him "I believe she belongs to you"

The cop lowered his pistol and he took Felicia away from him and he put her in the back of the cruiser. Peter fired a web around her ankles and wrists, he bound her so she couldn't get free. He saw the cop put cuffs on her as well and he turned and he looked at him. He looked young, even though he couldn't see his face. The cop looked at everyone "Uh, why help?"

Peter sighed "Someone has to"

The cop looked at him "Thanks"

Peter turned and he looked at everyone "Don't mention it"

Peter was about to leave when the cop stopped him "Um, what do we call you?"

Peter looked at him and he looked at everyone "Call me Spider Man"

He fired a web and he leapt up and swung away from the large group of people and the cop that had Felicia in his backseat. The cop spoke into his radio "I have the suspect"

"Both of them?" a voice asked

"Just the one that was caught"

"Caught? What do you mean?"

"The other one stopped her and handed her over to me"

"That one is wanted as well"

"Well good luck getting a cop tonight to arrest him"

"Bring the one in custody here, she's up for interrogation"

"Yes sir"

"What was the second one's reason?"

"He said that someone has to help"

"I want a name?"

"Well he just said to call him Spider Man"

"Spider Man?"

Fury

Fury had a large file in his hands, he walked toward interrogation in the Helicarrier. He asked if he could interrogate Alexie, Steve agreed and gave him to him. Fury still kept his promise to let Steve interrogate him as well. Fury wasn't in the mood for joking, he hoped that Alexie wasn't the joking type like Rumlow or Niko himself. He came to the door and he noticed how quiet it was, he put his hand on the doors handle, he took a deep breath and he opened the door. He entered the room and Alexie had his hands cuffed to the table and he was sitting calmly. He looked at Fury as he entered and he didn't say anything, Fury placed the file onto the table and Alexie looked at it and he moved his eyes to Fury and waited for him. Alexie watched as Fury took a seat and he was slow to speak, Alexie was in no hurry, he was patient as well, he could wait as long as it was needed. Fury looked at Alexie and he titled his head at him slightly. Fury noticed how calm Alexie was, it made him feel a little suspicious. "You have an escape route?"

Alexie sat back "No" he said in a heavy British accent. Fury nodded "You are an agent in Shadow Games?"

Alexie nodded "I think you already know these things"

"Just want to have a normal introduction"

"Then I'll just introduce myself" Alexie said and he paused for a few seconds and continued "My name is Alexie, and I am an agent of Shadow Games, I was close to Niko Constantin. I was born in Russia, raised in Britain."

Fury nodded "You know who I am"

Alexie nodded "Director, sorry EX-Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. but you are still in charge, so you're still the Director. You have a very interesting tack record Nick"

Fury sighed "Well since we know each other, mind if I ask you some questions?"

"Not at all"

Fury eyed him closely as he opened the file "I have no documentation of you prior to 1984, why?"

Alexie sighed "I was abandoned and lost before 1984, nothing very important to you about before then"

"Why wouldn't it be important for me to know where you were before 1984?"

"You weren't there, nothing important for you as too say, but to others it might mean something"

Fury leaned forward "Alexie? No last name?"

"My last name isn't important, I haven't gone by it in a while, too many memories"

Fury cocked an eyebrow "Alexie have you served in any wars?"

Alexie nodded as he began to remember how many "Two"

"Which ones?"

Alexie smirked "My military record isn't that important compared to what Shadow Games is involved in"

"Ok, what has Shadow Games been responsible for?"

Alexie sighed and he tried to remember them all "Well there's a lot"

"Name a few"

"Well 9/11"

Fury nodded "Any others?"

Alexie nodded "Oklahoma City bombing in 1995"

Fury leaned forward "Really?"

Alexie nodded "We are also responsible for the conflict in the Balkans, and the lovely involvement of the U.S. in the Middle East"

Fury frowned "So any others?"

"Well I can say that we have men everywhere, and it will be very hard to stop us"

"Why?"

