Author's Note:

Yeah, another chapter. I'm hoping to start updating this fic at least twice a week. We've got a lot of ground to cover. Hope everyone's ready for the long haul.

No triggers for this chapter. Mostly just dealing with the aftermath of the last chapter. Lots of Steve and Astrid fluff. As always please review and let me know what you think.

Astrid woke up with her entire body aching. It was hard enough sleeping on the ground. Even harder when her body was one giant bruise. She sat up slowly, groaning as she did so. Despite the fact that it was still dark. Barely able to see anything in front of her. Steve awake and up in an instant. Hovering over her but not touching. Not wanting to make the pain worse. A deep frown on his face.

She missed his smile but understood. It was hard to look at her without wanting to go back and kill her ex. If he actually managed to break anything Steve might have. It had only been a week since the incident. Their progress slowed by the weather. The snow becoming heavier by the day. Now blanketing everything around them. Snowflakes continuing to fall well into the night. The tents barely providing enough shelter. They would be lucky if they made it to the Hydra base on schedule.

"How are you doing?" he asked quietly. Snow softening his voice. Judging by the silence the others s were not yet awake.

'Would you believe me if I said I was doing fine?' she asked. Steve glared at her and crossed his arms. Astrid let out a sigh. 'I've been better, but this isn't the first time I've woken up in the middle of the night due to pain.' Nor did she have a feeling it would be the last. Still, it didn't help Steve's mood any. Placing a hand on his cheek. 'You still love me?'

'Always,' he responded taking her hand in his and turning slightly. Gently kissing her palm. One of the few parts that didn't hurt. Her hands.

'Then that's all I need.' She reached around for her bag. Despite her body protesting such movements. Taking out one of the vials and filling a dropper with the clear liquid inside. Dispensing a few droplets on her tongue. Swallowing it down. It would help with the pain and swelling. Push the bruises to heal even faster. In a few days Astrid would be completely healed. Already she had made progress. Barely being able to move after the first night. When the swelling and the bruising started to set in. But after maybe two or three more days it would look like there wasn't even a mark on her.

Laying back down on her side, thanking Stark for the warmer clothing. They probably wouldn't have made it this far without it. Steve laying back down as well. This becoming routine. Steve not falling back asleep until Astrid did so.

"Astrid?" Shamira whispered poking her head into the tent. "Mind if I borrow you for a moment?"

Astrid let out a grumble but got up. Under Steve's careful eye. Leaving the shelter and into the cold. Biting into Astrid's exposed skin. Bringing painful memories back to the surface of her mind. Snow always did.

The two of them walked a little bit away from the camp. Where they couldn't be overheard. "Don't worry," Shamira said. "We'll be back in warm weather before we know it."

Astrid raised an eyebrow. "I'm assuming you didn't drag me out in the cold to talk about the weather."

"You'd be right." Shamira let out a sigh. Looking up into the trees. Tapping the side of her head. Wanting to keep quiet 'Never expected to be back here again.'

'I know.' Astrid also turned her head up. Watching the wind play with the trees. Snow slowly drifting down. "Feels like a millennium ago. ' Astrid let out a hollow laugh. 'You think Krysia has forgiven us?'

Shamira brought her head back down. Staring at the snow beneath her feet. 'Would you?' Astrid didn't have an answer. 'I still remember her begging us not to go. And her face when we told her Tomasz was dead.'

'What choice did we have?'

Shamira chuckled. 'You would say that.' She kicked a rock underneath her feet. Sending it in between the trees. 'I miss them you know. And traveling with our boys here… it just reminds me so much of our old team.'

Astrid knew exactly what she meant. Serving with Steve, Bucky, and the others, reminded her so much of their old comrades. And the explosion that ripped them away. She sometimes had to catch herself and remember that this wasn't the same team.

'All we can do is honor their memory. Keep on fighting. Saving people. Doing all we can. Until this war is well and truly over." And maybe even afterward. There were always going to be people to save.

'You really are Lady Liberty.'

Astrid shot her a glare. 'Do not make me push you into the snow.'

Shamira let out a full-body laugh. Shaking off the snow that had fallen in her hair. "Never change Astrid."

She wasn't planning on it. Looking at Shamira. The woman who's been through almost everything with her. Grasping her shoulder. Wishing she could take Shamira away from all of this. But she knew, deep down Shamira was in this fight just as much as Astrid was. Even if all she really wanted was to be away from it all.

"You can head back you know," Astrid spoke out loud. Somehow the words made it more real. "You don't have to be here."

