A/N: Here we have the conclusion of Part I:

14 December 2013

Steve didn't know what to do. He'd called her. He'd texted her. Heck, he'd even emailed her. He didn't know if she had actually read any of his messages, and he didn't know how many he'd sent, purely because he deleted them as soon as he was sure they were gone, because they sounded too pathetic, too whiny. And they reminded him of everything he was missing. Namely, her.

He typed out another message, simply one saying, I love you, please talk to me, before heading over to the Triskelion. They weren't training today, it was a team lunch. They'd been training for a couple of weeks, but they hadn't talked, and that was severely affecting their communication skills. Natasha had thought it best to have a meal to sort out their skills and Steve had agreed. He would agree to anything that took his mind off Alex.

Steve had zoned out again. To be honest, it wasn't hard. The conversation wasn't exactly stimulating, and he was thinking about what Alex would be doing at the present time.

Alex was looking at her phone. She was deciding whether to look at any of her messages or not.

19 Missed Calls
INBOX: 27 New Messages
From: Steve
From: Steve
From: Steve
From: Steve
From: Steve
From: Steve
From: Steve
From: Steve
From: Steve
From: Steve
From: Steve
From: Steve

Alex couldn't scroll down anymore. She had to open one, just one. It had been a week since she'd opened one, and a month since she'd effectively decided split up with him. A month in which she'd been ignoring his calls and generally missing him.

Just one. That's how many he would open.

From: Steve
Al, why won't you reply? I miss you so much. I'm coming back, I don't care if you've warned me against it. If you don't reply in three days I'm coming to New York. I love you so much Al, more than you know.

ALERT: 1 New Message
From: Unknown Number
2539, this is 236 messaging from 2442246. Information says that the water is preparing to rise. Do you want to meet?

236, that was three letters, and she only knew one person that would use that code and the letters did spell it out. B-E-N.

To: Unknown Number
236, haven't seen you in a while. Currently in 296, but it would be better to be together. Meet in 3 days in 2442246. Contact me on this number.

It was a simple code and it was simple to crack, but who would really be bothered? All that they would find out was that two people, Alex and Ben, would be meeting in Chicago, a massive city.

ALERT: 1 New Message
From: Unknown Number

Will do 2539, see you soon.

ALERT: 1 New Message
From: Steve
Just let me know you're okay? I love you, Al.

She couldn't reply. Could she? The danger she would put him in… but she had to tell him that she was keeping, and staying, safe.

ALERT: 1 New Message
From: Alex
Hi Steve. I know it's been a while, but I have to keep you safe. I'm going away, to keep me safe, and I know that you'll hate me forever, but I can't let you get hurt. I can't let you get hurt because of me. I don't know when I'll see you again, but I promise, when this is all blown over, all gone, I will find you, I will make this right, and I will tell you the truth. And if you want me too, I will still love you. I'll always love you, Alex.

ALERT: 1 New Message
From: Steve
Alex, I love you, and I'll always love you. When it blows over, whatever it is, I'll be waiting.

And that just made her feel fucking terrible. How ready he was just to accept it, not ask questions and not say 'you must meet me now' or even be mad at her for not replying.

Steve knew that it wasn't the best thing in the world to jump up during a 'bonding exercise' and not return. But it was an emergency, and he couldn't face anyone after that. Even when five minutes later he got a text from Natasha saying 'I know Rumlow's a dick, but grin and bear it.' Alex was more important than anything else. More important than any team bonding. Yes, he was curious about whatever it was that needed to be blown over, and he also wondered how he would get hurt, physically, mentally emotionally. But he wasn't going to ask, he wasn't going to piss her off when she had just replied to him for the first time in weeks.

DRAFTS: 1 New Message
To: Alex
I've got a lot to tell you. I'm not the perfect person you see to think I am. I'm not even from this century. What I mean is, I was born in 1914. Alex, you can't hurt me, because I'm basically indestructible. I was frozen for almost 70 years, nothing is more shocking than finding out that you're alive, when you thought that you'd died for your country. Well maybe finding out this: I'm Captain America. Sorry that I've never told you, and I hope one day, that we can be together. Love you –S xx

He couldn't send it.

15 December 2013

Alex got on a train at six am, going to Chicago. She'd be a day early, but Ben hadn't moved house once since his family had been killed, so she'd know where to find him. On the train, she read a book and did about six million other things, including sleep, before she finally pulled out her phone.

DRAFTS: 1 New Message
To: Steve
Steve. I don't know how to say this in a way that you'll understand. My entire family is HYDRA, and I know that'll mean nothing to you, but they're the bad guys. HYDRA was part of the Nazis in WW2 and was supposed to have been defeated by Captain America back then. But Captain America's alive and so are they. To be honest, you sort of remind me of him, or what I'd imagine he'd be like. I love you, Alex xx

The train stopped before she could find the courage to send the text, and then it seemed to be eternally dammed to the drafts folder.

Alex arrived at Ben's house the next day, early in the morning. She knocked and was let in by a tired Ben who didn't seem at all surprised how early she was. Alex hadn't seen him in years, but he looked exactly the same as she remembered him. And they were safe, together.

25 December 2013

Steve hated it. Being so alone.

That's why he took this mission, a solo mission.

It was Christmas, no one should have been, and yet, he was. He didn't know why, but he knew that he was, and that he would see her eventually and that's what kept him going.

Alex felt bad. She and Ben had barely talked. She was alone this Christmas, not in the full sense of the word, but in her heart.

31 December 2013

"Love you Alex. Miss you. Real bad. I miss you real bad."