"Can I go and see him?"

Evelyn had been pacing back and forth in the hotel room ever since they had arrived there that night. It had just gone two a.m. by the time they checked in and Evelyn doubted she could sleep. She had been worrying about everything that had just happened, unable to sit still or even comprehend the events of the evening. She had fussed over Bucky to begin with, making sure that he wasn't injured as she noted bruising on his cheek and his knuckles were red. But he had insisted that he was fine and there was nothing wrong with him.

"No, sweetheart," Bucky said to her. "You need to stay here. He's in the safest place."

"And you're sure he's stable?" she double-checked with Bucky and he nodded his head, still sitting on the end of the bed. "And Mary?"

"By his bedside," Bucky said to her. "They are both fine. You don't need to worry about them. Charlie will pull through…he'll be fine."

"I just…what happened…" Evelyn trailed off, shaking her head back and forth, an arm wrapped around her waist as she struggled to stop shaking, her body shivering and goosebumps on her bare arms. Bucky was still dressed in his tactical gear, hands clasped in front of him as he leant forwards and his gaze continued to stay on Evelyn as she moved around the room.

"Evie, sweetheart, nothing happened," Bucky told her. "Don't think about what could have happened."

"She was going to kill me," Evelyn said to Bucky. "She was ready to kill me before Charlie…before he came for me…and she shot him. He's in that hospital bed because of me…because he told me to leave. I should have dragged him with me. I should have been the one who took that bullet."

"Don't you dare say that," Bucky hissed at her, his voice stern as he moved to his feet then, stopping her from pacing, his hands going to grab hold of her hips, planting himself firmly in front of him. Her gaze flickered around, unable to look at him. But Bucky wasn't having that. He moved his hand to her chin, tilting her gaze up. "Never say that again," he demanded from her. "Do you understand me?"

"But it's true," she said, the tears forming in her eyes. "It's true, Bucky. It was me who she wanted, not Charlie. He shouldn't have been there."

"Stop it," Bucky said with a firm shake of his head. "Evelyn, I don't even want to think about that."

"Neither do I, but it's true," Evelyn said. "We can't deny it, can we? And how many people is she going to hurt to get what she wants? How many times is she going to try and escape to get her revenge? She's deranged…she's not going to stop…"

"Evie," Bucky spoke her name, trying to calm her down, sensing that she was on he verge of hysterics. He needed to do something to try and keep her calm, but he was struggling. She was shaking in his grip, her body convulsing and tears falling down her cheeks. He suspected she was finally giving herself time to process what had happened.

"And I begged her to stop," Evelyn said to him, moving to grip onto his shoulders. "I begged her and told her that the man who killed her mother wasn't you…I told her that…pleaded with her to see reason…but she wouldn't…and she…that knife…if Charlie didn't turn up…if he hadn't have come then she…Bucky…"

"Come here," Bucky said, finally pulling her flush against his body, his arms tight around her as she clung onto him, almost as though she was scared to let him go. She felt her cheek press against his chest as he moved his hand to cup the back of her head, kissing the crown of it as he bent down. "I'm not leaving you, Evie, not until she's found. I swear on it. I'm not letting you go."

"You don't deserve this," Evelyn whispered against the leather jacket he wore. "You don't deserve any of this."

"Perhaps not," Bucky said to her, "but I'm going to keep you safe, Evie. I swear it."

Evelyn nodded against him then, closing her eyes firmly and just allowing him to keep hold of her. She sniffed and tried to calm herself, feeling slightly warmer in Bucky's grip. She felt him run his hands through her hair, untangling it as he went, the motion soft and soothing. It was only when he felt his phone begin to vibrate in his pocket did he pull back from her for a moment, seeing that it was Sam calling.

"I need to take this," he said to her, holding the phone up so that she could see it was Sam calling.

She nodded her head in agreement with him and he pressed the phone to his ear, keeping one arm around Evelyn's shoulders and guiding her to the bed.

"Sam, yeah," Bucky answered the phone. "Okay…good…do you need me to do anything? I can do that…no…of course…let me know if you find anything."

Hanging up, Bucky dropped the phone on the mattress behind him as he sat down, forcing Evelyn to sit down next to his side. She looked up to him expectantly and he moved his hand out to stroke along her cheek, thumb roaming over her cheekbone. "Sam has surveillance set on your parents to ensure they're safe," Bucky told her. "But he's also tracked down a woman called Sally Andrews. She was a friend with Karli when they had been in Riga. She moved here during the Blip and got a job as a lawyer…and she was Verity's lawyer, Evie."

Evelyn's brow furrowed at hearing that piece of information. "So…she was a Flag Smasher and Verity's lawyer?" Evelyn checked and Bucky nodded his head. "Do you think that she was the one who helped her out?"

"I think that would be a logical assumption," Bucky said with a nod of his head. "Sam has found her apartment and is heading there now. He thinks that she might be able to give us more information."

"Do you think she will?"

"It depends how loyal she is," Bucky said to her with a shrug. "And then there is lawyer-client confidentiality to deal with too…but if she had any hand in helping Verity out of that cell then we'll find out. Besides, the Flag Smashers…Karli…after tonight they will still have people who believe in their cause, but Sam…I think perhaps he spoke sense to the GRC."

"I heard parts of his speech," Evelyn said to him with a nod of her head. "Verity was playing it on my phone. He…what he said was so truthful and powerful."

"It was," Bucky nodded his head. "He'll be a good Cap."

Evelyn's lips arched upwards, despite everything, at hearing Bucky say that. Peering down to her, his own gaze softened and he nodded his head, bending down to kiss her forehead before he felt her rest against his side, nuzzling her cheek against his neck and shoulder.

"I wondered for some time if we needed a new Captain America," Evelyn admitted to Bucky. "When Sam told me he had the shield, I wondered how it would feel…but…I think the world's ready for a new Cap. They're ready for someone who they can trust to do the right thing and Sam is that man. Sam understands what it takes to be him."

"I agree," Bucky responded and he felt Evelyn slump further into him.

"No sarcastic remarks?"

"Not tonight," Bucky said, "and most certainly not when he flew ahead here and potentially saved your life from Verity. I'll never be able to thank him for that."

