Hello everyone! Please let me know what you think of this chapter. I hope it isn't rushed, I wanted to get to the end of the Winter Soldier film and have more free reign on the story direction. I realise this has been a slow burner but after this it will be full speed ahead! Thank you for all the follows, favourites, reviews! Thank you to all my loyal readers too, it means the world to me you enjoy it! Hope everyone is keeping safe and will update

They all stood around the long table, plans and schematics covering its entire surface. They had been in deep discussion for a couple of days, they were returning to the states the following morning.

The stress was evidently clear on everyone's faces, the lack of sleep and worry had caught up with them. Erin sank back into the chair she was in, closing her eyes briefly, trying to block out the discussion, she knew the plan by heart.

Project Insight had been continuously delayed, preventing the launch, all thanks to Tony. He and Jarvis had been creating minor computer bugs and viruses that kept corrupting the coding files on the chips. It was so quietly done that Hydra hadn't realised that someone was doing it, they had been assuming it was normal coding errors. But Tony couldn't do this forever, the IT security was being amped up every day, soon it would be almost impossible for Tony to hack their system without them knowing.

They all knew this had only been a temporary solution to their problem. They were outnumbered and outgunned but that wasn't going to stop them. As discovered in their investigations, Steve and Natasha had found out Agent Sitwell was a Hydra loyalist. They had targeted him as he would be the easiest to corner alone. Rumlow and his team were still too busy trying to find Captain America and Black Widow to watch Sitwell, he was theirs for the taking.

The plan was to get intelligence on Project Insight from Sitwell, take him with them so they could bypass the security points and infiltrate the Triskelion & destroy the chips or the ships. Preferably both.

Unfortunately at this point, a lot of their plans involved waiting for information off other people. They were all extremely stressed, it didn't help that Erin and Steve had a huge argument the day before about her involvement. Steve was adamant that Erin would not be joining them, this was heavily argued against by Erin and the rest of the team. They needed everyone to help out if they were going to win. Bucky had stayed silent the entire time.

Eventually, Steve had to concede to the majority vote but things were still quite tense. Erin wasn't going to be involved in the thick of it but more the eyes and ears of the operation where possible. She was trained enough to look after herself, something Steve disagreed with but she had quickly shut him down when she reminded him that not everyone she would fight would be a super soldier.

The memory made her stomach tense, after she had made her point, Bucky left the room for some time. She hadn't yet been able to apologise but she knew she was right. The Winter Soldier was another level, even for Steve and Natasha. She knew she wasn't a full agent yet but she felt confident. Natasha had been continuing her training at the cabin while her stab wound healed. Erin felt back to full health and she wanted to take down Hydra once and for all.

As the tones began to escalate, Erin opened her eyes to see Steve and Tony once again arguing. Things had been mostly good between them but their battle style was so different that it always created a problem. She took in a deep breath before making her way out the back door into the garden. She needed a break from the lights, the smell of coffee and paper.

She walked down to the porch swing at the end and sat down. She took a quick glance behind her, making sure no-one had followed before she pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from her back pocket. Erin didn't smoke regularly but she had begged Tony to get her a pack on the down low a few days ago, she needed to take the edge off. Tony had relented, he couldn't complain with the amount he drank plus unlike the two super boys, he knew she was a grown woman who could make her own decisions.

She took one out the pack, put it between her teeth and lit the end, taking in a long drag. She relaxed into the swing as she breathed out. She tried to commit the view to memory because she was worried she would never see it again.

"I never took Miss Sinclaire as a smoker?" The voice sounded from her right, making her jump a mile, almost dropping her cigarette in the process. Bucky was leaning against the wooden frame grinning down at her before sitting himself the other side of her.

She took another drag "Don't tell Steve, we have enough going on without him scolding me" she muttered. She really wasn't in the mood.

She looked over at him, he was still smiling at her "I won't tell but honestly he probably wouldn't say much. I know he's the golden boy but you gotta remember Erin, everyone smoked in our era. It's nothing new. But I genuinely didn't realise you smoked" he seemed almost slightly impressed that she was doing something naughty.

Erin finally let herself chuckle and smile, it felt good to relax, even for a second "I don't most of the time. I smoked for a bit in my early twenties but stopped. Sometimes though I just need something to…" she trailed off.

"Take the edge off?" Bucky finished for her. She took another drag before nodding.

They sat there while she smoked, finally finishing the cigarette and stubbing it out on the stone ground with her shoe. She picked up the end and pocketed it to throw away later.

"Do you think we'll win?" The question slipped out before she could stop it.

