Dancindonna: Haha thank you so much :D.

Donutdonna: :)

Evanescent Author: I hope you are just saying that for dramatics. Incase you are not. Kevin is the target, has been all along, just to clear stuff up :).

Oddball: Well I hinted that it is Kevin who is the target, considering his room at the Baxter Building is directly opposite Aaron's building. Cant wait to read what you think of this chapter :D.

deathb4beauty: Lol I didn't think about the bucky falling similarity, that was totally unintentional. Oh wow so you had to catch up on a lot. What did you think of Jessica? the Reaaal Jessica xD.

Jo: Aw, well that's quite bit of pressure but i'll take the compliment none the less thank you so much ^/^.

supesfan18: Hi thanks, but i dont understand what you meant by the downplayed and interest part, your statement was a bit ambiguous, care to explain? :)


Oh my gooooooooooosh. I can't believe we are finally here. It's the last chapter you guys. But do not fret we will see more of Steve X Olli in the Bucky story. OMG THE BUCKY STORY. GAAAAAAH SO EXCITTTTED.

Please review, for sentimental reasons :D.

xx

SSC


It had been a month since Olivia's run in with Mistress B and her tentacles that resulted in her spending a total of six weeks in the hospital, she promised herself if she had to set foot inside the same hospital it would be too soon.

It was too soon but this time it wasn't her that was admitted, it was Steve Rogers.

It had been a stressful week prior to him being admitted. She felt it coming like a change in the winds, a calm before a storm. It all started the day Olivia called to check up on her boyfriend, as happy as he was to hear her voice, she knew something was bothering him.

"What's wrong, babe?" She had asked gently.

"Work." He grumbled. "Things are not what they used to be."

"What do you mean?" She asked, promptly concerned for him.

"Something happened that made me think it's impossible to trust anyone." He confessed with a doleful sigh. Olivia smiled pityingly being all too familiar with having trouble making and keeping friends within an office environment.

"Well those things happen." She answered honestly.

"They do?" He questioned, surprised and eager to be assured.

"Yeah, people are complicated and impossible to read unless you are confident enough to say you know them. Working areas are competitive." She elaborated, as much as the experience working for a company valued Olivia, she had a feeling it didn't help Steve in that particular moment.

"I think that might apply to most white collar jobs but this is armed forces. If I can't trust the guy I am going into war with, who can I trust?"

"You have a point there." She nodded in agreement.

"I just don't like being kept in the dark, especially when my country is concerned." He uttered with a sternness she knew wasn't directed at her.

"So what's the plan?" Olivia asked, from what she gathered in his tone of voice and the seriousness of what he said. She figured Steve didn't want to hang around people he couldn't trust. She knew how deeply he valued his morals and always expected the best from others. Olivia worried before that Steve's naivety when it comes to people would end up hurting in some way, but people always adjusted to his principles, as if he changed them somehow, influenced them for the better, she found it quite magical.

But his magic had only reached so far.

"I don't know." He confessed, heavy with doubt. "Took a half day today and just headed out for a breather, I saw Peggy."

"Oh how is she?" Olivia was eager to know about her favourite femme fatale she had never really met. Well, favourite next to Black Widow, who she is quite obsessed over.

"Great, still has her relapses but she recovers quickly so I think we will be okay." Steve reported optimistically.

"See I told you, it just takes time, she must have been so happy to see you."

"Yeah she was. Thanks for the confidence Olli." He drawled lovingly, Olivia beamed.

"No problem babe. I can advice things like that, SHEILD related inquires is something I have no knowledge in, other than being brought in for questioning which was not as fun as I thought it would be." She mused pensively.

"You thought it would be fun?" He demanded, both amused and bewildered.

"You bringing me into a isolated room in handcuffs." She whispered in a sultry tone."That's the fun I was thinking about. Instead I got that shiny headed guy with the glasses."

"Sitwell." Steve corrected, stifling a laugh.

"Well it did not Sitwell with me." She grumbled. Steve blinked in wonder, feeling the acute sense of déjà vu, having heard that pun in a different context before.

"You and Kevin should be pals." The captain advised, Olivia actually considered this. Kevin was an absolute sweetheart, laughed at her jokes and actually contributed quite a few amazing puns. She began fantasying about a day of best friend fun with the large gentleman when Steve randomly mentioned Sam Wilson.

"I actually talked to Sam." He said, referring to his dilemma.

"What he say?" Olivia asked, curious to know.

"Sam got out a while ago. He seems to be doing well outside the field, made me wonder if I should consider the same. He said the possibilities are endless but that just made it all the more... overwhelming. He told me I should do what makes me happy."

"What does make you happy?"

"You make me happy." He admitted, she could practically picture his cheeky, shy smile from his coy tone.

"Well babe you can't do me for the rest of your life." Olivia immediately stopped talking when she realised how inappropriate the context was. Steve had acknowledged a lot quicker than her and his laughter was echoing through the ear piece. She blushed a deep red and chuckled nervously.

"That came out wrong, but also kind of good." She shook her head, determined not to think of sensual thoughts and sidetrack from her point. "I think Sam meant your passion but it's so sweet that you thought of me first."

"Yeah I know." He whispered, still recovering from his mirth.

"I am passionate about saving and protecting people, it's just...SHEILD and I have very different ideas." He said, sobering.

"By different you meant they are wrong?"

"They are extreme."

Olivia had no answer, she wish she could have had some world altering advice but she didn't. Steve seemed to know that which was why he was more content with simply venting to her than seeking answers, she was glad she helped in some way. But the incidents that occurred after that made her feel extremely helpless.

The panic hit the moment Kevin barged into her apartment in New York that fateful morning. He told her to pack up in a haste and they had to leave as soon as possible. Olivia was swept up by the wave of dread Kevin had brought in with him.

"Look I don't want to alarm you but Steve is in trouble." He explained while hurriedly pulling down the blinds of her windows and then scouting the living room, frenzied by a sudden paranoia.

"Trouble?" She echoed fretfully. "Define trouble?"

"Is there like a container for your cat?" He asked, emerging from the kitchen with Anakit cradled in his arms."Because my driving is going to be out of control and I don't want him yakking on my leather you know?"