"Same," Evelyn agreed with a soft whisper. "I don't know how long I could have stayed hidden from her before he showed up. She had locked all of the doors…she'd thought of everything…"

"She's not going to get away with it again," Bucky promised her. "But you should get some sleep, Evie. There's nothing you can do tonight. Charlie is safe. Your parents are safe. And you need some rest."

"I don't know if I can sleep," Evelyn whispered to him.

"Will you try?" Bucky asked from her, chin resting on the top of her head. "For me?"

"You won't leave, will you?" she asked him, hating that she sounded so needy as he kissed the top of her hair.

"I'm going nowhere," Bucky promised her.

"Then let me just use the bathroom," she said and escaped from his grip.

Heading to the bathroom, she closed the door as Bucky shrugged out of his leather jacket, his jumper soon following. He tossed them into the chair in the corner of the bedroom, switching the lamp on by the bedside table and turning the main light out. Slipping from his boots and trousers, he placed them on the chair too, leaving him in his grey top and boxers. He pulled the duvet back and sat on the edge of the bed.

Evelyn soon came out, her hair pulled back from her face and tucked behind her ears. She had kicked her brogues off and was dressed in the fitted green dress with the black belt around her waist. She pulled the belt off and Bucky saw her shift the dress down her thighs before she climbed into bed. They had nothing with them, no change of clothes, no toiletries, nothing.

"What happened tonight…in New York…" Evelyn began as she climbed into bed, taking the right hand side as she usually did. Bucky sat up, resting against the headboard as she did the same. He pulled the duvet up, dropping it on both of their laps. "You haven't said much about it."

"I've had my mind on other things," Bucky said to her. "But what happened was inevitable in a way…perhaps Zemo had a point after all…Karli was too far gone."

"But you tried to reason with her," Evelyn said to him. "Sam tried to reason with her, didn't he?"

"Of course he did," Bucky nodded his head at her, "but she wasn't giving up. Sharon was the one who shot her. It was either that or she would have killed Sam."

"Sharon?" Evelyn checked. "How did Sharon Carter get back into the country without being arrested?"

"She was disguised," Bucky said to her. "We managed to save the hostages…there was this moment where some of them were locked in a truck that Karli set on fire."

"Oh my God," Evelyn said and Bucky nodded his head.

"I got them out," he informed her. "It went down to the wire, but I managed to get all of them. I…there was this moment…when one of them thanked me. He thanked me for saving his life and it felt weird, Evie."

"Why?" Evelyn wondered, thinking that it would be normal to thank someone for saving their life. Bucky shrugged his shoulders, peering down to his lap, his hands lacing together as he made the movement. Evelyn continued to watch him, doing her best to consider what he was feeling.

"I guess it's been a while since anyone thanked me for saving them…you know…considering that the Winter Soldier used to take lives, not save them," he admitted to her. "It made me feel that perhaps I had a purpose…that perhaps I can do more good in the world, especially when one of the officers referred to me as Sergeant Barnes. That felt weird too. No one's called me that since the '40s."

Evelyn let herself smile sadly at hearing that. She moved a hand out to hold onto his, squeezing it tightly in her grip and Bucky glanced over to her, his own gaze soft. Evelyn wasn't entirely certain what she should say to Bucky. How did she respond to this sudden declaration from him? She was uncertain. Instead she simply moved to kiss him on the cheek.

"People only see what I've seen for a long time," she finally settled on saying to him.

"Feels…good," he decided. "But I do feel that it is only right that I tell you that Walker showed up too."

Evelyn's brow furrowed at that. "John?" she checked. "What was John doing there?"

"Initially, I think he came for revenge on Karli for what she did to Lemar," Bucky said to her. "He had made his own shield and everything. It crumpled as soon as Karli hit it, mind you, but he…he kind of did something that surprised me. He chose to save a van of hostages instead of going after Karli. He chose them above his need for revenge."

Evelyn nodded her head, pondering what Bucky had said with thoughtfulness. His brows furrowed and he brushed at her hair behind her ear, stroking it softly with his fingertips.

"You don't look shocked."

"I'm not," Evelyn said to him. "I know that we've had our differences with John, but I do think that he is a good man, Bucky. I think he wants to do good…but he…he just wasn't Captain America. He wasn't right to be him and he couldn't handle the pressure. I'd warned him about that through everything."

"And I think perhaps he has accepted it," Bucky responded to her with a shrug of his shoulders. "And he apologised for everything he had done. He said that he regretted it all."

"I don't doubt that either," Evelyn said to him. "I think he made the choices he did because of the pressure…because he couldn't think rationally…and because he wanted to do the right thing. He wanted to stop Karli."

"Maybe," Bucky said, not entirely certain if he was ready to go so easy on Walker just yet. "But he proved himself useful tonight."

"I think you all did," Evelyn scoffed. "And not only in New York…but here…"

"Could hardly concentrate in New York when I was worrying about you," Bucky responded honestly to her and she moved to lay down then, resting on her side on the plush mattress. Bucky copied her movement, slipping onto his back, adjusting the pillow behind him so that he didn't strain his neck. He felt Evelyn move against his side, resting her cheek by his neck and her hand running along the chain of his dog tags as he adjusted his arm, lifting her up and slipping it around her shoulders.

"You're here now," she said to him. "And Sam…can I just say that his new suit is very fancy. I never commented on it before when he came."

Bucky's lips arched. "Not bad, is it?" he said to her.

"It's very nice," she said. "And did he say that Redwing was back? I thought that Redwing had been destroyed?"

"It had been," Bucky agreed, "but I asked Ayo for a new Redwing to be built. It's part of him."

"That's…well…I have to say…it's very nice of you," she stammered, "considering you told me how much you dislike Redwing."

"I dislike the fact that it thinks it's better than me," Bucky muttered and Evelyn's lips arched upwards at hearing him as she kept on fiddling with the chain of the tags in her fingertips.

"You're jealous of Redwing's abilities?"

"No," he said.

"Sounds like you are," Evelyn retorted.

"I am not jealous," he said firmly. "I just find it annoying. Anyway, what happened to your necklace?"

Bucky changed the topic. She never took that locket off. She sometimes had it underneath her jumper or shirt, but it was always round her neck. It was only as he had been watching her pacing when he realised he couldn't see the chain and now that he could move his hand to tickle her neck to see the bruising there, he realised the chain was missing.

