Saturday

Steve was in the shower when he heard a loud pounding on his hotel room door. He quickly turned off the water and toweled off, wrapping the towel around his waist to see who was there. When he saw Katiana on the other side, he panicked, needing to find clothes but also not wanting her to leave.

She began to knock softer, as if losing hope he'd answer, and Steve quickly ripped the door open, accidentally snapping the padlock that had still been intact. He looked at the door as the lock clamored to the ground, then up to Katiana in the blue dress he'd bought her. "Hi."

"Hi yourself." She slurred in her thick Sokovian accent as she entered the hotel room, looking up and down his shirtless body as he held onto the towel tightly with his right hand, "Is this a bad time?"

"No! No, it's fine. Now is fine. I'll, uh, just let me get dressed real quick." Steve stammered as he straightened up, sucking in his chest to sneak by Katiana without bumping her in an effort to get to his duffel bag. The red color in his face covered his ears and moved down his neck, but he felt like his whole body was on fire being naked in the room with her. He pulled out a pair of boxers and jeans, then passed her again to go to the bathroom to change, "Just, one minute, take a seat!"

"You don't have to change on my account. I think the towel looks good." She hummed, tilting her head to follow the v leading down to his covered crotch. Steve didn't argue or respond, he just quickly barricaded himself in the bathroom.

Once the door was closed and locked, he breathed deeply and pulled up his underwear as he called through the door, "I, uh, I didn't expect to see today. I'd hoped you would come, but, I didn't want to assume, especially after yesterday." Steve stopped for a moment, but no response came from the other side of the door, so he quickly zipped up his jeans and opened the door, letting the steam escape into the cool hotel room. He found Katiana sitting on the bed, fiddling with the boning of the blue corset around her stomach.

"I thought a lot about what you said. All of it. I know you said you were willing to let me make the decision to get my memories back, and I'm scared to remember. I'm scared to suddenly become who I used to be, and I'm afraid I'll lose who I am, but if you love Kayla Ellis as much as you seem to, I should let her in, right?"

Katiana met Steve's gaze and he leaned against the wall, trying not to look too hopeful. "You said you could love me as Katiana. If I come with you, and you can't get the chip out, what will become of me?"

"I'll still love you." Steve said as he moved to kneel in front of her, grabbing her hands and massaging them between his fingers. She wanted to pull them away and put her hands on his chest, but he just wanted to hold her so badly, "I still see so much of her in you, and so much of what I loved is still there. If we can't get your memories back, and if you aren't happy in New York, I'll come back here with you."

Katiana blinked slowly, "What?"

"If you're willing to take this chance to come with me, I'm willing to give you whatever life you want if this goes sideways."

"You're serious?" Katiana blurted, suddenly unsure about every part of her plan. "If you can't bring Kayla back, you'd give up everything for me?"

"Yes. Give New York a chance, and if you aren't happy there as Katiana, we can come back here. I hope you'll decide to have the chip removed, but if not, I'll still be here. I promised I would be." Steve stood quickly and left her to go into the bathroom. Katiana watched him anxiously, unsure what was about to happen as he returned with his hand curled into a fist. He knelt down and opened his palm, revealing the biggest sapphire Katiana could remember seeing connected to a thick silver chain. "I bought this for you. I'm not going to give it to you yet, but I've worn it day and night since I lost you. When everybody else gave up on you, I kept searching, and I'm not going to let you go, as long as you'll have me. Give me a chance to prove I can make you happy, Katiana Malani."

She swallowed hard, eyes bulging at the massive ring and then the hopeful man who held it, "Oh- okay. Yeah. Yeah, let's do this! Let's go to New York!"

Steve picked her up and spun her around before nestling his forearm under her ass to hold her up. She placed her hands on his bare shoulder blades and bit her bottom lip as she ran her fingers to his biceps. He slowly lowered her, letting her slip through his arm onto the ground so she was standing in front of him with her hands on his forearms. Her eyes were lusty as she looked up at his lips, and Katiana had to remind herself that this was all just part of the plan to destroy the Avengers.

However, if Steve Rogers wanted to ravish her in the meantime, she wouldn't complain.

She reached up on her tiptoes and kissed him passionately as he grabbed onto her jaw to hold her face up. He bit at her bottom lip softly and she hummed into his mouth, wondering if he'd let her strip him back down to the way she found him. She ran her fingers from his arms to his chest to his stomach, feeling every ab as her touch got lower and lower until she reached his belt, but he grabbed her hand.