"What trouble Kevin?!" Olivia demanded cutting into the man's hyperactive state. Her heart thundering in fear and her palms were beginning to sweat, she needed context on Steve's well being before she lost her mind.

Kevin sighed ruefully while petting the cat, as if finding comfort in the feline's presence.

"Steve kind of has a target on his back." He confessed.

Olivia gaped.

"Who is targeting him?"

"All of SHEILD." He answered.

"What?" She hissed, her chest rising and falling in heavy breaths.

"It's a big misunderstanding, at least I hope." Kevin quickly uttered, determined to keep her calm."Steve has some Intel about the death of Director Fury and he didn't share it and Pierce is being really dramatic to be honest."

"I think this is way past dramatic Kevin, Steve is a fugitive? They know he is Captain America right?"

"I don't think that's going to help at this moment." Odell informed regretfully, which did not help Olivia feel better in the slightest.

"But aren't you SHEILD?" She demanded suspiciously.

"Yeah, I am...well was." He groaned out in exasperation and allowed Anakit to drop on to the floor and then steadied his obsidian gaze on the woman."Look all of this sounded really shady to me so the moment I got the chance I decided to ditch their asses and help out the Cap. Loyalty, friendship and all that. He sent me to keep you safe so let's go."

Olivia didn't want to drill the man for answers any longer, after all his frantic state was enough evidence of the probable danger she was in. She hurried to pack her things and shoved whatever she could into her purple duffel bag, clothes, undergarments, lady essentials and all her cat's stuff. She dressed into a comfortable pair of faded blue jeans, one of Steve's white t-shirts ( for sentimental reasons) and a baseball cap.

She hated hat hair but at the same time she didn't want to risk being recognised. She raced out of her bedroom to her work desk and struggled to shove her laptop into its case.

"We should really have had a drill for this." She cried out while wrapping the wires of her charger around its adapter.

"Submit it to the suggestion box, honey." Kevin grumbled back sarcastically while trying to convince a fussy Anakit into its transporter.

They managed to pack up what they could and hurry to the gleaming black SUV.

"You know this isn't exactly inconspicuous." She noted while rushing into the front seat and placing Anakit on her lap.

"Yeah well its fast and I doubt anyone is looking for me right now." Kevin responded, climbing into the driver's seat and then pulling the seatbelt over his shoulder and then buckling in. Olivia didn't get a chance to adjust into her seat, Kevin was already whizzing through the traffic at a terrifying speed that made her think if SHIELD didn't get her, a full on collision with another car might.

They finally arrived at the safe house which turned out to be Tony Stark's new home in Avengers HQ. Olivia had deadpanned for a brief five seconds and glared at Kevin. He grinned contritely as he pulled into the drive way.

Tony was hospitable and already had Steve's room ready for Olivia's stay which she hoped wasn't for long. She waited for over a day and half for a call from him, some word to know that he is safe. She made the mistake of turning on the news which Tony had dramatically stopped her from viewing by tossing the remote out the window, she found it to be unnecessary and rude.

Olivia Thorne was stressing to the point of a break down.

At dinner time during the second day Kevin was on the phone while strolling into the dining room. Olivia who was slumped at table immediately perked up hoping it was her boyfriend on the other end and it was.

"Hey Cap, I got your girl here waiting to talk to you...yup...no problem." Kevin handed her the phone which she grabbed greedily and pressed to her ear.

"Steve?" She called out warily.

"Olli hi. Listen I am so sorry about all of this."

She didn't care for his apology in that moment, she was just so relieved to hear his voice again. She stood up dazedly and made her way to the living room. Tony and Pepper gazed after her in concern.

"It's okay really, are you alright? Are you safe?" She asked quickly while strolling the length of the couch.

"Kinda stepping on my words there." He chuckled.

"Yeah but I'm not the one who is being hunted." She reminded sternly.

"I know, but it's not over yet Olli. I am going to have to go into the belly of the beast." He confessed reluctantly. Olivia frowned, it was bad enough he saw him on the news being arrested and forced to his knees with a gun to his head, but knowing that he was about jump in to more danger damn near pushed her to a state of panic.

"What do you mean?" She asked trying to be as calm as possible.

"Do you trust me?"The question wasn't a good sign, it meant he was planning to do something dangerous and he wanted her to believe he would come out alive.

"Yes, but I need to know what's happening." She stated firmly.

"I know, I wish I had time to explain but I need you to trust that I will come back to you, I love you Olli and I don't plan on going anywhere without seeing you again." His heart felt confession softened her tense posture and made her eyes prickle from the emotion.

"I love you, so you better make good on your promise." She murmured gravelly, her voice trembled frightfully.

"I will, I swear." He spoke soothingly. She heard how weary and weak he sounded and she was tempted to ask but she had a feeling it wouldn't be something that would ease her.

"I'll see you soon Olli." He avowed. She nodded and hoped she wasn't building up her hope only to have it shattered to a million pieces. She went through that once, she wasn't about to let herself go through it again.

"Good luck." She whispered braving a smile.

"I am really going to need it." He joked wanly. She waited for him to hang up first but even the Captain had hesitated, then she heard a wistful sigh and then the sharp concluding click. She returned to the dining table with a heavy heart and a trouble mind. She sat down and then numbly slide the phone back to Kevin on the opposite chair.

"It's okay Olli, Steve will come back." Pepper spoke up kindly and gently grasped her hand on the table, from beside her. Olivia smiled bravely and squeezed back, finding comfort in her warm, soft touch.

Pepper was right and Olivia did get Steve back, just not in the condition she hoped.


Olivia was beyond stressed, she had barreled on through the trembling dread and was stuck in a state of shock. The doctors had assured her that Steve's condition was stable but seeing him, sleeping on a hospital bed in a paper dress, the bloodied, swollen bruise around his left eyes, the deep sutured cut across the corner of his lip.

It truly dawned on to her how perceptible to injury he really was. With all his swift healing powers, stamina, strength and speed, he was still a man just with extraordinary abilities, he could still be hurt or worse.