Evelyn let out a shaky breath and stilled her hand on his chest. "She destroyed it," Evelyn said to him. "She took it and destroyed it."

Bucky's teeth ground together at that piece of information. He did his best not to let anger rise up inside of him, but he had to confess that he was struggling. After everything this woman had done, he was finding it even more difficult to control his rage.

"I know that I should be thankful that she didn't do worse," Evelyn whispered, "but that locket…well…it meant a lot to me."

"I know," Bucky whispered, "but, like you said, she could have done worse."

He would buy her another locket. He would find something else. But for now, he was doing his best to keep his mind clear. He had to do that for Evelyn's sake.

"Try to sleep," Bucky said to her as she closed her eyes and her grip on his shirt increased. He nodded his head as she made the movement and he bent down, kissing her on the forehead. "I'm not leaving you, Evie. I'll be here."

"Thank you."

"Don't need to thank me for that, sweetheart," he whispered. "I love you."

"Love you too."

She said nothing else as Bucky let her lay in his grip, his eyes set on the ceiling above him. She finally dozed off as he felt her breathing change and grow shallower. But she didn't move. Instead she remained in his grip, finding herself content there with an element of safety. Bucky continued watching her, doing his best to think about how he would deal with Verity Mardox when he got his hands on her.

…

Sam had tracked Sally Andrews down all too easily. The Flag Smasher movement was in disarray. The ring leaders had all been apprehended, or killed, in New York. Karli had gone and Sam had to admit that he was upset by that. A part of him had truly hoped that he could change her mind and make her see sense – make her understand that what she was doing was wrong. But it had not worked. She would have killed him if Sharon hadn't have intervened.

With everything that had happened, Sam had to admit that he was ready to rest. But he had bigger things to deal with still. He had to help Evelyn and Bucky. He had to find Verity before she did something dangerous and hurt the both of them. He wasn't about to let that happen on his watch.

"Sharon, how's the wound?" Sam asked as he stood outside of Sally Andrews building, his phone to his ear.

"Painful, but I've had worse," Sharon responded down the phone. "But why do I get the feeling you're not calling me for a catch up?"

"I wish I was," Sam said, "but I'm out in D.C. Bucky's fiancée…Evelyn…Verity Mardox almost got her hands on her. She fled before I could get her, but she's still out there. She said that she had connections…people who would be able to help Karli and the Flag Smashers, but what with everything that happened tonight I'm beginning to wonder if those contacts will be useless."

"So you want help identifying her contacts?' Sharon asked from him.

"I'm wondering if she might be using one of them to hide and lay low," Sam said. "And I know that I've already asked so much of you, Sharon, but Evie…she's a great girl and Bucky is besotted by her."

"I can call around," Sharon said. "I'll see if any of my contacts have heard from her."

"Thanks, Sharon," Sam said gratefully. "I've found her lawyer. She's called Sally Andrews."

There was silence then and Sam's brow furrowed.

"Heard of her?" Sam asked when Sharon didn't respond.

"Only by name," she said. "She was a friend of Karli's when they were in Madripoor, but she left during the Blip. She headed to the States to become a lawyer. That was the last I heard about her."

"Well, I think that she might have something to do with what happened," Sam said, "or at the very least she helped Verity get out by getting in touch with Karli."

"Sounds like a possibility," Sharon could agree with that point.

"Well, hopefully I'm about to find out," Sam said. "I'll call you later, Sharon…and thanks for this."

"Yeah," Sharon said back to him and she hung up first.

Sam dropped his phone into his pocket, grateful that the costume even had pockets. It had felt strange putting it on for the first time. He had grown so used to his normal outfit as the Falcon. But he had slowly grown used to the new one, working out where everything was located on it that he needed, including how to hook the shield onto his back easily. He took the stairs up to her apartment, peering down the corridor as he made his movement, making sure he wasn't being watched.

Coming to the door, he knocked once. He could hear no movement and Redwing outside couldn't sense any heat source in it. He kicked the door down easily, stepping into the large, open spaced apartment. It was empty. There was hardly anything in it except for plush furniture and fancy artwork. Looking around, whoever had been in the apartment had left no trace behind.

Pulling out his phone again, he called Bucky to give him the update. The phone rang a few times before Bucky picked up.

"Sam," he greeted him.

"Sally Andrews split," Sam said. "Her apartment is completely empty, Buck. She must have known what was going down and did a runner. I've got Sharon working her contacts to see if they know where Verity could be hiding out."

"Do you think her lawyer is with her?"

"Pass," Sam said. "I don't think Verity is the kind of woman to take people with her."

"Perhaps not," Bucky said, not entirely sure what Verity would do. "But if the lawyer has gone then she was definitely involved in this. Do we have any idea how Verity even got out?"

"Yeah, a fake transfer request was put in to move her to another unit," Sam said. "No doubt her lawyer did that. Anyway, the van transporting her was ambushed. They planned it meticulously…two guards dead…Verity freed."

"So the lawyer definitely helped," Bucky confirmed. "Question is, where the hell are the two of them hiding?"

"That's what I'm hoping we find out from Sharon," Sam said to Bucky. "In the meantime, I need you to sit tight. How's she doing?"

"Sleeping," Bucky said. "She's…doing better," he continued. "She's scared, of course, and struggling with what happened. But she's tough. She's had to be to stick by me."

"This isn't your fault, Buck," Sam promised him.

"And rationally I know that," Bucky said to him. "And the man I was over a year ago would have left her. I would have left her because I felt that she would be safer, but I'm tired of running, Sam. I'm tired of thinking that I can't have the life I want with the woman I love. So I'm going nowhere."

Sam nodded his head at hearing that from Bucky. He took a moment to gather his thoughts, his lips turning up. "I'm proud of you," he said to Bucky. "And she will be too."

"I just want to make her happy and keep her safe, Sam," Bucky said earnestly. "That's all that I want to do."

"And you will," Sam promised him. "We will deal with Verity and then you two will be fine. I know it."

"Hope so," Bucky said to him. "Listen, I should go back into the bedroom. I came into the bathroom so that I didn't wake her up. I promised not to leave her and I don't want her waking up and worrying."

"Go back to her," Sam urged. "I'll call you if I get anymore updates."