"Not yet." He said gruffly, but she could tell he wasn't happy about it, "When we get home. Please, I've waited so long."

Katiana nodded, willing the heat in her core to simmer down because she wasn't supposed to have feelings for him. "Right. Yeah, sorry. Got caught up in the moment."

Steve pressed another rough kiss to her lips, then pulled away to reach into his duffel and grab a blue button up shirt, "We don't have to leave yet, but I do need to warn you, Stark's having a party at the tower. You don't have to go, but I'll need to make an appearance."

Katiana considered this as Steve pulled his undershirt over his head, then proceeded to work on buttoning up the royal blue shirt that was clearly too small. The idea of being without him made her sad, but the idea of mingling with the Avengers reminded her of her purpose, "I wouldn't miss it. Plus," She gestured down at her dress that matched his shirt, "I'm already dressed up in my finest."

Steve led Katiana into the quinjet as she looked around in wonder, "This is how you get around?" She said as she looked around the sleek jet, eventually taking a seat in the co-pilot's chair and turning around to face Steve.

He beamed proudly and gestured around, "Yeah, this and my motorcycle. You- Kayla always loved riding my motorcycle with me. I don't think she ever got to ride in the quinjet."

Katiana nodded in wonder as Steve took his seat in the pilot's chair, "I don't remember riding a motorcycle. Will you take me when we get to New York?"

"Yes. Whatever you want to do." Steve told her as he flipped several switches and the jet roared to life.

"Welcome Captain Rogers and Miss Ellis. Shall I set course for home?" An electronic voice echoed throughout the jet and Katiana flinched in on herself as she looked up.

"What the hell is that?" She yelped as she looked around in terror.

Steve chuckled and reached over to drape his hand over Katiana's wrist, "That's JARVIS, Tony's AI. He runs everything."

"How did it know I was Miss Ellis?" Katiana breathed, unsure how the disembodied voice knew her when she wasn't even sure of her own identity.

"I am able to do facial recognition, Miss Ellis. Even with your changed hair and physique, your facial structure hasn't changed." JARVIS answered and Katiana sucked in her breath slowly.

Steve leaned towards her and she smiled weakly at him, "It's okay. There's going to be a lot of things you aren't familiar with. I'll be there every step of the way, I promise. If you need a break, just tell me, okay?"

Katiana nodded, biting her upper lip as Steve turned and pushed the throttle forward, taking the jet into the sky effortlessly. Once they were airborne, Steve put the jet on autopilot and turned back to Katiana to talk, "We'll be home a few hours before the party starts. I'll make sure the team makes themselves scarce so you can get some rest."

"I'll be okay. I'd like to meet the Avengers. I have to get past the lies Strucker told me." Katiana said quietly, staring out the window as they soared through the clouds, "What did the computer mean about my changed physique?"

Steve laughed and Katiana's heart swelled as her cheeks turned beet red, "You're more muscular now than you were when we last saw each other. You're not quite as lean as you once were."

She narrowed her eyes and twisted her lips to the side, looking up at the ceiling bitterly, "Does the computer think I'm fat?"

"No, no, of course not! You're perfect." Steve assured her, turning his chair to face her. He rested his hand on her knee and she took it, rubbing her fingers along his calloused palm as he studied her, "Can I tell you a secret?" He whispered, and Katiana nodded slightly, "I kinda like you better this way."

She tilted her head, but the corner of her lip pulled up in a smile, "Why?"

"You're more real. You don't dress and act like a Barbie doll, you're your own person, unabashedly so. Kayla always wore a mask in front of everyone. She stayed thin and made up all the time, but you're more raw. I feel bad saying it, but I like it a lot." Steve admitted quietly, his eyes big and nervous as he spoke, as if Kayla could hear the way he thought about her and would be mad at him. Katiana surely wasn't.

"I'm happy you like me." She told Steve shyly, looking up at him from under her lashes, "I like you a lot, too."

Katiana thought Steve's face might break as wide as his smile was. She was struck by the sheer joy on the man's face, and how she was somehow the cause of it. With the exception of Pietro and Wanda, she couldn't remember making anyone smile, especially like that. Katiana wondered what other expressions she could elicit from Captain America.

She drew her mind out of the gutter and smiled sweetly at Steve, "How long until we get there?"

"Seven hours, Miss Ellis."

She glared up at the ceiling and Steve grimaced, "JARVIS, could you refer to her as Miss Malani for the foreseeable future please?"

