Chapter 14: Where the Heart Leads

Clint and Natasha stared with wide eyes at Evelyn's stomach. "Are you okay?" Natasha asked, concerned for her.

"I'm great," Evelyn replied.

"We can see that," Clint commented, earning an elbow in the side from his wife.

Evelyn just smiled as she felt her unborn child move around inside her. "Where's Steve?" she asked.

"He's out and about," Natasha replied.

"And how are things going with you guys?" she asked.

"We're great, but where the hell have you been?" Clint demanded.

She just smiled and watched as her son and his best friend chased each other around on the playground. "I had my own mission to do," she answered.

"You found him?" Natasha asked.

She nodded her head slowly, letting out a deep breath as she ran her hands over the area where her child was kicking. "I did," she replied, "I knew where he would go after Steve said he got through to him a little bit."

"He's out there searching for both you and the Winter Soldier," Clint answered.

"His name is Bucky," she told him with a slight glare.

"He obviously hasn't hurt you," Natasha commented.

"No, never," she answered.

She sat down and let out a deep breath. "And yes he is obviously the father of this child as well," she added, "I brought JJ back for a visit, he was missing everyone and so was I."

"But he's not here?" Clint asked.

"No," she replied.

"Where is he?" Natasha asked.

"Hidden," she replied, "It took me three days to reassure him I was going to come back to him."

She stared at her friends who were looking at her with concern. "He's my husband, he's still the same man he's just suffering a severe form of PTSD," she added.

"Obviously," Clint answered as he sat beside her, "Evelyn, he's dangerous."

"We've been living with him for a year and not once has he threatened our safety," she told him.

Natasha sighed as she sat on the other side of her friend. "Where's Steve?" she asked.

"He's in Avengers Tower," Natasha replied.

"I wanna see Unca Teve!" JJ insisted.

Evelyn smiled to see the excitement in her son's eyes. "Pease mama? Pease?!" he insisted.

"Sure we can see him," Evelyn replied.

JJ beamed and held his mother's hand tightly as they went toward Avengers Tower.

Arriving, Evelyn held her stomach. "Baby kick?" JJ asked.

"Yep, baby's kicking," she replied.

JJ put his hands on her belly as the elevator stopped. "We're here kid," Clint told the boy smiling. He held JJ's hand as they left the elevator. "Hey, Cap! Look who we found on our way home," Clint called out.

"Unca Teve! Unca Teve!" JJ said excitedly.

Steve's eyes were wide when he saw his nephew running over to him. "JJ…" he said in disbelief, picking the boy up and hugging him. JJ hugged his uncle back with a huge smile on his face. "You have gotten so big," he murmured, rubbing his back.

"Guess what, Unca," JJ told him, sitting back.

"What?" Steve asked.

"I dis many now!" he said beaming, holding up three fingers.

"Three huh? Wow you can count now too, you are getting so big," Steve answered, making the little boy beam.

Evelyn smiled as she walked into the room. "Hey, Steve," she said softly. Steve looked over and his eye were even wider when he saw his sister not only standing there alive and alright, but with a noticeable baby bump.

"Evie…" he murmured, setting JJ down and walked over to her.

She was still smiling when her brother walked over and hugged her. "You're okay," he said softly.

"I'm okay," she replied as he held her close.

Pulling back, he rested his hand on her cheek and she smiled softly at her. "I'm okay, Steve, really," she assured him.

"Where have you been?" he asked.

"In hiding," she replied, "With Jimmy."

Steve stared at her. "You found him?" He asked.

"I know my husband, I figured out where he would go first after finding out his true identity, just like what you first did when you first woke up," she replied.

"Evie…he's dangerous," he insisted.

"Was, dangerous, he's still recovering but he's made some progress in the last year," she answered.

She gave her brother a smile as she sat on the couch, her hand resting on her stomach. "How far along are you?" he asked as he sat across from her.

"Five months," she replied, smiling when she felt the baby move within her, "It's been quite a blessing for us."

"And it's…" he trailed off.

"Jimmy's? Yes it is, there's only one man whose children I'd carry without an argument," she answered.

"He's never hurt you?" he asked.

Evelyn shook her head slowly, jumping when the baby kicked her side. "The baby's restless today, want to feel?" she asked. Steve walked over and sat beside her. Taking his hand, she placed it in the area where the baby was kicking. "Right here," she said softly, "This one's strong too, JJ's hoping for a baby brother, but Jimmy's hoping for the daughter he's been wanting."

"You're not finding out?" Clint asked as he and Natasha sat across from them.

"We're only having a midwife come out to do the checkups, she doesn't carry an ultrasound machine with her so we just settle with whether or not the baby's heartbeat is strong, which it is. He insisted on a checkup before we came here," she answered.