"We are competitors for Hydra and A.I.M., we've been around for many years we have rooted ourselves so much into governments you would have to topple them to actually find our agents"

"That serious?" Fury asked, if Alexie was trying to make Fury worried, he wasn't getting very far.

Alexie nodded "So the Avengers, one in particular, Black Widow, how did you find her?"

Fury frowned "Why is that any concern to you?"

"Well, just curious"

"She defected from the KGB and Red Room and came to work for S.H.I.E.L.D."

"And when the Avengers were formed, she was the best and she made her way onto the team?"

"I would say so yeah"

Alexie nodded and he looked down "Good girl"

Fury leaned forward "Do you know Natasha Romanoff?"

Alexie shook his head "No I don't, just wondered, also great accomplishment for a Black Widow, I heard you had a run in with another one, a secret one"

"Yes"

"Yelena Belova if I'm correct?"

"Yes"

"Well Niko didn't like her very much"

"Why?"

"She's from Red Room, you know how he was about that"

Fury nodded "Right"

Alexie sat back in the chair and he sighed "If it wouldn't be a problem, may I have a meal?"

Fury nodded "That is enough today, a meal will be in your cell"

Alexie nodded "It doesn't have to be expensive, just a horrible meal will suffice"

Fury collected the file on the table and he stood up and went to the door and he looked at Alexie. Alexie tilted his head "yes Nick?"

"Nothing"

Alexie watched as Fury left the room and he took a deep breath and smiled as he leaned back in the chair.

Steve

The room was quiet and everything was back to the way it was. The room was dark and the only light that was lighting up the room was the computer on the desk. The small green light barely lit the room, but it was enough. Steve was asleep and Natasha was lying next to him. They were both under the blanket as they peacefully slept. Steve had Natasha in his arms, she was resting her head on his shoulder her hair was lying lightly on his chest and neck. He was having a good dream, sadly he won't remember it when he wakes up. He shifted his head on the pillow slightly, he stirred and opened his eyes slowly. He blinked a few times to wake up, he swallowed as he moved his head to the left he saw the green light on the computer. He took a deep breath and he could feel Natasha against him. He glance at her, she was asleep; she never slept often. Steve did his best to not move, he didn't want to wake her. He kissed her lightly on the head, he smiled and he could smell her hair, it made him feel blissful, he never had anything make him feel that way.

He looked at her as she slept and he basked in the warmth and he closed his eyes, he was lucky to have her, he could have found anyone, and there she was. The S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent with red in her ledger and she was standing on the deck of the Helicarrier when he met her. The timing was remarkable, he barely knew her and he already liked her. That was tested after he actually worked with her. It started out a little rocky, but it slowly settled out and then the rest unfolded. He did swear to himself that he would never fall in love again, not after Peggy. There was no one that could amount to her, at least that was when he was getting by on his own for that first year. Steve never liked things being kept from him, finding out that the woman you loved was still alive was heartbreaking for him, Fury tried to keep it from him as long as he could. He remembered talking to Jack at his favorite bar and how he told him that maybe he would meet another woman like Peggy. He did in fact have two lifetimes, it feels that way. He lived a life in the forties, even though it was hard, it would go through it again, it was how he became who he was. Waking up in 2011 was a shock, but he started a second life, he hadn't changed either, he was Captain America, but in the end he was still that small frail guy that wouldn't run from a fight. He was lucky even to be given a chance, but he took it once it was offered, and the rest is history, literally, they have him in history books. He found that odd, he was just another man fighting for his country, he didn't like the better man complex or the God status some gave him. He wasn't any of those. Sure he was the man that others strive to be like, but it is a struggle to stay the way he was. He does his best to stay a good man, not the perfect soldier, there is no such thing as perfect; just what's good enough.