"Thanks, Sam," Bucky said and he hung up the phone and headed back out to the bedroom. He placed the phone on the bedside table and climbed back into bed. Evelyn had rolled onto her other side away from him. He gently lowered his arm over her waist, his other arm worming its way under her pillow. She shifted in her sleep slightly as he disturbed her, but she didn't wake.

…

"Why did you just not finish her off?" Sally snapped at Verity, the two women sat in the sleek SUV car. Verity was driving, heading down the highway as Sally sat next to her in the passenger seat, her gaze narrowed on the other woman. "What possessed you to try and drag this out?"

"Because that is the only way he will suffer."

"He'll suffer knowing that she's dead," Sally hissed back. "The plan was to meet at the airbase before he got there…now we're trapped here…because you couldn't just kill her and give us time to get out!"

"We'll get out of here," Verity snapped back.

"How?" Sally demanded. "Karli is dead and everyone associated with her has gone into hiding. Your pilot wasn't even at the airbase so who knows where he's gone. We're…we're screwed," Sally said with a firm shake of her head. "The Flag Smasher movement has been forced back…and Karli…without her…"

"Karli was a figurehead," Verity said, tiring of listening to Sally's ramblings. "There are still plenty who believe in her cause. You can cut off the head of a snake, but it always grows back."

"Does it?" Sally snapped back at her. "Because Karli was the one we all looked up to and without her…with the GRC now promising action because of what the new Captain America said, I think our list of allies just shrunk. Those contacts you had will be useless now."

"Then what do you suggest?" Verity demanded from her. "Do you want to go and turn yourself in? Is that it? Because I can drop you off at the side of the road and you can do that."

"Of course I don't want to turn myself in," Sally said, throwing a glare over to Verity. "But you need to realise that we're in deep shit right now. In the course of a night…things have changed…you're only free because of what our movement did. That's the only reason you're here and now without Karli…your contacts are useless."

"The fact that Karli died is not my fault," Verity responded, moving to the outside lane and overtaking cars as her foot pressed harder on the gas pedal. "I lived up to my end of the bargain and I gave her names of people who could help. As far as I'm concerned, the deal is done."

"You're on borrowed time, you know that, right?" Sally asked from her. "You'll have the new Captain America coming after you now and you know that Barnes isn't going to leave her side. You're going to get nowhere near her."

"I have ways," Verity retorted.

"Such as?"

"She has parents."

"And you think that they won't be under watch now?" Sally retorted. "Barnes will have thought of everything. He's not stupid. He's going to know that if you want to get to his fiancée then you go through people she loves. It's in every stupid film everyone sees."

"But the people guarding them don't have one thing that I do," Verity retorted.

"And what's that?"

"Serum in their blood," she retorted.

"You…you should have just killed her," Sally said firmly. "You should have killed her and we could be out of here…we could have left before the events in New York."

"You're making me wonder if you really are loyal to my cause."

"Your cause is not my cause," Sally retorted firmly. "I followed Karli. You just had resources, but like I said, things have changed."

Verity went silent then, turning to look to Sally as she looked out the window. There was something not quite right. Her lawyer might have done her a favour before. She might have helped her escape, but now, Verity could see her clearly. She was a liability to her. She was someone who she couldn't trust. Verity suspected that at the first moment she could she would call someone and try to bargain her way out of this. And Verity wasn't going to give her the chance. She wasn't going to let that doubt set in. She was going to deal with her the only way she knew how.

….

"Sally Andrews was found behind a dumpster at some motel off the highway," Sam informed Evelyn and Bucky the following morning.

He had told them that they should be safe enough to go back to their apartment considering that Verity had been picked up by CCTV travelling away from D.C. Evelyn had changed into her grey jumpsuit, tugging on Bucky's sweatshirt over it while he sat in jeans and a short sleeved red top. He looked over to Sam as he leant forwards on the sofa.

"She's dead?" Bucky checked with him.

"Yeah," Sam said with a nod. "My guess is that she got spooked, threatened to turn on Verity to try and save her own ass. Verity silenced her before she could do anything."

"God," Evelyn whispered.

"Your parents have been moved to a secure location," Sam continued. "I had Torres head on out to Florida and get them to a safe house."

"Why?" Evelyn wondered.

"Verity is heading in the direction of Florida and I don't want to take any chances," Sam said to her. "My best bet is that is where she is heading…thinking that she can use them to get to you. It would work, wouldn't it?"

"Of course it would," Evelyn said without hesitation as Bucky took hold of her by the hand, squeezing it tightly. He didn't even want to think about that happening. It wasn't worth it. He closed his eyes for a moment and Sam noted the pained expression that flickered over his face for a fleeting second.

"So I had them sent to a safe house," Sam said and he reached into his pocket. "And I picked up your phone too. The police were finished with it for evidence."

He left it on the coffee table. "Thank you," Evelyn said to him. "And my parents…were they okay? Can I talk to them?"

"It might be best not to, unless you have a secure line," Sam said to her. "I don't know how capable Verity is or if she can track calls, so I don't want to take that risk. If what I think is going to happen does happen then there is a possibility that we can ambush her…get to Florida before her and trap her at your parent's house."

"You sure that's where she's going?" Bucky was the one to ask.

Sam shrugged. "The fact she is heading out that way would seem logical," Sam responded, "but as with everything, I can't be one hundred per-cent certain."

"I think you have a point," Evelyn said to Sam, nodding her head. "When she was talking to me she asked me how I would feel if my mother was murdered and I told her that I…well…I told her that I loved my parents and would do anything for them. She knows that and I guess it would make sense for her to try and use that against me."

"It sounds like the kind of thing she would do," Bucky agreed with that point, "but if you're going out there then you can't go alone. She's had the serum."

"You want to come with me?"

"I want to stop Verity," Bucky replied. "And if this is the best chance we're going to get then we need to take it. We need to do it and bring this to a close."

Before Evelyn could insist that she tag along with them, a knock sounded on the door. Bucky was the one to stand up, pressing a hand to her arm to keep her seated. She watched him go and Sam could see the fear in her gaze as he looked through the peephole and pulled the door open. Whoever it was, Bucky clearly wasn't frightened.

"What are you doing here?" Bucky demanded from whoever was at the door.

"I figured you could use some help."

Evelyn stood up at hearing his voice. Moving over to stand behind Bucky's shoulder, she stood on her toes and looked around him. Her brows furrowed and her eyes widened. "John," she spoke his name.

