Three Months Later
Kayla leaned against the metal table to stay upright, her whole body shaking. She tried to keep her hand steady as she mixed the chemicals, but they splattered anyway and she swore as she collapsed into her wheelchair. Dropping her face into her hand, she moaned, allowing the overwhelming feeling of defeat to wash over her. She grabbed Erskine's journal from the edge of the table, propping it open on her thigh while digging her hand into the bowl of pickles attached to her chair. "What am I missing?"
The sound of footsteps warned Kayla she wasn't alone, but she didn't even look up until Tony said, "I called."
"Pepper?" Kayla asked casually, knowing it was something Stark had been thinking about. He'd been surprisingly helpful in her quest to recreate a viable serum for herself. Kayla knew it was because of the immense guilt he felt over getting rid of Steve's blood samples after the Siberia incident. Whatever Kayla was missing was locked in her husband's genetic code, and six months after the Avengers broke up, Captain America was still nowhere to be found.
Tony pulled up a stool and sat beside Kayla, holding out the flip phone from Steve, "No. I called Steve."
She lifted her gaze at that, but his disappointed expression told her that he'd failed, "He didn't answer?"
"No. But I'll keep trying. I'm sure he will, wherever he's at."
"Tony." Kayla's voice broke, and the man knelt down beside her to look up as she cried softly, "Maybe he's not answering because he's gone."
There is was again. That expression of guilt. Despite how badly Steve had hurt him, Tony would never forgive himself from taking away Kayla's husband. Kayla didn't deserve to be knocked up and left for dead alone. If Tony had listened to Steve at the airport, maybe this whole ordeal could have been avoided. Now Kayla Ellis, America's infamous socialite and wife of former Avenger Captain America, was dying slowly. She'd worked hours on end for the past three months, and every trial she ran through FRIDAY came back negative. If she didn't make a decision soon, both Kayla and the child would die. If Steve Rogers wasn't dead, he'd surely die of a broken heart when he realized what transpired in his absence.
Tony stood and gently patted Kayla on the shoulder, "I'm not giving up on the old man just yet. As I said, I'll keep trying. For your sake." He was almost out the door when Kayla's weak voice called him back.
"Tony?" He turned to see her smiling sadly, "Thanks for trying."
"I'm not giving up yet." Tony answered determinedly, but Kayla knew it was false bravado. Doctor Cho had warned her two months ago that if she wanted to abort the child, she needed to do so sooner rather than later. When Kayla continued to work, Doctor Cho told her that she'd likely die in an effort to stimulate an early birth, meaning the only way either of them would survive now was for Kayla to succeed, and she was determined to figure out her formula in time.
That evening, Kayla sat down to dinner with Tiffany and her mother. She ignored the way Sandra stared at her sadly, studying her sunken cheeks and her weak arms. She'd gone back to wearing her beanie, finding it was easier to keep the hairs from falling out if they were trapped under the black knit cap. Kayla's skin was so pale it was almost fluorescent, and her jaw was so sharp against her thin neck she looked almost like a skeleton. Still, she shoveled in plateful after plateful of steak and potatoes to feed the growing human inside her. Despite being skin and bones, her stomach was plump, and against her small frame she showed like she was ready to pop.
"So, how was work?" Kayla asked as she chewed through her steak, pretending not to notice how uncomfortable everyone was.
Sandra tilted her head and drew her mouth into a tight line, silently asking her daughter if she was really asking that question. Tiffany spoke up without looking, "I actually talked to Jennifer of all people. She reached out today, just wanted to see if you still intended to keep up your end of the bargain from your wedding. About the first interview."
"Maybe I'll die and then won't have to worry about it."
"Kayla Dawn Ellis!" Sandra's voice erupted as a strained cry, but Kayla just looked up at her with a coy smile, causing her mother to back down, "Don't talk like that."
"We're all thinking it, what's the point in pretending it isn't a possibility. I'm failing spectacularly, and I'm more convinced than ever that Steve is dead, so any likelihood of him showing up is slim to nada." Kayla scooped up a heap of potatoes and swallowed, feeling satiated for a brief moment before digging in again.
Tiffany and Sandra shared a look, but Kayla explained before they could ask, "Tony finally called Steve on the flippity phone. Guess who didn't answer? Ding ding ding, my husband."
"Can we not talk like that? Just because he didn't answer doesn't mean they're dead." Tiffany forced out with as much bravado as she could muster.
