chapter 18

Adelaide promised herself when she got up that morning that she wouldn't cry. She'd see her dad again; she had to. She'd be strong; she'd show him that she would be able to take care of Steve. Adelaide walked next to him towards the medical wing of the palace, left hand clasped tightly in his right. He wore comfortable clothes, and she was wearing a cute little yellow sundress that had white polka-dots all over it. Her long brown hair was tied back in a white ribbon, and her little white shoes clicked on the floor.

Yes, Steve and Bucky had picked her outfit out for her; no, she didn't like it all that much; yes, she would continue to wear it; no, she would not complain about it. Steve walked behind the two, silently watching them. When they entered the room, Adelaide shivered at the chamber there. Bad memories that she didn't want to think about fought to swim to the surface of her mind, but she forced them back down, choosing instead to focus on her dad, who was sitting on the examination table and holding out his hand for her to join him.

Steve picked her up and set her down next to Bucky, and the three waited patiently and silently as the doctors looked him over and made sure nothing was going to go wrong. Then, they left the three to say their "until we meet agains". "You sure about this?" Steve asked Bucky.
"I can't trust my own mind. So, until they figure out how to get this stuff out of my head, I think going back under is the best thing," he paused and looked over at Adelaide, "for everyone." She leaned against his left side silently, simply and quietly agreeing with his statement, though she didn't like it. "Steve?"

"Yeah?"
"Take care of Addie."
"Of course. You didn't even have to ask."
"Thank you. Addie, you be good, okay?" He looked at her with wide, pleading eyes. He needed to know that she'd be okay.
"Da, papa. I'll behave."
"Khoroshaya devochka. Make me proud, dorogaya. I'll see you soon." (good girl/darling)
"Ya budu, papa. YA lyublyu tebya. (I will, Daddy. I love you.)
"YA tozhe lyublyu tebya, moy angel. Ya vernus' k tebe." (I love you too, my angel. I will come back to you.) With a final hug and kiss to her forehead, he gave Steve a nod and stepped into the chamber. The door slid closed, and the interior filled with a blast of something, and all it looked like was that he was sleeping. Adelaide laid a gentle hand on the glass, then left. She went to her room and climbed onto the bed she had left only two hours before with her dad and pulled his pillow close to her, cuddling it. There, in the quiet of her room, she started to cry. She was fine, until he said that last line.

"Why did you say that?" she asked the empty room. "Why? Why would you try to treat this like any other time? I was—I was okay, Daddy. I would have been fine, but now you—" She sobbed into the pillow until her eyes were puffy, her nose was stuffed, and her head hurt. She curled up and closed her eyes, thinking back over the memories she had with him. She hadn't lost him, but she had to keep thinking happy thoughts.
We will sleep here tonight. We leave in the morning.

I love you too, katenok.
I happen to like plums, doll. You don't have to eat them.
Do it again, myshka, but do it like this instead.
No, printsessa, that's not it. THIS is how you say it.
Get up.
Do you understand me?
You're safe now.
Mission. Behave.
Bed.
You should sleep.
Miss me, kotenok?
And I'm taking you with me.
I'd do anything for you, myshka.
You mean more to me than anything.
Take care of Stevie and the others.
Good girl.
Only me, myshka.
I will come back to you.
I love you, Addie.