Silence filled the air for a few moments "Yeah. We have too" Was all Bucky replied.

She thought for a moment before rushing out her words "Bucky… I'm sorry about what I said yesterday to Steve. About fighting super soldiers, it came out different than I meant it"

Bucky continued looking out at the view, a small smile on his lips "I know, you were right though. Steve just doesn't want you to get hurt"

"I know" She replied quietly.

They stayed there for another few moments, soaking in the warm evening wind and staring out at the lake. She wondered if he was remembering the wonderful the day they had, less than a week ago. It could have been another lifetime ago for all that had changed. Eventually Bucky stood, holding his hand out to Erin, she grabbed it and they made their way back to the house. Once again, they didn't bother untangling their hands.

The next day was mostly a blur. The travel had gone smoothly. They were packed with all the weapons they could get their hands on and were dressed for the occasion.

They had found Agent Sitwell and grabbed him following a meeting. After some 'persuasion' he had begun to talk, he told them everything they needed to know about Project Insight. It was horrifying. It would essentially kill everyone deemed unworthy of being alive, for any reason the algorithm deemed so. The lives lost would be immeasurable. The thought had made Erin feel sick. The next part of the plan was to take Sitwell to the Triskelion to bypass the security scanners and access the helicarriers directly, he had made them aware they only had sixteen hours until launch. It was going to be tight.

Erin wouldn't be joining them to the Triskelion or not directly anyway. She and Tony were to observe the building to ensure Natasha, Steve, Sam and Bucky had ears and eyes everywhere and as back up for when undoubtedly, shit hit the fan.

Tony had them set up in an empty apartment complex with a perfect view of the Triskelion, they had surveillance set up where possible with Tony making good use of several of his satellites. She didn't even want to know how Tony had blagged them into this complex but she thought better than to ask. The rest of the team had given her and Stark an ETA of 18:45PM to arrive at the Triskelion. They waited, her nails digging so hard into her palm, she was sure she was drawing blood.

The time came and went, fifteen minutes passed, then thirty, then forty five. By this point, Erin was nearly out of her mind with panic. Something had gone wrong.

"Erin, come look" Tony spoke so quietly she nearly missed what he said, he was pointing at his screen, the news was on. She nearly fainted at the sight of Steve, Natasha, Sam and Bucky surrounded by the ex-SHIELD strike team before they were carted off into a black van which drove away at speed. The headline read 'Superheroes finally going rogue?'

She gripped Tony's arm as she stared at the screen "What do we do?"

As they stood in silence, debating their next move, both their phones beeped causing them to jump. They looked at each other with unease before grabbing their phones and reading the messages. They had the same message from a withheld number, it was a list of coordinates and that was it.

The two shared a brief look before packing up the equipment in haste. It was an almost idiotic decision but they knew they didn't have time to waste, the team's lives could be at stake.

They made their way to the carrier was on the roof, the camouflage hiding it so it couldn't be seen by the Triskelion. They got in, Tony gave the coordinates to Jarvis and without a moment to lose, they were on their way to the secret location. Barely more than two words had passed between them, both too nervous and too tense. Erin checked her handgun for the fifth time in her holster. She also had a knife strapped to her side for close combat. She went over to the bag in the holding and grabbed a machine gun. Tony only eyed her as she got set up for a fight. He knew better than to argue with a woman on a mission.

They seemed to be traveling to the outskirts of Washington, in the distance they could see a disused dam. The coordinates seemed to be taking them to a small clearing just near an old concrete bridge. The carrier came to a stop, Tony and Erin slowly made their way outside. Tony in his suit, Erin poised with her gun.

The rusted door, hidden just in the shade of the trees opened, both on high alert, ready to take down whoever was on the other side. To their immense shock, it was none other than Agent Hill.

"Glad you made it her alright. You weren't followed?" She questioned, a small smile on her face.

"No I don't think so. What happened to you? We heard you'd pretty much gone off the grid" Tony said, a tone of accusation in his voice.

Agent Hill nodded her head for them both to follow, they did so without hesitation. If Agent Hill was involved, there was a good chance the rest of the team were alright. They followed her down a winding connection of concrete tunnels. As they walked, she confirmed that she had rescued Steve, Natasha, Sam and Bucky from the Hydra trucks and that she & her 'team' had been working silently to disrupt and end Project Insight. Erin was about to question who her team was when they came into a large opening. It was set up as a small work area with desks, computers, maps and in the middle was a hospital bed housing none other than Nick Fury.

The question died in her throat as she stared with disbelief at the Director. If it was anyone other than Nick Fury, she would have been marginally more shocked.