"Yes, Captain Rogers." JARVIS answered and Katiana gave a firm nod, causing Steve to laugh.

"I can't wait to get you home."

Katiana sighed, leaning back in the sunken chair, "I'm nervous."

"It'll be okay. I promise. I'll be there every step of the way."

"The quinjet is landing, everybody be cool!" Tony yelled from where he stood just inside the landing pad.

Natasha and Clint looked up from their conversation at the bar and Clint called, "You're the only one not being cool, Stark!"

"Listen, she's gonna be a little freaked out, we should give them some space. Maybe make yourselves scarce. Tony. Thor." Bruce directed and the demi-god pointed to himself and drew his brows.

"Me? Why me?"

Tony smacked Thor on the bicep as he led them to the elevator, "She can't remember her own mother, she'll probably be freaked out by the God of Thunder."

"Very well, tonight then." Thor said quietly, having never met Steve's girlfriend anyway.

Steve led Katiana through the massive opening into the Avengers Tower as she looked around with her mouth agape. Natasha bit her lips and looked to Clint nervously as Bruce slowly approached.

"Cap, welcome home." He said slowly as Steve and Katiana turned to him. He offered his hand, "I'm Doctor Bruce Banner."

"Katiana Malani. It's a pleasure to meet you." She greeted sweetly, forcing a brave smile. It wasn't lost on Katiana how Banner stared at her, taking in her dark hair and thicker body. He wasn't nearly as subtle as Steve had been in the darkness.

"Katiana, this is Natasha and Clint. The Black Widow and Hawkeye." Steve introduced his friends as Natasha and Clint met them, taking turns gently shaking Katiana's hand.

"It's nice to meet you both." She said quietly, looking around again in wonder, "This place is beyond amazing. Have I been here before?" She asked Steve earnestly.

"Yeah, several times when we first started dating." Steve answered and cursed himself for referring to her as Kayla, "I mean, when she and I-"

"It's okay, Steve. I know that I was Kayla. It isn't a secret, I'll get it a lot." Katiana told him, looking over to his teammates sadly, "I don't remember any of you, and I'm sorry, but Steve has told me lots of wonderful things the past few days."

Bruce smiled weakly, but Natasha kept her expression neutral as Clint spoke to the woman, "We'll let you and Cap get settled. Will we see you at the celebration tonight?"

"Yes. I'm already dressed for it!" Katiana exclaimed, gesturing to her tight blue dress. Natasha stared blankly at the other woman, not saying anything as the two men chuckled good heartedly.

"Well, we'll see you then." Bruce said, gesturing for Steve to take Katiana to the elevators.

Once they were gone, Natasha turned to Bruce and Clint with her thumbs hooked through the belt loops of her black jeans, "Somethings not right with her."

"Her memories are suppressed and she doesn't know anybody or anything?" Clint supplied, but Nat shook her head.

"No. She seems fake. If she really only had memories of her time with Hydra, she wouldn't be this sweet and easy-going. Somethings going on with her."

Bruce massaged his temples, groaning at Natasha, "Steve is happy, she's a little out of it, but they'll be okay. Steve is a grown man, he can take care of himself."

"I know, but not when it comes to her." Natasha warned, looking over her shoulder at the elevator where they'd gone. "I'll keep an eye on her myself."

When the doors opened to Steve's suite, Katiana almost fell backwards, "This is where you live?" She gawked as she practically ran into the living space. She put her hands to her mouth and laughed loudly, "This is insane? Look at that view!"

Steve grinned as he snuck up behind her and put his arms around her waist, holding her to his chest, "If you're comfortable with it, this can be where you live, too. I can get you your own floor if you'd prefer, but I'd like you to stay here with me."

"Yes." Katiana cooed as she turned around in his arms, placing her hands firmly against his chest as she breathed out, "Yes, I'll stay with you."

"If you want, I'll crash on the couch for a few nights. It's a comfortable couch." Steve offered, but she shook her head, hooking her hand behind his neck to pull him towards her for a kiss. "No? I mean, that's fine, the bed is huge, we can put pillows between us-" She kissed him again, slower this time and his hands slid down the tight corset of her dress to her waist where the fabric flared out. "I want to give it a little time before we sleep together, though."

"Alright." She hummed, bumping her nose against Steve's, "No sex, but I won't complain if you sleep this close to me."