When he was brought in and Olivia first witnessed the horror of his injuries she had demanded who had been so brutal to him. Sam had tried to calm her and told her, very grimly, that it wasn't easy to explain and she had to wait till Steve woke up.

At least he is still alive, come on you knew going in that Steve is a soldier, he is bound to be hurt during missions, you know this. Olivia had mentally prepared herself before for such a incident, in fact she had done a lot of mental prep before dating Steve in the first place. But it had only softened the blow so much.

She decided not to fix on the depressing side of things and focus on the positive. She was no longer hiding, he was no longer on the run and he was recovering, it was just a matter of waking up.

Sam came to visit the Captain just after he was discharged. Wilson had received a few blows to the face but it was minor in comparison to Steve gunshot wound and water in his lungs. Olivia shook her head and forced back the Doctor's prognosis, she didn't want to think about how they found him on the banks of the river.

Sam saw her weary, fatigued face and offered to grab her a cup of coffee. She was glad he didn't insist on her getting rest which was a poor suggestion considering she couldn't rest till he was awake.

However she did choose to get her own coffee and Sam chivalrously stayed back, in case Steve woke up. He had plugged in his iPhone and set a soothing playlist of Marvin Gaye's Troubleman soundtrack.

Olivia walked back from the coffee machine and then hesitated by the vending machine. A four pieced KitKat bar behind one of the thick, spiraling metal holders, caught her eye. She stared longingly at it. Steve loved KitKat, they shared one most weekends he came over, it was their favourite post coital snack, she couldn't help but smile fondly. She stuffed her hand into the pockets of her jeans and fished around for change.

"Olli."

She stilled and her head jerked to the left at the sound of Sam's voice. He was standing by Steve's door and smiling in her direction. She instantly knew and her heart raced from the joy.

She downed the tepid cup of coffee and then tossed the paper cup into a neighboring trash can. Sam quickly moved aside to allow her in and she stepped past the threshold only to halt on the spot.

Steve raised his gaze from the bed and their eyes met. Olivia's heart lurched in relief.

"Hey." Her voice trembled as she spoke, her steps meek as she entered the room.

His sky blue eyes light up, granted one was squinted due to the black eye but the twinkle was still visible

"Hi." He whispered, his voice raspy. She grinned and hurried over to his side of the bed and pulled up the chair on his right and sat down. The Captain eyed her warily, extremely aware of his wounded situation.

"Well, you've looked better." Olivia joked to clear the air. He smiled timidly and then inched his finger to the edge of the mattress. She was quick to take the hint and gripped his warm, large hand tightly in hers.

"Come." He urged, tugging on her hand further on to the bed. She gaped and resisted his pull.

"Steve you are still recovering." She objected.

"It's just a flesh wound, I'm fine really." He insisted flashing her a reckless grin that seemed pained due to his healing, bloodied, cuts.

She worried her lower li p. "Steve-."

"Please Olli." He cut in pleadingly. She fell silent under the spotlight of his soulful gaze, full of yearning and desire for warmth.

"I need you next to me, right now." He murmured. Olivia swallowed down her protest as her defenses crumbled. She sighed and acquiesced, she waited patiently for him to shuffle to the side, allowing her just enough room to lie on her side.

"If the doctor ask I am selling you out." She grumbled while climbing onto the bed, one knee at a time. Steve grinned, resisting the urge to laugh due to the ache in his wounded stomach.

She dug her elbow into the edge of his soft pillow before reclining onto her side, slightly elevated above him. Her plan was to rest her head on her palm but Steve snuggled into her body, surprising her.

She felt his large frame relax slowly as a deep breath escaped his lips, like the relieved sigh of a man sinking into a hot bath after a trek through a snow storm. She couldn't resist the urge to embrace him any longer, the longing burned through her veins and heated her skin. Gently she curved her hand under his neck and pressed a doting kiss to his hairline. Steve shifted his shoulder over her stomach so she was tucked under him, his hand fell to her thigh and he began to stroke the length of her leg closest to the edge of the bed, as if affirming her presence.

Despite their closeness, she knew he was far away. He was staring up at the ceiling with a lost look in his eyes, his handsome face was somnolent and melancholic

"Steve." She called softly, her lips lightly brushing over his temple.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

Steve took a deep breath, his hand stilling on her thigh. He was silent for a long time and Olivia began to wonder if he was going to confide her.

"The winter soldier." He said, his voice low and raspy. Olivia listening intently, Steve took another shuddering breath.

"The guy they sent to kill me. It was Bucky."

She stared, staggered by the information.

"What?" She hissed in utter disbelief. Steve nodded gravelly, not meeting her face.

"But you said-"

"I know." He sighed averting his misty gaze to his long legs. "When he fell I saw it with my own eyes, watching him slip right through my fingers. Next thing I know he was the guy who was trying to kill me and me in turn trying to kill him. I-I wouldn't have known if he mask didn't come off."

She flinched instinctively at that last bit of information. A mask? Pinning friend's against each other, unknowingly, it was beyond cruel.

Olivia was still reeling from the shock. James Buchanan Barnes, Steve's best friend had been alive this whole time? To make matters worse he was on the side of the enemies? She couldn't imagine what he must be feeling, the affirmation alone made her mind dizzy with a million different questions.

"We have to separate them as people." Steve continued earning her attention once more.

"It's just a mission." He said, a detachment lining his voice. Olivia observed his body language carefully, the way the muscles in his shoulders bunched up tightly, the way he clenched his arms at his sides. He was repressing a heavy emotion with all of his will.

"Anyone that comes in the way we have to see them as enemies. I never questioned this because it made things easier. I mean the situation was already messed up enough during the war, your friends dying around you, danger at every corner. I just never thought one of them would be on the other side. Manipulated and turned into something evil. But saying that makes me realize, how truly manipulated I am. I thought I was the exception, that me questioning things was good. It just wasn't enough." His iron will crumbled , his shoulders sagged in defeat and Olivia stared helplessly as he looked to her with eyes glistening in tears.

"I failed him Olli." He whispered remorsefully. "I failed my best friend."