Steve opened his eyes once he felt a kiss on his cheek, he looked down and Natasha was awake. He smiled and she snuggled closer and he felt her leg move over his and go between them. Steve gave her a soft kiss on the forehead, Natasha closed her eyes with a smile on her lips she breathed "You're awake"

"Yeah" he breathed and he inhaled deeply and he felt her body against his and soaked up the sense of having her so close. Natasha rested her hand on his chest, she ran her fingers over his chest, she focused her attention to an area that she has seen before, but there was no scar. Steve looked down at her "it's where I was shot"

Natasha looked at him "When?"

"Back in last September"

"So when Red Skull invaded New York?"

Steve nodded "I don't think about it often, but everything from my past is still here" he exhaled softly "Bucky, Peggy, Schmidt, even Hydra. Almost seems unreal"

Natasha lightly kissed the spot that the scar would have been "Do you feel that what you did was wasted?"

Steve looked at her "Sometimes" he said through a breath. She sighed "Sadly your enemies have a habit of surviving"

"So do yours"

Natasha sighed and closed her eyes "Steve?"

Steve made a noise that he was listening, Natasha swallowed with hesitation on her mind. "I…can I tell you something?"

"You can tell me anything"

Natasha slightly smirked, but it disappeared "When we went into Red Room" the word still made her feel small and vulnerable, she continued "I saw things"

"I know, and I'm sorry that I brought you back to that place"

Natasha pushed up with her arm and looked at him "I'm not"

Steve looked at her confused, she shrugged "I needed to face it, spending all those years trying to run away from it, I faced it and you were right there. I guess what I'm trying to say is…damn why can't I talk?" she said frustrated

"Take your time" he brushed his hand down her arm as a form of comfort, Natasha took a deep breath. "I am afraid" she admitted, she didn't know if it was to herself or him.

Steve looked at her "What are you afraid of?"

Natasha closed her eyes and tears were forming, she sighed "Damn it"

Steve sat up more and he took her hand in his "Nat"

Natasha sniffed "I'm afraid of everything" she spoke and her lips trembled, Steve brought her into an embrace. Natasha breathed "I hate all this uncertainty, I hate seeing the Winter Soldier, and I hate myself"

Steve looked at her "Do not hate yourself Nat, you are kind and one of the best people I have ever met"

Natasha let the tears fall down her cheeks "I know all of this, but why do I still feel this way? I feel like I'm fake, like I'm just going along with everything"

Steve sat up and she stayed laying there, she looked at him, his back was to her. He looked down at the blanket and he sighed "I don't want you to be forced into anything. Natasha I care about you, but you need to stop hating yourself" he looked at her.

Natasha closed her eyes and she rubbed the tears from her cheeks "I don't know how" she admitted.

Steve looked at her "Nat, you feel like you're using everything around you"

Natasha looked at him, she was silent, and he continued "do you feel like you're just using me to make yourself feel better?"

Natasha sat up and shook her head "No, not that" her heart rate increased in a panic

Steve looked at her "Then why do you hate yourself?"

Natasha looked down at the mattress and she closed her eyes "Everything I have done, I know you forgive me for it, but I haven't forgiven myself"

Steve placed his hand on her thigh and he lifted her chin with his other. She looked at him and she felt another tear join the small streams that were now down her cheeks. He looked at her "I know things happen, I know that you've done horrible things, but that is ok. Everyone has, I know you are going to say that they haven't done as bad as you. Throw all that out, right now. What you have done is equal to what I have done, it's equal to what Bucky has done, and it's even equal to what a warlord has done. There is no graver guilt, it doesn't matter what has been done we all feel the same level of guilt. A liar feels guilty for lying, a murderer feels guilty for killing someone, and an assassin who was trained from a child to kill feels guilt for everything that she has done. I can see it eating at you, but guilt does not come in heavier quantities, guilt is guilt, that's it. Forgiveness means nothing if you can't forgive yourself, all the people in the world can forgive you, but if you don't forgive yourself, then all their forgiveness means nothing to you, because you're still ashamed of what you've done, until you feel better, nothing will help."