"Okay Miss Optimistic, maybe the phone died, or Steve dropped it in water. Who knows? Maybe he was just taking a long shit, either way, if they were gonna come home, don't you think they'd have done it by now?"
"Humph," Tiffany crossed her arms and leaned back, "I'm not giving up on Sam."
"You heard from him? Or did his letters start and end with that first one telling you he broke out of jail? Maybe they were assassinated for escaping prison."
"That's enough." Sandra shoved her finger in her daughter's face, "You are out of line. I get that you're hurting, physically and emotionally, but this is hard for us, too. There's no need to be cruel to her, because it somehow makes you feel better."
Kayla stabbed her knife into her steak, breaking through the plate and sticking it into the wooden table. She dropped her head into her hand, wishing she didn't shake so badly as she cried, "I don't want them to be dead. I'm just hurting."
"He doesn't even know that you're hurt. He doesn't know that you're dying, he doesn't even know that you're pregnant. And who's fault is that?" Tiffany hissed, and Sandra threw her finger to her lips to tell the girl to hush.
"What am I supposed to do? They aren't answering any of the phones, the quinjet is on stealth mode, and I don't even know who is with him! It's not like I can send a message into the universe and hope he sees it and comes home!"
Tiffany gasped and smacked Kayla in the arm, causing the blonde to wince, "Wait! That's exactly what you're gonna do! Give Jennifer her interview. People are wondering what happened to you after Steve became a war criminal, so you'll get international coverage for coming out with your pregnancy. If Steve's around, he's bound to see it."
"What if he doesn't?"
"What do you lose if you try?" Tiffany grabbed Kayla's wrist. It was smaller than it had ever been, "Coming clean with what's happening could bring doctors out of the woodwork who can help you, and it could help public perception of Steve. Spin it right, that the Accords are the only reason is hasn't come home, and the public will turn on them."
"That sounds like a dangerous gamble." Kayla argued, but she ripped the knife out of the table and studied it anyway, "But I'm on the UN panel. Even they'd have to work with me to pardon them."
"So you're gonna do it?"
"Against my better judgement, yes, I will." Kayla answered, setting the knife beside her shattered plate, "Set it up for Friday afternoon." Tiffany stood to take her plate to the sink as Kayla batted her eyelashes at her, "And a piece of cake?"
"Cake?"
"Yeah," Kayla said as she rubbed her stomach, smirking over at her mom, "Baby wants cake."
"This is Jennifer Martinez with WHiH coming to you live from Washington D.C. Six months ago, the Avengers made world news when Captain America went head to head with Billionaire Tony Stark's Iron Man over the controversial Sokovia Accords, a new initiative to regulate the activities of enhanced individuals. The world stood in shock as Captain Steve Rogers, World War II hero and leader of the Avengers, refused to sign before evading arrest and going on the run with the known assassin called the Winter Soldier. Here today, I will be sitting down with Captain America's wife, former First Daughter Kayla Ellis in an exclusive first interview since her kidnapping almost three years ago, and nothing is off limits."
Kayla crossed one leg over the other and pursed her lips while she nodded, pushing a chunk of her wavy blonde bob behind her ear, "That's a little alarming." Kayla laughed brightly as she looked towards the audience behind the cameras and motioned between herself and Jennifer, "It's good to see you. Most people probably don't know this, but we used to live together."
"We did, we were suitemates in college." Jennifer agreed, watching as Kayla adjusted the bottom of her velvet blue dress, grunting a little when she leaned over her obvious bump. "So, first things first, we have to address this." Jennifer gestured to Kayla's baby bump with a sly grin, "How far along are you?"
"About six months." Kayla answered sweetly, rubbing her belly fondly.
"Boy or girl?"
"I'm waiting to find out." Kayla answered softly, looking up from under her lashes. "I want it to be a surprise."
Jennifer nodded, pausing a moment before asking, "The father... is Captain Rogers?"
"Yes." Kayla answered, dropping her smile a little before laughing dryly, "Who else would it be?"
"I just have to ask, I'm sure its a little complicated with... everything going on." Jennifer treaded carefully, and Kayla forced a brave smile and nodded.
"It is, but, I'm okay. I found out I was pregnant right after the Lagos incident. Things kind of spiraled out of hand after that."