Olivia couldn't speak, the heavy weight in the base of her throat made it hard to voice out any sort of comfort. Witnessing her brave, strong, war hero break apart before her eyes was too much to bare. She could only offer solace through her body as she hugged his head to her chest and held him tightly. His breathing hitched and winded his arm under her and crushed her desperately to his, his fingers gripping tightly at the back of her shirt.

Olivia lay there for the longest time, smoothing her hand through his hair and shoulder blades, trying to ease the trembling frame and allowing him to release all his built up sadness and regret.

"You are really quiet." Steve mumbled after the lengthy time span. Olivia didn't know how long they had been lying on the bed together, she was too lost in her thoughts to really care, empathizing greatly to Steve's situation.

She smiled, happy that he had settled down again, he sounded a little more like his hopeful, boyish self.

"I was just waiting for you to be ready to hear what I have to say." She murmured into the crown of his head. His head craned back and he gazed up at her with his blood shot eyes, slightly pinked nose with faint waterlines running down his cheeks.

"I'm ready." He insisted gently.

She admired the male in her arms, even with his bruises and cuts he still carried the same sweetness in his handsome face. She gently cupped the side of his slightly less injured features and gazed deeply into his liquid blue eyes.

"You didn't fail him Steve, you just didn't know. No one did. It's like saying Peggy failed you when she couldn't find you in the ice and you were found more than seventy years later." She expressed gently.

"But I slept." He objected, his voice soft but stubborn. "Which is a far better fate than the machine he was turned into."

"But he isn't all machine is he?" She countered.

"He...he didn't kill you." It pained her to even think of the possibility. Steve saw it and pressed his lips down to a thin, rueful line. She pushed aside her own hurt and focused on healing his.

"You are here, right now, there is still hope. Seventy years of the hell he went through and he still remembered you? I don't know about you but that's amazing." She reminded her honey brown eyes swirling in an inspiring wonder. "You can't blame yourself for the past and try to fix it, the best you can do is move on to a better future. You helped free him so what is your next move?"

Steve's eyes were glittering but with a new found respect and encouragement. His once weary, distraught expression was alive with hope and virtue again.

"To bring him home." He announced confidently. Olivia beamed with pride and nodded in lush agreement.


As destructive as the whole downfall of SHIELD was, Olivia saw a positive side to it, like the fact that she got to bring Steve back home to New York. The man looked forward to it of course, even Sam joined in on the relocation. Wilson was training to be an Avenger and Olivia couldn't be more proud for the man.

Kevin had decided to alternate his time between helping out Avengers HQ and finding his sister. He had mentioned something about turning down an offer from the CIA he said it was time he devoted his days to finding his sister, since SHIELD wasn't as helpful as he hoped. After all, she was the whole reason he joined the division in the first place only to be swept up by missions, he hadn't complained too much, he felt like he was making a difference in the world, until the whole HYDRA was under their skin and calling the shots came into light.

That was terribly disheartening, but everyone tried to move on the best they could.

Olivia on the other hand had been contemplating a huge life change, one she intended on sharing with Steve the moment she got a chance, timing was unfortunately a little off.

He was either caught between hunting down leads to Bucky's whereabouts, Avengers missions or avoiding the press and their never ending questions about the incidents at Triskellion, not to mention the inquires from the government. Steve's main worry was the changed affecting Olivia negatively but she assured him she was fine and used it as a fair excuse to stay at home and do her work.

It was a pleasant Saturday evening at the Thorne apartment. Olivia had just finished watching the latest episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and grew bored of the following show on Comedy Central.

She turned off the TV and stood up to stretch. Steve had returned from HQ an hour ago, placed a doting kiss to her crown while she was watching TV and headed to the bathroom to take a shower, she found it off that she hadn't seen him since.

Olivia decided to the head to the bedroom or check to see if he fell asleep in the shower, the man has been more tired than usual.

She found him seated in the middle of her bed with a open newspaper sprawled out in front of him. He was dressed in a long sleeved, rich navy blue shirt and grey yoga pants. Anakit was lounging over the back of his left shoulder, peering down at the paper that Steve was studying meticulously, the cat's fluffy tail twitched from side to side.

Olivia smiled at the sight, it was achingly sweet.

"What are you looking at?" She asked, striding over to the bed and climbing onto the orchid coloured sheets beside him.

"The classifieds." He answered pulling her into a one arm hug. Olivia happily curled up into his side as he placed a loving kiss to the side of her face.

"I think it's time I found my own place." He announced as her eyes wandered over the highlighter yellow rings he had drawn over certain ads.

"Babe, you hardly stay over at Avengers HQ." She reminded gently, lifting her chin to meet his gaze.

"Yeah I know but I don't want to impose on Stark like that and he doesn't let me contribute and just takes care of everything. I think it's better if I settle with my own place, that way its mine you know?" He explained, his voice deep and as soft as a sigh. Olivia knew she could listen to him talk all day. She considered his words while staring down at the miniscule font of the adverts. Her eyes were shivering in thought.

"You can always stay here." She suggested coyly.

"Yeah we can alternate." Steve smiled and hugged her around the middle and rested his chin on the bend of her shoulder.

"No I mean." She paused to stifle a giggle when his finger tips lightly grazed her sensitive sides.

"You can stay here, with me."

His body froze against her and Olivia sat, hyper aware of his silent breathing. Anakit suddenly mewled and jumped off his shoulder and on to the floor before strolling out of the room as if something had beckoned him. The cat's cry broke the Captain out of his trance.

"A-Are you asking me to move in with you?" He asked looking to her, staring in amazement.

"Yeah if you like." She uttered grinning up at him with her head craned to see him. "I mean I know most of this is my stuff but I can move things around for you. You have some pretty cool posters which I don't mind hanging up."

He studied her intently, her face felt hot under the glow of his sky-blue eyes.

"You feel ready for that?" He asked, carefully.

"Yeah I do." She announced confidently. Steve didn't seem completely convinced. Olli pulled away from him to turn and sit on the mattress, facing him. She gathered his deft hands in hers and began to stroke the outer length of his thumb with her own.

"We've been dating for nearly a year now and it just seems silly for you to get your own apartment when you are going to spend most of your time either here or at base or searching for Bucky." She expressed gently and looked to him from beneath the frame of her glasses.