Natasha swallowed and all his words echoed in her mind, she looked at his face and he was concerned and he wanted to help her, but he was right, she needed to help herself to. How did he always find the right thing to say? She closed her eyes and nodded "I still don't know how"

Steve gave her a sad smile and his eyes were watery "Accept what you've done, and accept that it was out of your control, accept that it happened and there's no going back, accept that there are people around you who care about you, accept that you need to keep going, we are different people throughout our life and that is ok, you have to keep moving, then find some peace within yourself about what happened, otherwise you are going to hurt yourself and those around you."

Natasha looked at him for a long time "This is what you had to do your first year you came back wasn't it?"

Steve nodded "Yes, and I did and I moved on. I kept moving and I keep trying to do my best, yes I stumble and mess up, but to keep trying is better than to lie there and let it kill you"

Natasha leaned forward and rested her head into his shoulder. He put his hand on her back and moved it up and down in a comforting way, she took a deep breath "Thank you"

Steve smiled "We're partners, it's what we do"

Natasha chuckled "I don't deserve you"

"But you have me"

"But I have you" she agreed

Steve took a deep breath "You want to know something?"

"What?"

"I don't deserve you either"

Natasha looked at him and she put her hand on his face "Why?"

"Because I guy like me never gets a girl like you"

Natasha smiled and kissed him and he sniffed and pulled her into an embrace and he held her till they both fell back to sleep.

Sam

He was sitting in a plane on an early morning and he was headed to Seattle. For once someone was flying and not him. He leaned back as much as he could in his chair, Stark let him have first class it was a nice change. He closed his eyes and tried to relax, he had a bit of a flight ahead of him. He heard the pilot speaking and he didn't care to listen, he was relaxed, and he didn't want anything to ruin it. He really didn't know why he was going to Seattle, or why he was going to see Morse. He just needed, something that was normal. He had been around elaborate plans and crazy stakes. He needed this, something normal, he hadn't had anything normal in a while.

He felt the plane start to move and he kept his eyes closed and felt the plan slowly ascend. Then he was reminded that he wasn't alone when he heard a bag of peanuts opening. Sam opened his eyes and looked at Scott, who was sitting to his right. He looked at Sam like a kid being caught doing something they weren't supposed to. "Peanut?" he asked angling the bag so Sam could grab some if he wanted. Sam grabbed a few and ate them. He saw Scott start to almost inhale the peanuts. "Well when you said ride, I thought you meant a car"

"Well, one of the perks of having Stark as a friend"

Scott smiled "Well thanks anyway, so what is this business that you are seeing to all the way out West?"

"It's personal"

"What? You got a girlfriend I don't know about?"

"It's a friend and I said that I would visit"

Scott shrugged and finished the last of his peanuts and he dumped the crumbs into his mouth. "Well that's nice"

"You got anything planned?"

"Since it's about two weeks till Christmas, yeah"

"Your daughter, you got her anything?"

Scott chuckled "I have a photograph with Captain America"

Sam frowned, Scott pulled out a picture and it was him and Steve, they were in their suits and their helmets were off and Steve was smiling, and He saw that there was a second one. "What's the other one?"

"Um just he let me hold the shield" Scott flipped the picture behind the second one and it showed Scott with a huge goofy smile on his face as he held the shield on his arm. Sam chuckled "Well happy you got to meet him"

Scott nodded "Well, I am a fan, but not in the creepy way"

Sam laughed softly "Don't worry, almost every kid when I was younger had a poster of him"

Scott nodded "Yeah, so you excited for the holiday?"

Sam sighed "Excited enough, really I'm just happy to be away for a while"

"Why do you say that?"

"Well I need a break, the past few months have been, hectic"

Scott nodded "Well sometimes we all need a little me time"

"Yeah"

Scott noticed that Sam was starting to drift off, he stopped talking and he got another bag of peanuts and he slowly opened the bag, not making a noise.