"So…you didn't bite the dust then? Why am I not surprised?" Tony asked with a sigh. Today was turning out to be rather eventful.

"Why do you sound so disappointed?" Fury shot back "About damn time you showed up"

Erin could have laughed if she wasn't so surprised at the turn of events. She heard footsteps to her right to see Steve and Bucky come out of nearby room, she nearly cried with relief as she ran and jumped at them both, catching them in a hug with both arms. She smiled up at them once she let go "I'm so glad you're both okay" her smiled disappeared when she noticed they were two members short "Where's…"

"Sam and Natasha are fine. She got shot and lost a fair amount of blood. The doctor is just seeing her now, she needs some rest. Sam is still with her" He gave her a reassuring smile.

The team set up around Fury's bed as mugs of coffee were passed round and Fury recanted his story of survival following the shooting "Thanks to this kind gentleman right over here" he nodded at Bucky.

He was sat next to Erin and dropped his head in shame, she interlocked her fingers with his and squeezed them in support. He didn't look up but squeezed back.

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Barnes. You're not the first brainwashed soldier to try and kill me, shit, probably won't be the last either" Fury gave a snort of amusement.

"So, I'm guessing things were a bit tense when you all arrived?" Erin questioned the room.

Steve let out a grimace "Put it this way, if Bucky didn't have a metal arm, he would be with the doctor too"

"Ouch" she replied, she could only imagine how it would look to Hill and Fury when they had arrived with Bucky in tow.

"Let's move on. Big question is how we're gonna stop those sons of bitches" Fury sat himself up further on his bed with a grunt of pain before looking at the team, he wanted a plan and fast.

Several hours later, they were all ready to go. Steve and Sam had stepped outside for some fresh air. Hill and Bucky had been preparing the weapons as Natasha, who was now back on her feet, went to find Steve.

The plan had to work, Erin wasn't religious but she prayed to anyone who was listening, that it would work. That the people she loved would be safe. Erin was going with Natasha, disguised as council members to infiltrate a meeting with Pierce. They needed to distract him while Bucky and Steve went to each carrier and installed a chip that would re-rig the programming to target one another and destroy. Sam and Tony would be air support while Hill and Fury would follow behind Erin and Natasha.

Natasha and Erin donned their disguises. It was so clever, Erin had to admire it a moment before putting it on. It was an extremely lightweight mask that would digitally convert her face to look like anyone she wanted. Natasha would be the counsel woman while Erin would be her assistant.

Right before they put them on, she heard her name whispered, she looked up to see Bucky nod his head for her to follow. She looked at Natasha "I'll be back, two minutes"

"Be quick about it!" Natasha called back as Erin wandered down one of the corridors, trying to see where Bucky had gone off to. As she passed a narrow hallway, a hand reached out and grabbed her, pulling her into the semi-darkness. She held back her shout of surprise as she nearly fell into Barnes.

"What is it?" The look on his face frightened her, she had only seen him look this serious when he was The Winter Soldier "Bucky, we're leaving like now, what's going on?" She had barely got the last word out when he put his hands to her face and pulled her in for a kiss. Every second of the kiss felt like a lifetime in her mind, his lips were full and warm. She could feel the cold metal of his hand on one side of her face. Her eyes closed as she leaned fully into his lips, her hands on his chest.

The kiss wasn't long but it held unspoken words and delicate promises that Erin wanted to discover after they were done saving the world.

He left the kiss first, leaning his forehead against hers. Their breathing fast and deep, as though they had finally been allowed to drink after a long drought.

"Just make sure you come back, come back to me" He whispered.

"I will" She promised.

With a last lingering kiss on her forehead, he walked away to find Steve. Her heart was beating so fast she thought she might faint.

'So that's what it's supposed to be feel like…' she thought, a goofy grin spread across her face as she made her way back to Natasha.

An hour later, her heart still beating unnaturally fast but for very different reasons, she and Natasha were being checked by security at SHIELD HQ. The disguises were essentially full proof. Hill had comfortably 'detained' the actual council women and her assistant, taking their badges, clothes and documents to ensure that they would have no problem getting in.

After they were cleared to go up, she consciously had to stop herself breathing a sigh of relief. They followed the elevator up to the boardroom. The way into Pierce's office was almost identical to how he had it set up in New York. This small sense of familiarity calmed her as they made their way to the desks in the office and graciously accepted glasses of water. She made occasional eye contact with Natasha. She could tell Natasha was thinking the same as her. Just hoping that Steve and Bucky had managed to get to the carriers.