"Noted." Steve replied, leaning down and kissing her lips before scooping her up bridal style and causing bright giggles to erupt from her belly, "How about a little rest now, before the party? It's been a long trip, and your body clock is six hours ahead. Maybe a little sleep will help you adjust."

Katiana nodded, already feeling Sokovia's sunset in her bones, "A nap would be nice. Will you join me? Or do you have to go?"

"No. I'm all yours." Steve murmured, carrying her over to the bed, "Do you want to change? You can borrow one of my shirts to sleep in?"

"That would be nice." She told Steve and he pressed a quick kiss to her cheek before setting her down and turning to his dresser and opening up the bottom drawer, producing a white undershirt for her to wear. "Thank you. Is there a bathroom I can use?"

"Over there." Steve gestured toward the left of the elevators. "Take your time. Let me known if you need anything."

"I will." She told him softly, clicking her way to the bathroom in her thigh high boots.

Once she was out of sight, Steve let out the breath he was holding and collapsed onto his bed to stare at the ceiling. They were home. Steve pulled out his cell phone, noticing he had a text from Sam.

Did you find her?

Steve grinned and sighed, filling his lungs up as he typed back his response.

I did. She's a little different though. She's got a chip in her brain. She doesn't remember anything.

Steve sent the message and chewed on the inside of his cheek. He knew Sam was planning on coming up with Tiffany for the party tonight, but Steve had kept tight lipped about where he was going. Sam guessed it correctly, though.

Three little dots warned Steve that Sam was texting him back, and finally the message arrived.

She doesn't know who she is?

Steve looked down his legs to the bathroom door, seeing it still closed.

Not at all. She doesn't remember anything before Hydra took her. They filled her head with lies. They told her the Avengers were evil. She's tried to kill me four times since I found her.

The three dots arrived quicker this time, and Steve chuckled at Sam's message.

I don't know if that's sad or sexy. Did she come home with you?

Yes.

Will she be at the party tonight?

Steve heard the door to the bathroom open and Katiana appeared wearing his white undershirt that stopped mid thigh. She took Steve's breath away, and he couldn't focus on anything else.

Yeah. I think so. Warn Tiffany though. She's not Kayla.

Steve turned his phone over on his nightstand as Katiana approached, and he stretched out his arms for her to collapse into on the bed with him, "Is that better?"

"Better for sleeping. I love my dress, though." Katiana told him firmly, assuring him his purchase wasn't in vain. "How much time do we have?"

"As much time as you need, but the party starts in seven hours. Get some sleep, I'll have JARVIS wake us up when we need to get up." Steve told her as she flopped over him into the plush bed. He was going to teach her how to change the firmness, but the smile on her face told him it wasn't necessary. She was perfectly happy just how she was.

Steve pulled the covers up over her shoulders and kicked off his boots before sliding in beside her and pulling her close. She kissed him softly as her heavy eyelids pulled her into sleep, "Thanks for this, Steve." She murmured. He wasn't sure what she was thanking him for, but he was thankful she was here beside him. At long last.

He kissed her forehead and closed his eyes, holding her close to his chest, "Thanks for taking a chance on me."

"I don't think I can do this."

Steve looked down at Katiana as she shifted back and forth from foot to foot in the elevator. They'd woken up from their nap at the start of the party, and Steve had allowed Katiana to redo her hair and makeup, making them fashionably late. Now was the moment of truth, and the woman was starting to rethink her decision to come.

"We can go back to our room." Steve told her as they descended to the eighty-first floor.

"You should go. Be with your friends, I'll wait up for you." Katiana looked up at Steve with scared green eyes, "People will think I'm Kayla Ellis. I'm not her."

"I'll explain what happened, I promise. Plus, most of these people are Tony's friends, they won't look twice at you." Steve promised as the doors opened, revealing a room full of party-goers yelling and hooting and singing to the music that blared through the common area. "Alright, maybe it's more than just Tony's friends!" Steve yelled over the music as he noticed there were dozens of war veterans mixed with the well dressed young people. "Tony!"

Katiana giggled quietly, but Steve heard it and looked down at her, seeing her push her thick black hair behind her ear, "This kinda looks like fun. I've never been to a party before."

Steve threw his arm around her shoulder and slowly led her into the room, looking around for someone safe to speak with for a while. He saw Clint and Doctor Cho talking near the glass windows at the far end of the room and steered Katiana in their direction.

"Clint! You remember Clint?" Steve yelled over the party music. Katiana nodded before he introduced her to the woman with the archer, "Doctor Cho, this is Katiana." Steve shot her a warning stare and Doctor Cho's eyes flickered between Steve and the woman, clearly seeing who she was.