The plane had landed and Sam and Scott were walking out of the airport. Scott had a book bag and he shook Sam's hand "See you later"

Sam held his duffle at his side "See you around Scott"

"Well I guess we are going in separate directions, I'm heading south and you're heading north"

"Yeah, you ok on your own from here?"

"Yeah, have a good Christmas"

Sam watched as Scott walked away, he turned around and waved at him and continued walking. Sam gave him a wave and he turned and he inhaled deeply. He had a few more hours then he would be in Seattle. He found a bus that would take him to the city, he bought a ticket and before he knew it he was sitting next to the next window and he was almost asleep again. He occasionally woke up when the bus went over a bump. He saw the skyscrapers in the distance when he woke up after a large bump, he blinked a few times, still waking up. He yawned and he swallowed, he blinked a few more times. The bus was entering the city limits and Sam had just a little longer till he would be dropped off and he would have to do his best to find Morse's apartment.

The bus came to a halt and squealed slightly as it fully stopped. It hissed and Sam stood up. He slung the duffle's strap over his shoulder and he walked out of the bus. He planted his feet on the sidewalk, it was cloudy, but otherwise not uncomfortable. He watched as the bus drove away, he took a deep breath and he turned around, he knew he was a still a bit away from Morse's apartment. He had directions and the address, but he had never been in Seattle before. It took him a bit to find his footing and he became a bit more relaxed. He relaxed his shoulders and tried not to be so tense. He was doing pretty well to, till a car honked. Sam turned around quickly and he saw it speed away from him, he sighed and he closed his eyes. He was still a little jumpy, he pushed on through the early morning traffic of the city and he finally found Morse's apartment. It wasn't huge or small, probably just right.

He walked toward the apartment's address number and he found it, he walked up the steps and he opened the door. He walked in and there was a woman at the desk, he walked past her and gave her a little wave. She just stared at him as he walked by, he held back his smile. Not the most welcoming place, this was probably what it was like for Steve when he first came back, he never really enjoyed the fact that everyone just ignored each other. Sam pushed the button for the elevator and he waited for it patiently. He walked in as the doors slid open, he hit the twelfth floor button and he felt the elevator move upward and he felt the strange weight in his feet as it moved. He felt it come to a stop and the doors slid open. Sam walked out and he had to dodge a bustling woman with her phone to her ear as he walked down the hallway, she was also burying her face into her purse looking for something.

He came to Morse's door, he took a deep breath and he raised his hand to knock on the door, he hesitated slightly, then he knocked. There was silence after he knocked, he listened for a few seconds and for a moment he thought that she wasn't home. He almost turned to leave when he heard the door being unlocked. It opened and Morse came into view, she was in casual clothes and her hair was down. Sam never noticed how long it was before, he decided to be the one to say something. "Hey"

He smiled at him "Hey, come in"

Sam walked into the apartment, he looked at the room as she closed the door behind him. Sam smirked, it seemed homey. "Make yourself at home" Morse said as she walked past him and into the kitchen. "You want something to drink?"

Sam walked next to the couch and he put his duffle next to it on the floor "What do you got?"

"I have a fresh brew of coffee"

"Sounds good"

"Sugar? Cream?"

"Just cream"

Morse nodded and grabbed two mugs and began to pout the coffee. Sam wandered and he stared at the walls and the ceiling. Morse saw how he was analyzing the place. She sighed "Still in the mode huh?"

Sam looked from the ceiling to her "You could say that"

Morse smiled and walked forward, she handed him the mug of coffee. He took it, he took a sip and he walked around the couch and he sat down. He placed the mug of coffee on the coaster on the coffee table. He leaned back into the couch, he exhaled; he was comfortable. Morse sat at the other edge of the couch and she rested against the arm, her legs were up and she looked comfortable. "Well, this is my place"

Sam nodded as he looked around the apartment "it's nice"

Morse took a long sip of coffee, she swallowed and sighed "Well it's the best I could do, well unless I wanted to be broke in less than a year"

"So since you resigned, any work?"