"I imagine it's uncomfortable to talk about, but I have to ask-" Jennifer looked to the camera for a brief moment before giving Kayla her full attention, "why did Captain America defy the Sokovia Accords and disappear when his wife was expecting? I think I speak for everyone, now that you've gone public with your pregnancy, I'm surprised by his actions. He's been gone for, what, six months?"
Kayla took a slow, deep breath, knowing the conversation was inevitable. "He... he doesn't know."
The crowd gasped quietly and Kayla picked at her French manicure, getting in her own head for a moment. The idea of Steve seeing this somewhere out in the world, and watching Kayla admit he didn't know, made Kayla reconsider this plan. She told the entire world before him, and she had nobody to blame for that but herself.
The woman interviewing Kayla seemed unsure about how to proceed, and Kayla raised her brows expectantly, telling Jennifer to continue. She cleared her throat and asked, "Were you two trying?"
"Yes. Obviously we didn't expect... a lot happened very quickly." Kayla revised her statement, looking to her mother and Tiffany in the wings, "I think everything would have happened very differently if he'd have known. At least I'd like to think that."
Jennifer seemed hesitant to push for more, so she changed the subject, "Your wedding was beautiful. How did you manage to get married just six months after brain surgery?"
Kayla's smile grew until she remembered he was gone, "It was Steve. When I was kidnapped, he never gave up on me. When I had my memories suppressed and was turned into someone I wasn't, he pushed me until I believed who I was, and he stood by my side through two grueling months of recovery." She swallowed, forcing back the tears that wanted to fall, "That's what makes this so hard. It's the only time he's-"
He promised he'd never let me go again.
She dropped her head into her hand, needing a moment to compose herself before sniffling and raising her head bravely. The look of pity on Jennifer's face made Kayla cringe, but Kayla just waited patiently for the interviewer to say something. Finally, Jennifer said, "I don't' know what to say."
"That's a first." Kayla chuckled and Jennifer scoffed, leaning back as Kayla laughed brightly, a true smile beaming on her face, "I'm sorry, sorry, ask me anything! Nothing is off limits."
Jennifer turned to a PA and gestured towards the audience, "How about we take a couple audience questions?"
"Alright, I'll play." Kayla leaned back in her chair, feeling her cheeks heat up as she dreaded whatever the audience would ask. She'd played this game before. They always wanted to know who she was wearing and who she was sleeping with and what her secrets to success were. She had none to offer anymore.
The PA held up the microphone to a woman in her late-thirties, and she looked to friends before leaning forward and asking, "How is the sex with Captain America?"
The whole audience erupted in cheers and woops and Kayla's mouth dropped open in fake shock. She turned to Jennifer and the woman hid her shit-eating grin well until Kayla asked, "Don't look so excited for the answer, Jenny, that's my husband." The audience cheered louder as Kayla turned to meet the gaze of the woman, staring her down with her piercing eyes before gesturing to her stomach, "To answer your question, this wasn't accomplished on the first try. I've slept with many, many men, but there's a reason I married Steve. I'll leave the rest to your imagination."
"On that note, we're going to break," Jennifer said lightly, turning to the cameras, "When we return, we'll be joined by the one and only Tony Stark to discuss the Sokovia Accords and the impact they've had on the Avengers and their families."
When the red light went off, Kayla blew air out through her pursed lips, collapsing against the plush couch as Tiffany stormed the stage with a bottle of water and a sandwich. Jennifer's assistant appeared to touch up her makeup, but her dark eyes kept wandering to the ravenous blonde as she scarfed her food.
"This is delicious." Kayla mumbled through a mouthful of food before swallowing. Tiffany dropped a couple pills in her palm and Kayla tossed them back easily before chasing them with her water. "Thank you."
"You okay?" Jennifer asked as she stood to walk over to Kayla, "I hope I'm not crossing any lines."
"Why? Isn't that the point? It's the interview of the century, and you didn't even know I was showing up pregnant." Kayla said before taking another huge bite of her sandwich, "Sorry, I'm always hungry. Like, always. It's what happens when a regular person conceives a super baby. That, and terrible backaches. I take Advil like it's candy."
"Mr. Stark to the stage!"
Tony appeared and Jennifer smiled, shoving her hand forward to shake it as the PA gave them a one minute warning. Tiffany took the last bit of Kayla's sandwich away, leaving her to pout as Stark sat beside her on the couch. He grabbed her knee and gave it a gentle squeeze, "You ready for this?"