"It just seems like too much to handle you know?"

Steve had to reluctantly agree, he had been busier than usual and had to sacrifice a lot of time from them. He was grateful that Olivia didn't voice out any of her complaints and stood by him encouraging and patiently waiting for him to return when he could.

It was convenient to officially live with Olivia, he was tired of running back and forth between Tony's and hers and rather just settle in one place. But he didn't let such thoughts be his only pro in moving in with Olivia. She was the love of his life, he wanted to be with her more than anything. It wasn't exactly marriage and but it was still a step in the right direction, a future. He didn't want to make a decision out of convenience, he wanted to make it out of love.

He knew his answer and even though Olivia was the one who proposed it, he still wanted hundred percent assurance.

"It's a big step Olli, living together." He reminded gently. "You might get sick of me and what if I get in the way of your work."

She cracked grin at his words and shook her head fondly.

"You do that pretty much by existing which proves that I can't really get sick of you. Sure I'll get sucked into my work from time to time and I'll be messy but I can promise it will only be my work area and nothing else." She said with a delectable smile. "You've been staying here for the past month and we still haven't driven each other crazy."

"Yeah but this won't be like a month's commitment." He reminded.

"I know." She murmured with a poise he wasn't expecting, he was a little awed by her calm. She blushed under the appreciate glow of his eyes and averted her gaze shyly.

"Besides with you being away a lot finding your friend, I figured it would be nice if home meant here, somewhere it's the two of us. If you want it I mean." She said, shooting him a hopeful stare.

Steve grinned and greedily gathered her into his arms. Olivia was surprised by the affection at first but didn't resist as he pulled her on to his lap and her legs rested across his strong thighs. She loved how feminine he made her feel, picking her up and pulling her into his arms like she weighed nothing, it was all still new to her, considering her weight was something she would fixate on in bad days.

"You are home to me Olli." He murmured against her soft cheek, his breath was warm and ticklish. "I've been wanting this for a while actually."

"Really?" She asked leaning back slightly and beaming up at him, surprised by his declaration. Her hands palmed the breadth of his large shoulders and down the curve of his biceps against the smooth, cotton shirt.

"Yeah. The timing couldn't be more perfect." He said with a besotted twinkle in his eye.

"Other than the fact that my best friend is alive suffering from memory loss and waltzing around as a soviet trained assassin with a metal arm" He confessed lightheartedly with a nonchalant shrug and reckless grin.

"Minor hiccup." She joked lightly, happy that Steve had sense of humor about the tragic turn of events.

"On the plus side you don't really have much packing to do, unlike me." She grumbled mainly to herself.

"You don't have to change much Olli. I'll just put my stuff into storage." He insisted already having planned a way to adjust to the change, but he didn't know she had been devising a arrangement too.

"No I-I think it's time I cleared up Norah's room."

Steve fell silent, his expression immediately sobering at the sight of her brooding expression.

"Are you sure?" He questioned, carefully.

"Yeah." She a smile full of a trembling bravery spread across her lips. "I'm sure."

He carried a little doubt but he didn't dare voice it. Olivia's surety shined in her gorgeous honey-brown eyes. He trusted her to know if she was certain in her decision, even if she changed her mind about Norah's room it didn't matter to him, it wasn't like he had any plans for the space.

"You are going to be my roomie." She chimed eagerly, leaning in and brushing the tip of her nose against his. Steve chuckled at her playful tone and pulled her closer, his hands palming the plane of her back. Their lips met in a fiery kiss that sent delightful tingles up and down his spine. He missed her mouth, her taste, he hadn't had the chance to really revel in it on account of his busy schedule and healing from Bucky's punches.

Olivia had been reluctant to touch him in case she hurt him, it did however give her insight to why he was so protective of her when she was in the same situation.

He didn't want to think about it in that moment, when all that consumed his senses was her. Their kisses grew more heated, hungry. Olivia tugged impatiently at the hem of his shirt and Steve obliged and pulled it off his chest, their mouths separating for that moment.

Their tongues danced, swirled in lustful anticipation. She shifted her position until her legs were wrapped rightfully around his waist. Steve groaned at the sensation of her warmth heating the hard, growing, length of him.

Holding her securely with one hand to the back of her hair and the other on her back, he began to lower their bodies on to the bed. The newspaper crumbled under their weight, Steve couldn't be bothered to push it aside and Olivia uttered no complaint, it wasn't like he was planning on looking at the classifieds again.

His hands moved down her body, stripping away the clothes in a frenzied movements. Olivia grew excited at each success he made at undressing her. She missed him, the feel of his body on hers, the rush of passion she felt around him, she needed him so badly.

Steve pinned her down to the bed and began to kiss a fiery path from her jaw line down between her breasts. Olivia smiled dreamily as her fingers tangled with his silky, blonde hair.

"I restocked the drawer." She make known as her hands slipped down and clenched his tough, pale, shoulders. She was referring to the usual place she kept the contraceptive.

"Not yet." He murmured, his breath hot against the dip between her rib cage to her stomach.

"I forgot what you taste like."

Olivia's body arched up in thrill at the promise in his words. Steve's mouth curled up in a wicked smile against her warm skin as he travelled further down, palming her legs to a wider angle which she happily obliged.


Olivia took a deep, filling breath while staring at Norah's closed door. She eyed the shiny door handle determinedly for a moment, before reaching out and wrapping her fingers around the cool metal.

Steve, the ever worrying man of nerves, was prompted to voice his words of assurance.

"Olli if you are not ready I understand, you don't have to push yourself." He said softly.

"It's not pushing babe." She responded calmly, slanting him a smile. "I wouldn't have told you if I wasn't ready, you know I think through everything."

He nodded, reluctantly admitting to himself. Olivia was a internal thinker, he knew her well enough to know that she wouldn't have confided in him. Steve watched her keenly as she took another deep breath and then twisted the handle.

The door obliged under the push in slow, creaking, movements. The first thing that greeted them was the bright sunlight from a clear glass window opposing the entrance. Steve and Olivia blinked rapidly as their vision began to adjust.