Pierce came in and thanked everyone for coming. A sharp stab of hatred ran through her as she looked at the man she had previously called her boss. The meeting progressed, Erin barely listening to a word, trying desperately not look out the window to get a glimpse at the carriers.

Her attention was drawn back into the room as everyone stood at Pierce's invitation to take a good look at the carriers outside in the sky. Champagne flutes were being handed out as the Director explained what their purpose and primary function was. Erin was internally relieved to see the rest of the board were just as disgusted as she was, a flute of champagne was flung across the room, the glass smashing, the sound echoing around the room.

The atmosphere was instantly tense, the Hydra guards all moving in a fraction closer. As Pierce drew his gun to shoot one of the council men, Natasha caught Erin's eye and gave her a fraction of a nod before they sprang into action.

Erin elbowed the guard right behind her in the stomach before slamming her head back, hearing his nose crunch before turning and bring his head down to meet her knee. With that he fell to ground unconscious.

She turned round to see Natasha had dealt with other three on her own before rounding on Pierce, pointing her gun directly at him, taking her mask off and revealing herself.

"I'm sorry, did I step on your moment?" Natasha gave a slight smirk as she taunted Pierce.

Erin removed her own mask and joined Natasha's side, her gun also drawn. Pierce's eyes narrowed as he noticed her "Oh you're still alive then? No surprise you are part of those traitors"

She could have laughed "Traitor? The only traitor here, is you Pierce"

The rest of the council members stood back as Erin kept her gun trained on him while Natasha walked over to the computer terminal to execute the next part of their plan. Leaking all of Hydra and Shield secrets to the internet, no-one could hide anymore.

It was not an easy battle by any means but eventually Steve and Bucky had got themselves on to the last helicarrier. They hobbled over to the central hub, both nursing wounds from their fight with Rumlow, and followed Agent Hill's instructions for pushing in the last chip. The nightmare was nearly over.

They inserted the chip with only seconds to spare as they felt the carrier lock into place. On his command, Steve had Agent Hill launch the guns. Bucky and Steve felt the ship lurch as the first explosion hit the hull.

"On three?" Steve shouted over the sound, Bucky nodded.

"One…"

"Two…"

"Three…"

With a running jump, they both went over the railing into the safety of the water below.

She kept the gun trained on her target while Natasha finished the upload.

"You need two Alpha level members to execute that order" Pierce gave a menacing smirk, thinking he had called her bluff.

"Oh I know. Company is coming"

The helicopter landed outside the window just at that moment. As was his usual style and timing, Fury walked into the meeting room causing Pierce's jaw to drop. He quickly recovered, both entering into a tense stare off as Fury came to the centre of the room.

Pierce cocked an eyebrow "Did you get my flowers?"

Fury scowled even deeper, the tension was palpable.

Erin barely paid attention to the bickering back and forth between the two men, her mind wandered to her two soldiers on the carriers.

She re-focused as Pierce was pushed towards the retinal scanner, Fury lifted his eye patch and used his other eye on his scanner. The overhead system confirmed the order meaning that absolutely anything Shield or Hydra had, was on the internet for everyone to see.

All heads turned as explosions were heard outside, they could see the carriers begin to shoot one another in a catastrophe of explosion and fire. Her insides screamed as she prayed that Steve and Bucky had made it off in time.

She realised a moment too late that she had kept her eye off her target for too long, she turned back to see Pierce holding his phone in his hand.

"Stop, before anyone does anything rash, you see those pins we gave you when you came in?" Erin suddenly remembered the little access fob she had pinned to her jacket from the security checkpoint "They are small explosives, with a press on my phone I can kill you all instantly."

Her mouth went dry as she realised Natasha and herself both had their pins on their jackets "Now Sinclaire, put the gun on the floor and kick it away from you" she immediately complied, keeping an eye on both Natasha and Fury as she followed the order.

"Come on council woman Romanoff, you're going to fly me out of here" He began walking a pace behind Natasha as he kept his thumb hovering over his phone. Before anyone could react, Natasha suddenly jerked violently as she used her black widow bracelet to electric herself. Pierce was close enough that the electric frequency caused his phone to crash for a moment. Two bullets whizzed through the air and hit Pierce square in the chest, she turned her head to see Fury had grabbed her gun and taken him down.

Erin ran over to Natasha, pushing the hair off her face as Fury dealt with Pierce "Come on Natasha, it's only a little electricity" her heart was beating in a frantic panic as she begged her friend to wake up.