"So Mr. Robotic Arm is alive and hiding with you?" Sam asked.

Evelyn smiled at her friend when he hugged her and kissed her cheek. "Hey, Sam, ad yes, yes he is," she replied.

"Can I go back with you?" Steve asked suddenly.

His little sister looked at him and the smile left her face a little. "As much as I would love it for you to see your best friend again, I don't think that's a good idea," she replied.

"Why not? You said he hasn't hurt you at all," he pointed out.

"I was never his target," she answered, "I knew he wouldn't hurt me because I was never someone he had to kill."

She bit her lower lip. "I was the one thing that Hydra used against him," she said softly. She let out a deep breath as she twisted her wedding ring around on her finger.

"How did they do that?" Steve asked.

Looking at her brother, she rested her hand over his that was still sitting on her pregnant belly. "While Zola was testing on him, Jimmy had been fighting them. He had been fighting them for days even after they removed his arm he refused to let Zola's tests to get to his head. Zola became frustrated, because he wasn't winning. He showed…he showed Jimmy security tapes from Schmidt's aircraft. He forced him to watch as we both "died". He made him give up, Steve," she explained tears showing in her eyes, "He made Jimmy feel like he had nothing to live for."

"So he gave up the fight," Steve murmured.

She nodded her head slowly, wiping her eyes with a deep breath. "He didn't want to become this monster, he hates everything he had done even though it wasn't his fault," she said sadly.

"So they only let him loose whenever they needed a target to destroy?" Sam asked, making her look up.

"Yes, anyone who was standing in Hydra's way he was woken up and sent after them," she answered.

She looked over at Tony to see him standing there staring at her. "Tony you have no idea how sorry he is about your father," she said softly.

"Yeah, sure, I can see that. I mean why would a soulless bastard feel anything for any of the victims he killed? Was my mom part of Hydra's plan too?" Tony asked before pouring himself a drink.

"Your mom was a sacrifice for their cause," she replied.

"Great," he muttered, "Just great."

"Tony…" she murmured watching him leave the room.

Steve looked at his sister to see the sadness in her eyes. "He didn't mean to do it, it wasn't him," she whispered.

"You need to look at it in his point of view," Steve pointed out.

She rested her hand over her stomach, letting out a deep breath. "I should go," she said softly.

"So soon?" Bruce asked.

"Evie…" Steve started to say.

"I'm not welcome here," she answered, "I shouldn't have come."

"You should've expected Tony to not be okay with this," Steve commented.

"He won't listen to why Bucky did those things, that it wasn't Bucky. You guys don't see how he hates himself, I do," she told them angrily.

She rested her hand over her unborn child as he or she kicked under her palm. "Evelyn, can I see him?" Steve asked. She looked at her brother and shook her head slowly.

"No, he's not ready," she replied.

She let out a deep breath. "Listen, Eve, you shouldn't leave yet we all missed you. At least stay for dinner," Pepper insisted. Smiling a little, she pushed a curl behind her ear.

"Sure, why not, I told him I wouldn't be back until later tonight," she answered.

Pepper walked over and embraced her. Evelyn hugged her back and let out a sigh. She had forgotten how much she had missed her friends. Being so tied up with trying to get Bucky to remember his life with her and Steve that she forgot about the relationships she had formed over the last few years.

After a while, Tony rejoined the group and looked over at Evelyn. "I guess I can understand why you wanted to save him," he stated as he stood behind his bar, pouring himself a drink. Making her way over to the bar, she stood in front of it and rested her hands on it.

"It was never meant to hurt you, Tony," she answered.

"Yeah, but hopefully you get why I want to wring the guy's neck," he commented.

She nodded her head slowly, understanding his point of view. "He's never hurt you has he?" he asked.

"Never," she replied truthfully.

Seeing the relief on his face, she took a seat on one of the stools. "Does he remember dad?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied, "And it tore him apart knowing that he was the reason your dad's dead."

"Why? My dad never bothered anyone," Tony muttered, "Picked his work over his family, but he never hurt anyone."

"Your dad was a threat to Hydra, found out what Zola was planning and tried to stop it," she answered.

She twisted her wedding ring around on her finger. "Why do you think Obidiah was so interested in the type of weapons you were making even after your father's death? Why do you think after your change of heart Obidiah was obsessed with destroying you?" she asked.

"You telling me Obidiah Stain was Hydra?" Tony asked.

"Yes," she replied, "Tony, everyone in this room is a target for Hydra. We threaten their plans."

Tony took a sip of his drink. "And their plan is to take over the world," he commented.

"Their world order," she answered.