"Hey," John said, looking slightly sheepish. "I heard about what happened at the museum. It's closed and there's police everywhere. I figured it would be about Verity."

"You figured right," Evelyn responded to him as Bucky kept his gaze steely and even, focused on John in front of him. "But you didn't need to come here, John."

"Well, I wanted to," John responded. "And I want to help. I just need to know what the plan is."

"The plan is that we can deal with this," Bucky responded to John.

"We think she's gone after my parents," Evelyn said, Bucky turning to throw a look down to her, his face scrunched up with his 'what the hell are you doing?' expression. She shrugged up to him and tilted her head to the side. "If he wants to help then why not let him? Three against one sounds better to me than two against one."

"Evie might be right," Sam interjected, having moved from the sofa and standing behind her as she moved Bucky out of the way to let John into the apartment, closing the door behind him. "You did good in New York, but I need to know that you're going to follow orders. If we go after Verity then we need to work together as one unit."

"I can do that," John said with a nod. He had to admit that he was the one used to giving orders, not taking them. But he could cope with that for the time being if it was required of him to help.

Bucky sighed, realising that he was going to be outvoted on this point. They were going to get their own way, he could see that much. Doing his best not to act petulantly, Bucky folded his arms over his chest and leant back against the kitchen worktop.

"Then we need to go," Sam said with a nod. "The plane is waiting at the airbase. We can change when we're there."

"I'm coming with you," Evelyn said firmly.

"Evie, is that for the best?"

"She's coming," Bucky was the one to step in, looking to Sam and nodding his head. "She's getting nowhere near Verity, but she's not staying here alone. You can put agents…police…whatever…on watch, but I'm not leaving her alone."

"Fine," Sam said with a nod of his head, "but we're keeping you away from Verity."

"I can agree with that," Evelyn promised him and he felt his phone begin to vibrate.

He pulled it out and looked down at the notification. "Redwing has eventually found Verity," he said. "He's tracking her car."

"Good," Bucky said with a nod, reaching around John and grabbing hold of his jacket.

Evelyn went to pick her phone up from the coffee table, noting that it was turned off. She left it that way, remembering what Sam had said about it being tracked. She kept it in her pocket for when she could use it. Slipping into her white trainers, she tied them up quickly before tying her hair up with the bobble she had put around her wrist after showering.

"She's still heading in the right direction of Evelyn's parent's house," Sam commented, finishing off looking at his phone. "So let's go. We don't have any time to waste."

Nodding, Bucky agreed with that as John pulled the door open, zipping up the beige jacket he wore over his checked shirt and jeans. Sam followed him, Bucky waiting behind and holding his hand out for Evelyn. She took hold of it and grabbed her keys, locking up behind them. Giving her hand a squeeze as he followed them to the elevator, Bucky bent down and kissed the top of her head, promising her silently that things would be fine. He would see to that.

…

"That was Sharon," Sam said on the flight over to Florida. "She said that her contacts have a flight waiting for Verity out of Florida first thing tomorrow morning. She was heading back to Madripoor."

"No extradition," John commented, dressed in the same uniform he had worn before. But this time he knew he wasn't Captain America. No, that title belonged to the man stood in the middle of the plane addressing each of them.

Bucky was sat down on the other side of the plane with Evelyn sat next to him. She had her legs crossed, one of Bucky's hands in between both of hers resting on her thigh. John had watched the other super soldier, noting the way he hovered around Evelyn, always attentive to her and seemingly in sync with her. He would whisper to her every so often, checking that she was okay. One of his hands would hold hers, his other brushing her hair behind her ear.

"That proves our theory, I guess," Bucky spoke up.

"And you're sure my parents are safe?"

"As safe as can be," Sam reiterated for her. "We land in Florida in about ten minutes. As soon as we're there, you three head to the house. I'll fly ahead."

"Got it," John agreed.

"What do you think?" Bucky asked Evelyn, looking down to her and furrowing her brow, waiting for him to expand. "Do you want to be anywhere near the house or would you rather wait at the airbase?"

"I don't know," Evelyn responded to him. "What do you think I should do?"

"I don't know," Bucky retorted. "Like I said, I want you in my sight but nowhere near Verity…which turns out to be a contradiction because I can't have it both ways if I deal with Verity."

"There's the summer house," Evelyn said to him with a shrug. "It's hidden in the shrubbery in the corner of the garden."

Bucky's brow furrowed. "I didn't even notice it," he said to her and her lips arched.

"It's behind the fence," she said to him and he remembered a fence at one end of the garden. "Dad kept it fenced off so it was hidden. He claimed it was his little sanctuary whenever he wanted to get work done with no interruptions…but the idea of her even being in my house…"

"We'll keep her out," Bucky said to her. "We'll do what we can so that she doesn't even set foot in it, but you're sure about this?"

"You'll be there, right?" Evelyn said to him. "I don't like sounding needy, Bucky…or even admitting that…the only time I actually feel safe…knowing that she is out there…is when I'm with you."

"It's not needy," Bucky promised her, moving to take hold of her cheek, stroking it gently in his fingers as she looked at him, searching his gaze. "Because, if anything, I only feel that you're safe when you're with me."

"Then that's the plan," she said with a nod of her head.

"Looks like it," Bucky agreed as Sam told them it was only a few more minutes until they landed.

Evelyn could feel it descending rapidly, despite the lack of windows in the military plane. Once they had touched down and the ramp lowered, Sam was running ahead. Walker and Bucky, more annoyingly, had to rely on a vehicle. Climbing into the sleek looking car that was waiting, Bucky was the one who drove. Evelyn took the passenger seat as Walker sat in the back, his gaze peering out of the window.

"You okay?" Evelyn asked from him, turning around to look at him.

"Yeah," he said, moving his gaze away from the window so that he could look to her. "You?"

"Hanging in there," she said honestly to him and he nodded his head, understanding what she was saying to him. "You know…after everything…you really didn't have to do this…not for us…"

"I didn't do it out of duty," John said with a shake of his head. "I did it because I wanted to and because…it's the right thing to do."

"Thank you," Evelyn said, grateful that he was willing to help them.

Bucky turned to look down to Evelyn for a moment as he sped along the highway. She looked over to him and managed a soft smile in his direction as Sam's voice came into their ear pieces that they had picked up from the plane.