Olivia took a sharp breath that grabbed his attention.

"I forgot about the apple green walls." She whispered, awed and smiling sadly. "It was her favourite colour."

Steve followed Olivia's gaze, her attention was directed at the wall to their right. It was a soft, apple green. In front of the wall was a singular bed with peacock blue bed cover that complimented the wall. Beside the bed was a simple, mahogany bench with a egg shell colored lamp.

Faint flecks of dust floated in the air around them, passing through the streaming light through the window. He admired the room, taking in the sight of the rather long bookshelf that took up almost the entire left wall and stopped by the door to the bathroom on the far end.

The room was surprisingly prim considering the room hadn't been opened for a long stretch of time. It was a lot less pink to what Steve expected from a little girl's room, it was simple and artistic with it's little bursts of colour from all corners of the room. From her purple bean bag on top of the sandy brown rug beside the bookshelf, to the wardrobe covered in inspirational quotes in several cursive fonts.

It was a shock of life within the room that Steve knew Olivia had trouble digesting. He eyed his girlfriend carefully, she was remarkably silent, but he knew from her wide eyed gaze that she was struggling to contain her bubbling emotions.

He decided it was best not to address it and focus on something else.

"She had a lot of books." He observed, his gaze skimming over the many spines of the novels.

"The Little Prince is her favourite. Have you read it?" Olivia asked looking to him.

He smiled and shook his head. "No."

"Then let's keep that." She suggested and turned away from the bed and looked to the wall. Steve watched her cautiously as she gawked at the shelf for the longest time, her honey brown eyes shivering in unshed tears.

"You know what." She exclaimed in a forced optimism, her voice cracking. "Let's work on the book shelf last. I think there is stuff on the cupboard that even Norah wasn't that attached to, we can get those down."

Steve complied and followed her as she made her way to the cupboard. Steve pulled up the desk chair and used it as balance to climb up and bring down all the items he could.

They worked silently. Olivia would sneeze on occasion because of the dust and Steve chivalrously opened a window which she thanked him a beaming smile. But the grin didn't quite reach her eyes, she had thought bringing down the books was hard, but the hardest part was folding Norah's clothes neatly in to a bag.

All the memories had hit her like a brick to the face and Steve could only stand by helplessly as she sat on the floor, wiping away tears roughly with the back of her hand. It was hard for him to watch, he was stuck wondering if he should go to her, to touch her, but she emitted an air of preferred solitude. So he held back and knew he had to be patient and be there for her.

Steve was in the middle of bringing down the final cardboard box from atop the wardrobe went he heard a sharp gasp escape Olivia's lips. Startled in to action, he jumped down from the chair and spun around to find her sitting at the edge of Norah's bed, her back to him.

"Olli?" He called out, hurrying to her side. "Olli what's wrong?"

She was hunched over, staring down at what appeared to be a white rectangular envelope. The letter was sealed with gleaming, golden, star sticker. On the back it was written Olivia, in the neatest, child like handwriting.

Olivia raised her head up and looked to him. Her inky lashes were starred with tears and her nose had taken on an alarming shade of pink. She sniffled and gestured the letter to him and Steve slowly sat down on the bed, beside her.

"She gave me this just before she died, told me to read it when I had the chance to." Olivia stared down at the preserved letter, her eyes misted over in sorrow. "I thought I lost it, but it's been here this entire time."

Olivia couldn't help but find the remarkable strangeness of it all. She knew she would have never been ready to read the letter if she found it earlier, but now she was she felt she needed to, desperately. Her hands shook as she gently separated the sticker from the surface of the paper and then pulled up the triangular flap.

The traces of Norah's familiar handwriting on blue ink made her pause, her breathing hitched as sobs began to rise to her chest and tighten her throat.

"Can you...?" She pleaded motioning the letter to Steve.

"Of course." He consented lovingly and accepted the envelope. She closed her eyes and listened to the sound of ruffling paper as Steve dug out the letter, unfolded it and began to read.

"Hey Olli," It began, his deep, kind voice echoed within the four walls.

As you can tell, I crossed out the word 'dear' a few times. I never liked writing that word. I felt like Auntie Eva. She always said the word dear followed by a rude comment about me. You know, when people say something that sounds like a nice thing but when you think about it later it really isn't? Yeah. I never liked her, which is why I don't want anything to remind me of my worst aunt.

I want to remember my best aunt because the best aunt doesn't even feel like an aunt but more of a sister or a best friend. You are my best friend. Even though you do stupid things and you are lazy most of the time and you never organize your table, you are my best friend, because when you love someone you don't see the worst, you see the best.

I learned that from you. For the past few years I haven't felt my best, I guess being sick does that to anyone. You always kept being positive and tried to bring a smile to my face whenever you could.

I know Grandma said that hope is cruel. I heard her tell you that one time when you guys thought I was a sleep. I can see why she would think hope is cruel, because it has the power to build you up and then break you down. I know, I've felt it. But I don't think hope is cruel anymore. I think it's the light, it's what keeps you going. I know I hoped, a lot and even though I know in my gut that I might not live for much longer, I am still continuing to hope.

Not for me, but for you. I hope that you make the best out of everything even after I am gone. I know you will be hurting, I wish I could stop it from happening and I know you don't want me to think this, but it is my fault.

I am sorry, but if it makes you feel any better, I never want to leave you and I am scared to. But Grandpa explained it to me like this. He said that it's not dying but ascending. I had never heard that word before but it's like rising, to a place above your loved ones so you can look at them better, all of them at the same time. Which is kinda cool now that I think about it, like the clouds in your bedroom.

I hope you find someone to make you laugh like you made me laugh. I hope that you find happiness again Olli because you deserve it. You deserve everything good in life because you are kind, generous, brave and the most loving person in the world, even if you don't believe it. I believe it and what you think doesn't really matter anyway.

Steve couldn't help but pause to chuckle a little at the cheeky line. Olivia gasped out a raspy laugh, while choking back her tears.

Just kidding, not really.

With lots of love always,

Your Nerdasaurus.