"I'm throwing your ass under the bus, so yes." Kayla answered as they counted down from ten and called quiet on the set. Kayla and Tony both forced mega-watt smiles as the lights came back up and Jennifer continued their interview.
"And we're back with Kayla Ellis and Iron Man himself, Tony Stark. Mr. Stark, correct me if I'm wrong, but you and Captain Rogers did not agree on the Sokovia Accords. A very public battle ensued and now America's first superhero is a wanted man. Tell us what it means for you to be sitting here today with Captain America's wife?"
Kayla shot Tony a warning look, and the crowd whispered amongst themselves as he started, "Well, first of all, I don't regret my stance on the Accords. I wish Cap and I had agreed. Since his disappearance, Kayla has actually taken a spot on the United Nations committee created to oversee the Avengers. I suggested it, hoping maybe her insight into the inner workings of the team would be an asset and maybe Steve would be willing to reconsider signing the Accords with his wife having a prominent say. That said, none of us expected him to be missing this long."
"And nobody has had any contact with him?"
"No." Kayla answered, shaking her head, "We've tried, but haven't been able to reach him, or the other Avengers who we believe he broke out of a government prison." She paused, lowering her head to give herself a moment to gather her words, "He's made some mistakes, but that doesn't erase everything he's sacrificed, not only for this country, but for the world. International governments have labeled Steve Rogers a war criminal. They don't understand that if he broke the rules, it was because they needed to be broken."
Jennifer looked to Stark, finding the man silent as he watched Kayla shifting uncomfortably, fiddling with her wedding ring. After a moment, Tony turned to the cameras, "Captain Rogers told me in Germany that there was a threat to international security. I was too blinded by my need to be right to stop and listen. Perhaps if I had, he would still be around right now."
Watching Kayla carefully, Jennifer asked slowly, "Is there reason to believe he is no longer around?"
"I mean, yeah, maybe." Kayla answered bluntly, raising her head and taking a deep breath that caught in her throat, "The fact I haven't heard from him in six months is a good indicator that he's dead. I don't want to believe it, but I need to be realistic. We all do."
Jennifer noticed the way Kayla's arm shook when she raised her water bottle to her lips, then realized that her breathing looked more labored than it had when the interview started. She struggled to screw the cap back on, and Tony finally took it from her to twist it before setting it on the floor between them. "Kayla," Jennifer said quietly, pushing her long hair behind her ear, "I need to address the elephant in the room. You don't look well. I've known you a long time, and I'm worried about you."
Kayla swallowed hard, wishing she could stop the way her body shook or make her face look less sallow so she'd be half the woman she used to be. Three years ago, she would have sailed through this interview with ease, talking about Steve and all, but now she faced the reality that Steve was most likely dead, and soon, she would be too.
"It's been hard. With Steve gone." Kayla started, pausing a moment to rub her tongue over her teeth and give herself a moment to choose her words, "As you know, I studied the super soldier serum in college. That said, I didn't consider the effects of it on me, should some of it transfer to the baby."
The collective murmur of terror that erupted from the audience egged Kayla on, reminding her that this wasn't supposed to be difficult. Steve would have known what to do. Steve would have supported her and taken care of her and done whatever he needed to in order to help his wife have his child safely. Steve, though, wasn't there.
"We've been working on dozens of prototypes for the serum." Tony explained quickly, leaning forward to block Kayla from the cameras for a moment, "We believe that the kid's metabolism is high, like their father's, so it's basically eating her from the inside." Kayla dropped her head into her palm, shaking her head at Tony's explanation, but Jennifer looked between the pair in horror, unable to say anything about the subject. After a moment, Tony leaned back and shrugged, "There's only one answer, she's gotta take a form of the serum in order to give the kid what they need to form properly, and she needs it soon."
"Thank you for being so... tactful about that, Tony. I really appreciate it." Kayla mumbled, "It's not like we're giving up. We're working on it. We're working on figuring something out." Kayla's smile began to form again, and she turned to Jennifer, clamping her hands together over her knee, "I guess, though, if we don't, I'll be the first casualty of the Sokovia Accords."
The look on Tony Stark's face was worth a thousand words, and when Kayla looked past Jennifer to see Tiffany practically collapse, she knew she'd made an impression. The audience spoke in hushed tones as Jennifer nervously thanked them for coming, but Kayla just smiled grandly, thinking she was about to get fired from her position on the United Nations panel for blaming Ross's precious Accords for her own demise.