"The house is secure," Sam spoke. "She's not here yet."

"Good," Evelyn said in relief.

"We're twenty minutes out," Bucky responded to Sam.

Evelyn turned to look up to him. "How do you remember the way? You've only been once before?"

"I pay attention," was all he said to her. He didn't tell her that he memorised all routes they took in case of emergencies. That was what he had trained to do. It was what he did best. Evelyn didn't push him. Instead they lapsed into silence until Evelyn saw the street where she lived. Looking at the passing houses, Bucky parked a few doors down, not wanting to attract attention. He left the car on the side of the wide road and climbed out, moving quickly to hold open Evelyn's door, taking hold of her hand once she was stood up.

"Come on," Bucky said, Walker following them down to her house.

Bucky's eyes constantly darted around as they came to the house and found Sam moving outside to greet them.

"Any sign of her?"

"None yet," Sam responded with a shake of his head. "Redwing has her being approximately ten minutes out."

"Where do we wait?" Walker asked. "We want to take her by surprise, don't we? Standing here looking like a welcome committee isn't exactly the best way to do that."

"He's right," Sam said, looking over to Bucky and nodding his head in his direction. "We should head into the house."

"I promised Evie she wouldn't get in there," Bucky said.

Evelyn gulped, but shook her head. "Sam's right," she said to him. "When she comes here then she'll go into the house to find my parents. If you want to surprise her then you need to get in there."

"Don't suppose you have a key?" John asked her. "Or hide one under a plant pot?"

"Do people really do that?" Sam wondered.

"Steve's was under a rock," Bucky recalled, unable to stop himself.

Evelyn squeezed his hand once he had spoken, but she reached into her pocket and pulled her keys out. "Mum and dad insist I have a house key even though I don't live here and whenever I visit they usually pick me up from the airport," Evelyn said, finding their house key on her key ring. She stepped forwards and unlocked the door, pushing it open and heading into the large hallway.

Sam whistled lowly as he followed her behind Bucky. Turning his head over his shoulder, Bucky nodded at Sam. "I know," he said to him in response to his appreciative whistle.

"This is a seriously nice house," Sam commented.

"How many rooms does this place have?" Walker asked, closing the door.

"You guys can go on a tour later and play estate agents," Evelyn promised them.

"I'm taking Evelyn out to the summer house. I'll be back in a minute," Bucky said.

Evelyn led the way, picking up the keys to the summerhouse that hung on a hook in the kitchen. She unlocked the glass doors in the kitchen and stepped onto the lawn, heading down it and towards the fenced off shrubbery. Stepping into the hidden garden, Bucky looked around. In the closed off area, there was a large wooden summerhouse, a small lawn in front of it with blossom trees and colourful plants. Evelyn unlocked the summerhouse and opened the door. It was just a large room with a desk against a window, overlooking the lake.

"Six minutes and counting," Sam's voice said in their ear.

"Back in a minute," Bucky responded and peered down to Evelyn. "Stay here, okay?"

"I will," she promised him, nodding her head. "Be careful, Bucky."

"I will be," he assured her. "We'll stop her and then we'll go and find you parents…explain everything…"

"They'll be freaking out," Evelyn mumbled.

"We know that," Bucky scoffed. "But they'll be safe. You'll be safe."

Bending down, Bucky kissed her slowly for a few moments, but that was long enough for Sam to speak in their ears.

"That's enough of that, Romeo, put her down and get your ass back up here."

Evelyn's lips quirked at hearing him, but they had the desired effect. Bucky pulled back, a finger under her chin and his gaze meeting hers as he gave her a soft smile with a wink and began moving away. "Back soon, sweetheart."

"Better be."

He nodded then and began to walk back up the lawn, leaving Evelyn hidden.

"You coming, sweetheart?" Sam teased Bucky.

"I still hate you," Bucky commented, but this time his tone was in complete jest and Sam's chuckle told him that he knew that too. Entering the house, the two of them were stood in the kitchen, looking down the hallway to the front door. They had a clear view of someone approaching if they stood there. Looking over to Bucky, Walker kept a brow arched under his helmet, his gaze full of confusion. Bucky frowned over to him.

"What?"

"Nothing," Walker said with a shake of his head, "just weird hearing you being affectionate."

"You ain't seen nothing," Sam muttered.

"Don't start," Bucky warned him and Sam chuckled again before looking down at the information panel on his wrist, staring straight at it and seeing that Redwing was telling them that she was down the road.

"We're up," Sam said, moving to hide around the corner so that she couldn't see him. Bucky stood on the other side of the door, Walker behind him. The three of them remained silent, listening intently for the sound of Verity approaching. Eventually, the door began to rattle. They had left it unlocked and Verity walked in after realising that. Her footsteps were quiet and Bucky suspected she was assessing the situation.

She was trying to work out the best way to go. The three of them remained where they were before Verity's footsteps grew louder. She was heading into the kitchen. It was when she stepped through the door, Bucky moved. Lifting his vibranium arm up, his hand grabbed her by the throat before she had a chance to look at her surroundings. She fought against him, but Sam was there in an instant, tugging her hands behind her back as she fought against him and Bucky lifted her from the floor.

She used whatever strength she had to kick Bucky in the knee, the force causing him to stumble slightly and drop her from his grip, letting her kick back against Sam and send him flying into the wall behind. Walker moved then, kicking her square in the stomach and sending her hurtling into the hallway.

"Walker, get down," Sam demanded as he held the shield in his hand. He threw it forwards as Verity tried to stand up. It hit her in the chest and she went flying back to the floor as it came back to Sam and he caught it on his arm.

"Well," Verity coughed out blood onto the wooden floor before standing up straight and gathering herself. "This is quite the welcome. I assume the little bitch is around here somewhere."

Bucky stepped forwards then, punching at her as she ducked down, avoiding it. Sam was beside Bucky though, able to kick at her in the back of her leg, sending her to her knees. Walker bent down, grabbing her wrist before she could retaliate, pulling it behind her back.

"It's three against one," he told her. "How do you think this is going to go down, huh?"

"You think I'm going to give up?" she demanded as Bucky jumped out of the way as she tried to kick at him, her arm still behind her back. Looking over to him, she narrowed her gaze as Bucky watched her.