Morse set her mug of coffee on the table and she shrugged "Stuff here and there, kind of hard to apply to a job when most of your accomplishments in the experience department are classified."

Sam chuckled "So unemployed"

Morse chuckled "I was given my compensation from Fury"

"How much?"

"Well now, why do you want to know?"

"Just curious"

"It was a lot, now I should have said this as soon as you came in, Merry Christmas"

Sam smiled "Merry Christmas"

Morse smiled and she ran her hand through her hair, Sam decided to make a remark "Your hair looks nice"

"Thanks, haven't touched it since 2008"

"Oh"

"Yeah didn't have a lot of time to change it much, just the occasional trim so it wasn't extremely long"

Sam nodded, he took another sip of his coffee and set it back down on the coaster. Morse watched him closely, she took a sip of hers and she noticed that he seemed tired. "You look like you're tired"

Sam shrugged "Two months of very little sleep does that to someone"

Morse nodded "I have a guest room, I have some errands to run anyway, you can sleep if you want"

Sam considered it "Maybe"

"I'll be back in a few hours, try not to go through my panty drawer" Morse said jokingly as she stood up. Sam looked at her and chuckled "Well look at that you have a panty drawer, I thought someone like you would just have regular underwear"

Morse shrugged "I usually just go commando"

Sam looked at her and he didn't know if she was kidding or telling him the truth, she laughed at his expression. "I'm joking"

Sam nodded "Ok"

"Wait, don't tell me, you go commando too"

Sam smiled and he shook his head, he started to laugh. Morse looked at him "Are you kidding me?" she asked with a shocked smile on her face. Sam took another sip of his coffee "Sometimes"

Morse laughed as she gathered her keys and coat "Are you commando right now?" she asked him then she just realized what she had just asked. Sam smirked at her face when she realized what she had just asked. He shook his head "No, I have coverage under these jeans"

Morse took a deep breath "Ok, I'll be back in a few hours"

"I might be passed out in the guest room, I'm still pretty stressed out"

"Well I have a computer"

Sam frowned at her with a bit of shock and surprise that she would suggest that "Um no thanks"

"I won't tell anyone" she said trying not to smile

Sam shook his head "Maybe I'll just order a dirty movie on the TV"

"It's only 9.95"

Sam gave her another look, she laughed "I'm joking" she became serious "But if you do, please delete the history"

"Bobbi you are unbelievable"

Morse gave him a smile "Just be a good boy"

Sam watched her leave and he took a deep breath. He stood up and grabbed his duffle. He walked toward the hallway and entered the guest room. He placed the duffle bag on the bed and he unzipped it and began to unpack.

Bucky

Bucky splashed water onto his face. He took a deep breath and he was happy to be smelling something other than himself, he wasn't really given any hygiene control for two months. He had taken a shower before the moment, but he couldn't stop taking them. He looked at himself in the mirror and he took a deep breath as he could see Niko falling out of the hole in the wall, he could feel the weight of the pistol in his hand. He put his hand to his chin and he scratched at his beard. He stared at himself for a bit and he began to shave, he didn't get rid of it all, just made himself look like he did before Niko captured him. He splashed water onto his face again. Bucky walked out of the bathroom, Hill was watching something on her I-pad.

Bucky walked over and he placed his hands on her shoulders, she looked at him. Bucky frowned "What?"

Hill just gave him the I-pad, he saw a video was being played. It was captioned: Spider Man: Friend or Foe.

Bucky watched the news reel as it showed Peter chasing someone across the rooftops and it showed another shot of him helping cops out of their vehicle. He saw another as Peter gave the person he had caught to the police. Bucky glanced at Hill, she looked flabbergasted. Bucky turned up the volume, a man's voice came: "Who is this guy?"