"I was Kayla Ellis once! I don't have any memories!" Katiana hollered at Doctor Cho, enthusiastically shaking her hand. Cho raised her brows in unrestrained surprise.

"Oh. Okay, nice to meet you." She said, looking between Clint and Steve nervously, "So you don't have any memories?"

"Yeah, we're working on that, tonight we just want to have fun." Steve said. Cho nodded in understanding, smiling at the woman and gesturing for them to take a seat away from the music speakers where they wouldn't have to scream over each other.

Katiana followed. She patted the couch cushion next to her for Steve to join her, leaning over to whisper in his hear, "It's okay. People can ask. Just tell them the truth. It's okay, I promise."

Steve pressed a firm kiss to her temple and threw his arm around her shoulders, looking over his own to see who else was around. He saw Tony at the bar with Thor, Rhodes, and Maria Hill and made a mental note to stay far away from there.

"Could you maybe get me something to drink? To ease my nerves?" Katiana said up into Steve's ear. He cringed, knowing he'd have to get past Stark to get alcohol, but what was he supposed to say, no?

"Of course." Steve rubbed her arm and stood, leaving her in Clint's capable hands as he moseyed over to the bar.

"So I take the tank, fly it right up to the generals palace, drop it at his feet, and say 'Boom, you looking for this?"

Stark and Thor stared at Tony blankly as Steve snuck his way up beside them, hoping Rhodey's story would keep them distracted enough to leave him alone. He wasn't so lucky.

"Cap! Where's your girl?" Stark yelled much louder than necessary to talk to someone four feet away. Steve clenched his jaw and leaned away from the bar with a beer in each hand as Stark smirked when he understood what was happening. "What, you trying to hide her from us?"

"I'd very much like to meet your girlfriend, you talk about her so, so much." Thor said honestly with the slightest hint of annoyance in his voice. "Where is she?"

"She's nervous, we're laying low. When she's feeling a little more settled, come over and say hello." Steve gestured toward the couch where Clint and Doctor Cho were keeping Katiana company, but when he looked up he realized all three weren't there anymore. "Shit."

"Looks like somebody got cold feet." Tony hummed to himself and Rhodey shot him a dirty look.

"Listen, whenever she's ready, let us know. It's good to know she's okay. Relatively speaking." Rhodey said and Maria nodded in agreement.

"I just gotta find her first." Steve mumbled to himself as he looked around the room, finally spotting Katiana sitting between Natasha and Bruce in the center of the room. He made a beeline for her and thrust the beer toward her, "I thought you were gonna stay with Clint and Cho?"

Katiana took a swig of her beer and looked to Natasha and Bruce nervously, "I saw Natasha and Doctor Banner and wanted to say hello."

"I was worried about you." Steve admitted and Nat rolled her eyes, standing and facing the soldier.

"She's a grown ass person, Rogers. She doesn't need a babysitter."

Steve stiffened his jaw toward Natasha and she just smirked. Bruce stood and put his hands up in surrender, "Listen, I'm not getting involved, Katiana, great to see you again, I'm sure we'll talk soon."

"Looking forward to it." Katiana said sadly as she turned to face Steve and Nat, "Come on, Steve. I'm sorry. It's not like it's their fault I wandered off. I'm okay, I swear."

Steve dropped his head, "Sorry Romanoff, you're right. I'm just nervous."

"She'll be fine. You'll both be fine." Natasha said bravely, looking down at the woman with weary eyes, "I'm gonna go refill my martini. See you guys later."

Steve moved around the couch and sat down beside Katiana, draping his arm over her protectively as he drained his beer quickly. She noticed how tense he was and rested her hand on his chest, "Do you want to leave? Who don't you want me to see?"

"There she is, the woman of the hour, back from the dead." Tony Stark chirped as he appeared in front of Steve and Katiana, and the soldier groaned loudly.

"Hi, Tony."

"Tony Stark." Katiana purred as she stood, smoothing down the flared bottom of her dress, "It's so nice to meet you, again, I'm guessing."

"Let's just call it what it is and say it's a first meeting. You're taking good care of Capcicle here, right? He's been a mess since you've been missing."

Katiana nodded with a firm smile, "Yes, I'm doing the best I can. Obviously there's still a lot to work out, but I'm feeling better about it all." She turned to the larger blonde man standing behind Tony Stark, "You must be Thor."