"You should," he responded to her. "Because you're outnumbered. You might have been able to take one of us…but you're on your own…and you can't fight your way out of this, so just give up."

"Not likely," she responded, kicking her heels back and hitting Walker in the groin. Super soldier or not, the feeling of being kicked there still hurt. He let go of her grip and she went to punch at Bucky, but he ducked out of her way in time for Sam to use the shield to hit her back.

The three of them continued fighting her, the furniture in the hallway destroyed as they moved around, throwing punches and kicks and doing everything they could to get Verity to stop. It took longer than Bucky had anticipated, Verity had clearly spent her time training in combat. But he had years of experience. He had years of fighting experience and so did Sam, and even Walker. She was persistent, he gave her that. But eventually he had her pinned down on the floor, her lips swollen and her cheek purple and bruised.

"You really think that you can keep me locked away in a cell? I'll find a way out…I always do," Verity said to Bucky as he kept a foot on her stomach, stopping her from getting up. "You know that."

"Transport is on the way," Sam said to them. "She's going to be taken to the Raft."

"Take me wherever," Verity said. "I'll still find a way out."

"Not from the Raft you don't," Sam responded.

"You know she begged, don't you?" Verity spoke, trying to get a rise out of Bucky. "I had her tied to that chair and she begged me not to kill her…pathetic, right? We're not like that…begging…pleading…it's weak."

"Shut up," Bucky demanded from her.

"She cried when I destroyed that stupid locket," Verity said and Bucky's pressure on her stomach increased as Walker stood back, nursing a cut on his chin and trying to get it to stop bleeding. "It's funny, really. I had her in the exhibit and all she could do was stare up at that stupid banner of your face…almost as though you would still save her…and it made me realise that you've manipulated her enough that she would willingly give up her life for yours."

"Manipulated her?" Bucky retorted, looking down to her. "You have no idea."

"Buck, don't bother with her," Sam said to him. "Just ignore her."

"Am doing," Bucky retorted.

It was another few minutes before back up arrived and they hauled Verity to her feet, cuffing her and leading her to the armed unit. They assured them that she would be taken to the Raft and Bucky slammed the door shut on the back of the armoured van, a breath of relief taking hold of him.

"I got this," Sam said, looking at the police surrounding the house.

"You sure?"

"Go and check on Evie," Sam demanded and Bucky didn't need to be told twice.

He moved back through the house, nodding to Walker as he passed him by. Heading onto the lawn, Evelyn was already making her way up it and back to the house, tugging out the ear piece and throwing it to the floor. Bucky did the same, not wanting Sam or Walker in his ear when he was with Evie.

"I heard everything," she said to him, nodding her head. "Did she hurt any of you?"

"She didn't get chance, not really," Bucky said with a shake of his head. "I mean…Walker has a few bruises and cuts, but he'll live."

"You're sure?"

"There were two super soldiers and Captain America," Bucky said to her. "She had no chance of getting close to any of us."

Evelyn nodded her head, trying to calm her breathing. She swore that she had been holding her breath the entire time she had listened in. It was only when Sam told Bucky to go and find her did she leave the summerhouse, rushing back up the garden to find Bucky leaving the kitchen and heading into it.

"And she's gone?"

"She's being taken to the Raft," he said with a nod. "It's the same place where Zemo is. She won't get out, Evie, no matter what she says."

"But didn't you help break people out of the Raft with Steve?"

"And ever since then security has increased tenfold," he told her. "And Verity's contacts…we'll find them…make sure they can never help her again. This is it, Evie. She isn't getting out of this, I promise you."

Evelyn nodded then, seemingly placated by what she heard. Dipping his head low, Bucky's forehead pressed to hers and his lips arched upwards while she watched him.

"We're free," he told her and she smiled at that, nodding her head against his. "It's you and me now, sweetheart," he whispered. "You, me and nothing in between."

"I like the sound of that," she said to him and he moved to wrap his arms around her, holding onto her in his grip before he bent down to kiss her. She almost shrieked out loud as she felt his hands grip hold of her thighs, hauling her up against him as she wrapped her legs around his waist and stayed there, hands holding his neck and kissing him as he wandered around the garden with her in his grip.

Sam stood by the kitchen folding doors, arms over his chest as he watched the two of them for a moment. He smiled at the sight, happy that Bucky had finally found his peace.

…

Evelyn had told John that he was more than welcome to stay if he wanted to, but he had insisted that he would be better off heading home. Evelyn had thanked him, pecking him on the cheek as Bucky even managed a nod of thanks in his direction. Sam had walked him out as Evelyn was told that her parents would be home in the next hour or so. She had begun to tidy up the hallway, seeing smashed ornaments, broken furniture and photo frames dotted around from the fight. The bannister heading up the staircase even had bits of wood missing from it.

Sam had said that he would stay with them, helping to tidy up before leaving. Evelyn insisted he stay, knowing that her parents would want to see him again. She let out a laugh when she returned to the hallway after going to put some broken wood in the bin.

"What's so funny?" Bucky wondered from her, picking up a fallen photo.

"Just…you two in here," she said, standing in the doorway. "Both dressed in those outfits…Sam sweeping up…you cleaning up."

"I was thinking about wearing this when doing chores around the house," Sam said to her. "Or is it too much?"

"It might be a bit too much," Evelyn said, tilting her head to the side.

"Only might," Sam pointed out.

"Yeah, you could get away with it," Bucky shrugged his shoulders.

It was at that moment when the front door opened. Sarah and Alistair walked in, concern clear on their faces as they looked around. "Oh my God," Sarah whispered at the sight of her destroyed hallway.

"Mum," Evelyn spoke, moving down the hallway as Sam and Bucky stood up and she swept by them. "Dad."

"Evie," Sarah whispered, seeing her daughter approach. The older woman burst into tears at the sight of her daughter, moving to embrace her and hold her. Alistair moved around the other side, his arms gong around both his daughter and wife as he bent down and kissed Evelyn on the top of her head, burying his cheek into her hair.

"Darling," Alistair whispered, "are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine," Evelyn said, her face pressed to her mother's shoulder as she felt her father squeeze her tightly. "I'm so sorry…I'm so sorry you went through this…"

"Sweetie, we're fine," Sarah promised her daughter. "A very nice young man looked after us. It was you who we were scared for. He told us what happened…in the museum…we just wanted to be with you. We just wanted you to be safe."