"Well he seemed to be taking the law into his own hands" another voice said

"Well is it possible that he is with the Avengers, they seem to be getting bigger every day"

"Look at him move, how old is that guy?"

"We have a witness"

Another voice came on and it was a normal looking guy that he would see on a street any other day. He began to speak "I saw the whole thing, he just moved like he was weightless, he literally ran across the building, whatever it is it's some wicked shit"

"Well it seems that this Spider Man might be around more often"

"What about the damage to the bank that he chased the other one out of? It seems that he doesn't care about the city that much"

"He saved two cops"

"Yeah and so did the Avengers, they saved a lot of people, but have you looked at the aftermath of whatever they're involved in?"

"It doesn't look like the Avengers are involved here"

"This guys is just another freak like the Devil in Hell's Kitchen"

"Well the Devil of Hell's Kitchen, did just give us Fisk"

"All I'm saying is that maybe they should be monitored"

"How"

"I don't know"

"Well I guess that these new vigilantes popping up may just give Capitol Hill a reason to start talking about what to do about this ever increasing population of them"

Bucky turned the I-pad off, he looked at Hill "This isn't good"

Hill still couldn't say anything. "This happened last night?" Bucky asked

"Apparently" she said

Bucky took a deep breath "I'm going to talk to Nick"

Hill watched as Bucky put on a shirt and walked out of the room. Bucky walked down the hall and he headed toward the bridge. He passed people and they seemed to know what he was feeling and they quickly got out of his way. Bucky entered the bridge and he saw Fury standing there with Peter. "Nick, I stopped a criminal"

"And just let the whole world know that you're out there"

"Isn't that what you wanted me to do? Get established?"

"Well breaking news never really helps, you are just like Stark you can't do what Stark did. You are wanted by the city of New York"

"I never expected open arms, I knew that it was going to be like this, you do to by the way"

Fury noticed that Bucky was standing there, Peter looked at him "Oh let me guess you're here to lecture me to?" Peter asked angrily

"Kid just be careful how you put yourself out there" Bucky said

Peter looked at him "Why don't you?"

"Well if I did I would be hinted down and killed"

Peter nodded "yeah forgot about that part"

Bucky walked closer "Kid just try not to break anything"

"Well I only broke a ladder on a fire escape, she did the rest"

"They don't see it that way, aliens attacked New York and blew it to pieces and they still blamed the Avengers for the damage"

Fury sighed "They did"

Peter looked at them both "Well I guess it's a good thing I'm not part of S.H.I.E.L.D. or the Avengers" he went to leave and he looked at Fury "Remember you're the one who brought me into this whole world" he said looking around the Helicarrier.

Peter left and Fury sighed irritated. Bucky looked at him "Kid trouble?"

Fury shook his head "You have no idea"

Bucky followed Fury to the conference room. Fury took a seat, Bucky stayed standing he crossed his arms. Fury closed his eye, he looked tired. Bucky looked around the room "So what have I missed?"

"Not much" he said as he opened his eye.

"Well since Niko is dealt with, now what?"

Fury rubbed his chin "Yelena is still out there, we need to find her"

"What of Helmut Zemo?"

"He is elusive as ever"

"Do you want me to focus on finding him?"

Fury pondered what he said, he leaned back in the chair "Not top priority, but keep an eye out"

"I can have Gerald try and track him"

Fury nodded, he looked at him "Alexie is going to be interrogated"

"When?"

"When Rogers wants to"

Bucky nodded "in the meantime, I think it is just best that we all stay a little low key"

"Tell that to Parker"

Bucky chuckled "Yeah, good luck with that"

Fury exhaled with annoyance, he rubbed the back of his neck. He placed his hand back onto the table "Well, when are you and Hill are tying the knot?"