To her immense relief, Natasha's eyes fluttered open, focusing on Erin's face "Ow, those really do sting…" Erin could have laughed with relief.

She helped Natasha up and they looked at Fury who gave a small nod as they followed his gaze to Pierce on the floor. He was finally dead, there was no place for men like him in this world.

The team automatically made their way to the helicopter, they could feel the building begin to shake from the debris of the helicarriers hitting it. The other council members followed and got strapped in the back as Fury got into the pilot seat.

Natasha spoke into her comms "Pierce is down and Hydra exposed. Where is everyone?"

Silence filled the static air for a moment "Me and the flying bird are on just on the other side of the bridge, caught him trying to jump out a window"

"The whole building was collapsing, Stark"

"Excuse if I ever heard one"

Natasha grimaced "Cut the chatter" she turned to Fury "Stark and Wilson accounted for"

"Agent Hill confirmed, I'm just reach the other side of the bridge as well" came another voice through.

"Hill accounted for" Natasha shouted out.

They waited for another report, more noise, anything. The silence was deafening.

The intercom crackled "Me...Bucky…shore….water" then it cut out.

The girls glanced at each other "Fury, set it down on the bridge, me and Erin are getting off"

"Copy that" Fury replied, gently lowering the chopper to the bridge, hovering low enough to let Erin and Natasha jump off to find the boys.

They ran straight to the railing and scouted the shore line, it wasn't long before Natasha pointed "There, look, the cluster of trees to the right!" Erin squinted but could just make out two figures sat on the shore of the lake. They ran round, running on to the grassy bank and following it all the way, nearly the back of the crumbling Triskelion, keeping under trees to avoid any rogue debris.

As they neared, Erin could see both men sat leaning against their knees. Steve looked up at the noise but let out a huge grin as they approached "We won" he said simply as they moved into the clearing.

Bucky looked exhausted but smiled at Steve's words, reaching his hand out to grab his friends shoulder reassuringly.

Erin walked over and sat herself between them on the muddy bank putting an arm round each of their shoulders, Natasha sat the other side of Steve and let her head rest on his shoulder. They all sat in comfortable, exhausted silence as the building fell brick by brick.

She looked at Bucky and found him already staring at her "I told you I would come back" she whispered quietly, knowing Steve would hear her but she didn't care. Bucky leant his forehead against hers, she closed her eyes and forgot the rest of the world, just for that moment.

Everything was about to change, and she was confident it would only be for the better.

Following the dismantlement of Shield/Hydra, this left Steve, Erin and Natasha homeless. Shield was officially over and Fury was staying off grid with Hill for now. He preferred be left dead until the right moment. Erin could understand this, she knew Natasha was having a hard time. Her entire past was plastered over the internet, her upbringing, her history with the KGB. Natasha brushed off Erin's concern "It's all for the best. It was always going to come out in the end" she said.

In the days that followed, many meetings and discussions were had between the groups on how to proceed. Sam returned home but promised he would see them again and was there for anything they needed. Erin winked at Steve when Natasha and Sam kissed before he drove off. She was very sure they would be seeing a lot of Sam Wilson in the future.

Bucky was currently still an unknown entity to the United States government and they were looking to keep it this way for a while. At least until a solid legal defence was brought together, they all knew he would have to stand trial for his past but they would cross that bridge later on.

After much arguing, debating and insistence, Natasha, Steve, Bucky and Erin agreed to move into Stark Towers. Stark made a good point, he was rich, had enough space for them to have a floor each, gym, research facility, it was central. The list went on and it was becoming more difficult to argue by the minute. Eventually they relented and shipped out back to New York three days after the termination of Project Insight.

Stark had confirmed that Pepper had made the necessary arrangements to have Steve and Erin's stuff sent over from their old apartment, she did the same for Natasha. It all happened so quickly it nearly made Erin's head spin.

As they got closer to New York, Erin became increasingly aware that she would be sharing a living space with Bucky Barnes. Since their kiss they hadn't spent a moment alone together. There was much unsaid, they were still getting to know each other but Erin felt the intense attraction. She was unsure where it had come from considering their brief history but she needed to know where it would go. She needed to feel more of his kisses on her lips.

She noticed the city skyline as they approached New York and she looked at her unlikely family sat around her. Natasha was laughing as Bucky and Steve told a story in tandem about their youth in Brooklyn. She knew Stark and Pepper were waiting for them at the tower, she was excited to meet Pepper and see the woman who was capable of handling Tony.

She smiled to herself as the carrier made to land on top of the tower. Another adventure, another story. She couldn't wait to see how this would play out.