Shamira smiled at her. "Please, none of you would last a day without me." She watched as Shamira's smile slipped away from her face. "I'm not leaving this fight until you do." Giving Astrid a side-eye she shook her head. "But you already know this." She turned so that she was looking at Astrid directly. The only sounds were the crunching of snow and their deep steady breathing. Taking both hands into hers. "You aren't going to chase me away and you're not going to lose me." She jerked her head back towards the camp. "You aren't going to lose him either. Or any of them. We'll all be able to go home someday."

Home. Such a concept. Though as Astrid looked at Shamira she knew the truth. Home was with her.

Cocking her head to the side she looked at Shamira. "Now why are we really out here?" The cold was starting to get to her. Feeling the chill bite into her skin.

"Just reminding you that you're not alone in all of this. Considering what you've been through…" Astrid was about to say something but Shamira held her hand up. "I know, I know, you're a torturer. It comes with the job but still…" She let out a sigh. Running a hand through her hair. "You got all of us worried. Even me." Astrid was about to try again but Shamira held a finger up. "And don't you dare say you're fine."

'You don't make this easy do you?' Astrid replied. 'The truth is I'm not fine. I probably won't be fine for a long time. But as long as I have all of you, I'll be okay. And when I'm ready to talk about it I will. Trust me.'

'Always. Just…' Shamira bit her lip. Looking for the right words. 'Be gentle with Steve. You are without a doubt going through the worst of it but he did watch someone attempt to rape his wife.'

The cold outside was nothing compared to the chill in Astrid's body. Having not put that together. She had been down this road before. Knew what to expect. But it was different for Steve. All the warnings in the world mean nothing until reality sets in. Astrid let out a huff. Gesturing back to camp. "Shall we head back? It's freezing out here." The two of them headed back. Continuing to chat in their minds. Until Astrid returned to her tent where Steve was pretending to be asleep.

She let him think that she didn't notice he was awake. Heading back in and curling up in his arms. Right now warmth was more important than being pain-free. Soon feeling the warmth of his body leech into her. Letting out a soft sigh. Pushing herself even closer to him. Steve being the perfect gentleman. Laying his hands on her stomach rather than further up. Neither of them was in the right place for that.

"I love you, Steve," she whispered before closing her eyes. Wondering how much sleep she would get before the sun rose. The last sound she heard before drifting off was those words repeated back to her. I love you, Astrid.

With the dawn came more snow. Falling even heavier than it did during the night. All of them grumbling. Morita and Jones arguing about starting a fire while the others collected wood. Falsworth going through the rations. He somehow had the gift of making rations tolerable. Steve keeping a close eye on all of them. Especially Astrid.

Astrid was surveying their surroundings. Making sure that no one was sneaking up on them. Sending out a mind pulse. She gave a half-smile at the results. Just as she expected. No one around for miles.

"Anything?" Dernier called out. Putting down a stack of sticks next to Morita and Jones.

Astrid shook her head. "We are certainly alone out here." She could almost see the tension evaporate. Now that there was no worry they would be attacked.

"Alright men," Falsworth shouted. Both Shamira and Astrid turned to look at him. "And ladies. Who wants some meat in a can?" The groaning got even louder. Quickly making the food by the fire.

Dugan grumbled as the food dripped off the spoon. "I think they are trying to kill us."

"I've forgotten what real food tastes," Morita stated putting the can down. The rest of them looking just as excited about the food. With the one exception of Astrid.

"I mean it's not great but it's not terrible either," Astrid pointed out.

Jones rolled his eyes. Putting his own can down. "You are the only person I know who even somewhat likes this garbage."

"To be fair," Bucky continued. "Astrid will pretty much eat anything." He pointed a thumb towards Steve. "She'll even eat his cooking."

Astrid scoffed. "Please Bucky. Even I have standards." The men burst out laughing. Even Dernier. The group discovering that he understood English but couldn't speak it.

"I mean she's not wrong," Steve replied still slightly chuckling. "If I made food I'll probably kill us all."

"We know," they all replied at the same time. They had made that mistake once. Never again.

Once they managed to swallow down all the food and put out the fire they set off once again. Steve leading the way. Compass in hand. With Astrid beside him. The rest all following his lead. Shamira and Bucky talking quietly with each other. The other having a conversation about guns or something. Astrid wasn't paying attention. Completely silent. On the lookout for anyone who could be sneaking up on them. Which was a good thing. She was at a complete loss for words. No idea what to say to her husband.

She caught him out of the corner of her eye lifting his hand up and tapping the side of his head. Letting out a sigh. Looks like she had to find the words quickly.

'You're looking better today,' he thought. Astrid nodded. The bruising was fading more and more each day. At the rate she was looking it would be completely healed in a couple of days.

'I am doing better, but how are you doing?' She swore she saw him freeze for a brief second before continuing. 'Steve?'