"Not entirely sure what the date is"

"Hmm, so take a break, if anyone has earned it, it's you"

Bucky nodded "I could use a break"

"Take Hill with you, go do whatever couples do"

Bucky chuckled "Yes sir"

Fury watched as Bucky left, he closed his eyes and almost fell asleep, he opened his eye and stood up. He walked out of the conference room, he caught Bucky walking towards the hangar.

Bucky needed to talk to Steve, he entered the hangar and his Quinjet was right where he left it. He smiled once he saw it "Old friend" he said softly as he walked into it. He ran his hand over the hull and he saw Hill sitting there in the co-pilot seat. She looked back at him "Well are we going to see Steve or what?"

Bucky smirked and climbed into the pilot seat "How'd you know I was going there?"

"I listened"

"Oh"

"Yeah, anyway. Do you want to take me to Austria afterwards?"

Bucky looked at her, he smiled "You want to go visit Gerald"

"It gets a little boring talking to him on a screen."

"He probably wants to see you as well"

"Well he's happy that you're back"

"I would assume, otherwise he would only be hired to look for a lost cat"

Hill laughed "Well I'm sure looking for what we get ourselves into makes him happier"

"Probably does"

"How exactly did you two meet?" Hill asked

Bucky looked at her "I'll tell you later"

"Later as in later today, or tomorrow, or in a few weeks, ooh maybe a year" she said giving him a smirk.

Bucky shook his head "Play nice"

"Well let's get going"

Bucky flipped a few switches and he felt the Quinjet come to life and he smiled as he felt the familiar feeling of the controls in his hands. He slowly raised the Quinjet, he took a deep breath and hit the throttle. The Quinjet flew out of the Helicarrier and banked to the left towards the city. Bucky leveled out the Quinjet and headed for the Avenger's facility. They were maybe a half an hour from the facility. He really hadn't talked to Steve that much. Bucky kept the Quinjet steady as Hill kept her eyes on the inside of the Quinjet and making sure nothing was going wrong. Bucky glanced at her, she glanced at him when she got the feeling like someone was looking at her. "So when do you want to, you know, tie the knot?"

"I don't know, why don't we just skip the ceremony and just say we're married?"

"In a manner of speaking we are married, but the ceremony is kind of a big deal."

Hill smirked "I knew you were going to say that."

"We can have Stark plan it"

Hill gave him a grave look "How about Pepper instead of Stark?"

"It's your day, you decide on what you want."

"I'll go with Pepper"

Bucky chuckled "Probably the right choice."

Hill lightly hit him in the metal arm, Bucky looked at her and he saw the facility out of the corner of his eye, he slowed the Quinjet. Bucky took them down and landed on the place for them to land. He hit the release button for the ramp and he unbuckled himself, time to go talk to Steve.

Montana, United States

Heavy breathing came from the main room of the cottage, the man was hitting the punching bag and he was not even breaking a sweat and he started over four hours ago. He hit the bag with four quick jabs and he kicked the bag, it moved and bounced off the wall and he put his hand through the entire bag. He pulled his hand out and it was covered in sand, he pulled the bag away and he placed it up against the wall. He turned and he saw what had happened the night before, he was watching the TV. He watched as the footage showed someone dressed in a weird suit and they were swinging from building to building, and he was climbing a wall vertically. He turned the TV off as he saw the name at the bottom, he walked out of the cottage, he went to the broken down pickup truck. He walked up behind it and he used all his strength to lift it. He put his hands on the bumper and he began to lift the pickup truck. He strained and he gritted his teeth as he lifted the truck up higher and he held it up with his arms. He felt his muscles start to hurt and he let the truck drop down and clang against the dirt, he was breathing heavily. He stared at the truck and he aimed and ran toward it. he kicked it in the driver side door, the door bent inward and was dented from his boot. He grabbed the edges of the door and pulled it off the truck. He turned and threw it like a shield and it curved throw the air and sunk into a wooden shack.

He gritted his teeth and cursed at himself. He turned back toward the cottage, he wasn't ready, not yet.