Steve stared down at the letter, marveling at the purity of such a heartfelt goodbye. Olivia was a mess of emotions and tears, but the pain that gripped her heart was beginning to ease. He was compelled to comfort her and wrapped a arm around her shoulders and hugged her into his warm, hard body. Olivia was tense at first but then relaxed into his hold and rested her head against his chest while gazing at the letter in his hand.

"A twelve year old wrote this? When I was twelve I couldn't even spell ascending." Steve announced in amazement. "Norah is really something else."

"Y-yeah, she is." She murmured, admiringly, her words were tremulous.

"She would be happy to know that all her hoping paid off." She whispered while wiping away the water stains down her cheeks.

Steve stared at her, amazed by her gentle yet surprising declaration.

"Yeah?" He asked, his gaze shining hopefully.

She chuckled, adoring his enthusiasm and beamed up at him.

"Yeah." She murmured. Steve grinned and pressed a kiss to her temple which Olivia was very happy to receive. Olivia had brought a handkerchief, knowing full well she wasn't leaving Norah's room in her usual composed self.

"Can I ask you a question?" Steve asked tenderly as Olivia wiped her nose into her hankie.

"Sure." She said.

"What made you feel it was the right time?" He inquired. She contemplated his question for a while as she stared a head at the wall in front of them.

"I don't know." She sighed out. "I guess it's because it just doesn't hurt anymore. I still miss her, always will but thinking about her, it doesn't hurt."

His smile was full of ease. "I'm glad."

"Me too." She hummed and then directed him a meaningful look. Steve couldn't resist the urge to embrace her again and brushed his lips lightly over her hairline, breathing in her lavender scent.

After a while Olivia was ready to finish clearing up. She folded the letter and tucked it into the Little Prince book before starting her work again. They worked swiftly with the appearance of Anakit who surveyed the room curiously before finding a comfortable spot in the middle of the bed.

It was almost five by the time they were done packing most of the materials into cardboard boxes. The only things that remained in the room was a bed, an empty shelf, the wardrobe and working desk.

Steve and Olivia stood by the door and admired their work. Olivia grinned happier than she was a few hours ago, wrapped her arms around his trim waist and hugged him affectionately. He smiled, amused by her embrace and rubbed her back.

"So, is this going to be a extra room?" He asked curiously.

"I am thinking we put some of your furniture and make this the Search Party HQ." She answered with a pensive shrug.

"Search Party?" He echoed, confused.

"I am going to help you find Bucky of course."

Steve gaped bewildered by her sentence.

"Olli this isn't just any guy." He said, turning to her and grasping her gently by the shoulders while staring at her dead in the eyes. "Bucky has a seriously messed up past and I don't know what feathers we will ruffle looking for him. I don't want you to be caught in the middle of it."

"They won't I swear. Besides where else can you and Sam meet up to share deets, Starbucks?" She remarked jokingly. "I know you had that whole hipster fade with Natasha but really?"

Steve frowned finding no humor in her light-hearted ways and gazed at her somberly.

"I don't want to risk you." He whispered fearfully. He was given a glimpse of the hellish nightmare of being without her, he didn't want to endanger her again, not for the world.

Olivia held his anxious stare bravely. She had considered the possibilities but it didn't overpower how much she cared for him and finding his best friend. She reached out and tenderly cupped his face in her warm, loving hands.

"We are roommates now, Cap." She said smiling up at him. "We share everything, including this. I am not letting you find him alone, we are going to get him back, I know it."

Her doting gaze and gentle yet firm words eased the turbulence in his heart and tension he expressed. He had to reluctantly agree that she did have a point about the whole Starbucks thing, but the threats still bothered him immensely. Then again, he did choose to live with her, dating Captain America would always have some sort of target. But he was too selfish to let her go, he needed her which was why her faith in finding his friend made him all the more hopeful.

"I believe you." He said and Olivia smiled, relieved that she had managed to convince him.

Steve dead-panned when her soft smile took a turn for the victoriously smug. But his attempt at being not amused failed from the adoring twinkle in his eyes.

"So what shall we have for dinner?" Olivia asked as they exited Norah's room hand in hand.

"I feel like having sushi, I don't know why." Steve answered with a simple shrug.

"That's weird, you usually go for Italian." Olivia mused surprised his choice as they made their way down the short corridor.

"I know, but that Kappa Maki thing you had was delicious." He said his mouth salivating at the thought of the cucumber wrapped in rice and seaweed. Olivia blinked in astonishment, she did not think he would like that so much.

"Then you would love the duck one." She insisted with a grin.

"It's cooked right?" He asked warily, his nose wrinkling in a pending grimace.

"Of course its cooked." She exclaimed with a wide eye roll. "You can't have duck raw. That's quack."

Steve threw his head back while groaning dramatically at her appalling joke. Olivia was laughing hysterically, neither of them aware that they had left Norah's door open and their anxieties behind.


One month later...

Skeeter stared unblinkingly at his computer screen. The bright light had a harsh glare but he didn't mind it, in fact he was rather used to it and it wasn't just one screen. Two other wide panels stood beside the centre one, each monitor ran the same list of green coding on a black canvas.

He was rather proud of what he had accomplished, several hours and there hasn't been one alert of failure. The algorithm was functioning and it was only a matter of waiting for the results. Sure it took a little longer on account of SHEILD raiding his home. He had to make a few adjustments to continue remaining anonymous, hopefully they would continue to pan out.

He thanked his luck that the feds hadn't found his new project or his partner in crime.

"Where did you get these rolls? They are amazing."

Speaking of, Skeeter spun around his chair to face his cousin, Valerie Elizabeth Chester. She stood leaning back against the edge of his computer table, munching on one of the many cinnamon rolls she had stolen from the plate on the coffee table.

She was a lot different to the whimsical, flirtatious girl he used to know, the one who had her heart broken several times by bad men. She was a lot more guarded, mature even. Skeeter was glad and supposed she knew, considering she had changed her style too.

Valerie always used to repeat that one quote by her idol Coco Chanel. 'A woman who cut's her hair is about to change her life' and she had. Dressed out of her usual flair dresses and into more casual skinny jeans and random band t-shirts. Her dark scarlet hair was cut short into a boyish cut, the soft crimson curls rested a top her head in a adorable yet sophisticated up do.