Nodding his head slowly, he sat across from her. "And this is what Mr. Right said?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied, "He's been talking to me, telling me what else they have been planning as backup plans."

"Mind sharing those plans?" Tony asked.

"Some, but there are other plans where he wants to destroy them himself," she replied, "They stole your family, Tony, but they stole his life. Made him a monster."

Leaning against the bar, they looked over at their friends to see them laughing and talking together. "So, we're in deep shit," he commented.

"The deepest," she answered.

He chuckled lightly. "Guess I better get my shovel and start digging," he commented.

"Jimmy wanted me to give you this," she told him.

Reaching into her purse, she removed a USB Port. "What's this?" he asked.

"The plans he wants you to know about, he hacked into Hydra's system about a month ago," she replied, pushing her hair over her shoulder, "He knows it won't fix everything, but he thought it'd be a start."

Tony turned the little object around in his hand. "It's a start," he agreed.

Night fell and it was time for Evelyn to leave. She was holding her sleeping son in her arms. "Are you sure you can't stay?" Natasha asked.

"I can't, Jimmy's expecting us back," she replied.

She hugged her friend with a slight smile before Clint walked over, hugging her. "Call if you need us," he told her.

"Always," she answered.

Tony shook her hand before he went to his lab to examine the data Bucky had retrieved for them. Steve walked over to his sister, hugging her tight while being careful with her sleeping son and pregnant belly. "I love you, little sister," he murmured.

"Love you too, big brother," she answered.

He kissed her cheek before letting her go. She smiled at her friends, waving at them. "Bye," she said softly before leaving the tower. Steve was watching her go and walked over to the window, watching as she made her way over to the street and called a taxi.

"What are you thinking?" Natasha asked.

Steve looked over at her. "I'm thinking of going after them," he replied. Walking over, he grabbed his jacket and pulled it on.

"You think that's a good idea?" Clint asked.

"I've been searching for them for a year, I need to see what's going on," Steve replied before grabbing his keys off the counter.

"If she catches you…" Natasha started to say.

"Hopefully she won't," Steve replied before leaving the tower.

Evelyn had the taxi stop at a rest area just outside of the city. "Mommy?" JJ said tiredly.

"We're going to go see daddy, buggy," she said softly, picking him up.

She paid the man before getting out of the car and walked over to her car. Unlocking it, she placed him into his car seat, strapping him in. Pressing a kiss to his forehead, she backed up and closed the door before getting into the driver's seat. Starting it up, she pulled out of the rest area and started heading back towards her home.

The ride was long, but she was just anxious to get home to see her husband who was probably wondering if she was coming back. Ever since he remembered everything, well just about everything, she had become his lifeline. He didn't want her out of his sight for more than a few minutes let alone be gone for a whole day without him.

Soon, the city began to disappear and trees started taking their places. It was getting darker with each mile she drove, all the while not noticing the truck following behind her.

After a few hours, she pulled up to the two story home out in the middle of nowhere. Bucky was standing against the garage door waiting patiently as she drove up. Walking over, he was smiling at her. "How was it?" he asked quietly as he opened the back door to get JJ out.

"Successful," she replied as she got out.

Standing in front of her, he tilted her chin up and kissed her gently. Evelyn kissed him back, her arms moving along his free arm before they went inside. "How's the baby?" he asked.

"Healthy and growing," she replied, smiling as his hand caressed her stomach.

"Has your mother's intuition kicked in yet at what it feels like it's going to be?" he asked.

She rested her hand over his. "Hmm…I've been dreaming of another boy," She replied. She saw the smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "What's wrong?" she asked as they went to get JJ to bed.

"Was hoping you were going to tell me girl," he replied quietly as he got their son changed into his race car pajamas.

He tucked the boy into the bed. "But as long as the baby is happy and healthy, I'm happy about that," he said smiling at her.

"I could be wrong," she pointed out as they left the room hand in hand.

"Yeah, but most of the time mother's intuition is right," he answered.

"I could be wrong," she repeated, making him chuckle softly.

They sat down on the couch and his hand rested over their unborn child again. "You're hoping for a girl? Don't most men dream of having a bunch of boys?" she quipped.

"I love the fact we had a boy first, but I do want to have a daughter," he replied.

His hand moved in circles over her belly, feeling the baby kick under his touch. "What would you name her if it's a girl?" she asked. Silent for a moment, he moved his fingers over the area where the baby was more active.

"Evelyn Sarah Rose Barnes," he murmured.

She felt the tears press against her eyes, after their mothers. "After the two strongest women in our family," he murmured. Leaning forward, he pressed a kiss to her stomach as her hands rested on the back of his neck with a soft smile.

What the loving couple didn't see was Steve sitting out in his truck, waiting for morning to come.