"I am," Evelyn promised them. "I'm fine."

Alistair kissed the top of her head again and reluctantly moved his arms from her. He pulled back and looked down onto her, noticing a bruise on her cheek and her neck. Her wrists were also bruised from the rope Verity had used, but she looked fine apart from that. She had no broken bones. She was still here. She was still with them.

"Bucky," Alistair said, turning to look to him and he stepped forwards, ready for whatever words were going to be yelled at him for what had happened. But as Alistair moved forwards, no words came. Instead, he held his hand out and Bucky arched his brows before he hesitantly raised his own hand. Alistair shook it vehemently.

"Thank you," Alistair said to him. "Thank you for being here."

"I…I'm sorry," was all Bucky could say. "I know that you might be upset with me, but I-"

"-We're not mad," Alistair said as Sarah kept an arm over Evelyn's shoulders. "You were the one who stopped her."

"Well, I had help," Bucky admitted, throwing a glance over to Sam.

"Sam…Falcon…sorry, Captain America," Alistair stammered and Sam's lips arched.

"Sam is fine," he said to him and Alistair shook his hand. "And you're more than welcome."

"No, I don't think you understand," Alistair said with a shake of his head. "She means everything to us, Sam…our only daughter…and you…you helped save her life. I don't think we can ever repay you…either of you."

"You don't need to repay us," Sam said to him with a shake of his head. "Besides, we kind of destroyed your hallway."

"We don't care," Sarah said to him. "You don't know how much…we…" Sarah couldn't even speak. She started crying and Evelyn wrapped her arms around her, holding onto her tightly. Her mother gripped her back and Evelyn caught Bucky's eye for a moment as Sam stepped forwards, a hand going to Sarah's shoulder. The woman sniffed loudly and moved a hand to Sam's cheek, leaning up to kiss him on the other cheek.

"I get it," Sam promised her.

She nodded once to him and patted his cheek. Alistair sniffed again as Sarah moved to Bucky and embraced him.

"We might not be able to repay you," Alistair said. "But I have a bottle of whiskey that is almost forty years old and I think tonight might be the night to open it. Stay for a glass, Sam?"

"I'd love to, but I don't want to intrude…"

"Nonsense," Sarah said firmly. "You're doing anything but."

"Yeah," Bucky nodded his head, looking to Sam. "Stay."

Nodding his head, Sam could agree to that. Looking down at his clothes, he smirked. "If you don't mind me dressed like this then I'll stay," he said.

"I have some clothes upstairs you can borrow," Bucky declared. "I left some here when I visited last time."

"So…is the suit too much for dinner as well as cleaning?"

"Maybe," Bucky echoed back. "Come on."

"I'll get the wine," Sarah said.

"And we'll order food," Alistair said.

"Yes," Sarah said, sniffing and drying her eyes. "We should uncover the chairs outside. It's too nice a night not to enjoy the weather…all things considering."

Alistair and Sarah moved through into the kitchen as Bucky clasped Sam on the back.

"I'll show you to a guest room," Evelyn said to him. "Come on."

"A guest room?" Sam asked her. "How many guest rooms are there?"

"Well, four," Evelyn said to him.

"Four?" he echoed back.

"Wait until you see the jetty," Bucky commented, following Sam up the stairs as he walked up, sandwiched in between the couple.

"Jetty?" he repeated.

"Yeah, I needed a map the first time I stayed here."

"But you clearly made yourself at home if you left some stuff," Evelyn responded, heading into her bedroom where she suspected he would have left it. She stood in her room as Sam stood by the door and Bucky went to the drawer he had left his clothes in.

"Figured we'd be back visiting," he shrugged his shoulders.

He went to grab a pair of jeans and a top, handing them over to Sam as Evelyn guided him to the guest room. He raised a hand in thanks and she handed him a spare towel from the linen cupboard, telling him there was a shower in the en suite. Heading back to her bedroom, she found Bucky staring out the window, an amused smile on his face.

"What you looking at?" she asked him.

"Your parents," Bucky said and Evelyn stood by his side, peering down and seeing her mum placing a bottle of wine on the outside table, her father already sat back on the plush sofa and sipping on a glass of whiskey. "Think we'll end up like them?"

"What?" she asked him. "Having rich, snooty friends who our children insult? Or having a daughter who is constantly getting into trouble? Or a daughter who also dates someone from the 1940s and is a super soldier? Please, God, tell me there aren't anymore of you," she joked with him and Bucky laughed at hearing her, feeling her move to stand in front of him, wrapping her arms around his waist as he took hold of her upper arms, running his hands up and down them, ruffling the sweatshirt of his that she wore.

"Hopefully none of that," he said. "I mean…the love between them…the way they're still in sync…a daughter who they love very much."

"Well," Evelyn said, "I intend to love you for the next thirty years," she said, making reference to how long her parents had been together for.

"Just thirty years?" he joked with her.

"I don't think we should make any big lifelong commitments," she responded in jest and Bucky's lips continued to smile as she spoke to him and he moved them back to the bed, falling on top of her, her legs dangling over the edge of the bed and moving to wrap around his waist as he bent over her on the mattress.

"Such a tease," he muttered down to her.

"Only for you," she replied, brushing a hand through his hair.

"Glad to hear it, sweetheart," he responded and went to kiss her.

He didn't know how long he kept his lips moving against hers, hearing her moan his name and try to keep her voice down as she groaned loudly once he was kissing down her neck, pulling her sweatshirt over her head.

"This house might be massive," Sam's voice suddenly called out, "but the walls aren't soundproof, lovebirds."

They heard him take off down the staircase and Evelyn smirked as Bucky finally peeled his sweatshirt from her, tossing it off to the side. She moved a hand to his chest and smiled. "We'll continue this later," she said to him. "I don't want my parents wondering where we are."

"Again, such a tease," Bucky complained.

She smirked and kissed his lips once more. "Take a cold shower," she said. "I'll see you downstairs."

She managed to roll him from her, seeing him collapse back against the bed, hands resting on his stomach. She sat up and looked down to him. "Still love me?" she checked.

He smirked, reaching up to brush her hair from her face, his thumb running over her swollen lip. "Always."

...

A/N: Only a few more chapters to go! Do let me know what you think - love reading your comments!