"Olli. She gave me like a whole box load of them to make up for what happened." Skeeter answered her question. He began thinking about the day Olli visited him apartment, usually it was to drop off his pay checks but this time it was to have a good heart to heart. She began with a prepared apology and asked him why he had covered up her secret.

"Because you already went through hell with losing Norah, Olli." He had said. "It just isn't fair to end up in jail to." His unintentionally, sweet words had brought her to tears and she had hugged him so tightly that Skeeter was cut off his oxygen supply. But he didn't mind, he cared a great deal about Olivia, she was his friend, plus he got along well with Norah when she was alive. He felt he owed his twelve year old buddy.

"What happened?" Valeria questioned, well more mumbled with her mouth stuffed with bread. Skeeter rolled his eyes and sighed out in exasperation.

"Were you not listening?" He exclaimed feeling like he was repeating the story for the eight time to the woman.

"Val I told you I can't be caught doing this stuff, SHIELD is on to me."

"What the heck did you do?" She demanded like his declaration was brand new information.

"I'm on their radar now and if they know about the algorithm I am screwed." Skeeter warned fretfully. It was her turn to direct him a sardonic look that seemed to cut into his dramatics.

"You won't be screwed, you'd be rich. Skeeter what you accomplished is genius." She exclaimed admiringly and reached out to spin him back around by the head of the seat.

"If I was doing this for the money I would be a billionaire by now." He insisted pompously.

"What are you doing this for?" She asked, her eyes a gleam already knowing the answer. Skeeter rolled his eyes again, his cheeks heating up a little. He didn't want to admit that he cared very much about his favourite cousin and would do anything for her because of their kinship alone.

"Your weed supplier is excellent and I guess because we are cousins or whatever." He uttered coolly. She laughed knowing full well he was trying his best to be nonchalant. His smug expression sobered as he looked to her in all seriousness.

"Val, this is still experimental, I don't know if there is enough to go on." He reminded gently. the last thing he wanted was for her to get her hopes up again, since the last several searches had ended up fruitless. Valerie had been working hard to find as much information as possible on their subject, but she knew it wasn't enough.

"We have got to try Skeet." She murmured wistfully. His lips parted to advise her to drop her search and maybe focus on moving on to something else that could fix her mistakes. She turned away knowing what he was about to say and strolled over to the couch within the room and plopped down heavily on to it.

Skeeter sighed both pitying and exasperate by her stubborn ways. He convinced himself that one more search wouldn't hurt, maybe this one will change her mind about her blind hunt.

A sudden uproarious alarm from the speakers grabbed his attention. He turned his full interest on the computer to find the screen had shifted to a map. It honed in on a location, the software began to zoom in at a alarming speed, the rest of the land within the map was turning into a dismissed blur.

"We have a hit." He announced, awed by the sight.

"We had one a hour ago, I'm still coming down from it." Valerie grumbled from the couch, her gaze focused on the bright TV.

"No I mean, we have a hit!" He exclaimed. Valerie cursed in disbelief and frantically scrambled on to her legs before hurrying over. She bent and peered at the screen from over Skeeter's scrawny shoulders. They waited anticipating as the map converted into a camera footage.

It was black and white and from the several isles of shelves stocked with products, they guessed it was a department store of some kind. The angle of the camera was from the top corner of the wall behind the counter. It was focused on the cashier and two figured approached the bench. One was a man shabby, harrowing man, dressed in a large coat and jeans. his face was hidden under a baseball cap but there were thick strands of shoulder length hair draping out from beneath the headwear.

He was standing beside a female while scouting the area suspiciously. The woman was dressed comparatively neatly to the man, in a black sweater and jeans. The footage was in grayscale so it was hard to tell. Her hair was dark and thick and reached her shoulders in hefty waves. She smiled politely at the man behind the counter who was no visible in the angle.

Look up, look up. Valerie begged mentally and as if the woman had heard she abruptly looked right at the camera, her piercing dark eyes robbed Valerie of her voice for a moment. She had only stared into one other pair of obsidian eyes.

At least she hoped they were as black as his was, it was hard to tell from the monochrome projection but they were surprisingly dark. The woman's features twisted into a slight scowl as if she wasn't expecting the camera to be there and then suddenly the image distorted and the feed vanished.

"Tell me you recorded that!"Valeria exclaimed, gripping the back of Skeeter's chair.

"I did, I did." He responded urgently, typing away at the keyboards. He was still reeling from the massive break through. After years of searching suddenly there was a person to the mystery, a face? It was all too suspicious and the man she stood next to seemed like bad company. The fact that the feed was cut off the moment she had spotted the device was eerie enough. Skeeter knew the woman was a mutant but to have such power? It was volatile.

Valerie was thinking of none of the negativity or the doubt. Her eyes were glimmering with a immense happiness.

"I can't believe it." She breathed out in wonder. "You found her."

"Let's not get a head of ourselves man."Skeeter cautioned, turning slowly to face her and calm her before she reached the peak of her excitement. "We don't know it's her."

"I know it is, it's in my gut." She exclaimed pointing a open palm to the screen.

"Well your gut has been wrong before." He noted factually.

"Not this time." She shook her head widely."We punched everything in it has to be her."

She hurried over to the adjoining screen and began to type in the keyboard, searching through Skeeter's database for what he did not know.

"Valerie it's just too soon." He warned, his stomach experiencing a wave of nausea from the concern.

"No it isn't." She insisted dismissively. "I need the deets Skeet. Location, time neighboring shots if you can get some, anything and everything and send it to my phone."

Valerie abruptly pressed down on the 'enter' button and then hurried over to the printer. Her foot tapped impatiently waiting for the machine to be done before snatching up the paper and then shoving it into her bag and then hurrying to the door.

"Are you really going to go see him now?" Skeeter hollered before she exited the apartment. Valerie stopped with one foot out the door and then twirled around to face her cousin.

"I can't think of a better present for the birthday boy." She said, winked and stepped out before slamming the door behind her.

Skeeter slumped into his chair, his sharp features heavy with dread, experiencing the stiff chill of a brewing storm.