'There is no need to worry about me.' Astrid definitely knew that wasn't the case. 'We just need to make sure that you are doing better.'

Well, the serum definitely didn't make him any less stubborn. Astrid reaching for his hand. Loving the feeling of their fingers fitting perfectly together. Even with the gloves. 'Steve I know that's not true.'

It was easy to read the conflict on his face. Whether to be strong or to be honest. And the latter won out. 'I was scared out of my mind Astrid. To see what that monster was trying to do to you. I wanted to kill him. I still do.'

Astrid certainly couldn't blame him for that. Squeezing his hand slightly harder. 'You know what got me through?' Steve slightly shook his head. 'You. Just knowing that whatever that man did do to me it wouldn't change anything. You would stay with me.' Steve pulled her into his side. Wrapping an arm around her completely. Careful of the bruising along her ribs. He was always so careful with her.

'Always.'

Astrid nodded. Already feeling lighter and more at ease. Steve just did that. 'I can only apologize for-'

'Don't. Don't you dare. You've got nothing to apologize for.' She heard the anger in those words. 'You did what you did to save others. It's I who should apologize to you. For not making it there in time. For not upholding my promise to you. ' She could feel him take a deep shuddering breath. 'I just hope you can forgive me.' Even his thoughts cracked.

Astrid shook her head. Not believing what she was hearing. 'You blame yourself?' Astrid scoffed. 'You're the last person that should be blamed. Blame me for insisting I go alone, blame the bastard that tried to …. But don't blame yourself. You…you upheld your promise. He didn't…touch me.' Astrid didn't want to put it into words again. This conversation was painful enough already. She took a deep breath. 'I can handle whatever the world throws at me. And I know you can as well. Hell, I've seen you do it. It's one of the things that drew you to me.' He blushed. Bowing his head slightly. 'And I just want to move on. That man has already taken away so much from me. I don't want him plaguing either of our thoughts anymore. We both deserve better than that. And we got too much pain ahead to dwell on it.'

He turned to look at her and she found herself staring into deep blue eyes. Sending her heart fluttering. He was such a perfectly wonderful man. Giving her a smile. 'I can do that.' He pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. 'I'll do my best to make sure that man never enters your mind again.'

"So, are you two going to kiss or just stand there?" Morita asked. Both Astrid and Steve turned to look at him. Only to find the entire gang staring at them arms crossed. Shamira and Bucky chuckling. Used to this sort of thing happening.

"You two having been standing still for the past ten minutes," Dugan pointed out. "Either kiss or keep walking."

Astrid and Steve exchanged a look. Turned around and kept on walking. "We should keep moving everyone," Astrid called out. "No use dawdling." Steve let out a laugh.

"Take your own advice," Jones snapped back. Grin on his face.

"You think they'll actually listen?" Shamira asked.

"No. Why would they? They are like the dream couple." Which launched into another conversation about significant others. Though Astrid zoned it out. Focusing back on Steve. Walking by his side once again. An ease between the two of them. They still had a lot to talk about, but Astrid knew they could do it together.

Just as she came to a sense of comfort, she felt a prickle in her brain. At the edges of her range. They certainly weren't alone anymore. Slipping on her mask. The reaction instant. Shamira putting on hers and appearing at her side. All chatter ceased. Replaced by the sounds of guns being locked and loaded. Slow but steady breathing. Tension increasing as Astrid pointed in the direction. Before taking off. Shamira right by her. Serving as scouts as the men followed. Astrid wincing every time she heard the crunch of snow. They would have to be careful not to give away their location.

Using the element of surprise, they snuck up on the group of men. Taking a moment to examine them thoroughly. Makeshift weapons, old, ill-kept uniforms. Astrid had a weird feeling about this. Not that she could dwell on it. Soon finding a gun pointed at her face. Hearing the others raise their weapons as well. Looks like they had been spotted. Now stuck in a standoff. None of them wanting to make the first move.

Only one man hadn't done anything. Sitting on a log. Short blond hair, medium build. He looked to be in his thirties. Maybe older though war did that to people. Astrid watched him closely as he stood up. Letting herself relax once she got a look at his face. They had nothing to worry about.

He placed his hand on one of the soldiers. Speaking in Polish to all of them. Astrid having long been fluent in the language. "At ease." The men glanced at one another. Slowly lowering their weapons. Steve beckoning them to do the same. Everyone else followed suit. Still, the air was thick with tension. As the man walked in front of Astrid. Steve ready to step in front of her. Only stopped by Astrid's hand against his chest. Letting him know it was okay before taking a few steps in front of the man. Now staring face to face.

His stern face cracked a smile. Making him look almost ten years younger. "Astrid. It has been far too long."