"It's a pleasure to meet you. Steven says nothing but wonderful things about you." Thor said as he brought Katiana's hand to his lips. She wanted to correct him and say that Steve had said nothing but wonderful things about Kayla but she didn't want to correct the very large, very handsome man kissing her hand.

"Well, Steve has said nothing but wonderful things about you the past three days I've known him." Katiana chuckled and Thor looked to Steve uncomfortably, so she added, "Did we meet before? Before I forgot everything?"

"No, Miss, we haven't had the pleasure of meeting." Thor said, his voice strained as he caught how devastated Steve's face looked. "Better late than never, though."

"It's kind of nice to meet someone who doesn't already know me." Katiana admitted, turning to Tony, "No offense."

"None taken. It's all complicated, but we'll worry about that another day. For now, enjoy, drink, dance. Let us know if we can make your time here in the tower more comfortable." Tony told Katiana with a wink and she nodded with a forced smile as he walked away.

She sat down next to Steve and finished her beer. He rubbed her back and she leaned against him, fluffing her hair to the side so nobody would recognize her. Steve noticed and stood, leading her away from the crowd to a secluded loveseat near the windows.

"Is this better?" He asked deeply and she kissed him softly in response.

"Much."

The sound of loud giggling radiated from the other side of the room, and a screech that sounded like 'I'm engaged!' followed by cheering. Steve looked up to see who was causing the commotion and leapt to his feet when he realized it was Tiffany shoving her left hand into Natasha's face.

"I'll be right back. Stay here, promise? It's important." Steve said and Katiana nodded, not understanding where he was going, but listening nonetheless. He seemed genuinely worried.

Steve pushed his way through the crowd until he was face to face with Sam and Tiffany, and the little brunette gasped when she saw him. "Steve Rogers! It's been too long!" She practically leapt into his arms to hug him and he patted her back and looked over her shoulder at Sam with wide, panicked eyes. Sam grimaced a little, but shrugged as his smile fought through.

Tiffany bopped up and down on her high heels, a good foot shorter than Steve as she shoved her hand toward him, "I'm sorry we're late, somebody said we had to make a stop on the roof, and I was like, 'The roof? Why the hell do we have to go to the roof when there's a perfectly good party happening below?' and he insisted and so we climbed up there and looked out over the city and he got down on one knee and proposed!" Tiffany clapped quickly and Steve tried really hard to be happy for the couple, despite the clear panic on his face.

"Congratulations! That's wonderful!"

"Oh, and of course you'll be in the wedding, but that's not for a while yet, we have a lot to talk about between now and then." Tiffany gasped after her rambling, looking Steve up and down and realizing how pale he looked, "Steve? Are you alright?"

"Yeah." He croaked, keeping his eyes locked on Sam's, "I'm fine! I'm just really happy for you guys!"

"Mmhhmm." Tiffany hummed, looking to Sam worriedly, "Why don't you two go talk. I'll get us some drinks. Flash this rock around." She told Sam as she leaned up to kiss him before leaving.

Sam opened his mouth to speak, but Steve cut him off, "I'm really happy for you guys!" Steve squeaked unconvincingly.

"Listen, if I'd have realized what went down with Kayla, I wouldn't have done it, but I already planned everything out. Got Pepper to give me roof access the day Stark invited me. I was trying to warn you before the party, but you went radio silent."

"I'm sorry, I'm happy for you, I really am! It's just... what if Tiffany sees her?" Steve hissed, and they both looked over to the little brunette. "What if she stumbles across Katiana and she doesn't recognize her, it'll ruin the best day of her life."

"Katiana? You call her by a different name?" Sam asked incredulously through his frown, "It's really that bad?"

"I'm gonna fix it, but it isn't fixed yet. She's here, but she's not Kayla."

"But Kayla's in there somewhere?" Sam pressed and Steve stammered back, "Kinda, yeah."

"You should introduce them." Sam decided, watching as Tiffany showed off her ring to Clint and Doctor Cho, only knowing who Clint was through association but bragging about her engagement to anyone with ears, "It's better to get ahead of the situation than let her find out later. It'll be tough, but the sooner the better."

"You sure?" Steve asked, worried introducing Tiffany to the person inhabiting her best friend's body wouldn't end so well.

Sam just nodded, "I'm positive. She'll be like you. She'll be happy to have whatever bit of Kayla she can."

"Alright, go get her, let's get this over with." Steve sighed and Sam went to fetch his fiancé from the bar.